“The next few months passed rather uneventfully.  I would visit you and your mother for dinner or on the weekend.  More often than not Lupin or Black would be there as well.  If it was simply Lupin, the time would pass amicably enough.  If it was only Black, it typically resulted in one or both of our leaving.  This was to prevent upsetting your mother.  Although the goal was not always achieved.” Severus told Harry.  “The next moment of any sort of consequence was the day your mother asked me to accompany her to your cousin’s birthday party.”  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was a week after the latest term at Hogwarts ended, and the first day of Severus’ true freedom of summer holidays.  Lily had invited him over to spend the day with her and Harry to watch bad television, eat rubbish, and generally waste the day.  None of these things Severus normally did, so it was a well-deserved reward for surviving the stressful and chaotic end of term.

They had started the morning with bad monster movies and beans on toast.  Their marathon was occasionally interrupted by Harry demanding they read him a book, him playing in front of the television, and of course nappy changes.  

Lily looked at the clock.  “Harry needs to have his lunch soon,” she commented.

“What do you wish to do?” Severus asked the credits began to roll on the last of the monster films.

“Would fish and chips be okay with you?  I know this great little place by the river?”  Lily purposed.

Severus gave a small nod, “That would be acceptable.”

“Great,” Lily said cheerfully.  “Can you get Harry’s shoes on for me?”

Severus gave another nod.  The shoes were easily found.  Getting Harry to put them on was another matter.  Harry decided to start an impromptu game of hide-and-seek with the adults.  They found him behind the sofa.  He was rather reluctant to come out from under there.  After a few minutes Lily’s frustration was clear.  Then a brain wave hit her.

“Come on, Harry,” Lily said.  “If you don’t come out from there we can’t go see the ducks.”

“Ucks,” Harry giggled crawling his way out.

“Could we not have Summoned him, or Levitated the couch out of our way?” Severus asked Lily shoving a shoe onto Harry’s foot, he now compliantly seated on the sofa.

“We could have.”  Lily said slipping on her own shoes.  “If he hadn’t come out for the ducks, I probably would have.”

They chose to drive down to the shop.  Lily had to strap Harry into his seat.  Severus had no idea how the thing worked.  He didn’t even realize that children required special seats.  Lily explained that when she was a very small child they didn’t have them.  It was around the time she started going to school cars were required to have seatbelts.  Children’s seats came even later.

Lily sent Severus to order their food when they arrived at the place, which was little more than a shack just off the river bank. He did so somewhat unwillingly.  Harry had bounded off toward the river bank the instant he was freed from the car.  The air was filled with angry quacks as the ducks, who Harry disturbed, quickly took flight. Harry’s happy giggles and excited cries of “Ucks” followed.  Severus watched as Harry tried to approach a brave duck who returned to the riverbank, only to take wing once more when Harry came running up.  Severus chuckled as he watched the boy repeat the process twice more.  

“Is it always like this?” Severus asked setting their food on the table where Lily sat.

“Basically,” Lily confirmed.  “Come on Harry,” Lily yelled for the little boy.

Harry turned to look up at his name, but did not come.  Instead he tore after another group of ducks.

Lily sighed.  “Excuse me, I need to go and get him, or he’ll never eat.” Lily left to collect her son.  Lily returned a moment later a squirming and protesting Harry in her arms.  

Lily began to tear Harry’s fish into smaller pieces for him.  Meanwhile the boy helped himself to one of the chips in Severus’ paper.  

“Oi, these are mine.”  Severus complained.  “You have your own.”  

Harry just gave him a toothy grin.  Lily put some chips on Harry’s place before setting them in front of the boy.  The boy picked at the fish, but ate most of the chips.  Although, he seemed to enjoy the ones off of Severus’ plate more.  He continued to steal chips from the older wizard despite still having more on his own plate.  Every time Severus gave Lily a pleading look.

“Welcome to my life,” Lily said merrily.

Frustrated Severus put a small pile at the boy’s place.  Harry decided at that point he was done with lunch.  Lily let him down to go chase after the ducks once more.  

“Does he always do that?”  Severus asked reclaiming his lunch.

“Yep,” Lily confirmed taking a chip from Severus’ plate.

“I wonder where he could get it from?” Severus grumbled.  He’d dealt with Lily’s chip thievery for over ten years at this point.  He learned to live with it, but it didn’t mean he enjoyed it.  They sat in a comfortable silence watching Harry chase the many “ucks” by the riverside until Severus could finish the remains of his lunch and even later.  

After about ten minutes of this Severus had to ask.  “Should we not head back to yours?”

Lily shook her head.  “Not just yet.  Let Harry play a bit more.  He’ll nap better this way.”  She added at the slightly confused look on her friend’s face.

