Six: An Apology and a Potion

Chapter Six: An Apology and a Potion

Albus let Hermione in and closed the door behind her. "Severus, Miss Granger has something she wishes to say to you."

"Professor Snape, I wanted to personally tell you how sorry I am that this happened. I just keep thinking that I am partly to blame. If I had only been able to stop the argument sooner, or if I had not said what I did to Pansy that made her think to cast the spell on Draco, you would not be in this situation. I am very sorry, sir," Hermione said seriously.

Severus looked at the girl. "'Sorry' does not fix anything, Miss Granger." His attempt at an acerbic tone degenerated into one of resignation.

Hermione looked downcast.

"Severus, don't you have anything else to say to Miss Granger?"

"You would like me to accept her apology? All right, I accept it." He leaned back as though he assumed his empty words ended the conversation.

"No, that was not what I was thinking of. I think you can ease Miss Granger's conscience, Severus." When Severus just looked at him blankly, Albus continued, "There were others who could have stopped the fight before it escalated. I am thinking of one person in particular."

"Draco, of course, did nothing. I'll speak with him about that."

"It was not Mr Malfoy I was thinking of. I was thinking of an older Slytherin, one who should have known better."

Severus froze as the realisation hit him. Of course: he could have intervened sooner, but he had chosen to watch from the shadows, hoping for a bit of amusement. Amusement at Hermione's expense, in fact. He swallowed. He looked at Minerva. She already knew he was a bastard, but once she learned of the role he had played in his own downfall, she would surely reject him and cease helping him. Albus was waiting. All three of them were looking at him.

Taking a deep breath, Severus said, "Miss Granger, I heard the argument from my office. In fact, I came out and watched the four of you for a few minutes before deciding to do anything about it. When I did, it was just in time to catch the spell that Miss Parkinson cast. It is not your fault, Miss Granger." Severus looked as though he had just eaten something quite bitter.

"Oh." Hermione looked at him. "Oh. You saw the whole thing? You saw that I couldn't get them to stop fighting, and you just watched?" Hermione looked at him, an unreadable expression on her face. "I see . . ." She looked at Minerva then at Albus, then back at Severus. She shook her head, then turned to the Headmaster. "Thank you for letting me apologise, Professor Dumbledore. I suppose I feel . . . less guilty now."

After Hermione had left, the three sat in the sitting room, Severus with his face in his hands, Albus and Minerva watching him.

"How did you know?" Severus finally croaked.

"Hermione's Pensieve memory. She wasn't aware of it herself, but I saw you come out of your office and hide behind the suit of armour."

"Oh."

"Severus, I find it difficult to believe you would do that," Minerva said. "You are a teacher. You have certain responsibilities. The safety of the students is your highest responsibility. I know you take it seriously in your classroom, and I fail to understand how you could have behaved that way. It is terrible what happened to you – even if it is your own fault – but something worse might have happened to one of the students. Parkinson or Bulstrode could have been injured, Draco could have been hit by the curse instead, the three Slytherins might have turned on the one Gryffindor who was there interfering in an internal Slytherin matter. You mentioned before that you had watched them, but I never realised that you watched long enough to have been able to have intervened before things got out of hand. I am very disappointed in you, Severus. Very disappointed."

Tears gathered in Severus's eyes. He stood and cleared his throat. "Thank you for all you have done for me, Minerva. I will go to my rooms now. Albus, if you could seal me in, it might be wise. Several strong Imperturbables would also not be amiss." He walked over to the fireplace and took a pinch of Floo-Powder.

"Whatever do you think you're doing, Severus? If you think I'm going to allow you to go lock yourself away and die just because you are upset with yourself or embarrassed, or whatever it is that you are feeling, you are very, very wrong." Minerva glared at him.

Severus let the Floo-Powder drift from his fingers. "I am even more sorry than you could possibly know, Minerva. I do not know how you can bear to look at me." He could not look at her.

"Well, I am angry with you. But I think that now that you realise you are partially responsible for what has happened to you, you will see that you are reaping the consequences of your actions – not that you deserve having been hit by this particular spell, but you could have averted it."

Severus nodded and plopped into an armchair. "There is nothing more I can say, is there?"

"Not at the moment, Severus."

Albus cleared his throat and addressed the dejected wizard. "Before dinner, I want to bring you to the suite of rooms I have set aside for you, so that you can find them on your own. We will leave in a half hour. In the meantime, I am going to my office to see if there is anything pressing that requires my attention. I will see both of you later." Albus nodded at Severus, kissed Minerva's cheek, and Flooed back to his office.

Minerva called Wilspy and asked her to bring her a bowl of egg drop soup and some crackers. As she ate, she read the parchments in the yellowing folio. Severus sat and watched her.

"Do you have to watch me eat, Severus? It's rather unnerving."

"I'm sorry," he muttered, moving to sit on the sofa with his back to her, the only way he could avoid gazing at his true love.

After she had finished her soup, Minerva came and sat beside him. "Albus will be returning shortly. Since you will be going directly from the suite to the Great Hall, I think you should act on the imperative now."

