Disclaimer: Of course, I do not own Harry Potter. As far as I know, I have not copied anyone else's story. The phone number in the invitation is the real number for The British Museum.
Birthday Celebrations!
Rose & Tansy's 8th Birthday!
You are invited!
Dear _ Sev _
When: Saturday 21 June 1969
Where: 10 River Street Cokeworth
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Rsvp: 14th June to Mrs Hyacinth Evans 020 7323 8000
Before Severus knew it June had come to Cokeworth and he had received yet another invitation to a birthday party!
Severus had no idea what to do with his sudden and unexpected popularity, but at least he knew a little about what to expect and he already had the gifts to give to the twins, having wrapped them all and written out cards after his mother had brought the four diaries.
The party again started with happy screaming and Severus was once again engulfed in a group hug with Lily, Rose and Tansy. Rolling her eyes at their antics, Petunia shook Severus' hand firmly and pulled him into the house.
The sitting room was decorated in much the same way as last time with balloons and streamers, the coffee table once again had a bowl of fruit punch and snacks sitting on it, and a fold-away table had been again positioned underneath a Happy Birthday! banner, with presents placed on top of it.
Being surrounded by children a year younger than himself seemed to somehow create even more noise than last time. So far he hadn't barricaded himself in the corner yet but it was a very close call. His curiosity was the only thing stopping him from completely separating from the little horrors. He simply had to know what was going on. As soon as the children arrived at the Evans' house they all wished Rose a happy birthday, for the previous day.
'Come along children it's time to play pin the tail on the donkey.' Mrs Evans called across the room, Severus looked up in alarm, not quite believing what he had just heard. Did Muggles go around torturing animals?
However, he was relieved when Mrs Evans brought out a felt donkey and a separated tail that looked like it had Velcro at the top of it. Each of them took turns to pin the tail and when it was his turn Severus felt very uneasy having his eyes covered with a blindfold and being spun around.
After the other children stopped spinning him, Severus was still feeling quite dizzy and was very unhappy about losing one of his senses especially since it was the one he used the most to avoid an attack, thankfully he managed to stumble in the general direction of the felt donkey and attached the tail anywhere to end his turn.
Petunia who was quite like himself, as much as he hated to admit it, didn't look like she enjoyed being spun around and having her eyes covered either when it was her turn. Although Lily, Rose and Tansy all seemed to love the activity, with Tansy managing to get the tail in the correct spot on the donkey.
'Time for party food!' Mrs Evans called
Not wanting to miss out on the delicious food Severus scampered forward collecting a bowl of crisps, a cup of trifle and a biscuit. Seating himself on the floor with the girls, Severus happily munched on his food.
'Time for the cake' Mrs Evans called across the room after everyone had eaten some snacks. Mr Evans left the room and went to the kitchen to receive the cake while Mrs Evans turned off the lights.
The cake that was brought into the sitting room by Mr Evans was very different to Lily's. It had three layers, a chocolate brown bottom layer, a strawberry middle layer and a white vanilla layer on the top. It looked a little like the Neapolitan ice cream that the Evans' had let him and the girls have on special occasions.
'Thank you, Daddy' the twins called out
'Happy birthday Rose petal. Happy birthday, Firecracker, ' Mr Evans said, smiling indulgently at the girls as he sat the cake down on the coffee table and everyone sang happy birthday to the twins.
'Go on and make a wish' Mrs Evans encouraged.
The twins closed their eyes together and blew out all the candles in one go. During the round of applause they received, Mr Evans cut the cake into slices and handed them out for everyone to enjoy while Mrs Evans handed out cups of juice. Severus thought the cake was the perfect blend of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry although he noticed with some amusement that Tansy meticulously separated the chocolate layer from the cake and only ate that one layer.
Watching the twins unwrap their presents Severus noticed they had very different techniques towards unwrapping. Rose was precise and methodical with the way she unwrapped her presents much like Severus himself was. In contrast, Tansy was a lot like Lily, very happily ripping the paper apart to get to the goodies inside.
Rose's presents consisted of a lovely necklace from her parents, the gold diary that Severus had gotten her, a very warm-looking blanket with fairies fluttering in a field of flowers from her sisters, various books, dolls and plushies, a make-it-yourself knitting set, cards and a game called connect 4.
