Chapter 11: A Party, an Apology and a New Partner
The group rose fairly later than normal the next morning, and was dragged out of bed by Mrs. Weasley only an hour before lunch.
"Come on now, you lot! Up! Get dressed and be ready for company in an hour!"
Groaning, Ron and Harry tumbled out of bed and headed towards some of the many toilettes at Grimmauld Place. The boys arrived into the foyer long before the girls, and then journeyed together to the kitchen for some food. Opening the door, an amazing site greeted their eyes. Harry was bombarded and forced into a party hat bearing the words "It's my Birthday!" on top by none other than Fred and George Weasley.
"SURPRISE!"
Harry stared, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The entire Order of the Phoenix (minus Albus Dumbledore, but plus Severus Snape), Neville Longbottom (and his still formidable-looking Grandmother), Luna Lovegood (who, mercifully, had ditched her ever-present copy of "The Quibbler" for the occasion) and other assorted guests (including Bill Weasley) had assembled themselves in the kitchen for Harry's sixteenth birthday.
"How in the world—" he began.
"Ah, well dear," smiled Mrs. Weasley, rushing over to give him a bone-crunching hug, "I have my ways. Just enjoy yourself, will you, Harry?"
He nodded dumbly, and looked towards his friends. Ginny had immediately rushed over to greet Neville, while Hermione and Ron were busy talking to Luna. After the customary rounds of birthday wishes about the room, Harry snuck over to Remus by the cake table.
"Professor?" he asked, timidly.
Lupin smiled, "Honestly, Harry, I think we're a bit beyond such formalities. Please, call me Remus, will you? After all, I no longer am your Professor."
Harry smiled.
"Well, um, Remus, it's just that… Well—"
Harry dropped his voice to a whisper.
"I've never had a birthday party before, and so I really don't know what to do."
Remus laughed good-naturedly. "Well, son, it's really the same as any other party, only with a specific reason. Just be yourself, have fun, and try not to get too red in the face when they sing 'happy birthday'. Oh, and most important, thank everyone when you open their present."
Harry's eyes widened in horror, "They're going to—to…"
Remus chuckled, "Really, Harry, calm down. The birthday song only lasts about thirty seconds. It's not that bad. It might be nice for you, as you've never had it sung to you before."
Harry shook his head, his eyes (if possible) seemed to widen even more.
"You mean that they all got me presents? But, it's not Christmas. I hardly even know some of these people- SNAPE is here, for crying out loud! I mean- the only people that have ever gotten me anything are you, Hermione, the Weasley's and Sirius."
Lupin smiled and pulled Harry into a hug. "Believe it or not, Harry, you've got more friends than you think."
The boy smiled, and the atmosphere of the party began to take its toll on him. As the afternoon wore on, he felt more and more like a giddy five-year-old at his very first birthday party. Fred and George (with Hermione's helpful instruction) even conjured a talking 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey' board, and attempted to round up everyone for a game. Some of the older adults looked like they suddenly had to 'conveniently' use the toilette, but after pleading looks from Harry they relented and joined in. It took some pointed pleading on Harry's part to get Professor McGonagall to join in, but she eventually gave in.
Sighing, she stood and allowed an overly eager Mr. Weasley (as ever still fascinated at the Muggle game) to blindfold her.
"Well, last time we played Albus beat me. He's not here, so let's see if I can win this time!"
Hermione's (along with many other guests) jaw dropped, and she gasped "Professor Dumbledore has played 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey?"
From the corner came a loud sniff, and everyone turned to look upon Severus Snape, arms folded, looking as though he had just stepped in something smelly.
"Yes, Albus had us play at his last birthday party. That man gets stranger every year."
The company laughed, and watched as Professor McGonagall pinned her tail about an inch away from the marked spot.
"HA!" she cried triumphantly. "Try and beat that one!"
Hermione seemed awestruck at the way her idol was 'letting her hair down' all in the name of good fun. Meanwhile, Harry grabbed another blindfold and headed to the corner where Snape had occupied himself miserably since his arrival. The scowl on his face made it apparent that he would much rather be shoveling Dragon Dung with Hagrid than be at a childish birthday party- especially one for Harry Potter.
"Professor Snape?" Harry asked, his knees slightly shaking out of nerves.
Severus raised an eyebrow as his only response.
"Sir," Harry continued. "Sir, would you like to have a go?"
The eyebrow rose even higher, disappearing into a sheet of greasy black hair.
