Severus Snape had survived. Against all odds. The attack from Nagini hadn't killed him. However, he had been in St. Mungo's for weeks for his injuries. Harry Potter finally gathered up the courage to go see his old Potion's professor. The man that had been deeply in love with his mother.

Harry had been feeling empty, lost since the defeat of Voldemort. He was glad it was over, but this huge part of his life had been ripped away. He felt... directionless. But one thing he hadn't done yet that he still needed to do was thank Severus Snape.

So he found out the room number and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said the familiar drawl.

"Hello Professor," said Harry, the thin string of balloon wrapped around his fingers.

Professor Snape turned over in his bed. He looked thinner, almost younger somehow. He was wearing a T-shirt that said Quidditch World Cup on it. Snape wears T-shirts?

"You left me to die," Snape snarled, his black eyes narrowed.

"Uh, what? I thought – I mean – I was kind of busy with-" Harry was caught off guard. He hoped for a polite exchange with the man who had saved his life and everyone's. He was probably out of luck.

"I was joking." A half smile was etched on Snape's face.

"You joke?"

"I think it's the healing potion. Yesterday I thought I saw a marmot riding a kite outside my window." Snape slumped back against his pillow.

"Okay. Well, I just wanted to say thanks and give you this." Harry cautiously approached his old professor. He wasn't sure what he expected to happen, but his palms were sweating and his heart pounding. Maybe it was just because he hadn't seen Snape since the last time he saw Voldemort.

Harry tied the ribbon of the balloon lightly to the handle of the night stand by the hospital bed.

"What in Merlin's name is that?" Snape's voice cracked.

"It's a balloon. With a cat on it and the cat is saying I hope you feel purrfect soon." Harry sighed and shrugged. "It's cute."

"It's horrifying."

"Yeah. I know. It was Hermione's idea." Harry slumped down in the chair next to Snape's bed. There was a long pause then Snape said.

"I guess you know my dirty little secret."

Eww.

"Please don't say dirty when you're talking about my mom."

"That's not what I meant, Potter."

"Still... it's weird."

"Why? Am I that hideous?"

Harry looked up at Snape. His hair was washed and cut a little shorter, there was a light shadow of hair across his cheeks. And he could see just the corner of his white teeth.

"Umm, no. I just. It was a surprise. After all, you were kind of horrible to me."

Snape turned away from Harry, so just his back was facing him. The light blue hospital blanket slipped off, revealing part of his back. Harry looked away.

"Yeah, well you deserved it," sighed Snape.

"Did I?"

"Yes... I don't know... No. Damn healing potions."

The door squeaked further open and a nurse who had to be six feet tall pranced into the room. Bright-colored stickers covered her white healer's uniform and pink costume jewelry hung around her neck like she was the world's tallest child.

"Hello Severus, I brought your cherry jello." It was like she was singing everything she said. The cheerfulness was even too much for Harry. "Here is a spoon. You eat it with the spoon." The nurse carefully handed him the jello and plastic spoon.

Snape's eye twitched and Harry had to suppress a laugh. He must have been dealing with Nurse Bubbly-Pants for a while now.

"I can think of something else I can do with that spoon," Snape grumbled. The nurse looked up at him. She heard.

"Professor," whispered Harry.

"Well, uh, okay. Enjoy. I'll see you later alligator!" She hurried out the door.

"See. You're not the only one I'm mean to," said Snape as he sat up in his bed and took a bite of the cherry jello.

"Wow, I feel so much better now," said Harry sarcastically.

"Glad I could help, Potter."

Harry slowly stood from the chair, taking one last chance to glance back at Professor Snape who was digging into his snack.

"Well, enjoy your jello. I should get going. The Weasley's invited me to dinner."

Snape said nothing, so Harry grabbed the balloon and started to take it with him.

"What are you doing?" asked Snape.

"You said it was horrifying."

"It is. But it's my horrifying balloon and I'm keeping it."

Harry hid his smile as he tied the balloon back to the night stand.

Hello, folks! This is my first attempt at a slash relationship, but it will be lighthearted and humorous. (Although there is a definite, external plot). Anyway, hope you enjoyed. They will mostly be short chapters, but posted quickly, I hope. Thanks and please review.