Happy Birthday, Severus

Dances with Witches by Pearle

Summary: Severus Snape loses a magical bet. The consequences? The Tango! My answer to the codpiece challenge on Wiktt. HG/SS

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most

of them anyway.

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Note: At the time I started writing this story, Severus's birthday was not known. I chose November 4th as it fit with my timeline - after Hermione's birthday (Sept 19th) and the dance but before the Christmas holidays. JKR has since announced his birthday is Jan. 9th. I had thought about changing it, but that would change other events as well. So I decided to leave it as is. Well, that and Severus threatened to hex me into next year if I changed it since The Thong is scheduled to make an appearance and he has no desire to wait any longer.

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~~~~~ Dances with Witches ~~~~~

Chapter 33 – Happy Birthday, Severus

"Miss Anderson." What was the girl staring at? She was looking at him as if he were dessert. As if he were...oh bloody hell, as if he were Lockhart! He would fix that, and quickly. He dropped his voice to a silky purr. "Miss Anderson..."

The young witch's eyes softened as her breathing sped up.

"If you drop the shrivelfig into your cauldron at this stage in the potion, we will be picking up pieces of you for weeks to come. Twenty points from Ravenclaw for attempting to blow up my classroom, and detention with Filch tonight."

The girl's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Sir?"

"You were about to blow up your cauldron. May I return to teaching now?" His voice had taken on its usual harsher tone. He watched as the girl blinked several times before nodding silently. "Thank you." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Before returning to the front of the room he lifted the spell on her cauldron. He had placed an invisible seal over the top when he noticed the girl's mistake, afraid the sound of his voice might cause her to actually drop the shrivelfig in. He lived through Longbottom and the Dark Lord; he had no intentions of being blown up by a third-year Ravenclaw at this late date.

Hermione had laughed uncontrollably, calling it "The Saran Wrap" spell when he happened to cast it one afternoon. It had taken her several minutes, through her fit of giggles, to explain exactly what Saran Wrap was. She'd even brought him a sample during her next visit. He supposed in terms of Muggle technology, the material was almost magical.

"Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, do not add..."

The rest of the day passed in much the same fashion. The female population seemed to be preoccupied with watching him walk as opposed to actually listening to him lecture. He spent most of the day putting out fires and saving the castle from being blown up, time and again.

His mood was worse than usual when he turned up for dinner in the Great Hall.

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Severus yanked his chair out with more force than necessary, oddly pleased when the legs scraped noisily along the stone floor.

"Problems, Severus?" Remus smiled, pouring them both pumpkin juice. He had a pretty good idea what was bothering the man. There had been ill-concealed whispers all day throughout his classes, and a quick glance around the Great Hall showed quite a few students making puppy dog eyes at the Potions master.

"A ruddy pair of tights and they think I'm bloody Lockhart," he said angrily.

"No, I doubt that's it. They're just seeing a new side to you, that's all. I'm sure things will return to normal soon enough."

"Not soon enough for my liking."

The sound of a soft chuckle to his left did nothing to help improve his mood.

The Headmaster's blue eyes twinkled merrily. "Ah, Severus, I don't think I had a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed Friday's dance exposition. It was most delightful. I was thinking we should make it an annual event."

Severus glared at his friend and mentor. "Then I suggest you start taking lessons now, since I have no intentions of being the entertainment again next year."

Albus laughed heartily. "What a wonderful idea. Perhaps I will do just that."

Severus's gaze travelled across the room. It annoyed him to see several witches at each of the house tables gazing up at him in adoration. He was still the bat of the dungeon, the greasy git. He hadn't changed. They were responding to looks alone. His personality was still the same.

The female population was most definitely taken with his physical appearance; there had been much discussion in the dorms about who saw what during the dance and later, when he turned to leave with Hermione in his arms. It was probably that action, more so than the costume, which had attracted the hearts and minds of the young witches. They had been enthralled when word of his liaison with Hermione, after his unexpected visit to Amsterdam, had become public knowledge. But to sweep the obvious object of his affections up in his arms and carry her from the Great Hall? It was so romantic: the dark brooding wizard involved with a younger witch. It was the stuff fairy tales were made of, even if it did centre around Professor Snape.

