Rose Among the Thorns: The Third Evans Sister
By Jedi Blu, Lady at Large
Standard Disclaimer Found Here: I don't own any and all things/people/creatures/candy/ghosts/etc that you recognize from J.K. Rowling's world-renown series of books.
ITALICS: In this chapter, Italics are thoughts or letters. Thank you!
This is sorta like Filler-Material, and the next couple of chapters after this are more light-hearted. Please read the Author's Note at the bottom of the chapter to learn more.
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Happy Christmas, Severus
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Poppy Pomfrey walked into the infirmary the morning of Christmas Eve, bright and early, hoping her only holiday patient was still doing all right. She had been a bit surprised when her predecessor, Madame Florence Littleworth, had left everything completely in her hands. "After all," Florence had said brightly, "what better test of your skills than Hemitertian Fever?"
Poppy nearly dropped the tray of breakfast brought for the young Slytherin boy when she looked into his bed. For a moment, the strict part of her mind began to rise up in irritation, shock, and disapproval. Then Rose sighed in her sleep and moved a little closer to the boy she clung to, and on her sleeping face was a smile. As she studied the scene further Poppy felt herself smiling and sighed. She would never be strict enough for this job, of that she was certain. But the picture the two students made...it was endearing. Severus had both arms wrapped protectively around the younger girl, a stern frown on his face, while Rose looked for all the world like a pale, but happy little girl that needed the protection of the older Slytherin.
'And it isn't as if they're stark naked or anything,' Poppy realized, smiling a little. 'It certainly looks completely innocent.' Severus Snape slept fully clothed, and Rose Evans's winter nightgown was very modest. 'She must've woken in the night and been afraid,' Poppy thought, not realizing how close she came to guessing the truth. 'Poor dear.'
After silently checking Rose's temperature and putting out the medicine along with a note of instructions, Poppy Pomfrey crept to her office and shut the door. She would catch up on paperwork and not disturb the sleeping students, both of which needed their rest.
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Rose sat up in her own bed, smiling as Severus opened a letter for her. She had asked him to please read her mail from home, as she was too weak to even hold the letter up to eye level. He read the letter from her parents, even smiling at some of their teasing comments about her illness and the young man who seemed bent not to leave her side.
'How little they know,' Severus thought as he opened the next letter, from Petunia Evans. Petunia's letter was probably one of the worst he'd ever seen-not that he had seen many letters, no one really wrote to Severus. Still, she went on for several paragraphs about her own life, parties, boys, and it wasn't until the end of the letter she congratulated Rose on her recovery and hoped she'd be feeling better. Severus found it strange that two sisters like Rose and Lily could have a sister who wasn't exactly...the brightest candle. Lily's letter was long, detailing her amount of worry felt for her sister, her wishes that Rose would feel better, and praises for Severus Snape's constant vigilance and care. All the letters promised wonderful Christmas gifts for the next day as well.
"I'm glad they're all doing well," Rose said when the last letter had been folded back up.
Severus looked at her in surprise. "You're the one who's been ill."
Rose shrugged slightly and gave him another sleepy smile. "But I didn't know how any of them were for four long days and nights. I didn't know anything, not even about the time passing." She sighed and tried to maneuver herself to be a bit more comfortable. "Tomorrow's Christmas."
He looked down and away. "It's just another day." Severus opened one of the large tomes he had been reading and abruptly buried his nose in the book.
Rose sighed and pulled her blanket up to her chin. She needed to rest, and it was only moments before she slipped into a peaceful nap.
When he was sure that she was asleep, Severus carefully shut the book and crept towards Pomfrey's office. He knocked lightly then pushed the door open. "Madame Pomfrey? Tomorrow's Christmas, and I haven't gotten to do much shopping. I was wondering...."
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Rose opened her eyes, slowly, and stretched languidly. It took her a few moments to realize what day it was.... Her eyes snapped wide open, a bright grin spread across her pale face, and some color came into her cheeks. "Severus!" She looked to the other bed to see the boy sound asleep. She frowned. "Severus!" He only rolled over. Rose picked up one of her pillows and hurled it, with what strength she had, at his head.
Severus sat up abruptly. "Wha-?" He was reaching for the wand beside his bed.
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS, SEVERUS!" Rose shouted, beaming at him.
He glared at her. "You woke me up for that?" He rolled over.
For a moment Rose stared at him in surprise, then there was a look of dawning surprise in her eyes. "Oh. I should've guessed Christmas wasn't exactly...um...celebrated by your family."
He didn't move.
"There's something at the foot of your bed, Severus," she added. "Maybe you'd better look and see what it is."
