Chapter 10

Severus was in the hospital wing checking the potion supplies when Poppy came in and announced.

"Oh how time flies so fast, one minute he's coughing up a Snitch and the next minute he's 18!"

Snape turned to the healer and asked what she was on about.

"Severus Snape, how could you not know? I thought after spending so much time with Mr. Potter you would know when it was his birthday!"

Snape looked at the woman while she scolded him with her hands on her hips.

"Well Severus, you better do something special for the boy. Between you and me, in his last session he was hoping to spend some time with you." She scoffed and walked away.

"Well shit." Snape cursed.

Harry woke up to multiple parcels and letters on his bed. Today was his big 18th birthday. Though in the world of magic 17 was the age of legality, 18 was when one becomes a big boy in the world of muggles. Harry went through his presents and letters. Predictably, his present from Hermione was a book but she did get him something he didn't expect. In his recent letters to her, he expressed how he wanted to grow out his hair but didn't know how to style it so in response she gave him a book called "500 ways to wear your hair" which to his delight, also included female hair do's. Ron gave him another broom cleaning kit which was always useful. Mrs Weasley, some home-made goods.

George's gift stood out with his latest product. "The tiniest mirror of Desire: Look into the compact mirror and see what your heart wants the most." According to the letter, the twin had done their research on The Mirror of Erised and made their own version without the negative side effects.

Harry looked at the little product and it was in a red leather case that fitted in the palm of his hand. It opened like a book and on the inside was a mirror on the top half and on the bottom was an engraved message saying, "When in doubt, look deeper for a clearer path." This was George's first product he had made without Fred and it hurt. Without a doubt, George will be seeing Fred in his mirror.

Harry investigated his Mirror of Desire. At first it was his own reflection but just like the original it was based off, it begun to change. Harry's reflection was still there but this time long hair replaced his own, slender shoulders, hairless arms and legs, no stubble and a soft round face. Though in reality the mirror didn't change the image of Harry too much, without a doubt that was female Harry in the reflection. She was beautiful, happy and free. She smiled, laughed and had so much life and love in her eyes. Harry smiled back at her. It hurt so much to see what he should have been.

Harry closed the mirror and decided to spend some quality time with his dress. He spelled his body hair away, grew his hair out with his favourite spell and dressed himself. He looked into a regular mirror and saw himself closely resembling his previous reflection, but this time felt a pain in his chest. Instead of smiling and twirling like he had previously, he broke down and cried.

"It's not fair!" Harry cried.

Later in the day, Snape finally thought of the perfect gift for the boy who he has noticed from previous evenings, how the boy spent extra time on his hands and nails after cleaning the dungeons as well as spelling his hair with protective charms. The boy cared about his appearance and his health which made getting him a gift almost too easy for the potions master.

He spelled the gifts to be wrapped up in brown paper and topped with a green bow.

A few minutes later an 18-year-old man walked through his doors wearing a smile but with little effort in Legilimency, saw the boy was down. He guessed because his birthday was missing some people to celebrate it.

"Hey Professor, what would you like done today?" The boy asked and in return Snape stood with present at hand and walked towards the very surprised man.

"I heard it was your birthday. Consider this as a thank you for helping prepare the dungeons for a new school year." Snape said.

Harry smiled and took the gift.

"Professor, I don't know what to say, I honestly wasn't expecting this…Thank you."

Snape motioned the boy to follow him to his desk where a small chocolate cake lay for the boy as well as other desserts. Harry sat with Professor Snape and opened his gift. A small crate with various creams, lotions, oils and potions sat there. Harry grabbed one of the phials and read that it was for skin rejuvenation and another was a lotion for hands.

"Since you've been working hard, I wanted to repay you by repairing any damage done to your skin, hair and nails. Some of the chemicals you used were harsh."

Snape showed no expression while Harry who had just recovered from this morning was on the verge of tears. Harry smiled with watering eyes.

"Thank you, it's exactly what I wanted sir."

Harry couldn't help himself. He put his gifts down onto the desk, stood and put his arms around Professor Snape. It was the first time he hugged him since Snape was discharged from the hospital. Harry felt warm and complete while hugging the older man. There was no way Snape could know what Harry was feeling or going through but he still managed to know just what to give him to help him, even if it was for a different reason. Snape looked down at the boy and decided that it is his birthday and some affection can be tolerated. After all, he did not only save the world but clean his classroom.

Snape returned the hug and held the young man. Harry did stop crying and when he did let go of his professor, he shuffled his char next to the man and the spent the rest of the evening eating sweets with Snape occasionally leaning on the older man for comfort and company.