Chapter Two

Rose cracked open an eye, wincing as her head throbbed violently for a few moments before the pain eased to a dull ache, she felt sluggish and her eye sight was blurry.

"It's about time you woke up Ms Prince we were starting to get worried." A male nurse smiled as he approached her bed. "You've been asleep for nearly two weeks, your injuries have healed up nicely, though you left arm and leg will be sluggish for a few more days." He informed her as he picked up her chart from the end of the bed looking it over. "You'll probably have a limp for a few months as your leg was badly injured from flying debris." He looked her over, casting a few spells. "How are you feeling otherwise?"

"Confused." Her voice croaked and he poured her a glass of water and helped her drink it carefully. "Small headache and my eyes are blurry." She added her voice sounding nearly normal. "My family?"

"The headache will fade with time, as will the last of the bruises so move carefully for the next week." He told her before casting another spell at her eyes. "Your eyes will be fine in another few hours, it's left over from the concussion you had." He looked through the rest of her paper work with a small frown. "I'll have to ask at the desk about your family, there isn't anything here." He looked up and she could see sympathy in his eyes. "Just relax and try not to move around too much, lunch will be served in a little while, I'll be back in a bit." He placed her chart back at the end of her bed and left the ward.

She focused hard and managed to get her eyes to focus for a few moments, enough to see that half the ward was empty, with another three patients leaving at that very moment, looking a little worse for wear.

She leaned back in to her pillows and began slowly moving her legs, wincing as her left leg protested. Her chest and back ached a little but not enough for her worry, she slowly sat up and found the control wand and spelled her bed to move so she was sitting up.

She reached out and held the glass of water, slowly sipping down the rest of the glass, while slowly working her left arm that felt just as knotted up as her leg.

Lunch arrived, which was a thick broth with a few slices of bread and a tall glass of pumpkin juice to get her stomach used to food again.

She stared up at the ceiling as her eyes slowly came back in to focus, watching every now and then as more patients were released.

Her mind whirled with thoughts too fast for her to catch, her eyes burning with tears as a feeling of dread filled her about her family. It can't have been good if there was no information about them were in her file. All related family were linked through the hospital files so when asked the doctors only had to look and had all the information on hand.

"Ms Prince?" She looked over and saw the same nurse who had greeted when she woke waiting by her bedside.

"They didn't make it did they?" She asked through her tight throat.

"I'm afraid not, they died in the attack. We've managed to find your Uncle who has agreed to take you in as we couldn't find anyone else on record." He sat down on the edge of her bed and handed her a handkerchief. "Your family elves are packing up everything you will need and send it to your uncle, you are going to be transferred to a hospital closer to where he is so when you are released he can pick you up."

"Where is that exactly? I didn't know that I had any family in America?" She asked forlornly.

"You don't." He sighed. "He lives in England, he teaches at a school in Scotland and has made arrangements for you to attend there." He pulled two letters out of his pocket. "These were waiting at the front desk for you…"

Rose took them with shaking hands and slowly opened them and let out a relieved sigh.

"My friends made it…" She gave a half sob, half laugh. "They were right behind me…"

"A lot of people are luck to be alive after that attack." He gave her a watery smile. "I lost family and friends too."

"Did any one claim responsibility?" Rose asked quietly.

"No and that has a lot of people worried." He watched her carefully for a moment. "Here." He opened a draw and pulled our some parchment, ink and quill. "Write to your friends and I'll see that it gets sent off later."

"Thank you." She gave him a small smile. "When do I get transferred?"

"In an hour or two." He gave her shoulder a squeeze before leaving.

With a tired sigh she wrote out two letters to her friends, asking about other friends and their families, telling them about her uncle in England and that she was leaving shortly and didn't really have a choice in the matter until next year but she expected to hear from them regularly so they could keep in contact.

She blew the ink dry and then folded them up into envelopes and addressed them before carefully curling up on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

0000

She woke disoriented to find her self in a private room, a set of clothes waiting on a chair near by with a black cane with a silver phoenix with it's wings spread for a handle.

She glanced down at her left wrist and saw that it was different to the one she had on earlier. It now said Saint Mungo's.

She slowly sat up and glanced up at the door as it opened and a cheerful nurse stepped into the room.

"Morning Dear, you slept through the night. How are you feeling?"

"Confused…where am I?"

"You in Saint Mungo's dear, you were transferred here just before dinner, from Saint Aradia's." She quickly flipped through her file. "You'll need the cane to get around for the next few months, no flying, take things slowly." She wrote a few things down. "Do you think you can shower on your own Or would you like a hand?" She gestured to another door in the room.

"I don't know, I haven't even tried standing yet." She replied a little dazed.

"Dear, how long have you been awake…since you were injured I mean?" She asked looking a little concerned.

"A few hours maybe?"

