Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Happy Birthday?

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Happy Birthday?

Saturday, 9 January 1998

Severus rolled over and opened his eyes in the dimly lit bedroom. He blinked. Twiskett was standing beside his bed with a tray. Severus could smell the coffee. He blinked again. Twiskett never brought him coffee in the morning unless he called for it specially.

"What time is it?"

"Early." Twiskett smiled.

"Mmm." Severus groped for his watch on the bedside table. Not even six-thirty yet. He snapped it shut and lay back down, pulling his covers up around his neck. "Leave the coffee."

Severus sensed some reluctance from the house-elf, but Twiskett cleared a space on the other nightstand and set the tray down there. He lingered a moment, then popped away with a small crack.

Fifteen minutes later, having reached that point where he was afraid of dozing off and oversleeping, Severus sat up and waved a hand to light the lamps, then pushed back to sit against the headboard. He Summoned the tray and settled it on his lap. He rarely indulged in coffee or breakfast in bed, but then, he was rarely treated to coffee or breakfast in bed. He poured coffee into the cup and then picked up the pitcher of cream. There was a folded parchment beneath it, and Severus took it with his left hand as he poured the cream with his right.

The parchment had been folded only once, and Severus's lips twitched as he saw the message in peacock blue ink. Silly elf. He might be impertinent, but . . .

"A Very happy Happy Birth Day to Professor Snape and most warm happyful Wishes for a Aussuspicishus Year! Faithfully, Twiskett of Hogwarts." Then there was a rather sweetly drawn picture of a smiling red flower beside the signature.

Cheeky little elf. He'd never received a birthday card, or any other kind of card, from a house-elf before. He'd known they could read and write...though he thought they needed some spelling tuition...but he couldn't remember ever having seen anything that Twiskett had written before this. It was a touching effort, Severus admitted to himself. Cheeky, but touching.

The Daily Prophet had published his birth date in its biography of him that September; now it was common knowledge. Severus scowled slightly. The coffee and note from Twiskett were nice, but he did hope that his birthday was not going to be marked by such displays all day long. At least he knew that Minerva and Albus had plans for him for the evening and would probably leave him alone for the rest of the day, as he preferred it. The students weren't returning from holidays until the next day, but there were still some in residence, including a few Slytherins. He hoped that they didn't feel obligated to celebrate the occasion with some insincere well-wishes. Since he was planning on being out of the castle for a good part of the day, that shouldn't be too much of a danger.

Gareth had invited him to lunch, and Severus was meeting him and Hermione in Edinburgh at Aphrodite's Apple at one. Gareth had asked him whom else he would like to invite, to feel free to invite anyone he wished, but Severus said he didn't want any fuss. The truth was, he couldn't think of anyone else whom he could invite. Minerva and Albus were having a late dinner for him in their suite at eight, and other than the two of them, there wasn't anyone, not really. He might feel more at ease with some of his colleagues, but he was still alone. Christmas had been nice, but the days since then had emphasised to him that he was alone and solitary. But that was what he was used to. And he did have lunch plans with Gareth and Hermione, Gareth's treat. That was already more celebration than he was used to. The previous year, it hadn't been marked at all.

Severus finished the pot of excellent coffee that Twiskett had brought him...he didn't think it was the usual brew, more likely some nice Costa Rican, or perhaps Guatemalan, very tasty...and he sent the tray out to the sitting room table. He showered, then went to the wardrobe and selected one of his favourite black waistcoats and long jackets...though many people couldn't tell the difference between his different suits, he could. This waistcoat had a delicate chevron pattern woven through it, and the jacket gently cut away just above the hip.

After debating with himself for a few moments, he decided that as it was a special occasion and he was going out to lunch, he would wear a pair of grey trousers. Then he chose a narrow grey bow tie, rather than his black one, which was what he always wore on those rare occasions when he wore a tie at Hogwarts. Severus couldn't even remember having worn the grey tie before, although he had worn the grey trousers occasionally. They fit him better than they had the last time he'd tried them on, he noticed as he buttoned his braces; he had put on a little weight, he guessed.

As it was a Saturday, and a holiday, to boot, breakfast wouldn't be served until eight-thirty, so Severus spent the next hour reading the most recent edition of Modern European Potions. Twiskett popped in a little after eight with the Daily Prophet.

"Thank you, Twiskett. And thank you for the note and the coffee," Severus said, taking the newspaper from the elf. "It was a nice way to begin the morning."

Twiskett smiled shyly and blushed.

"I shall be gone most of the day. You may spend it however you wish," Severus said. "Do not worry about tidying my rooms. No work today. Time enough for that tomorrow. Do something just for fun."

Twiskett looked slightly puzzled. He was unsure what he could do if he weren't performing his usual duties. He liked working.

"Thank you, Twiskett. That will be all for now."

