A/N: Thank you to all the comments I've gotten on this story. I love these two and I've had a lot of fun writing it so far. This actually began as a one-shot set during Order of the Phoenix which I then deleted when I began to expand their story out to when Severus first arrives at Hogwarts. I enjoyed the different povs and it's just been developing as I go. That original one-shot should make an appearance down the line….

As the casket was lowered into the ground, Filius wiped his eyes and looked to Minerva was wrapped in a large black cloak beside an elderly man whom Filius believed to be her father. The man was wearing a pastor's uniform, and Minerva and Malcom had not left his side. Trying to avoid any small talk, Filius had settled himself in the back of the crowd, there not because he had known Robert, but out of support for Minerva. The three musketeers, he lovingly called the three female professors who stood closer to the crowd, were all wiping their eyes as well, huddled together as a cold breeze blew through the air. Since his youth, Filius had not found himself adventuring out in the Scottish Highlands, and as he allowed himself to take in the view, he realized he had forgotten how beautiful Minerva's homeland was. Her tartan print and intense accent were constant reminders of her heritage, but seeing the Deputy standing in the middle of the green landscape, her black hair flowing down her back, she looked more like a McGonagall than he could ever remember her looking. The group rarely ventured outside of the wizarding world, and Filius always considered it an honor to see any of his friends in their natural settings. Years of living in the castle had made him appreciate the moments where his friends were at their most genuine. In this moment, standing around the resting place of Robert McGonagall Jr., none of the Hogwarts professors were teachers. They were all just wizards and witches, friends, and family. There was a liberating feeling to the realization.

A few feet beside him, the Potion's Master, dressed in his normal black robes, looked entirely out of place. He too, had hung back from the crowd throughout the service. His dark eyes, Filius noted, were fixated on Minerva, following her motions with intensity. Filius quietly took a hold of his hand squeezing it in his own. "You're going to have to tell her one day, my boy."

Severus dropped his eyes, and Filius couldn't help but falter slightly as the intense gaze met his. The man never ceased to command a conversation. "Tell her what?"

"Only you can answer that." Silence fell between the two, and Filius turned to see Albus had an arm wrapped around Minerva, escorting her to the small cottage that Filius assumed was owned by the McGonagalls. Within a few moments, she had disappeared from sight. "Always been good friends, those two," Filius said, smiling slightly. "Before you, Albus was the only person Minerva ever seemed truly relaxed around."

"She has you, Pomona, Rolanda, Poppy…" Severus said slowly.

"Ah, yes. And we love her very much. But there is something different between you two."

Severus snorted. "You sound like them," he said, making a small motion towards the trio of women who were dropping flowers on the tomb. "Don't think we haven't heard the way they gossip."

"Minerva is like a little sister to me," Filius admitted. "I want the best for her. She's a wonderful woman. And in all the years I've known her, I've never seen her act the way she does around you with anyone else."

"And what way is that?" Severus asked quickly.

Filius looked up at him, Severus looked like he had regretted his question. Filius knew, like Minerva, Severus was an extremely private and complicated person. Filius also knew that aside from Minerva, he was the only person Severus had seemed to have taken any interest in. He valued the trust the young man put in him, and he didn't want to push him so far as to lose that trust. "I see the way you two look at each other…the way you seem happy around her." Severus's face was unmoving; Filius couldn't tell what he was feeling or if he had gone too far. "I'm not saying you're in love and going to live happily ever after. I don't know what your feelings are or how deep they run. I think we both know that the world we live in is no fairy tale. But, I do know that there is something in you two that makes the other one happy. And I would hate to see you go on without letting yourselves enjoy each other." Filius swore he saw a small tear in Severus's eyes, but it never fell. He turned to look out where Severus's eyes were. Minerva had come back out of the cottage, her girl friends running towards her, wrapping their arms around her. Filius rubbed Severus's arm. "I'm going to go see Minerva. You're welcome to come."

Filius turned to leave, but Severus's voice stopped him. "Filius…not a word to the peanut gallery."

Chuckling, Filius shook his head. "I believe the Muggles call it 'bro code.'"

The exasperated look on Severus's face was worth Filius's digging deep in his memory for something witty to say to lighten the mood. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"When two men talk about women- stays between them."

Severus nodded. "Good. I'm…going to go back to the castle."

"You're not going to see Minerva?"

"I…"

"I won't push it," Filius said putting a hand up. "I just know she could use you."

Severus tilted his head and visibly swallowed. A piece of hair fell in front of his face as he leaned down towards Filius as if telling him a deeply kept secret. "Perhaps I'll ask her to come for a drink later."

"She'd like that, boy," Filius said, smiling sadly. "You two seem to do that often?"

"Often enough," Severus admitted.

Filius reached out for Severus's hand and shook it. "Good night, Severus." Severus nodded and disapperated. Minerva was surrounded by her usual trio, her eyes red and swollen, but in otherwise better spirits than Filius had expected her to be. "Hello, love," he said, kissing her hand.

Minerva bent down and hugged him. "Thank you for coming, Filius. It means the world to me."

"Anything for you, you know that."

Minerva stood up slowly. "Filius…was that Severus…?"

"It was. I was just speaking with him before he left."

Her face paled. "He didn't say a word to me," she said almost to herself.

Filius felt his stomach churn at the sadness that came over her already tired eyes. "Perhaps this was a lot on him."

The other women were chatting amongst themselves, and Filius was glad they couldn't overhear the conversation. "I didn't even expect him to come in all honesty…"

"He was here the whole time."

Minerva nodded. "I'm going to stay with my father for a few hours. I'll see you all later tonight or at breakfast tomorrow." Hugging them all goodbye one last time, she turned and disappeared into the small cottage.