A/N: Slight trigger warning with a dark theme somewhere in the middle. Nothing explicit, but it's integral to the story. I would like an opinion if I should change the rating of the story because of it. Lemme know, please? Enjoy. :]

V- Don't Tear Out My Paper Heart

"Pipsqueak?"

"'Wh'o ta 'ell is Pip'queak?" Was her staff talking?

"Hello, Sev. Glad to see there some major faculties are intact. Can you tell me what day of the week it is?" she continued to move the light from one eye to the other obscuring her face in the silhouette.

"Are you giving me a mini neuro exam?" the light was too bright.

"I am. You whacked your head pretty hard. Tell me the day of the week, please?"

"Monday."

"It's Wednesday" the light disappeared. "I think you have a concussion."

"20 seconds in your presence and you've managed to break my nose, again, and with bonus head trauma. 10 points from Pukwudgie." He grimaced with movement as he tried to move from the floor that had now given his person up. Snape swayed as he stood, feeling quite dizzy. Maybe he was concussed. Rose swooped under his left arm to help stabilize him as they moved to the couch. "I never lost points you know."

"Accio, Conatusmedica." A small blue vial whizzed past Harry and into Rose's hand. She pushed it into Snape's. "Harry, I thought we discussed walking people through the house without my permission? The house will only let in visitors I give verbal entry."

"Oh no, the wards, they body slammed professor Snape…"

"Please, 'is lucky the house din't eat 'em and absorb 'is powers for 'ids own. KNOCK 'OUT!"

Thank you, Albert, for your observation! Yes, I'm glad the house doesn't cannibalize the people inside of it!" She sighed. "What are you doing here?"

Snape, still feeling very addled began, "I was looking for him!" He pointed at one of the two Harrys in his sight. Maybe he wasn't feeling that great yet. "Half the ministry and the Headmaster are scouring the hillsides looking for this little brat! I've been up and down the coastline trying to track him! Surius Black nearly took our heads off outside just now!" His ears rang with the tone of his voice. "Then I come in here and find myself concussed. Is that my jumper?!"

"What do you mean, Black was outside? Here?" Rosalie moved to a window peering out into the now dark front drive.

"Was he after me?" Asked Harry

"Potter, EVERYTHING is ALWAYS after you! Did you tell her about your adventure first year? Or how about flying a car into the whomping willow, or the Basilisk last year? No one, not even the blasted 'Boy-who-lived' is that damn unlucky. Always making things difficult on purpose!"

"Basilisk? What Basilisk? Why where you around a giant man-eating snake?"

"It was in the pipes of the school! I told you weird things happen around me, Rose! I don't go looking for trouble, honestly, it just seems to find me, and Ron... and Hermione."

"That is my Jumper?"

"Severus, you gave this Sweatshirt to me. Episkey!"

"Aaack!" A crack and a pop were heard from Snape's nose as Rosalie reset it.

Harry cringed at the sound. "That looked awful."

"I loaned it to you, 12 years ago" his head was spinning, the snapping sound of his nose made his stomach heave as it reverberated through his head.

"You gave it to me 15 years ago. Your cognition is off. Harry, I want to know more about the Basilisk."

"The basilisk thing is a long story. It was the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. My friend's little sister was bewitched into opening it up by You Know Who and that sent the snake through the plumbing of the school and she needed to be rescued, but it's dead now. Professor, everyone knows that when you loan a girl a Jumper, it's theirs now. Why do you have his jumper anyway?"

"Because he gave it to me, at Hogwarts, 15 years ago. We will discuss your "LONG STORY" in greater detail tomorrow. Bloody 12-year-old fighting a giant snake monster. Where was Dumbledore in all of this?"

"ENOUGH!" Snape exploded; his pulse pounded in his ears. God, his head hurt. "The two of you can squabble on your own time. I must get back and report to Dumbledore and you, Mr. Potter, must go back to your guardians. Gather your belongings."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Especially back there!"

"He's not, and you are not, either. At least tonight." Rose pushed the potion vial Severus still had in his hands towards him again, imploring he drink it. "Your brain needs to rest. My Floo is not connected to the general network yet and I doubt you would want to end up in London. The only way I can see you leaving is by apparition, and with your temporary cognitive impairment, you'll most likely get splinched. I don't have any means of regrowing limbs in the house. Now sit." She led him back to sit on the sofa. "Drink the vial and we'll have something to eat. Harry, would you restart the kettle and pull out things for some sandwiches, please?