Severus nodded. He took both her hands in his and kissed them each in turn. "You are a great-hearted woman, Minerva, to have forgiven me."

"I don't know about that, but I do hope you have learned something from this . . . escapade. Wasn't I telling you not long before Miss Granger arrived that you tend to make self-destructive choices? You need to learn from this – figure out what it is that you are doing when you are making these decisions that end so badly, and then stop reacting in such a self-destructive way."

"I will. I will think about it now. I hope that I am able to heed this lesson if we defeat the spell, however. I know I am not a nice person, Minerva." He kissed her hands again.

Minerva raised one of her hands to his face. "You aren't particularly nice, Severus, but you have been good to Albus, and you have many other redeeming qualities – which you rarely show anyone, unfortunately."

"You think too highly of me, Minerva. But I do not want to dissuade you. I love you and do not want you to think badly of me." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then embraced her. "I love you so, Minerva. Loving you might make me a better person." He kissed her cheek again, then kissed her neck, tenderly placing light kisses in the hollow of her throat. Severus eased Minerva down so she rested on the pillows at the arm of the sofa, continuing to kiss her throat. His lips gently sucked the soft skin above her collar bone before moving down to caress the creamy skin of her breast.

Minerva relaxed, remembering her desire to not feel degraded at the end and thinking of her own acceptance of Severus's proposal that he try to bring her pleasure. She reminded herself, too, that the more he was able to act on the imperative at that moment, the better he would withstand the next separation. When Severus's lips moved to the skin of her breasts left exposed by the neckline of her robes, therefore, she did not push him away. She closed her eyes and placed one hand on Severus's shoulder, ready to stop him when she deemed she had allowed him sufficient liberties.

Severus continued to kiss the exposed skin of Minerva's breasts, moving from one side to the other, then back again. He raised his hand and gently caressed her throat, tracing the line his lips had taken, all the while continuing to lightly kiss Minerva's soft skin.

Eyes closed, Minerva tried to concentrate not on the fact that it was Severus who was doing this in response to the spell, but solely on the sensation of his lips and his fingertips, blanking out all else. As his lips moved across her skin and his fingertips caressed her, Minerva felt flushes of warmth flow in waves through her, and a tingling and heaviness began to grow as her body responded to the physical attention that Severus was paying her.

Severus moved his hand to press against her breast through her robes. Minerva opened her eyes and urged him up and away from her.

"Will that hold you for a while, Severus?" she asked softly as she straightened up.

Severus blushed and nodded.

"Very well. I am going to go have another lie-down before dinner. You just wait here for Albus, all right?"

Another nod.

Minerva rose and left the room, closing the door behind her with a deliberate click. Casting a Tempus alarm to make sure that she didn't fall asleep and miss dinner and her performance, she lay down on her bed and blanked her mind, emptying it. She simply could not think about this situation any longer. She could not think about Severus, nor of her own wish to save him from the curse, nor of her desire not to find his touch repellant, nor about her confused feelings regarding the physical reactions he was causing in her when he touched her. She just couldn't think anymore at all.

Minerva was surprised to awaken to a gentle kiss on her lips. Mmm. Wonderfully familiar lips on hers. She opened her eyes, smiling, and reached up and caressed Albus's face. "I hadn't expected to see you again until I went to the Great Hall. This is a lovely surprise."

"I considered leaving the potion with a note in your sitting room, especially as I know you need some rest, but I selfishly decided I needed to see you before dinner. Then, of course, seeing you, I couldn't resist kissing you, my dear."

"Very naughty of you, Albus. But not quite as naughty as I wish you would be!" She raised an eyebrow, and when he grinned down at her, she couldn't help but smile back.

"Patience, my love. Later, I promise! We haven't much time at the moment." He sighed. "Your potion is on the table. Take the entire dose all at once – it's not much, only about two teaspoons. It doesn't taste pleasant; perhaps mix it with a swallow of pumpkin juice. It would curdle milk, I'm afraid."

Minerva made a face. "Sounds lovely."

"I wish I could think of something else, but given the scrutiny that Severus is under, it needs to be very clear that you are ill. Otherwise his expedition to Mongolia will appear to be the ruse it is."

"Mongolia, hmm? Are you sure Siberia wouldn't be more appropriate?"

"Still angry with him, Minerva?"

"Yes, although," she sighed, "I see how he is suffering, and I really can't be as angry at him as I normally would be."

Albus bent and kissed her again. "I will see you soon!"

Twenty-five minutes later, Minerva walked into the Great Hall. She had cast a slight Glamour to make herself look pale and unwell. She approached the staff table and took hold of the edge, as if to steady herself before moving slowly to take her seat beside the Headmaster.

"Are you feeling quite well, Professor McGonagall?" Albus asked. "You seem a bit under the weather."

"I'm fine, Professor Dumbledore. Just a little tired perhaps."

She asked Filius how the roast beef was, poked at her own, then poured herself a small glass of pumpkin juice. She drank off half of it and poked at her meal a bit more.

"The Headmaster is right, Minerva. You don't look well. And you haven't touched your Yorkshire pudding," observed Filius.

