Severus's Eleventh Birthday

Opposites attract and Eileen could see the truth of that statement in the friendship that grew between her son and James. Years passed since they first met and their friendship continued to grow. They were different, James was as big a Quidditch fan as his father while Severus was more of a bookworm, and yet their conflicting interests did nothing to destroy the friendship that formed between them. However, Eileen knew that their friendship would be tested when they went to Hogwarts and she could only hope that their friendship would remain while at school.

It was the first week of January, two days before Severus's eleventh birthday, and Severus and James were currently flying around the backyard of Prince Manor. Severus had grown to love flying whenever he flew with Eileen when he was younger though he still didn't like Quidditch as much as James. Their love of flying was one of the few things that Severus and James had in common.

"Will you go get the boys? Lunch is almost ready," Abigail said poking her head out of the kitchen.

Eileen nodded before making her way out of the house and looking up at where her son and James were flying. "Sev! James! It's time for lunch!" She called hoping her voice would carry to her son. Apparently, it did for Severus and James circled the yard before landing and climbing off their brooms.

"What's for lunch, Mrs. Prince?" James asked.

Eileen smiled. "Don't know. I was kicked out of the kitchen," she said.

Severus chuckled before looking at James. "You know Grandma Abi doesn't like anyone cooking but her," he said.

"She is a good cook," said James with a grin. "So whatcha gonna do for your birthday?"

"I dunno. I'm still thinking about it. Mum said I could do anything within reason."

"Within reason? What does that mean?"

Severus shrugged. "Just not as big as yours usually is but that's 'cause you're the only friend I have that I can invite so the party'll be small."

James pressed his lips together. "Well, we could always do what we did last year. That was fun."

Severus snorted. "I got grounded 'cause of that stunt you pulled with those fireworks that nearly burned down a few of grandma's trees in the backyard."

"It wasn't that bad," James said. "And you helped set them off."

"I wasn't expecting them to fly into the trees."

"Still wasn't all my fault."

Eileen was listening to the two of them talk and couldn't help but smile though she remembered the incident that Severus and James were referring to well enough. Her parents hadn't been too happy when they found that a few of the aspen trees in the backyard had been nearly burned down when the fireworks crashed into and exploded in them. She made a point of banning fireworks at Severus's eleventh birthday to prevent more defenseless trees from being burned down.

"Hey, we still got a couple of days. We'll think of something," said James.

"Mum already said no fireworks and no pranks. I think she's still upset with what happened at my ninth birthday," Severus said.

Eileen also remembered that day; that was the day that James and Severus had devised a prank together. She swore that James had started converting her son into a prankster soon after they first met though Severus was still very much the studious bookworm that made her think he was likely to be in Ravenclaw. It was amazing that her son had been able to brew the hair color changing potion with only Abigail to watch over him but she wasn't too happy when her son and James decided to use it on her. It took her three days to get her hair to change from purple back to its original color.

"Ah man," James said. "And I got a new one too. Well, I kinda haven't tried it out yet but if it works it'll be awesome."

"Key words, if it works," drawled Severus.

"Hey, we won't know 'till we try it."

"No," Eileen said sternly.

"Ah please?" James adopted a puppy dog pout that usually worked with his parents.

Severus shook his head. "You should by now that never works with mum," he said when Eileen simply folded her arms across her chest and repeated her answer.

"Never hurts to try," James said with a shrug as the three of them entered the dining room were lunch was being served.

On the morning of his birthday, Severus was broken out of his sleep by a pillow to the back of the head and a shouted, "Wake up Sev!" from James who had spent the night.

"It's too early," Severus muttered burying his face back into his pillow.

"Ah come on. Your mum's already up and she said that you can open your gifts once you drag your lazy butt out of bed."

"She did not say that."

"Okay so I added the last part but seriously. I can't wait to see what you think of my gift," James said before he proceeded to hit the back of Severus's head again.

