Rose Among The Thorns: The Third Evans Sister

By Jedi Blu, Lady at Large

DIS CLAIM TO FAME: The universe of Harry Potter belongs not to me, and was the wonderful idea of J.K. Rowling, who has my admiration and respect—'cause she's writing for the real world.

This story was written mostly before OotP came out. I'll be tweaking it here and there, and have posted it so that it occurs mostly in Harry's 5th year. The goal of this story, however, is to focus on young Severus Snape and Rose Evans. Thank you for your time.

CHAPTER ONE: ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Great Hall was filled to capacity with old students and the newly-sorted first years, the chatter was lively, loud, and excited despite all the tragedies of the year before.

'To be young,' thought Dumbledore, 'to let such trouble just roll off of you like water off a duck's back...' He smiled a bit to himself, then let his eyes wander over to the Gryffindor table, to a set of three students. Harry Potter sat there, staring into his empty plate, smiling only faintly as his friends laughed and joked around him. Ronald Weasley sat beside him, nudging him once in a while to pull him out of his thoughts and into the current conversation—his Prefect's badge glittering in the light. His appointment had been one which startled a few people in his house—it wasn't natural to give him so much responsibility, some said. Hermione Granger was there as well, her own badge shining brightly, steadfastly going over a list of some sort she held in her hand. She was also to be a Prefect this year, she took such responsibility very well, and had seemed to expect it. And...did his eyes deceive him, or was that Ginny Weasley cheerfully talking to Harry, without blushing at all, trying hard to get him to talk? 'Poor boy,' he thought, shaking his head slightly, 'he has such a long way to go yet, and still there is so much he does not know.'

Dumbledore stood as McGonagall took her seat after putting the sorting hat away, and he cleared his throat, gaining attention. "Students, welcome back to another year of Hogwarts Schooling!" A round of applause, stamping, and cheers broke out, but anyone who had been at previous opening ceremonies would have said everything was more subdued than usual. "As you all know, this year several more security measures have been put into place. I am sorry to tell you all this, but there will be absolutely NO Hogsmeade weekends for anyone, unless emergency makes it necessary, and even then all persons must be accompanied by teachers to leave the school grounds." Groans followed that. "There will be absolutely NO entering into the Forbidden Forest, even for detentions," he cast a glance at Snape, then Filch who stood in a corner. "No one will leave the castle after dark, even to be on the school grounds. No students will leave dormitories after the Head of House has taken roll. Each House may set up their own rules, as always, for lights out. Emergency contact bells have been put into each House common room, each dormitory, and each classroom in case of any Dark occurrences."

He sighed, and looked down at his hands placed on the table. The room had grown silent as the students realized he was being completely serious on all accounts, and that he had not even mentioned last year's events. Well, now it came. "Cedric Diggory will always be remembered here at Hogwarts, as will the events of last year. My dear children, we have entered Dark Times once more, no matter what the Ministry is saying to calm people down. That is their job, to keep the citizens of the wizarding world from panicking. In this school we will not hide the truth from you, the threat is very real. The school remains open only because I have complete faith that the Dark Lord will not attack this school until his power has grown to full strength. You are all safe here, your parents know this. In times past, the Ministry has ear-marked the school as a safe-haven for the entire wizarding world to flock to, should certain events transpire. This speech has grown long, and I have grown weary. I put to you the special request to stay within the bounds that have been set for you this year."

His eyes first traveled to the Slytherin table, where scowls and glares met him, and then to the Hufflepuffs who looked at him with wide, innocent eyes, to the Ravenclaws who remained stoic and paid strict attention, to the Gryffindors...he could never be sure of the reaction there beyond a few stereotypes of the House. For the most part, the Gryffindors were paying attention, with determined looks on their faces and in their eyes, except for a very few that shared expressions from the other houses. Only one pair of eyes from that table was not riveted to the Headmaster, the green orbs still rested on the plate in front of him...Harry Potter was still struggling within himself...those wounds would indeed take time to heal.

"I will let the Deputy Head Mistress finish the announcements," Dumbledore finished solemnly, retaking his seat as McGonagall stood. Like it or not, he was growing too old for matters such as this.

Minerva ran over the more trivial rules, the simpler things, and then she came to introducing the staff. There was an empty chair, but there were also more chairs than usual. "I would like you all to note the fact that we have a larger teaching staff this year, and you will all notice when you get your schedules that newly required classes have been added to your daily workload. Some of these classes are Healing and Curing Dark Spells and Blights, to be taught by Professor Balmer a highly trained medi-wizard." An older, distinguished looking wizard stood and bowed respectfully, adjusting his spectacles with a smile to peer at the students. "Another is a required Self-Defense Class, much like a Dueling Class, to be conducted by Sir Roberts." A younger wizard, with blonde hair and mustache, dressed in black, stood and bowed while offering all the females in the room a charming smile. "A special History of Inner-Wizarding Wars, only required for second and third years, to be taken on by Madame Annals." A woman that could have been McGonagall's twin, had she not had such a bright smile, waved cheerily to the students before retaking her seat. "And a class about Interactions with Other Species shall be taught by one of our own former students, Charles Weasley." A wild amount of applause followed from the Gryffindor table, while the Slytherins remained silent, and everyone else was somewhere in-between.

"As you all have noticed," Minerva continued when the noise had subsided, "our vacant chair belongs to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I am sorry to announce that she has not arrived yet, but will be here in time for classes tomorrow. Professor Evans-" a few pairs of eyes in the room snapped up in shock, a few eyebrows lifted as well, "—has quite an experienced background and will hopefully fill this ... difficult position more aptly than previous professors." She continued as if the announcement were nothing at all, while the entire hall was ready to break out into heated debate about the merits of a female DADA teacher and begin rumors about who she was and why she was late. "You will notice quite a few people, and creatures, patrolling the halls this year. Please pay them no mind and let them go about their business, they are here to protect you and should not be distracted. They will also enforce school policy and rules. They are only to be addressed as 'Sir, Madame' and in cases where gender is unknown as 'Guardian.' Thank you, enjoy your meal."

The plates magically filled, as did the cups, and the excited chatter of the students began.

"Professor Evans?" Ron Weasley muttered around a mouthful of roast. "Never 'eard of 'er. Reckon she's a prude, a joke, or will actually be decent?"

"A female Defense teacher...that's hardly what I expected," Hermione said after swallowing Pumpkin Juice. "Perhaps someone has finally come to their senses around here."

That began one of the famous Ron/Hermione battles, which lasted through-out dinner, and managed to pull Harry out of his thoughts.

Up at the professors' table the conversation was more subdued, and stayed far away from the subject of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But the thoughts of one professor in particular would not wander any further than that announcement...

He had been thinking of her just a few weeks ago, for the first time in years, and now she was coming. 'She's alive,' he thought, struggling to keep a calm exterior. 'Alive, after all these years of not hearing from her, or seeing her... Where has she been?' It took a great deal of self-control to keep from running to Dumbledore's chair and demanding answers...no wonder Dumbledore had not told him who the new teacher would be. Had he known, he would have protested.

Rose Evans...at Hogwarts again...would the school survive? Would he survive?

Severus Snape took a breath, and turned his attention away from his thoughts long enough to tartly answer a question Ben Balmer had asked, then pretended to be absorbed by his food. 'Rose...the black sheep of her family, the school, and the Death Eaters...' His lips slowly curled into a sadistic smile. 'I can't think of anyone more suited for the job.'