Listen To Your Heart

Chapter Eighteen-The Grudge

REMUS.

I brushed past James and rushed over to where Roselyn and Severus were.

"Oh my God," I said panicky.

"She's dead," Severus choked out as tears formed in his dark eyes.

"Oh God…" I said feeling bile rising up in the back of my throat.

James rushed over and dropped down beside me. He felt Roselyn's neck for a pulse.

"Oh God," James gasped as his breathing sped up. "There's a pulse, but faint."

I felt my whole body shaking uncontrollably and I ended up vomiting right there on the grass.

James' face went pale and he took off toward the castle.

A short while later, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall came running.

"What on earth happened?" Professor McGonagall demanded anxiously.

"The Whomping Willow….it got her," Severus choked out, clearly sick to his stomach.

"Let's get her up to the hospital wing," Professor Dumbledore said gravely.

SEVERUS.

Once inside the hospital wing, Madam Elkin checked Roselyn over. I kept swallowing, hoping to keep the bile from rising in the back of my throat.

"Will she be alright?" Professor Dumbledore asked worriedly and with concern.

Madam Elkin sighed.

"The branch caught her pretty good across the abdomen," Madam Elkin said gravely. "I'd say she'll be alright, but she was damaged internally from the force."

"Internal damage?" James asked, his voice trembling violently. "She's bleeding internally?"

I clutched the edge of the cot until my knuckles were white.

"Oh no," Madam Elkin said shaking her head. "No I mean…she probably more than likely won't be able to have children."

"How would the branch hitting her affect that?" Remus asked, his voice shaking violently also.

"From the blow, it traumatized…" Madam Elkin's voice trailed off. "Her uterus."

She finished blankly and bluntly. "It shattered a bit of it."

James hung his head.

"But other than that," Madam Elkin continued. "She'll make a full recovery."

Roselyn was lying on a cot, on her side facing the opposite wall. She was out cold. I could see her sides expanding with each breath. Her auburn hair was pulled away from her face exposing her pretty face.

Madam Elkin gently patted Roselyn on the leg before heading into her office.

Professor Dumbledore turned to us.

"What on earth were you lot doing outside at this hour? For the most part, near the Whomping Willow?" he asked. His tone wasn't angry, it was curious.

I was extremely angry with James and Remus. It was their fault this happened to Roselyn.

"Tell him, James," I said coldly.

James looked at me before turning his eyes onto Professor Dumbledore.

"It was my fault," James said quietly. "I had told Severus to head down to the Whomping Willow because I had dared him to try and touch the knot at the base. I told him Roselyn was going to be there, when in fact she wasn't."

"But she was," Professor Dumbledore said frowning.

Just then, Lily and Gillian rushed in.

"We can explain that," Lily said breathlessly clutching onto James as she tried to catch her breath. "I knew James had done that and Roselyn found out. She tried to go down there to stop Severus."

That only added to my anger.

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"James, that was really a stupid thing to do," he said quietly. "Because of that, Miss Rourke is injured possibly for life. What ever possessed you to do such a thing?"

James looked even worse than before.

"I don't know," James whispered quietly.

"I'll tell you," I interrupted angrily. "It's because he's jealous that Roselyn likes me."

I pointed to Remus. "I bet it was really his idea and James is taking the heat for it."

"I did no such thing!" Remus argued back, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I really had no idea James was going to do that! He didn't tell me. I only heard of it when he told you!"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING THEN?" I shouted angrily at him. "YOU COULD HAVE!"

Remus lowered his eyes.

"Is she going to be alright?" Gillian asked in a small voice.

"Yeah," I said. "But she probably won't be able to have kids."

Gillian's eyes swelled with tears.

"That's horrible," she said. "Just be thankful that she's alive though. That's the main thing."

"I am," I said nodding.

I wasn't mad at Gillian, Sirius, Sam, Peter or Lily…I was pissed off at James and Remus.

I stepped up to James and Remus.

"Don't think for one minute I'm going to forgive you for this," I hissed at them.

ROSELYN.

I heard a lot of shouting going on and I slowly opened my eyes. I was lying on my side facing the wall.

"What's going on?" I asked groggily.

"Rose!" I heard Lily's voice squeal happily.

I went to sit up, but searing pain shot through my abdomen causing me to cry out in pain. I felt tears forming.

Lily and Gillian slowly helped me into a sitting position. Severus was sitting behind me on the cot and I was leaning back against him.

"What the bloody hell happened? I feel like I've been hit with a Mack truck," I cringed.

I saw James and Remus pale faces. James had a guilty expression on his face. Remus just looked absolutely sick to his stomach.

"You were hit with the Whomping Willow," Severus said behind me, putting his face close to the side of mine. "Remember?"

"How can I forget?" I snorted. "Seeing that branch coming at me 90 miles an hour isn't something you forget easily…never mind being hit with it."

Realization dawned on my face.

"I was out there to try and stop Severus," I said glaring at James. "Because of something James had told him to do."

"We know all about it," Professor Dumbledore said softly and kindly. "You're going to be just fine though. Although, there is some rather grave news."

"What is it?" I demanded.

"From the force of the branch hitting you, it damaged your…girl part. Madam Elkin says you won't be able to have kids," Gillian explained tenderly.

I burst into tears. Severus slowly wrapped his arms around me drawing me close. I pressed my face into the front of his robe and shut my eyes. I sobbed uncontrollably.

"Rose," I heard James' voice say in a violently shaky tone. "I'm really sorry. This is my entire fault."

I slowly pulled my face away from Severus' chest and turned around slightly. James was leaning close to me.