Tansy's presents consisted of a lovely necklace from her parents, the purple diary that Severus had gotten her, a very warm-looking blanket with a black and white dragon entwined into the shape of a heart on a black starry background from her sisters, various books, a Dragon Plushie. Severus once again winced when an obnoxious orange box holding a space hopper was revealed once again.
Severus grimaced when Petunia explained the rules of the next game. Tag involved all the things Severus didn't like, being chased down by other children, having to place his hands on some stranger, other children getting their grubby hands on him, it definitely wasn't a game he would enjoy.
So while the other children ran off in glee, Severus looked around hopefully for any other alternative. He spotted Petunia sitting off to one side with her nose buried in a book. Not wanting to join the game, Severus silently sat beside Petunia keeping her company. There had been one thing about the whole day that had been bugging Severus, finally not being surrounded by others, Severus could perhaps inquire about it from Petunia.
'Petunia?' Severus asked softly not wanting to anger her, considering he knew how much he detested being interrupted while he was reading.
Severus curled in on himself when he saw Petunia's lips tighten in anger, he knew she was unlikely to hit him but just in case Severus made sure to keep out of arm's reach.
'Yes?' Petunia asked peevishly
'Why was everyone wishing Rose a happy birthday for yesterday?' Severus asked
'Well, I suppose you wouldn't know.' Petunia said thoughtfully, finally looking at Severus like he had become someone worthy to associate with rather than the look she gave him when they first met which was of him being a bug she wanted to squash. 'Rose was born on the 20th of June at 11:55 pm and Tansy was born at 12:05 am on the 21st technically the day after Rose. The girls have shared birthdays since they were born but Mother said that when their older they may want to celebrate their birthdays separately.
'Thank you, Petunia, I don't enjoy not knowing something' Severus admitted
Petunia's lip quirked up in a small smile. 'I guess we were bound to have something in common eventually.' Petunia smirked at Severus. 'Although, I'm pretty sure I have a much better chance of staying out of the game than you do.'
Severus looked at her questionably 'What do you …'
'SEV!' Lily yelled 'COME AND PLAY!'
'Maybe if you stood up for yourself with Lily, she wouldn't walk all over you.' Petunia giggled beside him as he stood up and brushed off his clothes.
After a tiring hour of tag amongst the children, the party was slowly coming to a close and soon the children were making their way home with their parents when they arrived. The end of the party couldn't come quick enough for Petunia and Severus as they looked at one another with a sardonic smirk as they collapsed onto the couch in the living room.
'I'm pretty sure I owe you an apology, Severus, I really thought the twins at least would have driven you away by now, but I can see that you are more than just a fair-weather friend.' Petunia commented.
Not sure how to take a compliment, Severus shrugged his shoulders and shuffled around on the couch. 'Why would the twins have driven me away? They are adorable, if somewhat exuberant.' Severus said, eyeing the two girls as they turned the radio on and bounced around the room to the soft music.
'I think the word you're looking for is uncivilised.' Petunia quipped. Severus looked at her in shock, he had no idea Petunia was even capable of joking. Petunia rolled her eyes. 'Don't look so scandalised Sev, I love my sisters but even you have to admit they can be a bit uncivilised.'
'And do you believe that all eight-year-olds should be the epitome of decorum?' Severus asked sardonically
'Oh but of course.' Petunia ginned 'When I was eight I was the very definition of immaculate and I'm sure you were as well.' Seeing Petunia relaxed and in a wonderful mood was quite a remarkable experience.
Still treading carefully, Severus decided to play along. 'I was so pristine at the age of eight that my mother would often remark that I was as white as freshly fallen snow.'
Petunia snorted in amusement and Severus congratulated himself on having successfully traversed dangerous waters considering he knew how hostile Petunia had been when they had first met.
'SEV!' Lily squealed excitedly, bouncing across the room and throwing herself across his and Petunia's laps.
'Oof' Petunia huffed. 'Lily Jade Evans! What on earth do you think you're doing, throwing yourself onto our guests! Have you no manners at all?'
'Pfft. Sev is our friend and has clearly accepted us, warts and all!' Lily scoffed at Petunia
'Did you have any particular reason for encroaching upon our persons?' Petunia asked sardonically.
