Time flew and before Harry knew it, his birthday was upon them. Instead of being alone and miserable at midnight waiting for owled packages and forlorn letters, Harry got put to bed early, with a single chaste kiss from Severus. He was looking forward to tomorrow's promised celebration, a real birthday party for both him and Neville; he didn't even mind sharing, he was so happy to have anything to share. He'd managed to buy a present for Neville, even restricted to the house as he was, by bribing the twins with blowjobs and Snape's threats that they not bring anything back that would explode, spit noxious substances, or otherwise prove unpleasant.

Harry awoke what felt like seconds after his head hit the pillow, and he imagined he could still feel that elusive touch of Snape's lips on his, a liberty that meant more to Harry than all the gifts in the world. Sun was streaming in through the windows since one of the industrious house elves had pulled up the shades and laid out their choice of clothing for him, his most formal robes. Harry shook his head and got up, carefully putting the robes away and pulling out the jeans that best flattered his arse, and his "Co-Ed Naked Quidditch" t-shirt. Regardless of any unfortunate catering choices the elves might be making even now, this party was just a gathering of friends, and Harry wanted to avoid as much formality as possible.

Fortunately no one had arrived quite this early, and the kitchen was deserted when Harry wandered down, though there was evidence that Snape had already broken his fast in the form of a single dirty teacup and a few crumbs on the saucer. Harry, too, kept himself to a simple meal of tea, toast and marmalade, knowing that there would be a great deal of food later and he'd want to have room to at least try it all.

The Floo sounded upstairs with a faint whoosh just as Harry was contemplating stealing a bit of bacon for Hedwig to go with his crusts, knowing she was missing out on her usual birthday treats, since everyone was coming here. Harry stuffed a handful of things he knew she liked into a napkin and headed upstairs, smiling hopefully.

Harry tried not to be disappointed when Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall greeted him with smiles and wrapped bundles, which Dobby spirited away for later opening, taking Hedwig's treats upstairs as well.

"Are you looking forward to your party, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling merrily as though the event had been entirely his doing, rather than merely requiring his permission.

"Very much so, sir," said Harry, peering at the clock. "Everyone ought to begin arriving in time for lunch, and Se- Professor Snape's already had breakfast and gone into hiding."

McGonagall's gaze went sharp, and much to Harry's surprise she drew another bundle from her robes, this one wrapped in plain white cloth. "It appears it is past time we gave these to you, Harry," she said tartly, unfolding the cloth to reveal his forgotten glasses. "We have inspected them thoroughly for tampering, but they seem to be perfectly safe."

"Go ahead, try them on," said Dumbledore encouragingly, when Harry hesitated.

Harry couldn't explain why this was nearly as momentous as receiving his vault key in a way, that not only had he been allowed to choose and purchase brand new spectacles for himself, but they were being handed to him on his birthday. He reached out and picked them up, slipping his old ones off and into a pocket -- you never knew when a backup pair would be useful, though his last ones were long since smashed to shards. "Thank you, Professor," he said automatically, with the politeness drilled into him through his regular etiquette lessons.

He slipped them on his face, eyes closed, and tried not to flinch when they wriggled just a bit. He opened his eyes and felt another wriggle, and a moment of disorientation as the charmed lenses adjusted themselves to his current prescription, and suddenly the world was clear. A glance at the clock revealed that the face was, in fact, quite easy to read from this distance, and he had to swallow against a momentary tightness as he realized just how much he'd been missing.

"They are quite flattering, don't you think so, Minerva?" said Dumbledore, breaking the spell and drawing Harry away from the deprivations of his past to the demands of his present role as host and birthday boy.

"Much better than the old ones, though I see you're wise enough not to throw them away just yet," said McGonagall, and it seemed as though she might say more.

She was interrupted by the Floo activating behind them, the fireplace disgorging the familiar and slightly sooty forms of Fred and George, several enormous packages in hand and equally wicked grins on each of their faces. "Our Harry's all grown up now!" said George, setting his burdens on a nearby chair, from which they made their own way to the "gift" table and sorted themselves by recipient.

"A man at last!" said Fred with equal drama, his own bag held rather tightly to his chest, making Harry wonder just what they didn't want the Professors to see.

Harry was engulfed in a hug that hid several interesting gropes, and he couldn't help but laugh with joy at such an absurd welcome into official adulthood. "Yes, now I can do magic just like I could yesterday, sit for my Apparition license if I were allowed to leave the house, and continue to sit through summer school instead."

Whatever lewd reply they were going to come up with -- and Harry was sure it would have been embarrassing -- was forestalled when Snape cleared his throat from the doorway. "Perhaps we ought to get you two settled in so Harry can continue to greet his guests in peace?" he said dryly, eyes straying significantly to Fred's hand on Harry's arse.

"Yes, Professor," they replied in singsong unison, marching out after him to hide away whatever embarrassing treat they'd brought for Harry's birthday night.

