Chapter 4: Birthdays and the Potions Master

I wake up late the next morning due to the Gryffindor party that went until almost two in the morning before McGonagall called it quits. I'm quite glad she hadn't seen me there because I wasn't allowed to be there, invited or not.

I'm startled to see someone in my room and immediately reach for my wand before realising that it's Sirius.

"What are you doing here?"

"You know what today is don't you?"

I feel as if I'm sitting there in a confused fog, which is partially because I've just woken up (I'm not much of a morning person).

"It's November 20th," says Sirius. "Your birthday."

I look over at the clock beside my bed, which has the added advantage of displaying the date, and notice that he's right.

"I lost track of the days," I admit. "Especially with the Quiditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin yesterday."

"How'd that go?" Sirius asks.

"Brilliant. You should have seen Harry's catch, as mister Creevy said 'right of the end of Professor Snapes abnormally large nose'."

Sirius roars with laughter.

"So should we head down to breakfast?" I ask getting quickly changing into my robes.

"Actually it's time for lunch."

I look at the clock again, which reads 12:23, and notice that he's right. With a sheepish grin I link arms with him and head down to the great hall.

Snape looks furious to see Sirius there. Harry on the other hand runs up to us with a grin on his face.

"Sirius, you didn't tell me you were coming!"

Sirius smiles. "I got special permission 'cause it's my girls birthday."

"It's your birthday today?" Harry says to me.

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you mention it?"

I grin apologetically, "It slipped my mind."

"I hear I missed an excellent Quiditch game yesterday," says Sirius.

"I don't know about an excellent game," says Ron. "But Harry's catch was bloody brilliant."

"Right off the end of Snapes abnormally large nose so I hear." Grinning Sirius glances over at Snape. "I'm just glad he didn't inhale it before you caught it."

I can't help laughing, apparently neither can most of the great hall. Dumbledore, however, gives us a stern look and I stop.

"We'd better have lunch," I say to Sirius.

"Right. Talk to you later Harry."

As we sit down Dumbledore says to me, "It was interesting this morning at breakfast. All of the Gryffindors were absent because of their party last night."

From the look in his eyes I can tell he knew I was there, even if McGonagall didn't see me. At least he seems amused by the whole thing.

Suddenly the entire hall bursts into a round of happy birthday for me, the teachers all join in, except for Snape. But then his Slytherins aren't singing either, not that I care.

Sirius takes me into Hogsmade that afternoon.

"You realise that I have an enormous pile of marking to do."

"That can wait."

I roll my eyes. "Some people actually try to work you know."

"Yeah, well, I refuse to let you work on your birthday."

With a sigh I give in, actually I don't really need much convincing. After all, it's a nice day out – despite the chilly November air – so I doubt I would have got much marking done.

We go into a certain coffee shop first and get two mugs of hot chocolate before going to sit at a certain table by the window.

"No Regulus here this time," I say taking a sip of my hot chocolate.

Sirius chuckles then leans across the table to kiss me.

We spend the afternoon simply walking around Hogsmade talking and laughing about all the memories we have of this place.

We meet up with Remus and Gen at the Three Broomsticks for my birthday dinner.

Madam Rosmaerta joins us for a bit to laugh at what trouble we'd always used to cause in her pub and to laugh at my story of Harry's catch at the Quiditch match yesterday. The only one who didn't think Colin's commentary wasn't absolutely wonderful was Gen who shakes her head instead of laughing. Luckily all conversation avoids Snape for the rest of dinner.

We bid Remus and Gen farewell after dinner and head back up the path to Hogwarts. Just before we're on Hogwarts grounds Sirius stops me.

"I know I never really got a chance to ask you before they sent me to Azkaban partly because we were both to busy and partly because I kept chickening out. But I wanted to ask you now before anything happens," he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. "Will you marry me?"

Sure enough he has a ring in his hand.

"Of course," I say kissing him.

"I got a chain so that you can wear it around your neck," he says. "Since you hate rings."

I laugh as he puts it around my neck and I'm about to kiss him again when there's a flash of fire and Fawkes is sitting on my shoulder with a note.

I take it from him and unroll it to read, 'Emergency meeting, my office'. Sirius sees it too and we both sprint up to the castle running up the flights of stairs and up to the stone Gargoyle.

"Chocolate Frogs," I gasp.

The Gargoyle leaps aside and we run up the stairs into Dumbledores office, all of the other teachers are already there.

"It's good that you could both make it," says Dumbledore as we come in gasping for breath.

"Would have been faster if we could apparate," I gasp.

"Yes but it is safer for everyone that you can't," says Dumbledore looking grim. "Severus has just informed me that Lord Voldemort is planning an attack on Hogwarts before the end of the year."

I look over at Snape who, for once, is not sneering. He actually looks worried.

"Do we know when?" I ask.

"No idea," says Snape. "He's got to figure out to get past at least some of the barriers before he can try anything."

"But if he's already planning something doesn't that mean he's figured something out?" McGonagall asks.

"No idea. I'm not privy to the Dark Lords thoughts," says Snape with a trace of his usual sneer.

"He might just have a good idea how to get around some of them." I say. "The largest problem for him would be that you can't apparate in. The closest apparting points are in Hogsmade and the middle of the Forbidden Forest."

"Would he use portkeys?" Sirius asks.

"Impossible to use on Hogwarts grounds," says Dumbledore. "Only the Headmaster can create porkeys in and out of Hogwarts."

"It's been done before," I remind him.

"I've re-enforced the charm since then," Dumbledore says. "It had started to wear down with age."

There's a long silence.

"What do we tell the students?" Professor Sprout asks.

"Nothing at the moment," says Dumbledore. "There is no need to cause a panic. We will keep this silent until Severus has more information for us."

Though I don't say it out loud I'm not too comfortable with the idea that everyone's lives rest on his shoulders. 'Happy Birthday to me,' I think dully.

"Now," says Dumbledore. "On a happier note I believe Ruth and Sirius have something to share with us."

It takes me a few second to realise what he's talking about, I'd almost forgotten with the news of the impending attack on Hogwarts.

"Sirius and I are getting married."

"Congratulations," McGonagall cries. Her sentiments are echoed by all of the other teachers except Snape who suddenly gets up and walks out slamming the door behind him.

"What in the name of Merlin was that all about?" I ask.

Everyone looks just as puzzled except for Dumbeldore who simply smiles and says;

"I thought it obvious."

"Well obviously it wasn't obvious," I reply unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.

"He likes you, always has."

I stare at Dumbledore in shock for a moment before saying. "You're mad. Off your rocker, lost your marbles. The Daily Prophet was right last year when they said you were loosing it. There is no way in hell he could like me. The ideas ridiculous, insane."

"Are you completely done questioning my sanity," Dumbledore asks with a smile. "Because what I say is completely true."

"He can't like me, he doesn't even know the meaning of the word."

"You're words aren't going to change the fact he likes you."

"I don't like him," I explode. "He's a greasy git. Gen likes him."

"Did you ever consider the fact that he might have put up with Gen in school because he wanted to get closer to you?"

I stare at him wordlessly then march out of his office slamming the door behind me with all my might.

A/N: How do you like that little twist, I bet no one saw that coming. Review people, I like reviews.