A/N: I hadn't planned on posting this until I had more written, but after learning of the death of the great Alan Rickman, I wanted to post something. Editing was rushed, but I'm pretty happy with it. RIP to one of the greatest actors we will ever see. Also, today is my birthday, so I will never forget this date.

Morphed Secrets Chapter 14– The Best Birthday

*****Harry*****

Harry frowned slightly when Hedwig landed on his shoulder without a message for him again. He had been expecting letters from his friends regularly, and it was already two weeks into the summer without hearing from either of them. He wouldn't have been surprised, except they had both been so insistent that they would write. Hedwig seemed unusually agitated as well, like she was trying to tell him something that he was too slow to understand. He had sent her off with a letter to Ron and he had expected Ron to send back a response with Hedwig, in case the Weasley owl, Errol wasn't feeling up to a trip. If Hermione couldn't write, he would understand that a bit better, since she lived in a muggle neighborhood, maybe she didn't want owls flying around, but that didn't sound like Hermione either. Maybe she was already on vacation with her family and just was too busy to write to him?

Hogwarts was loads better than where Harry used to live, so he'd never complain, but he did like it better with the other students around, or his friends at least. He'd go see Hagrid sometimes though, and about half the days he'd go flying with his father, and sometimes he'd go by himself, which he was allowed to do if he brought one of the elves with him. He pretty much had to take an elf with him anywhere, but he quickly found that they knew absolutely everything about the castle and were fascinating when one would actually talk with him. His favorite was Milly, a younger house elf whose primary duties were cleaning classrooms and guest quarters. Harry hadn't even known that the castle even had guest quarters, but it made sense, since Harry figured that the castle was big enough for just about everything, and there were always empty classrooms around that didn't seem to be used for anything, so it made sense that there could be guest rooms somewhere too.

*****Severus*****

"What's bothering you, child?" Severus asked when Harry returned to their quarters looking like someone had stolen a favorite toy of his. Severus even checked to make sure the child still held his broom.

"It's not much. I- haven't gotten any letters from my friends, and they said they'd write, but I guess they're busy," the child said, looking at his feet.

Severus studied the boy in front of him. He thought the child's friends were considerate enough to pen a letter of some kind back? No they were better than that, definitely caring about Harry's well-being. "There is likely an explanation. We'll use the floo. You remember about the floo, yes?"

"You can use it to talk to people and to go see them. But- it seems rude to barge in."

"You do not have to- send all of yourself. It may seem undignified, but it is the more courteous action," he said, taking a pinch of floo powder, tossing it into the fireplace and crouching down to his knees to stick just his head in the flames. He hated this, terribly uncomfortable to be on his knees on the stones, and more nauseating than he would admit.

"Hello?" He called, feeling like a school boy rather than a- parent in his thirties. "This is Severus Snape to talk to Mr. or Mrs. Weasley." He couldn't take it back as he had started saying it. Mr. or Mrs., what was he, a child? Arthur or Molly would have been much more appropriate.

"Severus?" came the voice of the Weasley matriarch. Of course, Arthur would likely be at work in the middle of the day. He noticed Ron running into the room just a few steps behind his mother, a smile actually on the child's face.

"Did he get my letter, can Harry come visit?" the boy asked quickly. "I've sent two now, and he hasn't responded, but Errol isn't very good, you know.

"Ron, let your professor talk," Molly Weasley chided, though she began speaking herself. "We would love to have Harry over, Severus, to stay as long as you would allow. Of course if you would like to come for tea or dinner to see how he is doing, you would be more than welcome."

"Perhaps," Severus said in passing, mind turning on other matters. The Burrow did seem safe, though unconventional, and he knew the oldest Weasley boy was working in curse work and protective warding, so the property was likely to be secure, though he would examine the wards thoroughly himself before leaving the boy alone. Disappearing mail did not often happen in the wizarding world when reliable owls were involved. Nothing was normal with his child though, of course. "Harry did not receive your correspondence, Mister Weasley, or any from Miss Granger, and it is sufficient to say that you did not receive his as well. I will investigate, but also- relay your offer," at the last minutes he added, "And I trust you will pass along that news to Miss Granger," he said, wondering when he started caring if second year Gryffindor girl was worried. With a quick nod to Molly withdrew his head, trying to ignore the spinning through space via fireplace. His knees were stiff as he rose- he was far too old for such activities.

