A/N: Thank you for new favs, follows and reviews. I hope this chapter didn't turn out too boring for you guys. Only two more and we're off to Hogwarts!

8 - Happy Birthday

Some time passed and it was the 31st. Severus was sure his Raven wouldn't be expecting anything, least of all a party, not to mention presents. For a while, Severus had thought his Raven would hate him for being a Death Eater back in the day; he should have known better. Sure, Severus went out of his way to be as vague as he could while explaining that dreadful night and the speculations behind what happened. Thank merlin he suggested his Raven read the books on recent wizarding history they bought; it seemed to appease his curiosity for the time being. The upside was that he didn't come to Severus with questions about the war; on the downside, Severus simply couldn't phantom his thoughts on the matter. At least he could be sure his Raven liked him. Merlin forbid he lose him after just lifting the weight of the guilt over losing Lily. He still felt somewhat responsible for what happened but hearing her voice saying she forgave him proved enough to appease his aching heart.

Severus chuckled remembering the fuss his Raven's cousin made over not having a cool nickname. Severus now had to invest some time researching a fitting animal for him, for he would have nothing short of a cool beast. Maybe a tiger? Those were powerful like the boy wanted to be. The boy was indeed humorous even if he remind Severus of Harry's father a bit too much for his comfort. If people saw him now they would no doubt send him to the psychiatric ward at St. Mungo's. This was doubtless not the Severus they knew. Then again, did they know him? The real him? Apparently, there were very few of those; so few, in fact, he could count them on the fingers of merely one hand, and there would be more fingers than people. That is if he counted only the ones alive.

As he packed the freshly brewed batch of potions for the boys, he reminisced the day they were prescribed. It was a good thing the boys were too tired by the end of their trip to Diagon Alley; had they not, Severus would have brought them to the ocularist stationed there, and what a scandal would that have been. Severus appreciated his owns thoughts to call on a private healer for the boys; he could be bound by oaths more easily than a mere shop owner could. He needed a healer who was competent and trustful, so he sent for the one who tended to his Dragon. The man was really an... interesting individual, although, his skills more than made up for his personality. Severus was glad for his peculiar personality since the boys seemed to love it. He even invited the man over for his Raven's birthday. Severus only had gratefulness towards the man; were he not as good he claimed to be, he would have let some of the boys' health problems pass without notice or treatment. They were certainly treatable and with only a strict potions regimen, a healthy diet and enough exercising; in truth, Severus was thankful for the correction of his Raven's dreadful eyesight, which meant no more glasses to look like his father.

Every galleon used was worth the boys' health. Besides, it was not as if Severus would have a problem paying for such services if it so happened the boys couldn't. As it turned out, Ragnok agreed to take the healers wages from the boys' vaults for it was in their best interest and health was an important issue to be provided for. Hopefully, they would soon get the good news regarding his Raven's guardianship, as it was the only pending problem for them. Petunia was already divorced, Vernon assured to be held in prison for the foreseeable future, and declared an Evans along with her son. From his last exchange with Ragnok, the guardianship change would be finalised any day now.

With a variety of thoughts still running through his mind on his way to the Evans, the beaming smile his Raven would bestow upon him after seeing his presents was certainly a prominent one. He could do quite a number of things for his Raven's smile, just as he had done for his Lily.

Petunia stopped decorating Harry's birthday cake as she saw an owl come in with correspondence. She took out the plate with homemade owl treats prepared by Meensy. Meensy really is a big help. She thought, taking the letter from the owl; it was from Gringotts. Petunia skimmed through it and smiled with the knowledge that such happy news couldn't have come on a better day. Harry's guardianship was finally hers and she didn't have to go to the Ministry. For a moment, she was really worried about that because she knew next to nothing about the wizarding world, or its customs, to make her claim on Harry and have it heard.

She had been studying as hard as her boys were to learn all she could about their world. Clearly, they had less time than she had to get used to things did but still she was sure not to slack; she had to set the example. The added bonus was that with each new thing she learned she felt closer to her sister; she was finally understanding why that world had her sister so smitten with it. She understood that that world wasn't trying to take her sister away and that her sister wasn't trying to rub in her face how better and perfect she was. No, Petunia was coming to terms with the knowledge that her sister wanted her as a part of her world from the beginning; as a matter of fact, it was her, Petunia, that was jealous of her sister having magic and made things overly difficult.

Now, Petunia was still jealous and wanted to have magic but she reigned in her bad traits, lest she snapped on her boys for something they didn't deserve. They weren't at fault for being born with magic. At least, now she was part of their world; that ought to be worth something.

