"No, by Zeus," he said. "But I no longer know what I did mean. However, it is still my opinion that justice is helping friends and harming enemies." Plato. The Republic (334b-c)


Harry woke up in the infirmary. Gentle light from the window fell across the bed he was laying on, telling him he hadn't been unconscious for long, unless a whole day had passed. His head felt stuffy, as though it were filled with cotton. Unfortunately, this cotton seemed to tickle and move through his head, making him dizzy every time he tried to focus on it. Shrugging, he gave up on identifying the feeling, and sat up, feeling around for his glasses.

Having found his glasses on the bedside table, he looked around. The last he remembered seeing was a mangled curse strike Professor Snape in the back, knocking him to the ground, and then that same spell flying straight at his face. He ran his fingers over his face just to make sure all the parts were where he had left them last. He was pleased to find that his nose was still approximately where it had been that morning, and that he still had two eyes, one mouth, and two ears. There wasn't much else he could tell by touch. For all he knew, he could be purple with yellow spots.

That very thought was enough to propel him off the bed, and towards the bathroom. As he pushed aside the curtain that secluded him from the rest of the large infirmary, he saw Professor Snape lying nearby, still unconscious. His large, billowing cloak had been removed, and lay with his overcoat on a nearby chair. It was surprising to see how different Snape looked with his outer layers removed. The garments obviously added a bit of bulk to his frame, because he looked much more slender than he normally appeared. Harry had to stop and stare. He had never seen Snape as anything other than in complete control, or completely furious. Snape looked... relaxed. Astonishing.

The sound of Madam Pomfrey bustling into the infirmary propelled Harry into motion, and he completed his trek to the bathroom. After confirming that he was, indeed, spotless, and all of the same color he had been in the morning, as well as the same height, width, weight and gender, he was satisfied.

Returning to the main room of the infirmary, he noticed that Professor Snape had awoken. Madam Pomfrey was leaning over him, checking him over. She caught sight of Harry out of the corner of her eye, and straightened.

"There you are, Harry. Back to bed with you, until I'm sure that there are no harmful side effects from that mess of a spell you were hit with." After ushering him back to bed, she turned back to Snape, only to catch him in the act of reaching for his cloak and overcoat, obviously attempting to sneak out while she was distracted.

"Drop 'em, Severus, and get back on the bed." Her tone left no room for disobedience.

"Poppy, I assure you, I'm quite fine. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my quarters, and away from the living train wreck that is Potter before it runs me over yet again." The bite in Snape's tone could have peeled flesh from bone. Madam Pomfrey waved it off indifferently and picked up her wand threateningly.

"Don't make me immobilize you again Severus."

Snape sat. Quickly. Harry suppressed a smile at the reaction, knowing full well that letting it out would result in a thorough scolding by his Potions Professor.

"There's no need for threats Poppy," Snape muttered, slouching grumpily on the cot. His expression clearly showed his displeasure with not being allowed to leave the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey ignored him and waved her wand, running it over his body slowly, while firing off a list of questions for him to answer. Finally she seemed satisfied, and tucked her wand back into her pocket. Snape moved as if to stand, and promptly sank back down at the look in her eyes.

"Stay." She commanded, and made her way over to Harry's bed. This served the unfortunate purpose of bringing Harry back to Snape's attention.

"Mr. Potter," Snape began, "I see that once again, I have you to thank for landing me in the infirmary. Do you plan to make a habit of this?"

Harry flushed, thinking back to the last school year, his fifth, in which a confrontation between himself and Voldemort had resulted in a well-disguised Snape being struck with several nasty curses while helping Harry to escape to safety. Snape had spent a week in the infirmary as a result. It hadn't helped that Harry's own carelessness and rule breaking had led to the confrontation. He was quite sure he would never live it down. How was he supposed to explain to Snape that certain realizations in his life had caused him to wander carelessly off school grounds?

"Sorry sir." Harry replied, lowering his gaze to the floor. "I would like to point out, however, that if anyone is to blame this time, it would be Fred and George. They started the fight in the first place."

"Yet it is obvious that the idiocy of the Weasley twins is contagious, or we wouldn't be here, now would we, Mr. Potter?"

"Now Severus," Madame Pomfrey interrupted, "It was just a bit of fun for the students, after all, and no one was hurt." Having finished her examination of Harry, she turned to face them both.

"If either of you experience any side effects, I want to see you back here immediately. However, as I can see no immediate effects of the spell, you are both free to go. Go on, off with you." With that, she turned away, and bustled back into her office.

Snape snatched his overcoat and quickly pulled it on, leaving it unbuttoned in his haste. His cloak he merely tossed carelessly over his shoulders. It was obvious he wanted to get out of the infirmary as quickly as possible.

"Professor?" Harry asked, silently kicking himself for speaking at all.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?" Snape's expression was foreboding, his angry eyes glaring at Harry.

"I really am sorry. It was careless of us to begin with." Harry managed to squeeze out his apology without stuttering once. He was quite proud of himself.

Snape glared at him for a moment, eyes shooting sparks. Then, something amazing happened. He sighed, ran a hand over his eyes wearily, and looked away.

"Mr. Potter, it may be that when the aches and pains from my impact to the ground have faded, I would be more inclined to listen to an apology. Until then, I suggest you leave me be. Unless you care to discuss a loss of points from Gryffindor?"

With that, he swept out of the infirmary, not looking back.

Harry exhaled sharply in frustration. He had only been trying to apologize. Then something occurred to him. Snape had looked - exhausted. What had his Professor been up to, to seem so weary? Even his last retort had lacked its usual bite.

Whatever was going on, Harry was determined to get to the bottom of it.