Complicated
Chapter 14: Sondra and Severus
By, Rosekeet
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and titles belong to J.K. Rowling. I assume no credit for them
Rated PG for mild language, fantasy type violence, thematic elements and sensuality
Dedicated to: Payless Shoes
Harry wasn't quite sure what was going on between him and Rosalie but he knew she was the one who had sent the Valentine so he was content. He went through the days with a feeling of fuzzy giddiness inside. Even Potions was bearable. Snape hardly ever picked on Harry, just on Rosalie. It was painful for him to watch her suffer. But sticking up for her just made things worse for the two of them. He'd watch in sad silence as her cheeks flamed up and her chopping got harsher. But they all managed. Harry wasn't sure about Hermione and Ron and he wondered what they thought of their Valentines. He didn't have much time to ask. Life was a flurry of lessons, (school and violin) studying, and Quidditch. But Harry liked all of it, particularly Violin lessons. Or "alone time with Rosalie" as Ron called it.
"Good Harry!" Rosalie said smiling as Harry finished a simple etude. "You're getting so much better! You only made 8 mistakes!"
"10 less than last time!" Harry said with a sarcastic grin.
"It'll be perfect soon." She said, "Then we can move on to something harder." Harry groaned,
"You're a tough teacher!"
"I have to be! It's the only way you'll learn!" She said sounding like a mix of Professor McGonagall and Hermione. He laughed and transfigured the instrument. back into a quill. The quill was looking a bit shabby as this was the 10th time it had been a violin. Rosalie wiped hers lovingly and put it in its case.
"I'll go put it away and then we can go to practice." She said hurrying away. Harry pocketed his quill and waited for her to come down. She did shortly and they excited followed closely by Colin Creevy. Harry still didn't care much for Colin but Rosalie thought he was cute so he was silent as the two talked. Quidditch practice went well. Gryffindor was defiantly in the running for cup. Their only competition was Slytherin. Harry was confident that they could win though. Malfoy may have gotten himself a firebolt but he had no natural talent. Harry and Rosalie waited at the field until the entire team had left. Then he locked the locker room and he and Rosalie headed back up to the castle, still in Quidditch robes.
"Do you think we'll win?" She asked excitedly.
"I sure hope so." Harry said. "But, I'm more worried about getting my homework done... They've really been laying it on."
"I know! And that awful essay Snape assigned. Really. Why would we ever want to know how to grow an extra head?"
"Well, if you got it cut off..."
"You'd be dead all ready."
"Oh. Yeah... true... I guess he just likes making us miserable."
"Yeah. I swear he was smiling as he gave me that detention today." Rosalie said bitterly. Harry laughed.
"What was it for this time?"
"I walked to quickly going to the cupboard to get some toad eyes." She said, rolling her eyes as they walked up the steps and into the castle.
"I can't figure out why he hates you so much." Harry said. "I mean, I thought there'd never be someone he'd hate more than me."
"Why does he hate you?"
"He and my dad were at each others throats all through school. My dad also saved his life."
"Really?"
"Or so they told me. I think it's something else but, I haven't got a clue what."
"I bet it's just because I'm American." She said.
"Maybe." Harry agreed. He had noticed that she had been fighting lately to keep her accent from turning British.
"Harry! Rosalie!" Ron called as he and Hermione emerged from the Library where Hermione had been trying to help him with his charms work.
"Yo!" Rosalie called back waving. "Figured out those charms yet, Ron?"
"I think so." He said as they fell into step beside Harry and Rosalie.
"He should have." Hermione said, "I explained it to him about a hundred times." Ron scowled. "I swear his skulls as thick as this wall!"
"Or he was distracted..." Harry said. Ron shot him a dirty look and grinned. The quartet ducked under a tapestry and emerged in the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor.
"Say, is that Snape son of Satan going into Ellards room?" Ron said peering down the hall.
"I think so." Hermione said. Harry could tell she was purposely ignoring Ron's comment about Snape.
"What do you think he's doing in there?" Rosalie said.
"Why don't we go find out?" Harry suggested. They all nodded, letting curiosity get the best of them and tiptoed over to Professor Ellards door, which stood slightly ajar.
