"I don't know if I can do this...." Harry said anxiously pacing up and down outside the hospital wing. "Get a grip Harry, this is important." Hermione snapped, pushing open the door.

Once inside, she turned around to see Harry stood there frozen on the spot. "Well come on then!" She groaned, shaking her head. Harry reluctantly followed her inside, trying his best to convince himself to man up.

"Professor Snape..." Hermione smiled, as she approached his Bedside cautiously. She didn't know how he would react to seeing Harry. "Hermione.. I thought you might not visit me today... what with your exams and all." Snape spoke gently, his face turned into one of confusion when he saw her give him an awkward glace.

"Hello Professor." Harry spoke shyly, finding it hard to make eye contact with the hero wizard. "Potter...." Snape sighed in surprise, "why.. why are you here?" He inquired with his usual sceptisism. "I wanted to thank you Sir, for everything you have done for me, and for Hogwarts. I can't put into words how much i respect you." Harry smiled.

"I just did what anyone would have done, you need not show gratitude." Snape replied, somewhat more gently than Harry had ever experienced from the dungeon bat he thought he knew.
"I'm sorry to say this Professor, but you're wrong! you did more than anyone would have done. Others would have crumbled under the pressure, or thought of themselves first. YOU are a hero wether you like it or not.... and my mother would have been so proud of you."

"Come here." Snape ordered Cooley, "take my hand" he added as Harry approached. "Not that one, the other one.. can't you see i can't move that one." Snape sighed in frustration. Harry took his good hand and felt it tighten around his. Snape was squeezing it.
"Your mother.. would be proud of YOU Harry, As am I." The wizard smiled.

Hermione watched from the end of the bed, she felt so touched to see her best friend and the wizard she adored so much making peace. She saw the tears in both of their eyes, the only difference between the two was Snape's typical inabuility to let his tears fall.

Harry took a seat beside Snape and they began talking, Hermione smiled to herself and went to speak to Madame Pomfrey. She wanted them to have some space. Man to man, so to speak.

"You do realise that Hermione loves you don't you sir?" Harry smirked. Snape had trouble processing the boys words.
"That's absurd. She is merely being kind, a friend if you will." Snape scoffed.
"Yes, that's what she says.. but i know it's more than that. I know her inside out."

"I can assure you that she does not love a miserable cripple like me! This is completely proposterous!" Snape scowled, if there was one thing he hated, it was being mocked.
"Oh, come on. Why do you think she chose to save you?" Harry asked seriously.

"She what......?" Snape shrieked in surprise. "You heard me, she saved you. Not Fred, not Remus or Tonks... You." Harry told him honestly, before bidding the wizard goodnight. He promised he would visit again.

Snape was touched, 'I'm the one she saved, i'm the reason Ron hates her... but that doesn't mean she loves me, she might have had no choice, perhaps she was pressured.. this doesn't mean anything.'
He thought to himself, stopping himself from reading too much into what sadly as usual was probably nothing.

Although he felt happy that she did what she did, he was also angry. How could she be so stupid? When there were more deserving lives to save?

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked, confused by her friends disappearance.
"He has gone back to his dormitory. And I suggest you do the same Miss Granger." Snape scolded Hermione.
"Oh, I thought that we could talk for a while.. perhaps i could read the quibbler to you?" Hermione asked sadly, she didn't understand what she had done wrong.

"No, I want you to go. And what's more I don't wish for you to visit me anymore. In honesty I'm growing tired of your company and I don't need to be entertained by an insufferable know it all." He spat venomously.

Hermione felt her eyes well up with tears, she was so hurt and angry. "Why are you being so cruel? What have I done wrong? You know what? Fine. I won't waste my time visiting you again." She cried, grabbing her sachel and leaving with tears streaming down her rose coloured cheeks.