"Oh dear, no wonder you sound so dazed. Well let's try standing and see how you go." The nurse helped her out of bed holding her steady on her right side as her feet touched the floor. Rose took a few unsteady steps before her left leg gave out completely. "Maybe a bath would be easier for you." The nurse suggested as they slowly made it into the small bathroom.

"I'll manage." Rose gave her a tight smile, as the nurse turned on the shower.

"I'll be right out side if you need me." The nurse looked a little hesitant to leave her but did leave.

Rose stripped off her gown and used the bars on the walls to get into the shower and scrubbed herself carefully, wincing as she found a few bruises. She found that her left arm moved a lot better then it had yesterday. She found a few scars on her upper arms, her stomach, thighs and her left leg had a long scar from hip to heel, along with a few faint burn scars.

She shuddered and scrubbed her hair twice before stepping out of the shower and wrapping up in towels before calling the nurse back in who thankfully brought the clothes with her.

As she dressed, a little embarrassed at being watched, the nurse applied a balm to her scars that she said would help them fade and help the damage tissues underneath to heal faster.

"Your Uncle has a small stock of this balm for you to use, apply it every day, twice a day on your leg and arm." She instructed and gestured her to turn around. "You have six scars on your back that some one else will have to apply the balm to."

"Do you think any will be permanent?" She asked as the nurse finished up and she continued to dress.

"I think three on your back will be and the one on your left arm." She sighed as she looked at her face and dabbed in two places. "The one on your right cheek will scar but it will be faint, and you have another across you left eye with will also scar, you are lucky to have you sight in that eye."

Rose looked at her solemnly. "No, I'm lucky to be alive at all with so little damage."

"What do you mean?" The nurse looked up startled.

"There was an attack on Murdock Alley in LA two weeks ago."

"We heard about it." The nurse nodded. "Lucky that no one died."

"No one died?" Rose scoffed choking back tears and sobs. "Last count was over a hundred and thirty dead with more bodies still being found in the rubble and over three hundred injured." Rose crumpled "No one died? My entire family is dead…"

"We were told that no one died…" The nurse breathed before pulling her into a gentle hug. "It wouldn't be the first time we were lied to by our paper." She murmured angrily. She tugged the towel off her head and cast a drying spell and then ran a brush through her hair. "Would you like you hair up?"

"Half please." Rose whispered hoarsely as she tried to get herself back under control and wiped away her tears, pushing her grief away again. She would deal with it later.

There was a tap on the bathroom door.

"Mary?" A male voice called out.

"Just a minute Jim" She called back as she finished putting up half the girl's hair. "There you are dear." She wet a cloth and quickly cleaned up her face and helped her to her feet and back to the bed. "What is it Jim?" She asked as she opened the side draw and pulled out the girls jewellery.

"Her Uncle has been caught up with business so he sent Mr Lupin to pick up Ms Prince." Jim replied handing over a small note.

Mary read it quickly.

"Dear, your Uncle has been delayed so he sent a friend to pick you up, he will take you back to your Uncle's place and keep you company until he can get there." Mary told her with a small smile.

"Okay." Rose nodded as she pulled on the gold rose locket, a gold charm bracelet and a small gold rose ring on her right hand.

Mary handed her the cane and cut the wrist band off her left arm.

"Mr Lupin has already sighed the release papers, and been given a copy of your file for your uncle and the school nurse when you return to school." Mary then walked with her to the arrivals area and looked about. "Mr Lupin" She called out and smiled as a middle aged man with greying brown hair stepped forward. "You take care dear, and remember to take things slow."

"I will, thank you." Rose gave her a small weak smile.

"How are you feeling?" Mr Lupin asked in a soft voice as they slowly made their way to the floo system.

"Tired." Rose admitted. "I've only been awake for a little while." She stared at the floo uneasily. "I don't think I can Floo on my own…"

"It's okay, I can take you through with me." He assured her as their turn came up, he carefully held her as they stepped into the fire as he threw the powder into the flames and called out a name that she didn't catch.

Her leg gave out as they came out of another floo and Mr Lupin held her steady, until her leg held her weight. "Thank you." She said softly.

"Your welcome, you can wait in the lounge room until Severus arrives." He led her to the lounge room and watched as she very nearly collapsed into the seat.

"What exactly is my Uncle's name? No one told me." She asked tiredly leaning back, shifting slightly to take all the weight off her leg.

"Severus Snape." Mr Lupin looked over her for a moment. "You didn't know about him did you?"

"No." She shook her head, staring into the flames. "Some how I doubt he knew about me either. My father never talked about his family…" Her voice hitched a little. "Snape…how is he related?"

"His mother was a Prince."

"Then he is a cousin." She nodded in understanding.

"My brother actually took on our mother's maiden name when he left England." A deep silky voice corrected her.

She turned her head and spotted a tall man dressed completely in black, his black hair barely reaching his shoulders, looking a little greasy. His hooked nose was crooked and his onyx eyes were blank, his face was pale and a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Uncle." She dipped her head slightly in respect.

