Weeks had past and Hermione was still in a coma. Snape had never looked worse and his attitude had gone from bad to worse. He snapped at everyone even some of the other teachers. He spent late nights looking for a cure in the library and in the books he kept in his office and room. He also made potions late into the night and on his breaks.

One day in particular Snape had an idea. Waiting for class to be over he thought it over and thought it might work. The bell rang and everyone left. But Snape stopped Neville.

"Mr. Longbottom I need to speak to you." Neville looked scared.

"Um yes Professor sir." Snape smiled at him. Something no one would have expected him to do or had ever seen him do.

"Its nothing bad. It's about Miss. Granger. When you were making your potion a few weeks ago did you get up?" Neville nodded.

"Yes, I got up to get more powdered root."

"Was anyone up while you were?" Neville nodded again.

"Yes, Malfoy was. He walked past me as I walked toward the supply cabinet. I didn't think anything of it though. I thought he had just gotten more supplies as well." Snape's face fell as he realized someone had tampered with the potion, just as he had feared.

"Do you think you could make the potion again? It might be the cure for Hermione." Neville nodded.

"I'm sure I can."

So Neville set up his things and went about making the potion. Once it was done he handed a small vile of it to Snape.

"If she wakes up I'll give you 100 house points. Lets go and see if it works." Snape and Neville quickly left towards the hospital wing.

As they entered Snape nodded to Madam Pomfrey who took Neville inside her office to ask him a few questions. In the meantime Snape walked over to Hermione's bed and set down beside her. Knowing she couldn't drink the potion in her sleep and not wanting to have to wait for Madam Pomfrey to use magic he decided he would have to help her.

Taking the small vile he poured it in his mouth and then kissed her, letting it slowly drip from his mouth into hers. A few moments later he pulled away and waited. Snape waited for what seemed like and eternity. Hermione's eyes slowly opened and Snape stared down into them. She blinked back at him and then sat up with a start.

"I'm back...I'm not asleep anymore." She looked at Snape who was watching her. "How, how did you do it?" Snape smiles slightly.

"It isn't me you should thank. Mr. Longbottom found the cure." Snape had lied even though he had thought of the idea. Yet he wanted Neville to feel worth something so he lied about it. Snape got up and walked over to the office and told Neville and Madam Pomfrey that Hermione was awake. The moment he finished Neville ran out of the office to her bed. Neville hugged Hermione looking as if he could cry.

Snape looked at Madam Pomfrey who nodded and they left. Neville told Hermione what had happened.

"I see. But Snape said you did it. And he's been slaving away all this time to find a cure." Neville nodded.

"I think he wanted me to have something to be proud of for a change. I wish he hadn't though. He deserves some of the credit." Hermione nodded.

"Yes, I agree. But he'd never admit to it." With a sigh she got up. "Common lets go see the others." Together Neville and Hermione left to go see the others.

A few days later Hermione was talking with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall about Snape being absent. Hermione had even asked Dumbledore about. He had simply said that Snape was ill. Everyone couldn't believe it and were asking if anyone knew what he had.

Hermione sat poking at her food as everyone else ate. She sighed and thought about how she could have sworn someone had kissed her while she was asleep because she had tasted coffee when she woke up. And none of the students drank coffee. She could only sit and wonder who it could have been.

Snape on the other hand had locked himself away, unable to face Hermione and the others knowing they would want an answer to why he cared if she woke up. So Snape called in sick. But he couldn't hide away for ever. And even he would have to get over his fear. For Dumbledore wouldn't allow him to stop teaching his class or go on hiding because he didn't want to face peoples questions.