At breakfast, everyone sitting at a long oval table, staff and students together, Severus chose his seat carefully, not wanting to sit beside a student...he never wished to sit beside a student if he could avoid it...nor beside Albus, who was often irrepressible, and who might wish him a voluble "Happy Birthday," thus setting off a cascade, or an avalanche, of insincere happy birthday wishes. Albus's wishes would be sincere, Severus didn't doubt that, and perhaps a few others' might be, but having to respond to any of them would tax his reserves of good will, which never ran very high, in any case. So Severus took the chair between Poppy Pomfrey and Sharon Carter. Carter was pleasant enough for a Gryffindor, and they rarely spoke outside of meetings, so she was safe, and he thought that Pomfrey, even if she remembered that it was his birthday, would understand that he would not want the occasion marked in any way, and would be discreet.

Minerva liked to direct the conversation during the holiday meals for the students' sake, though she did so adroitly and without forcing the discussion if it flowed naturally away from her chosen topic. Severus believed that the topic for that morning was to be Albus's Muggle book club and what books should be on the list for upcoming sessions. As a number of the students present were too young for the club and of the others, none were Muggle-born or half-blood, Severus doubted the topic would be a success. Severus had considered attending the book club, but he didn't want to feel obligated to read the books, and if he did read the books, he didn't particularly want to be forced to express his opinions of them to a motley collection of his colleagues and the few sixth- and seventh-years who attended.

Indeed, conversation did revolve around Muggle literature, but Severus was just as glad for it, since that meant that no one was likely to wish him a happy birthday, forcing him to respond.

"Are there any specific parameters for the choice of books?" Vector asked.

"Nothing terribly specific," Albus replied. "I prefer them to have some sort of literary or social merit, but I interpret that quite broadly. If it shows something about Muggle life and society, it can be last week's best seller, not necessarily a classic."

"Does it have to be in English originally, or are translations permitted?" Severus asked, curious about the breadth of books Albus was considering. After having perused the first announcement regarding the formation of the book club, he had ignored the succeeding ones.

"There are a good many classics, both modern and ancient, that would require us to read them in translation," Albus said. "We read Plato's Republic in November. We then followed it with Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It was lighter reading during the exam period. Both provoked interesting conversation."

"I suggest, then, that you have them read something by Kafka," Severus said. "I read a few of his novels several years ago. I found them most . . . insightful."

"Depressing stuff," Vector said. "I would like to read something more fun. Agatha Christie, for example. They may not be great literature, or even terribly well-written, but they are enjoyable, and they offer a bit of insight into Muggle customs and devices during the period. There's always justice in the end, too. I like that in a book. Reading Kafka . . . when I was young, I had more of a taste for that kind of thing. But after recent events, something a bit less dire would be nice."

Severus snorted, but returned to eating his sausages and fried eggs and let the conversation flow on without him. Poppy leaned toward him.

"After breakfast, Professor, if you could stop by the Hospital Wing?" she asked in a low voice.

"Of course." His brow furrowed. "Any particular reason?"

"I just have something for you, that's all." She gave him a quick smile. "Just a little something."

Severus nodded. She had never marked his birthday before, except occasionally to say "Happy Birthday," and she was one of the few in the castle who had always known when his birthday fell. He doubted it could be a birthday present. Nonetheless, he had to tamp down a sense of anticipation. After all, he didn't like birthdays, and he disliked celebrating his. Everyone had one, and they came every year. All it meant was that you hadn't died yet. He paused and looked across the table at Minerva, who was smiling at something that Pomona had said. He supposed he did have something to be grateful for that year, even if he had no desire to celebrate it.

He pushed his plate away, and it vanished neatly.

"That was a great sigh, Professor Snape," Carter said.

He raised an eyebrow. "I did not sigh. I merely finished my breakfast."

She smiled slightly and nodded. "Have plans for the day?"

He hated such questions, but they were a part of life. "Nothing in particular. I will be going into Edinburgh later, though."

"It should be a nice day for it," Sharon remarked, glancing toward the windows. It had been grey and dismal for the past few days, but that morning, the sun was shining.

"Indeed."

On his other side, Poppy stood.

"Excuse me, Professor Carter," Severus said, placing his napkin on the table and pushing away. "Have a pleasant day."

Severus accompanied Poppy from the Great Hall and they walked up to the Hospital Wing together.

"Did I hear that you have plans for the day?" Poppy asked.

"I am going to Edinburgh later."

She nodded and waved her wand to lift the locking charm from the infirmary doors.

"I hope you have a nice day. Sharon's right: it's a beautiful one. Cold, but it looks like it will be sunny all day." Indeed, sunshine was streaming in through the large windows in the infirmary.

"You have something for me?" Severus asked as Poppy opened her office door.

"Yes. It's just a little something." She smiled up at him. "I actually found it a couple months ago and thought of you when I saw it. I considered giving it to you for Christmas, but since we've never exchanged gifts, I thought that might make you uncomfortable, feel obligated to reciprocate, and this was just a whim. Then I remembered that your birthday's in January, so I went ahead and got it for you."

Poppy opened one of the bottom drawers in her desk and pulled out a package wrapped in dark green paper. She handed it to him. "Happy Birthday, Severus."

"I, um, thank you. You didn't have to . . ."

"Oh, I know. It was just a whim, as I said. Sorry about the Christmas wrapping paper," she added. "It was what I had."

He nodded. "Should I open it now?"