"Okay, I'm up, I'm up," Severus growled rolling onto his back and sitting up as James, who was standing beside the bed with a pillow in his hand, smirked.

"I knew if I kept doing that, you'd get up," he said.

"If only to stop you from doing what you did last year," Severus said. Ever since they became friends when they were four, James and Severus had grown close despite their differences proving the old saying that opposites attract held more truth than many had originally thought. Their parents were more than happy that they were friends, they actually considered themselves best friends, and often let them spend time at each other's houses and that included sleepovers. During the sleepover from the year before, Severus had been prepared to sleep in on his birthday but James had other ideas and asked Nira to bring him a bucket of cold water before pouring it over Severus.

Needless to say, Severus was not happy but then Severus was not a morning person.

"Yeah, not making that mistake again," James said with a grimace. "You got me back though." Severus got James back simply asking Nira to do to James what James did to him though, naturally, he did this later when James was least expecting it; Nira was more than happy to comply.

"Of course," he said with a smirk as he sat up and stretched. He wandered over to his bathroom and, after washing up and changing, made his way back into the room. James was still there though he had put the pillow he had been hitting Severus with back on the bed that had been transfigured for him the night before and had gotten changed.

"Come on!" James said.

Severus rolled his eyes. "It's my birthday and you're more excited than I am," he said following his friend as James led the way out of the room.

"I just can't wait to see what you think about what I got ya," said the dark-haired boy bounding down the stairs with Severus following close behind him.

They entered the sitting room and Eileen, who was already up and reading the Daily Prophet, looked up with some surprise in her obsidian eyes. "You're up early, Sev," she said.

"James decided that it'd be in my best interests to not sleep in on my birthday," Severus said.

"I see he didn't have to resort to how he woke you up last year," Eileen said with a small smile.

"Not making that mistake again," James said.

Eileen chuckled. "Well, your grandparents aren't up yet, Sev," she said, "and you know that your grandmother will want to make your birthday breakfast. You can open a few of your gifts while we wait though."

"Great, open mine first," James said making his way over to the small pile of gifts before pulling out a rectangular-shaped one. He handed it to Severus who had taken a seat on the couch before he sat down beside the black-haired boy.

Severus began tearing through the blue wrapping paper before pulling out a journal with a black leather cover with a silver-spine and silver etchings of cauldrons and vials on the surface. Severus opened the journal to find an inscription on the back of the front cover of the journal.

Sev,

I thought you might like this 'cause you're always talking about coming up with new potions and stuff like that and I thought you might want something to write everything you come up with down in. Plus, it's a great way to write down new pranks and anything else that you want. Take a look at the first page; I found this in one of the books in the Potter Library (yes, I went into the Potter library and yes I did not burst into flames) and I thought it was a cool one. Let me know what ya think of it. Happy Birthday, Sev!

James

Severus turned to the first page to find that the potion that was written, in neat handwriting that suggested James' parents had written it, was a potion that would temporarily change the color of the skin of whoever drank it.

"Thanks James," Severus said closing the journal.

James grinned. "You're welcome," he said.

"My, the birthday boy is actually up early. I do believe it is going to snow today," Vladimir's voice said and Severus looked up as his grandfather, amusement in his eyes, walked into the sitting room with Abigail, chuckling, walking just behind him.

"He woke me up," Severus said pointing to James.

"And I take it he didn't have to resort to what happened last year," Vladimir said with a small chuckle.

"I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not making that mistake again," James replied.

Abigail chuckled. "So what would you like for breakfast, Sev?" she asked.

Severus pressed his lips together in thought before saying, "Chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and eggs, please?" he said.

"That sounds good," Vladimir said, "but then your grandmother's chocolate chip pancakes are my favorite."

Abigail snorted. "Everything I cook is your favorite," she said.

"Point taken."

Abigail made her way into the kitchen and Vladimir took a seat in the second armchair in the room. "Are you going to open the rest of your gifts?" he asked.

