Sippy placed the tray of biscuits and tea between her two favorites, noticing that they were both seated on Master Snape's couch, but on separate ends. Missy McGonagall had her knees pulled up to her chest, and they were sitting in an unusual silence. Snape had requested the trays before McGonagall's arrival, but it didn't seem her arrival had brought the usual joy to the room. "Anything else, sir?" she asked Snape.

"No Sippy, thank you," Snape replied.

Sippy ducked into her usual corner in Mr. Snape's bedroom, where she often watched the loving couple. "I asked Sippy to bring these," Snape said, pushing the tray towards McGonagall.

Sippy could only see their backs, but she could see McGonagall didn't move. "I'm not hungry."

"Is this over Potter today? I'm sure your ears pick up on all the chatter among your Gryffindors..."

"No, it's not about Potter," she snorted. "I gave up on arguing over your treatment of him years ago."

Snape shoved a biscuit in his mouth, Sippy could see part of his face as he leaned against the arm of the sofa. He looked exhausted. "What is it then?"

McGonagall stood up and crossed the room to stand in front of his dimly lit fireplace. She muttered a spell and the fire became slightly larger, warming the room significantly. The side of her face was lit by the flames, and Sippy noted her hair had become grayer in the last few months. Snape rarely kept his room lit, and Sippy could see in the bright light of the flames that she'd aged. She was still beautiful as pieces of her hair fell by her cheeks, but the woman had definitely aged. McGonagall hugged her robes around her. "You've been blabbering about your Defense class. I don't know how you think I can sit here and listen to your passion for teaching the dark arts. Talking about your lesson plans, all the things you want to do…"

"It's taken me over a decade for this position," Snape snapped. "I supposed I thought you'd be a tad bit happy for me."

"Happy?" McGonagall snapped back, with an off-putting chuckle. "Pray, tell me, why should I be happy for you?"

"Is this still over that bloody curse? Are you truly daft enough to believe in that?" Snape asked. "Minerva McGonagall, the doubter of all things divinations?"

"Severus, it's dark magic. It's not just Sybil's ridiculous predictions…it's been every person in this position." She threw her hands up and the flames danced with her motions. "And you want me to sit by and listen to you talk about your excitement for the class when I've never heard you excited to teach in our entire time together?" One thing Sippy had learned about McGonagall was her Scottish brogue always bled into her voice when she became emotional. It was deep as she spoke. "When yer going to die…? It's selfish…"

"Selfish? As selfish as you throwing yourself in front of Umbridge and nearly being killed? Is it as selfish as that, Min?"

"That was not selfish," she snapped.

"It was selfish. Did you not stop to think what I would do if you died…what that would do to me?"

"I could say the same for you with this ridiculous position…"

"I'm going to die either way, Min."

She stopped, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Stop, Severus."

"You know it's true…"

"Severus, just stop talking…"

"We need to talk about it, Min…"

McGonagall pressed a hand against her stomach. "I can't talk about it; just leave it be…"

"I'm going to die, Minerva." Snape slid his sleeve up his arm, revealing the Dark Mark. Sippy had only seen it a few times, but this was the blackest it had ever been. He stood from the sofa and crossed towards her, stepping into the light of the flames, but not touching her. "Look at it, Min." She didn't turn her head. He raised his voice. "Look at it!" She turned her head and stared at his arm, looking away again. "I'm in the middle of a cross-fire between the two most powerful wizards of our time. I'm a spy for each of them. If you're still in some delusion that I'm not going to die by the end of this, then you've wound yourself more into this fairy tale than I had ever expected you to. Stop acting like this position is what's going to kill me. I crafted my own coffin when I came back here. We both know this. We never had a happy ending. I'm going to die one way or another. At least, I'm dying doing what I'm good at." At this, Minerva let out a sob and turned away from him. Snape's voice softened significantly . "You are going to live; you will run this school and do an incredible job. But, I will not be by your side until the end. I will be but a memory; I hope a fond one. But, your life will be more than the time we spent together. You have to know this. We have to come to this reality. We created a fairy tale we promised we never would…perhaps, I should go…to lessen the pain and set reality in…"

Silence fell over them again. Snape's tone had been harsh, and Sippy had never heard him speak so frankly to her. "I don't want you to go," she whispered. Sippy could feel the pain in her voice and tears slipped out of her own eyes, wiping them with her apron.

