Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon. and thanks! to my beta Karri
Now to my reviewers!
risi: Welcome to the fic, and yes Sirius will be appearing and staying in the fic
severusphoenix: I can't get rid of that biting snide Severus we all love completely, and yes Sirius and Snape will have words
esmeralda: thanks here is your update!
AccioSeverus: you will not see Severus' family, but the party awaits you
sparkling silver angel wings: Welcome to the fic, and thanks for the review
Ceyxa: thankie!
Lady Lily3: You shall see
mb: read on! Some answers revealed
rosiegirl: hehehe thanks
juliedecarson: Thank you I liked the idea and put it in
SeulWolfe: thanks!
Ruse: A mountain I thought was a good idea, and anywhere can be special
Thanks to all of you as you brought a smile to my face. Now on with the fic.
Chapter 12
Harry was awakened to the sound of popping noises. It sounded just like one of the cap guns Dudley had played with many times, and he wondered who could be making such a racket. After he reached for his glasses, he saw it was not as early as he thought when he glanced at the clock and saw it was already ten. Jumping from the bed, he grabbed his robe, pushed on his slippers, and tore out of the room.
There stood Severus shooting brightly colored sparks from his wand, with a devious smile on his face. "Well it seems the noise did wake you up. Happy Birthday, Harry."
Harry hugged his father, and crawled into his seat at the table. There was a pancake on his plate in the shape of a dragon, and it was covered in purple sauce. Harry looked at the sauce with a quirk of his head, but Lotty explained it was merely maple syrup charmed a different color. Gobbling up his breakfast Harry sat back in his chair stuffed.
"I would think you would like to get ready. Your guests will be arriving at one."
Harry sat straight up in his chair. "Guests! I thought it was only Ron coming?"
Severus gritted his teeth, and forced a smile onto his face for Harry's sake. "You can't invite one of the Weasley's without inviting them all. Also, some of the teachers thought they would come."
"They really all want to come to my birthday?" Harry asked, seemingly amazed.
"Of course they do, Harry. Now how many candles shall I have Lotty put on your cake?"
Severus waited, for surely the boy knew how old he was, but he soon saw his error in that when Harry's face fell, the hint of tears at the corners of his eyes. "I don't know how old I am today. I've never had a cake before."
Severus quickly gathered Harry up in a hug. He looked over at Lotty, and she saw the rage behind his eyes. It was a rage that would someday find an outlet, and help whomever it was focused on. "Harry you are nine today. You and Ron are the same age."
Harry counted on his fingers and held up nine fingers. "Lotty, I am nine today," he yelled to the house elf. Forgetting the earlier thought, he bounded out of the room and went to get dressed. He did not hear Severus swear that he could have killed those Muggles. All Harry knew was today was his first ever birthday party, and he didn't want to waste a minute of it. Bounding back out of his bedroom, Harry appeared dressed in jeans and a button up shirt. He spent the next hour watching Lotty bake his cake, and helping her set the table. He was beginning to wonder how all those people were going to fit at the table, but he was brought from his thoughts as Severus came back from outside.
"Harry, I need some help outside. Do you think you could come and help me?"
Harry ran to the door. "Of course Dad, what can I help you do?"
Severus swung open the back door, and watched as Harry's mouth fell open. "I was wondering if you could help me figure out if a nine year old boy would enjoy eating outside."
Harry's face broke into the biggest smile Severus had ever seen. Harry then sat down on the steps, and his shoulders shook with the sobs coming from him. Severus feared something was wrong and knelt down beside his son. "Harry, what is it? Do you not like it?"
Harry shook his head no. "It's just that I never thought anyone would be this nice to me before. It's more than I ever hoped for."
Severus Snape lost the little bit of pride he had that very moment, and swept his son up in a great hug, shedding his own bitter tears, as they held each other for a moment. "Come now, no more tears today. I need your help deciding on colors." Harry held his father's hand and walked outside into the meadow.
On three long tables sat hats of every color and size, and beside them there laid what Harry thought were noisemakers until he picked one up and blew on it and sparks flew out the end. Dropping it fast, he ran over to where Severus stood. Severus was standing outside a roped off area, and Harry wondered why. "Go on, step inside," he motioned to Harry.
Harry stepped inside the boundary and soon he was lifted off the ground and was floating ten feet in the air. Harry let out a shriek of delight, and was almost sad when Severus told him to hurry up, that they had more to see before the others came.