People arrived in a steady stream after that, Neville next with eyes that lit up to see that the gifts on the table were equally divided between himself and Harry, once his own poorly-wrapped parcel joined the garish packages on Harry's side. Harry got compliments on his new glasses from nearly everyone, and hugs as well from Hermione, shy Neville, and all the varied Weasleys including Molly, though Arthur settled for a manly handshake and back slap, to Harry's great relief. Only Charlie and Percy were absent from that family, the former attending to a delicate hatching and the latter being, well, Percy, though Harry had insisted on sending him an invitation just like everyone else.

Tonks, Remus, Fleur, and a few other Order members showed up as well, plus Flitwick and Hagrid, making the house seem very crowded before people sorted themselves into the various rooms, with the Hogwarts staff in the library with most of the Order, and the younger group hanging out in the parlour next to the snacks. The sideboard cleared itself precisely at noon, and a buffet lunch appeared in its place, with every imaginable form of finger food. Everyone ate, mingled, and ate more until nearly two o'clock, when a chime sounded and a rather impressive cake appeared.

Harry blushed bright red when he saw it, a towering confection of white icing that looked suspiciously like a wedding cake to him, especially as it had a topper that said, "Happy Birthday" and then, along the bottom in shimmering rainbow icing, "Harry and Neville." The colours crawled over their names in a manner that was slightly nauseating, and Harry was glad when Neville snatched up the knife.

"Let's go ahead and cut this, shall we?" said Neville, a note to his voice saying the he, too, hadn't missed the resemblance.

Harry nodded, laughing when Neville chopped right through their names and began handing out cake, then worked his way up, discovering that each of the four layers was a different flavour. "I'll take chocolate with raspberry," said Harry, snagging one of the plates without the magical colour-change icing. "Can I save you a piece of something?"

Neville, still busily cutting slices though nearly everyone had got one already, blinked and laughed ruefully. "I'll just take the banana cream," he said, slapping the piece he'd just cut onto a small plate and grinning ruefully.

He was just about to get a bite into his mouth when George said loudly, "Time for presents, then?"

"Birthday boys need birthday toys," Fred agreed, shuffling them off to the wingback chairs that had been situated on either side of the overloaded table.

Harry and Neville exchanged glances, then both ate a big bite of their cake rather defiantly, getting a laugh from the audience. Butterbeer appeared at both their elbows, and Harry took a swig while Neville got in another bite. "Cake and presents," he said with a grin, setting his plate aside and letting Fred hand him the first gaily wrapped package.

This one was, confusingly, from Neville and Hagrid both, and as soon as Harry touched it, the charmed wrapping exploded in a shower of coloured sparks to reveal a spindly, delicate-seeming plant. "It's a Danger Daisy," said Neville, pointing to identifying features that Harry was sure he was supposed to have learned in Herbology.

"But wait," Harry said, watching a bead of dew form in the cup of one odd little white thorn. "Don't they have to have a Dewvole to tend them?" The odd little creatures lived in a cage formed by the daisy's roots, and drank the dew as it formed, before it could run down the stem and poison the plant with its own fluids.

"Thas' mah part," said Hagrid, beaming proudly, and true to form the tiny creature scampered up the stem and slurped up the gleaming droplet just as it was about to fall. It wiggled its nose in Harry's direction, then dove back into the dirt as if it were water, waiting for another drop to form. The Dewvole would fertilize the Danger Daisy, leaving the precious blossoms free to be harvested for a number of protective and curative potions.

"Professor Sprout let me raise a few cuttings from the school's plant when Hagrid rescued a whole clutch of Dewvole kits from Fang, and they let me keep two," said Neville shyly, as though he didn't know how his gift was going over.

Harry grinned; he'd been so caught up in trying to remember the facts about the plant he'd forgotten why it was really precious to him, because two of his friends had given it to him. "It's perfect, Neville. You'll show me how to care for it?"

Neville nodded eagerly, and it made Harry wish he'd had the time and freedom to do something so personal. "It doesn't need much, since it's got a Dewvole," he said, beaming.

"An' th' vole don't need much but a few bits o' bread an' meat of a day, an' Horton'll eat a bit o' sugar out o' yer fingers." said Hagrid, grinning from ear to ear.

"Aren't their tongues poisonous?" Hermione asked, a bit sharply.

Hagrid shrugged. "Oh, aye, but it's no' big thing. Won' kill yeh or nothin'."

Harry laughed and shook his head, vowing not to try hand-feeding the creature without protective gloves. He set the plant aside, then looked at Neville expectantly. Neville had Harry's gift in his lap, some sort of hanging house plant wrapped in cellophane. He carefully removed the outer wrapping and plucked the labelled stake out of the dirt, grinning as he said, "It's a... a Lipstick plant."

"It's Muggle," said Fred with a wink to Harry.

"Got very interesting blossoms," said George, not even trying to look innocent.

Harry flushed. "I couldn't get out, so I asked the twins to pick something for you. D'you like it?"

"It's brilliant!" said Neville happily, hanging it in the air beside him with the charmed plant hook the twins had affixed to the green plastic pot. "I don't have a lot of Muggle plants, so this will be great." He leaned in and showed Harry the photo on the card, of a deep red trumpet-like blossom with a brighter red shape protruding from the centre, and Harry felt his cheeks heat as he realized what it looked like. "I'll hang it where Grandmother won't see, though," he said conspiratorially, obviously pleased to have got a naughty Muggle flower.

