Snape's song
Part 12
The oddly talented Miss Rose
Disclaimer: Not all mine.

Rose could only wait that summer. There was no way out for her. She had changed so much. She was stronger and richer than she had ever thought she would be. Her hair was shorter, she looked five years older and on her hand was a ring that was not Cedric's doing, but Snape's. Rose and Snape had secretly got married that winter. Snape had convinced himself that he was going to die one way or another, he did not know about his wife and Dumbledore's plan to free him. Rose had promised her silence, so she could not tell him. Getting out of her situation wasn't an option. Rose knew that she had made her choice and she had to stand by it and stand by her man, even if she was lying to him. However looking back she found that it was a lesser sin than killing for him. Instead he was the one who had to do it. Dumbledore had made it clear to them both, it had to be how he had planned it. His eyes rested on Rose for a split second more, because she knew about the memory they had made.

Finally the door opened. Rose practically flew into the hall, only it wasn't Snape. It was trouble, trouble in the form of Lucius Malfoy. There was a huge struggle between them. However eventually Lucius prevailed and Rose was captured and taken to the manor. Lucius put her down in disgust and then glared at someone at the door,

"Of all the young witches...you picked her. I really hope it was worth it Severus. Because you know that he won't take kindly to her, not at all. Plus I'm not feeling so forgiving either," said Lucius.

"She is my wife," said Snape.

Lucius snickered,

"Don't put yourself in any more trouble..." he began.

"It's true. We got married in the winter. If you don't mind...I will tend to her. She is my responsibility..." started Snape.

Rose stirred and struggled to open her eyes. Lucius raised an eyebrow when Snape walked around him to be with her. They both glared at him defensively and Lucius' eyes widened,

"Ah. You weren't joking. Severus...I ask you...don't stand by her. She'll be the death of you," he said.

"Funny Lucius, I thought I was the death of her as it was you, who clearly betrayed me and broke into our house and attacked her. I'd say we're both a danger to each other," corrected Snape.

Lucius shook his head. Rose tightened her grip on Snape's arm. She couldn't deny that she was scared for them both. She didn't have a scar or a dark mark, but she knew that Voldemort was close by. She knew he wanted to witness her dead, one way or another. A voice came from down the hall and Rose looked away in fear,

"Severus! In here with that mudblood now!" ordered Voldemort.

Lucius left quickly and Snape assisted Rose to her feet and looked over at the fireplace. Rose shook her head. It was too late to escape and she was scared that he would be killed. Snape nodded and gave her his arm. If they were going, they were going together. As they expected Voldemort didn't look happy, but amazed with anger. Rose couldn't help but look at him longer, she had never seen him in the flesh. The door closed when they entered and Rose could only assume it had sealed her fate. Voldemort walked towards them and glared at Snape,

"Take your hands off her!" he ordered.

Snape didn't move and Rose didn't question him. Voldemort was well as being purist was sexist also, wizards were the master race. Her brain was screaming along with her heart for him to let her go, but still he did not,

"Severus Snape! Release the mudblood from your side right now!" continued Voldemort.

Snape remained consistent. His grip on Rose neither loosened nor tightened. Meanwhile, she tried not to look frightened or disagree with his actions. Finally Snape spoke,

"If I might my lord, you would not as Narcissa away from Lucius' side. Why do it to us?" he asked.

"Narcissa comes from a very old pure-blood family. As you well know! I've heard a great deal about you, Rose Snape," began Voldemort.

Rose looked up into Voldemort's scarlet eyes. He spoke with a tone, which made her unsure even of her own actions,

"I took away your first love, Diggory was going to marry you but I stopped it by killing him. You wore that ring from his family for months, even when you were with Severus. You assisted in my prophesy being destroyed and many of my people's imprisonment. You're a mudblood, whose understanding and singing voice captured my spy's heart. With him in current disgrace, I need a new spy. Someone in the order they would never imagine, least of all that silly gang of blood traitors the Weasleys! Either this, or you go home divorced. What will it be?" asked Voldemort.

Finally, Snape let go of Rose as she turned to him. He made it known that he didn't want her to be a spy with one glare. Rose shook her head and looked down. It wasn't the right time to tell him, but she let him break into her mind and he nodded. Rose turned back to Voldemort and knelt down. Voldemort smirked,

"I am yours to command. You are indeed merciful although I am not worthy," said Rose.

"Quite right Mrs. Snape, however you forget Lord Voldemort knows all. When you let your defences down, you let me see also. Congratulations Severus. You must feel blessed," said Voldemort.

Snape bowed his head,

"My lord," he said.

Rose and Snape left the manor and Voldemort's presence alive. Now the death-eater's knew and it was sure to leak out as he was about to become headmaster of Hogwarts. Then there was the order to consider. They were not going to be pleased with her,

"What are you going to do?" asked Snape.

"Most of the truth. Tell them that I thought I was marrying an accomplished potions master and defence teacher, which I did. I'll just have to tell them we're separated...which we are not, Severus, I could never leave you..." replied Rose.

