The room emptied quickly, until only Dumbledore, Snape, and the two motionless forms were left. The traces of Severus' spell were fading; the room was no longer ghostly with phantoms and blue light, but now lit with an ordinary lamp. The harsh everyday yellow light should have been comforting; it wasn't. This room could never offer comfort to any occupant again.

Dumbledore bowed his head to the empty air in a mute acceptance of the truth. Cornelius Fudge had done – these things – and for that, he must die. So the Wizengamot had spoken; so – more importantly – spoke his own conscience.

He looked up at the ceiling. He could sense Cornelius up there; in the attic, he suspected. He moved into the corridor, but then he heard the broken whisper emanate from the room. "Sev…rus."

He turned quickly back and stood in the doorway.

Severus Snape was kneeling by the form on the floor, his entire attention fixed on what was left of the figure's face.

"Sev…rus." A sibilant hiss. A voice now incapable of pronouncing plosives. "Why… protect me?"

"Lucius?"

"Why tell them… I'm dead?"

"You're dying anyway." Dry, matter of fact. "You've suffered too much internal damage for any healer to fix. I see no reason for your last hours to be wasted answering pointless questions."

A ghost of a laugh from the dying man. "Always… practical."

A long pause ensued.

"Poor Bellatrix. Surprised me."

"Oh?"

"Didn't… last long. Under torture. Very good… at giving it, though."

"Yes."

"Mind went… by second day." Another half-laugh. "Not sure… mine didn't too."

"You sound sane enough." Snape added casually, "You won't have too long to worry about it, in any case."

"True."

Another pause.

"Take care… of Narcissa?"

"Yes."

"She was never… a Death Eater. But people… won't care about that." A long choked breath. "Innocence… isn't interesting."

"True." Snape pursed his lips. "I could have you taken to St. Mungo's after all; they can't fix you, but they could stabilize you long enough for you to say goodbye to her."

"No. Don't want… her to see."

Dumbledore had never eavesdropped on any other conversation so full of pauses.

"Sev… rus?"

"Yes?"

"A favor?"

"What?"

"Want… to kill myself. Need… a wand."

Snape's eyebrows rose. "You're dying anyway. What would be the point of that?"

"Don't want… to give that… creature… the satisfaction…"

"Ah."

"You understand?"

Severus Snape's answer was in the careful placement of his own wand into what was left of Lucius Malfoy's right hand.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"I won't. Obviously."

It was Snape's turn to laugh.

"One last thing… he made a deal… with the rat. What… Pettigrew will tell you… is what Fudge has... told him to say."

"Interesting. Thank you, Lucius."

"Favor for… favor. Ironic… the rat… and the traitor… outlived us all."

"I'm told life can be like that sometimes."

"See you… in hell, Sev.. rus."

"I look forward to the reunion, Lucius." Snape laid a hand gently on Malfoy's shoulder for a long moment. Then he stood and moved away.

A long hissing breath. Then the curse was spoken, and the room flashed for an instant with bright green light. It was over.

Severus moved back to retrieve his wand. After tucking it into his belt he carefully placed the sheet back over the corpse. Then he moved toward the door.

And saw Dumbledore.

"You've taken a grave risk, Severus," Dumbledore said calmly. "The Ministry may run tests to determine whose wand killed him."

"Given what the members of the Wizengamot have seen tonight, it seems unlikely they will investigate to such an extent." Snape was equally calm. "Besides," he glanced back at the figure, "it was worth the risk."

"Yes."

Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but Snape's black eyes seemed for a second to glitter even more brightly than usual.

"So, Headmaster, are we to go and find our lapsed Minister, or do you plan on allowing your beloved Professor to indulge her bloodthirsty instincts?"

Dumbledore inclined his head. "You are right, Severus. Cornelius is still in the attic; they have not found him yet. And while I can neither allow nor disallow her anything, I should prefer it if, just this once, Professor McGonagall did not achieve her stated ambition."

Both wizards moved into the corridor. As they prepared to mount the small staircase to the attic, Snape paused. "Oh, before I forget – congratulations."

"On what?"

"If you aren't refuting the term "your beloved" in conjunction with Minerva McGonagall, then it must indicate the two of you have finally realised your relationship has been utterly obvious to anyone who has ever spent ten minutes in your combined company." Snape raised a single eyebrow. "I presume I shall be invited to the ceremony?"

Dumbledore smiled gently and for a moment the rarest of things was seen – a true smile on the face of Severus Snape.

Then they entered the attic.