A/N: Written for a contest at the Hideaway. You should all come join us there, just mention me if you do! Anyway, the idea was to write about Severus receiving a present from another HP character. If you are interested in Albus' greeting, check out Miss McGonagle's "The ADMM Collection," Chapter 14, entitled "Birthday." Thanks for reading!

"I said, LEAVE ME BE!" bellowed Severus as he flung open the door to his rooms. He was startled to find a trembling Pomona Sprout at his door as opposed to their gleeful headmaster whose birthday greeting he had been avoiding all day.

"Pomona. Oh. I was expecting someone else."

"I should hope so," was her quiet reply.

Severus continued to stare at Pomona, waiting for her to state her business and be on her way. Between his above average height and her own short stature, the witch's face, hands, and most of her body were hidden beneath her large crooked hat as she kept her head bowed.

"Pomona?"

"Yes, Severus." Her voice was almost squeaky.

Feeling his patience growing thin, Severus reminded himself that he had caused the problem to begin with. "Can I help you in some way?"

"I…well…" For the first time she looked up at him, determination obvious in her face. "Happy Birthday, Severus."

To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Pomona thrust a box into his hands. Mutely, he took off the brightly covered lid, barely noting the large Slytherin-green bow on top. Inside he found a small, squirming…thing.

With a question in his eyes, he looked to the witch.

"I named her, Carmen. I heard you listening to the music. I thought you might appreciate the name."

"Carmen?"

"Yes. Carmen." At his blank stare, she continued, "The dog, Severus. Carmen is a Toy Mexican Hairless Chihuahua." She looked at him with a bright smile, which only confused him further.

"Chihuahua?"

At this, Pomona laughed. "Yes, Severus. Chi-hua-hua." She overly enunciated the last word, drawing it out as she took the box from him and lifted out the small, squirming dog. "She's supposed to be good for asthma and that she is. I've noticed lately that you have been requiring many ingredients for allergy potions that haven't made it to Poppy's shelves. A muggle friend of mine had developed the same problem and her Herbert has helped immensely."

Realization was slowly beginning to take hold in Severus' mind. "You got me a dog…for my birthday?" She nodded brightly. "But…but I don't want a dog."

"You may not want her at the moment, but I am sure you two will be very happy together. Here you are." She placed the dog into his hands, which had automatically moved to meet hers before Severus could stop himself.

With one last bright smile, Pomona said, "Good night Severus. Happy birthday. Maybe you can bring Carmen by sometime to meet my Jose." With that she turned and left him staring after her, his mouth gaping open.

Looking down at the tiny animal, now curled between his chest and arm, only one word of the many swirling round his mind escaped. "Jose?"

Two weeks later…

"Sir?"

"What is it, Granger?"

"Sir, I, I believe there is something moving in your bag."

"Eyes on your cauldron. Ten points from Gryffindor."

She watched as he waited to make sure each of the students eyes were in the proper place before making his way to the front of the room. From the corner of her eye, she saw him sit at his desk. Checking once more that his students' attention was elsewhere, he dropped a hand to his bag and brought out… Was that a puppy? As Hermione's interest grew, Severus held the dog to his chest, attempting to conceal the small animal in his voluminous robes. As she watched her cold, severe professor begin to softly pet the puppy and whisper to it, Hermione began to see Snape in a new, strangely attractive, light.