"Potter," he snarled, "you honestly think I participate in such foolishness? If your thick skull can't comprehend the fact that there is no way in Hell I would be here if Albus hadn't 'pointedly suggested' it, then you're dimmer than I thought."
Harry paused, digging deep within himself to find a way to make the man see what he was trying to convey. He ignored the cheers from the crowd- Hermione had beaten Professor McGonagall at 'Pin the Tail'.
"Well, sir, under normal circumstances, no, I don't. But this is different. It's my birthday, and I, for one, am glad you're here. I know you don't want to be, and honestly, when I first saw you I wanted to turn right back around and head to my room."
Snape snorted.
"Potter, I think this is the only time you have ever made an intelligent statement. I couldn't agree with you more."
Harry sighed. It was now or never. He would not have another chance to talk to Severus Snape without anyone else trying to listen in.
"Professor, I want to apologize."
Snape sighed, clearly not wanting to listen any longer, but with a stern glare from Professor McGonagall he stayed put.
"Sir, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what happened between you and my father."
"Don't talk about what you don't understand, you stupid boy. You know nothing of what happened. You know nothing of the hell he made my life."
Harry grimaced, and tried his best not to lose his temper. Shaking his head, he walked away from the hook-nosed man that had been his life's misery for the past five years. Moving back to the party, Harry tried to enjoy himself. After some time, the spirit sucked him back in and he was genuinely having a wonderful time.
Dinnertime came, and everyone sat down to another one of Dobby's delicious meals. The birthday song was sung, and Harry beamed as he opened his biggest pile of presents yet. After thanking everyone in turn (especially Dobby, who had completed the 'Family Portrait'), he wandered around the kitchen, thoughts of his previous conversation with Snape flooding back into his mind.
Heading towards the dessert table, he scooped ice cream onto a plate and then added a slice of cake. Pausing for a moment, he sighed to himself, and then made an additional plate. Handing his least favorite Professor the plate of cake and ice cream, he said simply, 'Follow me,' and walked out the door.
Luckily, no one noticed them slip out as they were all preoccupied with sharing stories of past birthday memories. Harry wound his way through the house, up the stairs and into his bedroom, without once turning around to check if his Professor was still following him.
'If there is ever a time to show him trust,' he thought, 'now is that time.'
Walking straight to his bedside cupboard, Harry opened it and pulled out his Pensieve. Snape didn't say anything, although Harry almost thought he saw a glimmer of interest behind the man's dark eyes. With a wave of his hand, Harry shut the door and then set the magical object on the table.
"Thank you for coming, Professor."
Snape sniffed haughtily. "Let's get this over with, Potter. I don't have all day. I came here because Dumbledore ordered me to, not because I wanted to spend 'quality time' with you."
Harry bit his tongue, once again trying to control his temper.
Snape continued on. Now that he was out of earshot, he seemed to be ready to express his distaste for the whole matter.
"This is the last place I ever wanted to be. It may have been cleaned up since your idiot of a Godfather left, but that doesn't make it fit for me to hang my cloak here. Sirius Black and his stupid friends. If I had my way, I'd—"
Harry couldn't stand it any longer. His hair stood on end, and flashes of ruby light flew from his fingertips. The room pulsed with magical energy, and Severus Snape stopped his sentence dead in its tracks.
"What are you playing at, Potter?" Snape choked, nervously looking about the room, as if searching for a possible escape.
Harry's voice dripped with malice.
"Never. Insult. My. Godfather. Do. You. Understand?"
"I'll say whatever I damn well ple—"
Harry lifted his hand, and Severus was instantly silent and unable to move. Still mouthing words, his voice had ceased to vibrate. His eyes flashed with a vengeance toward the boy that had hexed him. Harry's only response was a sigh. He looked at the man he had hated for so long with a look that could only be described as sympathy.
"Professor, I was going to try and show you this an easier way, but you leave me no choice. I tried to apologize, but apparently you just can't get over school day grudges. This is the only way I know how to show you that I know exactly the kind of hell my father put you through."
Snape stared menacingly, but his eyes betrayed his interest.
"When I saw that memory of my father teasing you by the lake after your OWLs, it ripped my heart out. I thought that after all the years of being PROUD when people told me I was the 'spitting image of James Potter' it had not been such a compliment after all.
"I thought my father was cold, heartless and cruel. It killed me to hear him tell my mother that it was because of 'merely the fact that you existed' he tortured you."
Harry's voice cracked, and he fought back tears as he struggled to go on. Eyes smarting, voice shaking he continued.