"Of course!"

Severus carefully lifted the edges of the paper and broke the Sticking Charms, then he folded the paper and set it on Poppy's desk. He raised the top of the white box, revealing crumpled red tissue paper. He removed some of it and felt a cushioning charm release. Something breakable, then, he thought, reaching in and pulling out the object, a small ceramic apothecary jar.

"It's . . . lovely," Severus said, turning it in his hand. It was lovely, too. The underlying glaze was white, but it had delicate designs decorating it in blue, black, and green, some purely ornamental, others seemingly functional. It was wider at the top and bottom than in the middle, where it gently bowed inward. It tingled warmly in his hand. He examined some of the symbols near its base. "It's wizarding, not Muggle."

Poppy nodded. "I had Murdoch look at it. He said that the original charm on it is still there, though it's weak now. It's early fifteenth century. Murdoch thinks it was probably made in Spain, though he wasn't certain."

Severus held it out to her. "I can't accept this."

"What? Why not?" she asked, not taking the jar from him.

He shook his head. "You should give it to Dumbledore...or keep it yourself." It was too much.

"But I wanted to give it to you. I thought of you immediately when I saw it. It wasn't expensive, if that's what you're thinking. It honestly wasn't. If it had been, I would have admired it and moved on. I got it at a Muggle flea market. I don't think they had any idea what they had...even aside from its wizarding provenance, I mean. I did feel slightly guilty when I bought it, but I figured it was better to have it back in wizarding hands. Your hands, specifically." She grinned. "Please, do take it. I thought you could keep it on your mantelpiece or the desk in your sitting room. A pretty little decoration. You could even keep your Floo powder in it, if you feel it must serve a practical purpose."

"All right. Thank you." He quirked a smile. "I don't know as I'll be keeping my Floo powder in it, but it is pretty."

"You're welcome. I hope you have a very happy birthday, Severus," Poppy said. "Enjoy your day!"

He nodded. "Thank you." He looked down at the small jar in his hand. "It's already better than most . . ." Most days and most birthdays. It was still early, though. Plenty of time left for that to change.

Severus met Filius outside the Room of Requirement at ten. The little Charms master was already there, holding the door open for him. Severus stepped in and smiled at the room that had been provided to them: light and bright with a high vaulted ceiling, the illusion of sunlight streaming in through leaded glass windows, pale grey flagstone floor, but a raised brick-red platform of correct proportions in the centre of the room.

"Do you like it, Severus?"

"Yes. Very impressive."

"I'll have to bring you to the actual hall one day, then," Filius said. "It is the duelling hall of a private academy. Have you heard of the Steinhof Akademie der magischen Künsten?"

"Yes. It used to be some kind of research academy, didn't it?" Severus asked.

"It still is, in a sense. But it used to be a small, privately owned academy for promising students aged sixteen through twenty-one to study more intensively after leaving school, but either before or instead of an apprenticeship. I went there after I left Hogwarts and studied for another year before I began my Charms apprenticeship...that's where I got my real start on duelling, too. They had an excellent duelling master. Even when they had paying students, they had always welcomed independent scholars to come use their library, and their library certainly is as good as those of Hogwarts and Durmstrang. It had to close down during the Grindelwald years...an early casualty, closing in nineteen-ten, since Grindelwald couldn't tolerate any perceived competition with his own academy of the Dark Arts. Grindelwald called it an academy of all magical arts, but the emphasis was clearly on the Dark application of magic.

"Anyway, after the Steinhof Akademie reopened in 'forty-seven, it no longer had a faculty and took no students," Filius continued with a sad shake of his head. "It had two librarians, though, and anyone who wished was welcome to come and use the library at no charge, though donations were welcome. For a nominal sum, you could even stay in the Schloss and take your meals there. In the late sixties, Riddle's Death Eaters attacked and killed both librarians and several members of the family, including two of the house-elves, and stole a number of books. Fortunately, they were driven off before they could set the library on fire. But that was the final death knell for the academy. I received a letter from Herr Schwarz a few weeks ago...the current head of the family...and they're considering reopening the library for researchers. But whether they do or not, I often visit them in the summer for a week or so, and I'm sure they'd be pleased to meet you and show you the library and duelling hall. You could come for a few days. It's in northern Germany, not too far from Hannover. I could do a Portkey for you."

"Oh, I . . . I . . . that would be nice, I'm sure, but I doubt they would welcome a stranger..."

"Hardly a stranger, Severus! My friend! I know they would be pleased to welcome you and show you their hospitality."

"Well, I suppose we shall see," Severus replied. Filius would no doubt forget once summer arrived and it would be a moot question.

"You will be happy to learn that I have determined your opponents for your duels. I still need to check with the first one...he's agreed to duel, of course, but I hadn't asked about you specifically. That would be the first duel in April."

"Who am I duelling?" Severus asked. Filius did sometimes become carried away when he was excited about something and then forget to get to the point.

"Gareth McGonagall for the first one, and Albus for the second. I think you're well-matched with both of them. Gareth hasn't quite your skill or training, of course, but he has a lot of energy and inventiveness, and Albus, well, no one could be a true match for Albus, but I think you'll give him a good challenge...if you don't mind, of course, Severus. I thought that for that duel, we'd do something rather special, if you are both agreed."

