All previous disclaimers apply.

Severus and Lily were walking hand in hand up to the clubhouse with Sebastian walking behind them. Severus had gone through his third round of bi-weekly team training sessions with his new team, and things had been a bit tense at first.

Rabastan and Rodolphus still did not know what to make of him. Lucius made no real effort to really to give advice to Severus, leaving his training to Sebastian. Crabbe and Goyle…well…did not really seem to mind as much. They really didn't seem to mind period. In fact, it seemed as if not a single thought went through their feeble heads.

All in all, it had been a very tense practice, "I hope things get a little bit better before our first game." Severus said aloud.

"They have to Severus, if we can't get on the same page we'll have no chance this year!" Sebastian exclaimed.

"How did Lucius become captain anyway?" Lily asked Sebastian. "Did his daddy buy his captaincy?"

"Yep, that's exactly what happened," Sebastian admitted. "Bought the whole team new brooms as well, so that's a plus."

"Figures," Lily muttered as she walked up the stairs to the Seventh floor next to her boyfriend. They all walked over to the door leading into the Room of Requirement when they heard yelling coming from inside.

"What the hell is going on inside?" Sebastian queried.

"We're about to find out," Severus said as he opened the door. There inside there were several of their friends arguing amongst each other. Each voice trying to become louder than the next to get their thoughts across.

In the center of the arguing was Xenophilius who was attempting to drown out the arguments by meditating, and it was not going so well for the Samovila.

Severus tried getting everyone's attention to no avail and tried yelling over everyone to get their attention. That didn't work.

Suddenly Xeno's eyes flashed open with a white light as a becalming feeling overlapped them all. All the infighting happened, and soon everyone began apologizing for their behavior towards each other. He released his powers and plopped back onto the couch.

Lily looked over at her friends, "What the hell is going on?"

Jessica looked at her friends and decided to speak for them. "It's Sam's birthday next week."

Sebastian groaned, "Oh God not this again."

"Yes 'this again' Sebastian!" Slink exclaimed. "We got to do it this year!"

"He doesn't celebrate his birthday! Why throw him a party?!" Sebastian asked his friends.

"Because we all celebrate everyone else's birthday! So why should he be the only exclusion?"

Severus raised his arms to get everyone's attention, "Before we all start arguing amongst each other like a group of petulant children again. Can somebody explain to me why Sam doesn't celebrate his birthday?"

"Ehh that we aren't so sure on," Slink mentioned. "Only person who does know is Xeno, and he's being a tight-lipped jerk about it!"

Xeno crossed his arms and turned his cheek. "It's a secret."

"Fuck your secrets! Tell us!" Slink yelled aloud.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Lily deescalated the tense situation. "Have any you guys ever tried a surprise party before?"

Everyone looked at their shoes, the all, or anywhere else before Jessica decided to answer her. "We tried that a few years ago…and it didn't go over so well."

Riley sat on a bench at the kitchen island. "Sam lashed out at us and got roarin' mad. He absolutely refused to talk to us for a full month, and only then he talked to us through Xeno."

Severus looked surprised. "I never even knew Sam could get mad. I thought he was perpetually optimistic."

"Nope," Sebastian walked over to the kitchen. "And that's why we are not doing it!"

The door opened and Sam walked through, "Not doing what?" He asked.

"Why you don't celebrate your birthday," Lily nonchalantly answered him.

"LILY!"

"Not cool!"

"Why would you do that?"

Sam looked taken aback at what Lily had said but quickly recovered. "That's personal."

"But why? That's weird though. You, 'Mr. Outgoing Hufflepuff' doesn't celebrate his own birthday." Lily raised her arms up.

Sam rubbed his earlobe, "I told you its personal."

"But why?"

"That's none of your business," Sam grew a bit annoyed at the line of questioning.

"Sam, you have to admit it's a bit suspect," Tom mentioned. "I mean I've known you for quite some time, and you've never once had a birthday party. I mean, why is that?"