Harry grinned back, though he was nearly squirming with embarrassment. "I'm glad you like it," he said sincerely, reaching for the next gift to cover his discomfiture.

Neville read the care instructions on the back of the little card, oblivious to everything while he was learning about a brand new plant, so Harry let himself relax as he tore away the wrapping on the twins' gift. His cheeks flamed right back up again when the garish paper peeled back to reveal a giant drawing of a penis, with sparks shooting obscenely out of the end.

"It's our new line!" said Fred, while Harry tried in vain to cover the huge prick.

"You pull the balls and the prick shoots fireworks," said George, pointing to the writing on the box.

"Then the fireworks do naughty things as well," Fred added, looking utterly smug at Harry's mortification.

Neville looked at his own present from the twins, a nearly identical box, and laughed. "I suppose mine's the same?" he asked, reaching for it.

Fred and George shook their heads, identical grins on their faces. "Yours," said George, leaning in to point at the tiny fireworks animating obscenely around the sides of the box, "do different things."

And indeed they did -- upon closer inspection, Harry's box showed images of sparkling cocks plunging into flaming arses or mouths, or spurting off on their own; Neville's also had jiggling breasts and other things Harry chose not to look too closely at, presumably the sort of things that girls had that other boys wanted. Neville was red and giggling and obviously delighted, and he and Harry both hid the garish, naughty things under the table despite the twins' protests.

Things went a bit more smoothly after that, with Flitwick providing them both with identically charmed tea sets which would conjure a light tea for two at precisely four o'clock each day, so they'd never be without. Ron got them both the largest size of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, and a gender-appropriate issue of Swish & Flick that also got shoved underneath the table, though not before Harry noticed that his had a Quidditch theme, whereas Neville's seemed to feature the great outdoors. Bill and Fleur gave a packet of Egyptian seeds to Neville, while Harry got a card promising a future tour of the Cursebreaking department at Gringott's.

Hermione gave them books, of course, Air Ferns and Other Impossible Plants by Natalia Nequeo for Neville, and Romancing the Cauldron: Potions Ingredients and Their Meanings by Phylydia Phial for Harry, which got her a grateful look. Ginny was next, with a subscription to Quidditch Quarterly for Harry, and a starter flower box kit for Neville that was, she said, because everyone needs something that doesn't do anything useful. Harry didn't miss the glances she sent his way, and suddenly his desire not to let everyone know he was gay was being slightly squelched by his desire not to have Ginny's crush return in full force.

Although McGonagall gave them both quite serviceable journals charmed against spillage or dirt, Dumbledore's presents seemed extravagant, though of course Harry had no real idea how much things cost, when it came right down to it. Harry opened his first, the red velvet box revealing a gold pocket watch that told a number of things, none of which seemed to be the time. Neville's present, in a huge box wrapped in ivy-patterned paper, turned out to be a Pensieve much like Dumbledore's, though a bit smaller and with an abstract design of twined vines carved around the base.

"Though the gifts are perhaps more than I ought," said Dumbledore, as they both turned wondering faces to him, "Neither of you has someone in your life to bestow the sorts of things which are traditionally bestowed upon reaching one's majority. I hope you forgive the presumption."

"It's wonderful, Professor," said Neville, staring into the stone bowl, empty and dark with no memories to fill it yet. "Thank you."

"Yes," said Harry, cradling the watch in his hands and watching the mysterious dials move and turn, "I just know it'll come in handy."

Any other gifts might have seemed anticlimactic after that, but just then the Fanged Geranium Hagrid had found in the Forest for Neville managed to fight its way out of its rough paper wrapping, much to the amusement of the whole crowd. Neville soothed its ruffled petals and set it well away from the Danger Daisy for both their sakes, and the mood was broken. Kingsley's gifts of chocolate frogs were the perfect follow up, one going to the geranium, and one hopping into the daisy's pot and giving Horton a treat that Hagrid assured them all was harmless.

Moody gave them both Build Your Own Dark Detector kits, which amusingly began to rumble slightly once Mundungus' suspiciously familiar presents were unwrapped, and immediately handed over to the Auror for examination and possible disposal. Tonks had obviously been shopping with the twins, as her gift was a Skiving Snackbox apiece, along with a packet each of Cheering Creams and Crying Creams, the twins' latest confection.

That left only Snape's gifts, which Harry had saved for sentiment and, he thought, Neville likely out of sheer terror. They both had a large bottle which proved to be Wit-Sharpening Solution, and Harry couldn't help but laugh and shake his head.

"You could both certainly use the assistance in that area," said Snape, just a hint of warmth mitigating the cruelty of his tone.

"Yes, Professor," said Harry teasingly, keeping Neville from having to answer while he unwrapped his next gift.

The simple green paper proved to be hiding a signed copy of Growing Plants for Potions: How Not to Cock It Up, which was actually a collection of journal articles co-written by Professor Sprout and Snape himself. Neville blushed and said, "Th-thank you, Professor, this will come in handy."

