Disclaimer: Unless J.K Rowling is a 19 year old American college student, I am not her, and thus I don't own them.
A/N: I realize no one is reading this, so really, I'm just doing this for my own enjoyment. However, if you do happen to be reading this, a review would be nice. Hint hint.
Rosemarie was only able to bask in the glory of her verbal victory over Severus for the duration of her class. Almost as soon as the first year Ravenclaws were dismissed, a very put out Minerva McGonagall appeared in the doorway of the classroom. "Rosemarie." She said brusquely. "Might I see you in my office for a few moments."
Rosemarie felt the color drain from her face; from the looks McGonagall was giving her, Rosemarie knew she must have heard about her altercation with Severus earlier. "Of course, Minerva. When would you like me to come by."
"Now, if you don't mind." McGonagall gave her another stern look. Rosemarie nodded in response, and began to gather up her wand and books. She meekly followed Professor McGonagall down the hall to her office. Severus was waiting for them outside the door when they got there.
"Rosemarie." He smirked at her. "It looks as though you've gotten yourself into some trouble. For shame, you haven't even been here a full two months yet." Rosemarie just bit her tongue and glared at him in response. There was no way she dared say the things she was thinking while Minerva was standing there. She lifted her head slightly, and brushed past him, following Minerva into the office.
"Close the door behind you, Severus." Professor McGonagall said from her post behind her desk. Once he had, all of McGonagall's pent up anger and frustration came pouring out. "Of all the immature, infantile and just plain stupid things to do! Did you stop to think that there were students listening? Now the story of how Professor Bacall ripped Professor Snape a new one, then turned down his sexual advances is already spreading across the school faster than a blast ended skrewt shoots fire." Minerva McGonagall's face was bright red. "Could you please give me some semblance of a reasonable response as to why you chose to have such a...graphic fight in front of students?"
Rosemarie was speechless. Unfortunately, Severus was not. "Well, Minerva, I appreciate your acknowledging that Professor Bacall's behavior was completely unprofessional and unacceptable this afternoon?"
Professor McGonagall turned furiously to Snape. "What makes you think I was just talking to Rosemarie, Severus? This situation would never have presented itself if you hadn't felt the need to exorcise your personal grudge with Rosemarie by verbally abusing her niece. As far as Albus and I are concerned, you are as responsible for this situation as she is."
It was now Snape's turn to be speechless, while Rosemarie finally regained her powers of speech. "Minerva, I am so deeply and sincerely sorry for the situation I caused this afternoon. I acknowledge that I was completely out of line, and I should have waited for a more appropriate time to talk to Professor Snape. It won't happen again, I assure you."
"Thank you, Rosemarie." She paused for a moment. "I believe I will let this incident pass for now, without a report or penalty. I know you see what you've done wrong, and as you've assured me that it won't happen again, there shouldn't be a problem."
Severus was spitting with rage. "That's it? She causes a scene and mortifies me in front of my students, and she gets a slap on the hand? This is unacceptable, Minerva."
"Then perhaps you should think of that the next time you mortify one of your students, Severus." Professor McGonagall said coldly. "Professor Dumbledore has placed me in charge of this situation, and my decision on the matter is final. However, if you wish to go and tell Professor Dumbledore that you feel he is wrong, feel free." Minerva allowed her words to sink in before continuing. "That should be all for today. You both can go."
"Thank you, Minerva." Rosemarie said, before making her hasty exit. She didn't even stop to see if Severus had followed her out of the room.
Later that night, Rosemarie couldn't sleep; all she could do was replay in her head over and over again her fight with Severus. It bothered her that she was still attracted to him-she knew what he was why did she still have feelings for him? Rosemarie was pondering this question over and over again to herself, when there was a soft knock at her door. "Just a moment." She called, as she jumped out of bed, and pulled on her bathrobe. Rosemarie opened the door and stared at amazement at her visitor. "What in the name of all things sane and reasonable are you doing here?"