Duelling Albus . . . he supposed he could do that. It was not what he had expected...he had believed he'd be paired with a couple of the Aurors on the list...and he doubted he could win that duel, but he could try, give it a good shot. McGonagall. He could beat him, Severus was sure of that, but he was less certain whether he wanted to duel the younger wizard. He would have to think about it, discuss it with him.

"Severus?"

"Yes, fine. I will speak with McGonagall about it myself, if you like. I am seeing him later today."

"Good! Thank you!"

"You said you had something special in mind for me and Dumbledore."

"Yes, a wandless duel. We would alter the rules, obviously. It would be quite exciting, I believe! I've only seen one wandless match in my life, and it was thrilling! A wonderful close to the year's duelling series, I think."

"A wandless duel?" Severus was speechless. He might have been able to acquit himself well in a regular duel under the traditional rules, but wandless . . . Albus would kill him. Not literally, of course, but it would be a very short contest.

"Yes! Brilliant idea, isn't it?" Filius rubbed his hands together.

"It's daft. I'm sorry, Professor, but I can't do that."

Filius's face fell. "But your wandless skills are among the best I've ever seen!"

"Yes, if I want to Summon something or close a door! Possibly do some Legilimency on someone with a wide-open mind, but not on Dumbledore...although even Legilimency would be of limited usefulness in this kind of duel, anyway." He shook his head, thinking about it. "I can do a wandless Shield Charm, but it's not particularly powerful, and it doesn't last long...just long enough for me to Summon my wand...and I doubt it would hold against anything Dumbledore cast at me. The duel would only be a thrilling sight if you want it very short, ending with my rapid defeat." He could probably manage a few other spells, but not many more, and not enough to give him a chance against someone of Dumbledore's ability and power. His wandless Stunner might knock out an unwary fly, but it wouldn't faze Albus, even unshielded.

"But you have almost five months to prepare, Severus! I can train with you, and I'm sure there are others who will, too. I thought that if I use my wand and you practise your wandless skills, you could become adept enough..."

"In only a few months? I don't know . . ." It could be a challenge to improve his wandless defence skills. He'd always wanted to, but it was a difficult thing to do on one's own. "All right, I'll give it a try. But don't do any publicity about it until I'm certain that I can attain the level of proficiency that would enable me to acquit myself well and not just be an embarrassment."

"Oh, good!" Filius said brightly. He Levitated himself up to the duelling platform. "I thought we could begin by strengthening your wandless Protego. I'll just cast little Stingers, so if they get through, it won't hurt too much."

Severus nodded, pocketed his wand, and clambered up onto the platform, hoisting himself up with his arms.

"There are stairs at the other end," Filius said helpfully.

"Mm."

For the next hour, Severus first practised his Shield Charm, then when he began simply dodging the jinxes to avoid being stung, they switched and he began to cast a series of wandless Stingers and other minor jinxes. None made it past Flitwick's Protego, so Filius pocketed his wand and decided to try doing a wandless Shield Charm, himself. His wandless Protegos weren't very effective, though, and Severus's jinxes began to get through it. Filius reported that they only tickled slightly, or brushed against him weakly, which irritated Severus. The challenge kept him motivated, though, and he agreed to meet Filius again the following Saturday for more practice.

He would have to come up with new strategies, Severus knew that, if he were to have any chance at all of not making a complete fool of himself. New strategies . . . new spells, ones not designed to be cast using a wand . . . and perhaps cast them verbally, too. That might strengthen and focus the spells, since he wasn't using his wand. Although verbal spells could present their own weaknesses . . . Perhaps some spells that were entirely unrecognisable to Albus, if that were possible. He would have to think about that. A new way to spend some of his "free time." Better than a Muggle book club, he thought.

At a few minutes before one, Severus stepped into Aphrodite's Apple. The aroma of apples was strong, but pleasant. He looked around, but didn't see Gareth or Hermione.

"Good afternoon, Professor. Table?"

"Yes, please. I am . . . I believe I am meeting two others."

"Right," the wait-witch said with a smile. "Table for three, then."

He had hardly pulled out his chair and sat down when Gareth and Hermione came in and spotted him. Severus didn't know why he had doubted they would be there. They'd never stood him up before. He rose slightly from his chair as they approached.

"Sorry if we're late, Severus," Hermione said. "I couldn't tear Gareth away from his computer."

"Computer? In Hogsmeade?" Severus was puzzled.

"I wish!" Gareth said, sitting down. "No, I have to keep it over at Melina and Brennan's. I was trying to catch up on my email. I don't get over there more than once a week, and that's if I'm lucky. It didn't help that she kept looking over my shoulder. Don't think she's heard of 'privacy' before."

"I was just trying to get you to hurry, that's all. I don't care about any of your emails. I don't read Italian, anyway."

"That was only one email," Gareth grumbled. "The others were all in English. I need to work out something other than using their spare room. A flat someplace...where I can have actual privacy!" He grinned over at Hermione.

