A/N: Thanks to all the people who is following this fanfic, I would love if you all would leave a comment so I can know what you actually think of it… but it's fine, at least, you're reading it ;-)

Thanks for the nice reviews to Quill of Minerva and Yue Sai. I hope I don't disappoint your expectations for this chapter, I know both Minerva and Severus are a little out of character but… the truth is it's becoming harder to me at every new fanfic to keep them in place. Maybe I need to reread some original HP but… I don't have the time.

I really hope you all like it and, as always, I'm sorry for my grammar and spelling mistakes.

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Chapter 2 – Minerva

It was sunny on Friday. At last, after almost a week raining, I would be able to go back to my reading routine near the lake. It was calm down there… I liked reading with the sound of the water and the smell of the field… it was like being back home.

I sat on the ground, with my back against the cold stone and I took off my shoes. I was reading Walter Scott… I enjoy muggles' literature because they are more dreamers than we are. I like the worlds they create and the way they talk about love…

I was imagining myself sailing with Captain Cleveland when all of a sudden a memory of my childhood came to my mind… It was the day when granny died. I was the one who found her asleep in bed that morning, but she wouldn't wake up. I remember it was hard to me to understand she wasn't coming back anymore. I had thought about that day a lot lately, but this time it was different… I had the feeling somebody was watching… like the other day in the library. I used occlumency to build a new stonewall and I stood up and saw a shadow running away into the forbidden forest. I transformed into my cat form so I could run faster, I jumped up on the trees and when I could see his back, I jumped over him and transformed myself back. I grabbed his wand and turned him around to see his face… I couldn't believe it…

"Severus Snape! How dare you trying to read my mind?" I yelled at him. At first, I couldn't think of a reason he would spy on me, but then I realized someone else might have ask him to do so.

"I didn't, I swear!" he tried.

"You are wandless and under my feet, do you really think it's a good time for you to lie?" I didn't let him answer, nor I think he would knew what to say. "You've been following me all over the castle these days, didn't you? Whose orders are you following this time, Dumbledore's or Voldemort's?"

"None!"

"Severus...!" I pointed his throat with his own wand… he seemed calm… "If you dare trying to use legilimens on me one more time, I won't hesitate, I swear…" I stood up and through the wooden stick next to him. It was worthless to harm him since he didn't even know what he was trying to find out. "Tell Albus to mind his own business." I made my way back to the lake rock, where I had left my shoes and my book and went back to the castle.

Albus knew there was something wrong… he had been trying to get me to tell him for weeks but I would have never imagined he would send Severus to spy on me.


That night, I decided not to go to my weekly chess date with the Headmaster; I wouldn't have been able to look at him. Later, around midnight, someone knocked the door and I guessed it was Dumbledore wondering why I had dumped him… but I was wrong, it was Severus at the door.

"What now?" I said. I was really tired and just wanted to go to bed.

"Can I come in?" He asked in a tone of voice I had actually never heard from him.

"I don't think so." I said trying to close the door, but he stopped it with his foot.

"I know you are upset," he said, "and you have every right to be, but I think we should talk."

"What about, Severus? Is there anything about my weekly schedule that you have missed, or is about the memories about my childhood that you have stolen from me?" Yes, I felt betrayed and invaded.

"Minerva, I know."

"What do you know?" I wondered not thinking he actually mean it.

"Minerva, I know you have cancer."

The seconds that followed his words became an eternity… Our looks met and I could see his concern, mixed with sadness and questioning… I grabbed the sleeve of his dress and pulled him inside. Then I closed the door and breathed hard before facing him.

"How have you found out?" I asked. I wanted to know, I needed to… I had made such an effort to hide my illness from everybody so I wouldn't have to bear those looks on every face… I needed to know where I had failed.

"After we met in the forest I understood it would be impossible to take any information from you, but then I thought that since you spend a lot of time with Poppy, she may know your secret… and she's not the strong witch you are…"

"You used legilimens on her…" Now I understood. "You bastard…" I cursed in a whisper "You shouldn't have learnt…"

"Minerva, if I haven't gone to Dumbledore first is because I think you are the one who must tell him." He said, and I couldn't help but let go a giggle.