"That's none of your fucking business!" Sam became rather defensive.

"Hey! Don't snap at him like that!" Slink told him.

Sam glared at Slink, but gave Tom an apology, "Sorry. Look, I've told you all a million times. I. Don't. Fucking. Celebrate. My. Own. Birthday."

"But why?" Lily asked. "I mean if you just told us I think it'd…"

"Am I speaking fucking Norwegian? It's none of your fucking business!" Sam shouted at Lily. "Fuck sakes!"

Severus at that point drew the line, "Do not yell at my girlfriend, Sam."

"Well then Severus, maybe Lily should learn to shut her fucking mouth!"

Sebastian sensed the growing hostility and got between Sam and Severus, "Okay, Okay, cool it you two. All right? I'm sorry we shouldn't have pressed this matter."

"Yeah! You shouldn't have." Sam became defensive and walked back out the door. "I'm out of here."

"Sam wait!" Jessica called after him, but it was too late as he was out of the door.

"That went horribly." Lily looked out over the door, wondering why her friend felt the way he did about not celebrating his birthday.

"There was no reason for his fucking attitude," Severus growled.

"Oh just drop it Sev," Lily begged.

"Could have been worse," Maxell admitted.

"Yeah," Riley blew his nose into a tissue. "He could have lost his temper with us."

Lily looked at the two cousins. "That wasn't him losing his temper?"

Macbeth got goosebumps and shivered where he stood. "Yeah, no. Had he lost his temper it would have been rather uglier."

Severus took off his Quidditch pads, "So, what now?"

Xenophilius adjusted himself in his seat. "We give him a while to cool off before going to find him."

After a half hour, everyone had decided to go look for Sam. Severus was walking along the 4th floor with Xenophilius and Lily.

"Where do you think he could be?" Lily asked Xenophilius.

"He's in the wind," Xeno confessed. "If Sam wants to be hidden, hidden is where he shall be."

Severus sighed as he put his hands behind his head. "Where are you, Sam?"

The three walked down a hall, and past a classroom with an open door. Severus peeked inside and saw Sam speaking with Webster.

The white ball of light was floating in the air just listening to Sam vent his frustrations with his friends. "I mean it just hasn't occurred to them that I don't want to celebrate my own birthday! I mean that isn't a reason for concern!"

Severus leaned over and knocked on the door. "Knock, knock." No response. After a minute, he tried again. "Knock knock."

"Who the hell is there?" Sam grumpily asked as he got up from the ground. Webster went back into Sam's pocket watch.

"Your friends," Severus stated matter-of-factly. "And we'd like an explanation as to why your birthday is such cause for hatred." He opened the door before all three of Sam's friends entered.

"Why is this such an issue for you?" Sam asked him.

"Because it's an issue to you," Severus answered. "Because after all the times you've helped me, I figured its high time I return the favor."

"This ain't a problem that has an easy fix, Sev," Sam admitted softly.

"It'd help us if you maybe told us what it was?" Lily suggested.

Xeno stepped forward. "I think it's time Sam. Merlin knows I've kept this under wraps for you long enough."

Sam looked over at Xeno and relented. "Okay, I'll tell you." Severus and Lily looked on in anticipation. "You know that Dolohov, killed my mother, right?"

Lily and Severus both shook their heads solemnly.

"Well, what you don't know…is that she died on October 18th, 1964."

Lily covered her mouth with her hands, "Oh no. Don't…don't tell me she died on your birthday?"

Sam sighed, "The day after actually. But…it's my fault she's dead." He struggled for a moment to find the words. "On the morning of my fourth birthday, after my birthday breakfast. My mum gave me the first of many presents I got that day. It was a sweater, a regular bland sweater. Which unfortunately was a size too small. Rather than just using magic to make it fit, she told my grandmother that she'd just go and exchange it at Diagon Alley whilst she was out getting my cake along with my father."