And then there was no more stalling, and Harry was opening the large green velvet box with the cheerful "From Professor Snape," tag undoubtedly added by the house elves. The lid was hinged and slanted, the front and top lifting away to reveal a beautiful sculpture. It took Harry a moment to realize that the nest of twining brass snakes was cradling several objects, a total of seven delicate crystal bottles. A card inside revealed the potion in each one, with a sarcastic note at the bottom that Harry ought not need the card, were he paying attention in his lessons. The list was half a dozen antidotes from the mundane to the extraordinarily rare, and an iridescent dose of Insight Infusion.

Harry smiled up at him gratefully, figuring he'd need not only all of the antidotes at one point or another, but all the insights he could get. Snape laid a hand on his shoulder and met his gaze with a warmth that spoke more than any words, and Harry swallowed back the urge to steal a second, far more public birthday kiss.

The moment slipped away when the cake vanished, only to be replaced by yet more delicate snacks, the house elves obviously determined to feed every single person there until they were full to bursting. Everyone's attention wandered to food and genial conversation, and Harry was left sitting with Neville, chatting about their various acquisitions and their plans for the future, or lack thereof.

It was nearly tea time when the Floo sounded one more time, and everyone turned, faces reflecting everything from disbelief to outright hostility when Percy Weasley emerged from the fireplace, not a single hair out of place. Harry handed Ron his plate, though he wasn't at all sure he ought to be giving Ron more ammunition, and stepped forward to greet Percy formally. "Percy, this is a pleasant surprise," he said, his face open and smiling, though he couldn't hide the shock when a glint of gold drew his eyes to Percy's left hand and the discreet ring on his smallest finger.

Percy went just a bit pink and his posture stiffened a little more, only to relax again when Harry lifted his gaze to Percy's face full of warmth and understanding. Percy swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and then said, "I couldn't refuse the invitation to wish you and L- Neville well on your natal day." Two small packages were thrust at Harry, and he took them awkwardly.

"Thank you," said Harry, and on impulse leaned up and brushed a soft kiss over one pink cheek. "I'm glad you're here," he said, right hand going to his left wrist, though he'd finally coaxed the snakes back into their box.

Neville came forward to sort his gift from Harry's and turn a brilliant smile on Percy, warm from the simple fact that Percy hadn't forgotten him despite the many other things obviously on his mind. "Thank you so much, Percy, I've never had so many presents before!" he said delightedly, unwrapping it right then and there to reveal a small box of Honeydukes finest.

Harry took a moment to see that his was the same, though a slightly different assortment, and he felt warmed that Percy had gone to the trouble to get them both something nice and even remembered that Neville liked the weird flower creams while Harry preferred the sweet, sticky caramels. "Will you stay for tea?" Harry said invitingly, sharply aware that he was flirting just a little, but a part of him eager to use the lessons he'd learned and grateful to see that the gentle formality was putting Percy at ease.

"Yes, I'd like that," said Percy, brushing a speck of imaginary dust off his robes to avoid the shocked faces of everyone around them.

Harry nearly hugged Snape when he glided forward and said, "Weasley. I hear you spearheaded last year's referendum on cauldron bottoms."

That broke the ice, and he and Percy were soon deeply embroiled in a discussion of the necessary thickness of pewter versus gold, which Harry felt safe to leave them to, especially once Neville retreated to the rather depleted sideboard for a fortifying petit four. He went over to where Ron and Ginny were muttering darkly and said pleadingly, "If you love me at all you won't start anything today. He's trying, isn't that a start?"

All the air seemed to go out of Ron at that, though Ginny still looked a bit mutinous until Fred and George came over and bracketed Harry. "Was he wearing what we think he was wearing?" said Fred, slinging an arm around Harry's waist. In his right ear glittered the single ruby Harry had given him, with George's on the right today as well; they often switched ears to give Harry wicked hints about their later plans, and Harry felt today was no exception.

"Yes, and on his left hand, too," said Harry, getting curious looks from Ron and Ginny, though Hermione wandered up with understanding in her eyes.

"I guess Penelope was no go for more than one reason," said George, and the light began to dawn in Ron's eyes -- Harry had filled him in a bit on the etiquette thing in his letters, and Hermione had of course read a book or six about it on her break.

"Wait," said Ginny, glancing from one to another, "What're you all on about?"

It was Bill who laid it out straight for them, wandering up to the group with a slightly stunned expression on his face and saying, "So, Percy's gay, then."

"Explains a lot," said Fred, as though he wasn't of the exact same preference.

"He has always been prissy," said George with a smirk, arm making its way around Harry's shoulders as if by accident.

"It must have been hard to admit it to himself," said Hermione shrewdly, "Especially if he had a crush on someone unattainable, and no one to talk to about it."

Harry nodded, knowing exactly how that felt, though he didn't think Oliver or the twins counted as quite so inappropriate as, he suspected, the sort of people Percy might have found to long for. Suddenly a lot of things made sense, from Percy's tightly wound personality to his unwavering loyalty to certain points of view despite his family's opinions to the contrary. "Maybe he'll find he's still got friends today," he said softly, and that seemed to cool the last of Ginny's ire.

"Look, Mum's gone to talk to him," said Bill, giving Ron's hair a ruffle. "I'll go run interference, I think she always hoped he'd be the one to settle down respectably and have the next generation of redheaded hooligans for her to spoil rotten."

