Full Moon, Night One
Full Moon, Night One
Severus gazed up at the full moon that hung high overhead, remembering the anxiety it once induced from childhood experiences, and even some adult. The absolute fear of werewolves had been all but hardwired into him after Lupin and Greyback and others he had encountered but never learned the names of. Despite being an acquaintance of Lupin through the Order and providing him with Wolfsbane for years, he’d never quite gotten over that deep-seated fear of what occurred once a month for the man and hundreds of others around the world.
Yet, somehow, after all of that, here he sat and not for the first time. No, this had been a monthly occurrence for the past five years. They would come to this clearing with the single-room hut—for it couldn’t be considered more than that, honestly—and would spend hours outside under the moon until all the energy—sometimes positive, sometimes negative—was spent and the boy would pass out. Somehow, he had come to be one of two raising a little boy that experienced symptoms of lycanthropy three nights a month, though, thankfully, a full change was not one of them. No, the boy simply had overactive nights with intense need to be outside, specific dietary desires, a marked increase in strength, and volatile mood swings.
A happy squeal and childish giggles took his attention from the moon and he turned around just in time to receive an armful of said little boy that knocked him back onto the ground. He immediately wrapped his arms around the child even as he grunted at the impact and threw a half-hearted glare at his laughing husband.
“Papa, come play!” Teddy said loudly, pushing on Severus’ chest so he could sit up on top of Severus who was still laying on the grass.
Severus moved his hands to Teddy’s sides in a firm grasp to keep the seven-year-old as still as possible while Harry came and sat beside them, reaching out to run his fingers through the boy’s wildly scruffy hair. It often came to resemble wolf fur during these nights and no amount of Metamorphmagi powers could change it. He looked at Harry who was flushed, having just spent the last thirty minutes chasing Teddy around the field without pause.
“And what would you like to play, Mr. Teddy?” Severus asked casually, moving his legs automatically to bounce the boy.
“Tag!” Teddy exclaimed, giggling as he bounced.
“Magic permitted?” Severus asked.
Teddy nodded vigorously, always more than happy to accept any of Severus’ conditions if it meant his older father would play with him.
Severus heaved an exaggerated sigh, catching Harry’s amused smirk. “Very well, little monster.”
“You get a head start, kid,” Harry said. “Go on before Papa catches up.”
Teddy cheered and hopped off of Severus, taking off in a mad dash across the moonlit field. Severus sat up and watched the boy, briefly overcome with how much he actually adored Teddy.
“How much longer until he’s out?” Severus asked, climbing to his feet and reaching out to help Harry up.
On his feet, Harry instantly leaned in for a short kiss. “Probably another three hours.”
Severus sighed again, once again not meaning it in the least. “Very well.”
He turned and waved his wand. In the not-too-far distance, Teddy was lifted clean from the ground and turned upside down, laughing loudly with pure joy.
“You are it, I believe, Mr. Teddy,” Severus called, accepting the happy hug Harry briefly gave him before slowly following his jogging husband to their son to finish up their first of three moon nights.
To Be Continued...