"And, what did they say?" the boy questioned anxiously.

Severus considered his words, "They were concerned because of the lack of communication. Evidently you were both sending letters but neither arrived. I assume the same is true for Miss Granger. I do not think it is yet a cause of concern, but I will look into it. At some point this summer, you have been invited for a visit to the Burrow, which I may be inclined to allow at a later date, sufficient?"

Harry nodded, smiling, all fears apparently assuaged with a few words. Now, Severus had to consider what was stopping the communication of three school children in and out of Hogwarts. Severus would first see if his own messages would be stopped, and inform the Headmaster at the earliest moment.

*****Severus*****

Severus woke on the boy's birthday, probably more excited than the child was. He had set all of the boy's presents up on the couch after the child had gone to sleep. He had even visited the Weasleys himself to pick up presents from the Weasley family, and Miss Granger's from the Weasley house as well. Severus would never admit how the little Gryffindors had warmed to him. The intercepted mail still worried him, but he and Albus had confirmed that the wards were not affected, and all of the children, particularly Harry would be safe for his plan that evening.

Hagrid had sent his own gift to the boy up to the castle, and Minerva and Albus had surprised him with small packages for the boy as well. No one but Ron Weasley had asked about being there to open gifts with Harry, and Severus had pushed the boy off, reminding him that he would see Harry that evening for the surprise he had planned. He wondered about his selfish motivations for keeping present opening for just the two of them in the morning, but tried not to dwell on it. The child took every little gift so seriously and with such care, it was enjoyable to make the child so pleased. Most of Severus's younger students broke their gifts within hours of receiving them, but not Harry. Dora would be coming to deliver her gift in person, and spend the rest of the day with them, and Severus had not been successful in pushing her away, though he hadn't actually tried.

Severus found himself hovering over the boy, rather pathetically, wanting to surprise the child with gifts but not wanting to disturb his rest. He was not some doting parent content to watch his child sleep and yet… "Harry?" he finally spoke, laying a hand on Harry's head. He couldn't stop his smile when the child opened his eyes with a small grin. He didn't think Harry had had a nightmare in a least a week, which was huge progress for a child who had faced the Dark Lord little more than a month ago and who had had a very questionable childhood before that point. Occasional nights where Severus had been woken and sat next to Harry until the child fell asleep again were uncomfortable for them both, but Harry smiled so widely at him the next day, even if he'd barely talk about what had scared him in his sleep. "It's your birthday," Severus reminded him, only slightly awkwardly.

"I know. I meant to stay up until midnight like I always used to, but I was tired, I guess."

Severus made note of the boy's tradition, though perhaps he would enjoy it this way as well. "Slippers and dressing gown on," Severus instructed. You have presents to open," at which point Harry positively bounced out of bed, already in his slippers and robe as he protested that it wasn't that cold in the summer. Harry rushed past him but quickly turned back, mouth gaping comically open when he saw his pile of presents. Draco Malfoy, or any of his Slytherins really, would expect that many presents from his parents alone, and wouldn't stand gaping when half of them were likely boring books anyway. Then again, Harry wasn't most children. "They are yours- get going," Severus prodded gently. The boy began opening presents happily, but carefully, looking for a name or card before opening each one.

Minerva had given him a lovely quill, even if it was colored a garish red with golden colored fastenings. The woman wouldn't dream of letting him forget whose house the child was in. Harry set the quill aside so delicately that Severus wondered if he would ever use it. The Headmasters gift, though it looks small, poured out sweets the moment Harry opened it until the child was halfway covered in them, varieties of sweets many of which Severus only recognized as being past passwords for Albus's office. Severus enjoyed the boy's laugh even if he would now need to mention moderation and sweets rationing at a later date. Severus didn't have the heart to spoil his fun on the child's birthday. And there were always potions if child gave himself a stomach ache this once. Ron Weasley also gave the boy sweets, and Molly sent an entire pie and a block of fudge, which Severus wondered how the decrepit old owl would have managed to deliver if Severus hadn't been picking up the gifts himself because of their posting difficulties. He wondered if food was equated with affection in that family.

The gamekeeper had sent his own culinary attempts which even Harry grimaced over for a moment before the smile won out. Miss Granger had given him a book about Arithmancy, including a note about how it sounded fascinating and she hoped Harry would take it with her in their third year, planning well in advance since they weren't even second years yet. Harry smiled and set it aside just like all the others. Harry looked around at the lack of any more presents, and then glanced at him like he was going to say something but quickly looked away.