"Perhaps I'm coming down with a cold. Nothing really appeals to me." She drank a bit more pumpkin juice. When she was sure no one was looking, she slipped the potion vial from her sleeve into her palm. She casually took a sip of the juice, and as she put it back down, she unstoppered the small vial and let the potion run into her juice. Minerva took her napkin from her lap and dabbed her mouth, surreptitiously wrapping the vial in the napkin. When no one was observing her, she leaned toward Albus, slipping him the wrapped vial. She smiled at him and said, "Lovely weekend, wasn't it, Albus?"

He agreed as he took the vial and watched Minerva lift her glass to her mouth and drink the potion-laced juice. A very slight grimace crossed her features as she tasted the potion. Albus turned back to his meal, although he didn't seem to be eating with much appetite. On her other side, Severus had been watching her out of the corner of his eye whilst trying to focus on his conversation with Filius.

Minerva continued to play with her food when she noticed waves of nausea coming over her. She pushed her plate away. Now she was sweating. She turned to Albus and stood shakily.

"Albus, I think I need to excuse myself. I am not feeling well –" Minerva barely got the words out of her mouth before the room swam and her muscles began, first, to cramp, then to seize. Albus caught her before she fell to the floor. Minerva gurgled unintelligibly as she heard Albus call to Severus for help. She felt Albus's left hand stroking her brow as Severus's arms went around her, holding her gently as her limbs twitched and jerked. It was peculiar to be aware of everything that was happening and to have no control over it at all. Her muscle spasms subsided, and she heard Albus instruct Severus to pick her up and bring her to the Hospital Wing. In the meantime, Poppy had hurried over from her place at the other end of the table.

"Yes, carry her, Severus. She's still having seizures. We don't dare risk Mobilicorpus," she heard Poppy say.

She felt Severus lift her in his arms and stand. He whispered to her, "You'll be fine, Minerva. I am bringing you to the infirmary now."

As he carried her through the Great Hall, Minerva could tell that the entire room had gone completely still. Part way to the large doors, Minerva's muscular seizures began again. Severus's arms tightened around her. God, this was terrible. And Albus had taken this potion earlier in the day only to know what it was she would be experiencing? It was one thing to go through it herself, for good reason, and quite another for her to imagine Albus submitting to it only to find out what it was like, especially given the injury to his hand. Her muscles felt hard, tight, and on fire. Even the muscles around her rib cage were spasming, making breathing difficult. The back of her neck was sore as the muscles cramped up, and she could not keep her limbs from flailing.

Severus continued to hold her firmly, securely, despite the seizures. He would no doubt be quite bruised by the end of this. The spasms subsided, and Minerva gratefully allowed her head to loll against Severus. He smelled of nutmeg and chocolate, she noticed. She had been vaguely aware of his scent over the past two days, but hadn't paid it much attention. Now she took a moment to be glad that he didn't smell of some nasty potions ingredients or something. With her nausea as acute as it was, she thought she would have been sick all over him if he had. Albus and his "mild nausea"! She would have to remind him when this was over that she had a more sensitive stomach than he did.

As they reached the infirmary and Poppy directed Severus to one of the private rooms, the muscle spasms began again. Minerva suppressed a groan. She felt Severus lay her gently onto a bed, then maintain a hold around her, supporting her head and holding her arms close to her chest. She thought she heard the door close. She heard Albus's voice, then felt his hand on her forehead.

The spasms subsided again and she opened her eyes. Severus was still holding her, but it was Albus's face she saw. "It won't be much longer, Minerva. Another ten minutes, perhaps, then you'll gradually feel better."

"'Kay," she rasped.

"There's nothing I can give you right now, Minerva," Poppy said, "but in fifteen minutes or so I can give you something that will help you recover a little faster. You'd just vomit any potion back up if I gave it to you now."

The thought of vomiting made Minerva groan and close her eyes. She swallowed a few times. Someone was gently wiping her face with a cool, damp flannel. She opened her eyes again to see that Severus was cleaning the sweat from her face. "Thanks, Severus," she said hoarsely. He nodded, no doubt afraid to say anything in front of Poppy, lest he begin to gush.

"Poppy, do you think I can go back to the Great Hall for a moment and announce that Minerva is all right? And would you know at this point what she is suffering from, or should we wait to announce the cause of her illness?" Albus asked.

"Wait to make any announcement of what caused her illness, Albus. Instruct everyone to remain in the Great Hall pending the diagnosis. I will go and make an announcement with you later."

Minerva's seizures began again, and she felt Albus's hand stroking her face. They subsided more quickly this time, and she opened her eyes. "Albus . . . I'm fine. Go to the Great Hall. Tell the students I'm fine. They'll be worried."

He nodded and kissed her forehead lightly before leaving.

When the muscle spasms finally ceased, Poppy suggested to Severus that he might like to return to his dinner or wait outside. She looked rather oddly at Minerva when she told the matron that she would prefer Severus to stay a while. Poppy just nodded, however, and poured out a small dose of a very thick, dark syrup.

