Disclaimer: this is all fanfiction. Rose Zeller is actually in the order of the phoenix. The world of harry potter is owned by JK Rowling~Sorry for the gap between updates, this chapter took a while to write, but, I think you'll find yourselves rewarded, this is my longest chapter yet! (Thanks to morganna12 for reviewing)~

Chapter 10- Rose

Merlin's beard, she was so stupid! Rose had only meant to please Jarred, and now he was probably more upset than ever. Why couldn't she hold her tongue? She laughed despite herself. Why couldn't she hold her wand? Rose felt terrible. She wished she could melt into the floor and die. If only she could stay in the closet forever, gaining a conscience no more significant than the splintered wood the dominated Jarred's bedroom closet. Rose spent what felt like eternity just staring at the wood, and rapping on the cool wood floor. TAP. Her fist knocked the floor. TAP! I wonder why Jarred is keeping all this junk...TAP! Wait, is that spello-tape? Her hand paused half an inch away from the ground. That's my initials! Carved onto the handle, wait, handle!?

She picked up a piece of scrap, and discovered not only her initials, but the lable; Baby Brooms 7. She shook her head. It pained her to think that she could've fixed it if Jarred hadn't been too nervous to give it back. Even though she wished the broom could've been whole back when she was young enough to use it, it didn't hurt her as much as some of her other concerns. Things that were Jarred's fault, not hers, were easier to cope with.

While Rose was trying to ignore their problems, Jarred seemed to want to confront them. "I have an idea." He announced after everything had been quiet for a while. "We just need to make sure we're quiet."

This was an unusual set of circumstances for Rose. She was used to being the one who made up the plan and having Jarred stay in his room until she was done. However, Rose felt much too tired and depressed to come up with anything. Plus, sitting in the closet was so boring, and so uncomfortable.

So, she followed Jarred out of the closet. They tumbled onto the hardwood floor, and had to adjust to the light. Two seconds into the plan, Jarred lets out a gasp, and scrunches up his face. 'I hit my toe' he mouthed, and Rose rolled her eyes.

Creak. They heard someone enter the hallway outside of Jarred's room. Rose put a finger to her lips, calling for silence. Jarred seemed to understand, for he bit back his pain, and nodded. They tiptoed to the slightly cracked door. Suddenly the door slammed open, and Jarred tumbled onto the floor. Rose managed to sneakily magic herself onto a torn pillow a few feet away. She couldn't let her mother know they had been trying to eavesdrop, it would make them seem even more guilty. Unfortunately, Cedonia saw right through Rose's false "oof" and her mother failed to fall for Rose's rather brilliant stumble. "Now, now Rose. Get up." Cedonia scolded.

Rose was too frightened to argue. She saw Jarred try to slink out of the room, but Cedonia gave him a look, and he sat back down. Everyone here knows this is my fault Rose realized and now I'm going to pay.

Rose followed her mother down a long dark corridor. She shivered, it was unusually cold for late august. She had so many questions, but no voice to ask them with. So, she walked in silence, only her thoughts of dread to keep her company.

After what felt like forever, they turned into a bright, yet dimly lit room. This surprised Rose, and as her eyes adjusted, she recognized the source of the strange lighting. There were beige oval windows casting just enough light to illuminate the lacy pink frills that covered, what Rose now saw to be an office, head to toe. Suddenly, a large figure emerged from behind the large desk, that took up most of the room. Rose hadn't even noticed they were there, for the figure blended almost perfectly into the bright office.

Of all her time visiting Uncle Lloyd at the ministry, she had never seen this person before, and Rose was glad. She could tell she was a witch, but she looked more like an oversized toad, or a very small hippo. She was wearing magenta robes, and had a black velvet bow, cushioned on top of short caramel brown hair. She had a smile on, but it didn't reach her eyes. Instead, it sent a shiver down Rose's back.

All Rose wanted to do was to flee the room and never see this frightening lady ever again. But, if she ever wanted to go to Hogwarts, she'd have to be brave. Just stare at your feet, Rose urged herself, It's like she's not even there. Just stare at your feet.

But, she was there, staring Rose down. Fear sunk into Rose's skin, she had to remind herself to breathe. You're over reacting, this is just a nice lady who is going to tell me everything is OK, and send me home with a warning. Even as she thought this, she knew it was a lie. A big fat lie.

Rose was powerless. She couldn't leave, she couldn't stop the flow of anxious thoughts from pouring down her subconscious. And she definitely couldn't turn the evil lady in the pink into the monster she was. All she could do was stand there, and wait. Eventually, she became aware that her mum, and the lady, were deep in conversation. Rose did her best to block it out.

"Hem, hem!" The lady exclaimed, so suddenly that it made Rose jump.

"Oh, Dolores, are you alright? I have a cough drop in my-" Cedonia started, but the lady shook her hand in dismissal.

"Oh, no dear. I was just calling over your daughter, Rose, Rose I'd like to speak to you." Rose backed away, making the lady laugh.

"Nothing to be afraid of now. It's understandable for you to be shy, it's not everyday you meet the senior under secretary to the Minister, is it? My name is Dolores Umbridge, but you'll be calling me 'professor'" Umbridge said, holding out a stubby fingered hand, Rose refused it.

"I'm not shy." Rose said finally "And with all due respect, I'm not here for small talk. I'm here for my sentence, professor."

"Rose!" Cedonia exclaimed, dismayed at Rose's rudeness "Mind our manners, please."

"Oh, Cedonia, Cedonia, darling. Rose here is just anxious, she doesn't mean to be rash." Rose glared at her, but didn't say anything. Umbridge obviously noticed this, for she added; " Now, that's a good girl. You know, you are very lucky."

Rose couldn't hold herself "Lucky! How am I lucky? I shouldn't be sitting before the senior undersecretary, I should be setting my suitcase by the door and be tucked into bed, dreaming of the next day when I board the train to Hogwarts."

Cedonia gave her a look, and Rose continued to glare at her feet, tears brimming her eyes, not quite dropping. "Now, I'm not saying her behavior will go unpunished, of course." Rose tried to keep her gaze calm, though at Umbridge's latest words, it was proving quite difficult. "Oh, no. There will definitely have to be consequences, now. Don't you think, Cedonia?"

Rose's mother let out his a sharp grunt that was more like a squeal. "Cedonia!" Umbridge shrieked, batting her eyes. "Manners. I asked you a question. Please respond in words, not mere shrillish noises."

Rose could tell that her mother was holding back a sharp reply. She admired Cedonia for that. If it had been her in her mother's place, she wouldn't have been nearly as polite as to say coolly, "I don't need reminding Dolores, you know. I'm not your student now, I'm a grown witch." Then, with a look of anguish she added "I'm sorry if I mumbled. I just didn't get what you were asking." She said this with equal, if not more coolness. Go MUM!

"I beg your pardon? I thought my question was pretty clear. As her parent wouldn't you like some imput in her punishment, or should it all be up to the ministry." Umbridge asked, testingly.

"Ha! You're right about something for once. She is my child. As much as I'd love for the ministry to interfere, it is highly unnecessary. Thank you, and goodbye." Cedonia turned to leave, pulling Rose bye the cuff of her sleeve.

"Hem, hem" coughed Umbridge, to no use. She tried again, louder, "Hem, Cedonia continued to drag her daughter out of the office, and away from the senior undersecretary. "Come back here!" Umbridge called, unnerved.

Soon, Umbridge found herself quite alone in that bright pink office, that, with the departure of Rose and her mother, felt a lot duller. "You will pay for this, Cedonia." Umbridge promised under her breath, "Soon after I get to Hogwarts, I'll have full control, and they will pay."