Summary, Warnings, Notes, & Disclaimers posted with earlier chapters.

Thank you's: Thank you so much to my reviewers of ch. 3 FiresBurningTouch, Silver-Eyed Leanan Sidhe, iwoebegone, BloodRose99, Looney Lulu, joytiger, workingsomecoffeemagic, Daddys little crazy bitch, SeverusLovesHarry, Rori Potter, HersheyKissesLove, noelnoel2, GabrielleRickmanSnape, fairyprincess91, MartinaSnape, Black-Velvet-Hearts, lucyjoan, Doryan, GalynSolo, dogsby, SweetTooth, Deby Magid, lariqueniasexiboricua90, and Mimi. I appreciate your kind words and support for this story! Thank you to everyone who tagged this as a favorite or for an alert. : )

Please review! Thanks!

HPSS HPSS HPSS

Ch. 4: The ConversationPart 1

"Mr. Potter, you're still up. Hello, Mr. Weasley."

The two Gryffindors greeted their Head of House as she approached them and sat in a chair next to their couch.

"Mr. Weasley, I need to speak to Mr. Potter, and besides, you should be in bed."

Ron looked at his friend questioningly.

"Go on, Ron, I'll be fine. We'll finish talking tomorrow."

"Alright, Harry, if you're sure."

Harry nodded and Ron headed towards the dormitories.

"Mr. Potter… Harry… you left the Hospital Wing without saying goodnight."

Harry blushed, remembering why he had left. "I'm sorry, Professor. I… I got really tired."

She raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying it. "You're not in bed," she pointed out.

"I couldn't sleep," he explained.

She sat there looking at him carefully, with the feeling that he wasn't being completely honest. She wondered why he left the Hospital Wing.

"So, um… did you and Prof. Dumbledore figure out what to do for Prof. Snape? To help find the person who can break his curse?"

"Harry, there's nothing for us to do." She was a bit puzzled. Didn't he kiss him? Does he not know that he broke the curse? Well, perhaps he doesn't know since Severus didn't open his eyes and sit up until Harry had left… Why did he leave?

"What?" He stood up quickly. "So you're just going to give up? He doesn't deserve this! He's too good a person! He's done so much for us! You can't give up on him! You can't!"

Prof. McGonagall was amused by his passionate outburst. Perhaps he really does care for him. But then why does he think Severus is still under the curse after having kissed him?

"Harry, settle down. We haven't given up on him. His curse was broken."

Harry stilled. "What?" he asked in confusion.

"His curse was broken. He's cured. He's fine now."

Harry's chest shuddered. With weakened legs he sat back down. "Oh, thank gods!" he choked out softly. He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. "That's good. That's really good news… Oh, gods, I'm so glad. I'm so relieved. I would never have forgiven myself if he… oh god. I'm so glad he's okay." He looked up suddenly. "He's really okay?"

His Head of House smiled and nodded. "Yes, he's fine. In fact, he's left the Hospital Wing and is now in his quarters."

Harry shook his head in amazement. "How did you find someone so fast? How did they know to come here?"

Prof. McGonagall just looked at him with curiosity and concern. He doesn't know it was him. How do I tell him?

"Well, who was it?" he asked impatiently. "A stranger? Someone Prof. Snape was once in a relationship with?"

She was really at a loss for words. "I don't know how to tell you this… You really don't know?"

Harry looked at his Head of House as though she had spoken Mermish. "How would I know?" he asked.

"Harry, no one can enter or leave the Hospital Wing without Madam Pomphrey knowing about it." Prof. McGonagall paused and Harry just stared at her. "We were in the office and one of Madam Pomphrey's bells chimed, indicating that someone had left. Right after the bell there was a loud slam. Prof. Dumbledore stepped out to see if it were just the door or something else. Meanwhile Madam Pompfrey cast a charm to confirm the identity of the one who left. That's when Prof. Dumbledore called us to join him. Prof. Snape was sitting up, awake, and smiling. His curse had been broken."

Harry paled. "But who…?" he whispered.

