Chapter 11: The Duel

Rose jolted awake.

She was momentarily frightened. The curtains were drawn and the room was dark. Only strips of light escaped the bottom of the draping. She was disorientated and in a surrounding she didn't know. Then all at once, memories of the day before started to flood into her mind, making her feel a coldness deep within.

Then she thought about Severus and how she had clung to him, crying on him like a small child. She felt a twinge of embarrassment at her behavior, yet another part of her just wanted to hold tightly onto him again. The mere thought of him seemed to thaw the ice in her core.

From the very beginning, his presence had brought her comfort, even with his erratic mood swings and harsh persona. Severus was strong, intelligent, and brave. Rose felt safe around him in a way that she had not felt since Tiberius had been murdered.

There was a calming consistency about Severus. Rose knew before he had even regained consciousness that Severus Snape was both loyal in his thoughts and actions. Rose respected him before they even spoke; for she knew what Severus had done for the woman he loved. And through all his tribulations, he had survived, leaving Rose with the belief that Severus could withstand anything, if he cared enough to do so.

Without Severus, Rose was sure that she would have been kicked to death.

She was glad that her last vision of this world would not be that horrible look on Lucius Malfoy's face.

Rose eased herself into as sitting position, expecting to feel pain with movement. There was not even a twinge of discomfort. Severus had completely healed her. His cloak was tangled around her body under the bed covers. Rose freed herself from the twisting fabric and stood. The wood floor was cold against her bare feet.

Severus must have removed her shoes while she slept.

Rose took up Severus's cloak again and wrapped it around her body. It smelled like him, well the him that Rose had barely witnessed outside a medical setting. The cloak had a district earthy scent of herbs, mixed with the crisp smell of parchment. And then there was the scent that no hospital soap or sterility could mask, it was distinctly male, warm, and almost peppery. It was the musk of Severus's skin.

Rose brought the cloak to her face and breathed in slowly. She was in no position yesterday to notice how intoxicating the fabric smelled.

Since Tiberius, a man hadn't smelt this good to Rose. She took in one more draft of air, then set the cloak back on the bed, realizing that she was being weird.

Rose then noticed that there were some folded items at the end of the bed. A long black skirt, a dull white button down, and an oversized gray cardigan.

Rose picked up the clothing. She assumed they were for her to wear. Rose wondered who these items had once belonged to. Based on everything she knew about Severus and his past, she could only conclude that these were once his mother's belongings, not those of an ex-girlfriend or wife.

Rose dressed, glad that the skirt had an elastic waist band, the last woman who had worn this must have been all skin and bones. The blouse, which was probably baggy on its previous owner, fit Rose just right. She threw on the sweater, but wished she could cover herself in Severus's cloak again.

Rose found her black flats at the foot of the bed, slipped them on her feet, and exited the room.

Rose wasn't sure of the time. She thought it must be morning, but the little house was dark and bleak with all its curtains drawn.

From the top of the stairs, Rose heard the muffled buzz of a radio. She descended, following the sound, and moved down a narrow hall, where light escaped the crack under a door at the far end.

Rose eased the door open and peered inside to see a tiny kitchen with rusted appliances, cracked tile floors, and a rickety wooden table in the center. Severus sat at the table with the daily prophet in front of him. Behind where he sat cutlery, pots, and pans were cooking of their own accord.

A wireless hummed in the background, "There have been two more dementor attacks this week. The Ministry of Magic struggles to round up the remaining former guards of Azkaban."

"Good morning, Severus," Rose said in a small voice.

Severus slowly lowered the paper and raised his gaze to Rose.

Rose's face became flushed as Severus's eyes met hers, his focus intently upon her.

Rose had to look away. She lowered her head and her long brown hair fell forward, hiding her face from view.

Severus wondered at Rose's shyness. She had told him once that he didn't have to be embarrassed around her, apparently that was only a one why street.

"A total of 15 members of the wizarding community have been found to have been submitted to the dementors' kiss," the voice on the wireless informed.

Severus pointed his wand at the radio and it fell silent.

"Sit," Severus told Rose as he stood.

Rose did as she was bid.

