Harry slumped down onto the couch joining Ron and Hermione. Harry began to laugh hysterically.

"Harry, What happened?" Ron asked.

"You've got to come with me." Harry said.

"To see Snape?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"Yeah, but trust me, you have to see this." Harry got up and started for the door.

"Harry. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on," said Hermione.

"I'd rather you see it for yourself than me explain it to you." Hermione Just gave Harry a look that said, 'I'm waiting for you to tell me.' Harry sighed. "Fine. Snape is acting really strange."

"Define strange." Hermione pressed.

"Hermione! C'mon! I wanna see this!" Ron whined. The three look at each other for a moment. Hermione gave in.

"Alright. Lets go." Hermione said reluctantly.

"Cool, but we have to stop by the kitchens first."

"For what!" Ron and Hermione said simultaneously.

"You'll find out." Harry teased. The three walked down to the kitchens. Hermione, still fighting for elf-rights, couldn't bare to see the poor things at work; She stayed outside in the hallway. Moments later, Ron and Harry came back out to the hallway.

"Why did you get cakes Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry had a smirk on his face that said, 'I'm not telling.' Ron shoved Harry, almost knocking him into a stone statue.

"Okay, I'll tell you." The three continued to walk up to the hospital wing. "When I was up there, Snape woke up, but he was so gentle and kind in his words. He asked me to get him sweet cakes." Ron chortled. "Oh it gets better. He asked me to get him ones without rhubarb, because rhubarb is bad for his complexion."

"Quit lying Harry," Hermione said quickly.

"I'm not! Watch, when we walk there, you'll see what I'm talking about."

Quietly, the three walked into the hospital wing. They set their eyes on Snape, who was trimming his hair with a pair of scissors.

"Harry. My cakes. Thank you very much dear boy. If you could just set them down on my little table right here." Hermione and Ron's jaws both dropped. "Ron. Hermione, so nice to see you."

"Eh….. Likewise Professor." Hermione said cheerily. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh. I'm fine. Although this ghastly hair of mine, I had to give it a wash and a bit of a trim. Do you like it?" Snape shook his head a tad to get his hair moving.

"I do like it. The layering suits you." Hermione replied. Ron coughed as he tried to hide his laughing.

"Are you alright Ron? I hope you're not getting ill." Snape asked concerning.

"I-I-I'm-I'm okay," Ron replied shakily.

"Good." Snape smiled. "The last thing I would want is one of my students to be getting sick and missing class." Snape's face brightened as if he'd just had a brilliant idea. "Speaking of missing class, I do hope I'll be well enough to teach class tomorrow."

"Oh…Sir." Harry started. "Are you sure you should do that? I mean, you need to get better first."

" Yeah!" Ron chimed in. "You need plenty of rest. I think you should cancel classes for a while. You should focus on getting well."

"Oh, no. I couldn't just leave your eager young minds without stimulation. I have to teach classes. Don't mind me. Really, I'll be fine. Besides, I've been resting so peacefully for 3 days now." Snape replied.

There was an awkward silence. Snape had a cheery smile on his face as he ate one of his cakes. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked to each other as if someone had the answer as to what to do now. They'd never been in such a position before.

"So, Professor, we should be going now. We have some things to get done…" Hermione said quickly.

"Yeah. Lots of studying to do." Harry added. As the three were just about to turn and leave, a pitiful voice came from Snape.

"Please, don't go." Snape's face was so sorrowful. "I never get the right chance to talk to anyone."

"I wonder why," Ron slipped under his breath. Hermione elbowed him.

"What do you mean sir?" Hermione asked.

"I always have the distinct feeling that students don't like me. I can't imagine why. I'm so nice." Snape said honestly. Ron sniggered, then tried to hide it by coughing violently.

"Ron," Hermione said firmly, "maybe you should go out into the hall and clear out whatever is in your throat." Ron shot a glare to Hermione, but left the hospital wing.

"Are you sure he'll be alright?" Snape asked.

"Don't you mind him. He'll be okay." Harry reassured.

"Look, Professor, if you really want someone to talk to, I'd be more than happy to stay."Snape's face lit up.

"Really? Y-you'd do that for me?" Snape asked cautiously.

"Of course."

Snape smiled gently. It looked as if a tear was welling up in one of his eyes. Harry became uncomfortable.

"Umm…..I'm going to go see if Ron is okay." There was a short silence. "I hope you feel better professor."

"Thank you Harry." Snape said quietly.

"I'm going to go ahead and stay here." Hermione said.

Harry Nodded. With that, Harry left the hospital wing. Out in the hall, Ron was looking slightly flushed.

"That Hermione's got a lot of nerve!" Ron burst out as soon as Harry had shut the hospital wing door.

"What are you talking about Ron?" Harry asked in confusion.

"She called me out like I'm a child or something!"

"You were being rude. Laughing at him like that."

"Are you serious Harry? You're siding with Hermione?"

"I'm not taking sides Ron. I'm just saying, you should've had more respect than that."

"Are you crazy? When will you see Snape acting like that ever again? You're not even taking any enjoyment out of this situation." Ron almost yelled.

"Ron, I was having fun with it. I did laugh. But did you see the pain in his eyes when he said he never gets to talk to anyone? Did you see how hurt he was?"

"You feel sorry for him, don't you?"

"I do. Don't you?" Harry asked. Ron's eyes became shifty.

"Kinda." Ron was quiet for a second. "But Harry, It's Snape. It's the slimy git who has no sense of humor. He's the one who decides to torture you every chance he gets. And now he's acting like that pansy, Lockhart. Even though you know he feels hurt, don't you feel some sort of vindication?"

"A little bit," Harry admitted. Harry smiled slightly.

"Look, if you want to stay here and talk it up with Snape, go ahead. I'm going back to the common room." Ron started to walk away. Harry walked with him.

"Hermione is staying with him." Harry said. There was an odd silence.

Ron began to smile.

"He said his hair was ghastly looking. It took him how long to realize it?"

The two laughed. As they walked back to the Gryffindor common room, they joked on poor Professor Snape.

More coming soon.