Snape and Roxanna worked together most nights. They didn't talk much about their pasts, but time went on and soon it was getting close to March.

It was midnight on March 17 when someone knocked on the door to Snape's chambers. Luckily his private labs were attached to his rooms.

"Who do you think it could be?" Roxanna asked looking up from the roots she had been slicing. Snape shrugged and continued working on his potion.

Roxanna stood and walked into the office and opened the door. Suddenly several little arms surrounded her and she fell to the ground with a loud "oof." Snape rushed in and was surprised at the sight.

Several of the other orphan children were hugging Roxanna, two were standing by the door holding two small packages, and one was standing next to them holding a small cake with a single burning candle on it.

"What's all this then?" Snape said calmly as he leaned against the doorframe. Roxanna finally broke free of the others and stood before walking over to Snape. Lilith followed right behind her.

"It's my birthday and the children want to celebrate," Roxanna said in a small whisper.

"Please Mr. Professor Snape sir, can we sing for Roxanna?" Lilith said with big eyes and a trembling chin. She looked ready to cry. Snape looked from her to the other children, who all similar expressions, before nodding. Suddenly he felt Lilith wrap her arms around his waist.

"Thank you so much," Lilith said before rushing over to the other children. They all stood and looked at Roxanna.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Roxanna. Happy birthday to you."

Roxanna walked over and blew out the single candle on the small cake. She cut the cake and handed everyone a small piece, even Snape who claimed he didn't want any.

Lilith walked over to where Snape was standing, watching Roxanna sit with the other children and talk.

"Roxanna's really nice sir," Lilith said. Snape looked down at the young girl and nodded. "You should marry her."

Snape almost dropped his cake. He looked down at the girl with wide eyes. "Why do you say that?"

Lilith smiled. "Because you guys like each other and people that like each other should get married. Don't you like Roxanna?"

"Yes, but that doesn't…"

"Then you should marry her. You don't want to lose her when she leaves do you?"

Snape paused what he was going to say next. He had tried not to think about it, but when the school year was over, Roxanna was going to be on her own, and the orphans were going to another orphanage. Roxanna would be leaving Hogwarts, leaving him.

"Professor Snape? Are you okay?"

Snape looked up and Roxanna, whose green eyes were glowing with concern for him. It was in that moment that Snape understood. He was in love with Roxanna. He was in love with a girl who had just celebrated her eighteenth birthday and had gone through as much torture and pain as he had as a Deatheater. He was in love with a girl almost half his age. And he didn't care who knew it.

"I'm fine," he said. Roxanna smiled brightly at him before turning back to the other children. Lilith looked up at him.

"I knew you didn't want to lose her," she said before walking over where Roxanna was opening her presents.

Later that night, the children were sent off to bed. It was almost one in the morning and the potion Snape had been working on had finally been completed.

"That was really nice of the kids," Roxanna said as she helped Snape bottle and label the potion. Snape didn't say anything.

Roxanna looked up at the man who she had come to love, despite the age difference and his rude attitude, and wondered what was bothering him.

"What's up?"

Snape looked up at her from the bottles he was labeling. "Nothing," he said, "I was just thinking."

"What about?"

"Wondering what you wished for."

Roxanna looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Wished for?"

"When you blew out your candle. You made a wish didn't you?"

Roxanna smiled. "Yeah, I did. But I don't think it'll come true."

"What was it?"

Roxanna chuckled slightly. "Now, now Severus, you know that I can't tell you that. If I tell you it won't come true."

"Do you know what Lilith told me tonight?"

Roxanna looked at him with confusion on her face. "No, what?"

Snape looked back at his bottles and continued labeling. "She told me I should marry you."

Roxanna almost dropped the bottle she was holding.

"Lilith said that?"

"Yes, and a great many other things."

"Like what?"

"She said that you liked me and that I liked you and that if I didn't want to lose you I should marry you right away."

Roxanna looked down at the bottle in her hand, hiding her blush behind her hair. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest. Lilith had always been so perceptive of her feelings.

"What did you tell her?" Roxanna said filling another bottle before placing it with the others Snape had yet to mark.

"I didn't answer her, but she made me realize something very important."

"What was that?"

Roxanna barely had time to think before Snape pulled her into his arms and embraced her. Snape held her close for a few seconds before pulling back and looking into her eyes.

"That I am in love with you," he said quietly. Roxanna smiled.

"I love you too," she said.

Snape pulled her towards him and captured her lips with his. All the feelings they had kept bottled up came flowing up in that one kiss.

When they finally broke away from each other, Roxanna smiled.

"Thank you," she said. Snape looked at her surprised.

"What for?"

"You made my wish come true."

Lilith sat on her bed and smiled. She hoped that Snape and Roxanna would figure out their feelings before morning, cause it is hard playing matchmaker at the age of seven.

Well, that is my story. I hope you liked it even though it isn't really all that good. Please let me know what you think.