Severus Snape is tired of the lies. (fortiscadere) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2009-05-14 19:20:00 |
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Severus sincerely hoped that this evening would turn out well. It was Agatha's birthday after all, and although they should have been celebrating it as husband and wife, just because they were not, did not mean that some form of celebration shouldn't take place. In truth, Severus was actually optimistic about the evening's possibilities. Actually, Severus was feeling almost optimistic about the entire week. The news that he had actually been promoted into the Dark Lord's Inner Circle had gotten the week off to an excellent start. That he'd been congratulated and seemingly accepted among the Inner Circle themselves, had continued his good mood. If there were days he wanted to sincerely forget about everything that he was doing with the Order, stick his head in the sand and pretend that his half blood status did not matter, these were among them. He couldn't help but feel accepted and appreciated, which meant that he in turn wondered if it were even necessary. Even people in the Ordercould hide easily enough, it was merely the loud mouths who were punished, and really, wasn't that their own faults? But these thoughts were not where he wanted to dwell tonight. No. This evening he was going to make certain that Agatha had an excellent birthday, and he'd decided after much thought to simply keep it simple. They had done a fancy dinner to celebrate his Inner Circle status earlier in the week. This evening they would have a picnic in the park. So after work Severus had gathered up the food - almost entirely prepared by someone other than him - packed it away with the presents he'd finally picked out for his fiancee, and Apparated to the Chubb's home. He'd spent enough time here after the Hogwarts battle, that it had begun to feel if not like home, at least more comfortable than it had previously. He raised his hand and knocked on the door wondering if Agatha or her father would answer it. Agatha had been buzzing around the house since early that morning. They didn't tend to celebrate too many things in their family but birthdays and Christmas were two things that were enjoyed to the full. Martha had made breakfast in bed for her and given her a present and her father had greeted her when she'd gotten up with akiss and her presents. There had been more than she'd expected but one of them hadn't strictly been a birthday present. It had been the rest of her mother's jewels that had been held in trust for her until her twenty-first birthday. Her father had had tears in his eyes when he'd given her that one and so had she. But the rest of the day had definitely made her buzz around as gifts had arrived and she tried to distract herself from thoughts of tonight. She had no idea what Severus had planned and that alone was making her smile happily. She had always liked these sort of surprises on birthdays. Normally being shoved into corners and having things kept from her made her a little anxious but on birthdays it was perfectly alright because there was invariably something fun involved at the end. When the knock came at the door, she came clattering down the stairs, yelling, "I'll get it!" She heard her father's laughter coming from his study and grinned as she opened the door, slightly breathless from her run down the stairs. "Severus!" she said with delight then she leaned up on her tip toes and kissed him. She felt far more comfortable with him after his week here convalescing and if anyone objected (though who was going to see them really?), well, they should have been married now anyway so phooey to them. Severus couldn't help the genuine grin that crossed his face when she opened the door and was so undeniably delighted to see him. He slid his hand behind her back- he still had not gotten used to the feeling of his two fingers being missing to the knuckles - and met her kiss easily and perhaps a bit eagerly. If he pushed thoughts of Lily to the back of his mind things were precisely how they should be. He had earned a position of respect and some privilege within the Death Eaters. He held a reasonably high position within the Ministry of Magic. He was engaged to a woman whom - he had not had to lie when he defended her to Travers - was intelligent and compassionate and while she might not be the beauty queen some of the Purist women were, Severus was not at all uncertain as he pulled back and looked at her bright eyes that he did not have the best end of the bargain so far as arranged marriages were concerned (Quidditch obsession not withstanding). And even this very line of thought felt almost absurd to him, but he could no more stop the optimism today than he would have been able to defeat the Dark Lord on his own. "Happy birthday, Agatha," he said in a way that might almost be considered chipper for him. "I do hope that you do not mind that I am stealing you away tonight?" "Thank you," she said with a blush that was mostly due to the kiss and partly to do with his good mood. She didn't think she'd ever seen him so cheerful as he had been this week and she felt it was a very good look on him. As much as she might have doubts and questions over everything Severus was involved in, she wouldn't, couldn't, think about them tonight when they were both so happy. "I don't mind at all," she said with a giggle. "And I'm sure Father won't mind either. I've been a little... excited all day and he's taken refuge in his study since