Severus hears that and thinks Oh, because even if he can't predict exactly what she wants to discuss, he can feel the invisible weight on the request. The part of him that's an expert on getting out of dealing with difficult emotions tells him that he could turn her down, say he's behind in work due to the crisis, and he knows she'd probably respect it. But if he's honest with himself-- which he occasionally is-- he knows he can't deny Lily.

He puts down the glass object he was inspecting absently.

"All right." Instead of standing out here in the open, he turns around and nods towards his office. "Tea?"