Harry nodded, eying the black clad man on the couch. Rose didn't look like she was just going to let him whisk Harry away. He was glad to have something other than be in the room with Snape sneering towards him.

"What is this?" Snape indicated to the potion in his hand, it was the entirely wrong color for a pain reliever. Being the person he was, Snape was also dubious about ingesting anything that did not come from his own cauldron.

"It's a love potion" Rose said crossing her arms, face completely serious

Snape balked and stammered.

"It's a trauma remedy, you arse. I made it. Just take it so your brain doesn't swell, will you?" She stood and unwrapped the towel from her damp hair. Snape narrowed his eyes at her but complied. Instantly the pain in his facial bones lowered to a dull ache and for the moment, he no longer was seeing double. He was able to study the woman before him. A woman who he hadn't seen since she was barely more than a small girl who followed Lily and him around like a puppy. Now here she was all grown up after years of unexplained absence, and, oh look, she found a Potter.

Rose looked to the kitchen to make sure Harry was out of ear shot then sat on the sofa next to Snape.

"The Ministry already knows Harry is here and so does Petunia. I contacted them when he showed up last night. We have a meeting with Fudge and the Headmaster on Friday morning to discuss Harry's transgression. They were supposed to notify Dumbledore, but if you were wondering around in the forest today, I understand why he hasn't been able to reach you. The Wil'o'whisps block everything from Patronus' to compasses to television reception. As seen by my lack thereof."

Severus groaned and rubbed his eyes with his palms. "You would live next to a preserved slice of ancient wood in a cursed house." His head was still spinning. Everything was topsy turvy. Between dealing with the boy, whom he had sworn to protect with his very life and did everything in his power to make his job very, very difficult, his long-lost might-as-well-be little sister showing up out of the clear blue sky, and the head trauma, Severus was having a difficult time curbing his emotions. Or maybe it was that potion. He was suddenly feeling very sleepy and more comfortable then he should have been with a stark raving lunatic running around as a dog on the loose.

"I can't believe I've had Harry for less than 24 hours and I've almost killed him by letting him explore the back yard! I don't know what I am doing, Severus. I've taken care of countless children in dire circumstances, but I don't know how to take care of a 13-year-old boy, let alone the Boy-Who-Lived-but-everything-is-trying-to-kill-him-anyway. I told him he could stay here."

"Then send him back to Petunia, back to the safety of the blood wards. The Ministry will give him a slap on the wrist and Dumbledore will buy him an ice cream for the accidental magic. It was fool hardy for the prat to run away from home. And I don't understand why he is here to begin with…"

"He will never go back to Petunia." Rose cut him off, disgust evident in her tone. Snape furrowed his brows. "And he's not a prat. I know what you are thinking, Severus, because I thought it first too when he opened their front door, but you are so wrong you couldn't even believe it. He's not James!" She looked him dead in the eye. Those large hazel eyes. Once upon a time, she looked at him with those same determined orbs and he fell victim to then too. "Petunia is as… unkind as she has ever been, especially towards Harry. What good is protective magic if it can't protect him from them? He's never going back there."

"What? Does she make him take out the rubbish before dessert? I hardly think the boy is depri.."

"He told me his first hug that he could remember was from Hagrid when he came to collect him on his 11th birthday. He's been deprived of decency, Severus. I know you understand what that can do to a child."

It was a low blow and it hit Snape directly in the gut. Of course, Rosalie knew about his home life with his parents, but she's never uttered a word out loud, even in inference such as this. He didn't have the energy to get angry over it. Rose was not a liar, and Petunia was a petulant little beast towards her sister and cousin as a teenager. Why would he expect she be any different with Potter? Because Snape wanted another reason to hate the boy besides him just being James' son, That's why. If Harry was a terrible person like James, or a completely spoiled brat by his up bringing, then Severus had an excuse to not become attached. He could protect him from a far, and thus, more effectively. He could forget that Harry was Lily's son as well.

Harry J Potter now had to go and ruin all of that plan too.

"Mortal danger would have found the boy anyway, no matter what you do. There is always something out for Harry Potter. Do not think it is your fault or that what you are doing for him isn't worth it." Snape closed his eyes and wrapped the throw blanket Rosalie had handed to him around his shoulders. He was indeed quite cozy. And did he just comfort another human being? What was in that vial?!

"It sounds like you are speaking from experience, Sev. Been doing this for a while?" she said with a sad smile.