He heaved a sigh of resignation, sat up and glared at the foot of his bed. His eyes widened slightly. Boxes were piled neatly in two little stacks at the foot of his bed, all brightly wrapped in green, silver, red, and gold. "There must be some mistake," he muttered, now narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Or this is a cruel joke."
"Or it's neither, because someone cares about you enough to give you Christmas presents," Rose intoned with a little laugh. She turned to the pile at the foot of her bed, which was about three times larger than Severus Snape's pile. But still. She always got presents this time of year, and she doubted he ever had.
Rose quietly began to go through the presents from her family, but watched Severus as he slowly picked up the first small box.
It was silver with green ribbon, Christmassy but still Slytherin colors, and rather squarish. Severus carefully untied the ribbon and opened the lid of the box with something akin to trepidation on his face. He was still expecting it was all a mean-spirited gag. His eyes widened, however, and lifted out a silver pocket watch on a long silver chain. He opened the watch carefully, and a look of bewilderment crossed his face. "To Severus Snape, For Looking After My Rose When I Could Not, 1975, Peter Evans," he read the inscription in a whisper. The watch was beautiful, and finally crafted, but definitely Muggle made.
Severus placed the watch aside, almost reverently, before cautiously picking up the next. He seemed to think at any moment he'd awake from this strange dream.
Mrs. Daisy Evans had bought him a black, wonderfully thick and new, winter cloak. It was very long, and would cover him completely. It had silver clasps in the shape of small serpents, and a card pinned to the fabric read, in cheery handwriting, "Happy Christmas, Severus! You've impressed and delighted our entire family, and we wish you the best of holidays! Thank you so very much for all the kindness you've shown our family. Enjoy your holiday! - Daisy Evans -"
There was a package from Petunia, in red and gold-he winced at the Gryffindor colors but opened it up anyway. The gift was, to his surprise, not entirely terrible. Ink wells of black, green, red, and gold were in the package along with a new Eagle Feather Quill. She had put sweets inside as well, which he wouldn't touch. The note with this was simple. "Happy Christmas, Severus Snape! -Petunia Evans-" Tiny hearts and flowers had been doodled all over the paper.
One of the larger boxes, and heavier ones, was from Lily, as the card on the outside of the box said. "Hope you get some use from these! Happy Christmas! Sincerely, Lily Evans." He found several books inside, all fairly interesting. There was an Auror Biography, a few Defense books, and even a book on Advanced Potions for the Advanced Wizard, which contained some things he had never even heard of before, which was saying something. There were chocolate frogs inside as well. He'd never heard of chocolate frogs, but they looked intriguing.
The last box was very light. He opened it up and looked inside-there was only an envelope at the very bottom. He took it out and opened it, no doubt in his mind as to who it was from.
Rose was pretending to thumb through a novel Petunia had sent her, even as she bit her bottom lip and watched him with some nervousness.
"Dear Severus, Happy Christmas! I've been planning this gift for a while, but it wasn't the easiest to give. You've been my only friend in Slytherin and a great help to me in all my studies. As stupid as it sounds, I feel I owe a lot to you. Thank you for taking an interest in me. For a Christmas Gift, if you would like to, I'd like to invite you to come home with Lily and I for the Easter Holiday. It wouldn't be awkward at all, I've discussed it with my parents, and we've all agreed it would be so much fun to have you along on our trip...we're going to Paris to see the Louvre. I know you'd like it, and Lily and I will be going to the Wizarding shops, offices, and markets. Think what a learning experience it would be for you! Please say you'll come. It would mean a lot to me, and I know you would enjoy it. Happy Christmas, Happy New Year! -Rose Evans-"
He now ran a hand through his hair and narrowed his eyes slightly. This was completely unexpected and not at all what he wanted. Go on a Muggle vacation with a predominantly Muggle family. True, it was a chance to go to Paris, something that would probably never come into his life again. The Louvre...several famous Wizard and Witch artists had works that were hung there, and the magic community in France was said to be very refined and less strict about selling certain...items.
He glanced over at Rose, who was fidgeting and looking at him openly now. "You don't have to come, Severus, if you'd rather not. But...but couldn't you please think about it? Lily has friends there and will be spending a lot of time with them, and Petunia's bringing a friend, and it would be such fun to bring you along and we could go to all sorts of places! I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to. And -"
"I'll come," he interrupted her, looking down at the pocket watch at his side. "It could be educational."
Rose stifled a laugh at that comment, then turned her attention back to her presents which were mostly opened. The small box that Lily had given Severus for her contained a silver locket, which had a picture of their parents inside. Novels from Petunia, clothing from her mother, candy and a charm bracelet from her father, money from her only living grandparent-Nana Norris, and school supplies from her sisters and parents as well. Home made cookies, cupcakes, pumpkin bread, and the like were in another care box from her mother. And then there was the last box, simply wrapped in green paper.