She was glad for magic existing now. The move from their old house to this one was so much easier with Severus help; everything they needed was packed and shrunk. They left the house like they were going on another family outing, the boys with backpacks and Petunia with her handbag. All electronics and home appliances were brought along. The appliances they didn't use were stored in a trunk in their garage; Severus assured her they wouldn't go back to normal size unless magic was used. Even everything that belonged to Vernon was brought to the new home, his documents, cigars, collections, correspondence... She still hadn't had time to go through them but they were in a spare study in the basement, for now, she wanted to concentrate on her boys and their health.

She already expected Harry to be somewhat malnourished, she was aware of the damage done. What she did not expect was for on top of malnutrition the boy to have untreated concussions and bones that were broken and healed wrong, like they were left to heal without the doctor taking a look. There were even some scarring on the boy's back. When confronted on how in hell he got those -the broken bones and the scars- the boy said that 'Uncle Vernon' did those because he was being ungrateful, or didn't finish his chores, and he was just teaching Harry what happened to bad ungrateful children. Petunia was speechless facing such a revelation. Not only Harry suffered the verbal abuse from them, Vernon had to be a despicable person and do something outrageous.

But being an awful aunt wasn't enough, she had to also be an awful mother. Well, she knew her Dudders was a bit overweighted but she had thought it was just that. How wrong she was! Severus insisted the doc- healer, they are called healers in the magical world, examined her son as well; and boy, didn't he find problems?! He was also malnourished. The healer explained that it was different from Harry, in her Dudders case, he was well fed but he didn't have a healthy and nutritious diet and could lead him to bigger problems in the future. For now, he was just well over the ideal weight and with his sugar and cholesterol levels way too high for a kid his age. So both kids had to exercise to gain muscle, and in Dudley's case to help lose fat; drink a few potions till winter break, when they would have a re-evaluation; and have a healthier diet to acquire good eating habits and a regular intake of the needed nutritional elements. Severus explained one of the potions was to help regulate the current lack of them, that one they would take only until they started school.

It was really a surprise, a bad and not welcomed surprise, but they would go through this together just like the aftermath of Vernon's episode. The boys were already happy enough and had mostly forgotten all about what happened almost two months ago. Dudley didn't even fret about only having a simple cake and one candle for his birthday when they going all out with a big party for Harry. He even said he didn't mind as long as he got presents too. Petunia chuckled remembering her son's angelic face when saying so.

"Alright, I'm done." Dudley had just finished warping his present to his cousin. It wasn't much; in fact, it was his old collection of little soldiers. It was really old and he didn't play with it anymore but he remembered Harry looking at than before when they were little. It was ok to be anything as long as the birthday boy liked, right? Not that he would ever want some old toy, but Harry wasn't one who minded it.

He looked around his room. It was bigger than the one he had before. Mum didn't know but Mr Snape used some magic to make it bigger, he did that in exchange for him not throwing a tantrum about his cousin's party. Dudley knew Mr Snape did the same for Harry's room but he was still waiting to receive his cool nickname. Mr Snape promised he would even get him a magical toy that would be like an alive miniature of it. Dudley wasn't stupid, so he asked it to be a really cool and powerful beast. Dudley wouldn't be a little birdie like his cousin or something tiny and unimpressive; Dudley was great and so had to be his animal!

He was taking his things for a bath before the party started and kept thinking how magical houses were wicked. Mr Snape's house had all those secret passages to make it cool, so he thought this one wouldn't be so nice. Looking from outside it was just plain, like the one on Private Drive.

It was a two-story house with a nice front garden, which was now tended by mum and a big garage with space for two cars and all kinds of tools to use around the front of the house and to fix the cars. It was clearly bigger than Private Drive. On the ground floor, they had one study, a kitchen two times bigger than the other in the old house, the living and dining rooms were one big room with a fireplace Mr Snape said worked like his, a mini library, a social bathroom and a big back garden.

The back garden had a few vegetables and plants mum said they used when preparing food, a shed for the gardening tools and barbeque stuff, an apple tree with a swing attached, and the door to the basement on the veranda. Meensy and Harry took care of the back garden, more Meensy than Harry.

In the basement there was another study, mum said that one was hers, a potions lab with a potions ingredients storage, Mr Snape was really happy with this, and two small rooms that they weren't using yet. Mr Snape suggested they make one a smaller bedroom with a simple toilet and sink attached so anyone one the potions lab could rest or go to the bathroom without needing to go upstairs and the other they could just use to store the potions they made or bought.

