The Value of Truth

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Olivia McGonagall and Eudora are mine.

Chapter 1: Chess, or maybe something more.

"Your move," Minerva McGonagall told Severus Snape as she moved her third white pawn two spaces forward.

"I can't believe the Potter child is already two years old. In my opinion he ought to be with his own kind. He's going to drive those muggles crazy when his powers start to manifest, and you know they will manifest because his parents were both magical. Pawn to g6," he stated.

Minerva shivered at the draftiness of the room. She and Severus were seated in his sitting room and not only was it dimly lit, but Minerva thought it was as cold as Siberia. "Severus, you remember as well as I do that he is most magically protected through Lilly's relatives. Must you keep it so frightfully cold down here? Pawn to f4."

"Minerva, it looks as though you already want a confrontation," he remarked wryly. "Tell me more about Albus Dumbledore's fiancé. Pawn to f5."

Her shoulders sagged as she sighed heavily. "Eudora is an old friend of mine that I've known since I was an Auror. It's no small wander that Albus was quite taken with her as soon as he danced with her at the ball for the Ministry of Magic three months ago. Pawn to a4," she added with an unusual crispness.

He raised an eyebrow. "If I didn't know better, Minerva, I'd say you were slightly jealous. Albus might still change his mind if you tell him the truth," he paused when she glared at him, "and I wasn't reading your thoughts if that's what you're thinking. Bishop to h6."

She smirked. "One of us is a bad liar. I admit to having a crush on him, but in all honesty, I think he will be happier with her," she declared. But then she looked away from the board for a moment and he saw the light in her eyes dim slightly. "My regret is not that he didn't realize my feelings for him, but that I'm not the right person for him and it's taken me this long to realize it," she said almost in a whisper. Clearing his throat, he seemed to bring her attention back to the game. "Knight to c3."

"I think you condemn yourself to loneliness too easily," he responded with wit. "Pawn to c5."

Uncharacteristically dropping her jaw, she straightened in her seat and leaned toward him slightly. "And just what do you mean by that? You're the one who hides in a dark, cold cave all day! Pawn to d3."

He narrowed his eyes at her and glowered. "You know very well why! I'm an ex-death eater and a blasted spy! The less people get to know me, the better! Did we come to spar or play chess? Pawn to g5."

She actually rolled her eyes at him. "And you think that's an excuse for wallowing in your loneliness? I know for a fact that you're not made of stone. You can fool the rest of the school, but you can't fool me. I've known you too long! Pawn to g5." He had sufficiently distracted her so that she did not realize he had just used his pawn as bait.

He slammed his fist down on the table. "What do you know of me? I've seen and done things that would make your hair blush with red and stay that colour! You're alone because you choose not to bother anyone, but I am alone because I'm trying to keep everyone safe! Students may cower in front of both of us, but at least they respect you! Bishop to g5!"

She seethed through her teeth as she realized her pawn had been used. Then she looked away as she realized what she had used. "Severus, I need to apologize. I only asked you to play chess with me because it is no longer proper of me to do so with Albus. I did not mean to start a fight and half the things I told you I don't believe. I don't know why I'm irritable tonight. Knight to e4."

He folded his hands and rested them in front of him. "I'm sorry too. I never did have good social skills. Maybe if I had been James Potter's friend instead of his enemy…" he trailed off and laughed sardonically. "Part of me feels a bit guilty for still hating a dead man. Bishop to h4. Checkmate."

Minerva was not looking at the board, but at Severus. When she said nothing, he looked up from the board and saw the tears glistening in her eyes. "I couldn't stop them, none of us could. We did not know where or when they would strike. I never wanted to give Harry Potter to the muggles, but Albus thought it was best, and I supported him. I failed them, just like I've failed you," she paused to glance at the board. "Pawn to g3."

Her right hand rested on the table and he covered it with his left. "Bishop to f6. What do you mean?"

She sniffed. "I should have done a better job to convince Albus that Potter and Black should have received a stricter punishment for the Shrieking Shack incident. I should have kept a better eye out for you. I should have known that you would retreat farther into Slytherin and I should have-" he interrupted her.

"Minerva, you couldn't have known what would happen. Don't blame yourself for that mess," he tried to console her. She put her head down to avert his gaze. He stood and reached over to her with his right hand, gently turning her chin so she would meet his eyes. "I don't blame you in the least," he told her quietly. Then he sat back down, keeping his left hand on her right. "It would seem that we both need to grow out of our regrets, me for what I have done and you for what you haven't done."

He noticed a genuine smile cross her face after she wiped her eyes. "You're going to make a better teacher than you realize. That was very wise advice," she mentioned.

He smiled back, but then quickly returned to his usual gruff expression. "Alright, woman, enough with this overly sentimental business. Let's get back to the game."

"Alright then. Knight to f6," she remarked with pride, watching the knight on the board attack the bishop.

"Contemptible woman," Severus grumbled. "Pawn to f6." The pawn then took the knight and Severus looked very pleased with himself.

"Could you look more smug than you do now?" Minerva chided. "Pawn to e3."

Severus eventually won the game, calling out, "Checkmate!"

"I can't believe you beat me! Albus hasn't beaten me in years!" Minerva complained.

He chuckled as the game put itself away and they stood. "Either Albus is a superbly bad chess player, or he has been letting you win for quite a while."

She put her hands on her hips. "No one 'lets' me win," she said tartly.

He stepped closer to her. "Then perhaps you would care for a rematch?"

"I will gladly take your challenge and wipe the floor with you next time," she replied, standing almost nose to nose with him.

A clock chimed the hour, 12:00. "May I walk you to your rooms? It is after midnight," he offered.

She smiled politely and shook her head. "As kind as the offer is, I would prefer to go in cat form this evening. Goodnight," she answered.

He took her right hand and kissed it, receiving a wide-eyed look of surprise from her. "Goodnight," he stated. She nodded and left quietly, transforming into a cat.

He stared out into the hall long after she had scampered away, wondering about the next chess game.