Snape sat at the Head Table in the Great Hall, rubbing his temples. He had been up all night helping the Death Eaters search for the supposed intruder who had entered Hogsmeade the previous night, setting off the Caterwauling Charm. Whoever had waltzed in the village had gone as soon as they came but Snape had a general idea who they might've been.

"Rough night?"

The headmaster glanced sideways at Professor McGonagall, who was looking at him with a mixture of cold disinterest and curiosity. Snape knew that she had no interest in his well-being but she was longing to know who or what had caused the disturbance last night. She was probably hoping that it was Potter and his friends who have crossed the boundaries set by the Death Eaters, no doubt.

"I wouldn't call it rough," Snape said conversationally. "I would just call in long since I barely got any sleep."

"I can see that," Professor McGonagall replied coolly. "I suppose you caught the poor soul who wandered too close to your security system and skinned them alive?"

Snape flinched involuntarily at the lack of emotions in his colleague's voice and prayed that she didn't notice. But that hope was lost when he saw Professor McGonagall arch an eyebrow. She was just like Dumbledore, Snape thought: nothing slipped past her. It was one of the many reasons why no one had questioned their relationship.

"If you must know, the intruder escaped. No one was hurt," Snape hissed irritably.

Professor McGonagall looked proud.

"It was Potter, I know it was. Who else could escape you Death Eaters?" she said.

"It wasn't Potter," Snape said without thinking.

"What? And would you know that?" Professor McGonagall wanted to know.

Way to go, Severus, Snape thought, furious with himself. "I just do, Minerva," he said aloud.

"Great answer," Professor McGonagall replied sardonically.

Snape glared at her. If only she knew what was truly going on within the castle's walls. She ought to consider herself grateful that she did not need to carry that burden on her shoulders. But that didn't stop Snape from wishing that she did know, so that he was no longer on his own in the midst of this insanity.

"Potter would have been a bit more cautious," Snape said irritably. "He would have known better than to wander into Hogsmeade willy-nilly. He would have suspected that something such as a Caterwauling Charm would be surrounding the village."

"Are you actually praising him?"

"Of course not. But I do admit that Potter is no fool when it comes to the Dark Lord, however. The boy knows better than to expect minimum security when concerning the most powerful dark mage in existence."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with you. I didn't think something as such could ever happen again."

"That makes two of us, then."

"Another agreement! How simply marvellous."

"I'd watch what you say, Minerva, or –"

"Or what? You'll send the terrible two after me? Bring it on, Snape. I could do with a little fun."

"Don't you dare threaten my staff!" Snape hissed but the idea of seeing the Carrows lying unconscious at Professor McGonagall's feet was an appealing one.

"While they continue to wreck havoc in this school I will threaten them as much as I please!" Professor McGonagall snapped angrily. "This place needs to be purged of the evil that is tainting it and if I had it my way I would immediately begin with you!"

With that, she got to her feet and stormed out of the Great Hall. Snape's mind was working furiously, trying to decide what to do. Finally, he also stood up and followed Professor McGonagall, ignoring all the wide-eyed stares and glares as he went.

He found her halfway through the first floor, furiously making her way to her classroom. He noiselessly sped up to her and grabbed her arm. Professor McGonagall spun around and a fire of hatred unlike any Snape has ever seen before was burning in her eyes as she tried to free her wand arm from his grasp. Snape slapped a hand to her mouth and pushed her up against the wall, pinning her there. She twisted and struggled to break free but he kept a firm hold on her, making her efforts futile. It was a good thing that the corridor was deserted or else it would have caused a calamity of epic proportions.

"Now you listen to me and listen closely," Snape told her fervently. "There are secrets within these walls that would go beyond your wildest imagination and those secrets happen to be between Dumbledore and myself."

Professor McGonagall widened her eyes at the sound of Dumbledore's name and Snape knew that he had her attention.

"I cannot tell you these secrets since I have been sworn to secrecy but Albus can most certainly reveal them to you; just tell him I sent you. Simply visit his portrait in my office but do so in the most discreet way possible. The last thing you need is to be pounced on by the Carrow twins. Do I make myself clear?"

Professor McGonagall nodded and Snape released her. He gave her a long look before walking away. He hoped that pointing his work colleague in the right direction was a good move; all secrets would be exposed to her and that alone was a mighty risk. But on the other hand, it would be nice to have an ally who didn't spend all her time sitting in a portrait.

Professor McGonagall slowly sank to the floor as she watched Snape retreat, his black robes billowing around him, her trembling knees finally giving way. What had just happened? For a second she had been so sure that he was going to kill her but instead he told her to go speak to Dumbledore's portrait, like he was giving her some sort of clue. Everything was all in a confused haze.

Snape mentioned that there were secrets that only he and Dumbledore knew. That wretched man was most likely bluffing but was Professor McGonagall willing to take that chance? Now that she thought about it, whenever she asked Dumbledore about Snape he would give her a roundabout answer, as if he was hiding something, and he would never fully reveal any of his plans. Maybe it would be best to follow Snape's instructions; she might actually get a full answer if she tried once more.

Professor McGonagall gingerly got to her feet as the sound of students piling into the corridor reached her ears. Solving this mystery would have to wait; she had a class to teach.

I'm so sorry about the overly long update! This was WAY overdue! I'll try to update faster from now on!