| Feb. 8th, 2009 @ 09:57 am (no subject) |
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There was something about the way he looked out into the ocean that almost made Harry dizzy. Sure, they'd been down on the beach together hundreds of times; sitting there while the kids collected stones and tossed them into the waves.
But today was different. Harry felt old. Severus looked old. And yet, at the same time, he seemed so young inside.
The ocean crashed against the shore. Allie and Jimmy were squealing as the water chased them up the shore. Then, they'd run back down just as another wave was rearing back, preparing to crash.
Somewhere up above them seagulls called out to one another. The ocean breeze was gentle, the sun was warm, the air was cool, and all around them was the smell of ocean, salt, fish, and seaweed.
It was magical.
Harry cast another warming charm on himself and the man sitting next to him. Severus glanced over at him, then shifted his gaze back to the ocean.
What did he see when he was looking there? Was it the same expanse that everyone else saw? The endless water reaching out to the thin stretch of horizon where it met the infinitely long expanse of grey sky?
"Contentment." The word was whispered, and sounded as if it had been carried out upon the wind. For a moment, Harry wasn't even sure he'd heard it.
Alstromeria came running back up to shore and climbed up into her father's lap. She gave him a tight hug around his neck, then settled in, swinging her legs over his lap. "Come here, Jimmy. There's another leg. Lots of room. An' it's really warm!"
Somehow Harry managed not to smile or snicker.
And then the desire to laugh, or even smile went away. He watched Jimmy climb up and settle in on Severus' lap, saw those arms wrap around both children, and his heart froze inside his chest.
The children were giggling and squirming, and still Severus just stared out into the ocean. It was so bizarre, and yet seemed perfectly natural. After all, it would have been just the way Harry would have wanted to spnd the afternoon.
But just the idea that Severus would be content like this...
"Would you two like to have dinner with us tonight?" Harry asked, looking down at Allie. "I'm making some potato leek soup."
Harry wasn't sure he even heard Allie squeal her answer. She and Jimmy were squirming around on Severus' lap, cheering, chatting, and flailing their arms about.
But all Harry could see was Severus' eyes looking up at him and that thin mouth stretch into a smile. |
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