I. Roses

Every year, the roses crawling over the entry arches into the back garden of the Manor bloomed. Thorns and spiderwebs were hidden by plump, glossy leaves, littered with little buds all through the month of May, and then... on the first day of summer, after the equinox, the first petals would spin outward like the skirts of a ballgown.

It was now the 24th of June. Evelyn Rosier raised again from her bed to see the first roses bloom, one of the few joys she still had at the Manor, only to be greeted by the same empty, thorny branches covered in old webs and a few dead leaves from the previous year. Her heart felt heavy as she rested her hand over the curtain, soft to the touch yet cold. Her hope faded more and more each day. She didn't need the paper to tell her something terrible was looming ever nearer. She had been happy... For the past few months, maybe a year, or... Merlin, were there two? She had been happy, at ease, her skin white like the milk she poured into her tea. No bruises, no cuts, no cigar burns. The fear of returning to what had been the norm for over a decade gripped her. Blue eyes shifted towards the chandelier in the center of the ceiling, framed by painted cherubs and soft pastel clouds. Just as quickly, she turned away. That was a disgrace brought to both families. Such thoughts shouldn't even cross her mind.

The waiting had her shift uncomfortably on the spot. Annelyse...

Back at Hogwarts, she was packing her chest for the summer. The full realization hadn't completely settled in yet. She knew what was going to happen, but she was still calm. A lock of dark hair fell over her shoulder as she folded a few clothes. A duplicate? No... Or yes? Was now too soon? Geminio would last a week. Would she have time for a duplicate after reaching the Manor? Underwear, stockings, nightgowns. What if anyone barged in over the summer when she wouldn't be there? Normally, they wouldn't, but if He took over the Ministry and the School... then perhaps.

Anna pulled out the drawer of her desk. On the right side, there was Selena's collection of printed tape, dried flowers, and ribbons to be used as bookmarks, along with brightly colored quills, inks, and notebooks. Trying not to disturb her things, Anna placed on the desk her black ink bottles, her quills that she rarely used, and the books from the past year. She reached between papers and essays into the very back for a box she had hidden with Reducio. A heavy sigh escaped her. There was no way her father or anyone from the Ministry or from the School should ever even know that this box did exist. The thought made the hairs on her body stand. It held the potential for such consequences... and yet, she couldn't destroy it. No, it was far too barbaric to destroy something like this. Her fingers trembled running over the carved lid of the box which allowed the eye to peek inside at carefully overlapped envelopes and notes, dried roses, wildflowers picked on impulse, teahouse napkins, theater and museum tickets.

Taking it with her was too risky. If her father cast Finite over her suitcase, it was going to reveal all of its secrets. It had to remain here, somewhere...

Anna turned on her heel and cast Reducio on all of the books she had of which her father wouldn't approve. She then fit them into the wooden chest with the carved lid, at the bottom, so they won't crush the letters and the flowers. It felt like locking up her heart...

This had to go, there was no time to be sentimental now. The room? No, much too obvious... The closet? A closet, yes, but not hers. Or a shelf? One of the unused towers, maybe, or the attic, or the Room of Requirement - but then, they might be lost forever. Outside, then? Placed under stasis, protected from the elements...? but not from other beings. No, it had to remain in the castle, unless... Yes, that could work.

The door opened slowly and Selena Selwyn dragged her feet inside. She had red, puffy eyes. Her cheeks were stained. Her lips had been bitten to suppress the sobs and gasps. Exhaustion seemed to have settled in. Anna quickly hid the box under her robe.

"How are you?" she asked softly.

Selena shrugged slightly. "Cho is with Madam Pomfrey," her small voice cut off with a hiccup.

"...And Viktor?"

"He's... He said something about..." Selena frowned, trying to remember, "What was his name, the professor?"

"Mr. Karkaroff. What about him?"

"Mm," she agreed, making her way to the bed. "He said he couldn't find him anywhere. I think I told him to go to Mr. Snape, or... the Headmaster..."

Selena was as pale as her platinum hair. Anna went to grab a small bottle from her nightstand and poured three drops into a glass of water. Sitting beside her friend, she offered it to her.

"It will make you sleep. It helps."

Selena took the glass, but before she could drink, tears began rolling down her face again as she broke down in sobs. "He said He's back! Harry, he-! He said Vol-... No, I can't. But he said He's the one who... Cedric..."

Anna placed the glass on the nightstand so Selena won't spill it over herself, then held her and gently rubbed her back.

"I've seen it!" she suddenly looked up. "I've seen Him-who-must-not-be-named! You believe me, don't you?! I've seen Death, standing up from the grave, and Death had shape, like a man, and-!"

"I believe you," Anna tried to comfort her. "I know, you've told me."

"Like a Dementor, but man-shaped!" Selena cried, recalling the image she saw every night in her nightmares.

The brunette nodded slowly. If Karkaroff was missing, he was likely with Mr. Nott. That meant that Mr. Malfoy was growing desperate. The time was up and he had no assignment to present. Osborne Nott will hand over Igor Karkaroff, the traitor, to the Dark Lord. Severus was likely going to offer information on the school, Albus Dumbledore, and Harry Potter. He had no choice. Lucius Malfoy was empty-handed.

