Hi guys - sorry I haven't written for the last two weeks. Originally, I thought I would only go for a week on camp, but I got bad news: my grandmother died. So after I got back, I had my leavers day (I just left senior school for university) and then went straight to California. I got back last Monday and have been rather busy, so I just found some time to write this chapter.

Thanks for the reviews - there are mistakes I have made, I am sorry. However the way Harry treats the house elves is what I thought might be done as he is treating them like his parents would. I do however agree that it is out of character. Also, thank you for adding my story to your lists - it's nice to know it will be read.

So, on with the story? I'm sure you're dying to know who this Rose Leone is … to new readers and old, please review and tell me what you think.

Rose Leone was much younger than Harry had expected her to be as the voice they had previously heard was much older.

"Are you alone?" questioned Hermione.

Rose Leone laughed a little. "I'm sorry about that. The speaker had disguised my voice so no one suspects a young woman like me lives here. Dumbledore installed it as some nice security for me - well, since the rise of Lord Voldemort-" Ron winced a little. "-I felt I needed it. The great thing about that speaker is that you cannot lie to it, so if he came and knocked upon my door I can quickly apparate."

Harry noticed she had a Muggle appearance. Rose Leone could not have been any more than three years older than the three visitors, yet she seemed accomplished for her age. She also lacked height, probably only a couple or so inches above five feet, but could still intimidate a taller Wizard. Her clothing was not ironed and her jeans were worn at the bottom, her converse shoes looking like they would fall apart. She had very tanned skin with dark hair and large dark eyes, suggesting something Mediterranean about her. She was also quite pretty.

"So, you mention Albus Dumbledore," said Rose. "Let's go into the living room - tea, coffee, pumpkin juice, anything?" She smiled politely. "I assume Minerva told you to bring your trunks. You are welcome to stay, I have a feeling Dumbledore would have wanted that. I have two spare rooms you can use - I suppose boys go in one and Hermione goes in the other - well, unless there's something else you wish to tell me about yourselves."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other and blushed a little. Rose raised an eyebrow to this as they sat down on the comfy sofa and chairs.

"I could feel that connection," said Rose. "I was born an empath, one who can detect emotions. Over the years, Dumbledore taught me to use these powers and also become skilled in Occlumency." She waved her wand and tea and biscuits appeared. "Help yourselves, and please tell me why you are here."

"Well," started Hermione. "We were hoping you'd tell us."

"We thought you would be an auror," said Harry. "I thought Dumbledore may have wanted you to teach us more about Defence."

Rose found this mildly amusing. "Me? An auror? A teacher? You must be joking." She took a cupful of tea and poured sugar in. "I'm merely a trained Witch. I was taught in the holidays when I did not have school and took exams when I could. I started younger so I could be just as educated as any Magical schooled child."

"So you were raised as a Muggle?" said Hermione, a little astonished. "Why did you not go to Hogwarts?"

"I didn't want to," replied Rose, looking a little sad. "You see, my parents died when I was very little - just like you Harry, due to Lord Voldemort - and I lived in a Muggle orphanage for a few years until I was adopted. Dumbledore always kept an eye on me and he came forward to my parents and asked them if I should be educated in the Magical way. I was very happy as a Muggle and felt that I shouldn't be too involved in a world that caused my parents to die."

Harry felt a deep connection with Rose at that very moment.

"D-Do you remember your parents?" he asked carefully.

"Don't remember Dad," said Rose darkly. "Mum just said Lord Voldemort took him away. When I was about two or three, I watched her die. I screamed." Rose paused. "Luckily an auror rescued me."

"I'm very sorry," said Harry, feeling her pain.

"Don't be," said Rose, fidgeting with her hands now. "You had the same thing happen to you."

"I barely remember it," muttered Harry.

Rose forced on a small smile. "Those things are best to be forgotten, but in a way it makes you stronger."

"So," Hermione said, looking very awkward, thinking that a change of tact would brightened the mood. "You were taught - I pressume - by Hogwarts professors during the holidays?"

