It was his thirteenth birthday and it was odd to see so many people care. When Severus thought about what he wanted a long time ago he'd never really envisioned warmth in any of those scenes. No, he'd imagined pride and glory. Dignified respect, people who would look at you and raise their heads to greet you when you entered a room. That had always been the way his mother was, so very refined no matter what she did. She married a muggle who rejected what she was and everything about her. And even if she'd wanted to escape it she couldn't. She was a blood traitor and so, the only happiness she ever expressed was so buried beneath shame that young Severus Snape had never really known warmth.
This however, was warmth. It started with Remus Lupin of all people waking him up just to wish him a happy birthday. "James and Sirius tried very hard last night to wake you up, but I prevented them from doing so. I think the idea of waking you up at midnight for a happy birthday is alright, but not as much when you do it at 3:30 in order to be annoying…" He set a small gift down on the bed sheets. "I know we don't talk much, but I respect you a lot Severus. Lily is one of my best friends and she thinks the best of you."
Remus would seldom if ever confide feelings in Severus, because there was just so much Severus could not relate to him on. Remus had so many secrets in his life and Severus could tell that, but he never pried. It was not in his nature. Instead he nodded, "Thank you Remus. I appreciate you allowing me to get some sleep …as well as for the gift." Remus nodded and let him be, and Severus hesitated to open his gift. Later, he decided, he had tests and assignments to get done and it might help to have a gesture of….friendship to inspire him to finish.
But Remus was far from the first to give him a gift, he discovered as he walked out of the boys dormitory "Hey Sev!" cried James Potter, "Remus wouldn't let us wake you up to be the first, so we figured we might as well make you a banner!" On the banner were the words "Happy Birthday Sev!". He heard a snort beside him and turned to see Lily Evans. "I had to enchant it to say that, originally it was far more crude." She shot a glare at James. "Lighten up Evans!" She ignored James and turned to Snape.
"Happy birthday Severus!" Her smile was wide and her eyes glittered affectionately.
The gift he received on his 13th birthday was his first real taste of warmth, in friendship and in love.