A/N: written in honour of Snape's birthday. You all know – or should know, if you read any of my other stories – my opinion on Snape so if that annoys you, go read something else. Don't risk your bloodpressure on my account.

"I would have been forty-nine today."

The bearded, blue-eyed old man nodded solemnly. "I missed you today. It was obvious where you had gone. Come back with me, my boy. We were all concerned about you."

The younger man ignored him. "Forty-nine. Fairly young still, for wizards. Not even middle-aged."

Again the nod.

"Are you not going to comment? No wise remarks that are nevertheless utterly and completely useless?"

For the first time, Albus Dumbledore spoke as he put down his cup of tea. "Would you like me to?"

Severus Snape looked away. "Not particularly."

"I will always regret that your earthly life was cut off so early, Severus."

"Nonsense. You barely spared me a thought."

"I had many other concerns, that is true. However, that does not mean I had not wished a longer and happier life for you."

"I do not think I could have had a long and happy life. My past would always have haunted me, and I would never be fully trusted or accepted."

"Harry would…"

"Potter honours a dead hero, Headmaster. It would have been a vastly different matter had I survived. You know as well as I do that society gets sentimental over the fallen ones – and forgets or alienates the heroes unfortunate enough to live. No, in the end, it is far better this way."

A hand came to rest on his shoulder and he looked up from studying the mists beyond which the mortal world lay. He spared the old man a rare smile.

"I have been very happy these twelve years, here where I never thought I would be allowed to enter. If I did not have a happy life, I do at least have a happy afterlife."

"You might be happier still if you could forget about dates and the passing of time, and accept that you are…"

"Forever thirty-seven?"

"The perfect age," Dumbledore teased, "old enough to have gained some experience and wisdom, yet in the prime of your life. You never were forty-eight, Severus – a qualification that has to be met in order to turn forty-nine."

"Hmm."

Silence reigned for a little while. Then Snape stretched and stood up.

"Well, enough reminiscing. And perhaps I should forget about dates and time – but that would leave you without an excuse to throw me one of those utterly irritating surprise birthday parties, Albus."

The twinkle in the blue eyes told him he'd been spot-on, and with a last sigh he allowed himself to be taken away from the memories of his previous life, where he never got to be forty-nine, and most certainly would never reach fifty.