"I didn't forget about you," Severus said softly, retrieving his own gifts for the boy, and appreciating the wide grin that took up all of Harry's face. The child dove into the small stack of wrapped books, slowly admiring each one. Severus had included two on potions theory, one on defense, and the last on quidditch, since he made some attempt to cater to the boy's interests. A wand and caldron maintenance kit was the second thing he unwrapped, and Severus was feeling like the most boring gift-giver, but Harry seemed to find everything fascinating, and it least it wasn't about a class that the child wouldn't even take for more than a year (though Severus had enjoyed Arithmancy himself and hoped Harry would enjoy advanced studies that electives offered- in anything except Divination).

Harry reached last for the small fabric bag with a draw string, and he could see that the boy was shocked to see money inside. "You don't need to give me money, Sir. I have a vault- I mean, I think I still do, right?"

"Yes, you have a vault, possibly a few vaults in your name, and they will still be there when you are older. It's just a bit of spending money for your birthday, to get something you might want whenever we next go shopping. We can discuss an amount for a weekly or monthly allowance as well, and a bit extra once you start visiting Hogsmeade with the other students in your third year."

"But- I've got so many more things than I need already though. Since I got my robes big last summer, I haven't even outgrown them. I just need books for next year and maybe some new quills-"

"Harry, haven't we talked about this? School supplies are not gifts. I am more than well off enough that you can have everything you need for school and several things for fun. Pocket money is for spending more on candy than I'd want you to- or buying something from Gambol and Japes- though I had better not hear that you have been intentionally cruel with any pranks."

"Why would you want me to buy something you wouldn't want me to have?" the boy actually asked him confusedly.

"Because- sometimes, children are allowed to have fun, so long as no one is hurt. Surely the Weasley twins have told you too much about this already- though you shouldn't look to them as role models. They had more detentions as first years than I would expect you to have in all your years he-re" Severus was jostled by little arms and a solid forehead colliding with his middle.

"Thank you," Harry told him.

"Of course. Now, why don't you run and put up your new things. Tonks will be over shortly, and I believe she has something for you." That got the boy hopping around, though carefully with his new gifts.

Tonks arrived just as they were finishing the quiet lunch that the elves delivered. Severus had tried to pick all of Harry's favorite foods, even some of his favorite treacle tart, though the boy seemingly had a lifetime of sweets gifted to him that day.

"Hey there, Birthday Boy! I got the whole day off just for you. Ready to open one more present?"

The boy smiled up at the witch, "Thanks. I hope it wasn't too much trouble to get off work. It's really good to see you," he said politely.

"Nonsense. I needed a day off, and I wasted it sleeping until twenty minutes ago, so the rest of it had better be fun," she said, sweeping past the table and grabbing a piece of bread from Severus's plate, though there was plenty still in the middle of the table. "Open my present and then you get to show me the rest of your haul," the witch instructed.

The boy opened the package with the same wide-eyed diligence as the others. He finally held up some muggle clothing- a pair of jeans and two shirts: a blue button-up and a black t-shirt. Harry held them against himself and smiled saying that they looked great, but Severus thought they looked fitted for a larger boy.

"They change size with you, no matter how much you morph yourself," Tonks said excitedly. "I've got a woman who will do all the spells for me, and they are guaranteed to last longer than the fabric does, even if you take good care of them. I can't do nearly so well myself."

"Wicked," Harry hissed, looking at Tonks and him. The witch was endearing, getting presents for the boy and making him so happy- not that it was especially difficult to impress Harry.

"Well, go ahead. Run off and try them on. Perhaps you'd like to wear them for the rest of the day?" Severus prompted.

"Yeah, that's great," the boy said, heading towards his room smiling wide.

*****Harry*****

Harry loved his new gifts as much as the ones his father had given him. It seemed extra special since it wasn't like Tonks really had to get him anything. He saw Tonks smile, but knew that she looked at his father just as much as him. He smiled himself, hurrying off to his room to try on his new clothes, but also deciding that he would stay in there a bit longer, to give the adults some time alone. He tried to do that whenever Tonks came over, though he thought the grown-ups were too wrapped up in each other to notice.