Their last chance was for Anna to find some incriminating evidence among her father's things. His office was a safe bet, but she hadn't been able to break the magic sealing the room shut. She had arranged with Severus to try and break in this summer. After the research they had conducted at the pleas of Lucius Malfoy, it had become quite clear that Siberius had indeed done it, and the reasons were also there. The only missing piece was how...

Now, with Voldemort resurrected, Anna was convinced that her father will be freed from Azkaban and thus, the search would become impossible. Without it, Lucius had no proof that Siberius Rosier was a traitor, which was terrible for everyone involved.

Once Selena seemed to have calmed down a bit, Anna helped her drink the Sleeping Draught.

"Thank you... When are you leaving?"

"Tonight, I hope," Anna said as she helped her friend lay down.

"Send me a letter," the blonde smiled weakly.

Although she wanted to reassure her, Anna knew it would only make her worry more if no letter came. "That depends if my father will be freed or not, but don't worry about it."

"Is he going to be free again?" Selena tried to sit up.

"I don't know. It will be alright, in the end. Even if he does come home, it will be like before, alright? Summer will pass, and then we'll meet again here."

Nodding slowly, Selena felt her eyes becoming heavy and so, she laid down in her bed.

With the box under her cloak, Anna made her way outside the castle walls and into the forest. She needed a place far enough so she could Apparate, but shielded from unwanted eyes. This was the first time she had to sneak out to Chat Gris, the only time she was alone, without him, and in a great rush. There was no scenic route today.

Every time she walked in, her blue eyes darted to the sketch still pinned to the wall, a drawing made in plain black pencil meant for writing, yet skillfully used for art. It was the same image carved into the locket she had received in her second year at Hogwarts, the most thoughtful gift, that she later chose to place around her friend's neck and conceal with magic. Selena had a greater need for the amulet.

Walking in, Anna was greeted by the old man who was cleaning the table in the middle, the one Severus told her used to be occupied by Bellatrix Black.

"Good afternoon, young lady. Your table is free. Will Severus be joining you?"

Forcing a polite smile, Anna felt the seed of terror take root in her soul. "No, not today, sir. I won't be long, either. Just one cup, please."

It was the first time she felt out of place there. Anna sat on her usual chair but moved it slightly so that she could see the entrance. As the old teashop keeper went in the back to foresee and prepare the tea, Anna looked around. Her eyes traveled from one window to the other, then among the shelves halfway filled with books and little decorations, each with its own story and seemingly older than her.

By the time the old man had returned, he found the salon empty. The money had been placed on the table.

Right as she returned to the castle, Anna ran into her professors leaving what she assumed had been an emergency meeting in Dumbledore's office. One glance was all she needed to understand the message. The girl nodded politely before parting ways, going to his office and waiting for him to arrive as well. Her arms crossed over her chest as a chill shook her to the core. Something terrible was happening. There was no way to stop it or even delay it. The time was up.

The door opened and closed a few moments later.

"Is it true?" was her first question.

"...Yes, He has returned," Severus answered after a moment of hesitation. "Can't you stay with your friend again?" he asked, anticipating her situation.

Anna shook her head. "My father won't allow it. I don't want to go to the Selwyn Mannor and have him pick me up in a day or two. He's going to make a scene, like always..."

Severus sighed to himself. It was self-understood they couldn't be seeing each other this summer, but having no word from her, while she was alone with that barbarian...

"Can I help you in any way?"

"You already have," she walked closer to him.

Severus wrapped his arms around her form. Leaning over her, he inhaled her scent for the last time in Merlin knows how long.

"Do you need to hide anything?"

"I left it at the Chat Gris." The name was safe, as most no longer recognized it. A Slytherin-elite-exclusive cafe, with the only road hidden and protected from all who were not in Slytherin, or invited, it had been a popular place for Tom Riddle and his circle, and the future generation of Death Eater wannabes.

"Don't forget to duplicate your wand. I wouldn't want you without it."

The girl nodded. "I will do it on the train." She knew her father didn't enjoy the thought that she might fight back. Some of the first words out of his mouth were going to be an order to confiscate her wand.

"I apologize you have to stand him again..."

"It's not your fault," the girl mumbled into his shoulder. "We ran out of time."

Severus held her closer. He knew he will not be hearing those words from anyone else. The thought that Anna had to return to the way she lived before, without magic, without any correspondence, while that barbarian used the Unforgivables whenever and on whoever he wished, with no consequences, infuriated him. There had to be a way to permanently separate Siberius from her.

They have been trying to secure the distance all summer long, but there was no damning evidence. They needed something undoubtedly his that would confirm he had indeed orchestrated the murder of one of Voldemort's most prized followers. It had to exist, it was somewhere out there - somewhere in his office, among his things. Why else would he have placed layers over layers of protective charms and curses over his office?

Author's notes:

Hope you've enjoyed this first chapter. It may not look like a lot is happening, just the aftermath of Cedric's murder, but I promise it's gonna pick up soon.

Let me know what you think in the reviews. Please favorite & follow.

*There is no beta-reader for this story. If you see any mistakes, I'm sorry.