"I don't know," Hermione said as the waitress brought them a basket of warm apple and onion bread, a pitcher of fresh cider, and the menus. "It seems to me you have a good deal there...you don't have to pay rent, Melina and Brennan don't mind your dropping by whenever you want, and when I'm not hanging over your shoulder trying to get you to get a move on, you have privacy."

"I suppose . . ." Gareth sighed and helped himself to some of the bread. He looked at the menu. "I know what I'm having. I'm ravenous." He set the menu down. "So, how's the birthday boy? Having a good day so far?"

Severus ignored the appellation and nodded. "It has been satisfactory. I had another practice session with Flitwick this morning, then I went to the little bookshop down the street here and bought some presents for myself. In fact, I have something we need to discuss, McGonagall."

"That sounds serious."

Severus shrugged. "I suppose." He glanced at Hermione. He would prefer to discuss this with McGonagall in private, but that didn't seem as though it would be possible. "Flitwick tells me that you have agreed to participate in one of his duels."

"Yes, I did. I've never duelled, not really, just done some Defence work, but I think it could be fun."

Severus was even more doubtful of the wisdom of Flitwick's idea now, but he'd leave it up to McGonagall. "He wants to pair us up. Have the two of us duel. I told him I'd talk to you about it."

"The two of us? Well, yes, I suppose."

"I could practise with you," Hermione offered, looking at Gareth. "We did a lot of that sort of thing in Dumbledore's Army. Not under duelling rules, but I'm sure we could get a copy of them and study them."

"You've already got a lot going on with your new classes starting soon, your Animagus training with Alroy, and you also happen to have an apprenticeship," Gareth said.

"It would be fun, though. We could do it on the Sundays when I'm not at my parents'."

"If McGonagall wants to do it," Severus said. "I thought I'd be duelling an Auror."

"If you'd rather not, Snape, I understand, but I think it could be interesting. Fun. You'd probably mop the floor with me, but I'd try not to make it too easy for you."

"It's not only that, but also . . ." Severus glanced at Hermione, then leaned toward Gareth. "I am just concerned because of our . . . our history. And your mother. If she wanted to come and watch you."

"Let me worry about whether that should even be a concern or not, Snape.

Severus shifted uneasily in his chair. "I wouldn't want there to be any reason for hard feelings between us, either." He hadn't very many friends. He wouldn't care about beating anyone else, but he didn't want to alienate Gareth.

Gareth laughed. "I'm a big boy, Severus. Honestly. It's a sporting duel, a contest. A game. Even if my pride is injured slightly, I'd hold it against Flitwick before I would against you. And I love that little man, so don't worry. Besides, who's to say that pigs won't fly and I might not actually beat you?"

"All right. I'll let Flitwick know it's on. I think he's planning for the second week of April for that one."

"Are you doing another duel besides that one, Severus?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. With Dumbledore." Severus quirked a smile at them. "You can come watch me get knocked on my arse then."

Gareth laughed.

The waitress returned to take their orders. Gareth ordered roast pork with apples, which came with noodles and sauerkraut. Hermione wanted the savoury potato pancakes filled with Stilton and thinly sliced apples. With some hesitation, Severus asked for the steak prepared in a tangy apple and quince marinade; it came with a side of chips and a carrot, cabbage, apple, and raisin salad. He thought it all sounded peculiar, but Gareth reassured him that it was very good.

"Now, Hermione persuaded me not to embarrass you by singing 'Happy Birthday' to you in public, mate...though I do a lovely rendition, if I do say so myself!...but I do have a little something for you." He unbuckled his sporran and pulled out a small package.

"You're bringing me out to lunch..." That alone was more of a gift than Severus had expected from Gareth.

"Just something I thought you might like," Gareth said, drawing his wand and casting a charm on the package, unshrinking it, though it still wasn't very large. He handed the flat, rectangular present to Severus. "Happy Birthday, Snape."

Severus took the present and looked at it.

"You have to unwrap it to appreciate it fully," Gareth said with a grin.

Severus looked around, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to them, so he quickly unwrapped the silver paper from the present, and Hermione put it in one of his shopping bags for him. He held the framed parchment and nodded.

"I do like it. Thank you, McGonagall."

"I remembered that you'd liked that map I'd bought for Uncle Morgan, so I started looking for something similar that you might like. Every time I've gone around to the Dusty Tome, I've asked Tarrant if he'd found anything new. And when I saw this, it caught my fancy and I hoped you'd like it."

"He's had it for more than a month," Hermione said, "and he's fretted about it ever since, whether it was the right thing or not."

"I do not 'fret,' child!" Gareth drawled, lifting one eyebrow.

Hermione just giggled. "You do a fair imitation of it, then!"

"I do like it, very much." Severus said, examining the parchment closely. It was an early version of the Headache Potion formula, but that was not the interesting thing about it. The copyist had illuminated the manuscript and included small drawings of the potioner at work. They were small, but detailed, and the ones above and below the potion formula were in colour and charmed to move. In the first, the potioner was stirring the potion clockwise as tendrils of steam rose, and in the one at the bottom of the parchment, potion repeatedly dripped into a small glass retort from an alembic, ten blue drops, then the retort would be empty and the potion would begin again to drip. It was quite a clever old parchment. It was also likely quite expensive. It had to be several hundred years old. But he couldn't reject it, not if McGonagall had spent weeks looking for it. "Thank you, McGonagall."