*****Severus*****

The witch was in his lap before the boy had even closed his door. He was met with a fierce kiss that he did not at all object to. Severus liked her forward actions. He restrained a whimper when she pulled away, but her look told him that she knew. "So Mister, Molly and Arthur will be there tonight, as will most of the Weasley family, correct?"

"Except for their two eldest, yes. And Hermione Granger will be there as well," Severus added.

"So, what am I?"

Severus merely raised his eyebrows in his customary fashion.

"Don't play dumb. What am I- why am I there? Am I Harry's teacher? Your girlfriend? A woman who forced you on a date and whom you later broke into the house of to kiss her?" Severus almost smiled at that one despite his rising alarm. "Not to spring this on you on your son's birthday, but it's the first time we've been around people except Harry, and he hardly counts as he keeps shoving us together, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Eleven-year-old Gryffindors aren't known for their subtly."

"Twelve now, but valid point."

"Whatever you want," Severus answered. "You may present yourself however you wish in whatever way is best for your reputation."

"Severus, that's the biggest nonsense just so you don't have to make a decision. You wouldn't hurt my reputation, and I wouldn't care if you did," she said, kissing him again. "I'll do what I want then," she said when she pulled away. "And you'll have to deal with me breaking the news when and how and to whom I see fit," she went on, though Severus didn't mind because she kissed him again.

*****Harry*****

Harry almost took a step back when he saw the house elf on his bed, but instead he continued into his room and closed the door. "Er- hello?" Harry asked curiously. "You don't work at Hogwarts, do you?" Harry had noticed that the elf wore what looked like a pillowcase with holes torn into it for his head and arms to go through. It wasn't exactly clean either.

"Harry Potter!" the elf squeaked, "Such an honor it is. Dobby has wanted to see you for so long…"

Harry attempted to hush the elf, not wanting to ruin his father's time talking to Tonks. They had seemed friendly, happy lately, and Harry was pretty sure he had heard them kiss just as he was leaving the room. He hoped that if they heard anything, they'd just think he was talking to one of the castle elves.

"You have to be quiet- what's your name? What are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Dobby sir, Dobby the house elf. And Dobby doesn't know how to explain... Dobby can't say."

"Shh," Harry said, trying to figure out what to do. There was a mild spell to dampen noise on the room for privacy, but his father would hear if anything got loud. He knew there were all sorts of sensors on the room too, so he guessed the elf was probably okay, not trying to hurt him at least. Harry thought of everything he knew of elves, mainly that house elves usually didn't disobey their masters, and that they were uncomfortable when you were too nice to them, though Milly didn't mind as much as most of the ones at Hogwarts. "If you aren't going to tell me, what's the point of you coming here, Dobby? Does your family know you're here?" Harry said, somewhat exasperated.

"Oh no, Harry Potter sir. Master would be very mad. Dobby will have to punish himself quite harshly for doing something master would not like," the creature said, swiftly grabbing Harry's large potions book and slamming it into his head once before Harry snatched it away, alarmed. Harry had never heard of house elves punishing themselves, but he was only familiar with the ones at Hogwarts, and he doubted they often broke any rules that the Headmaster set anyway, if Dumbledore made any rules up at all.

"They don't- um sound very nice, but you can't leave them. You are- a slave, right? You can't leave your masters or do things they don't want you to do? But surely there's someone you can tell if they are that bad? I bet my dad would…" Harry stopped his sentence when he saw that the little elf was too worked up, quickly clapping his hand over the creature's mouth. "You have to be quiet. I'll- I'll tell on you if you scream," Harry hissed, feeling like scum for threatening the poor creature. Dobby only nodded, completely unfazed by the threat. "What are you doing here? It's my birthday, and I have to get ready and put up my gifts from my friends."

"Friends that don't even write to Harry Potter?"

"They did just- what?" Harry exclaimed, keeping his voice low. "You? You've been taking my letters, haven't you?! Those weren't yours," Harry protested. "And why would you do that?"

"Forgive me, Mister Harry Potter," Dobby said, cowering, making Harry take a step back and feel even more guilty. "Dobby is thinking that if Harry Potter is not enjoying his time at Hogwarts, he is going away where it is safest, Harry Potter sir."

"I can't go away- Hogwarts is my home now. We just used the floo to talk to them, or Ron's family at least. And he didn't get my letters, and I found out I didn't get his, and that Hermione's the same way. And why isn't Hogwarts the safest place for me?"