The upstairs floor was bigger than the ground floor; it went into the back garden making a sort of veranda under it between the back garden and the living room. The master bedroom and the guest room had their own bathroom, Dudley and Harry each had a big room for themselves and shared the bathroom at the end of the corridor. Their rooms and bathroom were on the backside of the house while the master bedroom, which was mum's, the guest room and their playroom were more to the front. The playroom was filled with a combination of magical toys and some of Dudley's toys, his video games and telly were also there. They didn't work well with the magic so Mr Snape was looking for someone to fix them to work on magic. The telly in the living room had the same problem, only the kitchen stuff was already fixed. Something about games and the telly being more difficult to handle.

Dudley was dressing up when he heard his mum call saying Mr Snape arrived. He hurried up taking Harry's present with him downstairs. Can't wait for my presents and my cool nickname.

Harry was so anxious about today he barely slept last night. Sure, he doubted anyone would remember or commemorate his birthday but Mr Snape said he would visit today. He wanted to talk about Hogwarts and more things magical. Even though Harry knew it was just a visit to teach them something, and that the visit wasn't just for him, Harry was more than happy to be able to spend his birthday with his Mr Snape.

He was still confused about the godson thing. The day after they went to Diagon Alley Mr Snape let Dudley and Harry into his study to teach them about the wizarding world. Harry was really paying attention to it because it was about how his parents died and all, but them he noticed a photo on the desk. It was a photo of a really pretty boy with pale blond hair, so pale it was almost white. Mr Snape continued talking but Harry had tuned him out and was just paying attention to the prince-like boy that was moving in the picture, sometimes smirking and sometimes sneering. In the end, Harry hadn't paid any attention to his Mr Snape.

Mr Snape directed them to a few books in his shelves so we could read about what he was saying with as much detail as the public got. He said the books also talked about Harry. Then finally, Dudley noticed the same picture Harry couldn't get his eyes off. After being asked, Mr Snape said the boy was his godson. Harry noticed Mr Snape smiling fondly at the picture. Harry even said he looked a little like a prince in a fairy-tale; to that comment, Mr Snape actually laughed and said that indeed his godson behaved and was treated like a prince.

Now, what was Harry supposed to do? Mr Snape was his godson's. It should be enough he cared about and liked Harry a bit; he should be grateful. He could not be his Mr Snape but Harry would take what he was offered. He even felt a bit daring today. He would definitely go for a hug from Mr Snape, maybe he could get away with some cuddling.

"Dudley! Harry! Severus is here! Come down already! We're having lunch in the veranda!"

Harry was really excited! Today he had breakfast in his room. Meensy said Dudley and he had to have breakfast in the bedroom and finish their English exercises. Meensy and Twinky were really fun, they were learning proper English together, his Aunt Petunia said they had horrible English and that it would confuse Harry and Dudley to what was right and what wasn't. They were both excited to learn how to talk properly, even more so when Aunt Petunia said they need to know how to read and right.

When Harry got to the bottom of the stairs, he saw his cousin jump up and down with presents.

"They're so cool! Look Harry!" He ran to Harry showing a bird on a cage and a miniature tiger that moved. "I'm a Tiger. Because they're cool and strong."

"Yes, they are. The owl is a present for getting into Hogwarts. Hello, Raven."

Harry didn't waste time and gave Mr Snape a hug. The impact of running into him unbalanced the man and both crashed to the ground. Harry went on snuggling before he was told to stop. Well, I want at least this for my birthday. Even if I'm punished later.

"Did you miss me that much, my Raven?"

Harry stiffened a bit. What did he call him? He looked up into Mr Snape's eyes. "What did you call me?" He asked tentatively.

"Raven? Do you not like it when I call you that?" Mr Snape looked confused and something else Harry didn't know nor care.

"No, before that. You said I was your Raven." The last bit was only a whisper. Still, Mr Snape seemed to hear it just fine. He smiled and brought Harry closer to him in a crush, kissed the top of his head and spoke loud enough that only Harry would hear.

"Obviously, you are my Raven. Who else's would you be if not mine?"

Harry only nodded and stayed there cuddling that little bit more until he felt himself being lifted by his Mr Snape. Well, if he was Mr Snape's Raven then Mr Snape could be his Mr Snape. This was the best birthday Harry had ever had in all his life; he couldn't be happier. Just as he was about to tell his Mr Snape how much Harry liked him, someone came through the floo. Harry still wondered how that worked and still thought it strange to see a person come out of the fireplace.

"Hello, little Harry. Happy Birthday!" Healer Hart handed him a present. "Lord Prince, Ms Evans, Dudley, it is nice seeing you again on a merrier occasion."

