"Oh, Missy Professor McGonagall!" Sippy exclaimed, almost dropping the basin in her hands at the sight of the woman in her master's rooms. It wasn't the first time the Professor had been in Snape's room, Sippy knew they were a couple, but she hadn't expected the company that evening.

"Hi, Sippy," she said softly, sitting down on the sofa.

"What can Sippy do for you? Sippy is bringing a basin as Master Snape asked!"

"You can put it on the table here," McGonagall said, motioning to the table in front of the sofa. Sippy did as she was told. "Sit down," McGonagall added, patting the spot next to the couch.

"What? Sippy may not sit down! Sippy has work to do!"

"I'm telling you to sit down for a moment," McGonagall said again, this time impatiently. Stuck between the work she knew was in the kitchens for her and disobeying the Deputy Headmistress, Sippy did the latter and sat nervously down on the sofa.

"Master Snape told me to bring this basin because he might be hurt! He's hurt a lot when he comes home!"

"Thank you for that. I want to talk to you, Sippy."

"Yes?"

"You must promise me something."

"Yes!"

"You must promise me you'll take care of Professor Snape."

"He is my Master!" Sippy was confused by the Professor's promise, but she could tell how serious the woman was.

"No matter what may happen, Sippy," she insisted.

Still confused, Sippy asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No, not now. Professor Snape has a complicated life, and sometimes he has to do things that seem bad. I trust you to make sure he is okay, and to tell me if he is not."

"Of course! Like how he comes in hurt?" For the last few months of the Summer, Sippy had spent much of her time aiding Snape and McGonagall in cleaning his wounds. Snape consistently refused to go to Madame Pomfrey, Sippy got the impression he liked being in his own rooms. The first time it had happened, at the end of last term, Sippy had been scared. Snape had barely gotten through the doors to his room and collapsed beside the door upon getting inside the living room. Sippy had been in the rooms, taking his trash out, when he came in. He'd barely said a word to her, just asking for water. Sippy had wanted to ask him what had happened, but he was in no mood to talk. To this day, he never told her where he went that made him come home so hurt. That first night, Sippy had run to get McGonagall, knowing she would be who Master wanted there.

"Yes, just like that. You're doing a good job bringing him this basin so we can wash his wounds when he comes in," her voice was genuine, but Sippy could hear the same concern she always had nights like these.

"So you're telling Sippy to take care of Master Snape no matter what?"

"Yes. No matter what."

"I promise" she said, eager to please the woman who still intimidated her, despite many nights together in recent months.

"You may go now," McGonagall said.

Sippy stood and hurried back to finish up her work in the bedroom, about to disapparate when she heard the door to Snape's rooms open. She peaked around the doorway to see, for the first time in weeks, he was uninjured.

"Severus!" McGonagall stood from the couch and hugged him.

"I look well, do I not?" A small smile crept on his face, some Sippy only saw him do around McGonagall.

"Thank, Merlin."'

Snape guided her back to the couch and Sippy felt bad intruding on their private time, but she wanted to know why he wasn't injured. "Apparently, my loyalties are done being questioned."

McGonagall signed and rubbed her temples. "For now."

"I'm sure he will soon have more new followers to test."

"Now there's something to justify a glass." McGonagall walked to the bar on the other side of the room as Snape sat down. Sippy had been able to piece together that the "He" neither of them had named over the months was the Dark Lord. It scared her to think he was back and that Snape worked with him. However, she knew her loyalty to Snape meant keeping his private affairs secret. When the other House Elves would chatter and debate over if the Dark Lord was back, it took all her willpower not to tell them what she knew. She wondered if Snape and McGonagall had figured out that she knew or just trusted her. She hoped it was the latter.

As she poured two glasses, Snape said, "Make mine strong."

"Now there's the Severus that I know. I missed you." Her second sentence was in jest, but Sippy could hear a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Tomorrow is the first of three days we have with absolutely nothing to do. I can afford the extra shot."

"Well, in that case, let me ruin the positive evening by letting you know what Albus told me to tell you," McGonagall said, walking back to the couch with their glasses and sitting beside him.

"And what is it that our beloved Headmaster couldn't tell me himself?"

"He predicts that the Dark Lord will begin to penetrate Potter's mind sometime in the coming year. Someone is going to need to teach him Occlumency, and that someone is you. You're the only logical choice."

Snape said nothing for a moment. Sippy couldn't tell if he was mad- from the way McGonagall put it, it sounded like she knew he was going to be mad. "No comment about how this is good bonding time for Potter and I? I'm shocked at you, Min."

"Contrary to your belief, I find this decision to be logical, but unwise."

Snape snorted. "Finally, some agreement. I suppose Albus told you this over your weekly game of chess to distract you from my visits with the Dark Lord?"

"Indeed."

"I'm thankful tonight brought no casualties."

Snape kissed her head and pulled her closer to him on the sofa. "I know."

"Any word on the new Defense professor?"

"You know Albus isn't telling me. He slipped tonight over a glass of whisky, though, and did tell me they are from the Ministry."

Snape sighed. "Another moron," he muttered, taking a drink.

"Perhaps. But, I do not like the idea of the Ministry having eyes in the school. Especially not now."

"Any guesses?"

"Not one. Severus?"

"Mm?"

"I have a rather bad feeling about this year. Let's enjoy the next three days...alone?"

"I'd like nothing more," he replied. "I...I've been rather distant this summer. Believe me, Min. It has nothing to do with you...if you were concerned."

"I know," she replied quickly. Sippy watched her take a drink from her glass and then stare into the cup for a good while until speaking again. "I'm...we have no room for emotions now. It will do us no good."

"You worry."

She chuckled. "You're insightful."

"What I mean is...you don't have to stay. My life is...chaos. It affords little room for stability. We've had that up until now. Now…'

"Duty calls," McGonagall said bitterly.

"Precisely. I don't want to drag you into this."

"I'm older than your mother, Severus. You haven't dragged me into anything. I chose to be here."

"In a very different time."

"One with a recently defeated Dark Lord, little complications and a Hogwarts without the Weasley twins. I remember well."

"Things are changing."

"We're changing."

"So…"

"So, I'm not leaving, Severus."

The room fell silent, and Sippy knew she had certainly overstayed her welcome. She cared about the two professors a lot, and couldn't bring herself to leave. House Elves were, after all, naturally curious. "I can't promise you the same."

"I know." Her voice was firm and sad.

"I love you," Snape said and Sippy's heart almost burst. She'd never heard him say it, it was like a Muggle romance novel.

"I love you too," she replied. "Chess?"

Snape nodded, and Sippy took that as her chance to retreat.