"Correct," said Rose. "I did OWLs and NEWTs whenever I could. I had my GCSEs and A levels you see." She took a sip of tea. "And now I'm studying at university. I apparate to it everyday. This house-" She wavered her hand. "-is my mother's, the one I spent the first few years of my life in. It's a free, safe place to live, and all I need to do is apparate every day."

"So why did you educate yourself in magic when you live a Muggle life?" asked Ron, who had not spoken in a long time and felt he should put have some input.

"Dumbledore said that if Lord Voldemort was to ever rise again," said Rose. "I would be prepared and protected. I loved the Muggle life and did not want to leave it, but the world of magic seemed so fun and interesting. So he taught me the core subjects and everything I needed. Plus, if my children ever want to go to Hogwarts, they are very welcome to."

"So who taught you?" inquired Hermione.

"Dumbledore obviously - fantastic teacher," said Rose, reminiscing. "He taught me Occlumency and bits of subjects, including Defence. Professor McGonagall taught me Transfiguration, Professor Flitwit taught me Charms, Professor Sprout taught me Herbology, Professor Snape taught me-"

"Snape?" exclaimed Harry.

"Why yes," said Rose. "He was a very good Potions teacher, did a little Occlumency as well. After a while I called him Serverus though, and the other teachers felt inclined to let me call them their first name because they were just tutors, and they wanted things to be more informal."

"You do know what Snape has done, don't you?" said Hermione.

"Well, yes, I read the prophet," said Rose, looking disappointed. "I just don't understand it. About a couple of weeks before it happened, he came here unexpected. He warned me that the Dark Lord would come after me."

The room fell silent, the three visitors looking shocked. Rose noticed their expression.

"Well I thought he was being protective!" exclaimed Rose defensively. "Well he was acting all weird, saying all sorts of things-"

"Like what?" demanded Harry.

Rose looked at him with a strange expression. "Like how the Dark Lord would find me of good use. I found that rather silly though - the only people that know I am a witch are my parents and the professors. And I know Severus wouldn't have told Voldemort. I told him I was safe and that no one knew of me, but he still warned me to be careful, quote, 'in these dark times'."

"That is very strange," muttered Hermione. "He's never shown kindness to anyone, unless it was favouritism within Slytherin house."

"Well I'm not a Hogwarts student," said Rose. "He knew me since I was about nine. Maybe he had seen me as that little girl. Also, the amount of exposure I have ever had to magic is this very house and the professors."

"You say you are an Occlumens," said Harry. "Maybe he was after you for that skill? Not many people have that."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Harry, that's why you're here! Oh, and it took me so long to work it out." She looked displeased with herself. Ron grinned behind the large biscuit he was eating.

"If Dumbledore wanted me to learn, he would have done it himself in the last year."

"But he's been educating you in something else, Harry. Rose-" Hermione turned to Rose, who looked a little surprised. "-did Dumbledore ever mention this to you?"

"Not at all," replied Rose. "But Severus, while in the last part of my training, did mention that a student of his was horrific at the skill and found me more pleasing to teach." She smiled darkly at Harry. "You weren't the horrific student, were you?"

Harry gritted his teach at the memory. "Yes, fortunately I was," he said in a sarcastic tone.

"Well, if I must teach, I will." Rose flicked away the empty cups and plates. "But first, we'll get you settled in. It's quite late so we'll start tomorrow." She stood up. "Let me show you the way"

The four clambered up the stairs, the trunks floating oddly behind them. The stairs creaked at every step, which reminded Harry of the Hogwarts stairs, hoping each one did not have a hole in them. They reached the landing which was cramped, five doors circulating.

"These two are rooms you can stay in-" Rose pointed the two doors on the left. "-here is the bathroom, my room, and the office … it has books which you may use. Like a mini library, I guess." She noticed Hermione's eyes lit up. "It should have seventh year books in there so you can teach yourselves the syllabus." She beamed. "Any questions?"

"I have some," said Hermione. "How much do you use magic?"

Rose shrugged. "Here and there. Apparation saves me money, if I'm tired I will use magic to help me cook, if I really lost something and cannot find it, I will use magic - why do you ask?"

"Well," said Hermione, eyeing her clothes. "I would have thought you would have repaired your worn clothes."

Rose gave an amused smile. "Well, I'm a student, aren't I?"

