Author's Notes - I Hope you enjoy Rose's morning spent with Professor Snape. While her attitude has changed with his, she's still a teenage girl upset about missing out on the Hogsmeade trip. (And, who could blame her?) I tried to imitate Hagrid's accent and be true to the way JK Rowling has written him. However, if I've made a mess of it, please let me know and I'll be glad to spell everything correctly and let you imagine his speech pattern. Speaking of JK Rowling, as I'm sure you're aware, she owns all the characters, not me!
Thanks to LilyLunaSnapeRiddle and KyokoNyx for reviewing. I appreciate the feedback very much!
Severus stood to the side in the Entrance Hall as students dashed out of the castle for the trip to Hogsmeade. He watched with interest as Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley guiltily bid goodbye to Rose. He was glad to see their remorse. If Lily had not been allowed to visit Hogsmeade, he certainly wouldn't have gone without her. Perhaps Miss Potter's friends were not as stalwart as he had supposed.
Rose herself appeared morose, and was not that happy to see him from across the hall. Yesterday at the end of Potions, she had stayed behind to ask if he could grant her permission for the excursion. He, of course, had been forced to decline. She had run from the room too quickly for him to give her any sort of explanation, a look of devastation on her face. The next few minutes were bound to be uncomfortable.
"Miss Potter, you will accompany me to my office."
Her answer was one of pure defiance. "You may not trust me enough to let me go to Hogsmeade, but that doesn't mean you can tell me where to go. It's Saturday, Snape, and I'm going to the lake.
The determined set to her jaw was so very much James Potter's that he sneered from habit alone. How dare she address him in that manner! And then, he saw the tears in her eyes and the way her hands shook so much that she was forced to ball them into fists. He deliberately paused to take a deep breath.
"That's Professor Snape to you, Miss Potter. Five points from Gryffindor for your woeful lack of respect. And, you certainly will accompany me."
He halfway expected her to explode; her lower lip trembled instead. Before she could lose control completely, he added, "However, perhaps a compromise can be reached. It is indeed a fine day. If you prefer, you may choose to accompany me to the lake rather than my office."
The tears that had threatened to spill disappeared with a backhanded swipe to her face. "I suppose."
Not the most promising of answers, but he couldn't blame her entirely. She was a thirteen year old girl who should be buying sugar quills at Honeydukes with her friends, not being forced to spend the day with one of her stodgy old professors.
Walking silently beside him, she constantly chewed on her lower lip. He was about to reprimand her when he noticed that she glanced repeatedly at his cane. So, she was still concerned about his welfare. Well, that was one concern easily put to rest.
"Miss Potter, I am quite capable of walking to the lake and back. You needn't fear a repeat of what happened this summer. I assure you that I have made significant progress since then."
Her reply was awkward, but heartfelt. "I'm glad, Professor. When you took me away from Aunt Petunia, I was scared you would die and leave me alone in that dusty old house. And, then when I was at the Burrow, I was scared you would die alone and no one would find you."
His mouth curved into a sardonic smile. "Yes, well, the cleanliness of Spinner's End notwithstanding, I can assure you that I do not plan on dying anytime soon."
She flushed with embarrassment, and he grinned warmly. "I consider Hogwarts my home, Miss Potter. I reside at Spinner's End only during the summer months and only when I have a tricky bit of brewing to do. The house is both dusty and old. I was hoping you would not mind staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas Break."
"I always stay at Hogwarts over Christmas break."
Her answer had been given in such a straightforward manner that he abruptly realized she considered Hogwarts her home too. He well remembered spending Christmas at the school when he had been a student. It had been a welcome respite from the tension and violence the holidays had invariably produced at home. He would have to owl Molly Weasley to inquire about appropriate gifts for a girl of Rose's age. He somehow doubted that Petunia provided much beyond the necessities for the child.
"Splendid. That will save us both much time cleaning my dusty old house."
They walked in companionable silence the rest of the way to the lake. Severus was glad that he had been making the same walk for six weeks now. He wouldn't have been able to manage it otherwise. He allowed Miss Potter to skip stones on the placid water while he thoroughly scanned the area. It was early enough that most first and second years were still at breakfast, but a few were out and about playing tag with their friends or sitting on House blankets no doubt gossiping about their week. He would not have their lesson in such an open area.