Severus Snape was standing on the other side of her door; his breaths were jerky and fast, and he seemed to be having trouble composing himself. His normally sallow face was flushed, and his eyes were dark and glittering. "I have had enough, do you understand?" His voice was low and strained. "Ever since you came back, this has been going on. You left me do you understand that? You left me. And I refuse...I will not feel this way!" he paused to catch his breath, and stared at her.
"Severus, what are you..." Rosemarie started to say before he lunged at her. Severus grabbed her tightly by the waist, and pulled her towards him. Rosemarie barely had time to react, before his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her as though he was releasing all of his pent-up emotions in that one embrace. Rosemarie was furious with him at first. "How dare he kiss me?" She thought to herself indignantly, before her resolve weakened, and she allowed herself to be kissed by a man, who frankly, she still found incredibly attractive.
Almost as quickly as he had begun, Severus ended the kiss. "I am through with you! This is it!" he spat at her, before turning on his heel, and retreating back down the corridor.
Rosemarie stood in the doorway in shock for a moment, before angrily slamming her door closed.
If Rosemarie couldn't sleep before, there was no way she would be able to relax now. For the first time in eleven years, she allowed herself to think back over her relationship with Severus. Even all these years later, it was still almost painful for her to think of it. Yet that angry kiss he had given her brought the memories flooding back.
Rosemarie had been 18 when she graduated from Hogwarts, and had gone straight away into a low-level job at the Ministry that Professor Dumbledore had secured for her. Rosemarie had been made to understand by Dumbledore that she was to keep an eye out for anything that might aid them in the fight against Voldemort. Severus also had a job at the Ministry, only he was much higher up on the food chain. There were rumors circulating that he was actually a Death Eater and a spy for Voldemort. Rosemarie, as a result, was wary of him, and avoided him as much as possible; she had overheard suspicious conversations he had with other suspected Death Eaters, and she had caught him going through some Top Secret files.
Finally, one day, her conscience led her to Professor Dumbledore; if there was a Death Eater within their inner circle, who knew what kind of secrets had been leaked. Professor Dumbledore listened to Rosemarie with a bemused expression on her face, as she told him about the rumors, and her own belief that they were true. "Rosemarie, I would never tell you this unless I had implicit trust in you." Professor Dumbledore had looked at her sternly. "Severus Snape was a Death Eater once."
"I knew it." Rosemarie had thought to herself.
"However," he continued "at my insistence, Severus has maintained his relations with other Death Eaters, in the hope that valuable information will be passed to us."
"He's a spy?" Rosemarie had asked incredulously. Professor Dumbledore had simply nodded, and Rosemarie had thanked him and gone on her way.
It was after that incident that Rosemarie's troubles began. Rosemarie had always found the idea of spying and reconnaissance, well, sexy. She had thought Severus attractive before, but had never allowed herself to act on her feelings because she thought he was untrustworthy. Now, the floodgates, one might say, were open. Rosemarie had fallen whole-heartedly for Severus Snape. She thought he had no idea who she was, until one day, without warning, he stopped at her desk to talk to her.
"Hello, Miss Bacall." His low, lazy voice drawled at her, as he perched on the edge of her desk. "You're not giving me the evil eye today."
"I...I'm sorry?" Rosemarie managed to stutter, in awe of the fact that he was sitting on her desk.
"I would have come over to talk to you much sooner, except for the fact that you always had the most terrible glare fixed on your face. Do I really look that awful?" He leaned in closer.
"No, it's not that, it's just that I'm..." Rosemarie felt her face getting red.
"...a hopeless termagant, who hates all men?" He smirked at her.
Rosemarie felt her embarrassment quickly turn into anger, and retaliated before she could even think. "That's a bit rich, coming from a man who still has something to learn on the finer points of personal hygiene and social skills." She gave his greasy hair a pointed look.
Severus had merely leered at her. "I didn't know this one had claws."
Rosemarie's eyes glittered, and her face turned a brilliant shade of red. "You are a disgusting chauvinist. Try treating women with respect sometime, it might get you a date."
"Speaking of which, how about dinner tomorrow night."
Rosemarie stared into his grinning face for a minute, before delivering her answer. "Get fucked." She said before returning to her work.