Severus did not know what to make of the pale, docile, and obedient creature before him.

Severus flicked his wand and a plate appeared in front of Rose, piled with bacon, eggs, and toast. Silverware rested itself beside the dish.

Rose gave Severus a fleeting look.

"Well go on," Severus said impatiently, standing over her.

Rose picked up a piece of toast and bit off the corner.

Severus continued to watch her expectantly. He circled the table once, eyeing Rose from top to bottom, looking for any signs of physical damage. He was making Rose feel like an exhibit in a zoo.

Rose picked up her fork and started on her eggs. "It good," she murmured, nothing like her usual self. "Thank you," she said, not looking Severus in the face, "and not just for the food."

Severus sighed and took his seat again across from her. "How are you feeling?" he asked, peering at her from the other side of the table.

Rose lifted her gaze from her breakfast and met her eyes with his. Her heart began to beat abnormally fast. 'Embarrassed,' she thought, 'I feel embarrassed and confused.' Rose took in a deep breath. "I feel completely healed," she said aloud. "All thanks to you."

Severus's face became stony, seemingly remembering Rose's state last night. "You shouldn't have been in that position at all," he told her.

"Yes, I know," Rose said, annoyance creeping into her tone, which was an improvement upon the dead voice she had adopted. "I know you think I was an idiot to have followed him."

Severus raised his eyebrows at her. "I never said you were an idiot," he returned, "I do think you were behaving like one."

Rose let out an errant little noise and rolled her eyes.

Severus's face grew hard again. "They attacked you because they saw you with me."

Rose let out a humorless laugh. "They called me a deatheater whore," she told Severus, "and they didn't even know the half of it."

Severus scowled deeply. "And you couldn't have done anything to stop them? Or hold them off?"

Rose frowned. "I was a little distracted," she admitted. "Besides, I have never been very good at defensive magic. Even if they had my full attention, I can almost guarantee you that the outcome would have been the same."

Severus's eyes flashed with anger. "Finish your food," he said, standing again. "Then meet me in the front room."

"Why," Rose asked.

Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "Because," he hissed, "we live in a world where people attack and murder other people. Especially, a young witch should at least know how to produce a decent shielding charm."

"I know how-"

"Have you even thought about what could have happened to you."

Rose swallowed a large gulp of air. Something about Severus's voice kept her from snapping back, 'Well of course, I've thought about what could have happened!' Instead Rose just looked at Severus curiously, struck by the hint of anguish in his tone. Rose wondered how Severus would have reacted if something permanent would have happened to her yesterday. He had said he could have killed them. Would he have?

In that moment, Rose questioned what her existence meant to Severus Snape.

"Finish eating," Severus said in a flat voice, "and then come into the other room." With that Severus left her alone in the kitchen, her mind buzzing.

Rose came into the front room about 5 minutes later. She had not been able to eat much more; she was too distracted.

The room was as she remembered it. It did not look much different in the day as it did in the night. It had a padded cell feel due to all the leather-bound books lining the walls on floor to ceiling shelve.

The chairs by the fireplace had been unceremoniously pushed aside, leaving the middle of the room clear.

Severus stood on the opposite end, waiting for her, wand in hand.

"Are we dueling?" Rose asked nervously. She probably could not hold off an eleven-year-old, let alone Severus Snape.

"I am going to attempt to attack you," Severus explained nonchalantly, "and you will attempt to defend yourself by any means possible."

"Severus, I-"

"Expelliarmus," Severus said lazily, and Rose's wand slid backwards out of her loose grip.

"I wasn't ready," Rose complained, looking back at her wand on the ground.

Severus charged towards her, and before Rose knew what was happening, she was being pushed against one of the bookcases.

She gazed up at Severus breathlessly. His forearm was across her chest, pinning her down. His wand was pointed at her throat. "No one cares if you're ready," he spat as he released her.

Rose's heart began to pound again; she knew it had nothing to do with Severus's sudden attack, well it did, but not for the right reasons. The surrounding air was filled with his scent and Rose's head was spinning.

Rose picked up her wand, but no sooner was she holding it, was it clattering to the ground once more.

