Severus followed Aberforth into the back room at the Hog's Head. He had received a request to meet Hermione here and being the curious person he was he wondered why. He was suprised to see Minerva and Hermione's newly discovered twin present as well. Hermione offered him a reassuring smile before greeting him. "Please have a seat Professor."

Minerva gave him a piercing look before asking, "Are you able to reveal the specifics of your oath to Albus?" He raised his eyebrow in suprise before indicating he could. "Will you tell us the specifics?"

Severus studied the group for a moment before answering, "It states I shall work towards ultimately ending the Dark Lord and protect Harry Potter as much as my role as a spy will allow."

"No loyalty oath to Albus," Minerva asked suprised.

"No," he responded. "He asked me to take one but I refused. I explained I had blindly followed one master and I would not make the same mistake again."

"Are you able to hide your thoughts from him if need be?" Minerva asked hesitantly.

Severus looked at her in suprise. "I can if I choose to," he finally answered.

Minerva nodded her acceptance. She took a deep calming breath before speaking, "I need your help in protecting my children."

"Protect them from what," Aberforth asked baffled why the witch had wanted to see Severus and him both.

"Albus," Minerva answered. "Are you aware Albus and Gellert had a child together?"

"No," he answered bewildered. "After Ariana was killed, I had little to do with Albus."

"Albus, with the aid of magic, secretly had a daughter and gave her up for adoption," Minerva answered. "A French couple adopted and raised the witch, Arwen Bellamy. She yearned to know her family history and discovered the truth of her parents. Albus murdered her to keep his secrets and I fear he shall do the same to our children."

"These are Albus' grandchildren," Aberforth asked suprised. Minerva merely nodded her head yes.

"I wondered about Hermione's skill in potions but now it makes sense," Severus said thoughtfully. "I think you need to attack first. Albus will settle on a plan shortly since the Daily Prophet announced their mother. It would be best to force his hand and not given him time to plan. Albus relies on his reputation and presence too much. Minerva should be able to overpower him if he isn't expecting it and you could force an oath on him then."

"Do you think it is wise to do such a thing?" Minerva asked, worry for her children evident.

"You must," he insisted. "Albus will never accept his idea of 'the Greater Good' is wrong. If he felt the need to dispose of your wife, he will surely feel the need to dispose of your children as well."

"Over my dead body," Minerva growled much to her children's amusement.

"Do you have a plan for Màthair to gain the upper hand?" Robert asked the dour Potions Master.

"We should be able to come up with something," he reassured with a small smile.

It was just a week later, Minerva found herself sitting in her chambers with a relieved smile on her face. She had managed to gain the upper hand against Albus with Severus' assistance. An oath to not harm her children nor reveal the true parentage of Arwen was forced from him.

Severus' plan had worked easily. He had left the window open when he was last in there and had informed Minerva. She had managed to use her Tabby cat form to enter the office unseen and lay in wait until Severus reentered the office. Albus had been overpowered rather easily. What suprised both Severus and Minerva was when they discovered Albus had the fabled Elder Wand and now Minerva was its master.

Minerva admired the wand in her hand but at the same time she knew she couldn't keep it. No one person should wield power the Elder Wand was able to. Merlin forbid it end up in Tom Riddle's hands! She didn't quite know what to do with it though.

"What about tossing it in the veil?" Severus asked as he settled down in the seat next to her.

Minerva smiled at the man in black. Ever since the meeting in the Hog's Head, their relationship had shifted. The rival Head of Houses had became easy friends. They learned they had a great deal in common. "Do you think that is wise?" she questioned. "We truly know nothing about the veil."

"Do you think you should wield it until the Dark Lord is defeated?" he questioned as he took a sip of fire whiskey.

Minerva sighed loudly at his suggestion. "It appears I must," she answered as she gulped a large amount of her own cup of fire whiskey. "Thank you for including Robert in your advanced potion lessons with Hermione," she said. "He is rather thrilled by it."

"No need for thanks," he replied. "It is rather refreshing to see students soak up information like they both do. I thought Hermione was gifted but I do believe Robert has more potential with potions. Hermione still struggles with deviating from known recipes but Robert has no such limitations. He wants to understand how each ingredient interacts and if another could improve the overall potion. If he is pushed, he has the potential to be the best potion master this century."

"Really," Minerva asked amazed by Severus' words. "Robert is that gifted? Even though he is unable to cast with a wand?"

He offered her a warm smile that reach his chocolate eyes. "His inability to use a wand is what makes him think outside of normal standards. He is not hindered by incantations or foolish wand waving. I am honored to polish his skills."

Minerva smiled brightly at him as she leaned her head on his shoulder and slowly finished her drink. She didn't allow herself the opportunity to study why she found Severus Snape so comforting at the moment. And she wouldn't allow herself the opportunity to ponder why she thought of the dour Potions Professor so much either!