I slapped James as hard as I could.

"Stay away from me," I said angrily as the tears continued to stream down. "I want nothing to do with you. I don't know why you did this, but I'm not going to forgive you."

With that, I turned back around and pressed my face back into Severus' robe and continued sobbing.

"I think it's best if we leave them be," Dumbledore said quietly as he ushered Gillian, James and Lily out. Remus slowly approached me.

"Rose really," Remus said swallowing. "I had nothing to do with this…honestly. I had no idea James was going to do this."

Once again, I turned away from Severus. Remus was sitting on the end of the cot. He looked horrible.

"What did you tell James on the train?" I demanded angrily.

"I just told him how we decided to be best friends," Remus answered truthfully. "I guess maybe he figured how I really felt about you and wanted to do something."

"By trying to hurt Severus?" I cried grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him toward me. "By hurting someone? That was going to make me change my mind?"

Remus had tears in his blue eyes.

"No," he said quietly. "As much as it hurts, I respect your decision. I would never try and hurt Severus."

He moved his eyes onto Severus behind me. I heard Severus exhale loudly.

"Just keep James away from me," I sobbed.

I released Remus' shirt and turned back to Severus.

REMUS.

Severus believed me. I gently stroked Roselyn's auburn hair before I got up and left them alone in the hospital wing.

I headed back to the Gryffindor common room. Gillian was explaining to Sam what had happened.

I found James standing in front of the fireplace, staring into it. I marched right over to him, grabbed him by the collar of his robes and banged him up against the wall.

"Why did you even think of something like that?" I hissed angrily putting my face close to his.

Everyone stood up and watched apprehensively.

"Because I sensed that you love Roselyn," James replied. "I just wanted to help you out. I had no idea that Roselyn would try and stop Severus or get hurt."

"If you wanted to help me you could've just told Roselyn how I feel," I hissed.

"I'm really sorry, mate," James said earnestly.

He looked absolutely horrible now.

"Because of that, Roselyn hates my guts," he continued.

"She's not the only one at this point," I snapped and released him from my grasp. I turned and stormed into the boys' dorm.

GILLIAN

I really couldn't believe that James would do something like that. I honestly thought this was something Sirius would pull…but not James as much.

James looked absolutely horrible. I knew he really didn't mean for Roselyn to get hurt.

But he really shouldn't have done that.

Because of this, Severus probably hates us now.

Exhaling loudly, I headed into the girls' dorm.

ROSELYN.

After sobbing uncontrollably for what seemed like hours, I finally pulled back from Severus' embrace.

"I'm really sorry," he apologized.

"Why are you sorry?" I demanded wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Severus exhaled.

"Yes but I went," he said solemnly.

"You had no idea what James was going to plan!" I said shocked. "Don't you dare think for one minute this is your fault."

Severus looked at me.

I leaned close so that our faces were inches apart. I leaned in and kissed him. He seemed absolutely shocked and shy, but kissed me back nonetheless.

I threw my arms around his neck after pulling back from the embrace and resting my chin on his shoulder. I felt his arms slowly encircling me drawing me closer against him.

"I love you," I heard Severus whisper in my ear.

"I love you too," I whispered back.

I was able to be released from the hospital wing a few days later. Madam Elkin double checked me over and said everything was fine, just to refrain from having sex, which caused Severus to blush furiously.

Gillian, Remus, Sam, Peter and Lily all met up with us in the hospital wing.

"You feeling alright?" Peter asked worriedly.

"Yes," I said softly. "Much better."

Peter grinned.

"I'm sure you hate us now," Gillian said to Severus looking upset.

"I don't hate you guys. Why would I hate you?" Severus asked. "You had nothing to do with this."

Gillian still looked upset so Sam put his arm around her shoulders.

"But I did," Remus said quietly.

"It wasn't your idea," Severus replied. "You had no idea what James was planning. Forget it alright?"

He finished shortly.

Remus nodded and looked a bit more relieved.

At that moment, James appeared.

"Speak of the devil," Severus said coldly.

James cringed.

"What brings you here?" Severus continued in the same cold tone.

"How are you feeling, Rose?" James asked concerned as he looked at me.

"I've been better," I said.

"I really am sorry," James apologized again.

He really looked awful.

I exhaled loudly.

"It's going to take some time, but I'll probably forgive you eventually,"

James nodded.

"Unlike Roselyn," Severus said stonily. "I'm not on the brink of forgiveness."

James nodded.

"I understand," he said quietly.

"Listen," Remus said. "We've been excused from classes for the week. Why don't we just go back to the common room and relax? Severus I'm inviting you as well."

Severus looked shocked.

This was the first time a Slytherin had been invited into the Gryffindor common room. It was really weird.

"Um," Severus said slowly. "Sure I guess."

Remus nodded, moving his eyes onto me and we all headed to the Gryffindor common room.

Several of the Gryffindors gave Severus a scathing look as he entered the common room.

"What on earth is a Slytherin Snake doing in here?" one of them demanded coldly.

"He's with us," James snapped shortly. "Flake off."

They left the common room scandalized.

I curled up on the couch, tucking my legs out to the side. Severus sat down beside me. Remus was sitting across from us on a loveseat; Peter and Sirius curled up on the floor and began a game of Wizards Chess; Lily and Gillian began working on the latest assignment and James and Sam were sitting on the floor with Peter and Sirius.

"I've never been invited into another common room before," Severus replied looking around.

"Get used to it," Gillian said winking. "You're practically part of the clan now."

Severus blushed.

I felt Remus' eyes on me the entire time.