Harry walked behind the three tables and saw to the left another giant area roped off that seemed to be shimmering in the sun. As he drew closer he saw why. There was a pool, and the water was a nice crystal clear blue. Harry shied away from the edge. "I can't swim," he explained to Severus.
Severus seemed to ponder this for a few minutes before pulling his wand out and waving it in the air. Soon the whole pool shimmered in a bright yellow light before returning back to its nice blue color. "Now you can jump in, and you will automatically come back to the surface and float." Harry didn't know if he believed him, so Severus did something Harry could not believe, he jumped in the pool clothes and all. Sure enough no sooner had he jumped in and went under, he came bobbing back to the surface. Severus held his arms out and lay back floating. Harry giggled and watched as Severus got out and used a drying charm on his clothes.
"Harry, the reason I called you out here us so I could ask you what color, car you would prefer."
"Car? I'm not old enough to drive yet." Harry said, shaking his head at the silliness of that question.
"I have researched this all week, and it seems Muggles like to drive what is called go karts around in circles. It supposedly brings some sort of amusement." Sure enough, with a flick of his wand a huge go kart raceway appeared in front of Harry's eyes. He stared in wonder at all the cars, but his eyes fell on one that was silver with a red streak down the side. "I would like that one please," he said pointing at the silver one, and in a flash Harry saw his name appear on the side of the car.
"Now that is your car for the day, the others may choose whatever one they wish."
Harry couldn't believe that all this was for him, and he was about to thank his father again when the sound of at least a dozen pops were heard. Swinging his head around swiftly Severus wand was at the ready. Realizing how silly he seemed, Severus put his wand back into his pocket, and went over to meet the guests.
"Arthur, Molly, Albus, so nice of you to join us. Molly I see you did indeed bring the whole family with you. Remus, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall please wait there while I bring you through one at a time. Harry, if you would come over here and stand at the wards so that it thinks the others are you for a few moments."
"Severus, where in the world are we? We arrived here by portkey, and Albus would not reveal to us where we were," Professor McGonagall asked.
"You are at my home Minerva, and the wards are to keep any who wish me or my son harm out. I would not reveal this location to anyone; for a person in the Dark Lord's clutches may speak of things they should not. Now, let us speak no more of this. It is Harry's birthday, and his first party ever."
All the guests sat down at the large tables and enjoyed a nice lunch of the hamburgers and hotdogs that even Severus had become fond of. After some explaining, everyone was enjoying the new food, and stuffing their faces. Ron was reaching for his third hotdog when he tapped Harry on the shoulder. "You know Charlie always told me Professor Snape was a first rate git, but I guess he isn't always like that."
Harry was about to ask what Ron meant, but out came a floating cake towards the table. When it landed atop the table Harry could read very cleary his name on it, and he could see the nine sparkling candles on top.
"Make a wish Harry, and blow them out. Then your wish will come true."
Harry closed his eyes and tried to think of something he wanted, then with a deep breath he blew out all nine of the candles, and a roaring applause erupted from everyone. Cake and ice cream were passed around, and Harry had his first ever piece of cake. It was one of the best things he had ever eaten, and he savored every bite. He wanted a second piece, but he remembered Severus' warnings about overeating and how it would make him sick, so he sat back and watched in amazement as Ron ate three pieces.
"How about you children run off and play for awhile," Severus said wanting a few minutes without hearing the Weasley clan plotting.
The adults watched as all the children, and even Charlie and Bill, ran towards the go karts. Jumping in, Harry was wondering how to make them go when Severus walked up. "Left foot to stop, right foot to go."
All of them tore down the small track and looped around. It seemed Fred and George were determined to rear end Percy, and Ron and Harry were trying to catch the twins. For an hour they all took turns seeing who could send the other into a spin, and crashing into one of the other cars, much to the worry of Mrs. Weasley who swore that they were going to be the death of her. It didn't take long for the boys and Ginny, to all become hot and sweaty from the go karts, and soon a whirl of red heads, and Harry were running toward the pool. With a splash all went in, and Harry was relieved when he came back up to the surface. Fred and George took turns dunking Percy under the water, and then Charlie would dunk them. Ron had dunked Harry once, but after seeing the scared look on his face, he didn't try it again. Everyone knew the wrath of Ms. Weasley, and refrained from dunking Ginny.
Harry was ready to get out, and Ron followed. Hagrid was sitting by the pool and he looked miserable and hot. "Hagrid why not get in?" Harry asked.
"Oh no, Harry, this is your day, and you are to enjoy the pool, Besides, I'm too tall for that pool."
