Sippy hurried through the kitchen, grabbing a pitcher and filling it with water as quickly as she could. The other house elves were gathered in the corner, a few crying as the others comforted them. Sippy had been trying so hard to get her job done that she had all but ignored the scene unfolding beside her. She had tried to put her head down, do her work and not get involved, but as the crying got louder, Sippy couldn't help but worry about her friends. Hoping that the professor wouldn't be too mad that she took longer than needed, Sippy put down the tray she had gotten together and made her way over the small crowd in the corner. "What's wrong?" she asked her friend Hobey who had his hand on another's shoulder.

"Did you hear about the Potters?"

Sippy shook her head, unsure of who Hobey was talking about. Sippy had only just started working at Hogwarts, and she found that there were many names she had yet to learn. "Are they students?"

"They were," the other house elf sobbed, blowing her nose into a rag. "I knowed them all their years here. Miss Lily and Mr. James were so nice. Miss Lily was so good to house elves."

"What happened?"
"They was killed tonight!" the house elf she didn't know sobbed. "All house elves who knowed them, loved them."

Sippy felt her stomach drop. While she didn't know them, she knew how much house elves who worked at Hogwarts grew to love many of the students, especially the ones who actually paid attention to them. Not all of them did, so it was special when they did. Thinking back to the professor she was fetching the water for, she realized the Head of Slytherin house had looked very upset. She knew he was not normally a nice man, but when he had summoned her to get him water, she had sensed a sadness in him that she hadn't before. From what the other house elves said, he was a very cold and mean person. Sippy couldn't help but wonder if he knew the Potters and that's why he seemed sad.

"Please let Sippy know if she can do anything," she whispered to Hobey who simply nodded. Sippy didn't know the house elf who was upset so she felt out of place staying. Grabbing her tray, she apparated back to Professor Snape's chambers.

When she arrived back in his chambers, she immediately jumped back from entering the room. Standing in the doorway was Professor McGonagall, her hair half-falling out of its bun, her dark robes drawn around her. Snape sat on his couch, in the same position Sippy had left him. She couldn't see Snape's face, but McGonagall looked a mixture of angry and tired. Without a word having been said, Sippy could sense tension in the room. Though she hadn't been at Hogwarts long, she knew both Professors Snape and McGonagall were known for their intimidating manner. And, they were well-known rivals. Many house elves had talked about how being in the same room was more uncomfortable than any situation they had ever been in. Whatever was about to happen, Sippy knew she shouldn't interrupt. Sippy sunk back into his bedrooms, peering out the door to wait until it was a good time for her to come back in with the water.

The witch shut the door behind her, taking a single step into the dark room. "Albus sent me. He wished for someone to check on you."

"And he sent you?" Snape asked smugly.

"I was most surprised by his request as well. I certainly did not wish to spend my evening in your rooms after…" her voice trailed off. Sippy heard a waiver in her voice, leaving her wondering if she was also upset about the deaths of the Potters. After all, she knew McGonagall had been teaching there for a long time.

"Yes and after this evening, you too are the last person I wanted here." Snape paused, his voice steady. "So I ask you again, why are you here? As I remember, last time Albus requested you lend me your hospitality you so graciously denied it to me, a decision, I assure you, I was equally thankful for."

"Albus was very insistent." McGonagall pressed her lips together. "I truly cannot understand what he thinks you need. I thought you would be rather…satisfied…by James's death."

Snape stood when she said this, and though Sippy still couldn't see his face, she could see his fists were clenched at his side. "Oh that's what you think? Why? Because of this god damn mark on my arm." He rolled up his sleeve. Sippy winced at the black mark that branded his skin. She had never seen one in person, only heard about them from others. "You think I find enjoyment out of watching people die? You think I'm that sick?"

"I don't know what the hell you did when you were with them, Severus!"

"If you don't know, maybe you shouldn't assume."

"With the way you talked about him, I can't imagine you would be particularly upset by James's death. James and Lily…"

It was a small and quiet noise, but a sob emitted from the dark man's throat. At first, Sippy thought she had been hearing things, as it was a sound that was unlike the stern man to make, but McGonagall must have heard it as well for she stopped speaking and narrowed her eyes at him. Snape sat down on the sofa, looking pathetic as his shoulders were hunched and his head hung down. Sippy couldn't see his face, but she could see McGonagall's face begin to soften as if a realization was coming to her. "Lily," he started to say, but a hiccup interrupted him. He finally looked up and faced her, allowing Sippy to see his profile. Tears were pricking at the corner of his eyes. "Is that what you came here to do? Is there some sick part of that Gryffindor pride that gets joy out of playing with your enemies?" McGonagall didn't move. "You didn't need to come here. I suggest you go. Since I've arrived, you've made it clear how much you despise my existence. And frankly, Professor, I feel the same about you.

