Rose Among the Thorns: The Third Evans Sister
By Jedi Blu, Lady at Large
Standard Disclaimer Found In Previous Chapters
Italics are thoughts, emphasized words, or letters.
NOTE: Say b'bye to Rose! And our sojourn into the past….
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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: Rose's Decision
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It was getting much cooler; there was a chill in the wind. Rose stood outside of the cottage, wrapped in her cloak, breathing in the fresh, crisp air.
It was the end of September, it was quiet.
Severus hadn't been home in a week. After their last argument he had stormed out of the door and disappeared into the night, not giving any indication of where he was going or when he would return.
Rose couldn't even remember what the argument was about. They argued about everything these past weeks, and it always led back to the baby. She was at fault for not telling him, he was at fault for not saving her.
The worst of it was that she could remember what she had shouted as he flew out of the house in a rage that last evening…. "I hate you!" she had cried, her heart hurting and cracking to thousands of pieces within her.
He hadn't looked back or even indicated that he hear her.
She hadn't been summoned since that day in August, that day that finally killed a part of Rose. She felt as if she moved within a dream now, neither here nor there. She continued her work, but only because her hands knew the motions now. The Dark Lord had cut down her resources, she and Severus now made only just enough coin to live day to day. They were being punished.
Oberon swooped down into the meadow and came up, clutching a field mouse in his claws. He went to the trees to devour his treat.
It was silly to have an owl now, or so Rose thought. She never sent letters and she had forbidden Oberon to bring her anything from her sister or her brother-in-law.
Slowly she went back inside, as the sun had began to set. She moved slowly, lethargically, and went back down to the laboratory to work.
Around dawn she came up to check the time, and the bed, but found both to be disappointing.
Rose forgot to eat; she went back down to the laboratory.
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October fifteenth found Albus Dumbledore seated at his desk, his fingers steepled together before him, his eyes lowered to the polished surface of the magnificent piece of furniture.
"I didn't know who else to turn to," the young woman before him whispered. "I didn't know what to do."
He looked up, carefully and quickly taking in her appearance before saying a word. He had been surprised to find her outside the tower of his office, and even further surprised by her looks. The young woman, nineteen years of age, looked haggard and worn over by the cares of the world. She was pale, her face was narrow and her cheekbones showed sharply through her skin. There was no color to her, even her eyes which had once been a dark, lovely green were now dim and empty. Her hands trembled where they rested in her lap, her wrists were too narrow. Limp, auburn hair fell down her back and was not all the glossy, lustier silk it had once been. She looked like a woman twice her age, or much older. And it did not take Legilimency to see that her heart had been shattered.
"I believe your story," Dumbledore said, softly. "And I can see your pain clearly in your eyes. My dear Rose, you have suffered enough." He came around the desk and took one hand out of her lap and held it carefully. "Rest here for tonight, I will make sure you are undetected. You will get a proper meal. Tomorrow we can discuss what needs to be done."
Rose Evans Snape stood, feeling weak and starved for more than food. "Thank you," she whispered. She wrapped her arms about herself, as if to ward off a chill. She was wearing Severus's cloak…the same he had carried her home in on that rainy night in early August.
Severus hadn't come home since the argument in September. She had sent Oberon out looking for him, she had tried to find him on her own, but he was gone without a trace. He was avoiding her and never returned the notes she tried to send.
They weren't right for each other, or so she tried to convince herself. Especially after she had gone to the Ministry of Magic and filled out the Severance papers. Into an envelope she had put those along with her wedding ring. She hadn't even included a note. She left the papers on the table in the kitchen, packed her clothing into a bag and had left for Hogwarts.
Albus Dumbledore had always, always promised his students that Hogwarts would be a safe-haven to them, and she had taken him at his word. He was, perhaps, the only wizard in the world who would not condemn her.
She had left Oberon with strict orders to not seek her out. She had told the owl in plain terms that he no longer belonged to her, but belonged to Severus. He had, in the usual manner of his species, understood.
Only briefly had she entertained the possibility of seeking out her sister, but then remembered her own harsh words to Lily Potter. That left but one person in the world she knew she could trust, and gaining admittance to Hogwarts was not easy. But she had done it and she had hidden near gargoyle statue that led the way into Albus Dumbledore's office.
After telling him everything that she was guilty of, every detail of her problems with her marriage, he had believed her and taken her under his wing.
Now the wizard would carefully help her find a way to escape the Death Eaters.
But it would take a lot of planning.
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"Florida," Rose whispered, wincing. "It's so far away."
"Exactly," Albus Dumbledore said softly. "Outside of the range I predict Voldemort has laid down for his followers. But you're not just going to Florida, my dear. You're going to the Ever Glades. A beautiful, dangerous place that at times is other worldly. At times it is other worldly. I have a friend there, a very dear friend, who will know how best to help you."