"Here, this potion isn't as nasty as the one you just took, but I have to warn you that it is quite hot."

Minerva sat up shakily as Severus, with great solicitude, helped ease her up and placed pillows behind her back. He hadn't spoken a word since they had arrived in the Hospital Wing, thank goodness, but his continued presence at Minerva's side obviously mystified the mediwitch. Poppy held out the small cup containing the thick, brown potion. Minerva's hand shook as she reached for it, and Severus took it from Poppy's hand and brought it to Minerva's lips. "If it is the potion I believe it is, it contains a good deal of ginger and brown mustard seed, which will make it burn a bit as it goes down, but it won't last long, m – Minerva," he said softly.

They had been right; the potion was very hot, but although it was as thick as molasses, it went down easily. In a few minutes, Minerva was feeling a great deal better.

"Feeling more like yourself?" Poppy asked. "Good. Now I have something that will taste much nicer and that will help the residual muscle cramps. I'll be right back."

After Poppy closed the door behind her, Severus suddenly went limp and collapsed onto Minerva, placing his head in her lap. "Oh, Minerva, that was dreadful. Just awful. I didn't think I could bear to see you in pain one second longer. The only thing that got me through it was remembering that I was helping you and bringing you comfort, and that you would soon be well. I am also very glad that it was one of my potions that helped you."

"A potion you brewed or a potion you created, Severus?" Minerva asked as she gently stroked the distressed wizard's hair.

"Both. It helps some with the after-effects of Cruciatus. It should be even more effective against the potion that Albus gave you. I should have asked him more about it before allowing him to give it to you. I may have been able to save you some pain, dearest one."

Minerva grimaced at the term of affection, but said only, "Remember, Severus, Albus took it himself." She added, somewhat disingenuously, "And it no doubt looked worse than it felt. I think you could have heard a pin drop in the Great Hall when you carried me out. It must have made quite an impression."

Severus sat up and looked at Minerva, wiping her forehead once more with the cool cloth. "They stood as I carried you out. Even the Slytherins, Minerva. And they were completely silent. Your students care about you. None of mine ever would. I'm just the bastard of the dungeons, the great, greasy bat. They'd probably cheer if it were I who had been struck down like that."

"You forget Hermione Granger, Severus. She skipped dinner for you Friday, remember? She was worried about you."

"She felt guilty. Just Gryffindor conscience. That's all it was."

"Perhaps. But then she found the other book for you, which, although it turned out to be of as little use as any of the other texts, was still very thoughtful of her. And she went out of her way to talk to Pansy. Without Miss Granger, we would still be wondering whether you had been ambushed."

"Hmmpf. Miss Granger is exceptional in many ways. But that she is an exception simply proves my point: the students hate me."

"In part because of the image you have cultivated. I sometimes think you don't know yourself where the image ends and the real Severus Snape begins."

"Perhaps it is all image and no substance, Minerva. Perhaps there is no 'real' Severus Snape. Or perhaps what you see is what you get: I truly am a nasty, irredeemable bastard."

"I don't believe either of those statements, Severus. But I am tired now. I can't talk about such things at the moment."

Severus nodded and watched as Minerva closed her eyes. He gently took one of her hands. "If there is anything true about me," he whispered, "it is you and my love for you."

Before Minerva could respond, the door opened and Poppy came in. She stopped and blinked as she noticed that Severus Snape was holding the Transfiguration mistress's hand. Severus swallowed and, with great deliberation, laid Minerva's hand on her lap and gave it a pat. "I'll just wait outside for the Headmaster now, Minerva."

"My, after seeing that, perhaps I should have made one of these for myself," Poppy said as she handed a tall glass to Minerva, waiting until Severus had left the small room and closed the door behind him.

"What is this?" Minerva asked, deliberately avoiding the topic of what Poppy saw when she came in.

"Vodka tonic. Heavy on the tonic. No gin, since I didn't think that the juniper would mix well with the potion I just gave you, for all this is a Muggle drink."

Minerva took a sip of the cold drink. "Hmm. Don't know what made you think of this, but a drink is actually quite welcome right now."

"The tonic has quinine in it. You should drink more of it – minus the alcohol! – later tonight. It will help rehydrate you and might help your muscles recover from the spasms. You should get Albus to drink some, as well. He refused my offer earlier; said he had to get back to you. So, did he need to get back to you because there is some trouble between you two? Or because of Severus?"

"What do you mean, 'because of Severus,' Poppy?" Minerva asked her friend sharply. "And no, not that it's your business, but Albus and I are fine."

"Well, perhaps my eyes deceived me, but I believe that when I walked in, the 'greasy git of the dungeons' was holding your hand, Min."

"Don't call him that, Poppy. And don't call me 'Min.' You know I hate it."

"You aren't going to explain any of it, are you?"

"No. You can talk to Albus about it, if you like. You can even tell him precisely what you saw. He is the only one who can answer any questions you have. Now, be a friend, Poppy, and just let me finish this lovely drink in peace."