Gareth grinned. "You're welcome!"

"I shall have to find a good place to display it," Severus said, thinking also of the apothecary jar that Poppy had given him. Perhaps he could display them together.

"There's a card that goes with it...it must be with the wrapping paper," Gareth said to Hermione. "It tells a little about it, its age and so on. You can read it later. The frame has a protective charm on it, that's why there's no glass, and it may need renewing, but not for a couple decades, probably."

"I will look after it well."

"Here, I have something for you, too," Hermione said. "It's not ancient or anything..."

"Whatever it is, I am sure I will like it," Severus said, meaning it. If Hermione gave him a set of handkerchiefs, he would like them.

"It's two things, actually. One is sort of a joke, just for fun," she explained as he hefted the present she handed him.

It felt heavy and like books. He loved getting books as gifts. Good books, anyway. Sometimes Albus would choose things he thought were edifying, but which Severus wasn't interested in. He'd always try to slog through them, though. His Christmas present had been a bottle of cognac and several volumes containing the complete works of William Shakespeare. That hadn't been bad, but it wasn't the first thing he would reach for when he wanted something to read. Hopefully, Hermione's choices would be a bit different.

"Just tear off the paper, mate," Gareth said. "There's no shortage of the stuff."

Severus simply gave him a glare and continued to carefully break the Sticking Charms and set the paper aside in one large piece.

He raised an eyebrow. The book on top was, he hoped, the joke. "Halloween at Hogwarts?" he read.

"Yes, they were selling it to raise money, remember? I noticed there were several photographs with you in them, so I bought a copy for myself"...she blushed..."that is, I thought it was fun, and it was a worthy cause, so I bought a copy for myself, then I bought a few more copies as Christmas gifts. I thought about giving it to you then, but decided to wait until your birthday."

Severus raised his arm, displaying the cuff of his sleeve. "I am wearing the cufflinks you gave me for Christmas," he said. "I've worn them several times." He had been surprised to discover that among the gifts waiting for him in the Headmistress's suite on Christmas Eve were ones from Hermione and Gareth. Gareth had given him a new daily journal and a Charmed fountain pen, and Hermione had given him the monogrammed cufflinks with three intertwined S's.

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you liked them. But look at the other book."

He placed the Hogwarts book on the table. The second book was quite different from the first. "I had been going to purchase this...I almost did today, in fact," Severus said. "A bit of luck I didn't."

"Oh, I'm glad! When I saw your bags and realised you'd been to the bookshop, I was worried," Hermione said. "I had checked with Professor McGonagall, and she said that she'd tell Professor Dumbledore not to give you a copy for Christmas, and she was fairly certain you hadn't bought a copy yourself yet. I was hoping you hadn't in the meantime."

The posthumous collected writings of Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel had only been released the previous month, although it had been in the works for several years. Dumbledore had been one of the editors and had written the forward to it, and Severus had read it over for him before he had submitted it to the publisher that September. Severus had been intrigued by what the forward had to say about the book, but it was expensive and he'd thought he'd wait a bit before laying out the money for it. He wouldn't really have time to read it until summer, anyway. Now, though . . .

"Open it up," Hermione said.

Severus opened to the flyleaf. Hermione had inscribed it, marking the date, wishing him a happy birthday, and signing it "Love, Hermione," but there was also an inscription from Albus further down the page. He gazed at it unblinkingly.

"I thought since he wrote the forward . . ." Hermione said nervously.

Severus nodded. "Thank you." He swallowed around the lump in his throat. To Severus, a brilliant Potions master and a brilliant light in my life. ~ Albus Dumbledore. He looked up at Hermione and Gareth. He saw the framed parchment beside his place. "Yes, thank you very much. This birthday..." He swallowed again, and he could feel heat rising in his face. "This has been . . ." He blinked. "Excuse me, please." Severus rose with a lurch, leaving the book on his chair and striding rapidly away across the crowded restaurant.

Gareth put a hand on Hermione's arm as she began to rise, intent on following him. "I don't think you want to follow him into the gents', Hermione. Let him have a few minutes of privacy."

"What's wrong? Was there something wrong with the book?"

"How many birthdays do you think he's celebrated? I mean, really celebrated, not just crossed off the calendar? And this is his first after the war, and one he didn't expect to see. I don't think anything's wrong. I think he just . . . he just isn't used to being happy. Sometimes, Hermione, even being happy can hurt," he said softly.

"Do you think he'll be all right?" she asked, turning and looking toward the dark hall where Severus had disappeared.

Gareth shrugged. "Don't know. I hope so. But he'll be back for his lunch, and he'll enjoy the book you gave him." Seeing Hermione's concerned expression, he patted her arm and added, "And if he doesn't return in a few minutes, I'll go see if he's okay."

