It wasn't every day that a daughter turned twelve. Well, perhaps somewhere in the world, there was a daughter each day that turned twelve years old. However, it was not every day that Severus Snape's only daughter turned twelve. This was just such a day.
Tirza was twelve now; or would be when she woke up. She had been in Severus' life for nearly two precious years, and he was able to see another birthday come, another year added to her life.
Severus slowly drank his morning coffee, reflecting on the time that had passed since her first birthday that he had been in her life for. Tirza had started Hogwarts, completed her first year with excellent marks in most of her courses. She had learned to stay some in the dorms, and was still loved by every teacher at Hogwarts.
As the clock neared 9:30 AM he put his cup in the sink and began to prepare a breakfast fit for a princess. Despite what most would assume, Severus was actually a skilled cook; most potions masters were skilled cooks in fact!
Cooking wizard style didn't often take long, so breakfast was ready before most muggles could mix the pancake batter! He placed hash browns, sausages, scrambled eggs, pancakes with syrup, and a tall glass of orange juice on a tray, and headed upstairs.
Severus didn't bother to knock, as he knew Tirza would still be asleep. She was never up early unless it was for class or because he woke her. Setting the tray down on her desk for a moment, he went to her bed, and could only stare for a moment or so.
She was growing up, right before his eyes, and much too quickly for his taste. Severus didn't want to think about the fact that this meant she was one year closer to her graduation from Hogwarts, possibly someday marrying and moving away even. Those were lonely thoughts, as he just couldn't imagine a life without her in it constantly.
"Tirza," he called softly, sitting down on the bed. Severus gently rubbed her back, noticing she had once again strewn her bed covers all over the place. "Good morning, sleepy, time to wake up."
"Meeeeeh," Tirza mumbled, rolling onto her side. She yawned and stretched, nearly smacking Severus in the shoulder and face since her eyes were still closed.
"Careful, I'm old you know," He teased.
She finally opened her eyes and blinked until they focused. "Hi dad." Tirza gave him a sleepy grin.
"Hello to you, birthday girl," Severus responded with a soft smile. "I thought you might like some breakfast in bed, as a special birthday treat. I brought enough for us to share if you don't mind."
Tirza looked over at the tray on her desk, and grinned widely. "Thanks dad!" She sat up and hugged him tightly.
"A year older, but you still fit just perfect," Severus mused aloud as he held her close.
Tirza raised an eyebrow and looked up at him. "Huh?"
He merely chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I was thinking out loud dear; about how even though you are twelve years old now you are still just the right size to hold."
Tirza grinned. "Oh, ok!" She giggled. "Let's eat, huh?"
"Accio!" Severus summoned the tray over to the bed.
Tirza dug into her birthday breakfast with gusto. "Be careful that you don't choke," Severus warned her. "What time did AJ say they would be flooing?"
After swallowing her food, Tirza answered. "By 1:30."
Severus nodded. "That's perfect timing then; everyone is set to arrive between 1 and 1:30."
"I'm excited; I love presents and being spoiled!" Tirza blushed a bit. "That selfish or what?"
"Not at all," Severus assured her, pretending to steal a sausage. She playfully pushed his hand away, growling like a bear. He winked at her, and let her win of course.
After cleaning her plate and even having seconds, came a little snuggle time together. "Can we swim?" Tirza spoke up after a bit.
Severus nodded. "You change, and I will change, I'll meet you downstairs." He set her on the bed, and then headed for his own room.
Tirza bounced out several minutes later in a plain pink, but age appropriate, bikini. "Race ya!" she yelled, making a mad dash for the back door.
"Cheater that was a head start!" Severus playfully scolded. "Did you remember your ear plugs?"
"Yep!" He caught up with her just as Tirza did a cannon ball into the pool, soaking him before he even put a toe in. Severus could only shake his head and climb in; he did make sure to splash her thoroughly though!
"Ooh, I'll get you dad!" She threatened, grabbing her bright colored beach ball. She tossed it towards him, and laughed as it bounced off his forehead.
"How terribly rude!" He mock shouted, starting to swim after her. It was easy to catch her, and Tirza grinned.
"Noooo!" she called. "The evil sea monster caught me!"
Severus put forth his most evil laugh. "Now what shall I do to you, rude child? Torture you? Eat you? Hang you on the wall in my den?"
She clasped her hands together "Oh please evil sea monster, set me free!" she begs, unable to hide a giggle "Don't take me prisoner!"
"I shall throw you in the deep end!" He laughed, tossing her high in the air.
"Ahhhhhh!" She yelled, landing with a huge splash.
Tirza swam back over to him and sat on his back. "Hurry up sea horse," she commanded, swatting his side playfully.
Severus looked over his shoulder at her, with an eyebrow raised. "Do I look like a seahorse dear?"
Tirza smirked. "Of course, now hurry up! All the other seahorses are making you look bad."
He shook his head, smiling at her, then obliged with a swim around the pool before depositing her at the pool steps.
"I'd give you a ride," Tirza smiled. "But you'd make me drown. Besides, I'm the princess, NOT the sea horse!"
"That's alright," Severus assured her, splashing at her a bit. "I like you more as a princess."
She flashed him a huge grin. "Do we have to get ready yet?"
"No, we've got about thirty minutes more."
"Yay!" Tirza ducked under the water and swam to the other side. She popped up, waved, then tossed the ball at him and swam back.
"I must be a goal now, hmm?"
"Sure, why not!" she laughed.
"Perhaps because I don't want to be," he laughed and threw the ball back into the pool.
