A Room With a View

Happy Birthday, Severus

Between the mandrake leaf trials and Minerva and Hermione's headlong dive into wedding planning, Severus didn't notice that the ninth of January had arrived until Hermione wumphed down on his prone form first thing in the morning.

The pained grunt he emitted could only be described as undignified.

"Happy birthday, sleepyhead!" Hermione said with a soft laugh.

"Are you trying to kill me, woman?" he groaned, rolling so that her knee was no longer dangerously near his groin. He paused when he scented the delightful aroma of freshly brewed tea and peeked open an eye. "What time is it?"

"It's ten, love. You've had your lie in, and now it's time for birthday wizards to have their breakfast." She made a little come hither motion with her wand and had a tray laden with thick card, a full English and, bless her, a hot pot of tea floating toward the bed. "Sit up now so I can get this settled."

Severus did as he was told - with, perhaps, a bit more alacrity than he was normally comfortable displaying - and watched as she maneuvered the tray to hover over his lap and murmured a steadying charm. "This looks wonderful." He peered at the tray more closely. "How did you get the elves to provide elderflower jam? It's impossible to find this time of year!"

She sniffed in mock disdain. "The elves didn't provide the jam. Actually, they didn't provide anything. Do me a favor and don't go in the kitchen for an hour or two." She gave him a blushing smile as she watched him tuck in.

"I could get used to this."

"A full English is a bit much for me to manage on a regular basis, but on special occasions, I think breakfast in bed can be arranged." She stroked a hand down his sleep-fluffed hair. "You look like a cockatiel."

He merely rolled his eyes and stuffed his mouth full of muffin to prevent a less-than-appreciative remark about her own wild curls. "Well, this is a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday. Thank you, Hermione." He wiped his butter smeared hand on his serviette and looked toward the card. "May I?"

"It's your birthday. You may do as you wish."

He reached for the card with ill-concealed impatience, running a fingernail under the flap to pop the glue free. He pulled out a brightly colored card with a cartoon of a large cruise ship on the front, then flipped it open. He stared when the blast of a ship's horn sounded, not noticing the slip of paper that fell into his lap. "What on earth?"

Hermione laughed. "Joke card, Severus. Close it and open it again." He did as she bade and grinned at the repeated horn blast. "Boats aren't in the - hah - cards just yet, but I thought you might enjoy this one for now."

"Muggles are fucking geniuses, they are," he said, laughing like a schoolboy as he opened the card again. And again. Hermione giggled at his obvious glee, causing him to look up at her. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll put a langlock on you in your sleep."

"Understood!" she said, swallowing another chuckle as she sat next to him on the bed. "You'll get the rest of your gift in a bit, but I was hoping you'd start your day with a smile. This one is from Minerva," she said, placing another card on his breakfast tray.

He slid his thumb under the envelope flat and drew out a lovely wizarding card with - heaven help him - dancing potions vials on the front. Severus snorted before he could stop himself. "Minerva has the oddest sense of whimsy."

"I think it's all that time she's spent in the Headmistress' office. Dumbledore was quirky enough to leave his weirdness in that tower's stones."

He grunted in amusement as he flipped the card open to reveal a lovely note from Minerva and Mohinder that read, simply, "Happy Birthday, Severus, with many happy returns. You're released from evening rounds for the next week and I hope you and Hermione enjoy this." A slip of paper fell out of the envelope that revealed itself to be a certificate for two at Jaadoo, a new Indian restaurant that had opened in Hogsmeade.