lunchtime." "Good," he said simply. The picnic bit was prepared, the presents wrapped, and he really hoped that she'd like them. He wished that he'd had more time because there were things he could have perhaps done that he hadn't had time to do, but he supposed he could pack those ideas away for Christmas or some other time when he would need something, and no doubt be equally helpless. And he was pleased that she was excited to see him. Yes, what he'd said to Demetrius was true, he did feel vaguely paranoid, that all of this was too good to be true, but on the other hand, he thought, the beginning of the month had been utterly dreadful, maybe this was May's way of making it up to him - at least for a moment. "Are you ready then?" He asked with a quick smile as he held out his hand to her. "Because if you are we should get going." She slid her hand into his without any hesitation. She didn't care that he was missing two fingers though it did feel a little strange. It wasn't as though he'd lost them in a silly accident or anything like that. He'd been wounded in battle. That made them war wounds in her eyes, something to be respected and honoured. She raised the hand and kissed his remaining fingers then smiled up at him. "I'm ready," she said eagerly. Then she bit her bottom lip before continuing. "I'm dying to ask where we're going but I'm not going to. I love surprises on my birthday." She giggled. "You'll come to realise that." He smiled as she kissed his hand and he then Apparated them both to the quiet park he'd planned for them to actually have dinner at. He'd picked something that was somewhat away from people and while there were people who walked around, it was easy to find a somewhat secluded corner so that they could actually have some peace and enjoy the meal together. It was a pretty park with large trees that were leafed out for the summer, and he turned to her after they Apparated to give her a smile. "I thought a picnic perhaps, if you're not completely adverse to the idea. It was more casual than a fancy dinner, and the weather has been so nice recently - not to mention that it just felt overall more private, but not so much so that anyone would complain," he hesitated. They should have been married, he thought. And if they had been he would have had a much different evening planned for her, but he supposed they would have to make do, and if it was June, it would only be a month away. There were certainly downsides to not being married yet, and as he thought about what he might have planned, he was becoming very much aware of those downsides. "So, where do you want to set up?" He continued, waving his hand at the grounds in front of them. "It's the birthday girl's choice." Agatha looked around in delight when they arrived and she beamed at the very idea of a picnic. She hadn't done that for years, well, at least not beyond 'family' picnics with Eddie and Sarah and Antony and often Father and some of Eddie and Sarah's friends. But just a quiet picnic, no, not for a long time. "A picnic is wonderful," she said with a little bounce and a big smile. Just for once she wished they didn't have to worry about being 'proper' but she thought that even her birthday wouldn't change that. Severus had his job and it did require a certain 'properness'. Darn it. She looked around then saw the perfect place. It was sheltered from the wind and the main area of the park by low bushes and trees but still got some of the evening sun. "Over there," she said, pointing towards it and pulling Severus along with her. When they got there, it did prove to be just what she'd wanted. "This is perfect!" she announced happily. The grass was green and lush and it was quiet and as private as was possible in a public park. More importantly private enough to let it feel private, yet not so private as to offer the impression of being 'improper'. There was also the most enormous flower bush at one end as she walked over to examine and smell the flowers. Severus followed her, enjoying being tugged along to the 'perfect' place that she'd picked out. As he reached it he had to agree that it was a delightful place for them to set up and so he opened the small bag he'd carried along with them, pulling out a blanket that he then laid out on the ground so they could actually sit down without her worrying about getting anything on her clothing. That done, he then begin to pull out the small covered containers that he'd put the food into. There were several salads, fruit, breads, and cheeses that, while simple, seemed as if they would be perfect for the evening. He had rather wanted simple. They had done the overblown dinner on their first evening together, and he supposed that there was at least a part of him that was currently longing for privacy and quiet. An introvert at heart, he preferred the simplicity of an evening with just the two of them with fewer social rules and obligations, than one that would require either of them to pretend to be something they were not. "It is perfect," he agreed as he laid out the plates and gave her a smile. "I suppose I thought this would be nicer than something formal - more like dinner with the two of us at home, or quiet. Since we don't have that, really, I thought this would be the next best thing." It was the first time he'd really referred in any really way at all to the fact that they should have been married and that he would have rather preferred that. Have you had a good birthday thus far?" As Severus spoke, Agatha made her way back over to him and sat down. It occurred to her at that