After Severus used a quick drying spell on them both, they headed for the house. "You go get ready; I have some things to see to in the kitchen."
Tirza bounded up the stairs, still wondering what the party theme was. She found out, of course, as soon as she saw her costume: Sleeping Beauty's dress with matching pink shoes and a tiara.
"YAY I get a Disney party!" She yelled as she ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Severus laughed loudly. "Somehow I did imagine you would approve." He watched her twirl around in front of him a few times. "Very pretty dear. And what do you think of mine?"
Tirza grinned as she inspected his costume: Jafar, the villain from the Aladdin movies. "Very wicked dad, I must say!"
"All that's left is to set the table, if you would do so," Severus directed. "Then we have about a half hour until anyone is expected."
It didn't take her long to set the table, and Tirza was bouncing around in her costume waiting for her guests to arrive. She was also giggling rather loudly at Severus, who was sitting in a chair reading while dressed as Jafar, as though this was perfectly normal!
"Tirza, you're going to wear me out before the guests even get here," he chuckled. "Try to contain yourself."
Tirza laughed and helped herself to his lap. "Now that I'm twelve dad, do you feel awfully old?"
An eyebrow quirked in response. "I'm not that old."
"Course you are," she said seriously.
"I think you are," Fred decided as he came through the fireplace with George right behind him.
"Right-o professor, all teachers are wicked old," George smirked. The twins were costumed quite appropriately as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Alice In Wonderland.
"Hello to you too," Severus laughed. "And interesting costumes I must say." He laughed again as they bowed to him before prancing off a bit.
Tirza pranced after then and was nearly knocked over by their hugs. "Aunt Min!" she called a moment later, attempting to untangle herself from the twins and wave at the same time.
"Happy birthday honey," Minerva, dressed as Maleficent, whispered as she hugged Tirza. "You look great and we're from the same movie!"
"Look out, out there!" Arthur called from the fireplace.
"You're on my fin dad," Ginny giggled. She was an adorably costumed as Ariel from the Little Mermaid.
"Good heavens!" Arthur laughed, picking her up and carrying her out of the fireplace with him. Molly followed as Mrs. Potts to Arthur's Lumiere from Beauty & the Beast.
"Hello Miss Birthday!" Arthur greeted Tirza loudly and bent down to hug her tightly.
"Thanks Mr. Weasley!"
"Wow... That was frickin' cool." AJ exclaimed, as she came out of the fireplace.
"AJ!" Tirza danced between her guests and tackled AJ, dressed as Cinderella.
AJ beamed, and hugged her tight. "Hey TJ."
"Wee" Serena squealed happily twirling in her Lilo costume. The toddler giggled and walked on over to Severus with a big toothy grin, while her parents greeted Tirza.
"AJ come see the twins I wrote you about, with all the cool prank stuff!" Tirza exclaimed, taking AJ's hand and dragging her off.
"Ok." She beamed brightly, and went with her.
Severus smiled at Serena "you are cute."
She held up her stitch proudly, and pushed the button to make it talk. "Up?"
"Mega nani cristo" Stitch said and Severus laughed "cute" he decided picking her up
Rena giggled and kissed his nose "Vee-in" She pointed at him (villain)
"Did somebody start the party without me?" Remus arrived through the fireplace, waving to everyone. "Harry's behind me!"
Tirza laughed at Remus' King John costume. "Are you gonna suck your thumb and call for your mom like he did in Robin Hood?"
Remus growled playfully as he grabbed her and tickled her. "Maybe!"
Harry, dressed as the Beast, added a growl too. "I'll eat the birthday girl," he said with a grin.
"Has anyone seen the Mermaid?" Albus asked, as he entered, dressed as King Triton.
Ginny waved at him. "Right here King!" She laughed as Albus gave her a grin.
Tirza was captured in another hug as Albus pulled her close. "Happy birthday sunshine," he whispered into her ear. "I'm glad you're here for us to share your birthday with."
She blushed and hugged him tighter. "Me too Grandpa. I can't imagine being any place else."
"Welcome everyone" Severus smiled. "We've got a wonderful meal, a swimming pool for those interested, and plenty of patio space and lemonade! Of course, there is cake and presents too, but for now, let's have some food and have fun."
Severus knocked on Tirza's bedroom door that evening, and stuck his head inside when she called out. "Ready for bed princess?" At his nod, he entered and sat on the foot of her bed.
"Had a nice birthday?" He asked, pulling her close.
"Very nice. I think my favorite present is this robe," she giggled. Molly and Arthur had picked out a lovely fleece lounge robe with roses on a white background. "It's all warm and soft. I loved everything else too though!"
Severus smiled and kissed her head. "Have I told you today that I love you dearly?"
Tirza nodded, smiling up at him. "Lots of times, but I always like to hear it. And I love you too, very much."
"Well I'm glad at that, somebody has too," he winked. "Not too long until you start second year again, did you realize that?"
She nodded. "I'm excited; I think it'll be a blast. Less then a month till the train! Can we do our shopping with the Weasleys and Hermione and Harry? Please? I love doing that!"
"I think that can be arranged," he conceded. "You've got your letter with your list, hmm? I know what second years need for my class, but it's been quite a while since I purchased supplies for second year entirely. Since my second year actually, which was very long ago."
"Very long, because you're old," Tirza teased, then kissed his cheek.
"Silence you," Severus mock scolded. "I forbid you from growing up too fast."
She merely smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. "Alright dad, I won't," she promised.