"There is a plan, Harry Potter. If Harry Potter stays at Hogwarts, he will be in great danger. Terrible things will be happening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, terrible things that Harry Potter must not be around for."

"Dobby, I can't leave," Harry said, beginning to think that he needed to call for his father and Tonks. "What kind of plan? Who's making this plan?"

Dobby made a screeching sound and began banging his head upon the wall. This was too much. "DAD!" Harry called loudly, hearing footsteps approach. Dobby looked up, round eyes even wider, and disappeared with a loud crack just as the door was thrown open, his father and Tonks both looking alarmed, wands drawn.

"There was a house elf, not a school one," Harry explained quickly. "He's been the one taking my letters, and he said there was something dangerous going to happen at Hogwarts, but I told him I couldn't leave," Harry sad in a rush.

*****Severus*****

Severus felt his heart pumping far too quickly as he burst into his son's room to find the child distressed but apparently unharmed. He knew he just heard the crack of apparition, never mind that that was impossible in school grounds. The boy started to explain, and he followed it in a haze. A house elf, yes, the only thing that made sense, though Hogwarts house elves were trained to be silent in their comings and goings around the castle, to not wake sleeping children. And house elf magic was strong enough to disrupt mail delivery, though it was an unusual task.

"Harry, it's important not to leave out any detail. Can you tell me anything else?" he asked, trying not to alarm the boy.

"His name was Dobby," the boy said at once. Dobby- that sounded familiar, though house elves were normally named incipit short names. "He was wearing a torn and dirty pillowcase, so I knew he didn't work at Hogwarts. And he said his master wouldn't want him to come here, and he'd have to punish himself for coming. And that there was a plot for dangerous things to happen at Hogwarts. And when I asked what the plan was and who was making it, he started hitting his head on the wall. Do you think his master is the one who's going to do something bad at Hogwarts?" Dobby. Severus was now almost sure that Dobby was the name of a Malfoy house elf. He would have to pay a visit to his old friend, a prospect he was not anticipating eagerly, their first meeting since it became known to the world that he was the father of the Boy Who Lived. Well, at least that was one mystery solved, and the problem could likely wait until Harry's birthday was over, though he would have to look into magic to block house elves, perhaps consulting with the castle elves for guidance.

"That seems- likely. And even if the elf means well, you shall inform me immediately in the future if you hear from him again, yes?" Severus prodded. How on earth did he get by each day when something was always happening with this child?

*****Severus*****

After a quiet day after the elf incident, and an early dinner, Severus proposed a trip out to the pitch for a bit of flying, not telling the boy that anything else was planned. The child was beyond thrilled to head out towards the quidditch pitch and see the Weasley clan and Hermione Granger waiting for him. The boy took off running before Severus would have been able to recognize the group if he hadn't already known they would be there. Harry was surrounded by the lot of them before he and Tonks had made it over to the little party.

"Look at how much you've grown," Mrs.- Molly was saying, tactfully not mentioning that his entire appearance had also changed since she saw him at King's Cross. Harry had indeed been growing and didn't look as fragile as he had, but the child was still probably only about the size of the first year that first slipped on the sorting hat, albeit one who looked significantly different.

"Thank you so much for the pie and the fudge, Mrs. Weasley. We were going to save them for tonight, but maybe you'll stay for that? And thank you for the sweets and the book, Ron and Hermione," Harry went on.

With the children so near the quidditch pitch, the topic quickly turned to the game, "Come on, Percy, we need you for even teams. I don't think we'll get Hermione up in the air." George Weasley goaded. Telling them apart had come easily for Severus, though it hardly mattered because they partnered together in class and were always in trouble for the same causes. Percy Weasley stood uncomfortably away from his younger siblings, and Hermione looked equally distrustful of the brooms.

"Well, it has been quite a while since I've been on a school broom," Arthur began.

"Dad!" Ron protested, "I mean, yeah," the child said, suddenly thinking better of his statement perhaps? The boy had been at least trying to be tolerable.

"Ron doesn't want to say that he doesn't want to play with his father," Fred pointed out.

"Not true," Ron protested loudly, though his face was bright red, "I'm happy that Dad wants to play."

"Perhaps just the children this time," Mrs. Weasley said in a loud whisper to her husband, though everyone present heard.

"Great, Tonks is on our team," George shouted out. Severus stopped himself from wincing.

"Tonks is an adult too," the small dark haired boy, his child, objected. Of course Harry would say something, the little Gryffindor.