"We never…" Sippy heard Mr. Snape's voice crack. "We never talked about it…"

McGonagall turned back to face him, tears streaming down her face, lit by the firelight. "What?"

"The reality that I'm going to die."

"Stop saying that…"

"How can you deny it?"

"I…"

"You're smarter than this, Min. You know it's true."

"I…"
"I'm surprised that you, of all people, are still fighting this truth…that you would be holding onto this delusion that's bringing you so much pain…"

"I never wanted it to go this far, Severus," she replied, wiping her eyes. "With us…Merlin, you were supposed to be a…one night stand…a way to burn off whatever sexual tension we had between us. We weren't supposed to share rooms, to share a life, to do all of the things I promised myself I would never do with a man…"

"I know," he said softly. He took her in his arms, and Sippy saw she buried her face in his shoulder. McGonagall sobbed into his shoulder. Sippy had never seen her cry that way before. It was heart-wrenching. When she finally pulled away, Sippy could see traces of make-up across her cheeks. "Minerva, we have to talk about this."

"Why did I let myself feel this way?"

"I need you to do something for me."

"What?"

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you know I'm going to die."

She pulled away. "Severus…"

He took her hand and pulled her back. "Min, do this for me and for you."

McGonagall pushed up her spectacles, looked Snape in the eyes and said, "Severus Snape, you're going to die. I don't know when or how, but you're going to die in this war. We are not going to have that happy ending…" Silence fell over them again. They were just nodding at each other, tears streaming down their faces.

Snape reached out and hugged her again, pulling her close to him. "Can you accept that truth? We can't continue this if you can't accept that truth. I have to leave if you keep holding onto this hope. You're a pragmatic woman."

"I've known," she choked out through sobs. "I know you're going to die…I just…all the nights at Spinner's End, curled up with a book, living some unrealistic domestic life together…? Why did we do all of those things?"

"Because I love you."

"I love you too, Severus…I wish to Merlin I didn't…I was never supposed to love anyone…not again…"

"When did old Minnie McGonagall go soft on me?" he asked lightly, brushing tears out of her eyes.

"If we're coming to the end…of this…whatever it is…we should talk about the beginning…to know where it went wrong…"

"Taking a stroll down memory lane? I think that's a little painful, Min. All of those things…they were lovely, but they're ending."

McGonagall took his hands. "Severus. I needed tonight. I needed you to push me into reality. I'm here with you." She kissed him. "But, I need to now reflect on those memories…so much of our life has been a secret…who will I share it with when you're gone? I can't reminisce with someone who's dead?"

"Pour me a glass," he said, nodding.

McGonagall went to the liquor cabinet Mr. Snape kept by the fireplace, took two glasses and a bottle of whisky. She sat down on the sofa, poured them each and leaned back. Sippy knew she'd stayed too long, but she also knew nights with these two would dwindle. She loved watching their love. So, she stayed and she listened.

"When did the feelings start, Severus?"

"Merlin, I didn't even get through half a glass," he said. He took a sip of his whisky. "I think I felt a deep fear of my feelings the day you pulled that god-awful prank on me where you had Peeves make it snow in my classroom."

McGonagall laughed. "And we cleaned it up together?"

"Yes, and it consisted of a few moments where we stood slightly too close to one another…and…I rather enjoyed it."

"What about you?"

"I think that Order meeting…where Alastor made those comments about you." She took a drink. "Now, I would stand up for anyone in your situation. But, I was far more concerned for you than I knew I would be for anyone else. I knew that I had a deeper level of care for you…one that seemed inappropriate…"

"I hate that man," Snape muttered.

"I can see the distaste."

"Did anything ever go on between you two?"

"Excuse me?"

"You and Alastor?"

"Do I sense a hint of jealousy?"

"He's implied…"

"Alastor or Barty Crouch Jr. being Alastor?"

