Harry pushed as Snape jogged calmly ahead of him. He strained his legs, driving forward, but he couldn't maintain the speed. He looked on in frustration as Snape outpaced him yet again. Soon, the distance between them was more than Harry had it in him to make up, and Harry slowed to a stop as Snape rounded a bend in the path that was hidden by a grove of tall bushes and taller trees. For a long moment, the out-of-breath Gryffindor just stood there, bent double with his hands pressed to his sides. When he still couldn't catch his breath, he turned his back to the park on one side of the path and let himself fall back on the slight, grassy incline. He laid there, immobile, simply gulping air into his starved lungs. Suddenly, a face appeared above his, looking at him with dubious concern. Harry stared suspiciously as a pale, long-fingered hand was held out to him in invitation. After a moment of hesitation, he reached up and let Snape pull him to his feet.

"Are you all right?" Snape asked, hardly breathing heavy at all.

Harry glowered. "I'm fine. Just a little winded is all."

Snape turned and started to walk away, and Harry jogged to catch up, still trying to drown himself in fresh oxygen. They walked in silence around the bend in the path, where Snape got into a short line that had formed near the coffee stand Harry had seen him at what seemed an eternity ago. Harry hung back, having left his money at Hermione's but sensing that Snape wasn't yet finished with him.

"What do you want, Potter?" Snape asked when his turn came.

Harry shook his head. "I'm okay. I left my money back at-"

"That is not what I asked." Snape interrupted without looking at him.

Harry frowned, realizing this was one of those times Hermione had mentioned, where it would be rude to refuse. The summer seemed full of these little traps thus far. "Um, I guess I like black coffee, then."

Snape did turn to look at him now, eyeing him curiously, but he turned back before Harry could think of anything to say.

"Two coffees."

The coffee merchant took the money Snape offered him, and gave back his change. Harry stood by awkwardly as the man set about making their simple order. Eventually, annoyed with hanging back like a kicked dog, the Gryffindor stepped up beside his professor. He took his coffee when it was handed to him and stared resolutely at the white lid.

"Thanks."

He let Snape lead the way to a nearby bench and stood by uncertainly when the man sat down. He still didn't know why Snape had suddenly seemed to take an interest in him.

"Sit, Potter."

Harry frowned again, but he sat on the short bench that left little room between them. They sat there together, drinking their coffee and watching the activity of the park. Harry discovered that he didn't so much mind the silence. When he'd begun his little game, he'd had no intention of changing the animosity between them, and he wasn't even sure that was what they were doing, but he almost reveled in the confusion. It was better than sitting in a fog of misery and nightmares, at any rate. After a long time, Snape got up and tossed his empty coffee cup into a nearby waste bin.

"Until tomorrow, Potter."

Harry watched the man go. He still didn't know what that was about, but he had a feeling his nightmares would stop, at least for now. The small ember had grown since that first glimpse, and he had some idea now of what was causing them on the surface. The truly underlying meaning and reason evaded him, but he didn't really care, as long as they stopped.

-Break-

The following morning, Harry pocketed some of the money the Grangers kept insisting on giving him. He had no reason to believe Snape's strange interest would continue, but somehow he did. He thought a part of it might be the hope that it would, if only to stop the nightmares. When he got to the park, he found Snape walking the path near the same place he always was. As soon as Harry joined him, he received a side-long glance, a first he found he didn't mind. After a minute, Snape broke into a light jog that Harry found easy to match. He waited for the man to outpace him again, but it never happened. Instead, they remained side-by-side twice around the track, stopping only when they reached the same coffee vendor a second time.

Harry immediately got into line behind Snape, and the Potions Master eyed him carefully. The Gryffindor only shrugged and gestured when it came time for the man to order. Once they each had their own coffees, Harry followed his professor to the same bench from the day before. He sat down and blew at the boiling liquid.

For a time, Harry simply enjoyed the silence, but soon decided to play a new game.

"Muggle," He muttered as a woman jogged past on the path. He glanced at Snape, who smirked and leaned back on the bench.

The next time a bystander passed them, Snape spoke.

"Muggle."

Harry smiled into his coffee and waited as a pair of joggers grew even. "Muggle and Witch."

"State your source," Snape challenged.

"The hair," Harry said, pointing covertly. "The blonde's hair is frazzled by the sun and wind; the brunette doesn't have a hair out of place, and her pony isn't swinging with her stride."

Snape hummed thoughtfully and turned back to watching the path.

"Muggle."