His heart quickened at the nickname he hadn't heard in years. "You don't know the half of it, Pip."

***A breathtaking orange sunset was setting over the Black lake. The early October air had more than a little bit of a chill to it and the miniscule lone figure in the Astronomy tower hugged her knees to herself. It was more to self soothe then for warmth from the breeze. Her short dark hair whipped around wildly in her eyes that were glassy with unshed tears. Strands flew into her mouth irritating her into a snarl as her hair was now too short to pull back and out of her face. Those stupid 3rd years and their pranks. They thought it would be funny to put 'Curvatious Crazy Curl brand potion' in her shampoo. It burned her scalp and the knots were so bad that even 'sleek easy' could do nothing for them. In the end Madam Pomfrey had to cut most of her long locks off leaving it jagged and unstylish. She cried as they fell to the infirmary floor. She had never had her hair cut before.

"I found you, Pip. A couple of 2nd years said you run up this way after Pomfrey let you go. I brought you some burn balm for your scalp." Long pale fingers handed over a green jar.

"Thank you, Sev. You're missing supper."

"I know. Lily is looking for you too. She was worried." He sat down on the floor next to her. She didn't say anything. She just kept her eyes on the Black lake below. The water churned a bit with the wind looking like black shattered glass in the dying sunlight. He'd never seen the usually bubbly and good-natured kid this despondent before.

"I hate it here, Severus. I hate being magic. I want to go back home." She buried her head into her arms. Severus was a bit shocked by the admission "I'm not even normal for a witch." She was crying now. He was out of his element if he had ever been.

"Being normal is overrated. You could be like Tuney and that would be a nightmare. Or worse, back in ballet practice." He was trying to lighten the mood.

"She's doing well for herself, though! She's having a big wedding in the spring, buying a house, being happy! I'm here with this stupid stick!" She threw her purpleheart staff across the tower. It landed on the ground by a brass telescope with a resounding thunk. "I have to work ten times as hard to cast anything with it!" She was yelling now. "If it weren't for you and Lily, I wouldn't speak with anyone but the professors! When you two leave in 3 years, I won't have a friend in the world. All the kids are wretched!"

She stood up never looking anywhere but the lake. The sun was almost down by now. Even standing she was barely a whisp of a thing. "the house can't stand me. They all call me 'Mudblo.."

"Don't call yourself that name. It's a filthy word and you are so much better then that. Lily is muggle born too and look at her! She's brilliant!"

"Yeh, Lily is brilliant. Lily has always been brilliant. Aunt Aster says she's golden like the sun, and I've always run behind her like her little shadow." She stepped closer to the edge of the tower peering over the side once again. "I don't want to be a witch anymore, Sev."

Severus could feel all the blood rushing from his face to his feet as he slowly stood up. He was horrified as realization of the situation finally hit him. How could he have missed it when he felt the same way on multiple occasions? He'd never had the courage to come up with a plan though.

"Get back from the ledge, Rosalie." His voice came as a choked whisper, the strange feeling of tears forming behind his eyes.

"I'm not going to. I was just thinking about it." She went to turn around, but her foot caught on the stone floor, and then everything was in slow motion.

Severus watched her face change to horror as she fell backwards off the tower, her hazel eyes round and large staring at him as she tipped over the horizon. He went to grab her arm but missed and she was gone and all that was left was a deep purple sky where she had just been standing. He stopped breathing. His heart hammered in his chest. He was frozen to the spot with lead feet.

A woosh was heard and the small 1st year was blown unceremoniously back into the tower nearly on top of Severus.

"The wind blew me back up."

Neither one of them knew of the tower's charms that activated at dusk. No one wanted any sleepy children accidentally falling during Astronomy Class.

"You are a stupid, wretched little girl!" He grabbed her in a fierce hug, one that he had never given her before. Severus Snape did not give out hugs, no matter how she had tried to take them from him as a smaller child. She could feel his heart pounding away like it could explode any second. Rose had the grace to feel ashamed. "I was asked to keep an eye on you and what do you do? Jump off the astronomy tower!" he pulled back. His face was red and he looked completely Un-Severus like. He never wore his feelings on his sleeve. He was actually worried about her! Not just because Lily had asked him to keep an eye on her, but because he really did care.

Her tears came now, her face hot. "I'm sorry! I didn't really want to do it! I didn't want to make you scared! Please don't tell Lily!" She Sobbed.