"Oh don't worry, Rosie, I intend to." He leered at her again, before leaving. That had been the start of Severus' forays into the art of wooing. He was determined to get Rosemarie to go out with him, and when his crude questions only got him smart answers, he began to send her candy, flowers, enchanted cards that sang at her when she opened them, everything.
He broke down her resolve in two weeks, and they were together for four years. Their relationship was highly sexual-in the early stages of the relationship it sometimes seemed to Rosemarie that it was all they did. Never, in her entire life, had she felt for someone the way she felt for Severus Snape. Once Rosemarie got past his nasty comments and smirk, she discovered that he was actually an incredibly sweet and romantic lover. When they were together, Rosemarie felt as though she was the most important thing in his life-he devoted his entire attention to her. As soon as their relationship settled down, and began to fit into an easy pattern, they began to open up to each other. Rosemarie told him about her family; how her father, a muggle, had been unable to get close to his children, and just distanced himself from them. Severus told her that he had become a Death Eater to please his father, but when he learned how truly evil Voldemort was, he had defected. There was nothing Rosemarie loved more than lying in bed with Severus, just talking. She felt so close to him, as though there was some kind of indiscernible bond holding them together.
Rosemarie had been 19 when Voldemort murdered the Potters, then fled after he failed to kill Harry. A perceptible change had come over Severus then. Before he had been sardonic, and at times nasty. Now when they fought, he could turn cruel. In all fairness, Rosemarie gave back to him as bad as he gave to her, but their fights were always emotionally draining. In spite of the change in the tenor of their relationship, the breakup didn't come until three years later.
Rosemarie had always had her doubts about Severus. She knew he had been a spy for Dumbledore, and as a result, had maintained contact with other Death Eaters. It was Severus' spying that had kept him out of Azkaban, but there were still times when Rosemarie suspected there were things that he wasn't telling her. He would disappear at odd times, and then never tell her where he was. She soon found out the reason for his secrecy. Rosemarie and Severus had been together nearly four years, and by that time and Severus had asked her to marry him. Dumbledore had offered Severus a job: teaching Potions at Hogwarts. While Severus really wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, he was willing to take what he could. The two of them decided to buy a house in Hogsmeade, so that they wouldn't have to be far apart. Rosemarie willingly quit her job at the Ministry, and agreed to take on the task of finding them a house. She had come home early one day, having found the perfect house for them: it was just on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, and seemed to be the ideal place for a couple just starting out. It even had the stereotypical white picket fence--granted the fence was charmed to attack intruders, but still, it was the idea of the fence. She had walked into their apartment happily, but soon stopped dead in the hallway. Severus was talking to Lucius Malfoy, through the fireplace, and there was something in his tone that made Rosemarie stop and listen.
"...got rid of the rest in Knockturn Alley this afternoon." She heard Lucius say. "Of course, there are a few choice items that I'm going to hang on to- have to have something to pass on to little Draco when he gets older!" He laughed.
"Just be careful, Lucius." Severus replied. "I don't want you getting caught with those things in your house, you know how damaging it will be to our cause, even though Voldemort has gone for now."
"Oh, come on, Severus. We have never had greater security than we have now. They caught most of us already, and those of us left have all been cleared. It was brilliant of you to pretend you were spying for that twit, Dumbledore."
Rosemarie could feel bile rising in her throat. Surely, Severus hadn't been a spy for Voldemort! "We still have to be cautious, Lucius. There is still valuable information for us. I'm in Dumbledore's inner circle, and I think it's best for us if I stay that way."
"Fine, fine. So, when's your little woman due home? She's got a nice set of legs, that one."
"Oh, not for a few hours yet." Severus had replied idly.
"Why do you even stay with her, Severus? It could be dangerous for you, her being such a goody-goody. You're not in love with her, are you?" Lucius had scoffed at him.
"Of course not! Honestly, Malfoy, you can be stupid. She's a nice piece of ass, that's all."
"Oh, is she?" Lucius started to smile, his thoughts turning pornographic. "If you ever tire of her, send her to me. I could have a lot of ...fun with that ass." Rosemarie thought she was going to vomit right there in the hall.