Severus gave a small nod, bowing to Lily’s child wrangling tactics.  They collected Harry five minutes later.  The boy’s fatigue becoming clear.

Harry was so tired he drifted off in the car in the less than ten minute drive.  Lily had Severus go ahead and open the house for her to take Harry directly to bed.  At least that was the plan.  Harry had other things in mind.  He pitched a fit demanding “Sev’us” take him.  With a pleading look from Lily, Severus conceded to carry Harry upstairs.  The boy refused to sleep until he was read a story, again by “Sev’us”.  Severus gave into the tiny tired terror’s whims once more, if only to speed up him going to sleep.  

Severus pulled the blanket up higher around Harry’s chest before shutting off the lights and returning downstairs.  He and Lily would have a few hours to themselves as Harry slept.  He wasn’t sure what the plan for the rest of the day was.  Lily was missing, possibly in the loo.  Severus decided to find something on the television for them to watch while he waited.

Lily sat down on the sofa setting the bowl of crisps on the coffee table in front of her.  Severus flipped through the channels trying to find something to watch.  He stopped when he saw a familiar logo flash across the screen.

“Find something?” Lily asked when he stopped turning the old fashioned dial, his frame blocking a majority of the screen.

Severus nodded.  “They are on commercial at the moment.”

Lily settled back into her seat.  “Harry get to sleep okay?”

“He was asleep before we got to tasting the porridges.” Severus confirmed.

“What did you put on?” Lily asked.

“You shall see,” Severus said popping a crisp into his mouth and settling in once more next to Lily.

Lily shook her head at him.  It was funny how different he could be around her and everyone else.  Lily shifted ever so slightly closer to her friend, her eyes back on the screen.  A familiar set appeared, the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

Lily turned back to Severus.  “Star Trek?  Really Sev?”

“If memory suits, you rather enjoyed it when we were children.” Severus said uneasily.

“I did.  I just didn’t think you liked it all that much.” Lily replied.

“I did.  However, I never understood why you insisted comparing me to Spock.”  Severus told her.

“You are Spock.  You’re smart, logical…” Lily said.

“And I have no emotions?” Severus finished for her.

“No.  You have emotions, you choose not to show them.  There’s a difference.  Spock does it because he wants to be more Vulcan. You do it as...defense.”  Lily explained.

“Defense from whom?”  Severus asked.  He was not one for emotional displays that was true.  It was only Lily he felt truly comfortable expressing himself and letting his guard down.  Still he had never thought of hiding his emotions as a form of defense.  It made sense when she said it though.

Severus had become a Legimens to do just that.  He was able to hide his emotions so well he had been able to spy on Voldemort for Dumbledore.  He was one of the few, if not the only who could say that.

Lily shrugged in response.  “Maybe it was your dad.  I know you did it around the Marauders.  You still do.  When Remus or Sirius are here, you’re an entirely different person.”

“I am s-” Severus began.

“Don’t.  Don’t apologize it’s who you are.  You did it as a way of protecting yourself.  When we were young I have no doubt they would have used it against you.  I know they did a few times.  But we’re older now, maybe you can try letting down the walls, just a bit.  They might surprise you with how much they’re matured. At least Remus,” Lily frowned, “Maybe even Sirius.”  She sounded far less convinced with this name.

“I will try.  No promises,” Severus agreed.

“That’s all I ask… Actually, it’s not.  It sort of along the same line though.”  Lily said.

Severus tore his eyes away from Captain Kirk fighting the Gorn to look back to Lily.

“Yes,” he asked curiously.

Lily had suddenly became very nervous.  It was putting Severus at unease.

“Tuney invited Harry and I to her son’s birthday party.  I was hoping you would come with me.”  Lily explained.

Severus balked.  He and Petunia had never gotten along as children and here Lily was asking him go with her to a child’s birthday party.  He didn’t even like children.  Harry was different.  Harry was… Harry was Lily’s son.  He had no idea how to interact with them if they were not Harry.  Even with Harry he felt awkward.  Lily suggested being a bit less firm with the boy.  Severus was trying.

“Lily, I don’t think…” Severus began.

“I know you and Tuney didn’t get on when we were young.  I know that, but I should go.  I don’t want to go alone though.” Lily explained.

“Why not take Black or Lupin?” Severus asked almost hopefully.

“The party is the day after the full moon.  Remus won’t be in any condition to spend the day with a bunch of screaming toddlers.”  Lily told him.  Remus would probably been her first choice to go with her.  He was good with children and a half-blood so knew how to deal with Muggles.

“Sirius.  No, most definitely no.”  Lily stated firmly.  “Sirius has no idea how to behave around Muggles.  I don’t want to have to Obliviate a dozen Muggles because Sirius can’t keep his damn mouth shut.”

“Indeed.  You really believe me your best choice.  Or it is simply the last one standing?”  Severus asked half-joking.