"Hmmpf. All right, then. No more awkward questions, but there's obviously something going on here. I have a fresh robe for you that you can put on when you're done with your drink. You must be uncomfortable in that sweaty one." Poppy chuckled. "Severus should change, too, you sweat so much all over him. Didn't seem to bother him, though." She shook her head. "You really aren't going to tell me what's going on, are you?"

Minerva just handed Poppy her empty glass. "Thank you for the drink, Poppy. Most refreshing. And I'll make sure that both Albus and I drink more tonic water tonight. Now I think I'll put on that fresh robe."

When Albus returned to the infirmary twenty minutes later, Minerva had drifted into a light sleep. He peeked in on her before turning to Poppy and suggesting that she accompany him to the Great Hall to address the staff and students.

"Severus, I would like you to stay here and look after Minerva whilst we are gone. Make sure that no one disturbs her. And take care of any needs that might crop up, all right, my boy?"

Severus nodded, narrowing his eyes at Poppy when she opened her mouth to say something. After they left, he reentered Minerva's room and sat in a chair by the side of her bed. Minerva opened her eyes and yawned.

"Severus. You're back. Has Albus returned yet?"

"Only briefly." Severus paused, then added, "He looked in on you, but you were sleeping. He and Poppy have gone to announce your illness to the Great Hall. Do you know what it is you're supposed to have?"

"Febrile contagious magical distemper of the spasmodic type, I think Albus said."

Severus's brow furrowed. "That's a very dangerous – and contagious – disease. How are they going to explain why you are staying here and not going to St. Mungo's?"

"I suppose because of the contagious part. Poppy has the authority to make the decision on whether to keep me here or send me to St. Mungo's. This isn't like the stunner incident. As long as Poppy declares me stable and responding to treatment, there shouldn't be a problem."

"But if it's contagious –"

"Severus, I know you are unwell, but do think a bit. The incubation period must be at least a few days. Who knows where or how I contracted it, but I'm sure that Albus and Poppy worked that all out. Albus did say that this illness met all of our needs, and Poppy will perform diagnostic spells on everyone who's been in contact with me during the last day, to maintain appearances. Fortunately, I can count fewer than a dozen people – other than you, Albus, and Hermione – with whom I've been in the same room during that time, and since Argus is a Squib, she might not even have to test him for it."

"I still think something could go wrong with this ruse. What if someone wants to visit you?"

"Highly contagious, remember?"

"But there are Anti-Contagion Field Charms that can be used –"

"Then for my peace of mind – I don't want visitors. I'm sure Poppy will handle everyone just fine, Severus!"

"I am sure you must be right, Minerva. If you say it will be fine, it will be. It's just a habit of mine, thinking of everything that could go wrong with a plan . . . of course, there are always a few things that can go wrong that no one can anticipate." He sighed.

"That is why you are so valuable to Albus, Severus. Not the only reason, of course. We are both very glad you are here, and I hope you remember that, even when I'm a bit cranky during this particular crisis."

"I will, my love. If it weren't for me, you would not be in this situation." Severus's eyes filled with tears. "I have caused you so much discomfort already, intruded on your life, deprived you of sleep, burdened you with my attentions, and now you have endured this dreadful potion for my sake. And everything is likely to be futile, since we have found no counter-spell or potion to release me from this curse. Your suffering is in vain." Tears rolled freely down his face.

"It's all right, Severus. I do not believe that it is futile. And I care about you; I couldn't do anything other than help you if you needed me, you see. It also makes me feel good to know I am able to help you." She reached out and took Severus's hand. "You will see, Severus. Everything will work out. You will be back to your usual sunny self before my fake illness runs its course. I promise you. I promise, Severus."

He laid his head in her lap and wept.

After a few minutes, Minerva said gently, "Severus, Albus and Poppy will be back soon. You need to gather yourself together."

Severus sat up and wiped his face on his sleeve. "I'm sorry, Minerva. I seem to break down in tears at the slightest provocation under this spell." He attempted to sneer. "'Snivellus' returns." His voice cracked and his face crumpled.

"Hush, hush, Severus! You are a fine, brave man. You are dealing with the spell admirably. Come here." She put a hand on his shoulder and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Now hand me my wand – Poppy put it over there – and I will just give you a little Glamour. No need for Poppy to see you might have more of a heart than she thinks you do. Keep your nasty reputation intact!" she joked.

Minerva's timing was impeccable; she had just cast the Glamour when the door opened and Poppy and Albus entered.

"Well, my boy, thank you for looking after Minerva for me," Albus said. "We will meet you in a little while. You go on ahead; I'll bring Minerva in a bit."

"Very good, Headmaster. I was wondering . . . how did the students and staff react when you made your announcement?"

"Well, clearly they are all concerned. And Filius has been drafted to make a list of everyone with whom Minerva's been in contact over the last twenty-four hours so that Poppy can test them. All students who haven't been in contact with her were told they should return to their common rooms. The Gryffindors were particularly worried, but Hagrid said that he would look after them for you, Minerva. That will actually be a relief to me – I have been wondering how I could take care of Gryffindor, teach Transfiguration, do my regular work, and . . . assist in this situation," he ended, looking at Poppy as he avoided mention of the actual reason for Minerva's fake illness.

