Chapter 3: Have I Forgotten Something?

The next morning Rosie walked down the stairs happy and refreshed. She was in that happy state of awakening – cheerful enough to know that it was a summer morning but still sleepy enough to forget that she still had a lot of things to tidy up and pack away.

She pushed open the kitchen door thinking that she would find an empty room – Severus had told her that he awoke at five o'clock, she had expected him to go out jogging or something similarly active. Instead she found him slumped in a chair by the kitchen table with yet another cup of tea and a newspaper in front of him.

"Good morning," Rosie said brightly.

"There's cereal in the left-hand cupboard and there's milk in the fridge – if you're hungry," he said without looking at her.

"What if I don't want cereal?" Rosie asked teasingly.

"There's probably some crumbs on the floor – oh and I think that number 10 threw out a mouldy loaf – you might be able to scavenge," he replied taking a sip from his mug.

"I think I'll put up with cereal and...any fruit?"

"Checked the fruit bowl?"

Rosie decided not to give him the satisfaction of a reply. Instead she poured some cereal into a bowl and put some milk on top. Then grabbing an apple from the bowl on the work surface she went and sat down, with her food, beside Severus.

"Anything good in there?"

"Not really. Every one knows that the Prophet's behind the government, you can't get an unbiased view anywhere."

"My friend writes for it you know," Rosie said crunching into the apple.

"What does she do it for; the money or the satisfaction of telling the public the unabridged, unbiased facts?"

"No need to get snappy," Rosie exclaimed angrily. "I'm just telling you that she's a journalist that's all. She hates Fudge as much as the next man – or woman. At least the Prophet actually pays its writers – not like the bloody Quibbler."

Severus snorted into his mug, "Talking of unabridged facts..."

"Do made up facts come in to that category?" Rosie asked coyly.

Severus raised an eyebrow, "My friend works for the Quibbler."

"Really? Oh I'm s-wait! Sev!" she slapped him hard across the arm. "Stop pissing around!"

He put down his mug and rubbed his arm where she had hit him. "Ow, play nicely Rosie."

"I always play nicely Severus," Rosie purred. Severus froze; reality had obviously just hit him. He had just twigged where this conversation was going – they were flirting! He got up quickly, made up an excuse about student's homework not marking itself and he left the kitchen and went up to his study.

Severus reached the door and went in. He sat down in his chair behind the large oaken desk and exhaled the breath he had been holding. He slumped slightly and then rested his head in his hands and closed his eyes.

Rosie, he thought. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. There was something about her; there was no denying it. She'd only been with him a day but – he couldn't phrase it, there was just some undeniable attraction. When she had entered the front door yesterday he had been dumbfounded. She was beautiful, long brown hair, brown eyes...Severus drifted off into his own world.

Severus opened his eyes again and stared at the ceiling. He was usually such a closed person but in the short time he had known Rosie, very short time, Severus corrected himself, he had told her more than he had told his family. She was just easy to talk to.

There was a knock on the door, it opened and Rosie came in.

Speak of the devil, Severus thought.

"Hey, um...I did pack everything away didn't I? I know it sounds odd but I just can't place it – it feels like I've forgotten something."

"Brain?"

"You're hilarious aren't you Severus? You should start up a comedy routine during your Potion lessons."

He stared at her. "Are you sure you brought everything into the house?"

"Yeah I'm sure, even I wouldn't just leave something outside in the garden."

He muttered something like I wouldn't put it past you.

"Hey Mister, you've only known me for a day! How can you judge me?"

"Well," he said, appearing to deliberate somewhat. "You do talk a lot. Is it my fault if I actually listen? You told me you're entire life story!"

"You don't talk enough – I don't know anything about your life," she stated plainly.

"You don't want to know, it'd only depress you."

"How can you say that?"

"Because it depresses me!" he exclaimed.

Rosie smiled and bit her lip, "I still can't work out what I've missed."

There was a soft wailing sound from downstairs, Severus frowned slightly. "Did you here that?" he asked.

"What?"

There was the sound again, he couldn't believe he hadn't heard it before. "There it is again, sort of like – wailing."

A shocked expression suddenly lit Rosie's features. "Oh my God!" she said. "My cats! I left them in baskets downstairs!"

"Where downstairs?" asked Severus.

"Behind the bin in the kitchen! Oh my God! Hang on Hans! Hang on Alan, I'm coming!" and with that she ran from the room and into the kitchen. Severus followed her and saw her at the bottom of the stairs cradling her cats looking stricken.

Severus couldn't help it, he couldn't believe that someone could forget their pets completely. He laughed loudly and deeply, ending up sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands.

"You complete idiot!" he managed to choke out.

"Thanks a lot, Sev," she said though she was laughing too. "You haven't got any cat food have you?"

A/N: If you read, please review – all reviews are very welcome!