He was, however, still Severus Snape. He sneered at the students in general. Even more annoyed when several witches turned away giggling.

"I don't think that helped," Remus said with a laugh.

Severus turned and scowled at him. "And what, in your oh so esteemed opinion, do you think would help?" After the day he'd had, he was actually willing to entertain suggestions from anyone, even Remus.

"Well, time will tell. I would say these schoolgirl crushes will end soon, or you just might have to get used to all the attention. I thought I heard something about a fan club in your honour."

Severus snorted. "Indeed." Very funny, as if he needed one more complication in his already misguided life. "I suppose they will want autographed posters to hang on their walls, too," he said snidely.

"I would imagine," Remus answered, smiling.

Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

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"Just because I can't make it tomorrow, is no reason to cancel the study session. You can still revise without me. Our exam is not until next week." Hermione noted the time. She really needed to head for the library if she was going to finish the research for her paper on the similarities and differences between calculus and Arithmancy for her Advanced Arithmancy class, and have tomorrow evening free.

"Hermione's right, there's no reason we can't still meet tomorrow. I'm sure we need the revising time a lot more than she does." If anything, Kathy thought, Hermione didn't seem to need the sessions at all. She spent most of the time helping everyone else rather than studying herself.

"What are you doing that is so important you have to cancel a group session?"

The whine in Edmund's voice grated on the witch's nerves. She would be glad when this semester was over. They had fewer classes together the second term, Hermione concentrating more on her Advanced Charms major than anything else.

Hermione slammed her book closed. "I'm not cancelling anything, the rest of you can still meet. I'm just missing one session. One session. How many have you missed or been late to so you could catch the end of some Quidditch match?"

"It was a play-off match. Just because you don't follow Quidditch doesn't make it any less important. Your friend Ron was playing. I would have thought you'd've wanted to see the match."

"Fine. You're right. I'm wrong. Okay? Anything else? I need to head for the library." Hermione angrily packed her book bag as she spoke.

"So what are you doing tomorrow?" Edmund looked at her questioningly.

"Edmund!" Kathy was just as curious; still, she couldn't believe he had the nerve to ask.

"I don't believe you." Susan glared at him, thinking he was more of a berk than she first thought, if that was possible.

Hermione eyed the group, mentally shrugging – why not? "Tomorrow is Severus's birthday. I intend to have dinner with him and help him...celebrate."

"What do you mean celebr...?"

"Look at the time. Gotta run. See you all in class on Wednesday." She slung her book bag over her shoulder and took off for the library. It really was a shame that hexing another student was a punishable offence. There were quite a few creative hexes she could think of to shut Edmund up, if only to give her a little peace and quiet.

Her thoughts turned to tomorrow. She would most definitely help Severus 'celebrate' his birthday. She planned to make it a birthday to remember. Her bag shifted on her shoulder; first things first, she had a paper to research.

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Severus woke early. Stretching, he winced as his neck cracked with the movement. He noticed a small pile of packages at the foot of his bed. November fourth. It was his birthday. He was forty-one today.

Over half his life had been spent spying for the Order. He'd never expected to see forty; every birthday that passed while the Dark Lord lived just seemed to bring him closer to his eventual death. It had surprised and annoyed him when he found himself still alive after the final battle. Death was to have been his final penance for his misspent youth.

He had a pretty good idea what the packages contained. Albus sent him socks every year in whatever disgusting colour he could find, the uglier the better it seemed. Really, did he think he was a house-elf in need of freedom? He expected one year to find a coordinating tea towel to go with the socks.

Opening the brightly coloured package, he found a note in Albus's familiar scrawl: "May you have the happiest of birthday's!" Inside was a pair of neon green socks decorated with dancing, smiley-face daisies. As he watched, the socks changed from one hideous colour to another. Every so often the daises would stop moving and turn to wave at him.

Minerva invariably sent a book, some sort of mystery usually. She had stumbled upon Severus in the staff room some years back, reading a dog-eared copy of Sherlock Homes. The conversation following had established them both as mystery buffs. Thus every birthday and Christmas the two gave each other books with the expressed understanding that they would be loaned to the other after they were finished.