The group broke up, then, with the twins taking Ron and Ginny off to a corner to talk to their dad, and Harry making a beeline for Severus. "Did you know?" he asked quietly, and Snape shook his head.

"Kitchen," he said, leading Harry down to the brightly lit room, seemingly full of busy house elves, though there were in truth only the three. They ignored the humans once it became obvious they weren't here for anything but a bit of privacy, and Snape said quietly, "I didn't even suspect, to be honest. It is unusual for so many from one family, but not unheard of, and I believe the twins were influenced as much by their own affection for one another as any natural preference for one gender over the other. After all, I caught them snogging various girls in the supposedly secret niches of the castle nearly as often as I caught them snogging one another," said Snape thoughtfully, sharing a wry little smile with Harry at the last.

"Is it bad form, what I did?" Harry asked, knowing Snape's eyes had followed his every move, most especially the kiss.

Snape shook his head, smile fading to pensiveness. "No, if there's one thing Percy needs now, it's to feel he's accepted by his own kind. I would suggest an invitation to lunch in the near future; we can make him known to Bartholomew and Artemis, and extend an offer to join in our lessons, though I expect he learned everything he could before such a public display."

Harry relaxed, letting himself lean into Snape just a little as the excitements of the day weighed on him. "I'm glad you're not angry, and that we can help him. I can't say I liked him before, but... I guess this is how you feel, that we can't just leave him to muddle through when we could help?"

Snape's arms settled around Harry's shoulders and something like a kiss was brushed over his hair. "That is how I felt before you, yes," he said, leaving unspoken the many things that lay between them now, so much more than mere obligation.

Harry found himself smiling, and he gave Snape a surreptitious little squeeze before stepping away. "Back to playing host, I guess," he said, and was rewarded for his responsibility with a soft brush of Snape's fingers and an answering smile.

"A host's work is never done," Snape said ironically, then bowed and added, "After you."

Harry went upstairs, pleasantly conscious of the tight fit of his jeans and Snape's eyes on his body, still smiling when he emerged into the crowd. He was captured by a gaggle of Weasleys and questioned until he gave in and admitted that the rumour was true and he shared a preference with Percy, but wasn't going to put up with any matchmaking because he wanted to concentrate on his studies. He even managed to only blush a little when the twins snickered at that.

Eventually the sideboard was emptied and remained so, and people began to clear out in ones and twos, the evening still ahead. Neville kindly remained until the very end, when Snape had sequestered himself with Percy in the library, and the twins had gone upstairs to create more mischief. Harry was surprised when Dobby popped in and handed Neville a packet of letters, and one for Harry as well.

"What're these?" Harry asked, as they accepted the bundles. His own was strangely heavy, with his name on the top one in what he thought was Ron's handwriting.

Neville smiled, accustomed by now to Harry's spotty knowledge of wizarding ways. "They're your birthday cards," he said, opening his top one which was, in fact, from Ron. A single silver Sickle came tumbling out, and there was a surprisingly long note inside of the heavy card, the Gryffindor crest on the front. "All of your adult acquaintances will have sent one, even those that couldn't come to the party. There will be a piece of advice for the future, and a token coin or two, or sometimes more, to get you started out on your life as an adult."

"Why doesn't anyone tell me about this stuff?" said Harry, looking guilty. "I just gave Ron some new Quidditch gloves."

"Naah, you weren't supposed to send one to Ron, 'cos you were only sixteen. But you'll need to give one to Ginny when she gets older." Neville smirked and tugged a card out of Harry's bundle, putting it on top. "I turned yesterday, so you get one from me, though I'm not expected to have much wisdom yet."

Harry laughed and, on impulse, gave Neville a quick hug. "Thanks. I'm glad to have shared it with you."

Neville blushed and smiled back, tucking Ron's note back in the envelope and dropping the Sickle in after. "I'm glad you asked me," he said, "I wouldn't have had nearly so many people at a party just for me, no, don't protest." He held up a hand when Harry made to interrupt, then continued, "I'm not you, and that's fine, but sometimes I'm glad to get a bit of reflected glory, and presents."

They both glanced over at the gift table, identical grins sprouting as they once again took in their bounty. "Presents are good," said Harry. "Dobby'll make sure yours follow you home."

Neville chuckled and tucked the letters into his robe. "I know," he said cheerfully, then stepped up and grabbled some Floo powder. "See you September first."

"See you then," said Harry, and Neville left and the last of Harry's energy went with him. The party was well and truly over, though Harry knew that, thanks to the twins, his evening had barely begun. Harry took the letters over to the fire, where a cup of mulled cider steamed invitingly, and began to sort through them.

When he was done there were three piles: school friends like Ron and Neville, adult friends and acquaintances like Mrs. Weasley and Professor Lupin, and the largest of all, letters from people he didn't know well at all, who seemed to want to connect themselves to him through the tradition. The final pile included people like Fudge and Rita Skeeter who had actively opposed him, distant acquaintances like Florean Fortescue and Luna's dad, and even some people he'd never heard of before. He set those aside for tomorrow, figuring he could wheedle Snape into helping him decipher them, and opened Neville's first. The heavy card looked identical to the one Ron had given Neville, the crest on the front done in red ink and gold leaf and the writing inside in messy black ink that tended to fade out where Neville neglected to dip his quill frequently enough.

