Chapter 4

Author's Note: Finally Chapter 4. I'm quite satisfied with the length of this one, it's slightly longer than the previous three. I know, the story hasn't yet really taken flight, these chapter are aimed to create a certain atmosphere and to lead to future situations. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all my reviewers whose support has encouraged me greatly and fuelled my writing. Thanks! Oh, and by the way, "Snape is the BEST!!!!!!!!". regains composure

"Rose you should start on that essay Professor Snape gave us. It is dreadfully long and we have to tackle quite a few aspects of the potion in it."

"Mione, please, it's our first day back, relax" said an exasperated Rose who was trying to sketch the giant squid. It was such a beautiful and sunny day, unusual weather in these parts of Scotland, that the trio decided to spend their break out by the lake. They had just had transfiguration followed by a double potions class which left them knackered. You'd expect the teachers to be lenient on the first day, no bloody chance! Both McGonagall and Snape had assigned them tedious essays along with an excruciatingly long list of important O.W.L topics to study. Severus Snape had also been even narkier than usual, snatching points away from Gryffindor at any given chance. Poor Neville even got detention for blowing up his potion. Rose was rather surprised though, Snape hadn't yelled or insulted her once. In fact he had ignored her completely, not that Rose was complaining of course.

"Wow, Rose, that's way cool!" exclaimed Ron startling Rose out of her reverie.

"I didn't know you could draw that well, look Hermione".

Hermione looked up from her Charms book and peered at the drawing, she gasped, for the illustration was so accurate it could have been a photograph.

"Amazing, I've known you for over four years now and I never knew you were such an artist"

Rose looked down at her sketch book and blushed, "it's really nothing you guys, just a doodle."

"You're too modest, It's really very good. Have you any more pictures?"

"A few, you can see them if you like" with that she handed her sketch book over to her friends.

Rose Potter grew up in an oppressive environment, in a house where she was not wanted. Her opinion didn't count and she always kept to herself, unable to express her feelings and thoughts. When she was nine she found an old, empty diary lying around. She took it into her cupboard and drew. Drawing soon became her way of expressing herself. She'd sketch the spiders that kept her company in her closet, she'd draw funny caricatures of her cousin Dudley as a pig but most of all she enjoyed drawing magical creatures which had always filled her dreams, magical unicorns, friendly giants and fairies in their fairy castles. As she grew older her technique improved greatly and her depictions became more realistic. She had never told anyone of her hidden talent, it was her little secret. She drew all the mayor events of her life. Hagrid's visit on her eleventh birthday, the boat ride to Hogwarts, the sorting, her friends, teachers (yes, even Snape), the Yule ball and so on. But her drawings weren't all of lovely memories, she drew lupin as a werewolf, Voldemort's return last year and her mother clutching an infant Rose as Voldemort was entering the room.

"Oi Rose, you've even got my portrait here. Look, Hermione that's you! Eugh Rose, are you bloody mental, Malfoy?!" Ron called out as Hermione turned page after page.

"Hey guys, when's our next lesson?" asked Rose, noticing that they were the only ones outside.

"One O'Clock, why?" asked Hermione, looking slightly anxious.

"Well cause it's one now"

"What?! Quick gather everything up!" yelled Hermione seizing her bag and sprinting into the castle with Ron and Rose at her heels. Luckily it was only History of magic and Binns was too busy droning on to notice the trio's tardiness.

Previously in potions class (Snape's point of view)

Severus Snape was preparing notes for the fifth years on his black board as the students were shuffling in. Double potions with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, his two favourite houses, the bold bigheads and the cowardly custards. As he turned toward the class Rose was just entering. She had changed so much since the fourth year. She looked much paler and definitely skinnier probably due to last year's incident. Her face lost the innocent gleam it once held, she looked older, and why wouldn't she. She had been through much more than most people have in their whole lives. Her unruly hair had grown much longer hanging below her waist, a black tangled mass. Her features had changed slightly, but her eyes, her eyes seemed to have changed the most. Not in appearance, for they were still her mother's eyes but something behind them had been definitely altered.

Snape felt his heart beat slightly faster as his eyes fell on her. Why did she have to have her eyes? Was she to torment him always with those eyes? The potions master averted his gaze from this girl who was taking over his mind. With a wave of his wand he closed the door and began his lesson, the whole while avoiding the emerald eyes, which affected him so.