A Hogwarts Birthday
Severus walks into the staff room, oblivious about what is about to happen.
The moment he is inside, streamers and glittery flecks fly from the ceiling like a miniature rainstorm of pure fabulousness and he lets out a cry of surprise.
Flitwick is sitting just inside the door on his left with an incredibly smug expression on his face. Severus spits out a piece of paper streamer and wipes his face, as a large clump of glitter appears to have affixed itself to the tip of his nose before he looks up to see Hagrid holding a big hand-painted banner.
"HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY SEVERUS!" proclaims the banner in loud chartreuse strokes of paint.
Minerva and Pomona come out from a side door with a large cake on a metal platter and place it on the table in the middle of the room with a cheer.
The DADA professor, Geraldine Frew, gives him a cartoonishly big card, which has been signed by everyone, while Dumbledore stands in the corner with an antique camera snapping photos and winding the film with an audible creak.
Severus turns to escape through the door behind him, but instead he nearly runs into Madam Pomfrey, who stands with her hands on her hips.
"Oh no you don't, young man!" she scolds.
Flitwick charms a bunch of floating party hats into the air, and they twirl and play a funny little celebratory tune as they float around and find assorted heads. Severus tries to dodge his, but is unsuccessful.
He is escorted to the head of the table by Madam Hooch, who pats him on the back hard enough to nearly knock the wind out of him.
Professor Kettleburn leads them all in a toast, and Severus raises his glass tentatively, tipping it back with caution.
He is glad that he has exercised said caution when the burning taste of firewhiskey fills his mouth. He chokes a little on the burning alcohol, prompting Hooch to whack him on the back once more.
Then, there is food, which he samples with birdlike nibbles, and cake, which he actually likes quite a lot. Finally, each of the professors presents him with a wrapped gift, and Severus has to pull on every bit of his natural talent at Occlumency to hide the fact that he is utterly overwhelmed at the outpouring of support from his fellow teachers. It is ten times the birthday he's ever experienced, and though it makes him uncomfortable to be in the limelight, it is surprisingly satisfying in a place in his heart that he did not even know he had.
Then, there is singing, and though Severus Snape does not sing, especially not in front of others, he lends his voice in refrain until it aches.
It is a good ache.
It is afterwards, when he stumbles back to his quarters with his arms filled with opened gifts and a wrapped section of leftover cake, that he realizes that he is grinning like a complete idiot, his robes dusted with a rainbow of colored specks of glitter.
As he looks in the mirror, Severus lets out a hoarse laugh. He looks ridiculous, but he also doesn't care. He can engage in anxious thoughts and delusions of humiliation later.
No, tonight Severus is happy.
It is his birthday, after all.