"Of course I won't… and you won't either." I warned him.

"I don't understand." He never abandoned his inexpressive face and those unreadable eyes, "He's your friend and he's worried, that's why he asked me to spy on you… Minerva, he doesn't even imagine the kind of trouble you're in…"

"Yes, he's my friend… but he's my boss too," I said "…and if he finds out, then he won't let me teach, he'll make me stay in my rooms, or go back home… I don't want him to take away from me the only reason that makes me fight to get up from the bed every morning…" I could feel the tears coming up my eyes and I turned around so he wouldn't see me cry. There was a long and uncomfortable silence after that.

"Alright…" I heard him say and I turned around to look at him, "I won't tell Albus until I think it's strictly necessary."

"Thank you. Now, if you please, I could really use some rest." I closed the door once he was gone and hoped he would keep his word.


The next morning, when I was going to Poppy's to get my morning potion, I saw Severus coming out the hospital wing. I entered the nurse's office in a rush and demanded some explanations.

"Good morning, Min. It's nice to see you have energy this morning." She said ignoring my questions.

"I don't. I had a very bad day yesterday, and even a worst night."

"Yes, he told me." She said handing me the vial with my medicine.

"What did he told you, and what the hell was he doing here at this time on the morning, Poppy?"

"He wanted all the files about you, the diagnosis from St. Mungo's doctor and the recipes of all the potions you need to take."

"You didn't give all that to him, did you?"

"Of course, I did. Minerva, he has offered to make all your potions and help me with your treatment."

"We don't need his help!"

"No, you don't want his help, but we do need him. I already told you, Minerva… I'm just a nurse, I know how to cast basic medical spells and how to make basic potions but I'm not a potion master… I won't risk your health just because of your pride."

I left without saying anything else and closing the double wooden door noisily. Then I went down to the dungeons and went into Severus' lab without announcing myself.

"You had no right!" I yelled, "I never asked for your help!"

"You actually did," he replied from his desk. He was reading my files. "You asked me to keep your secret and not telling Albus, this means, I must make sure you're receiving the right treatment so you get cured."

"Poppy was doing it great without you!"

"Calm down," he said.

"I don't want to calm down!"

"You shouldn't be getting stressed… you could faint…"

"I'm fi-" all of a sudden I felt dizzy and when I tried to hold myself, I wasn't strong enough and I felt myself falling down… I would have crashed to the ground if it wasn't for Severus, who grabbed me and make me sit down.

"Now, put your head down," he said approaching one more chair so I could lay down, "and your feet up," and he grabbed my legs and put them on the desk. Then I heard him looking for something in a cupboard and he came back with some plant that he made me smell. "Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you." I said, trying to stand up, but he didn't let me move.

"You shouldn't stand up yet." He said, and he stood up at my feet, where I couldn't see him in my position, "Minerva, I'm the best potion master you'll find in England and if you don't want anyone to find out about you having cancer, then you'll have to let me help you."

"When I finished my studies I realized I was trying to fit in a men world. To succeed, I had to show everybody I was stronger than any other wizard… and I did. All these years, no witch or wizard has dared to confront me… I don't like people to see me like this… so… weak"

"I know you are a strong witch, Minerva. But you won't fight cancer on your own." Who was that man talking? If it wasn't because there was nobody else in that room and because he was talking with Severus' voice, I would swear it was someone else… When had Snape become so wit, so careful, so sweet…? I bit my lips not to show the smile drawn on my face and sat down.

"Why do you really want to help me, Severus?" I asked again.

"Albus was going to reconsider giving me the Defense against the dark arts position if I found out what you weren't telling him… since I won't be getting my reward, I want to make sure you get over this damn illness to remind you what keeping your secret have cost me."

Could it really be true that there was something so good and pure behind that evil appearance of Severus? Anyway, he had made me smile, and I hadn't smiled in a long time…

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TO BE CONTINUED…