Severus put his journal down before nodding and began unwrapping one gift after another. He got the next book in the muggle book series he had started reading from his mother, a pair of new dragon hide gloves from his grandmother and a new potions kit from his grandfather. Even James' parents had sent him a small gift; a box of an assortment of chocolates from Honeydukes.

"Thank you, all of you," Severus said with a small smile.

"You're welcome, Sev and happy birthday," said Eileen.

"Breakfast is ready," Abigail called from the kitchen.

James leapt to his feet. "Finally, I'm starving," he said.

Severus rolled his eyes. "It's really important that we feed you soon because if we don't then the world will surely end," he said.

James glared at him. "I really hated the day you discovered sarcasm, Sev," he said.

Severus simply smirked.

The party ended up being a small one just as it had been the year before but James knew that his friend preferred it that way. Severus was practically James's complete opposite but he didn't care about that; they did have some things in common, flying and a dislike of the Malfoys, but their differences did not prevent them from being friends. Besides, it wasn't like the party was boring despite the fact that there weren't many people there.

After lunch, James and Severus were discussing the potion that James had written in the journal he gave his friend. Severus was going over what ingredients they would still need to gather while James was wondering how they would be able to brew it since Severus couldn't use his family's lab without someone watching him. They were talking about what problems they would need to work out if they wanted to brew the potion when Severus's grandmother told them to come into the dining room for cake.

The two friends, with Severus closing the journal and tucking it under his arm, made their way into the kitchen. His mother and his grandparents were there as were James's parents and, as soon as Severus arrived, they sang him the birthday song. Once they were done, Eileen told Severus to close his eyes and make a wish.

Severus closed his eyes before blowing out the candles, which was followed by clapping.

"So what'd you wish for?" James asked.

Severus opened his eyes and looked at him and smirked but said nothing.

"You're not gonna tell me are you?"

"Nope."

"Ah come on. Please?"

"No."

"I told you what I wished for last year."

"Still not gonna happen."

James pouted. "Fine, don't tell me," he said.

"All right I won't."

"Git," James said shoving his friend playfully.

"Dunderhead," Severus replied with a smirk before accepting the piece of cake that his mother had handed him. He took a seat at the table and James, taking his own slice, sat down across from him.

"We'll be in the sitting room," said Abigail. She, her husband and Eileen left the kitchen with their slices of cake in their hands and entered the living room.

Severus, finishing his slice of cake, pulled out his journal and a quill before opening the journal to the potion James had asked his mother to write in it since he knew Severus couldn't read his handwriting. Severus examined the potion writing along the margins of the page as he did so and James, though he couldn't read upside down, peered at the journal.

"What are you doin'?" he asked.

"Just some notes," Severus said before he put the quill down and closed the journal. "Won't be able to add more 'till I've had a chance to look at the Prince library," he added.

"Why?"

"Just to see what many of these ingredients do with the potion."

James shook his head but smiled. He could already see which house Severus would be placed in when they go to Hogwarts. "Hey, why don't we go outside and fly?" he suggested.

Severus grinned; he really did like flying even if he didn't care for Quidditch. "All right," he said. He grabbed his journal and the two of them made their way to Severus's room to grab the brooms they were given for Christmas, though Severus was only allowed to use it when they were at either Prince Manor or Potter Manor.

"Where are you going?" Eileen asked when the two boys ran past the sitting room with their brooms in their hands.

"Outside to fly," Severus called over his shoulder.

"Stay within the wards and be careful," Abigail said.

"Yes grandma."

Then the two boys were out in the backyard, mounting their brooms and taking off into the sky being careful to not go too far because it was snowing.

They came down about an hour later when the blizzard struck. James was a good flyer but that didn't mean he was stupid enough to fly in the middle of a blizzard. They were lucky; they managed to make it to the ground before the blizzard got worse though they were both shivering when they reentered the manor.

Abigail instructed them to change out of their wet clothes the instant she caught sight of them. "I'll have some hot chocolate ready for you when you're done," she said before she made her way into the kitchen while the boys, eager for some hot chocolate to warm their cold hands, dashed up the stairs.

