Before she knew it, the end of the week had arrived and Rosalyn was hugging her cousin goodbye.
"Oh Ves, I wish you didn't have to go, I hardly ever get to see you!"
"I know Rose but I'll be back before you know it. Love you cousin."
Giving Rosalyn a peck on the cheek Vesper winked at her younger cousin, before disappearing.
It was early one morning that Rosalyn opened her father's bedroom door to find him passed out on the floor beside his bed. Rosalyn yelled "Dad!" before rushing to her father, calling for Zoe to send for a healer.
It had been hours since the healer had arrived and he had yet to emerge from her father's room. Rosalyn had sent an owl to Vesper and Tonks telling them of what had happened and she was currently pacing outside her father's door in concern. The sound of the door opening made her turn, and she watched as the healer emerged. Rosalyn quickly ran up to the older man exclaiming,
"Well? Is my father going to be OK?"
"I'm sorry Ms. Wallace, I've done everything I can, but the outlook is very grim. You will need to prepare yourself."
Rosalyn felt nothing but numbness and her legs could no longer hold her weight. Collapsing into a chair, her eyes began to tear as she realized,
"My father is going to die."
These past few days Rosalyn's father had been bedridden, and so in order to make him as comfortable as possible, she had left him in Zoe's care while she went to go get some medicinal herbs that would lessen his pain.
"Zoe," Edward called weakly, smiling when the eager little elf appeared.
"Mister Edward called?"
"Yes. I'm expecting a visitor while Miss Rosalyn is out. His name is Professor Snape, so please send him up whenever he gets here."
"Yes sir, Mister Edward."
Zoe bowed toward Edward before disappearing with a pop.
Severus followed the house elf up the stairs. When he got Edward's shakily written letter, he didn't hesitate to apparate near the house.
"You look terrible, to be honest," Severus said after Zoe left. Edward laughed from the bed, the sound brittle and weak to Severus' ears.
"Charming as ever, Severus." Edward gestured for Severus to take a seat at the bedside. Severus eyed Edward as the older man moved slowly to face him. "You know my time's coming soon, young one."
"Must you call me that?" Severus asked, rolling his eyes. It got the desired effect; Edward cuffed him on the back of the head. "But it saddens me, Edward. What did the Healer say?"
"Bah, let's not speak of that, Severus," Edward replied, pinning Severus with a severe look. "You remember of our agreement ten years ago, correct?"
Severus looked at him blankly, before recognition flooded his face. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, Severus. It's for her own good. Besides, I won't be here for her reaction."
Edward smiled sadly, reaching for a handkerchief to dab at his eyes. Watching the motions, Severus could only observe a good friend of his go through the last stages of life.
"Enough about serious matters," Edward waved an errant hand. "Tell me about what has been happening around that old castle of Hogwarts."
By the time supper rolled around Rosalyn had gotten home, along with a forlorn Tonks who met with Edward for a moment before being called off to work. Rosalyn had supper with her father in his room, much to the elder man's requests.
They had just finished and Zoe had come to take the trays before she popped back into the room. "Miss Vesper is here, Miss."
"Guide her up here please, Zoe," Rosalyn said quietly. Several seconds later Vesper practically ran into the room out of breath, her eyes flitting wildly around the room's occupants before resting on Edward.
"I just got the letter, I was out with one of the groups trying to corral three dragons that escaped their pens for fun," Vesper said quickly, walking over to sit next to Edward and peer at him with sad eyes. "Came as soon as they told me."
Edward reached out a hand, Vesper immediately linking her fingers with his. "You did not have to rush, child."
"You sir, obviously forget things," Vesper replied, tightening her grip slightly. "And you can expect my parents to visit tomorrow. They're livid that you didn't inform them sooner."
"Ah, my dear in laws."
"There's the spunk I adore."
Edward smiled, patting Vesper's hand. "You shouldn't have left your work. You could get in trouble."
"Once I explained to Derek the situation I was given time off. Don't think you can guilt me out of coming here, Uncle."
"I guess not. I assume you'll be staying in the house tonight?"
Rosalyn laughed at the sheepish look that bloomed on Vesper's face. "I uh, kind of left with out thinking about that."
"Well that settles it. Zoe?" The house elf popped in at Edward's mention.
"Yes, Mister Edward?"
"Please prepare Vesper's room. She'll be staying with us for a couple days."
"Of course, Mister Edward!" Zoe popped back out.
There was a comfortable silence, a somber look on Vesper's face as she looked at the hand entwined with hers. Rosalyn knew that her cousin was regretting not spending as much time as she could with Edward.
"I'm going to make some more tea for dad," Rosalyn said quietly, patting Vesper's shoulder as she stood. "You two stay here, ok?"
"Yeah," Vesper gave her a grateful look.
A knock at Rosalyn's door jarred her from her thoughts. As she saw her cousin enter, she offered up a weak smile as she turned from where she had been standing and staring out the window. Vesper immediately and silently moved to envelope the younger woman in a warm embrace. And though she tried, Rosalyn couldn't hold her tears back any longer.
"Oh Ves, I'm not ready to lose him yet! What am I going to do?"
Softly shushing Rosalyn, she led her cousin to the bed, sitting the both of them down before murmuring,
"It will be OK Rose, I promise."
