"Lets get something to eat, before Madame Pomfrey gets here with hospital food."
Harry nodded, only feeling that he was hungry when Snape had suggested it. They walked into the hall and down a few more. Harry noticed Snape was walking with a slight limp. He couldn't tell if it was because of how weak he was or, if it was something more permanent. He looked up at Snape's face to see he was looking at him. He knew he wasn't thinking about how much he hated him; it had to be something other then the regular feeling Snape had shown. But it wasn't like. Harry didn't understand fully until they were at the bowl of fruit that was the door to the kitchen.

He understood him, and Harry understood Snape. He was the way he was because of Voldemont. He had been forced onto being a bad guy and now he feared he would fail Dumbledore.
Harry thought back to the day that they went to Diagon ally. He had spoken saying that a lot of people were risking their lives to save the world from Voldemont and to keep Harry safe. At first Harry had thought Snape was just being his cruel self, but now he knew. He knew that he was one of those who had worked to protect him, and the warning had been one of someone who didn't want all the suffering to go in vain.

'Harry!'

Harry hadn't noticed, but Snape was waiting for him by the door. He had been trying to get his attention nudging him, but then, seeing that it wasn't working, he had used the connection that they would have to live with.

"You know if that's the only way I can get you to pay attention, I might use it in class." He laughed at his own joke and Harry followed him in the huge kitchen.
It hadn't changed from the last time he was there. The house elves hurrying to serve them, the tables positioned under the ones in the great hall itself.

Harry scanned the room for Dobby but didn't find him. He was about to ask the closest elf when he was pushed forward from behind, long arms gripping his middle. He looked down to see Dobby, he was smiling and his eyes filled with unshed tears. Harry saw that he wasn't his usual cheerful self.

"Harry Potter sir, Dobby is happy to see you well, does Harry Potter need anything, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger had said you were in the hospital wing. Is Harry Potter alright?" His big eyes stared up at him sadly. Harry shook his head at the elf.

"I'm fine Dobby, what is wrong?" Harry looked around he had just remembered about Winky, he hadn't seen her yet, and he was almost grateful. After what had happened to her master last time he had seen her, he thought she would blame it all on him. Knowing that elves had strength large compared to their size, he wasn't too sure he wanted to see her. Before he could ask he got a warning from Snape, not to mention Winky. He had, for one blissful moment, forgotten that Snape could read his thoughts. He hated the thought.

"Oh Harry Potter sir, nothing is wrong, I is having fun being free and I is getting paid, I is happy-" before he could finish his thought, Dobby broke down in uncontrollable yelps that Harry supposed was his crying. Before Harry knew what was happening, he was being pushed out of the kitchen by little hands, Harry knew it wasn't because he had made Dobby cry, but because, the past term, Hermione had made Winky cry.
A few seconds latter Snape was pushed out the door, a plate still in hand, the door closing with a snap behind him. He looked upset about being forcefully pushed out but was too hungry to say anything; he grabbed the three-layer sandwich of his plate and took a huge bite.
Without a second look at Harry he started off towards the dungeons, Harry didn't mind at all, he went to look for Hermione and Ron, and found them in the library.

"Harry? What are you doing here? Did Madame Pomfrey release you?" Hermione asked, looking over her thick book at Harry. When he shook his head she put the book down and glared at him. "You know she is going to be mad."

"What are the two of you doing here? School hasn't even started yet!" Ron, who had been looking at an old boring looking book, he shot a look at Hermione, which Harry knew was the 'she made me' look he knew so well.

"We are looking for a way to take the connection thing of off you so you don't have to put up with Snape for the rest of your life." Ron said getting up and putting the book back on the closest shelf.

"Ron that doesn't belong there." Hermione said forgetting her own book.

"So." Ron shrugged his shoulders moving back to his seat. Hermione took out her wand and sent the book Ron just put back on the shelf racing at Ron; it stopped inches from his nose.
Wide eyed he took the book and went off down the next aisle and started to mutter to himself.

"No respect for books!" Hermione said looking at Harry, he looked back, now sitting across from her. She looked down at her hands and started to explain about connection spells and other reversing spells. Looking for a way to change the subject he mentioned he had been to the kitchens.

"So you know then." Hermione said sorrow playing on her face, she looked down at her book and a tear rolled down her face, landing on the text in front of her. Harry shook his head and turned to Ron for an explanation.

"Winky, she um… she killed herself, after last term." Harry slumped back in his chair, shock temporarily blocking off his mind, before grief set in and he put his face in his hands.
He could hear Hermione crying and Ron comforting her, he did know why Winky would have felt upset, but he didn't understand how someone could take their life. The thought sounded unbearable.
The three friends sat, in tears, until the librarian showed them off with sad eyes, having overheard the conversation.
They went to the common room and fell asleep by the fireplace, even though it was summer; they had found it oddly cold in the big empty common room.

They didn't see or hear the owl that rushed by the window, they didn't know it held something that would change their whole morning of events, and they didn't find any peace without the knowledge, for they were mourning, for an old friend.

*

Harry woke up to find Ron's feet in his face, at first he thought that's what had woken him up, but then he realised Snape was trying to wake him, chanting 'rise and shine Potty head', over and over again. Harry had wondered why he had all of a sudden started to dream about what Peeves had sung in his 2nd year.

'What is it?' He asked, shoving Ron's feet out of his way and going to sit on one of the couched. 'It better be good.'