'Of course, I did. I came over to ask Sev if he wanted to stay for dinner.' Lily angled her head to look at him from where she was laying on Petunia's lap. 'You'll stay for dinner won't you Sev?' Lily begged, her green eyes shimmering. Severus simply couldn't resist Lily's earnest glistening eyes.
'Are you sure it is alright with your parents if I stay for dinner? I would hate to impose.' Severus asked having no idea when Lily had asked her parents' permission
'Oh, right I knew I forgot something … MUM!' Lily bellowed out the last word after turning her head towards the sitting room door
'Yes, sweetheart?' Mrs Evans spoke as she appeared in the doorway a smile upon her lips
'You don't mind if Sev stays for dinner right?' again her green eyes sparkled as she begged her mother. Severus thought that Lily practised that particular skill while looking in a mirror, it certainly worked effectively on him.
Mrs Evans however just rolled her eyes at her daughter's antics. 'Of course, dear Severus can stay for dinner. It might be a lovely change to consume a meal with another person who actually has manners.'
'Hey! So unfair!' Lily complained. Not enjoying seeing Lily upset, Severus gingerly patted her on the shin, he was rewarded for his efforts with a big grin from Lily.
'It's nothing really extravagant for dinners around here. I'm just making roast pork with some veggies and apple sauce.'
Hearing the delectable meal Mrs Evans was going to prepare made Severus' mouth water, it certainly sounded extravagant to Severus' ears, for he was only used to eating a variety of vegetable dishes and soups that he could cook using one dish. With only the very rare occasions where he could add a cheap cut of meat to the meal.
'That sounds really wonderful Mrs Evans.' Severus said honestly not having really eaten pork before
'Thank you, dear.' Mrs Evans smiled brightly as she walked back out of the room leaving Severus and the girls under the watchful eye of Mr Evans.
'Lily bug, do you think it might be time to remove yourself from Severus and your sister?' Mr Evans asked with an amused tone of voice.
Lily rolled her eyes at her father and sighed dramatically. 'Must I father?'
'Yes, you must' Mr Evans replied
Lily capitulated slowly but only so far as removing herself from their laps that didn't stop her from wedging herself in the middle so that she sat snuggled up next to Severus and Petunia.
Severus saw Mr Evans huff in amusement and felt the tension release from his shoulders as he was able to relax when Mr Evans made no move to reprimand his daughter harshly.
'Since you girls seem to have plenty of extra energy, perhaps you could help out your mother by tidying up the sitting room?' Mr Evans asked, gesturing around the room they were in which now posed several dirty cups and plates.
'Alright.' Petunia said getting up from one of the couches, 'come on girls if we all grab a few cups and plates each we'll be done in no time at all.'
After the girls collected as much as they could carry Severus saw that there were a few plates left, feeling guilty that he wasn't helping to clean the mess that he partly helped create Severus hopped up from the couch and collected the last of the plates and followed the girls to the kitchen and coping the girls as they threw away the dishes.
Heading back to the sitting room Severus helped the girls give it a general tidy-up. They removed the wrapping paper that had adorned the presents, all of a sudden there was a loud BANG! Jumping in fright Severus looked around to find Lily gleefully placing the remains of her popped balloon onto the coffee table, quickly seizing another and hugging it to her front. Every time after that when one of the girls happily popped one of the balloons Severus found himself wincing in agony at the sound.
When the last balloon had been popped the girls must have seen how distressed he was because the girls all converged towards him and threw their arms around him in a big group hug.
'Girls! Severus! Time to wash up for dinner!' Mrs Evans called
'Alright, mum,' Petunia called, extracting herself from the group hug. 'Come on Sev, We'll show you where the downstairs bathroom is.'
With Petunia leading the way, Severus followed the girls back down the hallway and walked into a room to the left of the kitchen. The Evans' bathroom was a vast improvement over the one he had at home. Cream-coloured diamond-shaped tiles were covering the bathroom walls, with none of them looking like they were cracked or even broken.
Severus waited until the girls all washed their hands then washed his own, walking back out into the kitchen Severus saw the girls grabbing out plates, napkins, cups and cutlery and setting them on the table.
