A Motherly Intervention.

Title: Weasleys To The Rescue.
Author: pekeleke
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Challenge: Prompt 24 (Picked from an online seasonal prompt list): Leftovers.
Word Count: 1335
Content: Chapter 24 of my Christmas Series: A Motherly Intervention.
Warnings: Getting Together. Enemies to friends to lovers. Mild Angst. Romance.
Disclaimer: The characters, setting, and the HP franchise are owned by JKR and not me. I make no profit from writing this piece of fanfiction.
A/N: Unbeated. Posting one chapter a day from December 1st to the 25th.
Summary: "Close down the Floo. Now. Molly. The story about my relationship with Severus finally broke. There are a bunch of paparazzi trying to get into my office and Severus's store. It won't be long before they think about bothering you too."

Weasleys To The Rescue.

Molly is heating up leftovers for a light lunch when Harry's stag Patronus startles her into screaming her guts out by suddenly materializing in the middle of her kitchen.

"Close down the Floo. Now. Molly. The story about my relationship with Severus finally broke. There are a bunch of paparazzi trying to get into my office and Severus's store. It won't be long before they think about bothering you too."

Molly drops her wooden spatula in a thoroughly aggravated huff. The cheek of those so-called journalists! How dare they try to harass poor Severus? And on a working day, no less! There's no way he can possibly lock down the store. Although, now that she thinks about it, Severus had closed his shop without a single qualm when Scorpius got sick. Severus's store also happens to have those extremely discriminating wards he'd designed. Severus is a bonafide genius in magical defense; everyone says so. Molly can very well imagine that not a single journalist will be able to set foot inside The Simmering Cauldron until the uproar dies down, regardless of how urgent their need for potions might be. Still, Molly wants to make sure he's all right. The press can be pretty horrid to Harry's near and dear. And there's currently nobody on this Earth dearer to Harry than Severus.

Making up her mind, Molly tips a generous serving of leftovers into a tureen with a firm wave of her wand and heads toward her bedroom. She'll change clothes, show up at Severus's for lunch and keep an eye on both him and the shop until Harry finishes with work. Molly is pretty sure George will show up at some point. And Hermione. Draco might be too tied-up at the hospital to make it to the store before closing time, but he'll be there afterward.

By the time Molly enters The Simmering Cauldron, she's shocked to realize that Charlie and Bill have already beaten her to it. Severus is in the back, "brewing up a storm to calm himself," according to Charlie. Both her sons have taken a spot behind the counter, and are trying to serve the long line of 'customers' hovering around with no wares in hand, hoping in vain hope to catch a glimpse of the store owner.

"Thank you, boys, for getting here so fast. Do either of you know when Harry will arrive?"

"Twenty minutes, give or take," Bill replies confidently, "Our little bro caught wind of the story early. The special edition only hit the stands half an hour ago. Harry was up in Carlisle, dealing with a cursed flower vase, but he's called in sick; told old Bauer that he's gotten the dragon pox with a straight face, even though the man was standing right there, beside him, when Harry got the message that the story had broken."

"Poor Bauer," Molly says. This isn't the first time she feels desperately sorry for Harry's balding boss.

"He'll be fine," Charlie shrugs. Rumor has it that his department is the best-funded in the ministry, "The advantages of employing Our Great Savior far out-weight the disadvantages."

"I suppose," Molly agrees, "I'm going to head inside; see how Severus is faring. I might get lucky and convince him to eat with me. I brought some leftover stew, hoping to tempt him. Send Harry in as soon as he arrives, please."

Her boys nod in understanding and Molly doesn't waste a second longer. She steps behind the counter, knocks on the door that separates the main floor from Severus's laboratory, and walks in when he bids her entry.

Severus is not brewing at all. He's standing by the back window, looking out into the street. A large crowd of onlookers is gathering on the pavement. At least ten of them are armed with large wizarding cameras. Molly tuts when she spots Rita Skeeter among the riff-raff. Molly doesn't want to contemplate the horrible things that disgusting bug will try to write about her boys. Whatever it is won't see the light of day for long. Harry will have her nasty quill muzzled so fast it'd be funny if they weren't talking about the probability that she'll try her best to sink Severus's reputation.

"Are you alright, Severus, dear?"

"There are so many of them," He replies dazedly.

"Come away from the window," Molly coaxes, "There's no point in staring at the curious hordes. They'll get tired of their pointless gawking and leave soon enough."

"No, they won't. They're going to hound me for ages. This is the juiciest scandal to hit the Wizarding World since Lord Parkinson left his wife for his grandson's nanny."

"Well. Lord Parkinson is a notorious lecher, while Harry and you are war heroes. You'll get a much fairer trial by media. Especially once Harry goes out there and flashes his beaming smile their way. As soon as they realize their beloved Savior is deliriously happy, most of the curious Johns will go home."

Severus snorts but follows her advice and steps away from the window. Molly sighs with relief upon seeing him clear-eyed, if a bit flustered. He's fine. Molly can see that now. He's merely startled by the fervor of the reaction the news of his relationship has gathered in such a short period of time.

"Is it always like this?" Severus asks curiously, joining her by the preparation table and not even turning a hair when she casts a practiced Engorgio on the container of food she brought along.

"Sometimes. Whenever something in his life changes, actually. Harry makes for very profitable headlines."

"I see."

Molly watches him prop both hands on his spotlessly clean preparation table, palms flat against the polished wood. Severus leans forward until his forehead almost touches the tabletop and takes a deep breath. Molly's chubby fingertips itch to run up his arm, squeeze his shoulder reassuringly, and maybe even go for broke and hug him until his breathing isn't so choppy anymore. He's too tense, though. Molly doesn't think he'll react well to her coddling right now, so she sets about serving a generous portion of her famous beef stew instead. There is no need to starve. Dealing with your private world turning upside down requires energy, and stews are the perfect way to get it.

"Come now, dear. Let's eat something. Harry will be here in a tick."

Severus takes his biggest breath yet and straightens up abruptly. His shoulders look stiff with familiar determination, and Molly's heart sinks at the sight. She hadn't realized that Severus no longer carries himself as rigidly as he did during the war until she saw him don that old armor right before her eyes.

"I— thank you, Molly. For being here. I don't know how I would have coped with-

"Don't you thank me for looking after you, Severus Snape. Don't you dare thank any of us," Molly tells him sternly, "This is what we, Weasleys, do. We look after one another. Every. Single. Time."

Severus swallows with difficulty, his eyes far too bright. He looks fragile enough to break, and Molly's hand lifts instinctively toward him. He's taken a hesitant step in Molly's direction when the loud 'pop' of Harry's Apparition directly inside the lab startles them both. Harry takes a single look at Severus and opens his arms wide, a wordless offer of desperately-needed comfort that Severus doesn't hesitate to accept.

"I'm here. Everything will be alright. I promise, Severus," Harry says softly, folding his arms protectively around his beloved. Molly watches Severus sink bonelessly into Harry's embrace and realizes they'll be fine in the end. They'll make it through this roadblock and all the ones that'll follow. Severus trusts Harry enough to dare leaning on him when his own strength falters. And Harry— well. There's no end to the faith Harry puts in those he chooses to love. With roots as strong as those, nothing will get between them from the outside. They will survive everything together for as long as they wish to do so.