It was the middle of the night, the corridors of Hogwarts was all in semi darkness, as the moon shone strongly from a cloud free sky, bringing it's cold pale light upon the castle.

Food steps were echoing in the corridor, soft food steps as the person walking around were wearing soft night slippers, a cold white light was erupting from the wand as the woman looked around and collected her scotch patterned robe closer around her, before quickly moving on.

A dark shadow also loomed the castle, he however stood completely still and thus disappeared completely into the shadows of the great stone castle, only as the elderly woman came walking in fast strides, did he step out of the shadow.

Shocked McGonagall jumped back as she saw him. "Severus?" McGonagall surprised voice rang from the hallway. "I didn't see you! What on earth are you doing up at this late hour?"

"I could might ask you the same question." Snape returned. Unlike McGonagall who was in night wear, Snape was fully dressed in his usual black robe.

Defeated McGonagall let out a sight. "You know as a teacher sometimes I just get the feeling when something is going on in the castle that shouldn't." she smirked a little. "I just have this sense there is something happening, so I thought maybe some students."

"I know what you mean." Severus muttered looking around. "It differently fells like something is going to happen,"

"It's not just a prank this time though." McGonagall mussed. "The castle is almost shaking all by itself."

Severus's black eyes for a moment studied McGonagalls face. "I suppose.. it happens when it happens and we will figure it out done." He said carefully.

"Severus." Minnerva lifted an eyebrow. "You know something?" she asked.

Severus didn't answer, his face expression remaining blank.

"You do." It was a flat defeated statement. "What is it?"

Severus looked at her, his face in the same sort of folds. "I am forbidden to say." He said.

"Again?" Minnerva asked. "Well, I can promise that if you tell me I wont give the head master any reason to think that you told me."

Severus smirked.. for a moment looking genuinely amused, even appreciating, he turned around and gazed out of the window, looking up at the stars before his hand was reached out to touch the stone wall where it rested for a while before sliding down, before his gaze returned to McGonagall. "Do you think it will ever end?" he asked sincerely. "Will we live to see another day without the dark lord?"

Minerva looked oddly at him, but then shrugged. "Yeas." She said surely.

"What makes you so sure he wont be the one to win?" Severus asked. "And change everything."

"Life experience." Minerva answered. "Don't worry, we will live to see the day, and it wont be that long, things like this never last for long. People like him never last long."

Severus nodded, not showing any expression on his face, but looked down. "I know we had a lot of differences in the past." He hesitated.

McGonagall shook her head smiling faintly. "yeas, and we will have a lot of differences in the future. This past year when we almost never had a argument was quite frankly unnerving."

Snape blinked, and a faint smile was again to be traced on his lips. "Regardless." He sighed.

"Hush Severus." McGonagall told. "I don't know what have brought you into this mood, but I am sure what ever you want to say you would regret it in the morning, and as far as I am concerned, we are friends, you don't need this."

Defeated Snape shook his head.

A great scream sounded from outside, shocked McGonagall and Snape exchanged looks before storming for the window, sticking their heads out and looked upwards, towards the voices. "The astronomy tower!" Snape exclaimed as they quickly retrieved. "Bellatrix." He uttered as the same voice rang through the night air again.

"Hurry." McGonagall exclaimed all ready on her way to the astronomy tower.

"wait." Snape stopped her by grabbing her shoulder in a firm grip. "We need back-up, go call upon the order, I'll go up there." he let go of her.

McGonagall nodded, and turned around to quickly run in the direction of her offices.

"Minerva!" Snape called out again.

Surprised McGonagall halted and turned around, to look at Snape.

Snape swallowed as he stood stone still. "Take care of yourself."

McGonagall looked at him in utter astonishment and confusion, for a moment seemingly having been shocked into a halt, but at last she composed herself and nodded slowly, for a lingering moment, less than a second really, met Snapes black eyes. And and turned around again to run away, and Snape did equally so sprinting in the other direction so they were both running each their separate way.