Harry and Ron got a twinkle in their eyes, and each called one of the twins out of the pool. All four got behind Hagrid and tried to push him towards the pool, but even with all four of them they could not budge the half giant. No one saw the wicked grin come over Severus' face, or his wand slide out of his sleeve. What they did see was Hagrid floating through the air and with a big splash land in the middle of the pool. The half giant came up sputtering, but soon laid back, the water feeling too good to reason how he got in.
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and took off running as fast as he could toward the roped off area. He wanted to see the look on Ron's face when he started floating up in the air. He knew Ron wanted to play quidditch someday, but that he had no broom. Harry ran right past the ropes, and watched as Ron's face paled when his feet lifted off the ground. Ron's features soon turned to pure joy, and he let out a whoop that sent the other Weasley siblings running toward him.
"Harry, this is the best thing ever mate! How did your father do this?"
"He can do anything. Do you like it?"
"Like it, It's like flying on a broom only you don't have to hold on," Ron said flipping upside down in midair. Harry and the rest were having so much fun in the non gravity room, that Severus had to come over and drag them out literally.
"Harry, it is time to open your gifts before the others have to leave."
Harry stopped walking and stared at his father. "What do you mean gifts? Weren't the rides, and other things my gifts?"
"Those were not gifts, Harry. You have presents to open."
Harry was half dragged to the table were a pile of gifts were stacked. After Severus had pushed him down in the seat, and put his finger under his chin to close his mouth which was hanging open, he handed Harry a gift.
The first gift was from Mrs. Weasley, and when Harry opened it he found a lovely red jumper. Ron rolled his eyes, but Harry hugged it to him like it was the best present ever. Mrs. Weasley was shocked when Harry had came over to hug her and thank her profusely for the gift. Next, Harry opened one from the rest of the Weasley's and inside was an array of sweets that Harry had never seen before. From Droobles Best Blowing Gum, to Bertnie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and more. Harry reached for one of the sweets and popped it in his mouth. "Thank you, all of you, these are great!" he said, knowing that later he was going to ask Severus if he could eat some of them.
Severus pushed another present towards Harry, and Harry carefully unwrapped it to reveal a picture frame. Inside was a picture of his mother, and she was holding a baby. "That, Harry, is you when you were but a tyke," Hagrid said. "That there is your mum, and she was by far the fairest witch I've e'er' laid eyes on."
"That she was," Severus agreed, and he gave Harry a few minutes to wipe away the tear that had escaped. Severus went to move the picture frame out of his way, but Harry clutched it tightly to his chest. Smiling, Severus handed Harry another gift, and this one was from Remus and Dumbledore. Inside the box laid two identical necklaces each with a ring on the chain.
"I was given your father's wedding band to keep safe for him, and Remus was given your mother's. We think it is time you had them."
Harry's eyes again misted up and he hugged the man with the long beard, and Remus before returning to his seat. "Thank you all for the wonderful gifts. I'll cherish them forever." Harry was about to get up when Severus put his hand on his arm. "You forgot one, Harry."
Harry looked around at his father in amazement. "I've already gotten a gift from everyone, Dad."
"You have not opened mine," Severus said, pushing the box towards Harry.
Harry was about to protest, but Severus shook his head and placed the box in front of him. When Harry pulled off the lid to the box he saw two emerald green eyes staring back at him, and a mew came from inside it. Harry reached in and pulled out a solid white kitten, and snuggled it close to him.
"Your mother had a cat just like this one. She used to claim that it symbolized the purity that was left in a world that was so dark."
"Thank you Dad," Harry choked out, as he wrapped his arms around his father. "I'll call her Snow."
Harry and Ron played with his new kitten for a while longer. Ron had admitted he was not much of a cat person, because they usually wanted to attack him, but that Snow seemed all right. "I wish I could stay longer, but I think my Mum is getting ready to leave."
Harry had an idea and when he and Ron walked over to meet Severus and the others, he tugged on Severus' sleeve. "Can Ron spend the night Dad?"
Severus wished his son had asked anything but that. It was not as though he despised the Weasley children; it was that they made him want to pull every hair in his head out. Biting back the sarcastic remark, he looked down at Harry. "It is fine with me, if it is all right with Mr. Weasley's parents."
Mrs. Weasley agreed, and she told Ron to behave and mind his manners. After everyone else had left, Ron and Harry turned to run inside back to Harry's room. Severus followed, knowing tonight he would regret being so nice.