That night, Severus was lying on his bed gazing up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure why he couldn't sleep but he couldn't. He yawned before turning onto his side and closing his eyes but sleep still eluded him.

"Can't sleep either?" James, who was spending the night again, asked lifting his head from his pillow on the transfigured bed in the room.

Severus shook his head as he sat up. "No," he said.

"Me neither." James yawned before swinging his legs off his bed and standing up. He walked over to Severus's bed and sat down beside him as he swung his legs off his bed.

"You shouldn't have had that third piece of cake," Severus said with a small smile.

James playfully smacked his shoulder. "It was good though," he said.

Severus chuckled because he knew it was. His grandmother was the best cook that he knew and she had made his birthday cake from scratch. "Yeah it was," he said. He fell silent for a long moment.

"Can you believe we're heading off to Hogwarts soon?" James said breaking the silence. "I'm looking forward to it."

Severus nodded in agreement. "I am too," he said.

"What house do ya think you'll be in?"

Severus shrugged suddenly uncertain. Almost everyone in his family had been sorted into Slytherin; he believed that his grandmother was the only one who wasn't sorted into that house. He didn't want to be in the same house as Lucius Malfoy though especially after what happened at every Christmas party at Potter Manor since he started attending them.

"What's the matter?" James asked when Severus remained silent.

"Everyone in my family has been in Slytherin except my grandma," Severus replied. "I don't want to be in the same house as Malfoy."

James snorted. "Who would want to be in the same house as Malfoy?" He looked curiously at Severus before adding, "Besides, I don't think you'll be in Slytherin."

"What house do you think I'll be in then?"

James didn't hesitate at all as he said, "Ravenclaw."

"That's what mum thinks too but…" Severus began.

"Hey, don't worry about it mate," James said. "Maybe you'll be like your grandma."

I hope so, Severus thought. "What house do you think you'll be in?" he asked.

"Gryffindor," James said. "My entire family's been in Gryffindor."

"Oh." Severus fell silent suddenly a little worried about that. He knew, because of the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, that he would likely not be able to remain friends with James if he was sorted into Slytherin. However, he wasn't sure if it would be the same if he was sorted into Ravenclaw.

"You all right?" James asked.

"Yeah I'm fine."

The hazel-eyed boy didn't look convinced. "You don't seem fine."

Severus's eyebrows rose. "When did you learn how to see what another is feeling?" he said.

James rolled his eyes. "I'm serious, Sev. What's the matter?"

"You're never serious, Jamie. But all right, do you think we can still be friends if we're sorted into different houses?"

James just shrugged. "I don't see why not. You're my best mate, Sev. Ain't nothing gonna change that," he said.

Severus smiled at that. "Thanks Jamie," he said.

The door opened spilling light from the hallway into the room and Eileen poked her head into the room. "It's after midnight. You two should be asleep," she said with a frown of disapproval.

"Sorry mum."

"Sorry Mrs. Prince."

"Just go to sleep, Sev, James," Eileen said before she closed the door.

"How does she do that?" James whispered for that wasn't the first time that Eileen has known they were up when they weren't supposed to be.

Severus shook his head. "I have no idea," he replied. "Must be a mum thing."

"Yeah, probably."

"Boys, go to sleep!" Eileen's voice sounded through the door.

James and Severus exchanged glances before deciding to do as they were told. James stood up before walking back to his bed while Severus lied back down. He closed his eyes and, this time, he was able to fall into a light sleep.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: first off, thank you to the ten people who reviewed chapter two. If I can get to 30 reviews then I'll be SUPER happy but my next update won't depend on number of reviews I get, it will depend on how long it takes me to type the next chapter (as it is likely going to be long)

Darth: what is in the next chapter?

Blaze: letters and journey through Diagon Alley including meeting another character

Darth: is it...?

Blaze: yup!

Darth: awesome

Blaze: so please review and I will post chapter 4 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be anytime soon