"No she's not," Fred laughed a bit. "Not really. She's friends with Bill and Charlie. She's still fun, right, Tonks?"

"I don't know boys, if I want to leave Severus alone to mingle by himself," the witch chuckled.

Severus quickly studied Dora again. Since leaving the castle, she had adapted a look halfway between her natural form and her spiky pink haired self. Her hair was long and dark, but her body structure and height were not naturally her own. "You should play," he said lightly, voice a bit less smooth than usual.

The devious look on her face told him what she was going to do a full three seconds before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, for a few seconds longer than was needed to make her point. She obviously wanted to be public. He cursed himself for allowing those present to see him smile as she pulled away. "Have fun," he said, looking to her and then to Harry, already regretting his decision to let her leave his side, letting him be trapped with the older Weasleys and possibly the young Granger and the oldest present Weasley child. It was worth it to see the open mouthed shock of the Weasley twins, though Molly seemed equally shocked, and Arthur started a sudden coughing fit. Severus looked at the others with a neutral face. Harry's close friends didn't seem very surprised, though Granger was smiling at him too widely. Percy seemed mildly interested, and Severus had still barely seen the youngest Weasley from her place behind her mother.

It was Ron Weasley who broke the silence, "Hermione, you should play. You can even borrow Harry's spare Nimbus, right Harry?" the child asked his friend, in the utmost generosity of a twelve-year-old boy. Severus would have thought that the child would have thought of the spare broom as his own by now- it practically was after all.

"I- maybe, but I am fine with a school broom. I don't need to go so quickly anyway," stated the unusually flustered girl.

"What about you, Ginny?" Dora asked, trying to draw out the shy girl.

"Ginny can't fly," Fred and George said at the same time. Ron had looked like he would say something as well, but closed his mouth before speaking.

"I can too," the small girl said, with surprising force, the first words Severus had heard her speak.

"Let's get you a broom then," Dora said, when neither parent objected. "Percy, are you coming?" Dora asked.

"Ginny's been sneaking out to fly since she was at least eight," Arthur whispered to him as Dora led the children including Granger and Percy Weasley away. "She doesn't think we know, and it scared me to near death when I first saw her, but she was so good already, it didn't seem like too much harm. She'd probably been hiding it for years even then. And there's plenty of cushioning charms on the back lawn, more since that day. We wouldn't admit the extra soft spot we have for our little girl, and the boys are hard on her sometimes, even if we aren't around to see it. Ronald has been making more of an effort lately, I noticed though. She's not usually this quiet, you know- she just has a bit of a crush on Harry," the older man said, leaving Severus completely at a loss for words. Weren't they much too young for that sort of thing? Though he knew he hadn't been at that age…

"So, I suppose I should stop sending her letters to come round whenever Bill or Charlie are home. I admit I hoped at least one of them would meet a girl from around here and settle in the country. I'd hate my grandbabies to be born where I wasn't just a short floo away. I don't like the long journeys," Molly went on. Severus tried not to squirm. "But you deserve to be happy, dear. I was just a bit surprised, because you must admit she is a bit young. But you've done so well with Harry, such a sweet boy he is. I knew it from the first time I saw him at the train station, so small to be there all by himself. But he seems so happy now," Molly carried on, seemingly with no need for his input. Harry was a far safer topic at least than the state of his relationship with Dora. "And letting Ron borrow that broom is much too generous. He speaks so highly of you, you know, Ron does. And I've always been a bit worried about him. All of the other boys found something that they cared about so early, even if it was just making trouble in the twin's case. I always thought Ron felt overshadowed by his older brothers. Maybe Ginny has too, but at least she's the only girl. And then Ron goes off and becomes best friends with the most famous boy in the country, maybe the world. As sweet as Harry is, I was a little worried. Ron just never found his place to shine."

"He is very good at chess for his age. He has a good mind for strategy," Severus managed. Talking about the Weasley boy was even safer than talking about Harry, and parents loved hearing such things, didn't they?

"Oh yes, and to make it through Minerva's magic, and goodness, to try to give up all of those points. You know, I am not sure if I have ever been prouder, maybe not even when Bill was made Head Boy," Molly gushed, though Severus would admit that he felt similarly to Harry. Had he told the boy how- proud he was? He thought Harry knew, but he should probably manage to actually tell the child anyway.