"Enough." He pushed her back a little "You have an ugly crying face. Get yourself together. It's over. I won't tell your cousin on one condition." She nodded "You never come up here with those intentions again. If things are too much, you go straight to Lily. Or me." The later said after a long pause.

Rose nodded again, sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. Her face was red hot but her body was cold as the adrenaline receded. She shivered in the night air. Severus pulled his Slytherin green Jumper from over his head and balled it up to give to Rose who put it on gratefully. It was so long on her she looked like a toddler playing dress up, her hands disappeared in the sleeves. "Maybe you'll grow into it. And maybe you'll grow into your magic too. Give it some time. You'll show all those louts yet."

"Thank you, Sev." She managed a small smile.

He nodded, grabbed her staff from the floor along with the forgotten burn balm and made to the stairs with her in toe. "Let's see if there is anything left of supper, yeah?"***

Severus Snape started violently from the dream. He found himself in a dark sitting room, on a very comfortable overstuffed sofa, with a warm throw blanket that smelled faintly of red raspberries and sage wrapped around him. His shoes had been taken off and he didn't remember doing that before he'd fallen asleep. A calico cat stretched lazily on the back of the couch cushion, blinked at him for a moment, and put her head down to go to snooze.

"Damn it." He whispered into the dark. He never did ask for the jumper back.

He woke up to daylight and the smell of coffee, feeling much better if not completely recovered. After a tense breakfast filled with suspicious glares from across the table from Potter, Rosalie asked him to spit in a vial as he was getting ready to leave.

"Incase you need to come back. Or I need you to come back."

"Why saliva? Surly you could use something else."

"Well the contract says I can use blood, sweat, tears, saliva and…something else." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Sweat is hard to collect, blood letting hurts, tears would take forever, and I highly doubt you'd like to provide a sample of…something else." She mused with an amused smirk on her face.

"Give me the vial, wretched girl."

Harry being Harry didn't get the joke right away, but after a moment he pulled a face "Oh no! Oh, Rosalie! Foul!"

Snape left shortly after with a successful appariton leaving Rose and Harry to prepare for meeting with the Minister the following day; Files collected, robes pressed, and floo powder ready.

Rosalie had shrunken down a pair of men's dress robes for Harry to wear. "So it looks like someone cares about you." She'd said.

"Brilliant! Who did they belong too? Have you a boyfriend I haven't met?" Harry tried on the robe. It fit like it was tailored for him.

"No. Not for a long time now. Rose is a free elf." She laughed.

The following morning as Harry was munching away on a bowl of cereal, Rosalie swept into the kitchen in a pair of billowing dark blue witches robes. Havening only ever seen her in funny tee shirts, jeans and that one night she was still in green scrubs, Harry was taken aback. She stood at the counter in her mostly muggle kitchen leaning over a newspaper, a purple wood staff in one hand and a coffee mug in the other. The scene's juxtaposition completed by her black, shimmery wide brimmed witches hat pinned snuggly to her severe bun. Her mug exclaimed in bold white letters "World's OKAYEST potion master as steam whiffed about the top."

This is the twilight zone, Harry thought.

"Ha! I think you are going to be alright at the Ministry today, Harry! Look at the bang-up job they did with your Aunt's clean up!" Rose held up the newspaper for Harry to read. The big headline: "PIGS ON THE WING! Large pig like balloon spotted floating near by Battersea Power Station! Could this mark the return of beloved UK band, Pink Floyd? Statements from Roger Waters on pg 4." A photo showing Marge Dursley floating by the great chimneys of Battersea was side by side with a comparison of the Pink Floyd album cover for 'Animals'.

The ministry was a buzzing bustle of madness… Just like every other time Rose had been there. She rolled her eyes as she snaked her way through the throngs to the lifts, Harry led by his arm behind her. "Lord, please walk like you have somewhere to be! Out of the way!" She used her staff as a Shepard would with a hook to move sheep.

When they finally made it to the lifts and down to the Minister's office, she looked to Harry as the secretary ushered him in. She smoothed out his robes and gave a quick hug for encouragement. "You'll be fine. One way or another." Harry smiled. It was nice to have someone in his corner like this.

He emerged 15 minutes later. "I'm not expelled! I can go back! But they want to talk to you, the Minister and the Headmaster."