Severus did return in a few minutes, just as the food was arriving. He moved the book, then sat down and picked up his knife and fork as if he hadn't been gone. The rest of the meal went quietly, and Severus asked Hermione about the university courses she had chosen...an economics course and one in political theory...and the wizards were unsurprised to learn that Hermione had bought the textbooks and had read them over her Christmas holiday already.

After they finished their main courses, the waitress brought out an apple-spice cake and three plates.

"I ordered it yesterday," Gareth said. "I hope you don't mind. If you'd prefer something else, feel free to order it. I thought this cake sounded good, though."

Severus nodded. Hermione cut the cake for them, giving Severus the first piece. It was chock-full of walnuts and sultanas and smelled richly of apple, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices, and the icing was thick and creamy. All three of them agreed that it was very tasty, even Severus.

After Gareth paid, the three left through the McTavish Street exit, Severus carrying his two shopping bags of books and presents in one hand and a box tied with string with the rest of cake in the other. They walked slowly toward the small park further down the street.

"This was enjoyable. Thank you, McGonagall. And thank you again for the gifts...even the Halloween book," he said, quirking a smile. "One less copy of it in circulation!"

Hermione laughed.

"I'm going to stop and see Uncle Murdoch. It's been a while since I've been in McTavish Street," Gareth said. "Coming with, Hermione? Or returning to the house?"

"I need to get back. I have to practise my Animagus exercises yet today, and I need to review the calculations I did yesterday, so I can't. Say 'hello' for me, though."

Gareth nodded. "What about you, Snape? Coming along?"

"No, I think I'll get back to Hogwarts. Start reading my new book."

"Right. See you later, Hermione...I may go out after, so tell Mum and Gluffy not to wait dinner for me. Good to see you again, Severus. Owl me, and we'll go out for drinks one night this week. Tuesday or Thursday, maybe."

Severus nodded.

"Thanks, Severus," Hermione said, her hand on his arm.

He looked puzzled. "What for?"

"For spending part of your birthday with us. It was fun. I hope the rest of your day is good, too."

"I am having a late dinner with the Headmistress and Dumbledore. I anticipate that will also be enjoyable."

Hermione smiled. "Good. Stop by next Saturday and we can go for lunch...Magister McGonagall does let me out to eat on my own, you know!"

"All right. I think I can. I'll let you know."

Hermione squeezed his arm and reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek, ignoring the passers-by and Severus's slight but perceptible flinch. "Have a great fortieth year, Severus S. Snape, of the mysterious middle name."

"Yeah, mate, what is with that extra 'S'?" Gareth asked.

Severus hesitated perceptibly. "Samuel. But I would prefer . . ."

"Right, our lips are sealed," Gareth said. "Come safely home, you two! I'm off." He gave them a wave and walked quickly toward the apothecary, his loden cloak swirling around him.

Moments later, there were twin cracks of Apparition as Hermione left for Hogsmeade and Severus for the castle.

The tray from his morning coffee was still on his sitting room table. Severus picked up the note that Twiskett had given him. "Happy Birth Day." Severus snorted a laugh and propped the parchment up at the back of his desk against a stack of books. He stared at it. "Happyful Wishes for a Aussuspicishus Year."

"Twiskett!" Severus paused and waited. Hmm, well, he had told him to take the day off. "Twiskett!" He shrugged and turned to unpacking the rest of the books he had bought earlier that day.

A minute later, the grey elf popped into the sitting room as Severus was shelving the Hogwarts Halloween book in one of his bookcases.

"Ah, you are here," Severus said. He looked the house-elf up and down. He was rather a mess. His knees were dirty, his face was smudged, and his towels were soiled. In contrast, his hands looked freshly washed "You were outdoors?"

Twiskett nodded. "Helping my granddad."

"Your . . . granddad?"

Twiskett's head bobbed in affirmation.

"And where does he work?"

"Paddocks, creatures, Forest, gardens. Not greenhouses."

"I see. You are enjoying your day?"

Twiskett nodded seriously.

"I have something for you. For you to share...with your grandfather, if you like, or with a friend." He wondered whether Twiskett had a girlfriend. He had no idea how house-elves mated, but he knew that the Malfoy house-elves had slowly dwindled in number over the years until only Dobby had remained. Malfoy had once said something about unsuitable mating. "Do you have a special friend? A girlfriend, perhaps?"

Twiskett blushed the deepest lilac Severus had ever seen, and he smiled shyly and bobbed his head once.

"Very well, share this with your girlfriend, then. Or with your girlfriend and your grandfather, or with whomever you choose. There's quite a lot." Severus held out the box with the cake in it. "It's birthday cake from my lunch. Go on, take it."

Twiskett took the box in both his hands and looked up at Severus with wide eyes.

"Now go. I wish to read in peace," Severus said gruffly, settling into his chair. "You may serve me tomorrow."

Twiskett smiled and nodded, then Disapparated almost silently.

Up in the Headmistress's suite after one of Severus's favourite dinners, beef stroganoff with extra mushrooms and fresh noodles, Albus handed Severus a small box tied with a narrow gold ribbon.