Hermione gave her a confused look, then watched as Rose opened her room for her.

The four had immersed themselves into the delicious meal Rose had cooked, made simply with simple ingredients and not a sparkle of magic: pasta. Hermione decided that now would be the best time to look at the magnificent library, dragging a reluctant Ron behind her. As the two left, Rose tried to hide her smile.

"How lovely," said Rose. "How long?"

Harry groaned. "Just today. Luckily they're not a Ron and Lavender. Well I hope not, otherwise they'll have nicknames for each other next."

Rose snorted. "Oh dear. That sounds … well, horrible frankly." She smiled broadly. "Ever had a girlfriend yourself, Potter?"

Harry's expression dropped, an empty feeling inside of him. He immediately felt very hollow and could not feel anything, not even sadness. He was just an empty shell that sat there, full of dark nothingness. Could it be an effect of Rose? Harry looked up at her and noticed her eyes close a little in concentration.

"Wow Harry, that was - horrible," said Rose airily. "Sorry, I guess that was a sore subject. Never felt like that before." She cleared her throat. "I guess that's what you feel like once you've lost a love."

"I don't even know if it's love," replied Harry meekly. "Err - is it you making me open up, or am I just doing this by myself?"

"A mixture of both," replied Rose. "I guess you feel that I know how you feel, and by choice you feel the need to talk about it. I am sorry." She placed a hand upon his with comfort. "May I ask, what is her name?"

"Ginny." Harry felt the hollowness again, which seemed to dig deeper every time anyone mentioned her or he thought of her. He found it difficult to talk to Ron and Hermione about it nowadays; the last time he talked to Ron about it at the graveyard, he had avoided a little with the help of Ron.

"Harry, not to intrude or anything," said Rose carefully. "And I know you have known me only a few hours, but I think you should really talk about it with someone. Open up. Unleash things. Very unmanly, but incredibly good for you."

All of a sudden and without a thought, Harry knocked his mug off the table. He had felt the anger that had built inside him for so long coming out as if he was about to explode. He breathed deeply, looked at Rose, and suddenly burst into tears, sinking to the floor. He didn't know why he was doing this; maybe he was insane. Whatever he thought he was, Rose thought differently, as her facial expression did not seem shocked at all: it looked like she completely understood him.

"Reparo," she muttered to the mug. The pieces came together into their exact positions. "I'll fetch your friends."

"No - please don't," begged Harry. "I can't let them know I'm weak. Not as weak as this anyway. Plus it's Ron's sister."

"You're being irrational Harry," said Rose. "They know you best, I do not. And this is better for the long run." She rushed out.

Why was she going after them? Stupid woman. Stupid, stupid woman.

"No!" Harry screamed out. "Please!"

Before he could yell out again, a fumble of footsteps were heard and he saw a load of brown hair in view. He felt Hermione grab hold of him in a tight hug. Over her shoulder, Ron looked annoyed.

"What did you do to him? I've never seen him like this, except at the graveyard. And that was because he was alone. He never opens up to anyone."

"And maybe he should," replied Rose coolly. "What is it with men and bottling up their emotions, eh? Instead they let it out in anger."

Hermione turned her head to Rose why it rest on Harry's shoulder.

"She's right, you know," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. She turned her head back so her voice was in Harry's ear. "Listen to me. You never tell us what's going on inside that little head of yours. It hurts. It's natural. It's scary. And to keep that locked inside you will make you do stupid, noble things."

Harry tried to smile. "I'd do that anyway, Hermione." He started to feel a little better, like having chocolate after dementor attacks.

Hermione backed away from him and sat properly on the floor. Harry followed suit, as did Ron. Rose left the room.

"I guess it was a bad idea to distract you before," said Ron. "But I felt you had opened yourself there to your parents. I know what male pride is like you know."

"I do," replied Harry. "I just feel so - well funnily enough - alone sometimes. Without knowing it. And I guess overwhelmed by what I need to do." He curled himself up into a ball. "I'm just so scared. And I don't want to be. I don't feel it all the time, but it continuously lurks at the back of my mind. How is an seventeen year old supposed to handle something as large as Voldemort -" Ron shivered. "- and survive? Hermione, you're even more talented and capable than me and I've only succeeded with luck."