Harry, I'm only a day older, but I wanted to share this tradition with you even though you've probably got a whole pile of other letters. You'll need to write everyone thank-you notes, so here's my advice: get a packet of them at the stationer's and buy a Quick-Quotes Quill, then get Professor Snape to help you compose a polite reply and send that to everyone but your close friends. Thanks again for the party, even though we've not had it yet when I'm writing this. I just know it's going to be really great, much better than tea with my relatives was. Your friend, Neville Longbottom

Harry couldn't help but smile at that, turning the single Galleon over in his palm. He would definitely take Neville's advice, and appreciated the thoughtfulness that had gone into it, just as had gone into his gift. Harry tucked Neville's card and coin away and took the next letter off the acquaintances pile, thinking that he often underestimated Neville's intelligence, and he shouldn't let Snape's bad opinion rub off.

A whole handful of gold fell out of Professor McGonagall's letter, landing in his lap in a glittering pile. He stacked them up, counting thirteen, and then looked to her letter for an explanation.

There were 13 sayings that reminded Harry of courage-themed fortune cookies, and the card was signed simply with her name. His favourite was the one that reminded him most of her, "We are all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them." Harry put it and the coins back away, and then took another envelope from the friends stack.

Ron's card contained advice regarding Silencing Spells and Lubrication Charms that made Harry laugh, and a single bronze Knut that was obviously meant to keep him laughing. It was stamped with the year of Harry's birth, though, and that made it a sort of memento, so he tucked it away just as carefully as he had McGonagall's Galleons. Moody's card had a postscript of, "Constant Vigilance!" and contained a silver Sickle and advice about werewolves that made Harry roll his eyes. That would definitely get a form reply, which would likely get hexed into ash before Moody ever read the thing anyway.

The rest of the cards were a mix of serious and teasing, Molly's letter full of household tips and Arthur's separate note a rather fitting little tale about taking apart things one couldn't put back together again, Hermione's full of earnestness and Muggle coins, while the twins' cards both contained sex advice, a long treatise on rimming begun in Fred's and continuing unabated in George's. Harry read through both piles, smiling and nodding and sipping the sweet, hot cider, until he had only one left. Snape's.

Harry opened it with trembling fingers, and one Galleon, one Sickle and one Knut fell into his palm. The card had the Slytherin crest in all its glory, and the inside was filled with Snape's spindly handwriting.

Harry found himself laughing quietly, his eyes bright and chest constricting with the thought of waiting, and the endless tasks ahead before he could fall into the arms he longed for so desperately. He tucked the letter back in the bundle with the rest, but the single Knut stayed out, Snape's hope and his own grown warm against his palm, his fingers wandering blindingly over the face until he thought he might puzzle out the secret to happiness in its ridges and contours.

---

Snape's birthday on August the twenty-seventh was, by contrast, nearly unnoticed by the world at large, though a few extra owls showed at breakfast, and there were individual cakes at tea, with icing of a deep forest green and the Slytherin crest on top, done in silver. The twins had given Severus a very private celebration last night, Harry giving up his second night with them gladly, knowing that it was a gift that only he could offer, and today it was just the two of them; Snape had been asked to accompany Harry to Diagon Alley tomorrow and return to school on Sunday, rather than going early as in previous years.

For once, Harry rather thought Snape might not have minded, since it gave him the chance to spend a few more days with Harry, free of lessons or other obligations, though the Weasleys were due to descend tomorrow for their school shopping trip and would spend the rest of the week. "Are you enjoying your last day of peace and quiet, Severus?" Harry asked, nibbling on a little sandwich which, despite being cut in the shape of a clover, appeared to contain shrimp curry.

"I am indeed," Snape replied, nearly all of his old stiffness gone for these few moments alone. He nibbled the point off a moon-shaped watercress sandwich and eyed the rest of the assortment dubiously, obviously not approving of the elves' desire to make the occasion more festive than usual.

Harry had Snape's gifts next to him, two packages wrapped in bright paper, and his hand kept creeping toward them, hopeful that now would be a good time to proffer them. "Oh, good," said Harry absently, eyes flicking to the presents and back to Snape.

Snape chuckled and set down his tea. "Very well," he said, holding out his hand, "I can tell you're dying to show me what you've found, though I only remember one present for me with that owl."

Harry grinned, pleased that Snape had remembered after all, and handed him that one first. "Have you wondered at all what's in it?" he asked a bit plaintively.

Snape raised his eyebrow and smirked, hands already making short work of the tied ribbon. "Of course I have," he said, making Harry grin. "I am simply possessed of enough self-control not to concern myself overmuch with matters which will eventually sort themselves out. Ah." His deft fingers had unwrapped and opened the box while he spoke, revealing the red glass apple twined around by the green and silver snake. "This is lovely, Harry," he said, voice genuinely appreciative as he lifted the fragile phial out of the packing and set it gently on the table.

