It was the first year in the whole of Minerva's career where the castle fell completely quiet as soon as classes ended. When the night fell, it seemed dead. She even missed those rebellious students trying to hide in an empty classroom after curfew, whose giggles she could still hear. Now everyone, children and adults, hid in fear. Hogwarts had lost its soul. Slowly, she headed toward the staff room, where she used to spend her long and sleepless nights staring at the fireplace. That room too had been, a very long time ago, a friendly and welcoming place.

A noise made her stop. Instantly she had drawn her wand, ready to confront one of the Carrows or any other death eater hiding in the dark. She waited. Another small noise, like a wounded animal, still a few steps away from her. It was near the headmaster's office.

"Lumos."

She gasped. Standing a few feet away, one hand on the wall and the other pressed against his chest was Severus Snape, his whole body shaken by violent twitching. His dark eyes were locked on her.

"Go away", he said with a hoarse voice. She was shaken by how pale he was. There was a thin trickle of blood running down his mouth. She had seen him unwell before, but never to that extent. But things had changed.

"I see that He who must not be named did not give up on his old habits," she said coldly.

She had wished him dead. She hated him and had thought she would rejoice in seeing him like this. But she didn't. All she saw was a broken, pathetic man who had once been her friend. She wondered if she should do something to him, taking advantage of his condition and putting him out of harm's way. Breathing heavily, the man suddenly grabbed his stomach and groaned in pain, standing unsteadily on his feet. Before she knew it, she was standing by his side, supporting him as he passed out.

She did not want him to die in her arms. It did not matter what it was, at this moment she knew she would help him. The door leading to his apartments was opened, he certainly had had time to say his password. She quickly conjured a stretcher and entered the room, looking for the bed and placing him there before searching for healing potions. She knew his rooms well. She had been in his living room more times that she could count, sharing with him a cup of tea or a strong bottle of firewiskey she always brought when the two of them felt they would not be able to confront another bunch of students without one. She had also, sometimes, nursed him in his room when he was too sick to protest and Poppy too tired to fight him and drag him in the infirmary. It often happened after one of their "meetings".

"Minerva."

She stared at him. Now that she could see him clearly, he looked terrible. Except for his cheeks, which were bright red, his skin looked deadly white; one of his wrist, torn in an unnatural angle, seemed broken. She could not help herself.

"I'll call Poppy."

"Why would... you?"

"Because you clearly are unwell, and I'm not going to let you die on this bed, am I?"

Severus did not answer. She did not know if it was the fever, of if the man had just gone mad, but he laughed.

"How did you manage... to survive that long." He started coughing and closed his eyes as some more blood ran down his mouth, staining the white pillow. Minerva, using a towel, wiped his mouth.

"I would ask you the same question."

Using his valid hand, he grabbed it and tried to get out of bed.

"What do you think you are doing? Don't move! You're in no condition to-

"Stop it, Minerva, stop this! I d- don't ne'd your pity and you know you don't want- don't want to help me. Now... leave."

She stared at him and caught his arm firmly. He winced. She would not argue because she knew she could not. She just felt she had to do it. Even if the man was a murderer.

"Don't... touch me", he said weakly.

"Then don't move while I am calling Poppy. And lie down, you are going to faint."

"She won't come... she doesn't... I must not... bother her."

Minerva stood up and crossed her arms.

"Did she say that?"

He didn't answer.

"Really. Well. I'll still ask her." She took a chair and pushed it closer to the bed. He .. some more blood. "You must be bleeding internally. Take this." She opened a vial of blood-replenisher potion. His black eyes met hers.

"You don't want to do this."

She felt angry.

"I don't. But I'm not going to let you die here. I am not one of yours."

There was a strange expression on his face. He closed his eyes.

"Please… leave." He whispered. "I don't… want your help."

"You do", she said firmly. He opened his eyes brutally.

"I killed Albus."

Minerva shivered. She felt furious, a cold anger that was running through her body. Why couldn't accept help? Why did he made her hate him? Why?

"Don't say his name", she said coldly. "Don't you have any form of dignity? Isn't enough to be a murderer? To have betrayed us all? We were your friends", she added with disgust.

He laughed. It was a desperate, horrible laugh which quickly transformed into coughing sounds. Some blood spilled from his mouth. "Then why are you here, Minerva? I'm a- he coughed- a death eater. I killed Albus and he- he- he even pleaded for me not to. And I did- he tried to catch his breath – I still did it- I-

She lost it. With a movement of her wans, she sent him flying across the room, right into the wall. He brutally felt to the floor. For a moment, he did not move. She approached him, her whole body trembling with anger. She had no control over herself. He was a killer, a murderer, he had killed one of her best friends. He had been one of her closest friends. They'd known each other for years, they'd learnt about each other, slowly, they had been colleagues, heads of rival houses, friends. He had betrayed them all, lied to them all and she couldn't understand how, or why- she'd been remembering all the moments they'd spent together, looking for a clue, anything she would have missed. She found nothing. And thus he had destroyed even more. All those memories were tainted with betrayal and pain. She couldn't come to terms with this. She could stop him from hurting even more people.

His gaze was unfocused, some blood running down his face. He was miserable.

The poor man.

And she hated herself. Because she knew she couldn't hurt him. Not in this condition. She thought he was going to say something; but his eyes rolled in their orbits and he simply passed out. She found herself standing over him, wondering what to do. Her anger immediately transformed into fear. Had she killed him? Was he going to die right there, at her feet? No. That wasn't her. "Severus", she called.

She cursed. Now she had to call for Poppy, no matter what the both of them thought.

"I'm not helping this man, Minerva. Are you mad? The whole school is in danger because of him. He killed Albus. You should just let him- let him…"

"No. You do not think that."

The nurse sat on one of the infirmary beds. "No. No I don't. But we can't help him. It's not like it was before."

"Poppy, we can't just let him die there."

She shook her head. "You-know-who always made sure he would come out alive of their… meetings. Because he needs him."

"I don't think it's just what they did to him. Please, Poppy. You know how much I hate to beg you to help him."

She sighted. "Fine. Just let me take what I need."