"Alastor."

"No," McGonagall replied, shaking her head. "Merlin, No. He's trying to rile you up. Pay it no mind. Did we work many late night Order operations for Albus, yes? And did Alastor try his hand at me once or twice? Of course, but no, nothing ever happened." She smiled for the first time that evening. "Severus, has that been bothering you?"

"No," he snorted.

"Merlin's Beard, it has!"

"Well, in the conversation around death, I suppose I'd want to know whose bed you may wind up in after my passing."

McGonagall snorted, coughing on her drink out of laughter. The lightheartedness was nice for Sippy to see. They were acting like two sixth years. "Well you have nothing to worry about. I think I'll enjoy my celibacy." Snape rolled his eyes, shoving a biscuit in his mouth.

"Next question," he sighed. "Who did you get the most satisfaction out of telling about us?"

"Augusta," McGonagall instantly replied. Sippy wasn't sure who it was.

"Ah yes, the time you asked her if, and I quote, 'Does who I spread my legs for have any impact on your grandson's education?'" It was at the thought of McGonagall saying this that Sippy almost gave her hiding place away from laughter. Snape moved towards her end of the couch, slipping off her heavy top robe and maneuvering between her legs. "That was a turn-on."

"And you, Severus?"

"As you know, I do not have anyone to safely tell about us. My entire existence has mostly revolved around keeping us a secret. I did get some satisfaction out of Remus knowing."

"Did you?"

"Yes, I didn't tell him, obviously. But, I will say, I could sense his hatred that we had a happiness he didn't know. The revenge was sweet even if he made my life a living hell for it. I'll never forget the night you came and found us, and there you were, dressed in your nightgown, hair down, and I got to take you home. And, if memory serves me correct, we had quite an amazing night after. Emotions were high."

McGonagall kissed him. "That was a lovely late night."

"Do you think anyone else knows?"

"Severus, you are a Master at Oculemens, I have no doubts in your abilities."

Snape took the bottle and refilled their glasses. "Not in that way…students…anyone else? Harmless people? If He knew, we'd be dead."

"I often wonder about that."

"You know who I think knows?" Snape said, raising his glass to his lips. "Those fucking Weasley twins."

"What makes you say that?" McGonagall laughed.

"That potion nonsense that they pulled. I think…I don't know…I just suspect. Harmless," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

"You don't know them like I do," McGonagall replied. "I think one believes it and the other does it. I bet it's a source of great debate."

Snape laughed. "The thought of that warms my heart. Anyone else?"

"Um..no, I don't think so."

Sippy could see Snape raise an eyebrow. "That didn't sound confident."

"I may know of someone."

"Who?"

"Merlin, Severus. I have kept this from you for almost a year."

Snape put down his glass and leaned towards her. "Well, now you simply must tell."

"Longbottom knows."

"Excuse me?"

"The night I was attacked by Dolores…he was in the hospital wing helping Poppy. He saw you come in and put two and two together."

Snape looked pale, and Sippy could see him shut his eyes tightly. "He never told anyone?"

"Well, I think he's afraid enough of you not to. And, quite frankly, he's always been like a grandson to me so…Poppy said he was touched."

Silence fell over them. "I won't do anything to the blubbering idiot if that's what you were afraid of."

"Thank you."

"At least it's not Potter."

"We would know if Potter knew," McGonagall said with a smirk.

Snape picked his glass back up. "That's for sure."

Silence came again, and Sippy could see McGonagall leaning against his shoulder. The bold woman always looked so petite laying beside him. "I'm sorry," she said after a long while.

"What could you possibly be sorry for?" Snape kissed her head.

"Being so…naive."

"I know you didn't truly believe in that happy ending, but you needed to say it. I'm going to die."

"I can't stomach the thought."

"You will, and you will take the reins of this castle one day, doing far better than Albus ever did."

She slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "I don't want to think about that either. Isn't thinking about your death enough for one evening?"

"I suppose," Snape said softly. He sat up straight. "How about a game of chess?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

"I'll get it from my rooms." That was Sippy's invitation to leave.