Birthday Boy

Harry seemed to be quite happy about staying at Hogwarts for the rest of his holidays and that made Severus even more displeased with the situation. That and the fact that he got the impression that Potter was following him with every step he took - at least that seemed to be the only reasonable explanation to why he kept running into that boy at least five times a day, not counting the meals in the Great Hall where he tried to avoid having to show up most of the time anyway. Actually the only time when one could feel safe from meeting that kid was between eight and nine in the evening when he was busy practising Occlumency with the headmaster. This had been going on for five days now and Dumbledore seemed to be convinced that he was making a lot of progress. Severus had his doubts that the lessons with the headmaster actually were much of a challenge for Potter but he had sworn to himself that he wouldn't meddle with things that were - luckily - not his business anymore and he was going to keep to that.

He suspected nothing good already when he spotted McGonagall standing at the doors to the Great Hall the following Monday morning, smiling triumphantly and probably waiting for him. Since she had already seen him he decided that he couldn't really turn around and walk the other way anymore and he knew that even if he did, there was no escape anyway.

I think you owe me five Galleons. McGonagall greeted him and held a piece of parchment up in front of his eyes. Exceeds Expectations.

Mr. Potter seems to have a lot of very well hidden talents. Severus replied after taking a quick glance at the exam results. I suppose I will now have to consider accepting him in my NEWT class.

There's no need to consider anything since you already told me you will accept him if he scored an E. McGonagall said, folded the parchment and put it back into her pocket.

Severus hesitated. He could now say that he had never said that, then she would tell him he had, it would turn into a quarrel probably lasting the whole day and he would lose in the end. Well then, congratulations, Potter. May my class be the one you hate more than anything else.

As his Head of House you might want to recommend some advanced reading to him then; I would always suggest Caman's Essential 101.

Caman is important literature for anyone striving for an academic degree in potions but I don't think I can remember any student other than yourself ever having read that. McGonagall said, throwing him a not too serious, yet reproachful glance.

Severus shrugged his shoulders and raised an apologetic hand. Just a suggestion. He said, added a muttered I need a coffee. and continued on his way into the Great Hall, leaving McGonagall standing outside to wait for Potter. He definitely didn't need to witness him learning about his test results.

You know about the staff meeting today? She called after him.

Severus replied without turning back around. I'm never being informed about anything here.

There was a note on the staff room door.

Not on Thursday when I've last been there. He didn't ask her when that meeting would be, what it would be about and if he was expected to attend. Right now he just wanted his coffee and he was sure that if he was supposed to do anything, someone would let him know.


Someone did indeed. At least at four in the afternoon there was a very nervous and very annoying house elf jumping through his office and trying to convince him that he should go up to the staff room. Severus complied immediately, just to get rid of the elf. When he entered the room he found his colleagues brooding over the class schedules already, wondered why they were doing this three weeks earlier than usually and took his seat. Due to the new additional classes it took them over two hours until they had arranged the classes in a way everyone was more or less happy with. Severus couldn't complain, with a nine o'clock lesson only once a week he had gotten pretty much what he wanted; he had asked the headmaster to take care of that. Not because he enjoyed sleeping late but simply because he thought he wouldn't be of much use standing in a classroom at nine in the morning after having returned from a gathering only a few hours before. Once the schedules were done Dumbledore announced that the Minister of Magic was going to visit Hogwarts the following week and that they hadn't found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher yet. After what had happened in the last few years Severus wouldn't have been surprised if nobody at all would have wanted to take that cursed position anymore; he wasn't even quite sure if he himself would still have wanted to do it. He didn't care much for who would get the job in the end; whoever it was, it probably couldn't get any worse. Actually, thinking about it he couldn't help but admitting that Lupin had probably been the most competent Defense teacher Hogwarts had seen lately - and that was saying something. Nonetheless, he really hoped the headmaster wouldn't consider bringing him back.

One last thing before I can let you leave. Dumbledore said and Severus let his attention return to the meeting. As you all know, during the last term some of the students started having private meetings to train duelling and defending themselves against the Dark Arts.

Some of the students? The infamous three, as usually. Maybe I should consider including Longbottom from now on and make them the infamous four.

I believe that's basically a good idea. The headmaster continued. Unlike in the regular classes they had the possibility of choosing the members which I regard as an advantage so I decided to allow this to be continued, although not without supervision.

And who's going to do that? Severus asked, not intending to give the impression as if he was interested in applying for this position but nonetheless receiving a look in return that clearly said 'not you'.

I'm not sure about that yet, I'll let you all know as soon as I decided on someone. Dumbledore replied. So unless anyone still has any questions...?