"There's a list of things you oughtn't put in it, because the red dye will leech out of the apple, but... it's for your collection," said Harry, feeling pleased and shy, hands stroking over the velvet ribbon of the second box, which he'd wrapped himself just this morning.

Snape seemed to sense that Harry had saved the more sentimental present for second, and there was none of the teasing left in his features as he opened the small box and lifted out the object inside. The fine silver chain tangled in Snape's hands and shone in the firelight, and from it dangled a handmade amulet of gold wire tangled around a single Knut. Harry had crafted the silly little bauble himself, having wheedled the twins into getting the supplies for him, and then cast a minor protective charm on the whole thing, one that required all three precious metals as a base. The Knut wasn't one of his birthday gifts, either -- Harry had found one stamped with the year of Snape's birth, searching through a whole pile out of the twins' cash drawer before finding the right one.

"Do... do you like it?" Harry asked timidly, after Snape had stared at the rough little trinket for a long, silent moment.

Snape's eyes glittered as they turned to Harry, that same fierce light they'd held when Harry had worn Snape's ring for chess, and it made Harry squirm in his chair. "You've spelled it?" Snape asked, and Harry swallowed nervously.

"Yes, sir, I... I'd seen the charm in one of the books you'd had me study for Defence, and after your gift on my birthday I thought... well, it was something more important to either of us than the bottle," he explained, stammering, wondering if he'd overstepped his bounds somehow.

Snape undid the clasp with slightly trembling fingers, then fastened it around his neck, tucking the talisman charm away against his skin as it was meant to be -- the charm worked best when it rested close to the wearer's heart, according to the book. "It is a lover's gift," said Snape, his voice just a touch rough.

Harry smiled, then bravely reached out and laid one of his hands over Snape's, surprised as usual by how warm the pale fingers were. "A gift of hope," he said, echoing Snape's letter.

Snape's fingers curled around Harry's, and he pulled, gentle and slow enough that Harry could easily have moved away, had he been foolish enough to wish to. They leaned toward one another slowly, lips meeting with a deliberateness that had been missing from all their prior kisses. Harry never wanted the moment to end, though he knew Snape would allow them no more than this, and he held onto Snape's hand tightly as though that would keep them joined in other ways. Snape's mouth was slow and thorough, and Harry's no less so, drawing the kiss out into the promise of a lifetime of such kisses.

He barely even noticed the fire flaring up, he was so intent on kissing Snape, and thus it was an exceptionally unpleasant surprise when Snape pulled away, sat back and said calmly, "Headmaster, what brings you here at this hour?"

Dumbledore looked thunderous, and Harry clung to Snape's hand despite the way the headmaster's eyes narrowed when he looked at their twined fingers. "I was coming to give you your birthday wishes in person, though I see you've allowed Harry to beat me to it," said Albus dangerously.

"It was just one kiss, Professor," Harry protested, though he knew he was flushed and bright-eyed as though they'd been snogging all day. "A birthday kiss."

One of the chairs came skittering over and Albus sat down, looking from one to another with slow deliberation. He fixed himself a cup of tea and sat back, his expression softened from anger into the sublime disappointment he wore so well. "You will be back at school in just four days," he said, his voice effortlessly conveying his deep sadness that they showed so little self-restraint. "I had hoped that there would be no need to remind the two of you that everything hinges on your ability to remain apart, including Severus' career at Hogwarts."

Harry let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "You're not going to sack him?" he blurted, needing confirmation of this one fact before enduring the rest of Dumbledore's lecture.

"No, I will not dismiss him for a single birthday kiss," said Dumbledore, shooting their joined hands another narrow-eyed glare. "Indulgences have been allowed this summer, but tomorrow the Weasleys and Miss Granger will arrive, and you cannot be seen fraternizing with one another on such a familiar level." His voice grew sharp at the end, and Harry swallowed and nodded.

Beside him, Snape did the same, his fingers giving Harry's a comforting squeeze. "I understand," he said, sounding as cold as Harry had ever heard him. "You will find no evidence of my inappropriate desires once this evening is over."

"Will you still allow our lessons?" Harry asked, knowing he needed them, and probably more besides.

"Yes, Harry, you will be allowed both sets of lessons," said Dumbledore, giving Snape an opaque look. "Austereus Snape can be trusted to chaperone you in Snape's quarters, and his office is not quite private enough that he would risk such disgrace, even for you."

"Then I believe we need speak no more of this," said Snape, just as a third little green cake appeared on the tea table next to Dumbledore's cup. "It is time for cake."

Harry nearly laughed in relief when Dumbledore nodded his agreement and they all relaxed, though the twinkle was missing from Dumbledore's eyes. They all picked up the little cakes and dug in, finding that Harry's was a dense chocolate with a warm, gooey fudge centre, Snape's was also chocolate but with lemon curd between the layers of light, fluffy cake, and Dumbledore's was a rainbow with strawberry, blueberry and snozzberry fillings in between bright layers of blue, yellow, red and green cake.

After a few moments of silent eating, Harry smiled shyly at Snape and said quietly, "Happy birthday, Professor."

Snape cracked a smile as though he resented being unable to resist, and a bit of the tension flowed out of his body. "Thank you, Potter."