Snape shook his head,

"You don't have a choice...just take care of yourself and...our..." he began.

"Oh no...even if I thought you had murdered Dumbledore, I would still let you see your child. Besides you're in power now, so I wouldn't have a choice. Including the birth," added Rose.

"Rose, the order would kill me from a mile away. We need to make this look convincing. Go. Go now, to the order and don't come back. Please. I don't order you usually," he begged.

It was with a very heavy heart that Rose left Snape and he watched his young wife and the mother of his unborn child leave his side. Rose had to brace herself as she knocked on the door of the Weasley family. She was already upset but the reasons she gave were completely different to what was really wrong,

"I am so sorry...I have deceived you all, but I have nowhere else to go and I don't know what to do. I've got myself in such a mess Molly. I should never have joined the Order. None of this would have happened," she cried.

By the end of the evening, the order knew, yes Rose fell in love with Snape, she was going to have his child and Voldemort had ordered her to spy. However they believed that Rose had started divorce proceedings and that she had left Snape when she found out what he had done,

"What am I to do Molly? As a spy I'll see him every time there's a meeting, can I spy? What will I say?" asked Rose.

"Calm down Rose...you're at the wrong stage to be getting stressed. I wish you would have told someone sooner about Severus, we would have stopped it before it got this far. But we have to keep you alive and the only way we can do that is to let you do what you must. Because you're different. For some reason he's using the one thing he hates to help him..." began Molly.

"Besides, how else are we to know what he is up to? We have no other way. In a way I'm glad of your help," said Arthur.

"Thank you. I'll do my best. I think I know what I can and cannot say...unless Severus has already told him about Harry's departure," said Rose.

"Leave that with us now, you have enough to worry about. Go back. Tell you-know-who...you have your place here and always will. We're keeping you here...no arguments from you, your husband or him," ordered Arthur strongly.

Rose smiled on the outside but felt dreadful on the inside for continuing to lie to them. However the feeling of guilt was in balance with the knowledge that she was protecting Snape and his secret and who he really was, what he was really like. Due to this, Rose for the first time, went to his house, knowing that there was no point in not going there as everyone knew. Snape must have felt this also as he let her in without a fuss and snapped at Peter Pettigrew for staring at her,

"How did it go?" he asked.

"A sob story worked. They think I'm divorcing you," she replied.

"So I'm not going to let you. The more evil they think I am the better, until the war is won at least, if the war is won, which I doubt," added Snape.

"I've been wondering about that. How are you going to convince them not to arrest you?" asked Rose.

"I have my memories and the one I was told not to use until the day I am tried. He said that would come in useful," he replied.

"Not anymore," admitted Rose.

Snape looked at her with amazement,

"You know what that memory is?" he asked.

"It's my memory. I was used in the hope if I lived or died they'd take notice of me because no one would know about us, but Lucius crushed that hope when he kidnapped me," she replied.

"Can I get it?" he asked.

Rose nodded. Snape left and was gone for a while. Rose knew he would be viewing the memory alone. She turned to him as he re-entered the room. Snape looked unhappy as he sat down,

"It would have worked, you are quite right. But now the prosecution would assume you still carried a torch for me, especially when everyone finds out you never really left me. I am indeed rather doomed," he said.

"Don't discard it. I'll be lucky if I live through this war. If I die before it is over, you can use it still and people will find it viable from someone who left you," she said.

"Do you seriously think, I'd want to live with you gone?" he asked.

"I'd like to think you'd want to live for your baby Severus. Your only child," replied Rose.

"If you die before then..." began Snape.

"I will not. He won't kill me in this state. Something changed in his expression when he found out. Like he was...almost glad. Like you deserved it or he owed you..." started Rose.

Snape bit his lip at her final guess. Rose looked surprised and then thought about what could have happened so said nothing. Snape looked at her questioningly and wondered aloud why she didn't ask further,

"Well? Aren't you going to ask?" he asked.

"Not if it's too painful for you," replied Rose.

Snape sat by Rose and took her hand before he spoke. She knew she was about to be told something that he felt might spoil what they had. Rose regarded him patiently and returned the grasp around his hand,

"When I was younger, about your age, I was in love with another muggle-born girl. She didn't feel the same and married another. They had a son and I turned to the dark arts. I over-heard the original prophesy that was told in a pub. I told the dark lord and he chose her son as the chosen one..."

Rose figured out who he had once loved soon after he mentioned the prophesy. Her grip loosened slightly, but grew strong when Snape finished the story,

"I realized I was responsible for her death. That is why I told you to stay away from me, but you won't, even though those I love, I end up causing their death," he added.

"Severus, I'd rather you did cause my death, than me ever going through life not knowing you as I do," said Rose.

Snape looked at her fondly. He couldn't believe his luck. If anyone else had heard his tale, they would have struck him in the face and left. However Rose barely moved at all,

"You're still here," he said.

"I know. How annoying is that?" she asked sarcastically.