Severus slowly understood, "And that was the day where Dolohov killed your uncle and your mother on the same day?"

"Yeah," Sam answered. "But fortunately for my brother's sake, she held on long enough to give birth to him prematurely. He was born the following day with a malformed leg; which needs the aid of a magical brace for him to walk."

Lily rushed over to Sam and gave him a hug, "Sam it's not your fault! Don't you dare believe that for one second longer!"

"It's kind of hard not to keep believing that Lily. I... I always believed that I was the reason my father was never around when I was young. Like he resented me because of it."

"Sam," Xeno started. "You didn't cause your mother's death. You didn't kill her. Dolohov killed her, and Dolohov is behind bars. He's going to Azkaban, where he'll probably be kissed by a Dementor."

Severus walked up to Sam and put his hands on Sam's shoulders. "And guess what? You put him there! You got justice for her! It's over! If I was your mum I wouldn't want you to not celebrate your birthday over what had happened to me. I'm not telling you to forget, but to move along. Make time for the living, because you only get one life! So, you'd better make good use of it!"

Sam wiped away a tear from his eye as he looked at one of his closest friends. "I guess you're right."

"Of course, I am," Severus joked. "Now come on, I think we should tell the others about the festivities."

Sam smiled softly as he followed his friends back up to their clubhouse. Thankfully everyone else was there, and Sam told them the reason behind him not celebrating his birthday. But thanks to Severus he felt that it was time to celebrate once again.

"So, let's just do something small. I mean I don't feel like this should escalate into…"

"PARTY!" Michael yelled aloud. "FUCK SAKE I'VE BEEN DYING FOR THIS!"

Nate slugged him in the arm and told him to be quiet.

Sam laughed and he ran a hand through his hair. "You know what? Screw it! Let's go big…if that's okay with everyone?"

The United all agreed with Sam, they were all looking forward to celebrating his birthday, finally.

"So, what do you want?" Sebastian asked Sam.

Sam rubbed his chin. "Gee, I actually haven't given it any thought."

Slink grinned, "Come on Sam! Think big! No matter what it is! Big or small we'll at least try and get it done!"

"Unless it's murder or cannibalism," Michael joked. "I ain't doing hard time for you."

Sam looked over at Michael, "You know what. Michael, do you think you can prank The Marauders, big time?"

"Oh Sami, I'm hurt that you would even ask!" Michael smiled dastardly. "I've got ideas I've been cooking up for ages!" He grabbed Nate by the arm. "Come, Nate! We've got work to do!"

Sam smiled, "Can we have a party maybe the day before my actual birthday? So that we can just stay overnight in the clubhouse that Saturday night?"

Sebastian nodded, "How about cake wise?"

"Chocolate with vanilla icing! And some Neapolitan Ice Cream!" Sam drooled a tad. "And for my breakfast, an omelet stuffed with provolone cheese, onions, banana peppers, and mushrooms! With a nice steak cooked medium rare!"

Sebastian wrote everything down on his little notepad. "This is doable. I'm going to see if I have banana peppers though." He walked over to the kitchen.

Sam rubbed his head, "I know that this is all so last minute. So, you guys don't have to get me any gifts of the like."

Tom crossed his arms. "Sam, we just got you to agree to actually have a party. I think we can get out hands on some gifts. After all, we have something called the post!"

Sam looked at Severus. "Last of all. I want you to win your first Quidditch match in a few weeks!"

Severus grinned, "I'll certainly do my best, Sam."

A week had past and Sam's birthday party was coming along, and soon it was Saturday morning. Sam had stayed overnight in their clubhouse and was sprawled over on the couch.

He woke up to the intoxicating smell of a cooked steak. His eyes opened to see Sebastian there with a plate holding his birthday breakfast. "Good morning birthday boy."

Sam smiled, "Is that my steak and eggy goodness?"