"You can't imagine the hurt I felt when I saw the hate in my mother's eyes for him. I began to wonder if the only reason she married him was because he forced her into it. I don't know if you can understand how it feels to learn that someone you have looked up to your whole life was a complete jerk.
"I talked to Sirius and Remus that night. They explained everything to me- about how he had changed later on. But that still doesn't change the way he had been."
Harry's eyes overflowed, and tears ran down his cheeks. Ashamed, he attempted to wipe them away before pressing on.
"You thought I would run and tell everyone what I had seen. You thought I would make you a laughingstock. You thought wrong. I had no desire to admit to anyone what I had seen. And do you know why?"
Snape moved his eyes back and forth, left to right, as if to signify his answer of 'no'.
"Because I know what it feels like to be pointed and laughed at. I know what it feels like to be made fun of in the middle of a crowd. I know what it feels like to have the only people you know to be family make your life miserable and beat you down every day of your life."
Harry paused, and then boldly stated,
"I know what it feels like to be you."
Picking up his Pensieve, he raised it to Professor Snape's face. Upon contact with his skin, the man was sucked into Harry's worst memories. Memories of being locked in his cupboard. Memories of never having a proper birthday let alone presents. Memories of being beaten up by Dudley and his friends. Memories of never having any friends of his own.
After several brief glances into the Pensieve to see which memory the Professor was currently viewing, Harry used his wand to pull the man out. Once Professor Snape landed on the floor, Harry removed the binding and silencing charms from him. Staring the man boldly in the face, Harry was surprised at the reaction that met his eyes.
Severus Snape had tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, too, Potter," he whispered.
And then he Disapparated.
Harry composed himself after the shock of someone like Severus Snape apologizing to someone like him- Harry Potter, and then came back down to the kitchen to rejoin the remaining guests at his birthday party. A few more hours went by, and the last callers (unsurprisingly Fred and George Weasley) left the house.
Ron, Ginny and Hermione helped Harry gather his gifts and bring them up to his room. Although not in attendance (much to everyone's disappointment), Albus Dumbledore had sent a gift along with Minerva- nothing other than a pair of Wool Socks. Harry chuckled to himself at the bemused expressions on everyone's faces when he had opened that particular gift. Thinking back to his first year at Hogwarts, he remembered one of his first of many encounters with the school's Headmaster. Alone in the room housing the Mirror of Erised, Harry had asked the wizened wizard what he saw when he looked into the glass? The ever mysterious Albus had replied- 'I see myself holding a pair of wool socks.' Harry had realized all too late just how personal his inquiry had been, and resolved to think more before asking questions there on out.
"What's with the socks, Har?" giggled Hermione.
Harry shrugged, and carefully executed his answer. He didn't really find it appropriate to repeat his conversation with the Headmaster from first year, especially since he often still wondered whether or not his mentor had been entirely truthful.
"Well, Hermione, you know Dumbledore. Sometimes he does stuff that no one understands. I'm sure he has a reason."
The group laughed, bade one another good night, and settled in for a good night's sleep.
The weeks after Harry's birthday passed on, and together the students began slowly packing their trunks for the return to Hogwarts. Late one evening, when Harry had snuck down to the Library to pack the chess set (he was planning on practicing once he was back to school. Ginny had offered to give him lessons in private so one day he could perhaps beat Ron.), he noticed a strange, oddly shaped package lying on the old Mahogany desk.
Setting down the chess set, he walked over to the desk and picked up the package. He saw a small card had been lying underneath it, picked it up and began to read.
Dear Potter,
Your elf (as well as the Headmaster) informed me of your 'late night wandering habits' and said that the Library would be the best place to leave your gift.
I wanted to say thank you for opening my eyes to see beyond the past. Hindsight may be 20/20, but looking through it too often can be damaging. I trust you will remember that in the near future.
I also trust that our newfound… understanding… shall not be flaunted, as it would be damaging to both our reputations.
Happy Birthday.
Respectfully Yours,
S. Snape
Rereading his letter so as to make sure he had really received it, Harry smiled in spite of himself. Opening the small package, he gasped in awe in spite of himself.
"Wow, Professor," he breathed.
In his hands lay a tiny green and golden ball of fluff, sitting on a collapsed stand filled with ashes and a book entitled "Phoenixes".
Returning to his room and setting the Phoenix on its perch, Harry re-read the letter Professor Snape had written him once again.
'He and I are almost alike in some ways,' he thought. 'He knows there's no way I'd tell anyone- especially Malfoy- about this. Who knows… maybe Potions won't be so bad after all.'
