As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys. All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.

#

The castle had fallen into an uneasy lull; word had gotten out that Ginny had lost her magic and that Ron had been taken away by the Aurors. All in all, it was turning in to a very troublesome Sunday. Minerva and Severus took to patrolling the halls after the pupils had been confined to their common rooms until dinner.

As the opposing heads of house patrolled in silence, they were deep in thought about the events of the last few hours. Minerva broke the uneasy silence.

'What happened between you and Potter in the hell, Severus?' she asked the Potions master

Without missing a beat, he said 'he knows, Minerva.'

'Perhaps it's a good thing that it is finally out there? You should have put this stupid grudge with a dead man to rest years ago. I know that James tried to put the past behind him even before he left here.' Said, Minerva

'I hated him; he was everything that I could never be. He was popular, talented, wealthy, and eventually, he had her heart. How could I reconcile that?' asked Severus with a sigh

'Well to start with you could have stopped acting like an overgrown man child, then perhaps spoken with James about your grievance with him. Logic would dictate that this would have been a more productive course of action to take rather than sulk for seventeen years' scolded Minerva.

Severus remained silent while he considered this.

Minerva stopped and fixed her colleague with her most pointed professorial stare, ' know Lily was particularly upset that you refused to meet with her before her wedding, she told me that you sent back her letter unopened. I assume that you were off doing the unspeakable things with the rest of HIS followers.'

'There are many things in my life that I regret, Minerva, none more so than the hurt that I caused Lily. While I joined the Death Eater Ranks, I did not sully myself with their "unspeakable acts" as you so eloquently put it. I was the youngest potions master in generations; my worth to HIM was in my work with a cauldron.' Explained Severus.

'What was your reason for hating James?' she asked

'You mean to tell me that you don't know? Please Minerva, nothing that your lions do passes without your ken.' Spat Severus

'You gave just as good as you got Severus, none of you should have behaved the way you did. Does that excuse their actions, no it does not, nor does it justify your behaviour towards an orphaned child under your supervision? I maintain what I said before the beginning of the term, changes had better take place before much longer or the dungeons will be looking for a new inhabitant.' Said Minerva before she started walking away.

'He saved my life' confessed Severus. 'the night of the full moon, Black told me that if I wanted to know what they were doing, then I should go to the shrieking shack. I never knew that Lupin was a were; Potter put himself between Lupin. I was so scared that I couldn't move, Black had been thrown against the wall and was lying in a heap on the floor. Just before Lupin struck, Potter changed into his Animagus form and charged at Lupin and pinned him against the wall with his antlers, giving me time to get away.'

Minerva turned and considered her colleague.

'The following morning, he sought me out to make sure that I wasn't hurt. I asked him why he was so concerned about my well being, and his words haunt me every time I see Harry.' said the potions master.

'What did he say to you Severus?' she asked him

'He said, "You're a good man Severus; I would never be able to forgive myself if you got hurt because of my inaction." His attitude towards me changed after that; he always gave me a small nod from across the hall and did his level best to stop Black for being an arse. I never forgave him for being a better man than I could ever be, and now his son knows what I did. What am I supposed to do now?'

'My first thought would be to tell Harry everything, he is a good man, and he will understand. I promise you this Severus, make amends, and you will have him as an ally. Continue on this path of hostility, and you will end up as marginalised as Albus is. Now If you will excuse me, I have some work that I need to attend to.' Said Minerva before she turned and walked away.

Severus leaned against the corridor wall; he watched the portraits move about, the ghost flit aimlessly and the occasional house-elf pop in and out as they carried out their duties.

Perhaps Minerva was right, maybe he had been carrying this burden for too long, and it was the time that he set it down. Maybe Harry was as good a man as she had made him out to be, he could only hope.

Minerva made it back to her office and had no sooner taken her seat than a familiar house-elf popped in beside her.

'Mr Harry Potter sir told Dobby to gives Professor Kitty this. Is to be staying with you, Mr Harry Potter sir be saying Dobby is going to be neededed today.' Said Dobby

'Professor Kitty, you say?' she said with a raised eyebrow as she took the message.

Dobby nodded with giddy excitement; it was almost enough to make someone seasick.

She opened the letter and read;

"Professor,

Alastor Moody is not who he appears to be. He is Barty Crouch Junior, and he is using poly juice, Please do not confront him directly unaided. I also have reason to believe that he is using Alastor's eye to look through the clothing of the female students and staff.

Professor the Hogwarts charter permits you to examine any magical item to ensure that they are not a danger to the students. I would advise that you confront him with this under the premise of a CONSTANT VIGILANCE, it will play to his ego that he has managed to convince everyone that he is Alastor. Dobby will stay with you, once you have the eye get Dobby to stun him. It will also help if you get Director Bones to come with Kingsley and Tonks.

Be Safe Minerva.

Harry"

'That bloody auld fool' sighed Minerva.