Severus nodded. "I am glad it is under control, then. I will meet you later, Albus." He nodded to Minerva and Poppy, then left with a sweep of his black robes.

"So, Albus," Poppy began, "What is going on here? I think I need to know more than I do – especially as I have been asked to falsify medical records and take care of a patient whom you deliberately poisoned."

Albus winced. He began to answer her, but Minerva spoke first. "Poppy Pomfrey! What a thing to say to the Headmaster! And he most assuredly did not poison me! I took the potion myself, willingly. And he has told you it is Order business. That should be enough for you. I know that you are naturally curious, but please, for the sake of our friendship, if nothing else, just leave this alone. We appreciate all of the work you are doing to help us – and if it makes it easier for you, I will tell you that you are helping to save someone's life. We really can't say any more than that."

"All right, Minerva. I'm sorry, Albus. I know you wouldn't deliberately harm Minerva. It's just all so odd – especially with Severus here."

"We appreciate your discretion, Poppy," Albus said. He looked at her somewhat sharply. "Including about the fact that Severus may have appeared more solicitous than is his normal habit."

"Of course. Well, I suppose you want to smuggle her out now. I will just go check the corridor for you – despite being told to return to their common room, I have a feeling that at least a few Gryffindors might try to visit the Hospital Wing."

Sure enough, it took another fifteen minutes for Poppy to rid the hallway outside the infirmary of stray Gryffindors. Hagrid finally came up and shooed them off toward Gryffindor Tower, promising Poppy that he would make sure they didn't come around and bother her or Professor McGonagall.

Albus carried Minerva, in her Tabby form, in a sling under his robes – he had donned particularly voluminous ones that afternoon. He could feel her warm fur against his side and the rhythmic thrumming of her purr. He had to be careful not to smile, lest someone see him and think he had a very odd attitude for a wizard whose Deputy had just been struck down by a terrible illness.

They arrived safely at the suite of rooms Albus had set up for their use. Using a charm, Albus partially unbuttoned his robes to allow Minerva to jump down from the sling. She stretched, then with a slight pop, returned to her ordinary form. She turned just as he was about to rebutton them.

"Ah ah ah!" she said, approaching him. She reached inside his robes and put her arms around him, leaning into him and nuzzling his beard. "Mmm."

"Um, Minerva," Albus said, putting his right arm around her whilst simultaneously easing her away from him. "Severus," he whispered in her ear.

She turned to see Severus standing behind them in a bedroom doorway, looking grey and sweaty.

"I'm sorry. I just heard you come in."

"It's all right, Severus. I should have thought," Minerva said. "Were you going to check on Slytherin, see how they are doing after the incident in the Great Hall?"

"Yes, I suppose I should. You are right, as always, Minerva."

"Severus, you may want to stop by your room or your office and bring back anything you think you will need here," Albus said.

"Good, right. I will do that." He started toward the door, seeming to stumble a bit on the edge of the carpet.

"Wait, Severus. I know we spent some time together in the infirmary, but it's been a while. I think before you leave, we should make sure that you can get to the dungeons and back without any problems."

"Oh, yes. Of course," he responded, looking somewhat dazed.

Albus gave Minerva a kiss on the cheek. "I'll wait in the other bedroom for you, all right, my dear?"

As soon as Albus had left, though not closing the door behind him, Minerva led Severus to a large sofa in the centre of the room. "Come sit with me a moment, Severus."

He sat with her on the sofa and held her in his arms, running one hand up and down her back, kissing her forehead, then her eyelids, then he merely clutched her to himself, gently rubbing her back. Minerva let herself relax against him. He did feel solid, more solid than he appeared, and it had been good of him to hold her so securely when she was having the muscle spasms, even if it had been the spell that had motivated him.

Finally, he whispered, "Are you really feeling better, Minerva? You seemed so ill."

"I am, Severus. I am a bit sore, like I've run a marathon or something, but other than that, I am fine," she reassured him.

"I love you, Minerva," he said, pulling away from her and looking down into her eyes. "I love you, and I am not saying that just because of the spell, although the spell frees me to say it. You have done more for me than I deserve, more than anyone else would, and I love you." He kissed her brow before pulling her close to him again.

Minerva relaxed into his embrace. This was different, somehow not as frantic, nor as oblivious, as his other gestures and declarations. Finally, Minerva sat up. "You had best see to your House, Severus." She brushed his hair back from his face before kissing his cheek. "Go take care of your students." She rose, and he stood as well.

"You are a marvel, Minerva McGonagall." He bowed and raised her hand to his lips.

Minerva let out a sigh of relief when the door closed behind him. She hurried into the bedroom to join Albus. Without even looking around her, she went over to the bed where he was sitting waiting for her and threw herself into his arms. After a moment of just being held, laying her head on his shoulder, Minerva sighed and said, "Severus can actually be a little sweet occasionally, but I still couldn't wait for him to finally leave so I could have you to myself!"