Lily bit her lip.  “The last one standing.  I really don’t want to go by myself.”

Severus sighed, “Very well, but you owe me Lily Potter.”

“I know.  Thank you Sev,” said cheerfully, lunging forward to give him a hug.

The next week passed very quickly.  Severus spent much of his time with Lily and Harry.  He also brewed Lupin’s transformation aids for which the werewolf was incredibly thankful for them.  Black was less accepting of the aid.  He had glared at Severus when Severus delivered the potions.

Severus arrived at Lily’s house the morning of the party.  He was dressed in comfortable slacks and white button up shirt.  His hair was tied back.  He had done all he could think to avoid provoking Petunia’s ire.

Lily greeted him at the front door.  She wore a cheery blue sundress.  Harry tagged along behind her.  His normally animated dragon tee charmed still.  Lily seemed to have tried to flatten Harry’s messy hair, with little success.

“Are you ready?” Severus asked flatly.  His voice, even his body language may not have said how little he was looking forward to this encounter, but Lily knew.

“As I’m going to be.” Lily confirmed said picking up a wiggling Harry.

“Can you grab the gift over there?” Lily said picking up Harry’s nappy bag.

Severus picked up the heavy yellow and blue wrapped box.

“What on earth did you buy him?  This is heavier than a full number two cauldron.”  Severus said shifting the box awkwardly in his arm.

“No idea, it was something I saw at the toy store.  It’s purely Muggle.  Even Petunia should approve of it.  The guy at the store said it’s good for kids from two to five.”  Lily said shifting Harry to her opposite hip.

Severus nodded agreement since he had nothing to say.

“It would probably be easiest if you Side-Along Apperated with me.”  Lily said stepping into the backyard.

Severus shifted the box to take hold of Lily’s pre-offered arm.  A moment later they stood in an alley between two streets.  “This way,” Lily instructed.

The three headed down the street.  Lily let Harry down to walk beside them.  By the halfway point Severus was wishing he had but a Feather-Weight Charm on the damn box.

“Is there a reason we could not have Apperated a bit closer?” Severus asked breathlessly.

Lily shook her head.  “I didn’t want to risk Petunia saying anything about us appearing too close to her house.”

“I take it then Petunia is just as scared of magic.” Severus said shifting the box yet again.

Lily looked over her shoulder to her friend.  “I don’t know if she’s scared, or just jealous.  Remember that letter we found.”

“Indeed,” Severus groaned.

“Either way though, she doesn’t want to acknowledge magic is real.  Her husband is the most Muggle of a person I’ve ever met.  You should probably avoid him if you can.”  Lily advised.

“I will do my best.”  Severus said shifting the box once more.

“It’s the next house,” Lily called.

“Thank the gods,” Severus exclaimed when they finally reached Petunia’s front steep.  He set the box down.

Lily helped Harry ring the bell.  The three stood there waiting for somebody to open the door.  It opened a full two minutes later.

“Lily,” Petunia greeted almost warmly.

“Hi Tuney,” Lily said picking up Harry.  “Harry say ‘Hi’ to your aunty.”  Lily encouraged.

Harry looked from his mother to his aunt and back.  He then hid his face in Lily’s chest.  Lily gave a small shrug.  “He’s shy this morning, I guess.”

“Very well.  My Dudders never does that.” Petunia said disapprovingly.

Lily gave another shrug.  Petunia turned to see who accompanied her younger sister.

“You,” Petunia spat at the sight of Severus.

“Hello Petunia,” Severus said calmly.  “It is good to see you after so many years.”

“What are you doing here?” Petunia demanded, ignoring all Severus’ attempts of civility.

“I was invited,” Severus replied firmly.  It was clear he was working hard to keep his temper.

“Like I would invite a freak like you.”  Petunia snapped.

“Tuney, stop.  I asked Sev to come with me.” Lily told her sister.

“None of your other freaky friends could come?” Petunia hissed.

Lily ignored the jib.  “Tuney, Severus grew up with Muggles.  He knows what he can and can’t say.  You know him.  It will be less difficult to explain then one of my other friends.”  Lily explained patiently.

Petunia stood there in thought.  She looked as if she were sucking on a lemon, but said, “Fine. You aren’t to talk about any of your ‘unnaturalness’.  Vernon and his sister Marge are in the garden with Dudders.  The rest of the guests will be arriving soon.  You boy,” Petunia said addressing Severus directly.  “I’m sure you are a no good lay about like your father.  Invent some sort of normal career.”

“Petunia!” Lily scolded.  “Sev is a teacher at Hogwarts.  He’s one of the most accomplished potion makers in Europe.”

Petunia continued to glare at the wizard.

“I will be perfectly Muggle,” Severus said contemptuously.