point that if they'd gotten married on the day they should have, this birthday celebration might have been a bit different. She blushed a little that then hurriedly spoke in the hope that Severus wouldn't ask about that blush. "I rather like this actually. All those formal dinners just make me a bit nervous." She bit her lip. "Though we really ought to make a decision on the date for our wedding." She grew determined. "And it's going ahead on that day, whatever it is. I really don't care what else happens. I think I'd even brave Lord Voldemort if I had to." She relaxed into a smile again. "Oh yes. Father gave me such a surprise this morning. He had Mother's jewels for me. Apparently they were to be given to me when I turned twenty-one. I hadn't even known." His eyes on her face like they were, he couldn't help but notice the blush, and there was something sweet (and perhaps a bit intoxicating) about it. He did wish things were different, that was certain. He supposed it was absurdly male of him, but the wish hadn't particularly gone away in the last few weeks, and despite all of the other things that had happened his mind had not entirely been taken off of the thought. He ignored the blush for now though. "Well, June - first weekend perhaps? Or the second?" he added quickly, hoping that his eagerness did not reveal itself too much. It was not so much marriage that he was looking forward to as it was just having this part of his life finished and things to fall back into a rhythm that was natural and made sense. "It depends really on how much time you will need to prepare things. If you can do it quickly, then we should simply move forward as quickly as possible - if you need more time we can take it." "Did he?" Severus said, looking a bit startled himself. He was almost pleased by that. Despite the fact that he would hardly be able to give her jewels himself, at least she would have nice ones to wear when they were out at events. Agatha did some quick mental calculations then giggled. "I think perhaps we'd better take the first weekend. I'm not entirely sure if I've calculated it right but I'm fairly sure the second weekend in June is the 13th and 14th. That sounds a little bit too much like jinxing ourselves. How about the Sunday of the first weekend? The... 6th, I think it would be." She waved a hand. "Oh, it won't take that long. We only need to rebook the venue and caterers. Oh, and let everyone know of the new date. Oh dear. I'd better talk to Mireille. I have no idea what the etiquette is for doing that. Whether we send out new inivitations or not." "Yes," she said. "And they're lovely. I think a lot of them were things she must have inherited from people in her family because some of them are very old." Some of them she wasn't sure she'd ever wear since they were terribly large and clunky but there were still some gorgeous pieces in there and she was going to have a wonderful time going through them over the next few days. Severus listened to what she had to say and then laughed shortly. "I think our wedding has had enough bad luck. First weekend in June it is then and Sunday will be fine." That was only - well, it was really only a few more weeks, he thought, settling in comfortably and gazing at her. "Is there something I need to do?" He added. If there was, he'd have no idea what it would be, but he supposed as it was at least partially his fault that the event had been cancelled that he should offer to help put it to rights. "That's wonderful Agatha," he said. "You'll have to show them to me later," he added. He set out the plates and the food and handed over a fork and a plate to her.This wasn't the sort of thing Severus did typically - or really ever. Birthdays were not something he'd ever celebrated much with his family, so he hoped that he was doing this right. "Here we are, I had them put together mostly salads and things like that, but I've also got tea, and some ginger biscuits and of course birthday cake. So, go ahead and help yourself, and we'll get to the fun things later." What those fun things were he left mostly unsaid, although he planned to take advantage of the privacy, and perhaps add a little of more before the evening was out, if she would let him get away with it. Agatha paused then gave Severus a look of utter mischief. "Stay out of any more fights?" she suggested innocently. She laughed then shook her head. "No, it's just a matter of rebooking things and the people at the castle have already sent me a list of dates. I'm pretty sure the 6th was available. I'll contact them tomorrow and make sure it hasn't been taken since they sent me the list." She took the plate and fork and looked over everything Severus had brought before serving herself. "It looks wonderful. It's been a while since I've done anything like this." She smiled wryly. "Martha and I didn't get much in the way of opportunity to have picnics while we were travelling. Unless you count the times when I was tromping around ancient Quidditch pitches and apparently Martha doesn't." She grinned happily at the mention of fun things but didn't ask about them. She'd never been one to demand the fun things immediately. She liked the anticipation. Severus blushed slightly, feeling vaguely embarrassed despite the fact that the battle's timing had certainly not been his idea. "I'm Inner Circle now," he reminded her with a slight smile. "The next time they go planning a battle on the eve of our wedding day, I'll remind them that twenty-four hours -no," he smirked as his eyes slid rather wickedly from her face up and down