"Harry, we have no other explanation for this. No one else but the five of us were in the Hospital Wing."

"But – but it's impossible. It couldn't be…" His mouth was dry and sticky, his mind was spinning too fast to think, and his heart was thudding loudly.

"Did you kiss him, Harry?"

He covered his face in his hands with shame and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. No, no! This can't be happening! "Yes… Yes, I kissed him." Harry wanted so badly to deny it. But he knew deep down that he couldn't. "But it doesn't mean anything. I don't know why I did it… I don't know…" His chest heaved rapidly.

She got up from her seat and moved to sit next to him and placed her hand comfortingly on his back.

"It's okay, Harry."

"Tell me he doesn't know. Please tell me he doesn't know!" he begged. When she didn't reply right away he looked up, face crumpled in defeat and tears in his eyes. "No!" he cried out.

"Harry, you don't need to worry! He's not mad at you!"

"Of course he is! How could he not be? He hates me!"

"He doesn't hate you. I admit, I thought he was going to lose his temper. But he didn't. He's glad you saved him. He's happy to be rid of the curse and it doesn't bother him that it was you."

"But it's impossible. It couldn't be me. I… I don't… love him." Harry closed his eyes tight and shook his head. I don't. I don't love him. I don't like him. Enjoying the kiss doesn't mean anything. Finding him attractive doesn't mean anything.

"Harry, it's fine. It doesn't matter. Yes, you saved him. There's no question about that. As for your feelings, only you can determine that."

"But he was still asleep when I left." His eyes were still closed. But what about the sensation of lips pressing up against mine? I was afraid he might wake up. But he was still asleep! He had to be!

"Actually, Harry, Severus told us that he woke up to someone kissing him but by the time he opened his eyes and sat up, they were gone."

He was awake? ! No, it can't be true! How could I cure him when I don't love him? "But Dumbledore said the only cure…" He trailed off, unable to say the words.

She sighed. "Albus is a romantic. He's latched onto the stories about true love's kiss because it's romantic. But even if there are no accounts of friends, family, or respected colleagues breaking this curse, it doesn't mean it's not possible."

"But Dumbledore said that there are many accounts of parents unable to save their children and –"

"I know, Harry. I know what he said. And perhaps that's true, but that was a very, very long time ago. There's no need to fret and jump to conclusions about what this means. All that matters is what you did for Severus. Because of you, he no longer has to live a lifetime of pain. That's all. It doesn't matter how you feel about him."

Harry shook his head. "Prof. Dumbledore couldn't save him. Why?"

"I don't know why."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Harry, why did you kiss him, if you don't have feelings for him?"

He looked down. "I can't explain it. I was just… feeling guilty because it was all my fault and I was upset because he didn't deserve to be in so much pain and I was wishing desperately that someone, anyone, could..." He finished in a whisper, "I wished that I could save him… Perhaps because I felt guilty and because I was thankful for everything he's done." I don't know why I kissed him but once I did I could hardly stop. And I liked it! I fucking liked it! What's wrong with me? ! I can't tell her that! I can't tell anyone that!

"I don't understand. Why were you feeling guilty?"

"It's my fault Voldemort found out Snape was really on our side. Snape tried to teach me Occlumency, but I didn't try hard enough to learn. I didn't practice."

"You shouldn't be so quick to blame yourself. Voldemort is a powerful wizard and spying is very dangerous work. Severus' loyalties could have been discovered for reasons having nothing to do with you."

"Perhaps," Harry conceded, but he wasn't entirely convinced. He sat quietly for a moment and then was disturbed by the thought of the professors assuming what he felt towards Snape. "What did you think when you… thought it was me?"

"I quite honestly was shocked. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Severus awake, sitting up, smiling, and appearing to be in no pain. I knew it had to have been you simply because there was no one else, but assuming Prof. Dumbledore was right about the curse's cure it didn't make sense to me. I figured that he, or the literature, must be wrong."

"You didn't think I had feelings for him?"

"No, I didn't."

"What about Prof. Dumbledore?"

