Harry's Hair cut
Like many days Ron and Harry had a sleepover and played when they woke up, but today was different, Ron was pouty and not in the mood to play anything. "Are you okay? Is it the terrible haircut your mum gave you?" Harry said candidly.
Ron sat on his arms folded across his chest. "It's bad enough I have to wear my brother's old clothes now I have to wear this."
Harry tried to make Ron feel better. "It's not that bad," Harry spoke in a squeaky voice.
At the worst possible time Fred and George were passing by the room "Would you like some cereal with that bowl?" the twins said in unison. They both proceeded to belly laugh at Ron's expense.
Ron stomped to the door and slammed it shut with all the force in his little arm. "I HATE MY LIFE!" he whined collapsing on the floor.
"Hey, my hair's terrible too. It grows and grows everywhere" Harry lay down next to his upset friend.
"Your hair doesn't look like you can hold soup in it!" Ron teared up. The door opened and interrupted the two, "Go away!" Ron yelled thinking it was Fred and George.
Instead of the troublesome 6-year-olds, it was Percy, "Harry your father is here and Ron stop being a brat it's just some hair." Percy sighed.
"Shut up Percy! Your hair is even worse than this."
Percy took a deep breath. "You are so lucky you're four."
"You're lucky I'm laying down!" Ron yelled.
Soon Bill walked in always playing peacemaker, "Hey Ron. I see you're still upset." Bill sat crossed-legged next to Ron.
"No, I'm just yelling and crying for fun." Ron continued to face the floor.
The teen chuckled a bit" I see you're angry. I brought a nice hat for you." Bill gently rubbed his younger brother's back to calm him down.
"You got a hat for me? And it's new?" Ron sat up wiping his eyes.
"Yep, and I was thinking I could take you and Harry to the park with your brand-new hat."
Ron's frown turned into a smile and he hugged his brother, "You're my favorite brother!"
Percy rolled his eyes and left.
"Ouch," the twins said from the other room.
Charlie knocked on the window, "What happened to me being your favorite brother."
"You were yesterday but you're not taking me to the park and got me a hat," Ron said.
Harry chuckled. He kinda envied how Ron, teasing and all. It was like he had a house full of friends at his disposal. "See ya later Ronnie." Harry waved.
"Bye-bye, Harry!"
When he walked to the door. Harry was surprised to see Severus, "Wait my other daddy picks me up, what happened to him." Harry looked around panicked.
Severus picked him up and started walking home, "Your other daddy had to do something so today you're going to be with me." Today Severus wanted to give James a break, so he let him spend the night with Remus and Sirus as long as Remus promised James would come back in one piece. Cheating was the least of Severus' concerns because he trusted James, but he was realistically concerned about James doing something dangerous and ending the night in the infirmary.
"When will he get back?" Harry asked.
"Soon, but don't worry you'll spend the day with me." Severus smiled at the boy.
Harry sighed, "Okay,"
"What's wrong, young one."
"I wanna have fun today," Harry said.
This offended Severus, "We have fun together?"
"Yes, but fun with other daddy is different because it's real fun."
Severus thought about it, when he's with Harry he's mostly just teaching him things, not to mention he spends a good portion of his time with James who obviously was the fun parent.
"Okay, today we can do what you want," Severus said.
"Go to the park with Ron and Bill," Harry said immediately.
"I meant something with just you and me."
Harry pouted, "My other daddy would let me go."
"Okay we can go but would you like to do anything before we go?"
Harry thought for a minute, he thought about how Ron was so upset about his haircut and if they looked similar it would make him feel better, "Can you give me a bowl cut?"
This had to be a trap, "Did your father tell you to ask that question?"
"No, I just want one, please," Harry begged with those big puppy eyes.
"If you're so sure then yes," Severus felt like his prayers were answered. He put Harry in the chair he usually had to get his hair cut in almost every week as his hair grew faster and wilder than most children. It was agreed Severus would be the one to give the haircuts after James gave their three-year-old son a mohawk.
Harry loved getting his hair cut. He got to listen to his favorite music get a piece of candy after he was done, and gossip with his dad. "Did you hear that Ron and I are getting married?" Harry whispered scandalously.
"Yes Harry, you tell me all the time," Severus said not even trying to argue anymore with the fact Harry can't know if he'll marry someone at his age.