her body. "At least forty-eight hours would be desired. Hard work ought to pay off in some fashion, after all." He reached for some of the salad, relaxing as she talked about the plans needed for their wedding, and prior picnics she might or might not have had. "You mean Martha never made you stop in the middle of an ancient Quidditch pitch and have dinner?" He asked wryly. "Had I been there, I should have made you stop in the middle of a Quidditch pitch and eat. Someday," he warned, taking a bite of the fruit salad. "I will do precisely that actually." "Oh good," Agatha said tartly then she caught his look and blushed, ducking her head for a moment then looking back up at him and smiling shyly. She liked that look. She liked it, liked what it promised, decided she wanted to see it a lot more. When Severus looked at her like that, he made her feel pretty, desirable, wanted and that wasn't something that had happened to her much before. She'd always been seen as the 'frizzy-haired girl', the 'Beater girl', the 'Quidditch nut', not as someone anyone would want to go out with, let alone do anything more. She laughed ruefully. "Sometimes she did. Once she started to realise what I was like. Either that or she just dragged me out of wherever we were and into the nearest village." She looked a little surprised at his last comment then she smiled again. So he wasn't going to stop her doing her research and was even willing to come with her. "There's often interesting plants in those bogs and fens," she said with mock-innocence. "Potion ingredient-type plants." Severus couldn't help but smile as she looked away shyly. He was beginning to forget that he'd not thought her the most beautiful woman when he'd first met her. The more he spent time with her, the more he liked the way her eyes lit up when she was excited about something, or the way her cheeks flushed when she got a bit embarrassed. He rather liked that he had the power to make her blush and hoped it didn't leave right away as soon as they got married. He rather hoped that he could continue to make her blush for quite a few years to come. "I've heard that," he said, grinning at her mock-innocence. "I do have to make runs for ingredients from time to time, and it would be nice to have someone who could help me carry them back." It was his turn to look innocent as he took another bite of food. He suspected she wouldn't take too happily to the suggestion that she would be in the bogs and fens only to help him carry his potion ingredients. Agatha knew he was teasing her. She probably wouldn't have done so when they'd first met but after the week in hospital and Severus' time at her home, she'd learned to read him a little. Not much and certainly not as well as she'd like though she was aware that would come with time and familiarity but enough to see that his innocent look was as teasing as her own had been. She liked that. Liked that he would joke with her and liked that she was starting to be able to understand, even if only just a little. "That works out well," she said sweetly. "I can always use someone to help carry back the old bludgers and quaffles I find." The idea of him carrying a bludger and quaffle around was almost enough to make him laugh outright, instead he merely smirked and took another bite of the food. He still didn't quite get her obsession with Quidditch, in fact it would be safe to say that it still baffled him completely, but he was beginning to feel at ease with the sport itself, if not the reasonings behind the obsession. For a moment he rather wished that he had Marius Lestrange's resources at his disposal. Had that been the case he would have paid two of the professional teams to show up at the field behind their house-to-be and play a match for Agatha for her birthday, but not only did he not have Lestranges monetary resources, but he had no particular connections with current Quidditch teams as well, so all in all it was only a nice idea that would not have been able to come to fruition. "Clearly we are going to have to have a number of children," he said dryly and then feeling odd at the suggestion. The idea of him with children was actually somewhat terrifying and he wasn't certain why he had made the suggestion, which had been intended at first as a joke, but then felt suddenly very real. She would be his wife - they would be expected to have children - oh, maybe not at the same level that purebloods would be - but still, Severus had a suspicion that 'properly' raised children, whatever their bloodlines would be considered an asset - someone had to be around to make purebloods feel superiour after all. Agatha did laugh, both at his reaction and his suggestion of having children to fetch and carry for them. The idea of children had crossed her mind from time to time. She knew it would be expected once they were married and she wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that. She liked the idea of children but she was sure the reality would be rather different. She worried about her book, about whether she'd be a good mother and about whether she really wanted to bring children into the world as it stood right now. "You know... I think our children are most likely to end up as Ravenclaws," she said with a laugh. "Which doesn't seem like such a bad thing." She pretended to looked horrified. "Imagine if they were Gryffindors!" She didn't have the dislike that Slytherins had of Gryffindors but she did tend to find them exasperating and annoying in general. They seemed so... silly most of the time, even when things