Curious, Rose opened the last box and then started to smile. Out of the box came an emerald green scarf, gloves, and a cap as well. Underneath it all was a simple white card with spidery handwriting that said, "So you don't ever kill yourself by getting a 'cold' again." There was no name, but it was obvious who it was from. Severus shifted on his bed, looking uncomfortable.
Rose put the cap on her head at a jaunty angle and wrapped the scarf around her neck with a grin. "Thank you, Severus! These are perfect!" Inwardly she was very touched, she knew he didn't have that much in the way of money and the scarf, hat, and gloves were all very lovely so they must have cost a pretty sickle.
"You're welcome," he mumbled. All the air went rushing out of his lungs as she sprung to the side of the bed and gave him a rather large hug. He froze, and most certainly did not return the spontaneous and utterly ridiculous gesture-she was growing far too close and comfortable with him, it seemed.
But when he looked down he saw her bright, sparkling green eyes looking up at him and an innocent, sweet smile on her face. "Happy Christmas, Severus."
Without even clenching his teeth, and smiling unconsciously, he mumbled back, "Happy Christmas, Evans."
I hope everyone enjoyed this sweet, fluff-filled chapter of Christmas cheer. Christmas in July! How nice! It's certainly not easy throwing this story together, but I'm having fun with it. The Louvre mention in this chapter is due to the fact that I had just finished reading The Da Vinci Code, it was a mere tip of my hat to that incredible work. :-) Oh, and for those AGONIZING over the question, "WILL ROSE AND SNAPE EVER GET TOGETHER?!?" The answer is yes. Want a rough guesstimate of when that'll happen? Probably…seven or eight chapters after this one. In Snape's Sixth Year.
To My Reviewers:
Nabenabe: I'm so glad you enjoyed your "Christmas" present. :-) Thank you so much for being a constant reviewer, and pointing out that slight error I made. If you read this chapter again on FF.N you'll see that's the only thing I really changed. Yes, The Da Vinci Code is a wonderful mystery/suspense book with a slew of facts that you'll just have to look up for yourself. I highly recommend it on the condition that you don't take it as a serious work about faith/Christianity. Remember, it IS fiction. Anyway, I'm glad you like the character/romance building between Severus and Rose. :-) Keep reviewing!
Elvesmagic010: Aw, you liked the previous fluff, did you? Good, good. Maybe you'll like this fluff too. And don't you just hate nightmares? Frightening things. This chapter kept me a lot more cheerful when I wrote it and I didn't agonize over it as much. It's basically more filler material that throws in a new plot bunny. Sorry to keep you waiting. ;-)
Loraliant Angelisa Snape: 'Great Chapter, Post Soon!' Humph. That's SOME criticism!!!! Actually, it's the criticism I almost like the most. ;-) Keep it coming. By the way…I'm doing the dance of joy (anybody watch that Angel re-run? Hehe.) because I'm on your favorites list. Gracias, mi amiga!
Stonecoldfox: Usually anything sweet makes Severus Snape very sick to his stomach. Thankfully, Rose is more like a bit of sweet-'n'-sour in his life. Yes, things are happening. I only ask that you keep in mind how old they are. They've still got a lot of growing up to do.
Illume: My Illegal-Read-While-At-Work reader! How good it is to hear from you! Believable and cute…goodness, that last chapter was better than even I thought. May you enjoy this one just as much. It's more light-hearted fluff, after all.
Lysaandi: My Severus (no, I don't own him, but I enjoy writing him) is about to have it rough, so please stick with him. He'll need the moral support you can give him. :::insert evil laughter here:::
SilverWingPhoenix: Thank you. It was sweet, wasn't it? And even Madame Pomfrey thought so! Of course we know that, in the future, she would've been much less lenient.
Toth8: Glad you liked it. Now, about those tears…. Yes, I'll admit, it was tough to get Severus to cry. He just doesn't DO that normally. If you'll notice I didn't dwell on that fact too much, it made me uncomfortable to write it. He really isn't a softy, and I don't intend to have him weeping at every turn. I'm not even sure the tears fit in that last chapter and may take them out when I repost the story without the author's notes. Enjoy this filler material.
NOTE: The next couple of chapters aren't hard-core drama/romance but they help the story along and will play a part later on. So read and enjoy, and don't worry, I'm not going all mushy on you. There's plenty of good, deep writing (if I do say so myself) ahead still. I should know, I'm eight chapters ahead of y'all. ;-)
Thank you for reading! Now please, be kind and drop in a review!
-JB-