Sebastian smirked and placed Sam's breakfast before him on the coffee table. Sam yawned and rose out of his covers.

A glass of orange juice was placed beside him. "Thanks mate!" Just as Sam was about to dig in, Michael came busting in through the door.

He ran over to Sam and grabbed him by the wrist. "We got to go! C'mon!"

"B'what?" Sam was pulled up from his seat. "Michael?! I haven't even eaten yet!"

"Put it on stasis, put on some shoes, and let's go! We're gonna miss it!"

Sam begrudgingly put his shoes on and put his breakfast in stasis. He followed Michael down to the Great Hall. Michael led Sam to the Hufflepuff table where their friends were.

All of Hufflepuff house gave him their warm wishes for a good birthday as he sat down. The first years wrote him a card, as everyone else had chipped in to get him a knitted scarf of the Hufflepuff colors. Sam thanked them as he was directed to look over at The Marauders way.

Michael was whispering with his co-conspirators Nate, Riley, and Macbeth. "Any second now!"

James Potter was sipping on his Pumpkin juice when he looked at Sirius. "Padfoot, you feeling all right? You look a bit under the weather."

Sirius shook his head, "I have a bit of a headache, but I'm not really bothered. Why do you ask?"

"You look a bit green."

Sirius raised his goblet up to look at his face in the reflection. Shock horror. He saw that he was indeed a bit green, and was turning greener by the second.

"AHH! WHAT THE FUCK?!" Sirius shot up like a firecracker as his skin turned Slytherin green. "PRONGS WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!"

James growled, "Nine to ten odds, it was Snivellus and his friends!"

Remus rolled his eyes as he went to eat his eggs, and saw that his hand was turning green. His fork fell from his now green hand. "What the hell?"

Peter's face was now turning green as he let out a very effeminate scream of shock.

James looked on in horror as mates turned green and waited in anticipation to when he'd turn green.

Sam looked a bit confused as he turned to Michael. "Why hasn't Potter turned green yet?"

"Ehh, I spiked the water jug they use to pour water into goblets in their dorm room. It seemed like James didn't drink any water last night, but fortunately, I was prepared and I put it in his shampoo bottle early this morning."

James screamed as his hair turned green, and shortly after his entire body afterwards. The entire student population erupted in laughter at the scene before them.

"Look out! The Martians are attacking!" Regulus shouted aloud.

"Shut yer gob, Reggie!" Sirius shouted back at his younger brother. He banged the table and endured all the other jokes made at him and his mates.

Sam laughed aloud. "You lot must really enjoy eating your leafy greens!"

Sirius looked at him with an intense loathing, "You did this!"

Sam scoffed, "I just woke up, and I don't pull any pranks until I've had my breakfast. Which is still waiting for me, so excuse me."

Sirius went for his wand but was stopped by Macbeth who shot up in front of him. He gulped and slowly sat back down to take his ridicule.

Sam went back up to the clubhouse, he entered the room and sat back down to eat his breakfast. He removed the stasis charm, and was about to dig in when…

Lily came into the door with a piece of parchment, "Sam. Can I speak to you for a moment?"

Sam stuck a fork in his steak. "I don't know Lily, can you?"

Lily rolled her eyes, "May I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead," Sam smirked as he cut into his steak.

"I was going over the guest list and I have a few concerns about a few names on it."

"Like who?"

"Well for one, Malfoy, and Narcissa Black."

Sam swallowed what was in his mouth. "I kind of owe Malfoy." He looked at Lily, and explained himself. "I called in a favor. House heir to house heir, to let Sev tryout for the team. If I didn't intervene he wouldn't have even stepped foot on the pitch."

Lily put the list down on her knees, "And you didn't tell Malfoy to let Sev on the team?"

"No Lily. Sev got on the team with his talent alone."

Lily believed her friend and nodded. "All right. Next, Bellatrix Black?" She shot him a look.

Sam took a sharp breath, "She's a study friend."

