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Severus stared down the box on his desk. A sneer was on his face since he caught sight of it when he walked into his classroom. All because the wrapping paper was displaying silver birthday wishes on a dark green background. Right away he knew it wasn't from Albus, for the old coot would have made the paper the ghastly red and gold.
He withdrew his wand and cast the detection charms on it. When it came back negative he used his wand to remove the wrapping then to open the box. To his surprise the box contained jars of various sizes, vials, and a book. Severus picked up the small piece of parchment that was wedged in between two jars.
Happy Birthday, Severus
In some of the jars is parts from a Basilisk from skin to heartstring. There are a few small vials of Fawkes' tears, vials of freely given Unicorn horn dust and hair, a jar of Acromanutla silk and a vial of their venom, there is a vial of Thestral hair and a vial of bone dust. There is also vials of freely given Pixie wings, freely given Dragon blood and scales from a Hungarian Horntail, and vials of freely given Doxie venom, wings, and heartstrings. Finally Asp venom, Arabian Viper venom, and ashes from an Ice Phoenix's burning day.
The book is translations from Salazar Slytherin's personal potion journals. Lord Slytherin himself gave me permission to translate and gift the book to you. His only request is that you do not tell Dumbledore or let him claim any of them for profit.
Once again I wish you a happy birthday, Severus.
Yours, Harry
Severus was speechless, there literally was no words to express how he was feeling. Potter just gifted him millions worth of ingredients, half were extremely rare. There was no way Severus would ever let Dumbledore know about this. The old bastard would get one of his pawns to steal all of it so he could sell them. He knew what kind of man Albus Dumbledore truly is.
It really shouldn't surprise him that the gift came from Potter. No one has seen hide or hair of the boy since his fifth year. That was two years ago and everyone but the Dark had given up on finding the boy.
Needless to say there was no way in hell he would tell anyone about this.
The Potion Master picked up the box and immediately made his way to his personal floo. He took the ingredients to Prince Manor. Dumbledore doesn't know that Severus has it. Lucius is his proxy on the Wizengamot, which infuriates Dumbledore to no end. After all it was no secret that his grandfather and Abraxas Malfoy were close friends. Severus came back to his quarters and to his hyperactive fennix fox. To this day he still doesn't understand why the thing followed him from the Forbidden Forest.
Severus picked up the small animal. "Yes yes I know I was suppose to take you with me." Another thing he doesn't understand. The fox's insistent need to go everywhere with him. "I was just taking my birthday gift from Potter home. There was no need for you to go." Severus hissed when the fox bit his finger. "Listen, Brat, I will not let you dictate my life. I'm the owner not the other way around." He rolled his eyes when Brat gave him a disagreed bark.
The third thing he doesn't understand--how easily he gives into Brat.
Severus named his Brat in honor of Potter. Brat was an unusual color of burgundy with a black mask and bright emerald green eyes. Severus will never admit out loud that he loves Brat. No one can know his true feelings for the fox because Dumbledore will kill Brat to ensure that Severus will be miserable. Just like Severus didn't tell anyone his true feelings for Harry. It started not long after the Occlumency lessons.
"I know why he is hiding, but the gifts are too much." Severus explained to Brat. Every birthday and every Yule he has gotten gifts from Potter. The boy has been doing it since his first year. And Severus doesn't know why but it still surprises him when he gets one. "I would like to see him just once, just to know if he is alright."
Brat gave an excited bark before licking Severus' face. The man tried to scowl but instead he smirked at the fox. How sad was it that his only source of happiness was a fennix fox.
(*v*)
Throughout the day Severus received more gifts. All from Potter. No one else even acknowledged that the day was his birthday. Each gift from Harry was either personal or silly. The most personal was a photo of Harry shirtless with a tattoo of a cauldron on the left side of his chest. Severus could make out the 'SS' in the Amortentia color smoke. The most silly gift was the novelty cake he found on his office desk. The background picture was a dungeon, the little magical figurines was Severus himself and Dumbledore. The Severus figurine kept tipping a small vial on Dumbledore who would then change into different things from animals to inanimate objects.
At the end of the day Severus walked into his bedroom. He came to a complete stop at the sight of a very naked Harry on his bed.
No Brat in sight.
"You..."
Harry smiled. "That's right. For the last two years. Happy birthday, Sev."
Severus didn't hesitate to join Harry on the bed. This turned out to be his favorite birthday. That was until Harry killed Dumbledore the following year. Severus didn't even bother trying to top that for Harry's birthday.
~Fin~