The young witch looked down at her lap, then at her thin hands. "And I will hide?"
"You will grow," he corrected, offering her a sad smile. "And you will, I predict, become a very proficient lady in those lands. There is a community of wizards and witches there, placed especially there by their government, to experiment and practice magic that is beyond anything you have ever experienced. It will do you good."
She swallowed again. "How long?"
"Until you feel you must come back here. You are the only one who will know when you are ready. I will correspond with you, I will tell you what goes on here. But, from what you've said, the Death Eaters will not give up so easily on you."
"They'll hunt me down," she agreed, quietly. "They'll kill me. Torture me. I don't know what else they might do to me." She smiled, bitterly. "And no one will stop them."
Albus Dumbledore sighed and looked at the young woman, still so much a girl, with sorrow in his eyes. She had held such promise as a student, and he knew her future could still be bright and beautiful. But before she could have a future she would have to deal with the past and make use of the present. She needed to grow and experience a life away from the shadow of Lily and scorn of Petunia. She shouldn't even have Severus Snape to rely on, but should learn to deal with the world in her own terms. Rose would surely be killed by the Death Eaters, if she stayed, sooner or later now that she had been ear-marked by the so-called Dark Lord as a potential traitor.
"Then they must be given a reason to believe you are not a threat to them."
"The only way to do that is to kill me," Rose responded, bitterness still in her tone, lacing every word. It would take years for her to speak without that tainting.
Dumbledore nodded, a slight smile touching upon his lips. "Then we had better kill you."
Her eyes snapped up to his, surprise etched upon her features. She understood him a heart-beat later and she relaxed. "You...want me to fake my death?"
"Yes. If you want a chance to start over, to begin a new life, than first you must end the old one."
She hesitated an instant, in her mind a pair of black eyes, bottomless and deep as an ancient well, stared down at her. If the Death Eaters were to think her dead, then Severus would think her dead. But did she care anymore?
Rose didn't know.
"Then I'll make it an interesting end," she whispered. "And I think I know how."
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THE DAILY PROHPET
October 22nd, 1980
'Death Eaters Defecting?'
By Mike Mickles
Yesterday afternoon aurors and many other Ministry officials
were swarming all over the Victoria Train Station, interviewing
many a Muggle to only then eradicate their memories to keep
the story from spreading.
Alastor Moody, a leader among aurors, was on the scene,
leading a team of aurors in a search over the area.
"Blasted media, get out of my way!" was all he was
able to comment.
Reports reached the Ministry Law Enforcement at
nine a..m. about a Death Eater attack at one of the trains in one
of the lesser rail stations--the now horribly familiar green
lighted skull was still floating in the air when officials arrived.
There was only one casualty, reportedly Rose Evans
Snape was killed in a blast after being accused by a woman in a
Death Eater costume and mask of betraying He-Who-Must-Not-
Be-Named.
Selective Ministry members are saying they had
been expecting a Death Eater attack in that area and they suspected
that Rose Evans Snape thwarted the attack and was punished
for it.
Only shreds of clothing and remnants of a broken
wand positively identified as belonging to Rose Evans Snape have
been found.
Rose Evans Snape, still an unconfirmed Death Eater,
was a recent graduate of Hogwarts and bride to Severus Snape, only
eighteen years of age. Mister Snape could not be reached for
comment though a Ministry Source says he will be brought in soon
for questioning.
Speculation at the moment is that Rose Evans Snape
was a Death Eater and did, in fact, defect. Reports are coming in
that she was seen with James Potter, a wizard adamantly against
You-Know-Who, her brother-in-law two months before the attack.
It is believed that Rose Snape passed information to Potter and was
found out.
James and Lily Potter could not be reached for comment
and it is suspected they have gone underground for a time.
Dare we hope that there are others on His side of the
line working against Him?
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Dearest Lily,
You will soon be hearing many terrible things about me. They are probably all true. You will also be hearing one thing very untrue. Speak to Albus Dumbledore when you receive this, as I do not want you to suffer unnecessary heart-break. He has a document you must sign, one which will keep Harry forever from my grasp. I am not to be trusted, Lily, no matter how much you may still love me. Keep me a secret, my dearest sister. Your Rose has become naught more than a painful thorn and thistle to all who have ever cared for her. I don't want to bring anyone else pain.
I send you my heart and love, for what little they are worth.
-Rose-
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Severus exited the Ministry building late in the afternoon and was immediately assaulted by the scent of rain upon the air—another fall storm would soon be blowing through. He pulled the hood of his cloak up before apparating away to the only place he could think of—the town just outside of Hogwarts, the village known as Hogsmeade.