"You know I'm going to be a Quidditch star like Daddy when I grow up." He smiled.
Severus smiled, "I can't wait to see you play. You could be as good as your father."
"Did you think he was good?"
"Every time I saw him in the air it looked like second nature. He was so free and unencumbered." Severus remembered fondly.
"What's unencumbered?" Harry asked.
"He had nothing to worry about but living in the moment," Severus explained.
"Oh."
"You know on our first date your father took me on a ride on his broom."
"Did you touch the stars?"
Instead of correcting him this once Severus decided to just let Harry dream. “Yes, we did."
Harry giggled, despite his hate for his parents kissing he loved hearing their love stories, it was one of the reasons he was so adamant he would marry Ron. "I wanna touch the stars someday. I'm already part lightening" Harry gestures towards his scar.
Severus laughed uncomfortably of course Harry doesn't remember that night, so he has no way of knowing how that scaring that night was for the three of them mentally and physically for them all. "We'll see."
The door opened and the loud homemaker entered the room, "Sev, last night was crazy! Where's Harry I got him a gif-" James mouth drop when he saw Severus finished Harry a bowl cut he was giving Harry. "No!" James screamed. "I thought we all agreed he would have anything but this!"
"It's okay Daddy. I want my hair like this." Harry intervened.
James raised an eyebrow. "Did your other daddy bribe you?"
Severus scoffed at James' notion.
Harry shook his head. "No Ron also has a bowl cut and feels bad about it. I don't like seeing people I care about upset and I wanted this so he wouldn't feel alone."
James covered his face with both hands, "That's beautiful Harry." James took another look at the dark-haired boy. "You know, it's actually kinda cute. Harry, I brought you some candy. Go eat it while I talk to Daddy okay."
James didn't have to tell Harry twice. He took the bag and rushed to his room.
"Huh, that's quite kind for a small child," Severus said.
"I don't know where he gets such a high eq. I was an arse as a kid and you were distant."
Severus raised an eyebrow, "What's eq?"
James laughed until he realized Severus was serious. "Wait you actually don't know?" Severus not having the answers was rare. "It stands for emotional intelligence," James explained.
"That sounds like a manufactured achievement to give false confidence to the unremarkable."
James tried to give Severus the benefit of the doubt he didn't exactly have an upbringing that allowed rewarded emotional maturity and he had good reason to close himself off at school, but they had a son now and He needed to understand for Harry's sake." it's real. Eq is empathy, social skills, self-awareness, etc etc. For example, Harry identified his friend's sadness and did something to cheer him up for the sake of cheering him up. Eq is important trust me."
"He sounds like you," Severus said.
"Well Harry never bullied anyone and I hope he never does."
"I'll go get Harry ready and we'll take him to the park," Severus said turning around.
"Wait," James said.
Severus turned around, "Hmm?"
"Can I get a kiss?"
Severus brushed the side of James' face and kissed him softly. James wrapped his arms around Severus' waist pulling him closer. Between raising Harry, Severus' job at Hogwarts, and just trying to enjoy the few calm moments they have together they had together James and Severus hardly had time to express their physical appreciation for each other
"Eww!" Harry yelled.
James sighed pulling away from Severus. "I swear this kid is something else."
Severus leaned to whisper in James' ear. "I'm done with my book and my lesson plan. If we can get Harry tired enough at the park I'll give you more than a kiss."
James' eyes widen, "Come on Harry go get a toy we're going. Quickly! Quickly!"
***
As they arrived at the park Harry spotted Ron playing in the sandbox, too scared to do anything else in fear of his hat falling off.
"Ronnie!" Harry yelled slipping out of James' arms and ran to his best friend.
Ron gasped. "Your hair."
"I know. Like it?" Harry grinned.
"Yeah, I love it. You didn't have to do this for me."
"I wanted to." Harry hugged him. "You should take off your hat and then we'll be twins!"
Ron put his hat to the side letting his hair flow free. The two boys ran and played around the park enjoying that they were one of the few kids out that day.
"Harry is the perfect child." James smiled.
"I fear he'll lose this unspoiled innocence once he becomes more aware of this world." Severus taught tons of students and saw a lot of young idealists turn cynical and bitter before even stepping out into the real world.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, let's just enjoy our little boy while he's still little."