"Just a friend?"

"Just a friend."

Lily could have sworn he heard him say 'for now' under his breath.

Michael came in with Riley, Nate, and Macbeth. "Oh man, that was the best!" He wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. "Happy Birthday Sammy!"

Sam raised his glass of orange juice, "Thank you very much, Michael!"

Riley guffawed, "I took pictures as well! I'm gonna print you out a few copies and sell the rest like I did with those ones you look at the end of last year."

Sam smiled, "Icing on the cake!"

"Speaking of cake," Sebastian called from the kitchen. "Macbeth get in here and help me with this. I need an extra hand in here!"

Macbeth went over to the kitchen as Severus came into the clubhouse. "I just saw The Marauders run up here with Slytherin green skin." He looked over at Michael, "Was that our doing?"

Michael grinned, "Yeah!"

"Nice."

Sam was back in Hufflepuff House, and in his room, he shared with Nate, Slink, Ted Tonks, and Amos Diggory. He was getting dressed when Marbles flew into the room with a letter in his claw.

"Heya Marbles," Sam smiled as he scratched his owl's head affectionately. He took the letter and read it.

It was from his grandmother, and she expressed herself on how she loved how Sam was celebrating his birthday again. He told her this a huge step for him, and how his mother would have wanted this for him. Included in the letter was a photo of Sam at a younger age along with his mother.

It was of Sam at around the age of three or four, and of his mother, Alexandria. They were both at a local park playing on a swing set. The picture moved as it showed Alexandria pushing her son on the swing.

He'd never seen this picture before and was crying a bit.

There was a knock at the door, Sam wiped the tears away, put the letter in his cupboard, and cleared his throat. "Come in."

The door opened and Slink was there along with Nate and Jessica. "You ready Sam?" Jessica asked him.

Sam grinned, "Ready! Let's go do this."

The three led Sam up to the Room of Requirement. Along the way, they were joined by Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black.

"Samual," Lucius nodded.

"Lucius. Thanks for agreeing to come." Sam politely responded.

"The pleasure is mine, as well as my beloved." He turned to Narcissa, "We just love little soirees, don't we love?"

Narcissa gave her betrothed a small smile. "That we do my love."

"Well splendid! It's bound to be a rip-roaring time!" Sam exclaimed. "This is my first birthday party in years. So, it's going to be one hell of a time!"

Lucius looked interested, "You've not celebrated your own birthday in years? May I ask why?"

"That's rather personal, it's taken me a while to get over it, but I'm…I've peaked, you could say."

Narcissa put her hand on Sam's hand to comfort him, "I'm glad to hear that."

Sam ignored Lucius' jealous stare and thanked Narcissa. "Come along, I think everyone's waiting for us."

They all walked up to the top floor of the castle. Lucius looked around, "Your party is taking place here?"

Slink shrugged, "The Marauders wouldn't think to look right under their noses, right?"

"Were you the ones who turned my cousin and his friends green?" Narcissa asked of them.

"Well…" Sam scratched his chin. "We personally weren't responsible, but…yeah. Pretty much."

Narcissa covered her mouth as she laughed. "That's hilarious. Siri seriously needed to be brought down a peg."

Jessica agreed, "Indeed, for being a self-professed 'wild child' he certainly keeps up proper appearances."

Slink opened the door, and found Tom there as the greeter. They both wanted to keep their relationship within their circle of friends, so they agreed to just keep the façade up whilst guests were here. "Hey…man. We got the birthday boy!"

Tom smiled as best he could under the circumstances. "Great! Now the party can really start!"

Slink led their friends and their guests into their clubhouse. Everyone cheered when the man of the hour came into the room.

Severus walked over and put a drink into his friend's hand. "Happy birthday! Come on!" Sam was led to a makeshift throne that was gold and black.

Sam laughed at the sight of it, "Really? A throne?"

"Get up there, birthday boy!" Lily hollered.