"I'm telling you Severus, let it go!" She was saying angrily.
"Fine! Fine!" Snape said hotly. Harry could picture his eyes narrowing and the all too familiar scowl on his face.
"I've told you, there is nothing we can do!" She said with a sigh.
"We both know there is Sondra." He said dangerously.
"It's simply not an option. We've been over it before."
"You're not weighing the outcomes enough!"
"I think it's you that isn't." her voice was getting lower and lower pitched, a sure sign that she was getting more pissed off by the second.
"What's more important, one life, or the lives of thousands?"
"Severus, either way it's not the best choice."
"He's here! I know he is!" Snape was practically yelling.
"Keep your voice down! You don't need to startle half the school! I know he's back. Dumbledore knows he's back. It is not in our power to do anything."
"We can't just do nothing!"
"Your own feelings aren't important right now. I know, you are angry but you can't let it control you!"
"You have no right to tell me how I feel!" Snape hissed.
"If I don't, who will, Severus, who will? You can't seem to do it yourself." There was silence and Harry motioned them all behind a suit of armor. The door slammed open coming off one of its hinges. and Snape stormed down the hall not noticing them.
"Reparo." Professor Ellard said with a sigh. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Allison and Miss Granger, I know you're there." Hermione squeaked and Harry felt his stomach drop to the floor. "I'm not going to punish you. Come out, or I'll have to make you." They scrambled out from behind the suit of armor, looking guilty.
"You heard everything didn't you?" She said with a piercing stare at each of them.
"Yes ma'am." Hermione said softly.
"Damn him..." She muttered. "Well come in. You'll want a bit of an explanation no doubt." They looked nervously at one another and followed her into her office, Ron leaving the door ajar for an easy escape route. Ellard sat down at her desk, her dark red hair was coming out of its bun and there were bags under her eyes. The sight reminded Harry of how Hermione looked during exam week.
"Well?" She said leaning back looking at them levelly. No one spoke. The Professor didn't speak either.
"Why does Snape not like you?" Rosalie blurted out. To their surprise she smiled.
"There's an interesting question with an interesting answer." She paused and started at Rosalie for a moment.
"Well, first off, what do you know about your good old potions master?"
"He used to be a Death Eater." Harry said promptly. Ellards eyes brows shot up.
"Didn't think you'd know that, but it'll make the explanation easier. You see, I used to be an Auror, and I caught Severus." She said.
"But, you would have been in school, wouldn't you?" Ron asked.
"I'm older than I look." She said with a slight smile.
"Yes, I caught him. He was tried and proven innocent. I was pretty angry about this but he left the ranks of the Dark Lords death eaters and came to teach here."
"That explains it." Rosalie said nodding.
"Well, that's only part of it. Severus is my cousin." Whatever the four students had been expecting to hear it wasn't that.
"Cousin?!" Ron said, looking revolted.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley cousin. We weren't particularly close. His fathers sister was my mother. She was the black sheep in the family so to speak. I only saw him on holidays as we lived in Germany. My family wasn't to happy with me when I turned him in but they also weren't happy that he'd been hanging around Death Eaters." She saw the look Ron's face. "True they were all in Slytherin but just because someone's a Slytherin does not mean they're automatically a Dark Wizard." Ron's ears flushed. "I'm actually a bit surprised he's willing to speak to me." She said looking up at the ceiling. Harry got the feeling that she was proud that her cousin hated her so much.
"You were talking about Voldemort?" Harry asked. Ellard leaned forward and looked Harry square in the eye.
"Yes."
"He's coming back?"
"You knew that all ready, though." Harry didn't say anything and neither did Ron, Hermione and Rosalie.
"By the way, fine job on your essay Miss Granger." Hermione smiled. "All of you did well." Ron's eyebrows shot up. "Yes, even you." She said to him. "I have some papers to grade, so you lot better head back to your dormitory." They all turned to leave.
"Oh, before you go, Madame Pince has informed me that there are some restricted books from the library missing. Do you know anything?" They all shook their heads. Hermione looked sideways at Rosalie. "Well, good night and good luck at the game on Saturday."
