Rose Among The Thorns: The Third Evans Sister

By Jedi Blu, Lady at Large

Disclaimer: Alice Longbottom gave Neville a gum wrapper, Sirius gave Harry a broom, Hagrid gave Harry a cake, McGonagall gave Hermione a time-turner, Mrs. Weasley gave her children sweaters, and JKR gave me all the rights to Harry Potter—but only in my dreams. :-) Enjoy the show, and remember who's really responsible for all of this.

Notes: Um…. Chocolate Frog, anyone?

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CHAPTER TWELVE: Severus Plots - 1975

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"Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail, and Prongs?" Rose said, sounding somewhat disgusted. "What on earth are they thinking?"

Lily shrugged. "They've taken to calling themselves that and it's catching on in our house; quite annoying, really. Though I will say that 'wormtail' is a particularly fitting name for Peter."

"Peter Pettigrew?"

"That's the one." Lily tugged back her rather wild hair into a pony tail before pushing up her sleeves.

They were in Greenhouse Five, looking at some of Professor Burgean's hellebore. Lily had heard a rumor that the plant could appear on the O.W.L.'s and, of course, she wanted to be prepared to deal with any and everything. The plant was highly poisonous, so she wore gloves as she gently prodded different parts of it.

"So," Lily began, focusing her eyes on the plant, "How's Severus been?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Fine, I suppose. It's not like he tells me much. He helps me with my homework, takes me to Dueling Club, drags me to Quidditch games, and keeps me out of trouble. How is he personally? I have no idea."

Lily frowned and moved away from the plant. "I think I've got what I need."

"Good. It's hot in here."

The sisters left the greenhouse talking about the term so far.

It was mid-October, and the year was a strange one. Rumors were beginning to sprout up about Dark Wizard and Witch activity, the likes of which hadn't been seen for years. In Slytherin there were more than rumors, though Rose didn't think she should worry her sister with what was being said. Lily was all ready preparing for O.W.L.'s, though they were a few months away, and Rose was excelling as well as she always did.

They parted ways at the castle entrance, Lily was heading for a study group by the lake and Rose was on her way to the library to do some research for a paper she had to write and turn in on the Werewolf Policies. It was for History of Magic, with Professor Binns—boring class—and she had to take a stand on being for or against the policies set by the Ministry of Magic.

No sooner had she sat down with a law book, however, than books dropped onto the table beside her. Rose looked up, and was not surprised to see Severus taking a seat next to her. "Werewolves?"

Rose nodded then turned back to her book. "It's actually quite fascinating. I just wish Binns could come up with a more interesting way of teaching. He just stands there and drones on and on and on. Quite annoying."

Severus grunted what sounded like an agreement and then pulled out his own books to flip through.

As he was reading Rose glanced at him out of the corner of her eye; Severus had continued to sprout upwards and was now quite tall, though still very thin. He was a very gangly fifteen year old, and probably not the most handsome boy his age. His nose looked different than it had the year before. It looked...hooked. And there was a bump in the middle that hadn't been there. His nose had been broken some time during the summer; she had asked him about it on the train as they sat in what had become their usual compartment. He had snarled that if she had half a mind she'd be able to guess at exactly what happened. His hair was longer and still ill-kept, now brushing his shoulders. His face was pale; it did not look as if he had seen the sun all summer. Still...there was something about him that Rose thought showed some strength or some...some power that normally couldn't be found in one his age. Perhaps it was his eyes...?

Severus's eyes slanted as he read, then he turned his head ever so slightly. Rose blushed and quickly averted her eyes down to her book, embarrassed to be caught staring.

To her surprise, Severus cleared his throat and sat up straighter. "Evans."

She looked up at him, raising her eyebrows. "Hm? Yes, Severus?"

"There is an All Hallow's Eve Masquerade this year, instituted by Headmaster Dumbledore. He apparently wants to encourage social activity between the Houses."

Rose nodded; she along with everyone else knew about the coming event. Lily had encouraged her to come and she would help her with a costume. "I know. Lily's trying to talk me into going and that's all Bella, Kleonike, and Catalina can talk about. I haven't gotten any sleep since it was announced, they stay up so late gossiping about it and their escorts. Bella conned Rodolphus into asking her, Catalina's going with Mark Davis, and Kleonike is still working on a Ravenclaw. It's absolutely absurd the way they talk -"

Severus interrupted her by clearing his throat again. "Perhaps. But if it's an event that the students are being pressured into attending we might as well attend with someone we aren't completely annoyed with, don't you agree?"