He walked the distance up to Hogwarts, staring at the path beneath his feet; his expression was cold and seemingly uncaring about the world around him. He was dressed in all black, a color which he had always worn but now had a purpose to.
'She can't be dead,' he told himself unrealistically. 'I would know if she was dead.' But would he? Severus had never believed in 'bonds' between people, in the ability to connect with someone despite distance or silence and understand what they were doing or where they were.
Perhaps he was just being ridiculous, but he couldn't shake the feeling, or the foolish idea, that Rose was alive.
Bellatrix Lestrange had been in charge of the operation which Rose had interrupted at the train station in London. Lestrange had been the one to report to the Dark Lord all that had happened including her murder or Rose. Bellatrix was not one to let people stand in her way and she had treated Rose accordingly. One thing was for certain—if Severus ever laid hands on Bellatrix Lestrange he would snap her like a twig and curse her into oblivion.
He reached into his cloak and briefly rested hi hand on his chest where, underneath his black suit coat, there was a thin silver chain and hanging from that chain was a Mythriel ring.
He was a fool to be so sentimental over such a trinket, but—when Severus had seen the Severance papers on the table and had been unable to find his wife when he returned home one night, he had snatched up the ring with the intention of throwing it out the window. He had hesitated, looked at the piece of delicate jewelry, and put it back down on the papers.
The papers had, and would, remain unsigned.
Dimly he wished he had told Rose, long ago, about his missions. About the missions for the Dark Lord and...the missions for Rose. The Potters had narrowly escaped the Dark Lord three times...but only because an anonymous black owl would arrive at their window with a note of warning carefully tied to its claw.
If Lily Potter was killed by the Dark Lord...well, Rose never would have forgiven her husband for not saving the day. Rose would've been broken-hearted.
But when his loyalty to his wife had counted the most he had been rendered motionless, he had been unable to fight.
That horrible, ugly mark that ran through most of the Snapes had finally reared its ugly head in his life: cowardice.
But the baby....
Why hadn't she told him about the baby? Why?
Now there was never to be a child, only a barely-grown fetus sunk into the earth at the foot of a disgusting muggle's grave.
Severus had to stop, he had reached the gates of Hogwarts.
He felt nauseated with guilt and fear, but he knew this was his last alternative. This was his last chance to do something honorable. He had caused so much pain...if it took his life he would give the memory of Rose Evans a fair tribute and do what he could to put down the Dark Lord who had harmed her so greatly, and whose cause had destroyed her in the end.
The only person in the world who cared for him, who perhaps even loved...?
It didn't matter. She was gone. One way or another, Rose was gone and would never come back.
But he still had to do right by her. He would. And Albus Dumbledore would help him find a way.
No sneak preview to be offered until further notice. ;-)
To My Most Wonderful Reviewers:
Evil Duckie of the BlackLagoon: It seems you weren't the only one in tears after that last chapter! Hopefully this chapter restored a smile and some hope, but I'm not banking on that. :-) Thank you for your kind support!
Rae Roberts: Nothing wrong with Lemony's work being inspiring! As you can see, we're on a first-name basis—or I wish we were. What's the real name of that author? I can't seem to remember…I need to look that up. But anyway. As always your compliments and criticism meant a lot to me. I'm glad you're enjoying this—I just hope you're enjoying my updates as much as I enjoy yours (hint, hint)!
Lysaandi: Severus Snape getting what he wants?! Are you insane?! I do hope so, because I certainly am. Stick around. Things always look blackest just before dawn.
Emikae: I must admit I was a little shocked by your review. :-) Your exact quote: "The baby had to die." Hehe. It just read funny, but you're right. It's an essential part of the plot and it nearly became a gaping plot-hole. (shudder)
Rinny Z: Goodness, gracious! My friend, patience is a virtue!
Zaq: Thank you…I think. :-)
Loraliant Angelisa Snape: Are you going to see the SoUE movie with Jim Carrey? They couldn't have chosen a better Count Olaf, in my opinion. And, my dear, I answer every review you leave me. :-) You're one of my most loyal reviewers!
Dnd4ever: Eew…Use the baby in a potion? I'm glad I didn't think of that. See you 'round!
Lydia: We've discussed this all ready.
Kiss-of-cuteness: It was unbelievable, wasn't it? I was surprised at Severus myself—I can't believe he went along with my plot. He actually likes Rose a lot, you know.
Maya)-sleepy: Very sad. I'm glad it touched you.
InsaneMonkeyPirate: Glad you found me! Yes, this is going to be very long. How long will it take? I'm not sure, Severus hasn't finished telling me the story yet. You'll know when I do, though. ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrated! And to the rest of you—have a great week until the next time I post!
-Jedi Blu-