Taking a deep breath, Hagrid clenched his fists and summoned his courage to knock on the Head of Slytherin's office door. It was late, and he expected the other man to be annoyed, but it had taken Hagrid all day to force himself to come see Snape. He straightened his bowtie and waited for Snape to open it. Finally, the door opened, and Snape looked equally surprised and, as Hagrid expected, irritated by his presence. "What is it?"

Hagrid shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking up at the piercing eyes. "I wanted yer advice, Snape, sir."

"Whatever you're inhaling out there, you should lay off it. Why, in Merlin's name, would you come to me?"

"It's about a woman, sir. And well, nobody else on staff has any recent experience with that kind of thing…er…well that I know of."

The look on Snape's face was priceless, and Hagrid felt himself blush. "You're asking me for dating advice?" he asked incredulously.

A small figure slid in behind Severus, one hand on his waist. His lover smiled at him, and Hagrid felt his blush deepen when he realized she was there too. "Am I interrupting somethin'?"

"Not at all! Come in, Hagrid," Minerva said, her hand over Severus's to push the door open to allow him entrance. Only a few candles were lit in the room, and Hagrid wondered if he had interrupted something intimate between the two. McGonagall quickly lit the candles, brightening the room as much as it could be brightened considering they were in the dungeons. "Tea?" she asked, transfiguring a glass on Snape's desk into a teapot.

Hagrid awkwardly pushed his way in, taking a seat in a chair that was decidedly too small for him. McGonagall, too, took care of that, increasing its size beneath him. Snape was still standing at the door, his mouth gaping slightly open as McGonagall continued to conjure a tea set. "Who is the woman, Hagrid?" she asked, settling down in Snape's office chair.

Glancing nervously back at Snape, Hagrid saw him roll his eyes but eventually take a seat beside him. McGonagall looked thoroughly amused by how annoyed Snape was. She handed them each a cup of tea. "Miss Maxime."

Snape coughed, a little bit of tea spilling out the side of his mouth. McGonagall glared at him, shoving a handkerchief at him. "Well, now I suppose that makes sense," she commented.

"She's a beautiful woman," Hagrid said, trying not to sound as sappy as he felt. "How do I tell her? How did you tell Professor McGonagall?" he asked Snape.

Still looking completely caught off guard, Snape opened his mouth and shut it, speechless. "I'm not talking about this."

McGonagall reached out and squeezed Hagrid's hand. "These things shouldn't be forced," she said gently. "Try and spend some time with her."

Hagrid nodded, wiping his forehead with his handkerchief. He was nervous thinking about her. "I suppose I could ask her to take a walk or somethin'."

"There you go," McGonagall smiled. "If it's meant to happen, it will, dear."

Hagrid finished his cup of tea and then rose from the chair, trying not to bump his head. "Thank you, professors," he said. "I will try and find her tonight."

McGonagall stood to show him out, and even as Hagrid began for the stairs to the upper floors of the castle, he could still hear the two talking. What sounded like a playful slap echoed in the now empty dungeons. "You were no use to him."

"And what exactly was I going to tell the old oaf?"

"About all your skills with romance," she replied, her voice teasing.

Hagrid stopped his walk to listen to the two. As strange as the relationship was, they were happy, and he wanted that with Olympe. "If I remember correctly, those belong with Lockhart."

"I hate you." Hagrid laughed to himself; what Snape had done to her with Lockhart had quickly circulated amongst the staff.

"I know, love." Hagrid smiled at the way Snape talked to her. If he could be a good lover, as nasty as he was, Hagrid knew he could make Olympe happy. When silence fell over them, Hagrid began back up the stairs. "Min?"

"Hmm?"

"You'll be careful?" His voice was suddenly serious, and Hagrid stopped walking to listen. "This year."

"What are you talking about?"

"Answer me," he growled.

"Of course; what are you saying?"

"If there comes a time where I cannot watch your back…"

"I've always looked out for myself, Severus," she replied, sounding as confused as Hagrid felt.

"Minerva," Snape snapped, his voice breaking. "I'm serious."

"As am I. Or have you forgotten the thirty years I have on you? And the other war I've lived through? I was running intelligence for Albus Dumbledore before you were born."

A long sigh came from Snape. "Igor…Moody…"

"I'll be fine," she said angrily. "I can handle myself."

"Merlin, I know that," he replied.

"Then don't treat me like a child."

"I-,"

Another bought of silence fell over them, and Hagrid wondered what Snape was so worried about. The other schools seemed so nice, and Moody was a member of the Order. If Snape was worried, he was worried. "I'm sorry," she finally said. "It's something with Albus?" Her voice sounded equally angry and hurt. Hearing her upset always tugged at a heartstring for the gamekeeper.

"I…," Snape said, his voice hoarse.

"Don't." This time, McGonagall sighed deeply. "Don't because I know you won't say what it is."

"Trust me."

"I do," she said sadly. "Merlin, I do. Despite your boy's club with Albus, I still have this unshaken faith in you both."

A soft kiss echoed into the stairwell, and Hagrid felt himself blush, knowing he'd overstayed his welcome. "Shall we finish the drinks we started before that damn half-giant interrupted?"

Minerva laughed softly. "I'd like that."

Quietly making his way back up the stairs, Hagrid ran a hand over his beard, knowing that the first step to wooing Olympe was to get himself cleaned up.