Severus knows this is a bad idea.
"Cissa we don't have to do this, I can wait until third year like everyone else." Severus offers, even as he says it he knows Cissa will not listen.
Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Luce's smirk. He can't help but roll his eyes, Luce is never any help when it comes to Cissa.
"No. If you wait until third year we won't both be here to show you around!" Cissa says, she'd been excited with the prospect of her and Luce showing Severus their favorite places in Hogsmeade and buying him things.
Severus doesn't really understand what the excitement about Hogsmeade is, but he's never had friends like Cissa and Luce so he lets them do as they please.
Besides Narcissa is right, she's already a fifth year and Lucius is a sixth, by the time Severus is a third year Lucius will already be graduated. No doubt onto an apprenticeship of something or the other. He still hasn't asked Luce what he wants to do yet, he probably should soon.
"Okay fine, I surrender to your superior judgement, but do we have to go with such a convoluted plan?" Severus asks, the moment he heard what they wanted him to do, he had wanted to completely disregard it;
Unfortunately, one does not simply ignore a plan made by Narcissa Black. You maybe circumvent it with a better one, but Luce would be no help in that aspect. As he never was when it came to Cissa, barmy lad was too in love with her and loved chaos too much to ever try to change her mind.
"Convoluted? What's wrong with my plan, Sev! I think it's brilliant, you're already me and Luce's child." Cissa said offhandedly. Sev can feel his soul trying to leave his body as she drags him and Luce down the hall towards the entrence to the castle. (their child?)
"Right, okay. What do I need to do, exactly?" Severus asks as calmly as you please. (their child. their child. their child.)
"It's quite simple, Sev, you're gonna be under my cloak, arms 'round my middle and walk backwards with me slowly. We're telling Slughorn that I'm pregnant, he'll believe it, promise." Cissa says quite proud of her idea.
Severus knows this is a bad idea.
Sev looks over to Luce to see what he's thinking but all he sees is a besotted look on his face while he stares at Cissa who's opening up her cloak. Once again barmy lovestruck lad.
"Come here, Sev, you have to get under before Slughorn catches us!" Cissa whispers, Luce's hand is a warm point of contact on his back as it guides him towards Cissa's open arms.
"Everything will be fine, Sev, don't you believe your mother?" Luce whispers in his ear, chuckling while he says it.
Oh Severus is going to strangle that pompous git when they get back. He shoots a quick glare over his shoulder before he's shoved into Cissa.
He carefully wraps his arms around Cissa, his head pillowed on her stomach, with the cloak around him, he's warm. He can feel the gentle caress of Cissa's hand on the back of his head; A moment later he can feel another, no doubt Luce wanting to play up the 'pregnancy.'
Learning to walk backward while holding onto someone was an experience, one that Severus wouldn't mind never having again. Thankfully he's a fast learner.
"Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Black, what do we have here." Severus could hear the confusion in Professor Slughorn's voice.
"We recently found out we're pregnant sir, so we're just wanting to have a romantic day out to celebrate." Cissa said, voice coming out softer and smoother than he had ever heard it before.
He supposes that makes sense, Cissa and Luce have a public image they project. He wonders how he ties into it. (their child.)
"Is that so. Well carry on then." Slughorn said, sounding amused now.
Whether Slughorn believed them didn't matter, what mattered was that he let them pass and head down to Hogsmeade.
"Thank you, sir." Luce's voice rings out clear as a bell.
Severus thinks he could pick both their voices out in a crowd and hopes that never changes.
The descent down to Hogsmeade is slow going but they don't want anyone to see Severus coming out of Cissa's cloak, so it is necessary.
At some point they turn into what he assumes is an alley way of some sort because next thing he knows he can see light again. While the dark warmth of Cissa's cloak had been comforting, being with both Cissa and Luce is more so. (their child.)
What is not comforting is Lucius messing up his hair by ruffling it. (even if the warm soft hand in his hair made him want more contact, made him want to push into it.)
"LUCE. Don't do that!" Severus couldn't help but screech. Lucius may be older but somehow Severus doubts he'll ever be any less of a childlike loon.
Severus can't help but stick his tongue out at him, which of course prompts Lucius to do it right back. (likely only because they're in the alley with no one else around.)
"Boys, settle down." Cissa gives them both a look that lets them know their fun was had but it's time to go.
"We'd better get started on showing Sev around if we want to make it back on time." Cissa says pointedly to Luce before grabbed onto his hand, then extending the other to Sev.
"Apologies Ms. Black, I'll try to show more decorum in the face of adversity next time." Lucius says solemnly before bestowing a kiss upon her cheek. They all know it's all in good fun but that doesn't stop Cissa's cheeks from tinging a pretty pink.
Ugh, two barmy lovesick souls. Why did he make friends with them again.
He places his hand into Cissa's quickly hoping that means they'll leave the alley and start exploring.
"Where are we going first?" sue him, he's curious. They invited him here, now they have to put up with him.
"Honeydukes to start, next Tomes and Scrolls and then Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. That should cover us for our first trip I think." Cissa says after thinking it over for a moment.
The walk over is quick and he can see the difference in Cissa and Luce instantly as they leave the alley. They both straighten up and hold their heads high, their faces seem almost blank. The traces of humor are gone.
Severus tries his best to emulate them. He doesn't want to embarrass his friends after all.
