Disclaimer: This dramatization is an extension of some of what happens during Harry, Ron, and Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts. It also covers flashbacks to Snape's first year of teaching. Since J.K. Rowling is yet to publish the 6th book, I'm very vague about what is happening in the wizarding world since only J.K. Rowling can truly write anything about Harry Potter. This is highly likely to disagree with a few facts, but since it's me writing, and not the author, please forgive me any goofs that I might make in relevance to the actual series. Thank you for choosing to read my story.

I'm sooo sorry this took so long to get up. I could have died or something for how long it took! Sorry! Anyway, here it is (finally!)

Chapter 6

Gabriella woke up in the hospital wing. The last thing that she remembered was the cauldron blowing up, knocking her against the wall. She had lost consciousness after that. She glanced about, the room was stiflingly warm and her bed was rather stiff. She wasn't at all comfortable.

She startled noticing Snape. He was sitting half-asleep and slouching in a chair next to the bed. His hair was loose in his face in a greasy tangle. His head was drooped onto his chest, and she was sure that she detected snoring from either him or another occupant of the hospital. She noticed that when he wasn't scowling or sneering, he was almost handsome. Only almost though; she still remembered how he had disturbed her potions.

She shifted higher up in her bed with her pillow at her back. It was odd that Snape would do bedside watch. She didn't know that anyone did that anymore anyway; not in either the magical or muggle world. It was usually only in very serious cases or when family was worried, and neither reason explained this. She obviously wasn't in poor condition if she was able to sit up in bed without pain or assistance. The other option was just ridiculous. But then, why would Snape stay by her bedside?

Snape stirred. Behind the curtains of the hospital, sunlight began to creep in. Snape opened his eyes, glancing at Gabriella as she watched him.

"I see that you've finally awoken." Snape sneered. All thoughts of him being even vaguely handsome disappeared from her mind.

"Obviously. May I enquire as to why you are here? I'm not that sick. I was only knocked out."

"You were more than knocked out. You were punctured in several places with shards from the cauldron. You have been asleep for a day and a half."

Gabriella's eyes widened. "Oh." she said softly.

"Oh." Snape repeated sarcastically.

Gabriella pondered in silence for a moment. "But why are you here? Don't you have classes?"

Snape sneered again. "I suppose I feel responsible for your accident."

"Technically, it's Edward's fault. Besides, you don't strike me as the caring sort, one who would stay by someone's bedside."

Gabriella was startled to see a hurt look come into Snape's eyes. It quickly passed, but she had seen it none the less.

"Thank you, though. It's rather nice to wake up in a hospital with someone by your side."

"You enjoy waking up in hospitals?"

"No!" Gabriella exclaimed. "Not at all. It's just that the last time I woke up in one, I was alone in the room. It was scary. The last thing I had remembered seeing was my family dying. I really wanted someone to be there for me at that time, but no one came, until the day I was discharged and my grandmother picked me up." Gabriella sniffed a little as tears started to prick at her eyes. "I'm just thankful that I wasn't alone again. It would've been a nasty reminder of my family's death."

Snape nodded solemnly, all sarcasm and dislike gone from his features again. "Well, I had better return to my classes now that you are awake. I shall inform Madame Pomfrey that you are roused." He started to stalk out, but stopped momentarily.

"I shall expect you back in my classes right away. There should be nothing wrong now that you have awoken. I will see you later this week."

"Thank you."

"For what?" He was sneering once again, though not as much as usual.

"Er- well, I don't exactly know. But thank you none the less." She stammered.

"Then you are welcome, none the less." Snape continued on his way to Madame Pomfrey's quarters, but there was now a slight bit of a bounce in his stalk.

"He's in love with her?" Hermione gasped out from her chair in Dumbledore's office.

"To my knowledge, Snape has loved Gabriella since an accident that she had involving an exploding cauldron in his class. He told me that was when he first realized it, at any rate."

"And she returned the emotion?" Dumbledore nodded slightly. Hermione got a disgusted look on her face. "How?!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "You can't choose who you fall in love with. Love is the greatest form of magic that there is. It cannot be helped." Hermione looked thoughtful as he said this, thinking of a certain redhead.

"Then, if she loved him, why did she run away from the school and from him?" Hermione asked, puzzled (a feeling that she did not like).

"That is something that only Gabriella knows and it will be up to her to tell us when she is recovered. There are many mysteries around her, many of them very pressing. But we must leave her be, I am sure that she would appreciate some time alone with Professor Snape." Dumbledore rose to lead Hermione out the door. "Please, don't mention this to any one else, alright?" He winked down his long nose to Hermione.

Hermione nodded solemnly. When she left Dumbledore's office her thoughts were filled with more turmoil than when she had entered. Upon reaching the Gryffindor tower she ignored the curious questions from her peers and retired to her bedroom. She soon fell asleep, but her dreams were filled with a Siamese cat and a Potions professor.