"Of course. She's still got some valuable information for us, but as soon as I've gotten what I can out of her, you're welcome to her." Severus' eyes were cold, and Rosemarie knew in that moment that he had never loved her. He was using her for information, that was all.
Rosemarie couldn't bear to listen anymore. She slipped quietly into their bedroom, and hid in the closet. She knew Severus would be leaving soon to meet her for dinner, and in the meantime, she could decide what to do. Sure enough, a few moments later, Rosemarie heard the front door slam and lock, as Severus headed for the park where they had agreed to meet each other. Rosemarie snuck cautiously out of the bedroom to make sure Severus had actually left. As soon as she had reassured herself that he had, she flew about the bedroom, packing her clothes and belongings. She didn't even leave Severus a note before she dragged her suitcase down the hall to the fireplace. Grabbing a fist full of Floo Powder, Rosemarie took one last look around the apartment. She took a deep breath, stepped into the fireplace and shouted "Diagon Alley!" as she released the powder.
Rosemarie took a room in the Leaky Cauldron, in exchange for which she cleaned rooms and waited on tables. It wasn't until she was alone in her empty, silent room that she allowed herself to cry. In spite of it all, she still loved him; Rosemarie wanted nothing more that to go running back to their apartment. The only thing that kept her away was the knowledge that he cared as little for her as she loved him. The next day, Rosemarie sent owls to her sister Helen and Dumbledore, letting them know she was fine and where she was. She told them she was no longer with Severus, and would they please not tell him where she was. Helen had replied back right away, telling Rosemarie that Severus was a git, and that if Rosemarie needed a place to stay, she could come live with her. Dumbledore sent Rosemarie a kind letter, telling her to come to him if she ever needed anything.
About a month after Rosemarie had fled to Diagon Alley, she noticed that she seemed to be getting sick, especially in the mornings and around food. More than one witch had their meal ruined by Rosemarie's perpetually vomiting stomach. She had finally gone to a Witch Doctor, who announced that in about eight months Rosemarie would be a mother. Rosemarie was terrified. How could she be a parent? She could barely take care of herself, let alone another person. Rosemarie was also painfully aware of the fact that she was going to be a single mother. And while the Wizarding community was forward thinking in many ways, there was still a certain stigma attached to unwed mothers. Also, a single room above the Leaky Cauldron was no place to raise a child, so Rosemarie did the only thing she could: she went to live with her sister.
Helen was very understanding, and had never said anything disparaging to Rosemarie. As the months wore on, the two of them spent their time decorating the baby's room, and doing other things to prepare for its arrival.
Rosemarie was just two weeks away from her due date, when Helen came to her with a letter. "Rose, honey. Professor Dumbledore wants to see you."
"How does he know where I...Helen. You told him. You told him I'm pregnant." Rosemarie shot her sister a look.
Helen shook her head. "I just told him you were here. He sent me an owl not long after you left Diagon Alley asking where you were, and if anything was wrong. He was so worried I had to tell him. Anyway, he wants you to go see him at Hogwarts." Helen squeezed her sister's arm.
"And how the hell am I supposed to get there?" Rosemarie retorted angrily. "I'm as big as a house, and there is no way I would fit on a broom."
"He set up a temporary Port-key port just outside the back door of the school. You can go there and back in one day. I don't want to here any arguing, Rosemarie!" Helen quelled her sister's protests. "You're going tomorrow, and that's final."
Rosemarie glared at her sister. "I'm going to go into damn labor at the school, and you don't even care." Rosemarie's face began to twitch. "Helen, what if I see him? He's teaching there now."
Helen's face softened, and she wrapped her arms around Rosemarie. "I know, sweetheart. But it'll be ok. Trust me, Rosie."
"Don't call me that!" Rosemarie pulled away angrily.
"Call you what?" Helen was puzzled.
"Rosie. I hate that name. You can call me Rosemarie or Rose, but don't ever call me Rosie again." Rosemarie angrily brushed a tear from her eye.
"Whatever you want, sweetheart." Helen hugged her sister again. "Come on, let's see about a cloak for you to wear to Hogwarts. We don't want someone mistaking you for a pumpkin."