"I'm sure you're proud of Harry," Arthur put in. Severus had to stop himself from growling. He was the legilimens in the area.

"Yes, I am," was all he said, watching the younger lot take to the air, teams apparently decided, Severus allowed a small smile. Harry was happy, which was all that really mattered. Of course, the insinuation that Tonks- Dora- was a child had offended him, but it was only a young Weasley who outright said it. The idea of her with one of the Weasley boys, or anyone else really, scared him to a degree that he wasn't ready to face. This had only been going on for a few weeks- they had only had one real date, and that had ended abysmally. She had been over for Harry's lessons, and for dinner, but it hardly counted as a date with an eleven-year-old in his quarters. He shouldn't be as attached to the witch as he was, should he? Severus tried to think of anything else.

The littlest Weasley, the other figure that was about Harry's size, was surprisingly good. The next smallest, Granger, seemed to try to avoid all activity, but Severus was impressed that the Weasley boy had talked her into the air at all, and none of the other players seemed to mind. There were no seekers, so most players including Harry were playing chaser. It had been settled with a beater on either team, each a Weasley twin, though it looked more to Severus that the boys were working together to cause chaos than to work for their individual teams. Ron and Tonks had claimed keeper positions. Severus knew that it was Tonks' second position of choice after being a beater. She liked that she could still just hit the ball away instead of having to catch it.

"Thinking of more children?" Molly asked.

Severus thought he was choking, but he couldn't possibly suffocate on nothing but air. He turned to Arthur, but the man was looking resolutely in another direction.

"Calm down dear, just a question from a nosy old witch. Tonks seems rather good with Harry though, doesn't she? I'm sure she hasn't thought about it too seriously yet herself, as young as she is. Though I was already married and hoping for my first one at that age, now that I think about it, but it's not a path for everyone. I'm sure Harry would be a very good big brother though. Bill and Charlie always loved playing with little Ginny."

"We've only been seeing each other for a few weeks," Severus managed, unsure why he was volunteering such private information. He felt like he was a teenager himself rather than talking to a witch only about a decade his senior.

"Leave the poor man alone, dear," Arthur chuckled, still facing the children playing quidditch, which seemed an excellent idea to Severus.

The Weasleys did stay for pie in their quarters as well as the large cake that Molly Weasley made a quick trip through the floo to retrieve. After only slight pleading on Harry's part, Ron Weasley settled in to spend the night in Harry's room, on a cot that Severus transfigured for the boy. The other Weasleys promised to get young Hermione home, and the little party left after what Severus thought was a very successful birthday for the boy. The boys were hurried off to bed, tired after their long day anyway. Tonks stayed a bit longer, before having to leave herself, or she'd never get up for work in the morning, she told him.

"Dad? Er- Father?" Harry said, entering the room as soon as soon as the flames died down from Tonks using the floo.

"You're not asleep?" Severus asked mildly.

"Too excited to sleep," Harry muttered.

"Anything on your mind?" Severus prompted.

"I just- I just wanted to tell you that this was the best birthday I ever had. By a lot. It was way greater than that. If I were still at the Dursleys- they wouldn't have done anything for my birthday at all."

"You deserve everything you got today and more, Harry. You know that, don't you?"

"I can't imagine anything more. It just doesn't seem real sometimes."

"You'll get used to it in time."

"You'll make sure I do," Harry responded, lunging over to give him another of the boy's tight hugs around his middle, head nestled into his chest.

"Do you know how proud I am of you?"

"Really?"

"Yes, child. I was so proud when you stood up at the End of Year feast. Not many children could image life in a different house, and what you did meant quite a lot to the Slytherin students."

"I just did what seemed right," Harry said simply, followed by a large yawn.

"Goodnight, Harry. Do you need a bit of potion to get you off to sleep?"

"I'll be fine now," the boy replied, heading back to his own bed and leaving Severus with his thoughts. The boy still expected too little, but he had developed so much in the time Severus had known him. How many hugs had the boy given and accepted today? The child was mending, thriving even under Severus's care, even if Severus had little idea of what he was doing most of the time. Bothersome as they could be, it was nice to hear that the Weasley parents thought he was doing well by Harry. Severus Snape would at the least try his best.

A/N: So, it might be a bit before the next update, because I don't even have the rest of the summer written yet, but I am feeling rededicated and putting a rush on it now. Again, RIP Alan Rickman.