Sam sat upon the throne with a slight blush on his face. He could see all the partygoers. His friends were all there along with Alice Stewart, her boyfriend Frank Longbottom, his bunkmates Ted Tonks and Amos Diggory, He saw Kitty Kingston chatting with Andromeda Black, Chea Chadwick was consulting with Sebastian on the dinner course for the evening. Regulus Black was talking with Adam Bernstein, Judah Goldberg, and Barty Crouch Jr drinking Wizard Fizz.

He looked around for the one person he wanted to show up.

"So, do you like the party so far?"

Sam hid a smile as he turned to face Bellatrix Black. "Yeah, I mean. I've never had one, so I really don't know what to compare it to."

Bellatrix put an arm around Sam's neck. "Well, I think you are in dire straits for a wild time Yalarad."

Sam grinned, "Why? So, you can blackmail me some more, Black?" He quietly jabbed back at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix laughed. Before she could respond Jessica interrupted the two of them. "It's time to sit down for dinner, come on Sam." She escorted Sam away from Bellatrix and sat him down at the foot of the table.

Sebastian sat a plate of Chicken Parmesan with a helping of Penne Pasta on the side. The breading made by hand with a mixture of pita chips, parmesan cheese, and an assortment of spices. Sebastian took great care to make this dinner special for Sam.

Before long everybody was eating their food, and talking amongst themselves. Each one of The United shared a favorite little memory that they shared with Sam. It all ended with laughs and flushed faces, preferably Sam's.

When dinner was over the cake was served. A three-layer chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. All made from scratch by Sebastian. It was big enough to let everyone have seconds and thirds. With a wave of his wand, Xeno lit the candles as Severus dimmed the lights.

The cake was placed before Sam who marveled at the sheer size of it.

"Okay ready everyone?" Lily asked aloud. Riley got his camera set up to take pictures.

Everyone began singing 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' to Sam. And he was happy to see his friends all around him. It brought a tear to his eye to see how much his friends really cared.

The song came to an end, and it was time to blow out the candles. Sam closed his eyes to think up of a wish.

Bellatrix stood next to him and thought. 'Oh, what the hell?' So, she leaned over and kissed Sam on the cheek.

Jessica was enraged, to say the least, and everyone was shocked to witness that. Sam himself, blushed redder than a bottle of ketchup. He quickly blew out the candles, and it took a second for everyone to clap and cheer for their friend.

Sam was given the knife and cut himself a nice piece out before Sebastian took over and served everybody cake as well.

After the cake was served, gifts were given to Sam from his guests. The party slowed down after that, and soon everyone was filing out to go back to their houses before Filch caught them out.

Sam, Severus, and a few others stayed behind to help clean up. Sam was putting all his gifts into a charmed trunk.

Severus put the cake away in the fridge before sitting down next to Sam on the couch. "So, good birthday?"

"Great birthday Sev." Sam smiled. "Thanks for talking me into it."

Severus shrugged, "You would have done the same for me if the situation called for it."

"Am I gonna have to?" Sam asked his friend.

He laughed. "No, I'll happily take a party any day." He glanced over at one of his best friends. "What did you wish for?"

"Oh, come on."

"I know, I know. It's got to be a secret or it won't come true. Bollocks to that! Tell me!"

Sam relented and leaned in close for only Severus to hear. "I wished…"

Severus leaned in intently.

"…for you to win your first Quidditch game!"

Severus groaned. "Come on! You didn't have to waste your wish on that! I told you I'd do my best!"

"I know, but…I had to. I already got what I wished for!"

Severus raised his eyebrow. "What did you…oohhh."

Sam grinned as he rubbed the cheek that Bellatrix kissed. "Best birthday ever!"

Preview for the next chapter.

The old man pointed the Mauser pistol at her. "D-Don't come any closer! You Jerry!"

Eileen raised her hands and kept calm. "Elijah, please. Tobias wouldn't want this!"