should be taken terribly seriously. "Merlin, no Gryffindors," Severus said with a small groan. "It would be the fates deciding that they have turned their backs against me entirely." It was odd though that of the two women he'd loved (and he would not count his infatuation on Astra) both had been Gryffindors, and he half wondered what that said about him. "Ravenclaws though," he looked at the plate in front of him and nodded, looking almost pleased. "I was almost sorted into Ravenclaw, and I think I'd be quite content with Ravenclaw children. Or a Hufflepuff. I'm," he hesitated, giving her a smile. "I'm beginning to gain a bit of a fondness for that house as well." Agatha blushed and smiled sweetly again. "That's good because I'm developing a fondness for certain Slytherins." Well, a Slytherin really since she wasn't entirely certain about many of the other Slytherins she'd met. She had to admit the women were usually very nice but they had that undercurrent of nastiness that made her wonder what they said about her behind her back. She didn't like that but she'd learned over the years to dismiss it and not let it hurt her. People had been saying nasty things about her behind her back since she became a Beater for Hufflepuff. Let them. If they thought it was going to stop her, well, they were as silly as they looked. Severus gave her a semi-arch look and said, "Well that's good considering you are engaged to marry one." There was some truth to the notion that he had never really given Hufflepuffs much thought whatsoever before he'd met Agatha. He didn't dislike them as he did Gryffindors, and he didn't identify much with them, like he frequently did with Ravenclaws, but Agatha was changing all of that. She certainly had qualities that he did admire, and sadly some of the ones - such as her sense of fairness - that he tended to appreciate the most and even agree with the most were not always ones he felt comfortable encouraging considering they were often directed towards fairness to those of all bloodlines. It was an odd stance coming from someone with her father, but he certainly didn't mind it. "I was almost sorted into Ravenclaw," he said suddenly. "I sometimes wonder if my life would have been quite different if I had been placed there. I suppose it's one of those things one can 'what if' about endlessly with no real conclusion." Would anyone have noted his friendship with Lily if he had been in Ravenclaw he wondered? Even with all of the other things the Gryffindors disliked about him and he of them, would it have been so horrible a thing for him to have been Lily's friend then? The conclusion he wasn't certain that he liked drawing, was that he wasn't certain it would have been. At least, he couldn't imagine anyone in his own house caring much in that scenario. Agatha laughed and gave him a somewhat mischievous look. "I know. Convenient, isn't it?" She cocked her head slightly as she thought about that. "The Sorting Hat never hesitated before putting me in Hufflepuff but I've often thought that I could have done equally well in Ravenclaw. Though I think some pf the relentless literalism Ravenclaws are capable of would have driven me barmy." She smiled and laughed. "I can't ever see myself being a Gryffindor or a Slytherin though." She took a sip of her drink as she frowned thoughtfully. "I've wondered every now and then what the Hat looks for when it Sorts us. I mean I think I was a different person at seventeen than I was at eleven but I wonder if it would have been any different if I had been in another House. Would I have been happier? Or more miserable? Or would it have been much of a muchness?" She shook her head. "It's hard to tell really." "Apparently I cared a bit too much about proving myself," Severus nodded. He supposed that would surprise no one that knew him well. It seemed unlikely even now that he didn't have some aspect of that still there. That he might have chosen slightly different paths to act upon desire was certainly true, but he knew that it still existed. Would part of him always someday feel as if he needed to prove who he was and what he could do to someone or someday perhaps he would he be as confident as Aberforth seemed to be. He hoped so, and for not the first time he realised what a part of himself he didn't show her: couldn't show her. "I think the part of you that is personality probably would still be similar," he said finally. "But obviously your friends, your companions, your experiences shape you as well, and if you were in a different house, you would be some different in as much as those effect personality. At least, that would be my take on the matter." He finished up the salad on his plate and reached for the bag, but this time left the contents safely within. "Now, the real question at the moment, is whether you wish dessert first, or presents first." "Nothing wrong with that," Agatha said with a laugh. "You'd hardly be the only person who ever wanted to do that and Slytherin is supposed to be the House for those with ambition." She frowned. "Though really that's a bit of a misnomer, isn't it? It's not like the rest of us don't have any ambition. I certainly have ambitions." She nodded. "I suppose you're right." She rolled her eyes goodnaturedly. "We could probably play 'what if' for days and never come up with a proper answer." Her eyes lit up at his question and she grinned with delight. "Oooh, decisions, decisions! Umm." She nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment then laughed. "Presents!" "It's true," Severus laughed with