McGonagall stood and stared at him as he spoke, but she made no move to leave. "He sent me because of Lily…" Silence fell over the room for a moment until she continued to talk. "You two were inseparable your first few years here." Her tone had softened. "How could I have been so thick?" She leaned against the door, bringing a hand to her head.

Snape said nothing, but his normal sneer had begun to face. They stood in silence for a long few minutes. "Yes," he finally managed.

When Sippy had entered the room, the tension could have been cut with a knife. The two rivals now stood in a silence that was uncomfortable, but less hostile than before. There seemed to be more of an understanding between the two. She felt tears beginning to form in her own eyes as she watched the two professors she was normally scared of so vulnerable together. She blushed slightly, knowing she shouldn't be watching the scene unfold. Yet, she found that she couldn't help but watch. So many house elves had spoken about the hostility between the two. Sippy knew she was watching what might be a turning point for them. "I'm sorry…"

The way the apology fell from McGonagall's lips made it seem to Sippy as if it were two words she rarely said. From the little bit of interaction she had had with the Deputy, Sippy knew that she was very stubborn. She'd overhead many conversations between her and the Headmaster. Sippy had never heard a woman stand up for herself the way she had McGonagall on those few occasions. Though she knew her place as a house elf, she couldn't help but admire the strength the witch had. Sippy wished she would one day be free and be able to be like her.

"You should go."

For the first time since she entered, McGonagall walked towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder. From the way he stiffened and the lack of affection on her end, Sippy could tell it was an awkward gesture. Nevertheless, she rubbed his shoulder for a few moments. "I'm sorry…I…I should go."

As McGonagall began to walk away from him, Snape reached out and grabbed her hand. McGonagall turned around, her face as shocked as Sippy felt seeing the man look so vulnerable. "Don't go…not yet…I…"

McGonagall's eyes fell to his hand that gripped hers but made no attempt to move. "Severus…shall we have some tea? I find it helps calm the nerves." When she asked this, her voice held its normal, no-nonsense tone, and Sippy watched carefully as Snape's shoulders relaxed slightly at this.

Sippy took this as her opportunity to enter, and she hurried into the sitting room, putting the tray of water down in front of them. "Sippy is sorry for taking so long. Many house elves was sad tonight. Sippy felt bad leaving them."

"It's alright, Sippy," Snape replied, his voice a little gentler than normal. "Professor McGonagall is here to go over some lesson plans with me. Would you fetch us some tea?"

Sippy nodded, looking at them both before she left the room once again. Sippy didn't take as long to get the tea together as she wanted to get it back to the two professors as quickly as she could. Though the house elves were all gossips, she sensed that what she was seeing that night was too private of a moment to share with the others. It was her secret.

When she arrived back with the tea, Snape thanked her and dismissed her, but she found that she couldn't bring herself to return to the kitchens right away. She slipped back into her hiding spot, wanting to hear the conversation for just a few more minutes. She wondered if their truce was going to last more than one night and if everyone would be surprised to see they had a friendship after this evening.

"Professor McGonagall…"

"Minerva."

Snape choked on his tea, coughing for a few moments until he regained his composure enough to ask, "Excuse me?"

"I believe some circumstances have changed since our first encounter. Here we are, sitting and mourning the loss of old friends. I do believe that would imply some sort of friendship on our end. After all, I was supposed to spend this evening with Poppy. Yet, here I am."

From where she was, she saw Snape look to her, eyes wide. He snorted. "Interhouse bonding?"
"Something like that," she replied, taking a sip of her tea. The two sat in silence for a few moments, a much more comfortable silence than before. Though they were there to comfort each other, Sippy found that the two sat a respectable distance away from one another. There was nothing romantic about the scene unfolding before her, but there was a spark between the two that Sippy swore she could sense. "Do you have anything stronger?"

"You drink?" Snape's voice sounded amused.

"So surprised by that?"
"On the contrary. Just never thought about it."

"I'm human too, Severus," she said, her voice a little serious.

"I believe I have something in my rooms," he replied, standing. Afraid to get caught listening in, Sippy snapped her fingers and fled the scene.