The Mandrakes finally reached a usable stage by Easter, and Snape finished brewing the antidote. He came to the hospital wing to visit Harry for the second time.
It was noon when he arrived. Harry had eaten lunch and was taking a nap.
Snape stood by the bed for a long time. The afternoon sunlight fell across that face, almost identical to the one in his memories, and for a moment he seemed to have gone back to when he had first started school.
"Lily," he heard himself say. "I'm sorry."
"Professor?" Harry woke up and started when he saw Snape. "When did you get here?"
That confused look snapped Snape back to his senses at once. Lily would never have worn such a silly expression, yet for some reason his tone was still much gentler. "Your antidote has been brewed."
As he spoke, he took a small vial of potion from his sleeve, lifted his head, and slowly handed it over with that same unapproachable air.
"Th-thank you, Professor..." Harry accepted it cautiously.
"Look at me," Snape said suddenly.
Harry jumped, then stared blankly at Snape.
The latter kept staring at him, and that complicated expression filled Harry with panic.
Did he find out I suspect him of trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone? This antidote can't be poisoned, can it?
He even chanted a spell before and tried to kill me. Can I drink this antidote?
So many people know he helped make my antidote. He couldn't just poison it directly, could he?
But what if he did? When the time came, he'd only have to make some excuse, say he hadn't expected the antidote to have that effect or something, and it might be over. After all, a sex-change potion has never appeared before.
Harry sank into