A/N: Not to worry- the Lockhart/Minera scene is to come! Just felt like throwing in a little fluff in the meantime! Thanks to everyone for your reviews- it's a light in increasingly boring days. I hope all is well!

Being a servant called for very little room to have an opinion, and Dobby had grown accustomed to that. He was a good house elf, most of the time, but he was beginning to grow tiresome of his master. No! Tiresome wasn't a good enough word. He hated him; Dobby knew he had no choice but to endure the abuse until he was presented with a piece of clothing, and he knew that wasn't going to happen. However, when it came to the safety of others, he was going to bend the rules. Dobby wasn't supposed to be out of bed, and he certainly wasn't supposed to leave the house. Having broken the rules to see Harry a few times, he was confident that he could make it to Hogwarts and back in time to warn the Deputy of the impending trouble she was going to be in.

Snapping his fingers, Dobby took a deep breath and in an instant, he was in the bedroom of Professor McGonagall, trying to steady himself from the dizziness that came with apparation. He had never met the woman, but he knew that she was in charge of the school right after Headmaster Dumbledore and that Master didn't like her- so she must be a good person, he'd thought to himself. Peeking around the corner of her room, Dobby saw that she lay on a big gold couch in the arms of someone familiar- Professor Snape. Professor Snape was a friend of Master's. He wasn't very kind either, but he wasn't mean to him the way Master was. Dobby could appreciate that. He was surprised that the man had taken Professor McGonagall as a lover- they didn't seem to be the sort to mix. Well, he couldn't know for sure if they were lovers, and although Dobby didn't have any experience in that field, he knew a couple when he saw one.

Professor Snape was also laying down, Professor McGonagall laying between his legs. He was playing with her hair which was long and black with grey streaks in it. She had her knees pulled up to her chest, looking exhausted. Dobby suddenly felt guilty for bothering her. He didn't know her, but she looked like she was stressed. Dobby didn't want to stress her out more. "You don't have to do this," she said, turning to look at him, a smile lighting up her face.

"I know," he said, in a much different tone than Dobby had ever heard him talk before. He was normally gruff and cold. With her, his voice was soft and soothing. His fingers were pulling through strands of her hair, but he suddenly stopped and kissed her head. "Does it relax you?"

"Mmm," she hummed, closing her eyes.

"Then, I'll continue."

They sat in silence for a few moments, Dobby contemplating whether he should interrupt or not. They looked so relaxed and happy. Professor McGonagall picked up a bottle, wine, Dobby noted. He didn't know alcohol very well, he wasn't allowed to have any, but he had learned some types from serving the Malfoys over the years. Instead of using a glass, she took a drink out of the bottle and passed it back to Snape who took a large drink before putting it back on the table and moving his hands to her shoulders. "Drinking straight out of the bottle? So unladylike," he smirked.

Professor McGonagall turned to face him and smacked his chest. "Oh, please! Like you're the pinnacle of chivalry?"

He laughed and visibly began massaging her shoulders. Dobby always wanted a massage- it always seemed like it would feel so nice. It must have because Professor McGonagall groaned and closed her eyes, Snape smiling when she did so. He kissed the side of her head. "I know this has taken a toll on you," he said.

"I think it's going to become much worse in the coming weeks," she replied.

"The chamber?" Dobby's attention perked at the mention of the chamber of secrets.

"Well, yes, but at least that can be reversed when the Mandrakes mature," she replied. "But I have this eerie feeling that this is all going to fall on my plate, not Albus's."

Dobby nodded eagerly to himself. His Master had been talking about getting rid of Dumbledore and then McGonagall in any way he could. "You think Albus is going to…?"

"Not permanently," she said, straightening her legs out in front of her with another groan as Snape seemed to hit a particularly good spot in his massage. "But, I've seen Lucius around his office way too much for my liking." So, she already knew? Snape stopped massaging her shoulders and leaned back all the way against the arm of the sofa. Looking concerned, McGonagall turned back to look at him. "What?"

Snape shook his head, placing a hand on her arm. "I could see him getting Albus removed for a while…but, don't talk about him getting you removed…"

She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Why? Would you miss me?" There was a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Snape dropped his face to her hair, buying it there for a moment. "You could say that."

McGonagall sighed. "It's coming- Albus has so much as warned me that the board is looking to have him removed." Dobby almost jumped up and down, glad that someone had caught onto the bad things Master was trying to do. "And you know I'd be next."

"Lucius is going to have to bend over backwards to prove he needs to remove two Heads of the school. He's not going to get to you."

"Oh, let him come after me!" she exclaimed, sitting up and away from Snape's arms. "Believe me, Severus, I'd love to see him show up at my office!" Her eyes were fierce. I like her, Dobby thought to himself, she's willing to stand up to Master! For a moment, Dobby contemplated making his presence known and asking for her help in gaining his freedom, but the possible consequences of doing so were far too risky. He shook at the thought of what would happen to him if Master found out.

Snape shook his head and pulled her gently by the shoulders to lay against his chest. "Down, kitty," he said, kissing her as her head hit his chest. "I would prefer you go nowhere near Lucius if he shows up here."

McGonagall glared at him. "Like I can't handle myself!" she snorted.

"Oh, you can certainly handle yourself," Snape replied. "I don't want to have to explain to one of my students why their father was hexed into oblivion." Snape leaned in and kissed her again, this time longer than before. McGonagall's hands were on his shoulders, and she looked like she was pressing himself closer to him. Snape's hands were on her arse, and Dobby blushed as they continued to kiss, the sound of their lips meeting the only sounds left in the room. "Let's take this to the bedroom, hm?"

In a panic of getting caught, Dobby snapped his fingers and was gone before he could be caught. As he sunk down onto the kitchen floor of the empty Malfoy kitchen, he sighed in relief. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Professor McGonagall, but she already knew what he had gone to warn her about. Maybe Hogwarts and Harry Potter would be safe in her hands.