"Mmm." He kissed her temple. "I heard most of what he said. It was rather sweet. And he's right, you are a marvel!"

Minerva looked up in alarm. "I'm sorry! Did that bother you?"

"No, no, my dearest. You haven't any control over what he says, after all, and I would hope that you would show him some affection. And it is good to hear that he appreciates you as much as he does. I believe that he was sincere."

"Perhaps . . . but I far prefer it when you appreciate me, Albus!"

"I know, and I intend to appreciate you very much before Severus returns, my dear." He kissed her lips lightly before drawing back and laying her crosswise on the bed, her feet and ankles just hanging off the side. "We may not have much time, but I intend to make the most of it. Now, after your recent ordeal, I want you to just lie back and enjoy yourself. Just relax."

"But Albus, you took the potion, too!"

"Hours ago, my dear. And this will be my tonic!" He wandlessly Levitated some pillows over and lifted her to place them behind her back. He smiled. "Now remember, you just lie there and enjoy my little . . . 'treatment.'"

He moved to her feet and removed her shoes before placing his hand beneath Minerva's skirts and pushing them up. Using just his left hand and no magic, he gently, slowly rolled down first one stocking then the other, leaving them to lie on the floor. He began to massage her feet, ending by kissing each one softly. He then proceeded to her calves, gently massaging each one in turn and lightly following his touch with kisses trailing up till he reached her knee. Albus eased her legs further apart and pushed her skirts up further still. His touch became light as he softly stroked the tender, sensitive skin of her inner thighs, first one, then the other, then caressing her right leg whilst kissing, nipping, licking, and sucking her left. He moved his lips to her right leg, trailing kisses up and down, his beard tickling her skin; Minerva moaned and raised her hips slightly, and Albus reached up under her robe and, left hand on her pelvis, pressed her back down to the bed, leaving his hand there.

"Mmm, Albus, you will drive me mad," Minerva said hoarsely.

"You must lie still and take your treatment, my dear." His voice vibrated teasingly against her inner thigh; he had neared her sex, his lips caressing the hollow juncture between her inner leg and her core.

Minerva moaned as Albus nosed her through her knickers.

"Mmm. You smell so lovely, my dear, so sweet. But we must check to see if all is in order down here, mustn't we?" He hooked a finger beneath the crotch of her panties. "Mmhm. Nice and moist. Quite wet, in fact. But I think a closer inspection," he said, pausing to kiss the damp silk, "a closer inspection is called for." He whispered a spell and the knickers disappeared.

"Very good." His voice was low. He spread her lips with his fingers, lingering and caressing them teasingly as he did so. "Visual inspection shows nice, healthy, glistening, wet flesh," he continued, pretending to be calmly clinical about his "inspection" as Minerva fought her desire to push into his fingers. "And tactile inspection . . . yes, nicely plumped, mmhm, and the clitoris," he said, flicking a finger over her excited nub, "seems well engorged. We must test it for sensitivity, however." He gently blew a stream of air over her clit, and she raised her hips once more; he urged her back down to the bed. "And manual manipulation of this sweet organ," he whispered softly as he began to rub the object of his close inspection, "does have the desired results. But we need to assure ourselves of the internal health of this precious jewel," he said, his whispered breath tickling her nub as his mouth came tantalisingly close to her centre. Albus slid a finger from its previous teasing spot down to the opening of her vagina. He circled, entered a little way, then drew out his finger.

"Yes, nice and wet." He inserted his finger again just to his first knuckle, pulled it out, then thrust it all of the way in and said, "Now to make sure it still maintains its . . . flexibility –" Minerva moaned and tilted her hips as Albus withdrew only to plunge three fingers into her. He smiled and placed his right arm over her, holding her down gently. With his thumb repeatedly rubbing her clit as he pumped his fingers in and out of her warm wetness, he looked up to see Minerva watching him with half-open eyes, flushed, lips parted, her breath coming in gasps and moans. Just as he believed she was about to come, he stopped, gently withdrawing his fingers and caressing her clit before bringing his hand up. She groaned.

"Yes, quite wet. But is it of its usual quality and consistency?" He raised his hand and sniffed before bringing it to his mouth and, one at a time, slowly licking each of his fingers and his thumb as Minerva watched, licking her own lips.

"Mmm. Very nice. But I must drink from the source, I believe."

First kissing and licking her inner thighs again, Albus moved gradually toward Minerva's warm, wet centre, holding her to the bed with his right arm. His tongue circled her clit twice before he licked the soft, slick flesh around her vagina. With a vibrating moan of contentment, Albus slipped his tongue into her wetness, licking and thrusting, drawing his tongue up over her clit before once more plunging it into her vagina. Over and over again, he licked her clit and thrust into her warm wetness, licking and thrusting, licking and thrusting, pausing only once to gently suckle her engorged nub. His beard brushed her sensitive flesh as his lips and tongue moved from her clit to her vagina and back again. Finally, as she squirmed under him, he replaced his tongue with his fingers once more and devoted his mouth to sucking and licking her swollen clit, flicking his tongue over it, then gently suckling, as he drove his fingers deep into her again and again. Flicking, licking, and suckling, manually thrusting, listening to her gasps and moans of pleasure, Albus moaned with pleasure himself as he continued to tease and stimulate Minerva, suckling her nub as his lips and tongue joined his fingers in bringing her closer and closer to explosive orgasm.

