I had meant to read this story for days, ever since it was posted and someone on my flist recced it. This is beautiful, lyrical, and absolutely stunning. You spoke volumes with such an economy of words. I love the way they almost cautiously got together, with their affection for each other so subtle on the one hand and so obvious on the other. It only made my heart clench so much more to think about what the year of hell must have been like for them both, with Snape stuck playing evil incarnate as Headmaster and McGonagall hurting in both a professional and personal level.
Lovely scene of their reacquaintance in cat form -- Minerva offering reconciliation by cleaning his eyes and ears, and Severus willing to let her do it. Loved the way you bookend the story with Muggle children's POV also. Guh, I loved the entire fic, full stop!