Nobody did. Instead everyone just started gathering their papers and other belongings and getting up from their seats. It was getting close to seven already and after sitting here for nearly three hours everyone just wanted to get out of here and have dinner. Severus remained at his place.

Albus, can I have a minute? He asked once most of the other staff members were on their way outside.

Dumbledore nodded and waited for everyone else to leave before taking his seat again and throwing him a questioning look. Severus cleared his throat and added a few more lines to whatever it was that he had drawn onto the back of his copy of the timetable during the last three hours before he let his quill drop onto the table and looked up.

I have reason to believe that Malfoy and the others are going to attempt breaking out of Azkaban very soon. He said slowly.

We were expecting that, weren't we? Dumbledore replied.

Well, yes. The problem is... I suppose they will be searching help from outside. And I'm afraid that I will be expected to get involved. Severus said and looked straight into his eyes. What do you want me to do?

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair. I assume that simply staying out of this is no option for you, so I'd suggest you keep me informed and we will decide about this as soon as we know more.

There might be no time to. I need to know what you want me to do; do you want me to work against them, or not? Of course he wouldn't help them, he would try to mess up whatever they did as much as he could without drawing their suspicion onto him; the only question was if he should go further, if this was important enough to risk his position among them.

A few more Death Eaters at large aren't worth risking your exposure as a spy. Dumbledore said curtly after thinking about it for a few seconds. They will be outlaws and thus way less dangerous than before they have been arrested, so do what you can, but no more.

Severus nodded, gathered his papers and stood up. It might be wise to increase the number of guards, just for the next few days at least. As far as I know they only have a few Ministry wizards and Auror trainees watching over them right now.

I will suggest that to the Minister. So am I going to see you at dinner in the Great Hall? Dumbledore asked as they both walked over to the door.

Yes. I'll be there in a few minutes, I'll just have to answer an owl first. He replied and headed for his office.

He was walking along the dark and quiet dungeon corridor when suddenly two suits of armor fell to the ground in a deafening clatter, one right behind him, the other one right in front of him blocking his way. Severus jumped, spun around and glared into the darkness when he heard an annoyingly familiar shrill laughter vanishing along the corridor.

Peeves! Bloody poltergeist! He barked but the ghost knew better than to come back to him. I'll send the Baron after you! Severus called after him. I told you a million times to stay out of the dungeons... He muttered to himself, pulled out his wand to get the junk on the floor back to where it belonged and continued on his way. He had just turned around the corner when he ran into the next unexpected annoyance.

He growled. Nothing better to do than hanging about the dungeons, do you?

I was just... Mr. Filch told me...

Severus hissed and just strode past him, actually not being in the slightest degree interested in what Potter was doing down here or what lame excuse he might come up with.


Had he known what date it was, or rather, had he remembered what that meant, he definitely wouldn't have set a foot out of his room. But since he hadn't he now had the pleasure of sitting at his place at the high table and having to decide if he rather wanted to watch birthday boy Potter unwrap his presents, stare down at the piece of cake on the plate in front of him or keep trying to avoid the eyes of a stupidly grinning werewolf. Instead of continuing to hope for the most unlikely event of the earth below him opening up and swallowing him he settled for staring at his plate.

You're not going to eat that? Lupin asked, leaning across the corner of the table towards him.

Why? You want it? Severus snapped.

I just tried to make some conversation... Lupin muttered.

Why don't you just stay over there and mind your own business?

Lupin sighed and leaned back in his chair again. All your cheerful self today, aren't you?

How could I not be with the fantastic company I have here; you, Potter and Weasley? He thought it had probably been Dumbledore's idea to invite Potter's friend for his birthday. He was that sort of sentimental person.

Lupin just rolled his eyes at him in reply and rather returned his attention to Harry. Severus did the same and watched him unwrapping what must have been at least his fifteenth present. He wondered why that boy got so many presents. After all, he didn't have a family, not even a godfather anymore. And those muggles he lived with hadn't made the impression as if they would send him anything. It had to be people who just had pity on him. Or who wanted to ingratiate themselves with the famous Potter. He watched the boy placing another book on top of the three others that were lying on the table already and wondered whether a kid like that would ever even think about actually reading a book. Unless they were books on something as trivial as Quidditch of course.

So what exactly are you doing here? Severus muttered in Lupin's general direction; a little quarrel with the werewolf could be pretty entertaining so he hoped he would take the bait.

Don't worry, I won't stay long. Lupin replied.

How come? It's not like the full moon was approaching, is it?

It's actually Fudge I'm trying to avoid.

Brilliant, I forgot, the Minister's due today. You shouldn't have anything to worry about as long as you're not teaching here.