Severus pulled on the ribbon, and it untied easily. Lifting the lid, he saw the gift and pulled it out, turning it between his fingers.

"It's a stick pin. You can wear it in your lapel, but I gave it to you to wear with your cravat, the one that Minerva gave you, or with any others you might get that are similar to it."

"It's very nice, thank you, Albus." Severus nodded.

"I realise that red is not your usual colour, but it's a garnet, your birthstone, so I thought it might be acceptable."

Severus nodded. "I will wear it when next I wear the cravat. It did seem to be missing something. This would do well with it. Thank you."

"It also belonged to his father," Minerva said. "One of the few things he has...had...of his."

"I do appreciate it," Severus replied, setting the gold pin carefully back in its box. "I hope to have more occasions to wear it."

Albus chuckled. "You needn't try too hard, my boy. I know it's not your everyday look. You can save it for special occasions."

"And this is from me," Minerva said, handing him a long, flat box with a little bow on it. Her eyes sparkled.

Severus lifted the lid and folded back the white tissue paper. One corner of his mouth turned up and his eyes crinkled. "You are joking, aren't you? Or am I supposed to wear these when I wear that green cravat?"

"Not at all! They're for daily use. I wanted to expand your wardrobe, true, but I thought that braces would be a safe place to begin. You will know you are wearing them, but no one else need see them! I thought they were amusing."

Severus shook his head, smiling at the braces, which were grass green and had many little silvery snakes, rather sweet little snakes, slithering up them.

"There are clips, too, that you can attach so you can wear them with trousers without buttons...if you have blue jeans, for example." Her brows came together. "Do you wear blue jeans?"

"I have jeans, yes. I wear them. Usually black ones, though." He couldn't imagine wearing these braces with his jeans. He had a black leather belt, old and well-worn, that he liked with his jeans. But perhaps with his suits, under his waistcoat. "I will try these tomorrow. Thank you, Minerva." He leaned forward in his chair and kissed her cheek. "And I will think of you every time I wear them."

Albus chuckled at that. "It is very good, then, that I discouraged her from her other choice!"

Minerva laughed, too, and Severus looked at Albus quizzically.

"She was going to buy you some rather colourful underwear!"

Severus's eyes widened.

"It was just a thought...a very fleeting thought I had when we were passing some in the shop!" Minerva said, laughing harder at his expression.

"Thank you, Albus!" Severus said. "I'm in your debt for that!"

Minerva and Albus both laughed, and Severus smiled.

"Now for cake! You do have room for cake, don't you, Severus?" Albus asked.

"I could manage a little."

"Good, I'll fetch it myself," Albus said, rising and going into the little kitchen. When he came out a moment later, he was carrying a dark chocolate cake covered with lit candles. Minerva began to sing "Happy Birthday," and Albus joined in.

Severus felt the tears well up in his eyes that he had been subduing all day. He took the handkerchief that Minerva handed him, and wiped his eyes. Albus set down the cake, which had a ring of small white candles surrounding two that were in the shape of a three and a nine. Severus wiped his eyes again, then took a deep breath and blew out all the candles in one go. He smiled slightly, then he picked up the knife and asked how much cake each of them would like.

This was the best birthday he'd had since he was six, Severus thought as the knife smoothly sliced into the cake. Maybe even better. It wasn't supposed to be like this, not for him, but he wasn't going to complain about it or question it. There would be enough to complain about tomorrow, he was sure. In the meantime, he placed a slab of deep chocolate cake on a plate and handed it to Minerva. He met Albus's eyes and smiled.

~END PART TWO~

~to be continued~

NEXT

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Tear Shed

Saturday, 6 March 1999

Severus goes into Hogsmeade to ask Hermione to lunch, but spends the afternoon with Gareth.

Rated T.

Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall, others

Author's Note: I'll post Chapter Twenty-Nine fairly soon, but in the meantime, I'm going to begin posting a little Long Vernal Season "sister story," which I think you might enjoy: "The Sorting of Suzie Sefton." It's a short fic about Suzie Sefton and her introduction to the wizarding world. (That was a surprise, wasn't it?) Naturally, Severus will make his appearance, too.

Sneak Peek at Upcoming Chapters in Part Three

Ratings for chapters range from T and M to MA

PART THREE

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Tear Shed

Saturday, 6 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall

Chapter Thirty: A Tour of the Past

Saturday, 6 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Hermione Granger, Gareth McGonagall, Gertrude Gamp, others

Chapter Thirty-One: A Date with Hermione

Saturday, 6 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Hermione Granger

Chapter Thirty-Two: Disquiet

Sunday, 7 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, others

Chapter Thirty-Three: At Spinner's End

Sunday, 7 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall

Chapter Thirty-Four: Uncertainty

Sunday, 7 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall

Chapter Thirty-Five: Friendship

Sunday, 7 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Gareth McGonagall, others

Chapter Thirty-Six: A Darkly Smouldering Magnetism

Monday, 8 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, Filius Flitwick, Minerva McGonagall, Sarah Duffy, others

Chapter Thirty-Seven: An Exercise in Harmless Flirting

Monday, 8 March 1999

Characters: Severus Snape, others