Pumpkin Carving
“Hurry up Harry get your shoes on love,” Lily said from the bottom of the stairs. It was now the sixth time she’d told him and she had a feeling she was going to have to tell him a few more times.
She checked over the picnic basket one more time, gathering any last items she may have forgotten. “Sev honey, can you put his in the car please?” Lily asked softly, smiling when Severus nodded in return.
“Alright I am going up to make sure the little rascal put his shoes on,” Severus chuckled in response, waving his hand as if to tell her to go.
She headed up the stairs and peeked into her sons room, “Harry love, if you want to go pick out our pumpkins you have to hurry up.”
Harry looked up from his coloring book in shock, “mummy you scared me! Sorry I was finishing my drawing for papas grave!”
Lily sighed, ever since Harry was old enough to understand James was no longer around Harry had wanted to leave a drawing on his grave once a week.
James and Lily had been in a very short lived relationship before James had passed. Harry was only three months old when James had gotten sick, and had passed by the time Harry was eight months old.
Lily and Severus reconnected a year later and had been inseparable since, so Severus was the only father figure Harry really remembered.
No matter how little time James got with Harry, he was still Harry’s father, so Lily and Severus thought it important to keep his memory as alive as they could.
“Okay darling, if you hurry now me and daddy will stop you by the graveyard before the picnic how does that sound?” Harry nodded quickly, running over to grab his shoes.
Once Lily had helped him get them on and tie his laces, he grabbed his picture and Lily’s hand, “okay mummy I ready.”
“I’m ready darling, not I,” Lily corrected the toddler, ruffling his hair and giggling a bit when he huffed, “same thing mummy.”
As they made their way down the stairs -Harry hopping each one exclaiming he was a bunny rabbit- Severus was walking back inside from the car.
“Daddy!” Harry screamed, jumping from the last step and running over to jump on Severus. The man caught him with ease, popping him up to rest on his hip, “what is it brat?” Severus teased, chuckling a bit when Harry stuck his tongue out at him.
“Look at the picture I drew for papas grave!” Severus took the paper, putting on a faux smile for the sake of Harry, “very nicely done Harry, I am sure Potter will love it.”
Severus and James never had got on very well, but Severus did his best not to mention any of that in front of Harry. He deserved good memories of the man. Severus loved Lily and Harry enough to give him that.
“Alright boys, in the car you go,” Lily said, ushering them out with her hands. Severus opened the door for her when she got there, taking Harry and putting him in his car seat in the back.
Getting in the car he sighed, “where to first?” He asked, turning the key until he heard the rumble of the engine.
“Graveyard, then picnic, then pumpkin patch I think love,” Lily said, reaching her hand out to pat Severus on the thigh.
-
“Alright love, it’s time to go now,” Lily said, putting her hand on Harry’s head. He’d managed to drag out the time at the graveyard and they’d been there for over half an hour.
“Okay mummy, bye papa!” Harry said to the headstone, leaning over to give it a kiss. Lily smiled as she lead Harry back to the car. They headed to the park, listening loudly to Harry’s favorite songs on the way.
When they arrived at the park Lily gave Harry a piggy back ride to their favorite picnic spot while Severus carried the basket and blanket.
They set up for a cute little picnic and all sat down together. They ate a simple lunch of sandwiches and fruit, Severus and Lily staying pretty much silent as Harry rambled on about different topics.
“I want a HUGE pumpkin,” Harry rattled off, using his hands to show how big he wanted the pumpkin to be. Severus chuckled, “well Harry you can get any pumpkin you want, as long as you can pick it up, those are the rules.”
“I’m really strong daddy, I can pick up a really big pumpkin you’ll see!” Harry exclaimed, sticking his tongue out at Severus before going back to his sandwich.
They spent another half hour after eating, pushing Harry on the swings and playing tag with him. “Alright Harry, time to go now,” Lily said, trying to get Harry to stop running away from them.
When Severus finally caught him he carried him upside down to the car, trying to dodge the boys kicking legs as he did so.
-
They arrived at the pumpkin patch and got out of the car, Harry immediately taking off towards the pumpkins at a full sprint.
Severus sighed, “toddlers have far too much energy,” he muttered as he grabbed Lily’s hand. She chuckled softly, calling for Harry to stay still until they got there.
They looked around the pumpkin patch for what felt like hours. “Do you have one you like yet, Harry?” Lily asked, handing Severus the pumpkin she picked out.
“I haven’t found the biggest one yet mummy, you just wait!” Harry said, touching each pumpkin he passed.
Severus was just about to tell Harry to pick his pumpkin already, when the little boy looked up and yelled, “I got it mummy! Look,” He struggled to lift the pumpkin up, and Severus sighed walking over to help him.
“Amazing, we can go home now, yes?” Severus asked, making Lily laugh. “You’re such a homebody, yes we can go home my love.”
They got the pumpkins and headed back to the car, Severus sighing heavily every few seconds. Lily rolled her eyes, “you will not die everytime you go out in public I promise.”
“Speak for yourself,” Severus grumbled, helping to load the pumpkins and Harry into the car. The car ride home was a short one, minus Harry’s screaming. He was very excited to carve his pumpkin.
When they got to the house Severus took a sheet and laid it across their island. He got the pumpkin carving kits they used every year and set up a station for each of them.
The act of gutting the pumpkins was a messy one, Harry thought it funny to throw seeds at both Lily and Severus who in return threw some back at him. They would have one hell of a mess to clean up after this.
They finally got to work carving, the house was quiet as the three concentrated. Lily had to stop a few times to help Harry reposition the carving tools.
When they were done they added the lights, and set their pumpkins on the porch. Severus had carved a bat, making Harry giggle because “Well you’re a bat daddy.”
Lily had carved a classic jack-o’-lantern face, and Harry had carved what was supposed to be the three of them on their picnic. It was pretty good for the work of a four year old.
After all was said and done you could find the three snuggled up together on the couch, watching halloween movies on the telly with popcorn and hot cocoa.
“Best day ever,” Harry mumbled sleepily, curling into Severus’ side as Lily curled into the other side. It wasn’t too long before Severus had both of his loves sleeping soundly on his chest.