Hermione and Madame Pomfrey managed to cure Snape in a few weeks, during which Dumbledore took care of his potion classes. Snape spend most of the first few days sleeping and was fed with nutritive potions. On the tenth day, he was able to eat solid food again. (Too) soon enough, he was fit enough to complain, which was an encouraging sign of his recovery. However, and to his great displeasure, the headmaster insisted for him to stay at the hospital wing, which resulted in a decrease of the number of students visiting the nurse; indeed, most of them preferred fainting on the spot or throwing up their guts in the bathroom rather than having to meet an extremely moody Snape.
´Headmaster, couldn't I at least return to my quarters, if you please?'
´Severus, we've talked about this before. You need rest, and you're not leaving-'
´Dumbledore, I'm not a child-'
´Then stop acting like one, Severus'. Dumbledore sighed. ´Severus, listen to me'. Snape, who had started pouting, his arms crossed upon his chest, barely looked up at the sound of his name.
´I am willing to let you return to your quarters under one condition'; Snape focused his attention on Dumbledore.' Get out of your bed and walk to the door'.
´Pardon?'
´You heard me, Severus.'
'Is that all?'
'We'll see', said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.
Snape heaved himself with difficulty (though he tried to hide it from Dumbledore) from his bed, and had barely walked clumsily a few steps that he fell unceremoniously to the floor.
Hearing him falling, Hermione rushed with Madame Pomfrey from the latter's office. They let out a cry of surprise at the sight of Snape struggling to get back to his feet, tears of pain and humiliation menacing to fall. He refused Hermione's helping hand grumpily, pulling himself into bed all alone.
'Really, headmaster!'Madame Pomfrey looked angrily at Dumbledore.' Can't I leave you a few seconds with a patient without risking an accident?!'
´I'm not dead yet, Poppy', grumbled Snape.
´You could've broken yourself an arm or a leg, Professor Snape, for heaven's sake!'
´I'm not made of glass!'Snape raged. Behind his fury, Hermione sensed that he was hurt. Was it because of the previous accident? It wasn't easy to guess; everyone's aloud to trip once in a while...What is he so mad about?
´I've made my point, Severus; you're not in condition to leave the hospital wing. Miss Granger?'
Dumbledore had taken Hermione by surprise; she shot her head away from Snape's direction.
´Headmaster?'
'May you please follow me, I would like to discuss a certain matter with you.'
She walked around the bed to join Dumbledore, staring quizzically at him.
They walked out of the infirmary, Dumbledore shutting the doors behind them. As he turned to face her, his expression was grave.
'Miss Granger, you are a clever woman. Surely you understand why I wouldn't allow Professor Snape back into his rooms.'
Hermione had never given it a thought, but made a quick guess.
'You think that he'll try to commit another suicide once he's left alone, don't you?'
She found it hard to keep her voice from quivering. Memories from the day she sweared to herself she'd save him, her confused feelings for Snape, the kiss...
Dumbledore's eyes seemed to X-ray her; he had confirmation of the sympathy the young woman had for her former teacher and perhaps a tad more than just that.
´Miss Granger, I would like you to be Professor Snape's personal nurse.'


Hermione was gob smacked.
´Why?' she asked wearily. ´Why me?'
'Professor Snape hates having to stay to long at the hospital wing. The poor chap prefers the comfort of his quarters. However, as I've just told you, he is not to be left alone, should he prepare another poison or other more sophisticated means to attend to his person. Madame Pomfrey will be much too occupied with the flu season coming. That leaves my choices limited to you, Miss Granger.' The corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile.
Hermione, though she didn't look remotely happy, felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach, but wasn't sure why…

´No'.
´Severus, please consider. You haven't even thought about-'
'What is there to consider? Dumbledore, I shan't be treated like an infant, and that's that.'
The headmaster and potions master stood alone, on Dumbledore's demand, in the ward. Hermione and Madame Pomfrey chose to use this time organizing students' files in the nurse's office.
´Severus, nobody here wants to treat you like an infant. We wish you all to recover in the meanest time'.
Snape sniffed disapprovingly. ´But of course, Dumbledore'.
´Think of your students-'
´I'm sure they've been worrying their heads off during my absence.' Snape's voice was heavy with sarcasm.' Surely I wouldn't like to cut short to the celebrations'.
´Severus, please…'Dumbledore's voice was tired, plaintive…Severus sighed…
´Who will be that nurse you were talking about, anyway?'
´Hermione Granger', replied Dumbledore, promptly.
Snape felt a jolt in his core; it was suddenly harder for him to keep an impassive face.
´The… the Granger girl?' he stammered. Damn it, if Dumbledore notices anything…
Severus Snape had always considered showing openly emotions as some kind of weakness… He had never loved, or for that matter, felt loved, though he had a fairly good companionship with Minerva and Albus. But he couldn't fool himself into thinking he never yearned such…intimate relations with a woman… Years ago he had loved Lily Evans, but the misery caused by her loss had wounded him more than all the torture sessions he had been through… He had never felt love for any other woman since then, mostly because nobody had had any feelings for him… any passion for him… But now… what wasn't his surprise when he had felt soft lips gently pressed against his…Miss Granger-no, Hermione- acted like nobody before, had made him feel more alive than he had felt in years… Suddenly the idea of having a permanent nurse didn't feel so bad… But he had to hide it as long as possible from Dumbledore. He isn't sure of what he knows or not, but he's stubborn enough to carry on the whole night long. Accepting too quickly would be a mistake; I need to hold on for a while and stop just before he gets tired of it. I have to make him understand by the end of the discussion that I'm fine with the arrangements, or else he'll have second thoughts about this…I shan't exaggerate…He'd realize it's all acting, he's not easy to fool.
Snape took a deep breath.
'I can't believe your leaving me in the hands of a trainee, Dumbledore', said Snape, eying him reproachfully.
'Severus, you know as well as I do that it's only a matter of time before Miss Granger obtains her healer's license'; Dumbledore's voice was close to outraged.
´And you'll understand that I value experience as well as pure knowledge. Excuse me for not trusting a youngster prone to experience…'


´What experiences are we talking about, Severus?'
Snape looked down, fixing a spot on his bed sheets. Bitterness seemed to radiate from him.
'Surely you know, Dumbledore, that students studying to become healers take psychology courses. On their seminaries, they feast on depression and despair, for they fancy a challenge once in a while. I won't be surprised that Miss Granger considers me like a tempting hors-d'oeuvre, a more instructing subject than any her school might provide her…'
Dumbledore chuckled.
´Really, Severus, hearing you, I'd think we're discussing dementors. Trust me, it's not Miss Granger's type to abuse somebody in search of knowledge'.
Realizing he might've been a little tactless, Dumbledore cleared his throat and carried on:
´Sincerely, Severus, I really think you'll be in good hands with her.'
Snape heaved a sigh, careful not to sound too exasperated.
'If you say so, Dumbledore, I'll have to take your word for it'. Dumbledore's face cracked into a grin.
'Excellent. I'll go tell Miss Granger at once'.
He left Severus's bedside to announce Madame Pomfrey and her assistance about Snape's decision.
He came back a few minutes later to explain the necessary arrangements, such as the addition of a room in his quarters, to Snape.
´Well, I'm happy you've finally come to reason, Severus', said Dumbledore gleefully. Snape sneered.
´It's getting late, we'll move you down tomorrow. I'll leave you to rest, Severus'.
´Finally'.
'Goodnight, Severus'.
´Goodnight'.
Dumbledore walked to the door, still smiling as he exited the hospital wing.
Alone in the dark, Severus Snape couldn't help it.

He smiled too.