Chapter 14: Sondra and Severus
By, Rosekeet
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and titles belong to J.K. Rowling. I assume no credit for them
Rated PG for mild language, fantasy type violence, thematic elements and sensuality
Dedicated to: Payless Shoes
Harry wasn't quite sure what was going on between him and Rosalie but he knew she was the one who had sent the Valentine so he was content. He went through the days with a feeling of fuzzy giddiness inside. Even Potions was bearable. Snape hardly ever picked on Harry, just on Rosalie. It was painful for him to watch her suffer. But sticking up for her just made things worse for the two of them. He'd watch in sad silence as her cheeks flamed up and her chopping got harsher. But they all managed. Harry wasn't sure about Hermione and Ron and he wondered what they thought of their Valentines. He didn't have much time to ask. Life was a flurry of lessons, (school and violin) studying, and Quidditch. But Harry liked all of it, particularly Violin lessons. Or "alone time with Rosalie" as Ron called it.
"Good Harry!" Rosalie said smiling as Harry finished a simple etude. "You're getting so much better! You only made 8 mistakes!"
"10 less than last time!" Harry said with a sarcastic grin.
"It'll be perfect soon." She said, "Then we can move on to something harder." Harry groaned,
"You're a tough teacher!"
"I have to be! It's the only way you'll learn!" She said sounding like a mix of Professor McGonagall and Hermione. He laughed and transfigured the instrument. back into a quill. The quill was looking a bit shabby as this was the 10th time it had been a violin. Rosalie wiped hers lovingly and put it in its case.
"I'll go put it away and then we can go to practice." She said hurrying away. Harry pocketed his quill and waited for her to come down. She did shortly and they excited followed closely by Colin Creevy. Harry still didn't care much for Colin but Rosalie thought he was cute so he was silent as the two talked. Quidditch practice went well. Gryffindor was defiantly in the running for cup. Their only competition was Slytherin. Harry was confident that they could win though. Malfoy may have gotten himself a firebolt but he had no natural talent. Harry and Rosalie waited at the field until the entire team had left. Then he locked the locker room and he and Rosalie headed back up to the castle, still in Quidditch robes.
"Do you think we'll win?" She asked excitedly.
"I sure hope so." Harry said. "But, I'm more worried about getting my homework done... They've really been laying it on."
"I know! And that awful essay Snape assigned. Really. Why would we ever want to know how to grow an extra head?"
"Well, if you got it cut off..."
"You'd be dead all ready."
"Oh. Yeah... true... I guess he just likes making us miserable."
"Yeah. I swear he was smiling as he gave me that detention today." Rosalie said bitterly. Harry laughed.
"What was it for this time?"
"I walked to quickly going to the cupboard to get some toad eyes." She said, rolling her eyes as they walked up the steps and into the castle.
"I can't figure out why he hates you so much." Harry said. "I mean, I thought there'd never be someone he'd hate more than me."
"Why does he hate you?"
"He and my dad were at each others throats all through school. My dad also saved his life."
"Really?"
"Or so they told me. I think it's something else but, I haven't got a clue what."
"I bet it's just because I'm American." She said.
"Maybe." Harry agreed. He had noticed that she had been fighting lately to keep her accent from turning British.
"Harry! Rosalie!" Ron called as he and Hermione emerged from the Library where Hermione had been trying to help him with his charms work.
"Yo!" Rosalie called back waving. "Figured out those charms yet, Ron?"
"I think so." He said as they fell into step beside Harry and Rosalie.
"He should have." Hermione said, "I explained it to him about a hundred times." Ron scowled. "I swear his skulls as thick as this wall!"
"Or he was distracted..." Harry said. Ron shot him a dirty look and grinned. The quartet ducked under a tapestry and emerged in the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor.
"Say, is that Snape son of Satan going into Ellards room?" Ron said peering down the hall.
"I think so." Hermione said. Harry could tell she was purposely ignoring Ron's comment about Snape.
"What do you think he's doing in there?" Rosalie said.
"Why don't we go find out?" Harry suggested. They all nodded, letting curiosity get the best of them and tiptoed over to Professor Ellards door, which stood slightly ajar.
