Minerva, Poppy and Aurora had been as close to real friends as he had when he had lived at Hogwarts. They were kind and generous ladies who liked Severus and whom he liked in return. They were comfortable colleagues to share a cup of tea with, in the staffroom and they would often sit in one another’s offices or rooms on the weekend and share something a little stronger. Occasionally they even ventured to the Hogs Head together for a meal.