He chuckled as he tore through the wrapping: red and gold, Gryffindor's house colours, with dozens of Snitches zooming across the package. Leave it to Minerva to remind him her house was currently ahead. He was sure that would change soon, it was still early in the year. Ripping the paper, he was stunned at the book he held, Charlotte Armstrong's novel, A Dram of Poison, in reasonably good condition. The book had won the prestigious Edgar Award in 1957 and had long ago gone out of print. He could not imagine the trouble she had gone to, to find it.

Poppy's usual tin of sugar cookies, a green knitted scarf from Molly Weasley, and some rare potions ingredient from Sprout rounded out the remainder of his gifts.

Most birthdays were dull as dishwater, and not an occasion to be marked or celebrated other than to note the passage of yet another year. But today was different. Hermione would be joining him for dinner tonight.

And The Thong! Don't forget The Thong! The annoying voice in his head shouted with glee. Hermione had promised to belly dance for him wearing...The Thong. He hardened at the thought of watching her body undulate wearing nothing but the small scrap of fabric. Didn't she mentions something about chocolate, too?"

Severus looked at the bright green socks; he felt so good he might even wear them to breakfast. He smiled as he headed for a shower and the day ahead.

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"I must say you're looking well today." Albus beamed at him as he took his customary seat and reached for the pot of tea. The Headmaster raised his own cup in toast. "Happy Birthday, Severus."

"Thank you, Albus, and thank you for the lovely socks. Do you happen to know if they come in any other motifs or colour combinations? I seem to be sorely lacking in that area." His words held no real bite to them, just general amusement.

"I'm glad you liked them. I've asked the house-elves to prepare your favourite dessert for dinner tonight in your honour."

"Thank you, Headmaster." How could he explain he had no intentions of celebrating his birthday with anyone but Hermione tonight?

"I assume Miss Granger will be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"Actually, since I have the evening off, we've decided to have dinner in my chambers."

"I see. Well, I shall arrange to have the Rhubarb Crumble served at lunch. Wouldn't want you to miss your favourite dessert."

"Thank you, that's very accommodating of you." Severus's smile was a knowing one as he thought of having his favourite dessert – chocolate-covered Hermione.

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The day's classes had not fared any better than yesterday's, the exception being he didn't seem to care. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Hermione. After twenty years of teaching, he could recite his lectures in his sleep. It was one of the reasons he found research so stimulating. His classes were the same. The ingredients and methods didn't change. But research was different. To create or improve on a known substance – that was a challenge.

If the dungeons were damp and chilly even in the summer, they were positively frosty in November. Severus sat comfortably dressed in shirtsleeves and trousers in front of a roaring fire. To the side, a table had been set with dinner for two. The cracking of the fire and the clinking of ice cubes in the amber liquid of his drink were the only sounds in the quiet room. He often found the quiet soothing after a day of noise and chaos.

He glanced at the clock over his desk, three hands titled "Minerva", "Albus", and "Hermione" were pointing to the left at the words "Entrance Hall." He watched as the hand with Hermione's name detached itself from the others and moved slowly toward the top, where the words "Snape's Chambers" were located. It was just a minute later when he felt the wards at his door drop as they recognised her.

She came in with a gust of cool air. Her eyes sparkled as he rose to greet her. "I'm here for my evening lesson, Professor."

Severus raised one brow in question. " I thought we'd decided to put the detention fantasy on hold for a later date? Was that to have been tonight?" He took in her appearance. Her cheeks were still rosy from the evening chill and the long walk up from the Apparition point outside the front gates. He was disappointed to note she wore dark trousers and some sort of silk shirt underneath the jacket she was taking off. Her ever-present book bag was dropped on the nearest chair.

"She probably has The Thong on under her trousers. Couldn't very well parade through the main entrance wearing nothing but that, could she?" He thought it odd that the deranged little voice actually sounded reasonable.

"Problems?" she asked, seeing the look in his eyes.

His smile softened. "Not at all."