"Prof. Dumbledore, like I said, is a romantic. So naturally he believed that you broke the curse because you have feelings for Prof. Snape."

"And what does Prof. Snape think?" Harry whispered quietly.

"He was surprised, but he wasn't upset. In regards to your feelings for him, I believe he's reserving judgment."

Harry nodded pensively.

"He wants to talk to you."

"Prof. Dumbledore?"

"No, Prof. Snape."

He looked at her warily. "Why?"

"To thank you, of course. And I believe he has some questions for you."

Harry's chest tightened and a knot was growing in his stomach. "I'm not sure that that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Prof. McGonagall wouldn't dare admit it, but she agreed. She wasn't sure how Harry would react to Severus questioning him about his feelings and reasons for kissing him. And she wasn't sure how well Severus would handle being told that Harry doesn't have feelings for him. She felt confident he wouldn't become angry and punish the young man; rather, she felt that he would most likely withdraw and suffer in solitude. But she hated the thought of it. She didn't want either one of them to be hurt.

Harry just sat quietly, not answering her question. I don't believe her. Snape is upset. He wants to punish me, I know it.

"Harry, I've known Prof. Snape for a very long time. I can assure you that he is not angry with you. It did not bother him that it was you who saved him, you that kissed him in his sleep. He is grateful to be cured. He wants to thank you and talk with you."

Harry looked up into her eyes. He wanted to believe her. "Do you promise, Professor?"

"I promise, Harry. And I don't promise lightly."

Harry wasn't entirely convinced but he decided to have faith in her. He knew she wouldn't knowingly send him to a fate of being chopped up for potion ingredients, so he agreed to meet with Prof. Snape. He was surprised that the professor wanted to see him right away. She suggested that he smarten up a bit and reminded him that it was a bit chilly in the dungeons.

Harry didn't think he looked bad but when he went to the boys' room he saw in the mirror that his face was tear-streaked. He washed his face and then went to the dormroom. Ron was sleeping. Thank Merlin. The last thing I want to do right now is to explain all this to him!

He was just about to put on a jumper and his sneakers when he began to feel uncomfortable at the thought of Snape seeing him in his pajamas. He quickly changed into a T-shirt and pair of jeans. For a brief moment he wondered how he looked, but he quickly brushed away the thought and told himself it didn't matter. When he was ready, he went downstairs back to the common room and he and Prof. McGonagall made their way towards the dungeons.

MEANWHILE, IN THE DUNGEONS…

Severus arrived at his quarters. After he relieved himself he washed his hands and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He saw a filthy tear-stained mess, as if he weren't ugly enough to begin with. Dirt was on his robes and in his hair from when he was writhing on the ground in pain. The half-dried sweat was from the stress and exertion his body went through. This would not do! He took a shower, using his favorite soap and shampoo. Usually after a Death Eater meeting he would soak in a hot bubble bath, scrubbing his skin until it tingled and then relaxing in the tub until his muscles felt like pudding. But tonight he didn't have the luxury of time. He hoped that Harry would be awake and would be willing to talk with him. He wanted to be ready for his arrival. He was so consumed with thoughts of the green-eyed Gryffindor that he hardly noticed the pleasures of the hot water beating against his back and the patchouli-scented soaps. He showered quickly, dried off, and dressed in a fresh pair of trousers and a buttoned shirt. He decided to forgo the jacket and robes since for this conversation he wanted to be seen as a man, not as an intimidating instructor. He was nervous so he busied himself by preparing a tray of tea. Sure, he could have asked for a house-elf to do it for him, but he needed to occupy himself with something while he waited. Tasks completed and at a loss for what else he could do, he sat down on a sofa in front of his fireplace and stared into the flames.

HPSS HPSS HPSS

To Be Continued…

In the next installment of "Broken Heart Curse," Prof. Mc Gonagall has a conversation with Harry on the way to the dungeons and with Prof. Snape in his quarters. The conversation between Prof. Snape and Harry will be in the following chapter.

Please review and let me know what you enjoyed most about this chapter. : ) Any particular favorite moments?