"Miss Potter, I was wondering if you might accompany me to Professor Hagrid's?"
"We can go see Hagrid?"
"Professor Hagrid, and yes, I believe our session would be much better suited for the area near his cabin."
It was the wrong thing to have said. Her anxiety returned with a vengeance. "Session? What session? You're going to give me detention on top of babysitting me? How pathetic do you think I am?"
"Miss P-Potter! C-Consider y-y-your next w-words c-c-carefully."
Damn, would he never be rid of the infernal stutter? Bad-tempered, he was stunned when she slipped her hand into his.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to upset you."
Apology accepted, he wrote in the air. Nor I, you, he added after a moment's pause.
As forgiving and as fickle as only a child could be, she smiled sunnily as she insistently tugged him towards the half-giant's abode. Knocking briskly on the door, she let go of his hand to give Hagrid a warm hug. The two were obviously fast friends.
"Do you have any tea, Professor Hagrid? Professor Snape needs some."
It was a testament to the big man's gentle soul that he didn't consider the request or the sudden presence of the Potions Master anything out of the ordinary. He did, however, consider Rose's new form of address quite ridiculous.
"None o' that 'Professor' hogwash, Rose. Yeh an' I been friends far too long fer any o' that nonsense. When yer my guest, yeh can call me Hagrid, jus' like yeh always do."
The cheeky girl had the audacity to shoot him a grin of triumph, and it was all he could do not to roll his eyes. Hagrid's tea turned out to be quite good, as opposed to the rock cakes he had given them, which were inedible. He listened attentively as Rose chattered on to her large friend about her week. She went to great lengths to pretend that she was perfectly fine, and the subject of Hogsmeade was never brought up.
After a while, Snape felt relaxed enough to join in the conversation without fear of stuttering.
"I intend to show Rose the Patronus Charm today, Hagrid. I was wondering if we could use the area behind your cabin to practice."
Rose dropped her cup in surprise, necessitating a quick Reparo.
"Great idea, Professor. Ever since those creatures been placed abou' the school, I've been a might edgy, I can tell yeh that."
The girl, however, put two and two together and came up with five. "That's why I couldn't go to Hogsmeade? Because you're worried about the dementors? I thought it was because you didn't trust me not to go after Sirius Black! I'm not a weakling, and I can handle the dementors just fine!"
Hagrid stared at her curiously. "Dumbledore hi'self forbid yeh to go to Hogsmeade, Rose. And, no one thinks yer weak. Dementors are 'orrible creatures, an' only the Patronus Charm can stop 'em. Professor Snape's doin' yeh a great favor by tryin' to teach yeh an advanced spell like that."
She looked at him in obvious confusion. "You are?"
"It is no favor, Miss Potter. You should have the means to defend yourself from such creatures considering the effect they have one you. However, I must warn you not to expect too much today. Hagrid is correct. The Patronus Charm is very advanced magic. It will take you some time to master it."
"Oh." Suddenly, she looked rather small. "What if I can't?"
"I have faith that you will," he answered briskly, not allowing her fears to run away with her.
She seemed at least somewhat reassured by his statement, and they soon took their leave from the cabin, thanking Hagrid profusely for the tea and cakes. Severus had been forced to cough into the sleeve of his robe when he had caught Rose's eye. They had both fed their cakes to Fang, and her mischievous expression had threatened to send him into paroxysms of laughter. Lily had often had just the same glint in her eye when they had tricked Petunia with magic as children.
Walking to the back of Hagrid's cabin, Snape was pleased that not a person was in sight. The clearing abutted the Forbidden Forest, and only the most daring student ventured there. They could practice in peace, away from prying eyes.
Just as he was about to begin his lecture about the different manifestations of the spell, Rose asked about something else entirely.
"Why didn't you tell me it was Professor Dumbledore who said I couldn't go? I was angry at you yesterday, you know."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing they could have stayed on the topic of the Patronus Charm.
