Full Moon, Night Two
Full Moon, Night Two
“Papa.”
Severus hummed as he slowly woke, the small voice connecting with his brain. He rolled his head on the pillow and opened his eyes, blinking to clear the sleep. As his vision cleared and adjusted to the dark room that was illuminated by the full moon high above them outside, he found Teddy sat on the floor next to his and Harry’s mattress. The little boy had his legs tucked to his chest and was clutching his stuffed phoenix tightly.
Severus pushed himself up so he was sitting, doing his best not to disturb Harry beside him. “Did you have a nightmare?” he asked quietly.
Teddy nodded. “And I’m all itchy.”
Severus moved to get to his feet. This was common during the full moon cycle. Teddy was often plagued by terrible nightmares that bordered on night terrors, always intense and vague, but never remembered with any detail besides that it had been terrifying. The itchiness was also common, a physiological reaction to being inside or still for a long period, a manifestation of his building energy and the limited lycanthropy that existed inside the boy’s body. Teddy couldn’t transform, but the itchiness seemed to be the condition’s way of trying to reach that level.
“Come on, child,” Severus whispered and grasped one of Teddy’s little hands, guiding the seven-year-old out of the little hut, leaving Harry behind to continue sleeping on their mattress. His husband had exhausted himself, being the one to run around with Teddy for hours the previous day and night.
Severus was glad it was a warm night, allowing them to easily walk around in their pajamas. It was fairly bright, the clearing lit up by the huge full moon that hung above them. He felt Teddy lean heavily against him, still clutching his hand tightly, and felt a small tremour shake the boy’s body. He glanced down and ran his other hand through the shaggy brown hair, making Teddy tilt his head back to look up at him. The eyes were big, and shining with his residual fear and discomfort. With a gentle smile, Severus reached down to bring the boy into his arms, holding him on his hip. It wouldn’t be much longer that they could hold Teddy this way so he secretly relished in it while he could, rubbing the boy’s back as Teddy laid his head on his shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” Severus asked, beginning to very slowly walk around the clearing.
“A little better,” Teddy said. “It’s nice out here.”
“It is,” Severus agreed. “Do you remember your dream?”
“Not really,” Teddy said. “Except the moon. It was red. It was scary.”
Severus sighed, brushing the boy’s hair back from his eyes. “I’m sure it was,” he said. “Look up at the moon now.”
Teddy shifted his head on Severus’ shoulder so he could look up into the sky. “It’s pretty.”
“Yes, beautiful as always,” Severus said. “It is not here to hurt, is it?”
Teddy shook his head the best he could still pressed to Severus’ shoulder.
“And there is no need to fear it?” Severus said.
“No, because it’s when we get our special time,” Teddy said, “and it’s when Daddy Remus was strong.”
“Exactly right, my son,” Severus said and, with a smile, pressed a kiss to Teddy’s forehead as they stood and stared at the lovely moon until Teddy drifted off to sleep.
To Be Continued...