"Good." Hermione wove her arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. "Did you know today is your birthday?"

"Is it, now?" His hand slid under the fabric of her shirt. His fingers moving idly up and down her spine, varying his touch from feather soft to gentle pressure. The other hand tangled in her hair, moving to pull her closer. His eyes travelled from her gaze to her lips and back, devouring her. She stared deeply into his black eyes, lost in their intensity. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, lightly kissing her before taking possession of her mouth.

He could feel her hips rocking against him, his own body responding to the fire she lit in his blood. His hand had drifted to tease the underside of her breast, pleased when he felt her shudder as he gently scraped his nails along the sensitive skin. He could feel her nipples harden through the thin silk of her shirt. They were both breathing heavily when they broke apart.

"Happy Birthday, Severus," she said, smiling, refusing to release her hold on him.

"That it most definitely is. I took the liberty of having dinner served here in my quarters. Or would you rather eat in the Great Hall?"

"No, I think I can live without that pleasure for tonight. I ran into Albus and Minerva on my way in. Minerva gave me the oddest look when she saw me." Hermione shook her head as she accepted the glass of wine he had poured her.

"Did she say anything?"

"I think she was going to, but Albus led her into the Great Hall before she could open her mouth. Actually, Albus said to tell you they said Happy Birthday. He sort of called it over his shoulder as he led her away. It was really rather...odd."

Severus nodded his head. "That would be Albus." He pointed to the two empty plates in front of her. "I asked the house-elves to send up request plates. Just tell it what type of salad and main course you desire."

"I thought they only used these for the Leaving Feast?" Hermione helped herself to the basket of warm rolls.

"And special occasions."

Severus listened as Hermione ordered a prime rib dinner with all the trimmings and decided to order the same. Dinner passed pleasantly with Hermione filling him in on the progress she was making in Advanced Charms. The talk soon turned to Hogwarts and the students.

"You will not believe the problems I have been having in class." He told her about the various witches making eyes at him, the increased inability to follow directions, and the constant giggling in the corridors as he passed. "A pair of bloody tights and they treat me like Lockhart!"

"I may have to make that tattoo permanent if this keeps up. Actually, I would imagine there must be a few girls every year that develop a crush on you. I remember a few discussions about you through the years in the girls' dorms. Your voice can be an incredible turn-on. Very erotic." Hermione smiled. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

His smile was smug. "The greasy git a turn-on? The bat of the dungeon?" And in a perfect imitation of Ron, "Snape?"

Hermione winced as she recalled some the names her friends had come up with. "That was very good. Can you do Elmer Fudd?"

"Don't you know we bats have superior hearing? Believe me, I have heard it all. The tights should not have changed anything."

Her voice was soft. "Severus, I have always respected you. The girls are young. It's not seeing you in tights that changed things. It's actually seeing you as a man for the first time, not their teacher, not a war hero, but a man."

"You're fairly intelligent – for a witch."

"Thanks a lot." At least his mood seemed to have lightened. She suspected his birthday bothered him unconsciously for some reason, but decided that was a topic for another night. "I believe I still have a birthday request to fulfill."

"Yes, you do." Severus banished the table before moving to the sofa. He spied her book bag on the adjacent chair. "You brought your books?"

"I'll need them in the morning. You did say you had the whole night off?" Hermione looked around the sitting room. "No, not in here. The bedroom, I think."

He followed her into the bedroom, the voice in his head making rude comments in anticipation.

"Start a fire while I change. I'll be right out." She quickly kissed him before disappearing into the bathroom

After starting the fire in the empty grate, he lounged in the armchair while he waited, watching the closed door for her return. The door opened slowly to reveal Hermione, dressed in full costume. Severus forgot to breathe as she walked toward him.

"Do you like it?" she asked nervously.

"You are a vision." He voice was rough as he watched her move.

She was wearing some sort of harem costume. Gauzy scarves, that swayed and parted seductively, hung from a metallic belt that rode low on her hips. He watched her walk, bare skin peeking out from between the scarves as she moved. A green jewel was affixed in her navel. Her hair flowed loosely down her back. She wore some type of metallic bra on top; small metal circles dangled from the edges and reflected the firelight. The top was small and allowed a generous view of her breasts. Her feet were bare, but she wore ankle bracelets comprised of the same metal circles. They jingled softly as she moved.