"At least attempt to pay attention," Severus said with frustration.

Rose shook her head once as if she was shaking something off. She stood at the ready.

"Expelliarmus," Severus said again.

"Protego," Rose said, too late. Her wand was gone again. Rose was beginning to feel like a dog playing fetch after a stick.

"Focus," Severus shouted at her.

"Severus," Rose protested, "I told you, I'm no good at defensive magic, transfiguration, sure, potions, yes, but I don't think I-"

Her wand was on the floor yet again. This time Severus disarmed her nonverbally.

"Try harder," Severus said irritably.

Rose sighed. 'Protego,' she thought as Severus shot another spell at her.

No success.

"Close your mind," Severus told her. "I can see exactly what you are going to do before you do it."

Rose's eyes widened, "Don't use legilimency on me," she said angrily. She did not want Severus in her mind, especially at this moment. She thrusted her wand at him and his wand fell this time.

Rose looked at him smugly from across the room as he knelt to collect his wand.

Severus looked at her with raised brows before her wand was on the ground again.

Rose smiled at him slightly and Severus's eyes momentarily flashed with amusement.

The front room was ignited with flashes of colorful light as spell after spell was fired.

Rose was unable to disarm Severus again, but she was able to create a shield charm more times than not.

"At least you will have time to disapparate," Severus said to her. He stowed his wand back in his robes.

Rose kept her wand in her hand, just in case this was another test.

"Did I pass the class, Professor Snape?" Rose asked sarcastically.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I would give you an 'acceptable'" he told her. "You're not through yet."

"What else do you want me to do?" Rose asked.

"Produce a patronus," Severus told her. "You heard the wireless this morning, dementors are attacking people. They don't care if the dark lord is dead or not. They still need to feed."

Rose nodded once.

"Do you know how to produce a patronus?" Severus asked her drily.

"Yes," Rose said, mildly offended. She had always been proud that she could produce a full-bodied patronus. It was difficult magic and she knew not everyone could. Tiberius never could. "But I have never been faced with a dementor before." Rose had used her patronus as a means of communication or sometimes she would just produce one for fun.

"Well," Severus said impatiently.

Rose sighed and held up her wand. She tried to think of the happiest thought she could. She thought about Tiberius and the sound of his laughter. Although, all memories of Tiberius seemed to be laced with sorrow. Rose met Severus's eyes. She thought about how glad she had been when he had woken up for the first time. She thought about the relief she felt when she heard his voice disarm her attackers. She thought about how safe she felt when he was holding her last night.

"Expecto Patronum." Rose waved her wand and out the tip was a shimmering burst of silver light. That light formed together into the shape of a doe.

The silver doe glided around the room, filling the space with warmth and brightness.

Rose watched her patronus with amazement and shock. She lowered her wand and the beautiful disappeared.

"I don't understand," Rose mumbled to herself. She turned her attention to Severus. Severus was staring at the spot where the doe had last been. His brows were knit together; he looked utterly baffled by what he had just seen. "My patronus has always been a fox."

Rose watched as Severus's expression of confusion distorted into a look of fiery. He advanced on Rose. "What is your obsession with deatheaters?" he hissed at her in a way that made her wish he had shouted. "Saving them, pulling them into your life like rabid stray dogs."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Rose said with a shaking voice.

"I have no interest in filling some sort of void or obscene need that you must have," Severus said, his voice rising.

"Severus," Rose began. "What-"

"I'm not him!" Severus cut across her.

"Not who?" Rose asked, feeling puzzled and hurt. "Tiberius?" Anger began to burn in Rose at the look of repulsion that Severus was giving her. "You are nothing like Tiberius," she retorted.

"You need to leave," Severus said under his breath. Some of his rage seemed to be dissolving and was replaced with a pained expression that Rose had never seen on Severus's face before.

Rose stood there, watching Severus skeptically.

"Get out," Severus demanded in barely a whisper.

Tears brimmed in Rose's eyes as she gave him one last disdainful look before disapparating.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for following my story this far. Any ideas on what should happen next? I love to hear your theories, suggestions, and comments.

Sincerely,

Thora Jane