Severus Snape was hardly the man most people would turn to, if they were in trouble.

Even his godson didn't turn to him, when times were tough.

Snape had seen his godson's blood spilt on the floor, and hadn't said a word.

That was his way, what people knew him as.

But-

Potter wasn't stopping, and Malfoy was clearly going to get into some trouble that would wind up being more than a few bruises or cracked ribs.

Snape knew he had to change this, and soon.

A trip to Minerva's domain was due, and damn his allergies.

"Minerva," he said, knocking on her door.

"Severus, what a pleasant surprise!" she said, smiling warmly at him. He automatically disbelieved it of course.

Severus Snape knit his fingers together, "I have a problem."

Minerva looked at him, and said, "And?" She knew him well enough to know that he did not ask for help with problems.

Snape smirked, "And that means you have a problem."

"Come to put your problems on me doorstep?" Minerva said, her Scottish brogue takin' ova.

"Perish the thought. I merely thought some intervention might save someone a trip to Azkaban."

Minerva's lips pursed at his last word. "Go on."

And with that, Snape knew he'd won the argument. It was useful to be believed when the chips were down. "Potter and Malfoy, again."

"Have they been scrappin' in the halls again? Or is it worse? A donnybrook of unbelievable proportion?" Minerva asked with concern.

"Neither. Mister Potter has put his Amateur Detective hat on again." Snape growled.

"Like in first year, when he was completely convinced you were the villain?"

"I am the villain," Snape said, executing a low bow that was more mocking than serious, "Just not the villain of that particular incident." Snape smirked at that.

"Oh, yea, you're the dark and cruel Master Snape, who lives to bring first years to tears." Minerva said.

"Still, I do find most problems best headed off rather than confronted when they've metastasized." Snape continued.

"How would you suggest we proceed, Master Snape?" Minerva prompted.

Snape repressed a sigh. She was going to use that nickname for at least a month, and he'd have to deal with staffroom gossip about how she'd managed to talk with him for more than three seconds. "Bring both the lads before Dumbledore. We can each represent one, that way it looks fair."

Minerva smirked, a rare expression on her face, "Would Potter's face or Malfoy's be more hilarious if we switched sides for once?"

"Potter's" Snape said, "Malfoy would raise an eyebrow, and that would be that. Potter's way more prone to busting a gut."

"The perils of being a Gryffindor." Minerva said mockingly.

"Overly expressive faces?" Snape snorted, "The perils of House Gryffindor are two years older than Potter and friend."

"Too true. Shall we say Sunday evening?"

Snape nodded, "Fine."

[a/n: leave reviews! if you do, there'll be more story!]