So funny story...I've been planning on doing this piece for ages and ages...and then I made the exact mistake that I wrote about in here. How very appropriate. XD hahahaha so I'm sorry that I forgot Snape's birthday, but you know what?! SO DID LILY! SO THERE.

See you tomorrow AND the next day for Lily's and Narcissa's/Scorpius's birthdays!

Also, please please PLEASE give me names that you would like to see included. I've got all the Weasley grandkids in here and a lot of the Hogwarts folk, but I want suggestions! So far my calendars are very sadly bare! Any character you can think of, weird and random as you please!

Lucy


29 January 1975

Severus sat by himself at the table in the back corner of the library, his nose buried deep in his Potions book. He was determined that he would get an Outstanding on his O.W.L., and though the exam was more than a year away, and Professor Slughorn had assured him time and time again that he had nothing to worry about, Severus only became more driven to do well. With top work in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration, he would stand out…and then, perhaps, Lucius would make good on his promise to connect Severus with his new crowd of friends…

Which, if Severus was honest with himself, he was seriously lacking nowadays. Lily had not come back from the holidays. Her father had been very ill for almost two years, and three weeks ago, on his birthday, Severus had received a letter from her telling him that her father had died.

Tomorrow was her fifteenth birthday.

He had glimpsed her at breakfast this morning, her first one back at Hogwarts. She had looked terribly ill and tired herself, but was talking with some of her Gryffindor friends. He didn't want to speak to them, so he'd hidden himself off in the library, deciding that he'd see her after Potions tomorrow afternoon.

"Happy birthday."

He almost leapt out of his seat, he was so startled by Lily's arrival. She wasn't smiling, but looked regretful.

"I forgot your birthday," she whispered, sitting down to join him and checking over her shoulder for Madam Pince. "Sev, I'm so sorry—I didn't even realize it until last night—I forgot it completely!"

Severus blinked; she looked almost at the point of tears. "N-no, it's—it's all right, it doesn't—"

"Of course it matters," she told him, taking his hand gently. "You're fifteen, and I'm supposed to be your best friend! I'm so, so sorry, Severus."

"Lily," he said, stunned, "You've—you've had some things—on your mind, you know, it's—it's not your fault—"

Lily looked down at the table and pulled her hands away, looking to a nearby bookshelf for a moment. "I didn't even get you a present," she mumbled, her voice catching in her throat.

And Severus was seized by a sudden desire to throw his arms around her, to hug her, to promise her that he would always, always be there for her—but he didn't dare. He didn't even dare touch her hand the way she had touched his, though it lay only inches away on the table.

She sniffled suddenly and wiped a tear from her cheek, hitching a smile onto her face. "Look," she said, "It's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up—I didn't want to go, but…I'd go with you. Just the two of us? I'll buy you your birthday present, you can pick out anything you like."

Severus's heart leapt into his throat, pounding erratically. "Y-yeah—yeah, Lily, I'd—I'd love that! I know some places where it won't be too crowded, too, so you don't have to—see anyone you don't want to see."

She sniffled again and patted his arm; the spot where her hand lay burned. "Thanks, Sev. You're a really great friend," she said quietly.

Severus wondered if Lily noticed the way his heart plummeted straight back down, through the stone floors, and into the deepest dungeon in the castle.

She didn't seem to. She had gotten up and was picking up her bag. She turned an exhausted, sad smile on him.

"Think about what you want your present," she told him. "The sky's the limit, I promise."

And she walked away, leaving Severus alone.