"I suppose so," Rose answered, now becoming suspicious. "Are you going Severus?"

He frowned. "Yes, but for my own reasons."

"Oh."

They sat in silence for a moment with him glaring down at his textbook and she still trying to puzzle out what it was he was getting at. "Severus?" He looked up, still frowning. "Would you like to go with me to the Masquerade?"

His expression started to clear, but then immediately darkened again. "Go with you?"

Rose quickly rephrased it. "I mean, would you mind if I tagged along with you? I'd prefer to spend the evening with you rather than with a bunch of immature, giggling snobs and their dates. I promise I won't bother you too much," she finished, trying to appear contrite but only managing to look slightly amused. It was amazing how well she had come to understand Severus and his pride, and mostly through observation.

Now a slow, creeping smile did appear on the boy's face and he allowed the smile to stay in place for several moments. "I don't suppose I would mind that. I'll meet you in the Common Room, half an hour after everyone else has left." He abruptly stood, gathering his things. "I need to go." He hesitated before walking away from the table, suddenly looking slightly uncertain. "I -"

"Well, hello, Snivellus!" a voice from behind interrupted.

Rose rolled her eyes and shook her head, even as Severus's face darkened considerably.

Sirius Black came and stood next to the table with his arms crossed and a cocky smile in place. "Don't try anything, Snivvy, Madame Pince is standing just behind us and James is one table over. Besides, we wouldn't want to hurt so many of your precious books in the crossfire would we?"

Before Severus could retort Rose made a very un-ladylike snort. "You're such a bully, Black. Don't you ever get tired of threatening people?"

His hackles seemed to rise at that. "I'm at least an honorable Gryffindor rather than a ... dodgy Slytherin."

"What do you want?" Severus managed to get out between his teeth.

Black glanced disdainfully at the other boy, who had at last caught up to him in height. "Nothing to do with you, luckily; I'm here to talk to Evans."

"What makes you think she wants to talk to you?" Severus asked, every inch of him becoming tense like a bowstring.

"I've got to be a better conversationalist than you, Snivellus. She's got to get tired of talking about Dark Magic and your chemistry set once in a while." He narrowed his eyes at the Slytherin. "It's a private conversation, Snape."

"I'd prefer not to speak to you in private," Rose broke in, standing quickly between the two. She realized as she looked up at one and then the other that she was about as effective as a mouse standing between two fighting lions. She was half their size. "I'm not sure I trust you," she continued.

"Fine." Black sat down at the table and suddenly became all charm. He was definitely very good-looking, Rose thought as she took him in. Very aristocratic, with thick dark hair shorn short and tanned skin from his time playing Quidditch. He had blue-gray eyes and a physique that—for a fifteen year old—was very impressive. "There's a ball coming up at the end of October, for All Hallow's Eve. I was wondering if you might like to come with me. Moony is planning on asking Ella Frell, one of your sister's friends, Wormtail is asking Bertha Melay though I doubt anyone would say yes to him, and Prongs was going to ask Lily. I thought you might like to spend time with the rest of us. We'd have fun."

Unbeknownst to her, Severus had begun to look ill just behind her and his eyes dropped down to his feet.

"No thank you, Sirius, though that was a nice offer," Rose answered without hesitation. "I'm not in the habit of keeping company with the school bullies, no matter how charming or rich some of them might be." She gave him a rather chilly smile. "You shouldn't let Lily put you up to such tricks anyway. Ask someone you really want to take."

The look on Sirius Black's face was priceless, it was a mixture of disappointment and shock. "Lily? She didn't have anything to do with it."

Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure I believe that. Even if she didn't, I find it hard to believe that a member of the Noble House of Black would ask a little mudblood out on a date who is two years younger than he."

He had winced at the crude term but now came to his feet looking very much offended. "I'm not like the rest of my family, as Bellatrix has probably told you. I was asking you to the ball because I thought you would enjoy spending the evening with your sister and her friends and it would be a chance to get to know you. You, Rose, despite your unfortunate Sorting, are a very interesting individual." He shrugged slightly. "But if you don't want to go, fine. I'll find someone else just as easily." Without another word he turned and stormed away.