'Is there anything that I can help with Mrs Evans' Severus asked
'Thank you, dear. If you could take the pitcher of lemonade to the table that would be a great help.' Mrs Evans suggested gesturing to an icy cold jug.
Terrified that he would drop it, Severus held on to the jug with two hands as he transported it from the breakfast bar, only relaxing after he had set it down safely on the table.
'Petunia sweetheart, we'll need another seat at the table, could you go and get one of the picnic chairs from the garage?'
'Alright, mum.' Petunia agreed, walking back through the kitchen and through a door that was in line with the countertop, she came out a few moments later carrying an aluminium chair that had tan striped webbing in a criss-cross pattern and white plastic armrests placing it at the round kitchen table.
'Thank you for indulging me with your hospitality and making space for me at your table Mrs Evans.' Severus said in gratitude.
'Don't you worry dear, it's more than alright,' Mrs Evans cooed.
As Severus blushed in embarrassment he could see Petunia behind her mother rolling her eyes and sticking her finger close to her mouth and proceeding to pretend she was throwing up, only putting her hands down by her sides when her mother turned to look at her.
'Why don't you all have a seat at the table?' Mrs Evans suggested to Severus and the girls. She then slightly raised her voice to call for her husband. 'Richard darling! Would you mind serving up the pork, please?' Mrs Evans then walked over and pulled out a pan that had the most delicious-looking roasted pork inside it, she then retrieved a second pan from the oven that held all of the roasted vegetables.
Severus's mouth watered as he took in the amazing-looking dinner Mrs Evans had made. The crackling on the pork crunched underneath the carving knife as Mr Evans served up portions for everyone's dinner, once Mr Evans had placed a piece of pork onto someone's plate Mrs Evans dished up the roasted vegetables onto the plate and brought it over to Severus and the girls who were waiting eagerly for their dinner.
'Thank you, Mr and Mrs Evans.' Severus said gratefully. Not sure what to do Severus waited until Lily had received her dinner and seeing her digging into her dinner as soon as she received it, Severus decided to dig in as well. The crackling was divine with its salty crunchy texture. From the moment that Severus took his first bite, he felt such a euphoria of emotions flooding through him from the wondrous meal that he felt the overwhelming need to close his eyes in bliss.
Severus heard a melodious feminine giggle and snapped his eyes back open to see Tansy beaming at him from his right covering her mouth with her hand trying in vain to hide her mirth.
'I'll take your enthusiasm as a compliment.' Cooed Mrs Evans from his left.
Severus practically snapped his neck when he turned suddenly to look at Mrs Evans and felt his cheeks blaze red with embarrassment when she smiled down at him lovingly.
'This really is the most lavish meal that I've ever experienced, Mrs Evans.' Severus said enthusiastically, wiping his mouth with a napkin. 'How did you manage to get the crackling so crunchy?' Severus' curiosity was piqued and he thought that if he ever managed to have pork at home it would be better if he knew how to cook it.
'The trick is to score the pork rind into a diamond pattern, not too deeply mind you, then you rub salt all over the skin making sure it's evenly coated. After that, you cook the meat skin side up at 150 degrees for about 2 hours and then at 180c for the last 20 to 30 minutes. That should get you a pretty good pork crackle.'
'How much salt do you rub onto the pork rind, Mrs Evans?' Severus asked curiously, having been taught by his mother that adding too much of one ingredient into a potion would ruin it.
'I find that I only need to use a palm full of salt for the whole pork rind.' Mrs Evans said
'Are you thinking of asking your mother to make it?' Petunia asked
Severus was confused, his mother hadn't cooked meals since Severus himself was old enough to reach the stovetop. That was when she gave him a cookbook that held a variety of vegetable soup dishes since they were the closest thing to making potions.
'My mother doesn't cook dinner, she doesn't get home from work until about nine pm.' Severus didn't realise he had said something worrying until he saw the look of concern passing between Mr and Mrs Evans. Quickly swallowing the last of his meal Severus tried to backpedal.
'That's not what I meant! There are loads of leftovers in the fridge and freezer for me, it's not like I'm not eating or anything.' Wiping his mouth Severus practically jumped out of his chair.
'Thank you for having me Mr and Mrs Evans I really have to get going now!' Severus bolted out down the corridor out through the front door and sprinted all the way home.