That seemed to remind Dumbledore of his original purpose, and he set down his cake plate, took a sip of tea, and produced a small box from his voluminous purple-and-fuchsia robes. It was wrapped in silver paper that shimmered like a lake in the sunlight, and the obnoxious green bow began to wave its little curls and sing as soon as Snape accepted the gift.

"Thank you, Headmaster," said Snape, his tone conveying quite the opposite. The last of his cake was also abandoned in favour of removing the bow rather forcefully, thankfully halting the noise. Off came the wrapping, which Harry snagged and began to toy with as Snape opened the small tin and peered inside.

Snape drew out a small object that looked like a normal Muggle toffee, golden wrapper shining brightly. "What is it?" Harry asked, noting the glint that indicated the tin was full of such treats.

"Felix Felicis Toffee," said Snape wryly. "A rather rare confection, which is not only tasty but offers approximately one minute of luck per dose."

"Cool," said Harry, grinning unrepentantly now that their indiscretion had passed without spoiling what little celebration Snape had allowed.

"Everyone needs a bit of luck now and again," said Dumbledore, the twinkle back in his eyes as he peered over his glasses at them. He was polishing off the last bites of cake, and Harry held out some small hope that they'd be allowed a bit more privacy tonight, not for kissing so much as just to hold onto the fragile friendship they'd been forming for a few hours more, before tomorrow came and forced them back into their narrower roles of wayward student and stern professor.

Not that Harry thought he'd mind a little game of that, under other circumstances, and he filed it away with the rest of his perverse little fantasies, promising himself that he'd write it down in the spell-locked journal he'd saved just for that. He was of a mind to present it to Snape at the end of the year, sort of a request list of ideas to keep them busy in the years to come, not that he thought they'd need it. He knew Snape was creative, wicked and, from speaking with the twins, as perverse as Harry could hope for.

He dragged his mind up out of the gutter just in time to see Dumbledore looking at him oddly, and he flushed and poured himself another cup of tea. "More tea, Professors?" he asked formally, only his eyes betraying his mischievousness as Snape shot him an opaque look.

"I'm afraid I have to be going," said Dumbledore, draining his cup and setting it down. "You two stay out of trouble, now," he added, looking rather more stern than Harry felt was strictly warranted.

"Yes, Headmaster," replied Harry, in a tone worthy of the twins.

"I shall endeavour to control myself," said Snape dryly, and Harry was amused that he could be so dignified when he'd just been caught snogging a student.

"You do that," said Dumbledore, standing. "I'll see you both in four days, at the start of term. Will you be joining the students on the train, Severus?"

"Heaven forbid," said Snape darkly. "No, I will Floo from here once Harry has left with the Weasley clan."

"Excellent," said Dumbledore, looking satisfied. "We'll have time for a short meeting, then, just the two of us. Perhaps lunch."

Snape's eyes closed in resignation, and when he opened them, he had the same expression of irritated necessity he always did at the start of term, seeing all those new faces looking up at him in the Great Hall. "Yes, Headmaster," he said.

Harry was surprised into laughter and had to fake a coughing fit, and by the time he got control of himself, Dumbledore had gone. "Well, that was mortifying," Harry said, reaching for his cake to finish his interrupted confection.

A hand reached out and stopped Harry's wrist, drawing him close to Snape once again. "I believe," he said, glancing at the fireplace with an expression of dark amusement, "that we have a kiss to finish."

Harry let out a helpless little moan, and it was all he could do not to crawl into Snape's lap when their lips met again. Despite Snape's words, this kiss was no continuation of the first gentle sharing, instead an unmistakeable claiming with Snape's lips fierce on Harry's own kiss-bruised mouth. It lingered on and on until Harry was breathless, helpless, and had sunk completely into that place where he'd have let Snape do anything at all to him, so long as he didn't stop.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what Snape did endless minutes later, when first his tongue retreated from its foray into Harry's welcoming mouth, then the lips pulled gently back, and finally the hand loosened from where it had gripped and tangled in his hair. "Happy birthday to me," said Snape sardonically, and Harry couldn't help but grin like an idiot.

"Happy your birthday to both of us, I think," said Harry goofily.

They spent the rest of the evening at more appropriate pursuits, playing chess and talking about the future like proper friends, but Harry's mind never left those few delightful moments when both he and Snape had demonstrated incontrovertibly just exactly to whom Harry belonged. Snape didn't let him forget it for the rest of the night, either, demonstrating his intimate knowledge of Harry's sexual fantasies -- gleaned through many Occlumency lessons and etiquette practice sessions -- by doing things to bring several of them to mind. Long fingers caressed the chess pieces whenever he made a move, bare toes brushed over Harry's legs whenever Snape shifted, innuendo found its way into every facet of the conversation, and Harry nearly crawled over the chess set when his captured Bishop was tapped against Snape's kiss-bruised lips, Snape's tongue flicking out wickedly to lick the tip.

Harry went to bed smiling and horny and, he thought, having had just about the best Snape's birthday he could have expected at this juncture, even with Dumbledore's interruption.

A Question of Etiquette XVII: Transitions