Heart of the Guardian

23. Another Birthday

They spent the rest of the week working together in the lab in their quarters, or in the potions classroom. Potter commented once on how much preparation went into teaching. Snape grunted in amusement, his focus on the ingredients he was carefully measuring for the first years' initial forays into potion making.

He gave the boy some NEWT level readings, and evenings, the boy sat at the table scratching notes on parchment or leafing through the journals that arrived nearly daily, while Snape worked at his desk, read on the sofa, or occasionally joined the boy at the table. Each morning, they walked the castle grounds – partly for fresh air, sun, and exercise; partly to collect fresh herbs from where they grew at the edge of the forest; and partly to visit Fred, Lupin, and the other fallen heroes, tipping a drop from their butterbeers or pumpkin juices – Snape never conjured firewhiskey or wine for the boy – onto each grave in tribute.

On their rounds on Friday, someone else was at the graves before them, recognizable even at a distance, the red hair and stout figure of the man a clear identifier. They slowed as they approached, neither of them wanting to intrude. Arthur heaved a soft sigh, patted his son's headstone, and turned, obviously expecting them.

"Arthur," Snape said, walking up to stand next to the man, "we were just coming to say good morning to Fred, here."

"We come every day, Mr. Weasley, don't we, Professor?" the boy said, eager to reassure the man.

Snape looked over at Potter and nodded. "Indeed, we do."

Arthur smiled at them, his watery eyes warming, nodding gratefully. "Thank you. Molly and George will be glad to hear that. Anyway," he said, "Happy Birthday, Harry!"

The boy looked stunned. "It's... it's my birthday? Wow! I lost track..." He turned to Snape. "Did you know...?"

"That today is the thirty-first? Yes."

"Wow," the boy repeated to himself. "I really forgot." He swallowed and stared at nothing, off into the distance. The two older men looked at each other and Snape shook his head ever so slightly, despite the fact that he thought he knew what the boy was thinking.

"Anyway, Harry, Molly and the kids and I wondered if you're free for birthday dinner and cake tonight."

"Oh... ah..." Potter looked undecided. "Could..." He turned to Snape. "Could we do it here, Professor?"

Snape cocked his head. "Why?"

The boy shrugged. Snape looked at Arthur, who was smiling warmly at them. He shook his head, confused.

"Perhaps at Aberforth's..." he began, but Arthur shook his head. "Too public. We still haven't located all the... all Voldemort's gang," he said. "I'd rather not risk Harry's safety, especially at night."

"Of course not," Snape readily agreed. But... the boy's choice. "Where were you thinking...?" he asked the boy.

"Oh. I... I thought maybe our quarters..."

"Not enough room in our quarters, I'm afraid, but... " Snape eyed the boy, considering, then turned to Arthur. "I have an idea."

He outlined his plan and Arthur and Potter both nodded.

"That'll work. I'll just let Molly and the kids know."

After Arthur left to head back to the Ministry for the day, Snape and the boy visited briefly with Fred, Lupin, and Tonks, and headed back to the castle. The boy was uncharacteristically quiet, compared to his usual chatter. As they entered the school, Potter turned automatically toward the Potions classroom, but Snape caught his arm and drew him up the stairs to the seventh floor. After passing before a certain spot on the wall three times, he stepped through a door that hadn't been there a moment before, drawing the boy in after him.