He settled back in his chair, prepared to watch the show.

"Not that chair. Accio chair." One of the dining room chairs came flying in from the other room.

"What's wrong with this one?" The armchair he had been sitting in was obviously more comfortable than the dining room chair.

"I can't dance around it. Trust me. Okay?" Severus nodded, curious as to what she had planned. She placed the chair in the middle of the bedroom sitting area, in front of the fire. He settled into it, his long legs stretched out in front of him.

A wave of her hand and the sound of exotic Eastern music filled the air. Hermione stood still for the first few beats, her hands at her sides, her head down. She seemed to come alive as the music started to build. Her hands rose upward, a quick foot twist twirled her around several times, the scarves fluttering as she spun. The metal discs jangled with her movement, reflecting the firelight as she turned.

As she came out of the third spin, her hips came alive. Severus watched, mesmerised, as they moved up and down, back and forth, and around in circles. Her body undulated back and forth. Her skin shimmered in the firelight. She arched back before bending forward, the metal discs making a quiet jingle as she moved.

She grabbed the edges of the scarves that were draped at her sides, crossing her arms back and forth in front of her while continuing to move her hips. Every so often she thrust her upper torso up and back. The movement was smooth and seemed to ripple from top to bottom. He marvelled that she could be so flexible.

A sharp tug pulled the scarves loose from her belt. Her left leg arched up through the remaining scarves before pivoting across her body, sending her into another spin. Severus was treated to the provocative sight of bare skin as the scarves flowed around her.

Once again her hips started to move as the spin ended. She moved toward him, trailing the scarves along his arms as she moved around the right side of the chair. Almost immediately, she appeared on the other side of him, her hips rocking in circles to the heady beat. Standing in front of him, she threw the scarves back over his shoulders and bent forward, shimmying the whole time.

Severus licked his lips as he watched her breasts move back and forth in the tight confines of her bra. His hands gripped the arms of the chair; her movements were sensual and driving him to distraction. He was so busy watching her cleavage, so tantalisingly displayed before him, that he missed the spell she whispered. The scarves trailing along his arms took on a life of their own as they wound around his wrists and forearms, effectively binding him to the chair.

"What...? Hermione!"

Quickly, she moved behind him. He could feel the cool metal of her bra through the linen of his shirt as she leaned against him. Her hands trailed up his arms, her breath hot as she whispered in his ear. "Trust me. Tonight is about your pleasure. Let yourself go." She nipped his earlobe before moving away.

He groaned as she moved to the beat. Her hips held sway as they rolled in circles before dropping and rising a few more times. Hermione arched back and forth several times, each arc going further back and further forward until she was almost bent over. She grabbed two more scarves from her sides and spun in one direction, and then the other.

Severus's breath caught in his throat. Along the line of the metal belt he could see a black string. She had charmed every other scarf to stay in place and only flutter when she spun, so half the scarves floated around her while the other half hid her lower torso. But with the removal of two more scarves he could see the black string. She was wearing The Thong under her costume.

Hermione remained in constant motion. Her hips would roll while her body undulated, the smooth ripple moving from top to bottom and back up again. She snapped the scarves and they disappeared. Once again she danced around his chair, moving in close before dancing away.

He was aroused beyond his limits. He had tried a few reversal spells and was unable to release his hands. He longed to grab the little witch on her next pass by him and ravish her beyond reason.

He moaned softly as she pulled the last two scarves loose. He could see the The Thong in all its glory now. The triangle in front had a small red rose on it and barely covered her thatch of curls. The triangular swatch at the back was even smaller, more the size of a postage stamp, and really didn't serve any purpose other than to arouse him further.

He flexed his fingers, desperate to free his hands and grab her. Surprisingly, the deranged voice in his head had been quiet throughout the entire dance. Severus suspected it might have passed out from sensory overload. Hermione twirled several times, pulling the scarves around her torso as she moved. Her legs and buttocks were fully exposed to him. She performed a series of leg lifts designed to snap her hips back and forth provocatively as she moved in front of him.

