The wind was warm and whipped wildly around the lone figure seemingly walking the path to nowhere. Professor McGonagall slowly made her way down the quiet Muggle street. No one seemed to be out and about that evening, everyone safely tucked away in their homes living their quiet happy lives. Warm orange glows gently lit the walkway but it wasn't in her nature to dwell on the happiness of strangers. She wrapped her cloak a bit tighter as a particularly strong wind blew through as if a warning to any trespasser not to enter here. She turned down a seemingly normal gravel drive; the stones crunched loudly underfoot and the tall trees now washed in the waning sunset, appeared to be reaching down for her ominously. She simply rolled her eyes at the dramatic scene. It was a short walk and eventually, she found herself on the doorstep of a moderately sized manor home. The trees came all the way to the front and had one not been looking for it, they may have missed it hidden in the trees. There were no cheery lights shining through the windows but McGonagall knew the occupant to be home. She raised an aged hand, though before she could even manage a polite knock the door swung open.
"Honestly." She huffed, "You've become so dramatic in your old age." She chastised as she glared up at the man before her.
"I should be able to live as I please." Came the deep rumble of a familiar voice. "Though your presence here will surely see to that's end." He sneered and let out a deep breath from his large nose. "To what do I owe the displeasure of your company?"
"Oh do come off it and move aside," She huffed taking a step towards the entrance. The man reluctantly but respectfully stood aside allowing her into his home.
"Honestly Minerva, it's been five years." He said softly, "I would have thought my repeated persistence of ignoring all your missives would have deterred you from my returning to any sort of teaching position."
McGonagall waved a dismissive hand as she walked into the sparsely furnished foyer. A simple dark wood table that held, neatly stacked, the plethora of correspondence Minerva had attempted with the freedman over the years. She saw herself to the living area. Two dark blue winged-back chairs stood facing the fireplace. A small coffee table between them laden with his newest research finds meticulously stacked with a book, he must have recently been reading before her approach, lying on top. To say it was a surprise to find the lack of personality in the space to be shocking would be a lie. She saw herself to one of the fireside chairs and sat slowly, crossing her legs with expectant eyes as the dark and looming shadow who had followed her most of the way, veered off to the left to make tea.
There was an amicable silence between them while Severus prepared their tea. Minerva's eyes couldn't help but travel here and there around the room. Bookcases neatly stacked and obviously dusted lined every wall. Only a few vials or antique looking potions tools were in place of any 'decoration'. For a man who always held himself so tightly wound; it was clear that he hadn't been able to shake the habit. Everything had a place and everything was meticulously in that place.
"So what do I owe this presumptuous visit to?" Severus set down the tea tray. Carefully picking up his research after it was set properly and moved to place the information on a shelf just out of eyesight of his guest.
Minerva picked up her teacup taking a small sip. A gentle smile appearing on her lips when she realized he'd gone through the effort of making it just as she took it.
"There is a matter, that could use your excellent perception skills." She said carefully.
Severus glared at her from his place by the bookshelf, "Really now." He drawled as he moved to take his own well-worn seat by the fire. He calmly folded his hands over his waist. He still wore his traditional dress, Minerva noted. The frock coat of many buttons, with just a little white showing now at the top as the first few buttons were undone. She supposed this was Severus, in his 'relaxed' state and had to hide her smirk behind her cup as she took another sip.
"Severus, I'm sure you are aware that there has been a patient at St. Mungo's that has been there for quite a long time." She spoke cautiously, watching that judgmental brow grew to an arch.
"And to what, per se, do you wish me to do about this particular person's ailment?"
"Well, it would seem there has been a new development in their case."
"Oh, do tell." Severus drawled his voice dripping with cold sarcasm as he reached for his own cup of tea with extreme disinterest.
Minerva sighed softly as she watched the man before her, "Severus." she stated strongly with a mothering tone, "Do not think you can fool me into believing you are not the least bit interested."
Severus sighed heavily resting his cup in his lap. "Minerva I grow tired of your games." He shifted slightly in his chair, leaning back just a fraction, " I can not possibly conceive that this new information, in any way, would peak my interest now. Seeing that you have since attempted to bring me into the spotlight of this unfortunate event since its occurrence and my subsequent return to health."
"It would seem a star pupil of yours has created a device, of which, I'm sure you would have a significant interest in." She stated raising her nose a bit into the air, her tone sharp and crisp. "As alienated as you are; I'm sure you've taken note that the Malfoy family has had its own share of ailment's this past year."
Severus simply shifted to crossing his legs, furthermore creating a defensive posture as if he could shut out the women before him simply by closing himself off physically.
" I am aware." He replied dryly.
"Then it should also interest you that Mr. Malfoy gave one of his inventions to St. Mungo's for the sole purpose of helping a particular patient in their recovery." Minvera sat back while the man before her leaned forward just a bit; knowing she had hooked his mind.
"To what end, pray tell, would Mr. Malfoy see in helping this particular patient?" He could hardly contain the interest and sneered as his tone betrayed him.
Minvera just shrugged her shoulders, " I suppose you'd have to ask him yourself." She hid her smirk behind her cup once more.
Severus glared at her and all but snarled at her underhanded attempt to get him invested.
"I could simply owl him, what makes you think I would care about this other circumstance?"
Minerva huffed heavily through her nose as she realized her game was over, "Severus," Her voice filled with deep sorrow, "She's dying." She almost begged, turning to face the man and look him directly in the eyes, "She's dying, painfully, slowly. Her mind and body are continuously living that day over and over." She a small tear welled up in the corner of her eye.
Severus forced himself to look away from her, "And why, should I, care?" He drawled carefully, his tone was even but heavy in the silence of the room.
They stared at the other for a long minute each one sizing the other up before Minerva raised her chin, a fire igniting in her eyes.
"Severus Tobias Snape." Minvera could no longer hold her Gryffindor temper. Setting her cup down with a rather harsh force, she turned; leaning forward in her chair, "You, you! " She pointed, "Of all the people in this world, should be able to understand, the pain, the pain of a memory you can't escape no matter how much you've tried."
Severus couldn't help but wince and turn his head away. He sat silently for a long time letting the woman in front of him seethe with anger.
"I will not travel." He stated after a long ten minutes had ticked by. Slowly, he pushed himself up having divested himself of his teacup in the process. He turned his back to her as his mind worked. "You will bring them here." He said firmly, "No visitors." He stated heavily.
"That shan't be a problem," Minerva said quietly, "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasely have not seen her in a very long time." She relaxed slowly into her seat, keeping her eyes on the stiff back of the man who could bring hope.
Severus turned deliberately, his mouth in a thin line, "No one must know who is giving her aid." He said strongly, "I've quite taken to the idea of being anonymous and would like it to remain that way."
"I will make the necessary arrangements." Minerva stood slowly and moved towards the man who refused to face her. She raised a gentle hand to the center of the impenetrable man's back.