'Another year' the man in black sighs to himself putting the book he had been attempting to read onto the coffee table and walking over to his drink cabinet and pulling out a heavy bourbon and a small delicately designed glass. Pouring the opaque drink into the glass only to quickly throw it back down his throat, not giving his taste buds the chance to feel the rich flavor. He pinches the bridge of his nose as the dull headache slowly dissipates. A loud knock on his front door pulls him out of his thoughts for mere seconds before he continues his line of self-pitying monologue. 'Why couldn't people just leave me alone!' he internally shouts. Another knock tells him his visitor is not likely to leave in a hurry, well not until he makes them, he smirks.
He saunters through the long, dark hallway until he reaches the front door and moves his hand to the handle, about to open the door to who ever may be wishing to see him , 'please, Merlin, don't let in be Minerva, or Lupin' he silently prays as the visitor knocks again. This time he opens it halfway through their knocking, causing them to fall slightly.
Looking down he sees a blur of straight black and red hair rush towards him as he is suddenly engulfed in a tight bear hug. "Severus!" the woman shouts, not letting go.
"Amber?" he questions in shock.
"Of course, you great lump!" the woman smiles standing back to get a good look at him. "Merlin, you look terrible!" she exclaims taking in his particularly greasy hair and all black robes.
"Hmph. Thanks" he smirks looking back at her. She was 5'8" with shoulder length black hair with a bright red streak as her side fringe. She wore only muggle clothing, a smart thing to do when in a muggle area, a low-cut gray tank top with frills around the neck, half covered by her black military style and skin tight jeans with a pair of black knee high boots with silver buckles up them.
"Well" she smiles cheekily at him, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" she shouts.
"God, why did you have to remember?" he sighs. "I don't see you for 8 years and you conveniently remember this god forsaken day".
"I don't mean to be pushy, but it is kinda freezing out here, any chance of me coming in?" she asks pulling her arms around her in an attempt to ignore the slight downcast of snow.
"Of course" he smiles slightly moving to the side to allow the young woman inside his house.
"So" he starts slowly walking behind her into his round study, "two questions: What are you doing here after all this time, and why are you dressed like that, it's winter!"
Laughing gently she sits on the emerald green couch. "Straight to the point as always. A- I decided it was time to come back to the wizarding world and thought it best to catch up with you before anyone else, and what with it being your fortieth birthday and all, today seemed like a great day to do so. B- I was on the other side of the planet, literally"
"And you just happened to remember my birthday?" he asks skeptically.
"That and…" she pauses looking away guiltily, "Hey! I didn't give you your present! I planned on giving you some jazz music, but from the looks of you, you could do with a make-over. No excuses! You're getting one!" she smiles and drags him away to his bathroom.
"So, what do you think?" she asks nervously.
"What. On. Earth. Have. You. Done?" he asks blandly staring at his reflection, or at least what he guessed to be his reflection, in the mirror.
"Oh, come on, I've barely done anything, although muggle clothing suits you!" she squeals.