A/N: I realize no one is reading this, so really, I'm just doing this for my own enjoyment. However, if you do happen to be reading this, a review would be nice. Hint hint.
Rosemarie was only able to bask in the glory of her verbal victory over Severus for the duration of her class. Almost as soon as the first year Ravenclaws were dismissed, a very put out Minerva McGonagall appeared in the doorway of the classroom. "Rosemarie." She said brusquely. "Might I see you in my office for a few moments."
Rosemarie felt the color drain from her face; from the looks McGonagall was giving her, Rosemarie knew she must have heard about her altercation with Severus earlier. "Of course, Minerva. When would you like me to come by."
"Now, if you don't mind." McGonagall gave her another stern look. Rosemarie nodded in response, and began to gather up her wand and books. She meekly followed Professor McGonagall down the hall to her office. Severus was waiting for them outside the door when they got there.
"Rosemarie." He smirked at her. "It looks as though you've gotten yourself into some trouble. For shame, you haven't even been here a full two months yet." Rosemarie just bit her tongue and glared at him in response. There was no way she dared say the things she was thinking while Minerva was standing there. She lifted her head slightly, and brushed past him, following Minerva into the office.
"Close the door behind you, Severus." Professor McGonagall said from her post behind her desk. Once he had, all of McGonagall's pent up anger and frustration came pouring out. "Of all the immature, infantile and just plain stupid things to do! Did you stop to think that there were students listening? Now the story of how Professor Bacall ripped Professor Snape a new one, then turned down his sexual advances is already spreading across the school faster than a blast ended skrewt shoots fire." Minerva McGonagall's face was bright red. "Could you please give me some semblance of a reasonable response as to why you chose to have such a...graphic fight in front of students?"
Rosemarie was speechless. Unfortunately, Severus was not. "Well, Minerva, I appreciate your acknowledging that Professor Bacall's behavior was completely unprofessional and unacceptable this afternoon?"
Professor McGonagall turned furiously to Snape. "What makes you think I was just talking to Rosemarie, Severus? This situation would never have presented itself if you hadn't felt the need to exorcise your personal grudge with Rosemarie by verbally abusing her niece. As far as Albus and I are concerned, you are as responsible for this situation as she is."
It was now Snape's turn to be speechless, while Rosemarie finally regained her powers of speech. "Minerva, I am so deeply and sincerely sorry for the situation I caused this afternoon. I acknowledge that I was completely out of line, and I should have waited for a more appropriate time to talk to Professor Snape. It won't happen again, I assure you."
"Thank you, Rosemarie." She paused for a moment. "I believe I will let this incident pass for now, without a report or penalty. I know you see what you've done wrong, and as you've assured me that it won't happen again, there shouldn't be a problem."
Severus was spitting with rage. "That's it? She causes a scene and mortifies me in front of my students, and she gets a slap on the hand? This is unacceptable, Minerva."
"Then perhaps you should think of that the next time you mortify one of your students, Severus." Professor McGonagall said coldly. "Professor Dumbledore has placed me in charge of this situation, and my decision on the matter is final. However, if you wish to go and tell Professor Dumbledore that you feel he is wrong, feel free." Minerva allowed her words to sink in before continuing. "That should be all for today. You both can go."
"Thank you, Minerva." Rosemarie said, before making her hasty exit. She didn't even stop to see if Severus had followed her out of the room.
Later that night, Rosemarie couldn't sleep; all she could do was replay in her head over and over again her fight with Severus. It bothered her that she was still attracted to him-she knew what he was why did she still have feelings for him? Rosemarie was pondering this question over and over again to herself, when there was a soft knock at her door. "Just a moment." She called, as she jumped out of bed, and pulled on her bathrobe. Rosemarie opened the door and stared at amazement at her visitor. "What in the name of all things sane and reasonable are you doing here?"
Severus Snape was standing on the other side of her door; his breaths were jerky and fast, and he seemed to be having trouble composing himself. His normally sallow face was flushed, and his eyes were dark and glittering. "I have had enough, do you understand?" His voice was low and strained. "Ever since you came back, this has been going on. You left me do you understand that? You left me. And I refuse...I will not feel this way!" he paused to catch his breath, and stared at her.
