"Oh, come now, Severus. When was the last time you've had a home cooked meal? Can you even cook, I wonder?"

Dark red blotches appeared on his cheekbones, and his lip curled. "In case you've forgotten, I am a Potions Master. Don't you think preparing a mixed salad is perfectly within the range of my abilities?"

"A mixed salad? No wonder you're so lean. I meant, a home cooked meal: steak, potatoes with butter, freshly baked scones-"

"I can get a House Elf to do that for me any old bloody time I want."

"Which I'm sure is often."

"I'm a busy man, Poppy, I don't have time for, for nonsense-"

"Such as eating every now and then?"

He raked his hand through his hair. "You are the most infuriating person on earth, and that includes Potter."

"Tomorrow night, six o'clock, then. I assume you won't need to be escorted to my quarters?"

He stalked out of the room.

[_]

Snape looked at the clock. He got up, and sat down in his armchair again.

I'm not going. Blasted, maddening witch...

His dark eyes darted toward the clock.

It's not like I have to go. I don't have to answer to her. I'm a former Death Eater, for crying out loud. She should be shaking with fear.

Poppy, shaking with fear. Snape smirked at the thought. That was about as likely as Fudge winning Witch Weekly's "Most Fashionably Dressed Wizard of the Year" award.

Snape drummed his fingers against the armrest. Would she be angry if he failed to show up?

Maybe. Perhaps.

Definitely.

Faking an illness was certainly not going to get him out of this predicament.

He rose, defeated.

"Might as well get it over with."

The massive pile of essays that he'd predicted Lockhart had left on his desk was still there. The Potions Master had been unable to concentrate on anything all day. Except, that is, for his dinner with Pomfrey. If this got out, he'd never live it down. Bullied into having dinner -what a disgrace. Was he not the Head of the House of Slytherin?

Severus, you are so full of crap.

Then, he straightened. Thought she could have fun at his expense, did she.

He headed for the door and picked up the bouquet of flowers that lay on the small table next to the coat hanger.

Let's see if THAT doesn't shut her up.

[_]

Pomfrey looked at the clock.

Two more minutes, and he'd be late, which could only mean one of three things: he was sulking in his private quarters, he was in the Headmaster's office, trying to convince Albus she had lost her marbles, or he'd gone into hiding.

If he was smart, he'd chosen the third option.

Then again, what if... He could have been summoned.

She was going back and forth between anger and worry when there was a curt knock at the door.

The mediwitch hurried to open it. She found herself face to face with a bunch of wild flowers.

"Here. I thought you might like to put them on the table, or something," Snape said.

"My. How... thoughtful of you, Severus." She took them from his hand. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Well, do come in."

Snape followed her and glanced at the surroundings. Aside from the stone walls, everything, or almost, was white. But not a stark, antiseptic sort of white; it was soft and faded, in some places a bit gray, in others a bit yellow. The atmosphere reminded him of slightly wilted roses. It was calming. There was a pale blue throw on the sofa and a couple of books on the coffee table, along with a tea-stained mug.

He'd never seen Pomfrey's rooms before. This was a bit unexpected, but in a pleasant way. After spending his childhood in a place where a speck of dust was a calamity, he liked his ink spots, his haphazard stacks of parchments, his disarrayed collection of jars. To his relief, it now seemed unlikely the mediwitch would yell at him for leaving crumbs on the tablecloth.

"I bet you thought the furniture would be covered in plastic," she said.

He gave her a quizzical look, and she chuckled.

"Over the years, I've heard a lot of funny stories from students who are familiar with Muggles. Not much else they can do but talk when they're in the Hospital Wing, sometimes."

"I can only imagine," he said, raising an eyebrow.

She took him to a small dining room that overlooked the Hogwarts grounds.

"Make yourself at home, Severus. Dinner's ready."

"It does smell rather good."

"Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Yes, thank you."

She poured him a glass of red, then filled her own glass.

"I'll be right back," she said. A few minutes later, she emerged from the kitchen with two large plates.

"Here you are, professor."

"It looks delicious," Snape said, eyeing the juicy steak, buttered vegetables sprinkled with rosemary, and golden bread rolls in front of him.

"I've always loved to cook. It helps me relax," she said, and sat down.

"I gather you've hidden this talent from the House Elves? They would be wringing their hands if they knew what's been going on in here."

"As my mother used to say, what would wizardkind do without House Elves, starve?"

"I suppose so," Snape said with a fleeting smile.

"Well, dig in, Severus. If my mother had met you, she would've also said that you need fattening up."

Snape muttered, sliced a piece of steak and brought it to his mouth. "Oh," he said. "Oh."

"Do you like it?"

"It's... noteworthy," he said, chewing. "Outstanding, actually."

"Glad you like it. Glad you're here, Severus."

"Heavens knows I came willingly."

She lifted her glass. "To friends."

After a moment, he imitated her gesture. "To... friends."

Their glasses met with a soft clinking sound, and Snape and Pomfrey drank.

They ate in silence for a while, then Pomfrey said, "This isn't so bad, is it?"

"I thought I'd made it clear your cooking skills were superb."

"No, I meant interacting with another human being, Severus."

"Poppy, while I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, I'd prefer it if we left my social life out of this." He downed the rest of his wine in one gulp.

"You have no social life. It'd be like mentioning something that doesn't exist."

"All the more reason to leave it alone, then."

"You don't realize how much we worry about you, do you?"

He wiped his lips and flung his napkin on the table. "You are all wasting valuable energy by doing so." More quietly, he said, "Anyway, I don't believe you. I know what I am, what people think of me. Not that I care in the least."

"That would explain why you're so charming."

"Remind me again why I'm here?"

"Right now, chocolate truffle cake, if you're done with that steak."

He sighed. "Do you need help-"

"Nonsense. You're my guest. Won't be a second."

When she returned with the cake, he was rubbing his temples with the tips of his fingers.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine, fine. Just a small headache." He looked up. "Chocolate will help."

"I'm not so sure about that, but here you go," she said, handing him the plate.

She filled their cups with tea. "Sugar?"

"One."

They started on dessert and she said, "How's the cake?"

"I think you know the answer."

"Indulge me, professor."

"I don't believe a House Elf could have done any better."

She spurted her tea and laughed. "It's such a shame so few people know about this terrific sense of humor of yours."

"There hasn't been much call for it in my line of work."

"I bet your class could benefit from a few laughs."

"Does constant snickering from the Slytherins at the expense of the Gryffindors qualify?"

"I'd like to know whose idea it was to stick those two houses together," Pomfrey said, shaking her head.

"Oh, it's part of Albus's master plan, no doubt."

"Come again?"

"His plan to drive me completely insane and have me interned at St. Mungo's before the Dark Lord can kill me."

The smile died from Pomfrey's lips. "Why do you do it?"

"Because no one else can. Albus knows it. He wishes it were otherwise, but..." He shrugged. "I am prepared to make the necessary sacrifices."

"Every time you're carried in the Hospital Wing, Severus, I'm afraid that-" Her eyes grew bright and she looked away, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't mind me. All of this, the war... The injured, the ones I can't save... Sometimes, it's a little hard to keep going."

"The only way I've been able to is by limiting attachments," Snape said. "It's better for everyone involved."

"How about some brandy? Let's go sit in the living room."

He nodded.