"I was well aware of your thoughts on the matter, Miss Potter. I simply deemed it wiser that you focus your hostility on me rather than the Headmaster."
After a second's pause, she gazed challengingly into his eyes. "Why? Do you want me angry with you?"
Briefly, he wondered how McGonagal would answer. Of course he didn't want her angry with him. Neither did he want her to be defensive around Albus. The powerful wizard was too intelligent not to be curious if Rose suddenly started treating him differently.
"At the present, I serve as your guardian, Miss Potter. That places me in the position to make many decisions on your behalf, of which choosing not to inform you of the Headmaster's decree is one of them. If you wish for me to continue in this role, then I urge you not to question Albus Dumbledore's decision. It has been made, and it is far too late to change his mind. Once Sirius Black has been caught, perhaps permission will be granted."
She visibly struggled with his advice, but ultimately, she accepted it. He gave her a moment to compose herself before moving to the lesson.
"I am told that Professor Lupin used the Patronus Charm to repel the dementors on the train."
"That must have been after I passed out, Professor."
Not liking the reminder of finding her in the Hospital Ward instead of the Start of Term Feast, he nodded stiffly before continuing. "It is an extremely useful spell, Miss Potter. Depending upon the strength of the thought used to cast it, the charm can manifest itself as light or as a fully formed, corporeal Patronus. Both can repel dementors, but the corporeal form is much more powerful and can also be used as a means of communication."
"Corporeal? You mean, the Patronus Charm forms a body?"
"Five points to Gryffindor, Miss Potter. A fully formed Patronus does, indeed, take the shape of an animal, although that animal is made of light and the strength of the positive thought a wizard uses to conjure it rather than flesh and bone."
Rose suddenly looked unsure of herself. "I need a positive thought? Like the happy thoughts Wendy used to fly in Peter Pan?"
His lips twitched. Although a Muggle fairytale, it was the perfect analogy. "Exactly like Wendy, although there is no magic fairy dust to help you, I'm afraid. Your Patronus will be imbued with the positive force of your happy thought. Its strength will come for that memory, and that positive force is what will drive away the dementors."
She bit her lip. "So, it has to be a memory? You can't just, I don't know, make something up?"
Filius was right; she was going to have difficulty forming a Patronus. "It is exceedingly difficult to base such positive energy on a fantasy. For now, it would be much better if you were to find an actual memory to use."
"Oh." Her nose scrunched up as she lapsed into deep thought. "I've got one, I think, Professor."
He was hesitant to ask what it was. Instead, he showed her the wand movements and the incantation. "Expecto Patronum!"
A silver doe burst forth from his wand to run gracefully around the clearing before fading into nothingness.
"Wow! That's a cool deer, Professor!"
"Thank you. It is, in fact, a doe."
She looked a bit taken aback by the thought of her stern Potions Professor producing a female Patronus, but she didn't ask a question, and he didn't offer an explanation. Perhaps he could get through the lesson without having to explain the significance of the form his particular Patronus took.
"What do you think mine will be?"
"We won't know until you conjure it, so I suggest you try now."
She stood in the middle of the clearing, a look of intense concentration of her face.
"Expecto Patronum!" The movement and incantation had been perfect. Incredibly, a dim light began to emerge from the tip of her wand. After a few seconds, however, it faded into nothingness.
"An admirable effort, Miss Potter. I am impressed."
Bent over, her hands resting on her knees as she tried to catch her breath, Rose did not appear to be content with his effusive praise.
"It wasn't good enough. I need to find a happier memory."
In the face of such determination, he allowed her to try again. And again, and again, and again. Unfortunately, she did not improve with practice. He did not realized how long she had been making the attempt until she swayed alarmingly on her feet.
He managed to steady her before she fell over. Breaking off a large chunk of the chocolate Lupin had insisted he take with him, Severus handed it to her.
"Eat it, and then we'll go back to the castle. It will be time for lunch soon. You made decent progress today."
Taking a bite out of the candy, she immediately began to protest. "Just once more, Professor! I'm sure I can get it this time!"