her, thankful that at least she didn't seem to find ambition a negative characteristic, although he felt like (unfairly) Slytherin students frequently got a bad rap for it even though certainly other people were ambitious as well. Oh well, luckily she wasn't a Gryffindor and there was no long standing house rivalry between Hufflepuff and Slytherin - in fact, he was pretty certain the only bordering on dangerous rivalry was between Gryffindor and Slytherin. "We have ambitions but they aren't to keep everyone else from having ambitions, nor is it really the only thing we're known for, even if it is at least one defining characteristic." He grinned at her as she asked for presents and reached for the bag once more. "There's one that's for now and one that's," he hesitated slightly, wondering if he was even brave enough to give her the second present. But then again, it was just the two of them, and they were less than a month away from their wedding (or elopement should something once again disrupt the actual planned day). "One that's for later," he said, trying not to feel nervous about that proposition after all, for all she knew he'd had these planned for months. "So which one first?" Agatha clapped her hands together with delight and set her plate to one side. "I suppose I'd better have the present that's supposed to be for now first," she said. She had the urge to be a little silly and his phrasing had given her the opportunity. "After all, it's now, not later so I can't have the present that's for later until we get to later." Though she was dying of curiosity to know what that 'later' present was after Severus' slight hesitation. "All right then," Severus reached into the bag, pulling out a neatly wrapped box that he handed over to her with a smile. He truly did hope that she would like the 'now' gift. It seemed as if something, after the conversations they'd had in recent weeks, that she might have some use for and hopefully would be enjoyable as well. Passing the dark blue wrapped box over to her he sat back, waiting for her to open it. Agatha vacillated for a moment between being lady-like and opening the present neatly and just tearing into it like a child. Finally she settled on something somewhere in between though probably a little more on the lady-like side as she opened the present. When she saw what was inside, her eyes widened for a moment then she gave a small squeal of delight as she pulled the gardening set out. "Oh, Severus! It's wonderful!" she said running her hands over the brand new, shiny tools. "Oooh, it makes me want to run over to our house and start using them all right now." She laughed then leaned over to kiss him. "Thank you!" He smiled at her kiss and was pleased with her response. He'd felt as if she'd like it, felt as if it even felt like her, but it was nice to have that confirmed by her response. "I'm glad you like it then," he said. "I thought with all our talk of gardens and herbology that it might be useful as well as an attractive way to package such necessary items. And it seems you'll have opportunity to use them shortly, really." At that, he hesitated a bit at the idea of the next present and covered the hesitation by reaching for a drink and taking a sip. "In fact, I believe the house is as warded as it will be until such time as we move in, so it is probably safe for you to go over and work whenever you wish to do so." "Oh, wonderful!" she said with delight, looking down at the tools and running through a few plans in her head. "I'd like to get that garden tamed as quickly as possible then I can get some late planting done. I've missed the planting season for some thing but I can still get some growing done." She had been making some sketches and plans over the last few weeks and even buying some seeds. She'd held off on buying seedlings but now she rather thought she'd go ahead with that and get them into the ground. Though perhaps she ought to wait until she'd been and cleaned up a bit of the garden first. "Perhaps we can spend next Sunday there together?" He suggested. Despite the fact that he'd double and triple checked all of the wards on the property, he knew he would feel better if he were there with her. He didn't expect any trouble seeing as how nobody even knew where their house was (which, he was quite all right with) but he would always rather be safe than be sorry, and it was his future wife whom he really didn't want anything to happen to. He'd put too much time and energy into getting to know her over the past few months, to be comfortable with the idea. "I could even help with some of the clearing a bit, if you need, although I'm not certain I've much of a green thumb. I did all right in Herbology though. That way we'll have some things put together before we get married and after we move in we'll have a good start. Dessert then?" He added, reaching into the bag again and ignoring, for the moment anyway, that he had another present for her. "Oh, yes please!" Agatha said with delight. "That would be wonderful." The strength or otherwise of the wards didn't occur to her. That had always been something other people had taken care of and while it probably would occur to her once they had married and moved in and the place became their responsibility, for now she could only see the opportunity to spend a day with Severus in what was soon to be their own home, making it ready for when they moved in. He smiled. "From what I remember there are some areas which need to be cleared entirely. The plants were just far too overgrown and the beds would be