A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter, please leave a review! -Maiden of the Heavens (MOTH)

Chapter 26

The brown paper of the first package crinkled as the Slytherin opened it to reveal the gift inside. Severus and Annette were seated at a table at The Three Broomsticks, they had mugs of hot cider to warm them. Annette sipped her hot cider gradually watching as Severus opened his presents a day early. The first present he was opening was from her father, she could tell because he had wrapped the wooden box in old editions of The Daily Prophet. The box was made from polished black walnut and had silver clasps. Severus opened it carefully, nestled in the center was a silver pocket watch with a silver chain. The pocket watch was engraved with a snake that coiled within in itself, in the middle was Severus first and surname initials. As Severus opened it, the clock came to life, ticking and tocking away. A soft smile of gratitude spread across Severus' face, he took the small notecard that was tucked inside the box the pocket watch had been resting in.

It's traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age, I hope this pocket watch helps you on your journey to find your place in this world.

- Baxter and Delora Negrescu

The Half Blood Prince stared at the watch as it ticked away the current time. He did not think that he would be receiving a pocket watch for Coming of Age Birthday. Since he had grown up mostly in the Muggle world, all he normally hoped for was a slice of his mother's homemade chocolate and vanilla marble loaf cake and for his Muggle father not to get drunk off his ass and beat the senses out of Eileen. But now, now his father was dead and buried and the Slytherin had not visited the grave since they had put Tobias Snape's corpse six feet under. He no longer had to fear for mother's life, and he had a little sister that hopefully show the sparks of accidental magic, and even if Desdemona did not, he would not care for her any less.

Last year before he and Annette were an official couple, she had made him a two-tiered chocolate cake and had bought him a book from the used bookstore titled, A Clockwork Orange that was written by Anthony Burgess. He had finished the book within a week, and that had been one of those moments when his heart had beaten as if butterflies were fluttering away with it, it was one of the moments when he realized he loved the Badger. Annette had brought with her on the train, a metal container that was round, but made to look like a hat box. The Slytherin was pretty positive there was a freshly baked cake within, but every time he had tried to sneak a look, Annette would playfully slap his hands away.

He blinked and his attention was pulled back to the present, the pocket watch was still ticking.

He gently closed it and placed back inside its case, he then took a gather large gulp of his cider, nearly burning his tongue and mouth. "Your parents didn't have to get me something so extravagant."

"You're practically family...don't you like it?" Annette said, she tried to keep the disappointment and sadness from her voice, she had helped her parents design the pocket watch after all.

"No, no. I love it, I'm just used to being…." Severus entwined his fingers with Annette's own.

"Spoiled? I know...but you deserve to be spoiled just little bit on your birthday."

They waited until after lunch of fish and chips, for Severus to finish opening his gifts. The second package was from his mother. The card was handmade, helpfully decorated by little sister, Desdemona. He rescued her pudgy handprints that decorated the back, front, and inside of the card with a rainbow of colors from paints. The present was wrapped in black wrapping paper with golden long neck cats wearing different types of party hats, and they were surrounded with an array of bright colored flowers, with the words happy birthday in gold lettering, it was tied closed with a white ribbon. Severus used Diffindo to cut the ribbon cleanly away, he then carefully unwrapped the present to find The Book of Potions, written by the wizard, Zygmunt Budge, beneath the layers. Severus had only ever borrowed the copy that the Hogwarts' library had, but he could not believe he now owned a copy of the tome, he considered to be nearly holy among Potioneers. This book was going to open up a world of portable Potion making for Severus, he could not wait to experiment and craft the liquid magic with ease.

He gingerly put the book into his messenger bag and placed the card with in the box with his pocket watch. He opened up the last package which was from his aunt, inside was another card and wrapped in old versions of The Daily Prophet was a hunter green cloak, it was lined with sheep's wool on the outside and inside, it even had pockets sewn on the inside. In the card, it was explained in his Aunt Calanthia's sloppy cursive that she had made it by hand with help from his cousin, Margaret.

Annette lifted the cake carrier onto the table, once their table was cleared of the dirty dishes from their meal by a recent graduate of Hogwarts, Annette's old Quidditch Captain and Housemate, Raymond. She waited until Raymond left, and had stopped staring at them with his large brown eyes, (he kind of reminded of Annette of a sloth to be perfectly honest) to lift the lid and reveal the cake underneath.

It was a two-layer cake with chocolate fudge frosting and decorated with snakes and badgers made out of frosting. In green frosting were the words, 'Happy Birthday Severus!'.

"Is it better than last year's?" she asked as Raymond brought them over clean plates and forks, and a knife to cut the cake with.

Severus smiled softly, "You've improved. Thank you, Annette for celebrating my birthday with me."

