Trial & Error

Come Hell or High Water

Chapter One: Come Hell or High Water

Severus Snape banged upon the door of his 'favorite' colleague at two-thirty on a Sunday morning. He heard grumbling and the swish of a night robe being pulled on, and then the door flew open. "What in the bloody name of Merl...?"

Minerva McGonagall stopped mid-word in shock. "Severus, what is it? What has happened?"

She stood back to let him through. He entered somewhat hesitantly, and she shut the door behind him. She led him through to her drawing room, and they both sat, him on they couch, and her on a chair facing him. "Well," Minerva began, "what is it?"

Severus sighed and sat back. "It is best if you fetch your penseive. It will be easier to show you and then answer any questions you may have."

Minerva got up, then spun around and glared at him suspiciously. "How do you know I 'have' a penseive?" She questioned threateningly.

Severus sighed and massaged his brow. "All will be explained as we view my memories. You know how to tell when a memory has been changed, correct?" She nodded. "Good. You will know then, that they are not lies."

Minerva gaped at the young man before her, and then turned and gathered her penseive from a hidden shelf. She returned and sat it between them. As Severus began lowering memory after memory into the penseive, Minerva couldn't help but get more and more nervous with each passing memory.

Severus finished some five minutes later, and then looked to Minerva. She looked back at him for a long moment before giving him a curt nod. Without replying, he immersed himself in his own memories. She followed after.

After the spinning and blinding light ended, they were standing in the Headmaster's office earlier that day. They watched Albus Dumbledore tell his youngest colleague of the death of Lily and James Potter, and Severus' reaction. Severus put a supportive arm around Minerva's shoulders upon seeing her shake with a silent sob. She leant into him for support as the scene changed. They were in the Great Hall for a Sorting.

Minerva watched herself calling the names of eleven year olds with curiosity, until Draco Malfoy was called. She looked up at Severus in confusion, but he just shook his head and looked back to the Sorting. 'Potter, Harry!' Minerva heard herself call, and watched as an obviously malnourished and frightened boy joined her on the platform. She looked up at Severus, and he whispered in her ear, "He was left with Petunia and her family. The whale, I mean husband, beat him, and Petunia didn't care. Their son bullied him, it was painful to find out how alike we were."

Minerva leaned against him comfortingly as the scene changed again and again. They saw Harry's first Potions class, his first Quidditch match, his run-in with Quirrell and Severus in the woods (which came as a surprise to Severus himself), after the battle between Quirrell and Harry. Harry's meeting with Lockhart in the library (Severus was getting books for himself at the time), Harry and Ron's wreck into the Whomping Willow, Harry's match when Lockhart lost the bones in Harry's arm, the attacks at school, when the group returned from the Chamber of Secrets. Severus meeting with Remus Lupin, Severus teaching Lupin's DADA third years about werewolves, that night in front of the Whomping Willow.

Finding out about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Mad Eye Moody's arrival at the Welcoming Feast, the two other schools arriving, the Goblet of Fire's choice, the first task, the second task, the third task. The first time Lord Voldemort called Severus back to him, the task he set to Draco Malfoy, when Narcissa asked Severus to help Draco, Albus' task for Severus, trying to get Draco to allow him to help, teaching DADA, Slughorn's party, hearing about Arthur's attack, teaching Harry Occlumency, Albus' death, leaving with the others. Becoming Headmaster, having to look Minerva in the eyes, drinking at night, helping Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the final battle.

Finally, they saw Severus' meeting with the dead. Upon hearing Severus' task and her own part in it, Minerva became dizzy. 'How are we going to accomplish all of this?' They exited the penseive, Severus first. He caught Minerva against him as her knees tried to buckle underneath her.

Sitting them both on the couch, Severus tended to his favored colleague with worry plainly written on his face. Minerva became aware of herself a half-minute later to look into worried and guarded obsidian eyes. She blinked owlishly at him, and then her eyes widened in shock. She was cradled on Severus Snape's lap!

Her reaction went from shock to embarrassment to anger, and then on to confusion. Why would he be acting like this, especially to her? And then she remembered; this was not the Severus she knew. She blinked at him again. What were they to each other in his time, well, before he murdered Albus? Could they be anything but awkward friends or her being a mother-figure?

She sat up slowly with his help. Severus summoned a glass of water and handed it to her. She smiled thankfully at him and took a sip. "I apologize for passing out on you, but it was a lot to take in." She moved to stand up and almost fell over; Severus pulled her back down, this time beside him.

She looked at Severus when he spoke. "How much did you eat yesterday?" She thought about it. "Obviously not enough. Dinky! Please bring two servings of today's breakfast and two cups of honey and mint tea." A house elf popped in, listened to the order, bowed, and left with a crack.

"Thank you Severus, but you needn't take care of me." Minerva sounded guarded, even to her own ears. "I have taken care of myself for forty-three years, I do not need help now."

Severus scowled, and then laughed. "Minerva, I was not trying to mother you, I was merely trying to be a good friend. Though it now hasn't happened, I feel the need to be much kinder to make up for all of the kindness you have extended to me."

Minerva eyed him suspiciously, so he continued. "Minerva, even now you are a friend to me. The friendship you have shown me in my future is not repayable. I will forever be in your debt. Please allow me this small comfort to my soul."

Minerva smiled softly to him. "Of course. I apologize for being rude, but I am unaccustomed to others being kind in such a way."

Severus returned a very small smile. "Will you help me? You have the rest of today to decide."

Severus went to leave, and Minerva stopped him with a hand on his forearm. "Stay. Talk with me. We need to decide how we are going to do this. I want to know about your future."

Severus sat beside her on the couch, and the house elf brought their food. The two colleagues turned toward each other and talked as they ate. Severus told her about his teaching and went more in-depth about the Golden Trio's escapades. He told her of their many nights that turned into early mornings playing chess, talking about literature, students, work, life, anything under the sun. He told her of their friendship, and hinted without realizing of the feelings he had been harboring for his elder colleague.

They both slightly blushed when he told her of one seventh year Ravenclaw's crush on Minerva and how she and Severus had pretended to be a couple so that he would leave her alone. Neither commented on the other's blush; not wanting to draw attention to their own.

As their meal was drawing to a close, Severus cleared his throat and wiped his mouth and hands. "Do you truly wish to help? If not, I can manage on my own. I have been taking care of myself since age seven; I'm sure I can get by."

Minerva turned so that she was directly facing Severus. Looking into his eyes, she told him, "I will help you with this, come hell or high water. I won't let you do it alone, we just need to figure out how we're doing it." She smirked at the disbelief shining on Severus' face. 'This could be fun.'