Harry kind of didn't know what to do. He was just handed a package from the Healer. Did he want to give Harry more medicine? But he said 'Happy Birthday'; and the package had a really colourful warping, even a shiny big bow.

"You can open it later with the other presents, dear?" His Aunt Petunia took the package away and led them to the veranda where a big table with various foods was set. He sat and started eating while everyone else chatted.

Wait, present? And she said presents, plural, meaning more than one? And did she say 'others'? Really meaning more than one? I just received a birthday present! And there are other birthday presents! I got to cuddle with my Mr Snape and received presents!

"All right. Now that we ate, it's time for the birthday boy to blow the candles!" Aunt Petunia looked more excited than Harry did.

He was about to ask what she meant when everyone started singing a birthday song for him and Meensy came from the kitchen carrying a two story cake with rainbow icing and eleven candles along with Twinky. Harry's only reaction was to gape at the scene, so much Healer Hart teased him about looking like a fish.

"Don't forget to make your wish, Raven."

Harry stared at his Mr Snape in disbelief. "It already came true."

His Mr Snape kneeled near him brushed Harry's hair back. "Now you get to have a new wish. In addition, for your next birthday, you get another. That is how birthdays are supposed to be."

Harry tackled his Mr Snape with a hug again, this time they didn't fall. After a good minute thinking about his new wish, he blew the candles repeating it like a mantra in his head: 'I wish Mr Snape loves me'. With the candles blown, the cake was served, to Dudley's delight it was chocolate, and soon enough Harry was rushed to open the presents.

He started by the one he knew was from Healer Hart. It was an almost black dark green velvet box, inside there were five different coloured ribbons; one green, one yellow, one blue, one red and one that seemed to change colours. He went to Healer Hart and thanked him for the beautiful presents.

"I've noticed your hair is not easily tamed. My daughter says with hair like that, it's easier if it's longer. It is also common between adult purebloods to use long hair. The colours are the colours of the houses at Hogwarts. The fifth one, the one that changes colours, is to be used together with one of the others. When you pair them, it will change to silver with the green one, black with the yellow one, bronze with the blue one, and gold with the red one. If you use it alone, it will become white."

Harry nodded in understanding and thanked the man again. The next present was a box with green warping and silver bow. A miniature Raven flew out of it. He hugged his Mr Snape again and went to one with plain beige warping and no bow. It was a metal box with Dudley's old toy soldiers. Harry tackled his cousin to the ground with a hug and many 'thank you's. Harry knew he shouldn't hug people like that, but he would do it while he could get away with it.

From his Aunt Petunia, he received a board game. And Mr Snape gave him yet two other presents: a journal, so he could write down everything he found interesting and a new version of the dictionary Mr Snape lent him before. They all played two rounds of the game his Aunt Petunia gave him and Healer Hart went back home. Aunt Petunia left to tidy up the kitchen and Dudley and Harry stayed in the living room with Mr Snape.

"Harry, there is just one more gift you seem to have missed. I believe it is in your room already. Why don't you go up and see what it is?"

It seemed the boy did not need to be told twice. He ran upstairs and his squealing could be heard from Severus cosy spot on the sofa. Severus expected to be out of breath from his Raven's thank you hug as soon as he came down again. It was something he could get used to. The pure delight his Raven showed when Severus had called him his melted the last barriers he had put up for his emotional protection. Now he would have to care for his Raven just the way he cared for his Dragon. I hope they can become friends.

The sound of a child running alerted him to his Raven coming back and, as predicted, he received a breathtaking hug. Of course, his Raven used the opportunity to cuddle again. Really, Severus needed to cut it a bit; it would not do for his Raven to indulge in such comportment at Hogwarts. Severus had an image to maintain and an old codger to fool. For now, it was his Raven's birthday, so Severus might as well spoil him some.

A whispered 'I love you, Mr Snape' pulled Severus from his musings to answer the boy properly. "I love you too, my Raven." And with that, his Raven hugged him even more tightly than before seeming to be filled with sheer gleefulness. If only he could stay this way forever...

"Ready to sleep, dear?"

Harry jumped on his bed and pulled his covers. He was really tired from the day's excitement and he was ready to be tucked in by his Aunt Petunia.

"Good. Want me to read you a story, dear? Oh, sorry. You're already too big for this..."

"I do. But don't tell Dudley, he would call me a baby."

"Of course, dear. It will be our little secret."

Aunt Petunia started reading some fairytale story. Not long later Harry was asleep and dreaming about castles and white blond princes.