"Harry, remember what I said in our first year?" said Hermione softly. "To be a great wizard is more than talent - it is courage and friendship. And you are a great wizard, Harry."

"And there must be a reason why you're in this prophecy," said Ron. "It must mean you are a wizard who will turn into someone who can combat You-Know-Who. And anyway, you're never alone, right Hermione?"

"Right," said Hermione with confidence. "Plus when all the Horcruxes are destroyed, he'll just be an ordinary human, and with a large army he will be easy to kill. Plus, he probably will have no idea at that point that we are trying to destroy the Horcruxes. Or if he does, he'll assume we haven't succeeded because he is that confident."

"Or at least we hope so," replied Harry. "Thank you for this. I just need reminded someone to remind me." He sniffed, feeling a little better.

"What about Gin?" said Ron.

"I don't know," replied Harry. "I really want to ask her to come and travel with me but I can't affect her school or her life. And I know you wouldn't want her to risk her life."

"Well," said Ron, biting his lip. "She's old enough to make her own choices. Mum would object a little - for a starter she's not old enough to use magic for a few months. She would also want her to have an education and be safe. But then nowhere is safe." He put a hand onto Harry's shoulder. "You could ask, you know."

Harry was surprised at the fact Ron did not seem uncomfortable at all, but talking about Ginny as if she was not his sister. Ron was also speaking words of wisdom like Hermione would.

"A-Are you sure?" Harry timidly asked. "I don't know if I could live with that. Sirius and Dumbledore died because of me."

"No," said Hermione. "They died because of choice."

"And my parents?"

"Choice. And don't you think you would have done the same? It's not like you ordered them all to do that."

There was an odd silence between the three. Both Ron and Hermione were looking at Harry now, who was struggling to try to look away, but felt himself meeting their eyes. The loneliness seeped away from him as his best friends put an arm each around his back in a half hug. He buried his face in his hands.

"I'll think about it," he mumbled.

"Harry," said Hermione, gripping his shoulder. "Remember that anything is possible. Never doubt yourself."

Harry weakly smiled, thanked his friends, then went upstairs.

Sat before him was his box of quills and a parchment on top of it. He laid it purposely there, as he had done in Godric's Hollow, so he could eventually gain the courage to write to Ginny. Instead, he wrote to Neville with his condolences, offering a place to stay if needed. He only got a reply with thanks and that he found someone to stay with.

Harry took a deep breath and sat down at the chair and quickly took the parchment and a quill, a bottle of ink lurking nearby. He dipped his quill and paused to think.

Dear Ginny,

He paused again. What to write?

"Hi Ginny, sorry for dumping you and all," said Harry sarcastically. He sighed.

I hope your Summer is well. Ron hasn't mentioned your OWLs results yet - I presume you're still waiting. Good luck for when they arrive! We have just arrived after the reading of the will at a friend's house, and we may stay here the rest of the Summer. If you want to visit us, we can ask her if it's okay, and it should be. I've mentioned you.

I'll be blunt - I miss you, so much. I know I said I didn't want things to continue because of what I'm doing, but I really want us to be together. Being with you those weeks were surreal, like a different life. It was like that because I was really happy.

I've been struggling to decide whether you should come with me. I know your mum would be a bit worried - well, very well worried - but I just don't know. Can I face the fact that you are in danger every second you are with me? But in your home you're probably in more danger. We have found a very safe place to be.

Please decide for yourself. I would love you to be with me, but I don't want to feel responsible for anything that could happen to you.

Owl soon to tell me your decision and how things are. If you cannot travel with me, I still want to see you to tell you something.

Harry

He paused and breathed out deeply. Was it enough?

Before he could make any rash decision, he quickly folded it and planted a seal, and gave it to Hedwig to carry out into the night. A feeling in his stomach told him he regretted it a little, but his mind told him it was about time he did something, and that he was lucky to be in the house of an empath.

Please review … I'm just wondering if I should have done the Harry emotional thing this chapter. I was hoping to show what Rose can do as an empath and also how mature Ron is suddenly becoming - because of age, the war or Hermione, or a mix of all, is anyone's guess.