better used for something else. You won't need any particular knowledge to clear those out." Her smile turned almost impish. She hadn't forgotten the second present but she was more than happy to wait until 'later' arrived. "Oooh, yes please." "Good," Severus said, pleased at the idea of doing this together as a couple. It did feel normal somehow like things couples who actually liked each other would do together. While he was frequently fearful that his marriage would just mirror his parents, he liked that mostly thus far it didn't seem as if he and Agatha would do so, but they had not begun living together yet, and that could change things. "It sounds as if I may be of use after all," he said mildly, but her grin warmed him. Whatever his feelings about Agatha - things he had not even bothered sorting through because in the end it really didn't matter if he loved her or loathed her, he was still engaged to marriage her - her smiles almost always made him feel wanted or at the very least, not unwanted. "Here we are then," He pulled out a small cake, really just large enough for two and sat it on the blanket in front of them. Lighting the single candle with his wand, he pushed it towards her. "Happy Birthday Agatha. You should make a wish." Agatha hesitated before making her wish. There were, after all, many things she could wish for but silly superstition or not, she felt that she ought to make this wish really count. It would be easy enough to wish for this horrible war to be over or for frivolous things like money or things like that but they were really pointless wishes. She smiled suddenly as she realised what she wanted to wish for. It was simple really. For she and Severus to make their marriage work. She wasn't foolish enough to wish for love but she did wish that they could learn to understand each other and be happy together. What more could two people ask for from a marriage? She leaned forward and blew out the candle, keeping her wish firmly in mind then looked over at Severus. "If you have a knife, I'll cut it." Severus wanted to ask her what she wished for, but he wasn't going to risk the old superstition that it might not come true if she shared it. And he supposed anyway, perhaps he wouldn't want to know. It was her wish after all, and unless it was something he could make come true, it wasn't as if he needed to know. At her words, he reached into the bag of supplies and utensils and pulled out a knife and two plates for the two of them. "Here you are," he said passing them over. After he did so, he pulled out another box, her second present and the one that he just wasn't certain about, but he had mentioned it so he rather would have to give it to her at this point. His cheeks slightly flushed although he was attempting to stay very calm. He sat the box to the side for after they finished their cake. "For later," he said raising his eyebrow, his cheeks still warm, but he hoped not so flushed after all. Agatha took the knife and the plates and busied herself with cutting the cake and setting the pieces on the plate. She looked up when Severus when Severus pulled something else out of the bag and was surprised to see him blushing over her second present. It did make her wonder what on earth he could have gotten her and the thought occurred to her that maybe he'd bought her something a little on the naughty side. Which probably really wasn't on naughty side since they were engaged and they were going to get married so if it was something that a husband might give his wife, well, then it was perfectly alright. She handed one of the plates to Severus and decided not to mention the blush. Severus usually good enough not to laugh at her blushes after all. "Here you go." She glanced over at the present and smiled. "I believe I'm looking forward to it." Severus took the cake and started in on it. He supposed all things considered it was a good sign that he enjoyed these quiet evenings with Agatha: That he enjoyed talking with her, and having her at his side at society events. She could have been someone he dreaded spending time with, who was quiet or mousy, and he felt absolutely nothing in common with, but as Agatha had mentioned earlier, it seemed quite reasonable for their children to be Ravenclaws, because there seemed to be a combined love of research and study that connected them, even if it was not a defining characteristic for either of them. And all other things considered equal, Severus supposed he would have picked a woman who was intelligent over many other qualities demonstrated in Purist girls. "You don't even know what it is," he said as calmly as possible and he took another bite of the cake. "You might loathe it completely," this was accompanied by a once again by a raised eyebrow and a bit of a smirk. Agatha took a bite of her cake, delighting in the taste. She didn't have sweet things all that often. If she was sitting around doing research and writing, she tended to put on a little weight and she preferred not to do that. If she was playing Quidditch or tramping around bogs and fens, that was more than enough exercise though perhaps the gardening would help with that along with the Quidditch pitch near the house. "From the look on your face, I don't think I will," she said with a giggle. She set her plate aside and held out her hand. "Let's find out." Severus couldn't help blushing with that statement, mostly because he wasn't certain precisely what his face was actually looking like. But with a smile he reached for the package and almost shyly handed it over. "I suppose we'll