Yes, right. But I suppose you're not really looking forward to meeting him, he's not too fond of you either, is he? Lupin asked with a smirk.

Severus scowled at him and then stared back at his plate again.


Fudge arrived two hours earlier than anyone would have expected. Severus spotted him walking across the Entrance Hall next to the headmaster just after telling Lupin that he should go and buy his potions ingredients in Hogsmeade just like everyone else did instead of troubling him with that. When Lupin saw Snape's expression darkening he turned around just in time to see Fudge walking past them and reluctantly greeting them with a curt nod and a muttered , obviously either having forgotten about the fact that this only applied to one of them or being unwilling to address them by their names.

What do you need potions ingredients for anyway? Severus hissed, still glaring after Fudge, his mood just having dropped even lower.

I'm not completely incapable of making a potion, you know? Lupin replied. Albus said you'd surely give me some of those claws, so would you? Please? They've run out of them in Hogsmeade, I've checked already.


Harry and Ron had taken to flight just in time; the two of them had left for the Quidditch field only a few minutes before Fudge had arrived. Ron had brought his broom and thanks to Lupin who had paid the Dursleys another visit Harry also had all his stuff by now so they had decided to train a little, just for fun. It was soon getting too hot though for playing and they spent the rest of their afternoon inside with Harry's other presents, especially Fred and George's latest inventions keeping them busy.

Anything we didn't try out yet? Ron asked while sitting back in one of the armchairs and marvelling at the red and purple speckles on his arms that were supposed to look like a highly contagious disease and should disappear again in half an hour.

Nope, don't think so. Harry replied.

Who gave that to you? Ron held up a book entitled 'Basic Knowledge In Advanced Potion Making' and gave him a questioning look.

Harry grinned. Yeah, sure, as if he'd give me a present. No idea really, sort of lost track of who the presents are from. Hermione maybe.

Crappy present. Ron decided and let the book drop onto the floor again, picking up the next one. Ancient Legends of the Wizarding World? He read the title and shook his head. Another fairly crappy one. He said, picking up the next book. A Century in Quidditch. Finally a good one. He opened the book and took a quick look into it. Wow, that's really nice, lots of cool pictures and background info and everything. He muttered without looking up from the pages.

Harry felt tired. He hadn't slept too well the night before, being haunted by nightmares about being the only student in Snape's NEWT class and forgetting to bring the books he needed to his Potions NEWT exam. At least they had been normal nightmares, not weird read-Voldemort's-mind dreams. Harry heard the clock strike eight, yawned and stared at the floor for a few seconds, being convinced that eight o'clock was supposed to mean something to him but still trying to figure out exactly what it was.

He jumped to his feet. It's eight, I have to go to my Occlumency lesson.

Wow, that late already. Ron said. I'll have to leave now anyway, told my mum I'd be home by seven. He got to his feet as well and carefully placed the Quidditch book on the table.

You can borrow it if you want to. Harry said, gesturing at the book.

Nah, that's all right, you just got it today. Ron replied.

I won't have time to read it anyway, I should rather study that Potions book I suppose. Harry muttered. Just bring it back with you when you come for your next visit.

Sure, thanks. Ron smiled at him and picked up the book. Hope that'll be before the start of the term then.

I'll ask Dumbledore, I'm sure he won't mind.


AN: Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it.

Ice Lupus: Thank you! I'm really glad you liked the last chapter. And thank you for the 'well written' :)

greengirlblue: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. Btw, your favourite line was the one I added just before posting, so I guess it was worth it ;)

shadowycat: Thank you! So glad you liked it :) Thanks for the 'well written'; and for the sarcasm. I was born with that, makes me pretty unbearable at times (I've been told ;)

Athalia: Thank you! I'm glad you think I manage to keep him in character.

Elendil Snape: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

yugure: Thank you! Hope this one was worth it again ;)

zippy zany: Thank you! I'm glad you like Snape and McGonagall :) This story doesn't have any connection to 'Are We Negotiating?'

sparkle-2oo3: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it :) And good to know you'll keep reading, so I'll keep writing ;)

Enahma: Thank you! Glad to hear you liked it, I hope you'll keep reading :)

Tim H. Smith: Thank you! I'm really glad you liked it, hope that won't change. I never thought I was capable of making someone grin like a maniac ;) Reviews sometimes do that to me though ;)

nicki_wls: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it this far :)

sethnakht: Thank you! I'm glad you still enjoy it :)

AmZ: Thank you! I'm glad you like it :) I suppose which point of view is more interesting might depend on the reader's age as well; I for one definitely prefer writing from Severus' perspective although I have to switch to Harry's from time to time to make this story work.