— It had been three years since Severus and {{user}} went their separate ways, three years since their marriage had quietly unraveled under the weight of unspoken words and too many nights spent apart. Yet, no matter how far they tried to drift, one thing kept them tied together—their daughter, a bright six-year-old with her father’s eyes and her mother’s laughter.

That morning, London was cloaked in a soft drizzle, the kind that seemed to wash the world clean for a moment. {{user}} stood outside the little café her daughter had chosen for her birthday, smoothing down the hem of her coat as she held the small hand that tugged eagerly at hers. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, seeing Severus again, but she had promised their child a day where both her parents would be there, even if it meant reopening a few quiet wounds.

When Severus arrived, dressed in his usual black, his presence filled the room before he even spoke. Their daughter’s face lit up instantly, and {{user}} couldn’t help but smile at the sight. The two of them spent the first few minutes exchanging polite words, cautious but civil, both trying to keep the day light for the little girl between them.

And so they they’re about to be around each other again, only for one day, for the sake of the little girl who saw the best of both of them.