see soon enough then won't we?" He had absolutely no idea what she was going to think of it and at the moment he was rather wishing he had not taken James Potter's advise on this particular present but it was too late for that and with the time he'd had to actually find her something after the battle and his bed rest he hadn't been able to think of too many options. He supposed that really he ought not be so embarrassed for someone who typically was fairly open with the topic, but his cheeks were flushed anyway as he waited for her to open the gift. Agatha took the present and opened it with the same restrained excitement as she had the first one. For a moment she didn't quite register what was in the box then her eyes widened when she realised it was Quidditch themed... specifically Beater themed... underwear. She blushed furiously then all of a sudden she began to giggle, one hand covering her mouth and her eyes dancing with merriment as she looked down at the contents of the box. She looked up at Severus and couldn't help saying in her most impish manner even as she still blushed bright red, "Should I wear them on our wedding night?" The fact that she hadn't slapped him was probably a good sign, Severus thought as she first turned red and then started giggling. It would be too much to ask him to actually say thank you to Potter for the gift idea, but nonetheless the fact that she seemed to like it, if was somewhat embarrassed by it, was something to be somewhat grateful for. He would have never even known such things existed, to be certain. His cheeks were pink also, as he shrugged lightly, pretending to not particularly care one way or another, although his eyes said otherwise. "I suppose if you'd like to," he said. "Although you might have something else planned, and if so, I won't be disappointed." And he flushed as he said that, because it suggested things that, although he felt they were probably true, were still intimate, nonetheless. "We would have been married," he added, although the defence seemed unnecessary, all the more so as he hadn't had them from before. She actually had had other things planned for their wedding night but these were far more fun. For both of them really. Fun for her to wear and given what she knew Severus' opinion was of Quidditch, probably fun for him to remove. She blushed furiously again at that thought. Probably according to the society ladies she'd been dealing with, she shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that. But according to Martha, whose opinion she valued far more, there was nothing wrong with it. "Yes, we would have," she said a little shyly. She ducked her head for a moment, her eye catching the contents of the box again and making her giggle again. She set the box aside and leaned forward to kiss him. "Thank you." Severus reached his hand up as she kissed him and caught her cheek, staying close to kiss her a moment longer than she might have been intending originally. His cheeks still felt warm, but he liked kissing her and thought that she liked kissing him - rather hoped that she did as it was rather an expected part of being married, really. Their location was private, but probably not private enough for him to lay her down on the blanket like he really wanted to do. So after a moment, he pulled back, rather reluctantly. "You're welcome," he said, his hand still on her cheek as he looked at her. "I think I'd like to lay you out on this blanket right now," he said, feeling suddenly bold from the kiss and her reaction to his rather intimate present. "But, I suppose I should be good and wait lest your father murder me in my sleep." He wondered briefly if Mr Chubb actually would, considering everything. Of course, it would assume that he even knew in the first place. Agatha gasped a little at his suggestion then blushed and ducked her head. Almost immediately she raised it again and glanced around reflexively. Part of her wanted to say yes. Part of her was utterly horrified and reminding her very firmly that while they were engaged, they weren't married and that sort of thing should wait. It was something of a debate as to which part was larger... and winning. But the sight of other people in the park allowed the more proper side of her to win the argument. "I... I'd like that too," she said with a boldness she didn't quite feel. She glanced over at the people. "But we're not exactly alone." She smiled shyly. "And Father never need know. He certainly won't ask." "And yet, because we're not exactly alone," he glanced at the people as well. "There is the possibility he might find out." Severus sighed internally, some things would have to wait, he supposed. But people did not mean he couldn't walk her around the park on his arm, and enjoy the feel of her next to him. That was proper enough, all things considered. "If you're finished we could pack up and take a bit of a walk then? Stop us both from being tempted," he added a bit cheekily. "Yes, that is true," Agatha said, still blushing and feeling like that would never end. Which was rather frustrating. Maybe she'd stop blushing after they were married. She hoped so. It would be terribly embarrassing to go through her entire life blushing every time Severus made some sly comment or two. She giggled and smacked his arm lightly. "A walk sounds just right," she said before turning her attention to packing up the picnic things. It wasn't long until they got married and after that, picnics like this would have a different ending than just a walk. She was rather looking forward to that. |