Rose watched him, and allowed herself to relax as he disappeared behind a few shelves. "That was odd." She turned around to address Severus. "I don't think he expected to be turned down. He's such a—" she broke off when she realized Severus was looking at her with wide eyes. "What?"

"You don't want to go with Black?" he asked, slowly.

"Um. No. I don't want to go with him. I thought I had just made that clear." She shrugged. "First because I'm all ready going with a friend, and second because Sirius Black is just a bully, and third because I'm certain Lily plays a part in this somehow. Even if they're just using me as a date so Lily feels obligated to go with Potter. He's been after her for a year or more now and she thinks he's an arrogant idiot. I doubt she'd go with him to the Ball unless I was going with one of his friends." She tipped her head to the side and caught the look of relief that briefly crossed his face. "Severus, did you think I would go with him even after I said I wanted to go with you?"

He glanced away. "The Black family is well-known for wealth, good-looks, and charm. Going with him would have given you some status and, well, most would have said yes to him despite the circumstances."

"You under-estimate me," she responded, frowning. "Sirius is a bully and I don't care who his family is." She gathered up her things and glared at Severus. "I'll see you later, Severus." She left, obviously upset over something, but Severus didn't have the wits to ask what or why. His pride had all ready been stung and he wasn't about to damage it any further. He left the library a few moments later, lost in thought.

Severus Snape was not, just as Rose suspected, paying attention to her out of the kindness from his heart. No, Slytherins rarely did anything because of their hearts. Rose was a quick learner and a smart student, which were benefits to associating with her. She was also someone who truly belonged in Slytherin—she did what it took to get what she wanted. She was the sister of Lily Evans, his biggest rival when it came to scores, dueling, and most other subjects. He and Lily were very closely matched; it was difficult to get something over her. And through Lily came James Potter and his gang, the Gryffindors who made his life miserable. Potter would, Severus had no doubt, eventually win Lily's interest. If Potter got one of the sisters, and Severus had the other, there would be a means of going through Rose and Lily to get at James. It was manipulative, but it didn't matter. Slytherin was made for people like Snape. People who thought ahead.

But lately Severus was finding himself questioning his plan as too far-fetched. He had been tempted to drop association with Rose at the beginning of the school year. It was his fifth year, he was running out of time to prove himself. He had other stresses in his life. His father, mother, O.W.L.'s, Dueling Club, and ... and other small projects he was looking in to.

Still, he argued with himself, having an ally that was the likes of Rose Evans could only be a benefit to any of his own plans. Even if Potter and Lily Evans never became an issue, even if he outstripped Lily Evans in the end, the younger sister could be a benefit.

He would continue the association with Rose Evans a little longer; who knew what could come of it?

Hope this explains, somewhat, why on earth our sour Snape would even bother with a little third year like my Rose. :-) If not, don't worry, more will come to light…eventually. I do hope I still have some readers out there, I haven't heard from some of you in a while. Enjoy the summer!

To My Readers Who Actually Review:

Elvesmagic010: :::Munches cookies happily::: Thank you so much for braving my dragon and reviewing! Sirius Black is endearingly annoying, if such is possible, to me. I love him because he's had a complex life and I can't stand him for being such a bully. But you know what? He's actually my favorite character, so writing this side of him is not all that easy. So, enjoy the show. ;-) And here, have a chocolate frog, on me!

Jess: Thank you for the high praise. :-) To save you from checking every day, though, I'll tell you now that I usually try to post once every week, generally on a Tuesday. I'm not exactly amazing, but I try. Enjoy your read.

Loraliant Angelisa Snape: Glad the last chapter made it to you, and I hope it gave you pleasure. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Lysaandi: Everyone seems to have praises for Rose's name. Good. That means she's doing her job and keeping everyone properly aware of her nature. Remember, Rose loves the dark.

Stonecoldfox: Snape scares me. He's very difficult to figure out and I'm highly tempted to write about his home life. It's obvious it's not a very good one. Glad to hear from you, don't go quiet now!

Loretta: In this latest chapter Lily and James, along with our other '70's cannon characters, are in their fifth year. In the last chapter they were in their fourth. I'm not sure I'm staying right with the timeline JKR has alluded to—I know I'm not—but I'm trying to keep it close.

Thank you all! Remember, Reviewing Makes Me Happy—And Keeps The Dragons Away.

-JB-