Slowly she dropped to her knees, her arms held outward from her body, shimmying her shoulders and upper body the entire time. He forgot to breathe as he watched her lean back, the back of her head almost touching her heels, and then spring forward. She did a few belly rolls before getting back to her feet and backing up a few steps.

The music swelled as Hermione did a few more shoulder rolls that allowed her body to roll with the beat. She matched the final notes with several quick spins before coming to a stop and allowing the final notes to play out. With her hand on her heart, she finished the dance with the traditional bow. Her hand moved from her heart, to her mouth, to her forehead and rolled outward.

Severus watched as she tried to catch her breath.

Once again she dropped to her knees. This time she moved between his open legs, her hands resting lightly on his thighs. "May I assume you enjoyed my performance?" She gently traced his erection through the fabric of his trousers, smiling as she felt him twitch.

"Untie me, Hermione." His voice was low, and rough, almost a whisper. His eyes appeared darker than usual, his body taut as he strained against his bonds.

"No, I don't think so. I still have a few more surprises planned."

Severus raised one eyebrow but remained silent. She gently massaged his thighs, a mischievous smile on her face as she looked up at him.

He was awed by the vision before him - her hair was spread out wildly around her shoulders. Her skin glowed in the firelight. She watched his eyes as she opened the clasp on the front of the bra, her breasts spilling free of their confinement. He watched the metallic straps slide down her arms, wishing his mouth could follow their path. It dropped to the floor, forgotten. Another spell - and his trousers, boots, socks and briefs disappeared.

He remained still as she leaned forward to unbutton his shirt, the feel of her hardened nipples against the sensitive skin of his bare thighs sending electric shocks straight to his groin. His control was legendary, but he was still a man. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, overwhelmed as she ran her hands up and down his torso before leaning forward to plant a line of feathery soft kisses from his breastbone down.

He was still wearing his shirt, she had left it hanging open as she administered to his skin, sucking and licking random spots on his chest and thighs. His cock twitched, hoping to draw her talented mouth in its direction.

"You left my shirt on." He found he could barely speak.

"I've always thought you look especially sexy in shirtsleeves."

He wondered if he had any higher brain function left that could record that fact for future reference. Probably not, he was impossibly hard and had lost the ability to reason.

"Accio tray."

Severus groaned as a silver tray with chocolate sauce settled at her side. "Hermione, I want to feel you, taste you."

"There will be time for that later. For now, don't think. Just feel."

He watched breathlessly as she dribbled warm chocolate over his already aroused member. He was close to coming. The thought of her licking the chocolate off his body brought him closer to the edge.

Her tongue swirled around his cock, her hands continued to stroke him to a fevered pitch. His breathing was ragged as he rapidly approached his release. He moaned softly as he came, his hips bucking several times before he was spent.

Hermione sat back smiling. She grabbed her wand from the tray and cast a cleaning spell on Severus and herself. As much as she loved chocolate, she had no desire to destroy his furnishings with the messy substance.

Another wave of her wand, "Finite Incantatem," and the bonds holding him to the chair disappeared.

Severus felt absolutely boneless. "Come here, I don't think I can move yet."

Hermione banished the tray to the other room before straddling his lap and kissing him. "Happy Birthday!"

He laughed as he pulled her to him in a tight embrace. "Thank you. That was...amazing. I don't think I have ever experienced anything like it before."

"I'm glad."

"Any chance I can get you to dance for me again sometime?"

"I think that can be arranged."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the feel of skin on skin.

"While not practical, I do like the looks of this Thong. Where did you get it?"

"It's a Muggle fashion thing."

"Mmm." He shifted in the chair. "Would you mind if we move to the bed? I'm starting to lose the feeling in my legs."

Hermione stretched as she moved off his lap. She smiled as he reached out and caressed her breast.

"Do you think we can get Dumbledore to make these Thong things part of the required uniform? Not only had the annoying voice returned, it appeared to be more deranged than ever.

Severus stretched out on his back and sighed deeply. He would remember this birthday for years to come. He felt the bed dip as Hermione joined him, snuggling into his side.