Rosalie entered the office of The Minister of Magic and it was everything he had expected it to be, Opulent grandeur full of polished brass, dark mahogany wood, and deep red pebbled leather. It smelled of parchment, pipe smoke and privilege. She eyed the two men standing on either side of the Minister's overly large desk and mentally prepared herself for a fine battle of wits and words. Stopping short of the desk, she removed her hat and tipped her head in respect for the office. "Gentlemen, good morning."

"Ah! Dr. Novack! I've heard so much about you from the directors over in Saint Philomena's. I trust you are settling well over at the hospital" Minister Fudge came around in greeting, hands in the air and his best winning smile.

"I am, Thank you." She nodded but did not return the smile. Dumbledore studied her carefully, and for a moment she could have sworn he was trying to stare directly into her soul, only to shake his head and smile a smile that did not reach his eyes. Very unnerving.

"Yes, Dr. Novack. I wanted to speak with you candidly about young Mr. Potter's wish for new living arrangements." Dumbledore started, still at the side of the desk, hands folded into the long flowing sleeves of his purple crushed velvet robe. "Although nothing would make me happier than to oblige the boy to stay with his "Cool new cousin" as he put it, You must be aware of why he was placed with Petunia Dursley in the first place. It all stems back the Halloween night in Godric…."

"…Godric's Hollow and Lord Voldemort's attack on the Potter residence after they're betrayal of the secret keeper. Lily's protection for her son. I know of the blood wards, Headmaster." Minister Fudge recoiled at the free use of He-who-must-not-be-name's Title.

"Then you also know why it is important he call Privet Drive his home, at least for a while longer. Although Harry is quite safe during the school year, I assure you, there is no guarantee that the boy will be as secure residing in Shiremoor. We may be able to allow visits after a few weeks during the summer of that would be agreeable to all parties inv…"

"No. It would not be agreeable to all parties involved." Rosalie pulled an aged envelope from the folds of her robes. "These are legal papers drawn up by the Durlsey's solicitor. They are from 1985, when they first sought to relinquish the child back into your custody, although I have been ensured they are still in good order." She unfolded the small stack and placed it on the desk between them. "Petunia overnight posted them to me, with a letter stating it would be best for him to "be with his own kind." She looked directly into Dumbledore's eyes. "The wards will not work if no one wants Harry there. All I had to do was sign the blank line that was originally meant for you, before you paid off the Dursley's for Harry's continued protection. He will not be going back. I told him so, and I do not lie."

"What if I told you he is being targeted, now, as week speak. Dark forces will seek him out to destroy him and all around him."

"You're talking of Siruis Black? I know he was the secret keeper. I know he betrayed my cousin and her husband."

"I mean Lord Voldemort. He will return." Dumbledore looked determinedly to Rose now. Fudge stuttered in the background, things like "no he's not."

Rosalie leaned over the desk "Are- Are you trying to scare me away from Harry, Headmaster? Are you trying to see if I will turn tail and run because the Big Bad is coming? Harry is my blood and a good kid who deserves the world and has seen very little good of it yet. I won't run because it may be dangerous. And you practically gave up your right to determine what is best for Harry when you played Ding Dong Ditch the Baby on the Door Step, you Lemon Sherbet Lunatic." She straightened back up to her full, although diminutive height once more. A look of sheer determination on her face, as she folded up her documents and stored them in her robe. "Now, if you'll excuse me, gents, I have to stop into the Department of Licenses and Permits before I take Harry home. Perhaps I'll see you in September." She turned to leave.

"May I inquire one more thing, Dr Novack, before you go?" Dumbledore implored. Rose turned to oblige. "My headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, said that you attended Hogwarts during the 75-76 school year, that you were a Hat Stall. Tell me, where did the Sorting Hat decide to place you?"

"I'm not surprised you don't remember me. You weren't even there for the Welcome Feast that year; off on a Ministry detail, I believe. The hat put me in the only house he said I could ever possibly belong; In Slytherin."

It was then that Dumbledore finally recognized the woman in front of him. An image of a smaller dark-haired girl, who could not use a wand, with cuts and slashes all over her hands and arms, staring with huge hazel eyes from an infirmary bed. The wounds inflicted by her own house mates. The word "Mudblood" branded by magic into her purpleheart staff.

The Mudblood Slytherin.

Rose spun her staff in her hand so the two men could see the word still inscribed but dulled from years of use. She pinned her hat back on to her head and walked out head held high while the stunned silence rang behind her. It took her years and many tribulations, but Rosalie Novack had indeed grown into herself.