"Severus, what are you..." Rosemarie started to say before he lunged at her. Severus grabbed her tightly by the waist, and pulled her towards him. Rosemarie barely had time to react, before his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her as though he was releasing all of his pent-up emotions in that one embrace. Rosemarie was furious with him at first. "How dare he kiss me?" She thought to herself indignantly, before her resolve weakened, and she allowed herself to be kissed by a man, who frankly, she still found incredibly attractive.
Almost as quickly as he had begun, Severus ended the kiss. "I am through with you! This is it!" he spat at her, before turning on his heel, and retreating back down the corridor.
Rosemarie stood in the doorway in shock for a moment, before angrily slamming her door closed.
If Rosemarie couldn't sleep before, there was no way she would be able to relax now. For the first time in eleven years, she allowed herself to think back over her relationship with Severus. Even all these years later, it was still almost painful for her to think of it. Yet that angry kiss he had given her brought the memories flooding back.
Rosemarie had been 18 when she graduated from Hogwarts, and had gone straight away into a low-level job at the Ministry that Professor Dumbledore had secured for her. Rosemarie had been made to understand by Dumbledore that she was to keep an eye out for anything that might aid them in the fight against Voldemort. Severus also had a job at the Ministry, only he was much higher up on the food chain. There were rumors circulating that he was actually a Death Eater and a spy for Voldemort. Rosemarie, as a result, was wary of him, and avoided him as much as possible; she had overheard suspicious conversations he had with other suspected Death Eaters, and she had caught him going through some Top Secret files.
Finally, one day, her conscience led her to Professor Dumbledore; if there was a Death Eater within their inner circle, who knew what kind of secrets had been leaked. Professor Dumbledore listened to Rosemarie with a bemused expression on her face, as she told him about the rumors, and her own belief that they were true. "Rosemarie, I would never tell you this unless I had implicit trust in you." Professor Dumbledore had looked at her sternly. "Severus Snape was a Death Eater once."
"I knew it." Rosemarie had thought to herself.
"However," he continued "at my insistence, Severus has maintained his relations with other Death Eaters, in the hope that valuable information will be passed to us."
"He's a spy?" Rosemarie had asked incredulously. Professor Dumbledore had simply nodded, and Rosemarie had thanked him and gone on her way.
It was after that incident that Rosemarie's troubles began. Rosemarie had always found the idea of spying and reconnaissance, well, sexy. She had thought Severus attractive before, but had never allowed herself to act on her feelings because she thought he was untrustworthy. Now, the floodgates, one might say, were open. Rosemarie had fallen whole-heartedly for Severus Snape. She thought he had no idea who she was, until one day, without warning, he stopped at her desk to talk to her.
"Hello, Miss Bacall." His low, lazy voice drawled at her, as he perched on the edge of her desk. "You're not giving me the evil eye today."
"I...I'm sorry?" Rosemarie managed to stutter, in awe of the fact that he was sitting on her desk.
"I would have come over to talk to you much sooner, except for the fact that you always had the most terrible glare fixed on your face. Do I really look that awful?" He leaned in closer.
"No, it's not that, it's just that I'm..." Rosemarie felt her face getting red.
"...a hopeless termagant, who hates all men?" He smirked at her.
Rosemarie felt her embarrassment quickly turn into anger, and retaliated before she could even think. "That's a bit rich, coming from a man who still has something to learn on the finer points of personal hygiene and social skills." She gave his greasy hair a pointed look.
Severus had merely leered at her. "I didn't know this one had claws."
Rosemarie's eyes glittered, and her face turned a brilliant shade of red. "You are a disgusting chauvinist. Try treating women with respect sometime, it might get you a date."
"Speaking of which, how about dinner tomorrow night."
Rosemarie stared into his grinning face for a minute, before delivering her answer. "Get fucked." She said before returning to her work.