"Of course, I love you." she then kissed his fingers and passed him a rather large slice of cake.

Annette closed the lid back on what remained of the cake, Severus helped her to clasp her badger brooch closed by her neck to keep her cloak from sliding away. The Hufflepuff put her gloves back on and stared out at the blustering almost blizzard that had started while they were sipping their hot chocolate that went perfectly with Severus' birthday cake.

"I don't want to go out there…" she said as Severus took his wand out to cast a Warming Charm over the two of them.

Annette shrunk down the cake carrier so she could place it in her messenger bag, she then dug out a rectangular object that was wrapped in paper that had white kittens on it wearing flower crowns with a robin egg shell blue background. "I was so worried about the cake..."

"It was delicious." Severus interrupted just to reassure her.

"I almost forgot to give you this." she handed him the present and he slipped it into one of the pockets of his brand-new cloak.

"I'll open it up on the train. We should get going before we get snowed in." the Half-Blood Prince wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him, he then used aperire to open the door, the barmaid of The Three Broomsticks, Rosmerta, closed the door behind them.

The warmth of the train was most welcome as Severus and Annette found a compartment and flopped down, the Badger practically in his lap, but the Slytherin did not mind and pulled her all the way on and kissed her lovingly. She helped him to open the present she had gotten him, and he settled down to read the novel while the train made its way back to Hogwarts.

It was a couple minutes later that Annette gently poked him on the forehead, on her lap spread open was the book, Rosemary's Baby, written by the author, Ira Levin. She was at least three chapters in.

Severus gently kissed Annette on the forehead and went back to reading the book Annette had gotten for his birthday, The Man in the High Castle, written by the author, Philip K. Dick, he was thoroughly enjoying it, or at least he would have been if he could stop reading the opening paragraph repeatedly: 'For a week Mr. R. Childan had been anxiously watching the mail. But the valuable shipment from the Rocky Mountain States had not arrived.

As he opened up his store on Friday morning and saw only letters on the floor by the mail slot he thought, I'm going to have an angry customer.' He could not get the look of pure fear and horror on Lily's face as she held the envelope that contained a letter from the Dark Lord in her shaking hands. Lily looked like she had been ready to cry she had been so frightened. He yanked his focus to Annette. "Yes?"

"You seem so far away...where are you?"

Severus hesitated and cleared his throat, he gently set down Annette beside him and off his lap, he stood and closed the door to the compartment, as an added safety measure, he cast Muffliato.

"Lily received a letter from Lord Voldemort today…"

The color drained from Annette's face, she had even gasped. "What did it say?"

"I don't know, I told her not to open it. I told her to burn it, but I highly doubt she would listen."

"Is she in danger?" Annette asked, she was truly worried about Lily Evans.

Severus only sagged down into his seat and buried his face into his hands. "I'm not sure, if I can be an Auror and somehow a spy...then I can protect both of you." He might still fancy the power that the Dark Arts possessed and offered, but he also knew the dangers that they could cause all too well.

Annette blinked, surprised. "You want to protect me too?"

Severus stared at her stunned for a moment. How could she think that would not want her to be safe above all else? Did Annette really think he cared about Lily Evans more than her? "I love you, Annette." he held her close to him and kissed her. "Please don't ever doubt that…."

The Hufflepuff cuddled into the crook of his neck. "Never." she pressed a kiss to his cheek just as the train returned them to the station that led to Hogwarts.

Severus and Annette sat on Severus' bed within the Slytherin dormitories. Annette was wearing Severus' AC/DC t-shirt and getting herself a slice of cake by using interficiam and she used accio to summon plates and forks for the both them.

Severus was lying back against his pillows, he was still completely butt naked. Annette was not sure if she could go another round of riding Severus. During the end of the ride she was gripping the headboard of the bed with so much force she was afraid that she was going to leave nail marks.

"We need hot chocolate to go with the cake...Severus at least put on some bottoms, I don't want the house elf having a heart attack over seeing your manhood." Annette said with a smirk.

Severus quirked an eyebrow and could not help smirking in return. "Wasn't one piece enough for you?"

Annette playfully stuck her tongue out at him, "We will have plenty left over for tomorrow, don't worry." she summoned a House Elf, the creature was older with long grey hair and grumpy.

The House Elf popped into the room just as Severus tied the knot on his pajama bottom strings. She was holding a tray with mugs and a pitcher of hot chocolate. Once they were finished with their eleven thirty snacks, Severus pinned Annette underneath him with a mischievous grin on his face.

Annette giggled, "Okay, okay. But you're on top this time."

Severus grinned as Annette undid the knot on his pajama bottoms, "That was the plan."

Annette summoned a condom from Severus' nightstand using accio and kissed him on the mouth, just as the clock struck midnight. "Happy Birthday, Severus. I love you."