Taking the small dark blue packet from my robes, I ran it over my palms. It was quite small, but rather heavy and as I pulled at the packet, a small silver box fell into my lap. It was circular and my fingers danced across its shiny surface. Wrapped around the box was a small envelope and opening it, I took a small piece of parchment from inside.

Lena,

Happy Birthday! You're a woman now and I'm wondering if you're worried at all, or have even contemplated that today signifies the beginning of everything. If Sirius has is his way you'll be with the Order by tonight, yet I highly doubt Molly would agree.

I find myself wondering about you often, hoping you're okay, that you're happy. God Lena, please tell me you're happy. I still wish things were different; that you were a few years older, and I a few years younger. I know it may be strange hearing a grown man talk to you this way, and I hope it won't change our relationship, but for some reason I can't stop thinking of you; night and day.

I hope you like the gift, it's nothing much but I wanted you to have it,

Stay safe

Remus.

My eyes read over his words several more times as the wind whipped my curls up around my face. Sometimes, when I was led upstairs in my dorm, dreading the day ahead and the fact that id barely see Severus, hoping above all else that no one would notice the little looks, the little smiles, I wondered what it would be like if Severus had never shown up that day at Grimmauld place. Would I have ever found him as I had now? Would Remus have caught me first and would I be hiding my relationship from my father still? Would it have been any easier if it had been Remus?

He was the same age as Severus, yes, but he wasn't my professor and unlike Severus, everyone loved Remus and respected him. Would it be easier for Dad to accept my relationship with his best friend, the man he trusted above all else, or the man he loathed the most?

And then when I'm with Severus, it's as if Remus didn't even exist. Like I'd never looked into those pale eyes and felt the warmth of his lips against mine, enjoying it even. Severus was my here and now, it was much easier to have a relationship with him here in the castle than it was with Remus down in London, it was hard enough sending letters now, what if we were together and there was no Severus? Would I be happily awaiting tonight for Remus?

I sighed and taking the small silver trinket in my palms I slid my fingers around the lid, pushing it up slowly. As the lid lifted a little shelf floated upwards, a tiny miniature brown wolf howled up at the large moon shaped mirror on the inside of the lid. I ran my forefinger over the wolves back and it moved, pushing its head against my touch. I laughed softly and chased the wolf around the inside of the box with my finger, watching briefly as the giant squid propelled itself the length of the lake with one huge ink splash. Oh Remus.

A stick crunched behind me and I quickly moved the trinket inside my cloak, watching as a tall figure stood out from the darkness. "Happy Birthday." Severus took me in his arms and I reached up to kiss him softly, "Thank you for everything, it's been perfect." My hands cupped his face and I lay gentle little butterfly kisses over his cheeks. "I take it you've had a good day so far." I nodded up at him and he squeezed me tightly. "Tonight?" I looked up into his eyes and seeing something different there I nodded slowly. "Severus, are you okay?" He took my hand and led me down to the water's edge, "I thought I'd be nervous by now but I think I'm happy, I want you to be happy, I think I might actually be excited." I squeezed his hand tightly and felt his fingers twisting around my wrist, he pulled me into him and pulled my wrist up between us, his palm lifting mine until my arm was at eye level. Hanging loosely around my wrist was a silver bracelet. It shone brightly in the light and catching it between my fingers I looked up at Sev, "It's beautiful, thank you," I pressed a kiss to his lips happily, a smile on my mouth, and looked down at my wrist. A silver chain was wrapped around my skinny wrist, hanging from it as if it were a stem were tiny little peony heads, each one a different shape, some were only buds but others had bloomed to their full beauty, the soft silver petals brushing my skin as it slid around my arm. "And you said you didn't want presents." He laughed down at me and I smirked up at him, "I really can't turn down jewellery can I, everyone knows that." "My little Magpie," his tone was soft and I took his mouth in mine.

"I don't know when I'll be back tonight; do you still want me to come straight downstairs?" I looked up into his eyes nervously and he smiled down at me, nodding his head. I smiled up at him, "I really should go, I have Transfiguration homework to do." "You could come downstairs, no one's around. Maybe I could help you." I took his hand and squeezed, no better way to spend my birthday morning that doing homework with Severus by my side, and seeming as it was his fault I hadn't done it before as he kept dragging me down to those dungeons of his, it seemed only fair he sit and wait while I finished it.

We walked up to the castle quietly, talking about the potions essay he'd set, which both the twins were worrying themselves over. Umbridge continued to threaten them with detention and they couldn't bare the idea of detention with Sev as-well, and to be completely honest, time he spent with the twins in detention was time I'd be forced to spend without him.