"Oh don't worry, Rosie, I intend to." He leered at her again, before leaving. That had been the start of Severus' forays into the art of wooing. He was determined to get Rosemarie to go out with him, and when his crude questions only got him smart answers, he began to send her candy, flowers, enchanted cards that sang at her when she opened them, everything.
He broke down her resolve in two weeks, and they were together for four years. Their relationship was highly sexual-in the early stages of the relationship it sometimes seemed to Rosemarie that it was all they did. Never, in her entire life, had she felt for someone the way she felt for Severus Snape. Once Rosemarie got past his nasty comments and smirk, she discovered that he was actually an incredibly sweet and romantic lover. When they were together, Rosemarie felt as though she was the most important thing in his life-he devoted his entire attention to her. As soon as their relationship settled down, and began to fit into an easy pattern, they began to open up to each other. Rosemarie told him about her family; how her father, a muggle, had been unable to get close to his children, and just distanced himself from them. Severus told her that he had become a Death Eater to please his father, but when he learned how truly evil Voldemort was, he had defected. There was nothing Rosemarie loved more than lying in bed with Severus, just talking. She felt so close to him, as though there was some kind of indiscernible bond holding them together.
Rosemarie had been 19 when Voldemort murdered the Potters, then fled after he failed to kill Harry. A perceptible change had come over Severus then. Before he had been sardonic, and at times nasty. Now when they fought, he could turn cruel. In all fairness, Rosemarie gave back to him as bad as he gave to her, but their fights were always emotionally draining. In spite of the change in the tenor of their relationship, the breakup didn't come until three years later.
Rosemarie had always had her doubts about Severus. She knew he had been a spy for Dumbledore, and as a result, had maintained contact with other Death Eaters. It was Severus' spying that had kept him out of Azkaban, but there were still times when Rosemarie suspected there were things that he wasn't telling her. He would disappear at odd times, and then never tell her where he was. She soon found out the reason for his secrecy. Rosemarie and Severus had been together nearly four years, and by that time and Severus had asked her to marry him. Dumbledore had offered Severus a job: teaching Potions at Hogwarts. While Severus really wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, he was willing to take what he could. The two of them decided to buy a house in Hogsmeade, so that they wouldn't have to be far apart. Rosemarie willingly quit her job at the Ministry, and agreed to take on the task of finding them a house. She had come home early one day, having found the perfect house for them: it was just on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, and seemed to be the ideal place for a couple just starting out. It even had the stereotypical white picket fence--granted the fence was charmed to attack intruders, but still, it was the idea of the fence. She had walked into their apartment happily, but soon stopped dead in the hallway. Severus was talking to Lucius Malfoy, through the fireplace, and there was something in his tone that made Rosemarie stop and listen.
"...got rid of the rest in Knockturn Alley this afternoon." She heard Lucius say. "Of course, there are a few choice items that I'm going to hang on to- have to have something to pass on to little Draco when he gets older!" He laughed.
"Just be careful, Lucius." Severus replied. "I don't want you getting caught with those things in your house, you know how damaging it will be to our cause, even though Voldemort has gone for now."
"Oh, come on, Severus. We have never had greater security than we have now. They caught most of us already, and those of us left have all been cleared. It was brilliant of you to pretend you were spying for that twit, Dumbledore."
Rosemarie could feel bile rising in her throat. Surely, Severus hadn't been a spy for Voldemort! "We still have to be cautious, Lucius. There is still valuable information for us. I'm in Dumbledore's inner circle, and I think it's best for us if I stay that way."
"Fine, fine. So, when's your little woman due home? She's got a nice set of legs, that one."
"Oh, not for a few hours yet." Severus had replied idly.
"Why do you even stay with her, Severus? It could be dangerous for you, her being such a goody-goody. You're not in love with her, are you?" Lucius had scoffed at him.
"Of course not! Honestly, Malfoy, you can be stupid. She's a nice piece of ass, that's all."
"Oh, is she?" Lucius started to smile, his thoughts turning pornographic. "If you ever tire of her, send her to me. I could have a lot of ...fun with that ass." Rosemarie thought she was going to vomit right there in the hall.
