You've got a long and sad chapter ahead puddin's. xoxo

Severus woke up in the middle of the night when his dark mark began to burn again. He sat up as Rose slept and made sure he didnt wake her. When he swung his feet over the edge of the bed and set them down he felt a piece of paper on the floor. It was the note Rose had placed under her pillow. Severus picked it up. The envelope wasn't properly closed. It was merly tucked into itself. The front of the note read Rose's name. Severus looked back at her and saw her fast asleep. He quietly opened up the letter. It was a note from Sirius. Begging to see her. Begging to speak with her. Severus felt his heart in his stomach and put the note back, slipping it under the bed. He stood up and went to the window, he wondered if Sirius was better for her. If he should just leave her and never come back. Soon, he realized that he had fallen down a dark hole of guilt. He tried to shake it off and returned to bed.

When he got back into bed Rose woke up, she felt him getting into bed and reached for him.

"Severus?" She sleepily asked. He pulled her into his arms and she nuzzled close. "Are you okay?"

"I've never been better." He whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Rose and Severus continued in secret for weeks. As the Yule Ball grew closer their romance grew and grew. Rose had forgotten about Lucius and Sirius and Lily and for the first time in her life, she was just overjoyed.

The night before the Yule Ball they were lying awake, talking.

"Tomorrow, once the formal dancing ends, can you do me a favor?" Severus asked, kissing her cheek.

"Anything." She smiled.

"Meet me at the top of the clock tower, where we used to go when we didn't go to class." He requested.

The night of the Yule Ball after helping Harry get ready Rose went to the Great Hall. She wore a black silk, swing dress that flared out from her waist. Her hair was tied up in a low bun. When she got there McGonagall quickly went up to her. Dumbledore had just spoken to her about the traditional dance.

"Rose, I have a favor to ask?" The older witch asked.

"Yes?" Rose asked.

"Well, Dumbledore requested that you dance with Igor Karkaroff in the traditional number. He doesn't have a partner and Dumbledore really doesn't want him to sit out since he is our guest." The older witch explained, stressed out.

"It's no problem Minvera, I would love to," Rose answered. McGonagall thanked her and hurried off to find the champions.

Dumbledore had begun to get suspicious of Snape and Rose. He was suspicious of how they had been acting, their distance was beginning to feel staged. He made the orders as a hope to keep them apart.

Dumbledore's suspicions were confirmed when Severus saw Rose from across the room. Dumbledore watched as the wizard's gaze lingered on her for a long while. He saw Rose catch Severus's gaze and blush deeply, sending him a shy smile that Severus returned.

As the champions took their places Rose met with Igor. He was very quiet and his mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"Viktor has been doing well," Rose spoke, to break the silence as they danced. Igor snapped out of his thinking and nodded.

"Thank you. Your nephew has also done well despite his age." Igor replied. The two absentmindedly talked about what the second task might be before the dance was finished. Once it was over and the band began to play more upbeat music Rose saw Severus leave the room out of the corner of her eye.

"Igor it's been lovely but I have to go attend to something." She smiled, Igor nodded and waved goodbye to her going to get himself a drink. Rose left the ballroom and wandered to the secret entrance that she and Severus had found to the clock tower. He was there waiting for her and when she got there she embraced him tight.

For the whole night, they were alone in the clock tower. As Severus wanted, away from Dumbledore's eyes.

An hour into the dance Dumbledore couldn't find Severus and he noticed Igor sitting alone, thinking in the back of the dance. He approached him.

"Igor, I hope you are having a good time," Dumbledore spoke, Igor nodded.

"It has been good." He simply responded.

"Where did Rose head off to, I had to speak with her about something?" Dumbledore asked. Igor looked around and shrugged.

"She said she had to attend to something and left." He explained.

"Ah well, I hope the rest of the evening is well," Dumbledore responded. He left the dance hall and paced around for a bit. Wondering where they had gone off to.

After what seemed like no time the final song was being announced. It was a slow song. Rose bit her lip and pulled away.

"Maybe we should go..." she began until Severus pulled her close again. He had a twinkle in his eye. She smiled and giggled a bit but he lowered his hands to take either side of her waist. She felt a chill down her spine and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder as they slowly swayed back and forth. After a few moments like that she pressed her forehead against his. He obliged and they became lost in each other's eyes. It was perfect.

Severus had offered to walk her to her room, on the way there she brushed her hand against his and to her delight he took it and wove his fingers between hers. She felt her heart beat in her ears. These weeks weren't a dream or a look into the Mirror of Erised. This was real. Severus felt the same way, he was overjoyed but on one of the turns to get to Rose's room they both heard a voice. Dumbledore had spotted them coming down from the clock tower and walking to her room.

"Severus." It was Dumbledore. Severus froze, Rose felt his hand tighten around hers. He turned toward the older wizard.

"Headmaster." He replied. "What can I do for you?"

"After you escort Miss. Evans to her room I'd like to have a word with you." He spoke. Rose suddenly realized who had been keeping Severus from pursuing her. "I have some business to discuss with you that can't wait until morning."

They had finally been caught.

"Yes Headmaster," Severus replied. He knew better. Severus knew that it was a warning from Dumbledore. He felt his heart sink all the way to the floor. He had hoped he could get away with this, that he and Rose could continue to go on in private. His heart ached for her affection but now everything was ruined. Dumbledore left them and Severus found himself trying really hard to keep his composure. Rose saw that he was pale and she began to feel nervous. When they got to her room they stepped inside and shut the door. They were quiet for a long time, not looking at each other.

"I can't do this anymore." Severus finally whispered. He looked up into her eyes and felt his heart rip from his chest. Her eyes were full of tears. The look of hurt in her eyes made him sick with himself. "I'm sorry."

"Severus please, you don't have to listen to him." Rose reasoned. Severus shook his head.

"Rose, you don't understand." Severus whimpered, he felt tears in his own eyes and shook his head.

"Then help me understand, please." She took his face into her hands as he spoke and he began to cry. When Rose saw the tears falling down his face she began to cry too. He embraced her tight.

"I can't be what you need. Not now." Severus sobbed. Rose didn't know what to say, she felt as if her heart was about to stop.

"Please don't leave me." She begged. Severus pulled away and kissed her one last time.

"I don't have a choice, one day you will understand," Severus explained. "I love you so much."

He left.

"What did I say?" Dumbledore snapped when Severus entered the office. Severus didn't answer for a moment.

"I rejected her." He finally spoke, feeling tears in his eyes. "Are you happy!? I ripped her heart out." He shouted, angry and upset.

"I warned you against this! It's your own fault that you've hurt her." Dumbledore snapped. "You know this is just going to muddy the waters. What did I tell you!? The night I found you holding Lily's corpse."

Severus felt sick, he didn't respond or look at Dumbledore, the older wizard went to him and got in his face.

"WHAT DID I SAY!?" Dumbledore shouted.

"If you loved Lily Evans, truly, then your way forward is clear…" Severus trailed off, he was starting to get emotional again, tears filled his eyes and his voice caught in his throat.

"And," Dumbledore growled.

"Make sure her death as not in vain. Help me protect Lily's son." He finished, thickly swallowing after getting the words out.

"You can't do that carrying on this affair, and you know that." Dumbledore snapped. "You can't sit here blubbering like a baby over that woman or everything will be for nothing."

I also changed the cover photo for the story puddin's, it's closer to how Rose is going to change in the coming chapters. See you tomorrow with a new chapter xoxo.