Gently, he grasped her shoulders, hoping she would listen and simply accept what he said for a change. "Rose, you are exhausted, and one more time will not help matters. I don't want to see you in the Hospital Wing again. Your technique is perfect. I assure you that you will be able to cast a Patronus as soon as you can think of a strong enough positive memory."
Overwrought, she began to sob. "I don't have any memories that are happy enough, Professor Snape! I tried to think about riding my broom for the first time, but I remembered how nasty Draco had been trying to steal Neville's Rememberall. I tried to think about Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup, but you're right, it's too hard to concentrate on a fantasy. I even tried to think of you being my guardian, but I know that's only temporary, and I'll have to go back to the Dursley's sometime."
The fact that she had considered him as one of her happiest memories humbled him even as he despaired of the fact that her positive memories were so few and far between.
"What about your friends, Miss Potter? Surely they make you happy."
"I tried, but Ron and Hermione have nearly been killed because of me. I even tried to remember my parents like I saw them in the Mirror of Erised, but I kept hearing Mum's voice as she begged Voldemort to spare me."
Her tears started anew, and he patted her back as she cried, at a loss to offer her any additional comfort. Finally, she stopped weeping against his robes, and he handed her a handkerchief without speaking.
"Sorry," she began, but he immediately interrupted.
"There is nothing for which to apologize, Rose. We will find a strong enough memory for you; I promise. However, right now, you need to eat and spend some time with your friends. Ginerva Weasley is still at Hogwarts, is she not? Perhaps you could seek her out and do whatever it is young girls in their spare time are wont to do."
She smiled at his suggestion just as he had intended. "Colin Creevey's been following Ginny around for a week now, Professor. I'd rather stay out of the way of his camera, if that's alright with you."
"Indeed. Well, if you insist on trailing after me like a puppy dog, I do have to deliver a potion to Professor Lupin this afternoon. Perhaps he would be willing to share some more stories about your parents with you."
"That'd be great, Profess . . . ." Her eyes widened in abject terror. Spinning around, Snape saw a huge black blur speeding straight towards her.
The blur slowed significantly as it approached, and he recognized the loping gait of Grim. The mutt greeted Rose so exuberantly that she was almost knocked over, but that didn't account for her reaction. Her eyes were still huge with shock, and she was shaking violently.
"It's a Grim! Professor Trelawny warned me that I would see it, and now I have." Her face was ashen as she looked up at him. "Do you think it hurts to die?"
The dog began to whine at her reaction, backing away until there were several feet between them. Severus guessed he could sense Rose's upset.
Taking her hand, he stepped forward to pet the dog, speaking reassuringly to Rose the entire time. "If this were a real Grim, Miss Potter, I would be dead several times over. Though, I certainly acknowledge the similar appearance. Grim is a stray that I've adopted, or he's adopted me. To be honest, I'm not quite sure which is the case. I promise he doesn't bite. And, if you pet him behind the ears, he likes it very much. You can tell by how quickly his tail wags."
Hesitantly, she approached the huge dog and began to pat him on the head. She was rewarded by excited thunking of the beast's tail. Soon, she was completely at ease with the animal, to the point where she allowed him to lick her cheek.
"I knew Trelawny was a fraud."
For once Snape didn't correct her about appropriate address for a Hogwarts' professor. Nor could he bring himself to correct her assumption about the woman who had inadvertently alerted the Dark Lord to her existence. He merely heaped more attention upon Grim.
After a while, her stomach gave a growl that even the dog noticed, and Snape declared their outing over.
"Can't we bring him with us, Professor?"
He considered it, but Grim seemed to like his vagabond existence, and the temperature that night was supposed to be mild.
"Another time, Miss Potter. We wouldn't want him gobbling up the Halloween Feast tonight."
"I almost forgot! At least I don't have to go to Sir Nicholas' Deathday Feast this year."
Snape looked at her, askance. "You do manage to get yourself into the oddest situations, Miss Potter. I hope you find food you can actually eat more to your taste this year."
She chuckled, her earlier melancholy banished. "I honestly don't go out looking for strange situations, Professor. They just seem to find me."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he muttered, but she was so busy waving goodbye to Grim that she didn't hear him.