"Oh, gods, Albus! Ah ah! Albus! Albus, my love, my Albus, Albus, Albus!" Minerva cried as she came, arching to meet his thrusting hand and laving tongue, quivering beneath his touch before she finally collapsed.

Albus looked up at her, grinning and licking his lips. "I'd say you are quite healthy, my dear!"

Minerva sighed, flushed and exhausted, a slight smile on her lips. "And you really are quite naughty, you know that, don't you?"

"Just as you like it – and as you requested earlier!" He smiled as she reached down to pull him up beside her.

"Mmm. Now kiss me, you devil!" she said with a playful growl. And kiss her he did, using his tongue on her mouth and lips and tongue as he had used them elsewhere only a few moments before.

Minerva sighed happily and stretched. Albus began to play with her hair, removing a single hairpin and twirling her hair through his fingers before removing another one and repeating the process, a content smile on his face.

"That was nice, Albus –" At his raised eyebrows, she added, "Better than 'nice,' in fact, but I feel I need a little something more . . . or a big something more." She reached over and grasped Albus's erection through his robes. "Yes, a big something more, like this." She kissed him and unbuttoned his robe. His penis sprang through the opening.

"Have I told you how much I appreciate your traditional dress, Headmaster?" she asked, suppressing a smile as she handled him, fondling the chamois-soft skin of his cock.

"I believe you may have mentioned it once or twice, Professor McGonagall. Mmm," he moaned softly as her attentions grew more fervid.

"I want more, Albus," she whispered in his ear. "But, as you say, I am recovering from my ordeal. I think we need to move a bit." Minerva kissed him, drawing his tongue into her mouth briefly before pulling back. She moved and lay lengthwise on the bed and patted the pillow beside her. When Albus moved to lie beside her, she said, "No, sit here, right here."

"I love to see him peeking out of your robes and poking through your beard like that, you know; it seems so naughtily sexy of you," Minerva said as she began to fondle him teasingly, slowly, and gently. She swept his beard aside. Her entire focus was on his large cock. Albus could see her pupils dilate before she moved closer to him, nuzzling his erection, stroking it against her cheeks before gently kissing its head. The tip of her tongue came out to meet the tip of his penis, flicking across the head and the small, sensitive slit. She whirled her tongue around the head before licking it up and down its length. She again rubbed his penis against the soft skin of her cheeks before slowly, gradually putting her mouth around him, and going down, down, down, tongue sliding down his cock as her lips reached its base. Albus moaned as Minerva swallowed and he could feel her throat and tongue close around him. Languorously, Minerva raised her head, pressing her lips and tongue against him all of the way up, at the end, closing her teeth around his head, shielding him from their sharp edges with her lips, and Albus groaned in response. She flicked her tongue across and over and back and over until, again, she lowered herself on him, sucking, licking, and swallowing. Then she suddenly increased her tempo as Albus clenched her shoulder with his left hand. She reached inside his robes and began to lightly stroke his balls, feathering touches up to the base of his cock and down again. As she felt his balls begin to tighten, she relaxed and slowly lifted her head from his lap. Albus moaned at her absence.

She lay back against her pillow and motioned to him to lie beside her. Albus moved down, put his head next to hers on the pillow and began to slowly, softly, gently kiss her. Minerva pressed herself against him as their kisses gradually grew more heated. He reached between them and moved her skirt up and out of the way. Rubbing her most sensitive spots, he pulled back from kissing her and smiled. "Still very, very wet, my love."

"Mmm, should do something about that," Minerva moaned as he continued to fondle her. "Don't let it go to waste."

"Never. That would not do at all." He pulled her closer, and when she extended her right leg around his hips, he could feel her moist warmth against his cock. He shifted, and the head of his cock was at her entrance. Albus thrust upward and into her just as she moved to meet him.

Lying there, side by side, they paused just to look at one another before he lowered his head to kiss her as he began to thrust. Their movements were easy, passionate but unhurried. Minerva finally broke from their kiss to gasp and moan as he stroked within her. She buried her face in his hair and found his neck. As he thrust up into her and she moved with him, she kissed, then gently nipped, his neck, wishing for the first time that evening that he had disrobed so she could close her mouth around his shoulder as she cried out her passion. And then it came, wave after wave, seeming as though it would never stop, so intense she could not see and neither knew nor cared whether her eyes were open or closed.

Minerva heard, or felt, Albus's breath become harsh and ragged as he pushed deep into her once, twice, three times more, crying softly, "Minerva, oh, my Minerva, Minerva, sweet love!" He lay still, holding her tightly, his breathing slowing. Then he turned his head and whispered in her ear, "Minerva, my sweetest one, you are my darling, my dearest, my only beloved; you complete me. You are the greatest blessing of my life." He let out a great sigh as he held her close to him.