That thought quickly dies as soon as he's inside Honeydukes, he never understood the phrase, "like a lad in a sweet shop." He does now.
There are candies as far as the eye can see, lollies, chocolate bars, sweets. Thankfully Cissa knows what he likes because before he knows it he's lead to a section with dark chocolate bars and sweets.
He can't help but glance at them both to make sure it's okay. Luce gives a sharp nod and Cissa gives him a small smile, both letting him know they'll get him what he wants.
They had said they wanted to spoil him today, it hadn't felt like a lie, but it had felt like a lot.
Nonetheless he knows his friends want to get him things so he grabs an extra dark chocolate bar and a case of raspberry filled truffles called Blood Droplets.
He peruses the shop while keeping Luce and Cissa in his peripheral. He ends up grabbing an Acid Pop, Fudge Flies, Cockroach Clusters, Sugar Quills and Ice Mice. It felt like too much but every time he had tried to tell them he was done, he was shoo'd with instructions to look for more things he'd like to try.
At least with this both Luce and Cissa looked satisfied with his purchase. They did make him put most of it away in Cissa's bag so they could browse through the other stores. He kept one of the Sugar Quill's to nibble on while they were in the bookstore.
Tomes and Scrolls isn't the biggest magical bookshop Severus has ever seen, but it is vast and he wants so much to explore. From the looks Cissa and Luce are sharing they understand that and will probably let him.
"Go on Sev, look for what you want just be back here in an hour so we can grab lunch then head to the Quill shop, we need more stationary all of us." Cissa says with a smile on her face. They know him too well.
"Thank you!" He offers before he's off, perusing the books looking for anything that could catch his attention.
In the end, he comes to the front within the hour with twelve tomes.
'British Wixen Genealogy: Do you know your family?', 'Magick Gifts from around the World: From Parselmouths to Metamorphmagus', 'The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness: A Complete Book for the use of Wixen in British Society', 'Merpeople: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Language and Customs by Dylan Marwood', 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble', 'Guide to Advanced Occlumency', 'Moste Potente Potions', 'Healing at Home with Herbs by Phyllida Spore', 'Ancient Runes Made Easy by Laurenzoo', 'Law and Literature', 'Legislative Guide to the Proper Use of Magic' and 'The Tales if Beadle the Bard.'
The books have Cissa beaming at him. "Look at all this, Luce! Yes this is exactly what we want, a beautiful mix of educational and fun!" They buy them with little fanfare and put the books away in Cissa's bag as well.
"It's time for a lunch break." Lucius announces, "After all we would hate to deprive our baby of food wouldn't we, Cissa." (their child.) Severus can hear the teasing in his voice just fine. (even as the light touch to the underside of his chin burns with how touch starved he is.)
Narcissa covers her face with her hand quickly as she lets out a soft snort. Severus is delighted he never knew she could make that noise. A quick peak at Luce lets him know that Lucius is also delighted though his face is soft, likely he's already heard Cissa snort before and finds it endearing.
Severus can't help the smile on his own face as he looks at these two people who he cares about and knows who care about him in return.
Lunch is a quick affair in The Hog's Head. They make him try Butterbeer, he declines to ever have that again, much like pumpkin juice it's too sweet.
Before he knows it, the day is winding down and they're on their way to the last stop of the day the Quill shop. He knows before he even sets foot into the shop that they will expect him to grab a number of items.
He makes sure to keep them in his peripheral once again, the shop is small he can't get lost but he feels better knowing they're there. He grabs a dozen Quills, more Parchment than he will likely need for the next year, and various colored ink. (Blue, Green, Black) The faster he is the faster they can head back to the castle.
Severus is tired, though he wouldn't trade this day out for anything, he is not made for days of being social.
When he reaches the front with his collection of items, Lucius is right there with him another gentle press on his back to guide him.
Thankfully that concludes their day out in Hogsmeade. The only issue now being getting back into the castle.
Once again the stationary goes into Cissa's bag. They walk to the same alley they were in before, Cissa's hand in his a warm point of contact.
Cissa's cloak is once again open, he walks into her embrace with no help from Luce needed. (that doesn't stop Luce from placing a gentle hand to his back that slides up and through his hair.) Severus can't help the huff he lets out. He hasn't forgotten he still needs to strangle Luce. (their child.)
Cissa's cloak is closed once again. Severus' head is pillowed on her stomach his arms wrapped around her torso, Cissa's hand is cradling his head. He feels warm and content.
Slowly they walk back to the castle, Severus and Cissa's walk is more of a waddle. He can hear Slughorn's loud voice and obnoxious laughter as they get closer and closer.
"Cutting it pretty close there aren't you, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Black." Slughorn says not really expecting a reply.
Lucius not one to keep his mouth shut has to answer anyways, "Yes sir, as you can see from Narcissa's pregnant stomach, it can take us a while to go from place to place." he places a hand on Severus' head. Severus has to hold back a sigh.
Unfortunately, Severus is not paying attention when they start moving again. He loses his grip and before he knows it he's tumbling out of Cissa's cloak.
"Oh." Cissa says, "It seems I have given birth."
Kill him right now that did not just come out of Cissa's mouth.
"He looks just like us." Luce chimes in. A goofy grin on his face as he looks down at Severus.
Slughorn just stares on in amusement.
Severus knew this was a bad idea.