A/N: Champagne challenge and Snape's birthday challenge on gs100. Happy 52nd (?) birthday to Severus! "Obviously, simply reading this story is not an indication of your intelligence, or else you would know that kci47 is not J.K. Rowling. If she was, I feel certain that she would hardly have mistreated my person in such a manner, and I would most certainly still be alive. You are insufferable." -Severus Snape
"Happy birthday, Severus!" Hermione planted a quick kiss on his cheek as she handed him his present. "I hope you like it - I had the devil of a time getting it through all the security."
"I see," he replied, examining the dark green bottle. "Thank you."
"I've got to meet with Minerva, but we can celebrate with that later," Hermione called as she moved towards the door, winking at him.
Celebrate? With this? He was confused by her words, but he supposed he'd better get to work if she wanted to use the liquid in the bottle later tonight.
"Severus? I'm here!" Hermione's voice rang out as she let herself in to his quarters.
"In here," he grunted, and he did not look up when she entered the small lab. Steam was obscuring his vision in a most irritating manner. What was worse was that he could not figure out what they were supposed to do with the new potion ingredient Hermione had given him.
"What is this blasted ingredient?" he snarled, fully aggravated.
"Ingredient?" Hermione's confused gaze landed on the glass bottle. "Severus, that's champagne! What are you-"
They were both forced to duck when his cauldron exploded.