"Of course. She's still got some valuable information for us, but as soon as I've gotten what I can out of her, you're welcome to her." Severus' eyes were cold, and Rosemarie knew in that moment that he had never loved her. He was using her for information, that was all.
Rosemarie couldn't bear to listen anymore. She slipped quietly into their bedroom, and hid in the closet. She knew Severus would be leaving soon to meet her for dinner, and in the meantime, she could decide what to do. Sure enough, a few moments later, Rosemarie heard the front door slam and lock, as Severus headed for the park where they had agreed to meet each other. Rosemarie snuck cautiously out of the bedroom to make sure Severus had actually left. As soon as she had reassured herself that he had, she flew about the bedroom, packing her clothes and belongings. She didn't even leave Severus a note before she dragged her suitcase down the hall to the fireplace. Grabbing a fist full of Floo Powder, Rosemarie took one last look around the apartment. She took a deep breath, stepped into the fireplace and shouted "Diagon Alley!" as she released the powder.
Rosemarie took a room in the Leaky Cauldron, in exchange for which she cleaned rooms and waited on tables. It wasn't until she was alone in her empty, silent room that she allowed herself to cry. In spite of it all, she still loved him; Rosemarie wanted nothing more that to go running back to their apartment. The only thing that kept her away was the knowledge that he cared as little for her as she loved him. The next day, Rosemarie sent owls to her sister Helen and Dumbledore, letting them know she was fine and where she was. She told them she was no longer with Severus, and would they please not tell him where she was. Helen had replied back right away, telling Rosemarie that Severus was a git, and that if Rosemarie needed a place to stay, she could come live with her. Dumbledore sent Rosemarie a kind letter, telling her to come to him if she ever needed anything.
About a month after Rosemarie had fled to Diagon Alley, she noticed that she seemed to be getting sick, especially in the mornings and around food. More than one witch had their meal ruined by Rosemarie's perpetually vomiting stomach. She had finally gone to a Witch Doctor, who announced that in about eight months Rosemarie would be a mother. Rosemarie was terrified. How could she be a parent? She could barely take care of herself, let alone another person. Rosemarie was also painfully aware of the fact that she was going to be a single mother. And while the Wizarding community was forward thinking in many ways, there was still a certain stigma attached to unwed mothers. Also, a single room above the Leaky Cauldron was no place to raise a child, so Rosemarie did the only thing she could: she went to live with her sister.
Helen was very understanding, and had never said anything disparaging to Rosemarie. As the months wore on, the two of them spent their time decorating the baby's room, and doing other things to prepare for its arrival.
Rosemarie was just two weeks away from her due date, when Helen came to her with a letter. "Rose, honey. Professor Dumbledore wants to see you."
"How does he know where I...Helen. You told him. You told him I'm pregnant." Rosemarie shot her sister a look.
Helen shook her head. "I just told him you were here. He sent me an owl not long after you left Diagon Alley asking where you were, and if anything was wrong. He was so worried I had to tell him. Anyway, he wants you to go see him at Hogwarts." Helen squeezed her sister's arm.
"And how the hell am I supposed to get there?" Rosemarie retorted angrily. "I'm as big as a house, and there is no way I would fit on a broom."
"He set up a temporary Port-key port just outside the back door of the school. You can go there and back in one day. I don't want to here any arguing, Rosemarie!" Helen quelled her sister's protests. "You're going tomorrow, and that's final."
Rosemarie glared at her sister. "I'm going to go into damn labor at the school, and you don't even care." Rosemarie's face began to twitch. "Helen, what if I see him? He's teaching there now."
Helen's face softened, and she wrapped her arms around Rosemarie. "I know, sweetheart. But it'll be ok. Trust me, Rosie."
"Don't call me that!" Rosemarie pulled away angrily.
"Call you what?" Helen was puzzled.
"Rosie. I hate that name. You can call me Rosemarie or Rose, but don't ever call me Rosie again." Rosemarie angrily brushed a tear from her eye.
"Whatever you want, sweetheart." Helen hugged her sister again. "Come on, let's see about a cloak for you to wear to Hogwarts. We don't want someone mistaking you for a pumpkin."