"You were amazing."

"Well, you gave me a birthday to remember, I just wanted to do the same."

"This definitely surpasses the socks Albus gave me," he said with a chuckle.

"I almost forgot." Hermione sat up and grabbed her wand from the nightstand. "Accio book bag." Her book bag came flying in from the outer sitting room.

"You do know you could probably kill someone with that thing?"

Hermione ignored him as she searched through the bag. "Here it is!" She held up a small package wrapped in silver and gold foil. "Happy Birthday, Severus."

Severus sat up. "Hermione, you didn't have to get me anything. Just having you here tonight was more than enough."

"I wanted to," she said with a shrug.

"Gold and silver? Very diplomatic. It's not socks, is it? Albus didn't tell you I like socks, did he?"

"Do you like socks?"

"Of course not. But he insists on giving me the most hideous pair he can find for every occasion imaginable." He tore through the wrapping and recognised the name of a Wizarding jewelry store on the top. "Hermione."

"Just open it."

He opened the box to find a silver clasp for his cloak inside. It was shaped in the form of a snake, with two small emeralds for eyes.

"Hermione, I can't accept this. You keep telling me you're a poor University student. This must have cost you a fortune." The piece was exquisitely made and must have been very expensive.

"I wanted to get you something special for your birthday. You're always paying for me."

"I seem to be the only one gainfully employed at the moment," he said dryly.

"Please, I want you to have it," she said softly.

"Hermione..."

"Actually, I've managed to save a bit of money lately," she said, cutting him off before he could start lecturing her on the foolishness of such an extravagance. "You can't imagine the amount of money I save in food bills by eating at Hogwarts every weekend. That, and you wouldn't let me pay when we ordered in on Wednesday nights after your dance lessons. You've already told me you won't let me pay for the symposium. I've saved quite a bit. I really should thank you."

Severus laughed. "It's nice to know I'm good for something."

"Most definitely. Your knowledge of potions is quite helpful, too."

"Indeed." He pulled her in for a kiss, his desire for her starting to build again. "Thank you."

He traced a path along the side of her body, stopping when he came to the string crossing her waist. Hermione reached down to remove her thong.

"No, don't."

"It is removable."

"Let me." Moving between her legs, he dipped his head and caught the edge of The Thong between his teeth. His smile was feral as he pulled it off her body. He quickly shed his shirt before returning to the task at hand. "My turn."

It was the best birthday, bar none, he had ever had.

TBC

A/N: Challenge rules can be found following chapter one.

A repeat of the Note at the beginning, for those of you that missed it and now want to email me and let me know the correct date of Severus's birthday: At the time I started writing this story, Severus's birthday was not known. I chose November 4th as it fit with my timeline - after Hermione's birthday (Sept 19th) and the dance but before the Christmas holidays. JKR has since announced his birthday is Jan. 9th. I had thought about changing it, but that would change other events as well, so I decided to leave it as is.

The book A Dram of Poison by Charlotte Armstrong was published in 1956 and won the Edgar Award in 1957 for best mystery. I have never read the book, but the title sounded like something Severus might like to read.

This is the actual synopsis of the book: This book has plenty of intrigue and suspense when poison innocently labeled as olive oil goes astray. But it's also a life-affirming romp with an assortment of delightful characters whom you love enough to return to time and again. A celebration of life and of individuality.

The steps and form for the belly dancing came from this site -http://groups(dot)msn(dot)com/Ankestamen/yourwebpage4(dot)msnw. The dance Hermione did does not follow any particular form, but is more a compilation of several styles.

The traditional bow consists of putting your hand on your heart when you bow (from my heart), standing and putting your hand to your mouth (from my words), and then to the forehead (from my mind), roll the hand off your forehead to the audience (I thank you).

A grateful thank you to my beta, Nakhash – glad you're back – for her corrections and suggestions. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still mine.

Still to come: the Ministry celebration; a mystery woman; the symposium; the Wolfsbane Potion; Christmas break, and more. Enjoy. Please review and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always, thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are most welcome.

Regards,

Pearle