Lily for the first time questioned her choice of escort.  Finally Petunia stepped aside to let them through.  Severus picked up the heavy box once more.

“You can place that in the kitchen,” Petunia instructed.

Severus nodded.  The three followed Petunia through the house to the garden.  They were greeted by two very large, round adults with moustaches.  There was an almost perfectly round toddler screaming for sweets.

Severus looked from the boy to Lily.  The two shared a disapproving look.  Harry looked up at the screams only to tuck his face back in Lily’s chest.  It seemed this might not be the best introduction to his cousin.  The woman, Vernon’s sister, Severus assumed, ended the screaming by giving the toddler a biscuit.

“Vernon, Marge,” Petunia called.  “My sister and her boy are here.”

“Who’s the mangy layabout,” Vernon demanded.

“I am Severus Snape,” Severus said offering his hand to Vernon.  “I grew up not far from Lily and Petunia.”

Vernon didn’t take his hand, just grunted in acknowledgment.  Petunia disappeared to bring in more guests.  More adults accompanied their children.  Lily let Harry down to play with the other children.  The boy was anxious and did his best to keep hold of his mother.  

The birthday boy was busy taking any toy he could from his guests and demanding more sweets.  It seemed the adults around him complied with his every whim.  Seeing Dudley’s actions only made Harry hang on tighter to his mother.

While Dudley “played” with the other children, Severus was very glad he was not included in the adults’ conversations.  Severus may not spend much time in the Muggle world, but he knew enough that he did not agree with many of Thatcher’s positions.  If it were not for the state welfare and health care programs he would have had an even harder childhood.  It seemed everyone here was in strong support of Thatcher’s deregulation and decrease of state welfare policies.

“You okay?” Lily asked handing out a cup of lemonade.  Harry had finally let her go.  He was now playing with another little boy not far from Lily and Severus.

“Fine,” Severus said taking the cup.

“You don’t look like you’re enjoying yourself.”  Lily commented.

Severus quirked an eyebrow.  “You expected something else?”

Lily shrugged.  “I could hope.  These people are awful aren’t they?  Mum and Dad would be ashamed of Petunia’s behavior today.  Her son…. It’s like he’s never been told ‘no’.  He makes James seem like a child in a Dickens novel.”

Severus chuckled softly.  It wasn’t clear what started the comment, but Severus did hear, “No decency.”  “Dead less than a year,” from several of the adults nearby.  The most damning comment was from Petunia, “Always a slut.”

Severus dropped his drink.  He turned red faced to confront the crowd, but he felt somebody grabbed his arm.

“Don’t Sev,” Lily pleaded.

“She called you…” Severus protested.

“I know.  Hexing her will do you no good.  I don’t want to see you to go to Azkaban.” Lily begged.  “We’ll go.  Harry’s getting tired anyway.”

“Very well,” Severus agreed.

“I’ll go say goodbye.  Why don’t you go and get Harry and the bag?”  Lily suggested.

Severus nodded.  It wasn’t hard to drag Harry away.  The little boy came running up to him almost that minute.  Five minutes later they were back on the sidewalk of Private Drive.  Harry’s head resting on Severus’ shoulder.

“It could have been worse,” Lily said as they made their way back up the street.

“Yes, I could have engaged those dunderheads in the merits of the welfare state.”  Severus said laughing.  “If you wish to do this again, take Black.  The mutt is too thick to know the difference.”

“Sev,” Lily chided. “Anyway, Remus is the better choice.  Remember not wanting to Obliviate the Muggles.”

“Indeed.  But if any group of Muggles deserved a good hexing it’s this one.” Severus agreed as they reached their Apparition point.  

Severus held Harry as he sicked up post transport.  Apparently the combination of the sweets and magical transport did not mix well.  He found a Stomach Soothing Draught in the bottom of the nappy bag.  It took holding Harry’s nose to get him to swallow it, but he managed.  Severus vanished the mess as Lily joined them in the Potter’s back garden.

“I should have guessed that would happen.”  Lily said with a sigh.  “Just take him upstairs.”

Severus nodded readjusting the toddler against his shoulder.  He slipped the boy’s shoes off as they crossed the house.  Harry put up no fuss as Severus put him down in his crib.  He was asleep before Severus was out the door.

“Thanks for coming,” Lily said when Severus arrived back downstairs.

“You are welcome.  However, I would suggest warning your sister the next time you plan on bringing a guest with you to one of her social engagements. That would hopefully prevent any further misunderstandings.” Severus said lightly.

“No kidding,” Lily agreed.  “She hasn’t scared you off or anything has she?”

Severus snorted.  “If anything she has only reminded me how much I want to be there for you.  I dealt with years of Potter and Black doing far more than calling me a few names.  I can handle Petunia.  I just don’t want to see you tormented by the likes of her.”