"I'm telling you Severus, let it go!" She was saying angrily.
"Fine! Fine!" Snape said hotly. Harry could picture his eyes narrowing and the all too familiar scowl on his face.
"I've told you, there is nothing we can do!" She said with a sigh.
"We both know there is Sondra." He said dangerously.
"It's simply not an option. We've been over it before."
"You're not weighing the outcomes enough!"
"I think it's you that isn't." her voice was getting lower and lower pitched, a sure sign that she was getting more pissed off by the second.
"What's more important, one life, or the lives of thousands?"
"Severus, either way it's not the best choice."
"He's here! I know he is!" Snape was practically yelling.
"Keep your voice down! You don't need to startle half the school! I know he's back. Dumbledore knows he's back. It is not in our power to do anything."
"We can't just do nothing!"
"Your own feelings aren't important right now. I know, you are angry but you can't let it control you!"
"You have no right to tell me how I feel!" Snape hissed.
"If I don't, who will, Severus, who will? You can't seem to do it yourself." There was silence and Harry motioned them all behind a suit of armor. The door slammed open coming off one of its hinges. and Snape stormed down the hall not noticing them.
"Reparo." Professor Ellard said with a sigh. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Allison and Miss Granger, I know you're there." Hermione squeaked and Harry felt his stomach drop to the floor. "I'm not going to punish you. Come out, or I'll have to make you." They scrambled out from behind the suit of armor, looking guilty.
"You heard everything didn't you?" She said with a piercing stare at each of them.
"Yes ma'am." Hermione said softly.
"Damn him..." She muttered. "Well come in. You'll want a bit of an explanation no doubt." They looked nervously at one another and followed her into her office, Ron leaving the door ajar for an easy escape route. Ellard sat down at her desk, her dark red hair was coming out of its bun and there were bags under her eyes. The sight reminded Harry of how Hermione looked during exam week.
"Well?" She said leaning back looking at them levelly. No one spoke. The Professor didn't speak either.
"Why does Snape not like you?" Rosalie blurted out. To their surprise she smiled.
"There's an interesting question with an interesting answer." She paused and started at Rosalie for a moment.
"Well, first off, what do you know about your good old potions master?"
"He used to be a Death Eater." Harry said promptly. Ellards eyes brows shot up.
"Didn't think you'd know that, but it'll make the explanation easier. You see, I used to be an Auror, and I caught Severus." She said.
"But, you would have been in school, wouldn't you?" Ron asked.
"I'm older than I look." She said with a slight smile.
"Yes, I caught him. He was tried and proven innocent. I was pretty angry about this but he left the ranks of the Dark Lords death eaters and came to teach here."
"That explains it." Rosalie said nodding.
"Well, that's only part of it. Severus is my cousin." Whatever the four students had been expecting to hear it wasn't that.
"Cousin?!" Ron said, looking revolted.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley cousin. We weren't particularly close. His fathers sister was my mother. She was the black sheep in the family so to speak. I only saw him on holidays as we lived in Germany. My family wasn't to happy with me when I turned him in but they also weren't happy that he'd been hanging around Death Eaters." She saw the look Ron's face. "True they were all in Slytherin but just because someone's a Slytherin does not mean they're automatically a Dark Wizard." Ron's ears flushed. "I'm actually a bit surprised he's willing to speak to me." She said looking up at the ceiling. Harry got the feeling that she was proud that her cousin hated her so much.
"You were talking about Voldemort?" Harry asked. Ellard leaned forward and looked Harry square in the eye.
"Yes."
"He's coming back?"
"You knew that all ready, though." Harry didn't say anything and neither did Ron, Hermione and Rosalie.
"By the way, fine job on your essay Miss Granger." Hermione smiled. "All of you did well." Ron's eyebrows shot up. "Yes, even you." She said to him. "I have some papers to grade, so you lot better head back to your dormitory." They all turned to leave.
"Oh, before you go, Madame Pince has informed me that there are some restricted books from the library missing. Do you know anything?" They all shook their heads. Hermione looked sideways at Rosalie. "Well, good night and good luck at the game on Saturday."