"What exactly happened? All I was told was that they were dead, and there was no one else to take you." He inquired his voice flat, void of emotion.

"There was an Attack on Murdock Alley, some sort of explosion, I still don't know exactly what happened. I only woke yesterday." Her own voice flat. "I heard that over a hundred and thirty were killed, more were still being found, three hundred injured."

"Her medical file." Mr Lupin handed the thick file to her uncle.

She closed her eyes as her leg began to throb, she guessed that the pain potion she had been given earlier had worn off. She could heard pages being turned, along with the crackling of the fire.

"Are you alright?" Lupin asked.

"Pain potion is wearing off." Rose replied softly.

"It'll be another three hours before I can give you any more." Severus commented with a soft sigh. "When did you last eat? It only says here that you had some broth yesterday morning."

"That's when I last ate." She shrugged.

"I'll order something from the kitchens." Lupin got up and headed out of the room.

"Soft foods Remus, she hasn't eaten in two weeks." Severus called out after him. "Sean never told you about me at all did he?"

"No."

"Understandable, we didn't part on the best of terms." He sighed. "He did tell me about you and Lucas though, I used to get long letters and a few photos once a year from your mother." He set the file down and made his way slowly to her side. "Can you walk? I'll show you to you room, we won't be making it to the Manor this year."

"Where are we then?" She asked looking about the room.

"Hogwarts, my quarters." He saw her raised eyebrow and smirked slightly. "It's a school."

"Oh." She nodded slightly. "I don't think I can walk right now." She answered his earlier question.

He nodded and carefully picked her up and carried her out of the room and down a short corridor and turned left in to a medium size room. It was royal blue and cream in colour with dark coloured wood furniture. He settled her down with ease on the bed propped up on pillows and set her cane against the bedside table.

"The bathroom is down the hall towards the lounge on the right, your trunks are stacked up in that corner." He gestured to the far wall. "A house elf will be by later to unpack them for you…" He hesitated. "I'll be honest Rose, I don't know what to do with you, I am not good with children no matter their age or with emotions."

"Just give me time." She answered softly, looking down at her lap.

"I'll make sure that the balm you need is ready by morning…I'm afraid that Remus will have to apply it to your back…I have to leave for a few days to deal with a few things."

"I won't be in the way, Uncle. You don't need to change any plans just because I am here now…." She looked up at him for a moment. "Though when I am able to get around a bit…do you have a potions lab I can use?"

"There is one down the hall out side, I'll set it up for you. Jean did say you were quiet good at potions." He smiled faintly. "I'll leave out a list of potions that I have supplies for after I finish going through your school file with the headmaster."

"That's fine." She nodded as Remus came in with a tray of food and set in carefully on her lap.

"When do you have to go?" Remus asked looking up at him.

"An hour or so, I'll take the medical up to Poppy and get her to look it over, talk to Albus, get a little bit of paper work done and then head off…" He watched Remus for a moment. "Are you sure…"

"Yes, I'm sure, don't worry about it." He gave Severus a faint smile. "When does Draco arrive?"

"Four weeks." He looked at Rose. "Draco is my godson, he visits every holiday." He explained.

Rose nodded and tucked into her very thick broth and hot tea. She watched them out of the corner of her eye as they moved to the hallway, talking softly as she finished her broth and sipped at the tea, letting it sooth her throat and settled back into her pillows closing her eyes for a moment.

She felt gentle hands ease the cup out of her relaxing grip and the tray lifted from her lap, before she was caringly lifted and heard the rustle of sheets and gently placed back down and her shoes removed. The thick blanket was gently placed over her and she slid into a slightly deeper sleep but could still hear everything.

"I didn't think she would fall asleep that fast." Remus murmured in concern. "She said she was tired but she's only been awake a few hours."

"It's the balm and the potions she is on." Severus sighed. "The balm is speeding up her healing, and the best thing for healing is sleep. See if you can coax her to have a pain potion in three hours with out waking her too much." Gentle fingers tucked some hair out of her face. "She is exhausted and hasn't had time to grieve properly. I don't think that it has really hit her yet…"

"Nightmares?"

"Definitely. Albus needs to know about this attack and that it was much worse then the Daily Profit reported." He sighed. "Just keep an eye on her, when she feels up to it take her to the lab a few doors down, work will probably help her." The rustling of clothes got softer and the door closed and Rose sunk deeper into sleep.

0000

"Rose." A soft voice called to her and she moan in pain as she returned to consciousness. "Here drink this…" A phial was held to her lips and she heard a chuckle as she sniffed deeply first before opening her mouth and swallowed the pain potion. "You are definitely related to Severus." A hand eased her back down into the pillows. "Get some more sleep, you need it…"

"Remus are you here?" A old whispery voice called out. She heard Remus move away. "Ah there you are…" The voice trailed off. "This is Severus's niece?"

"Yes."

"How is she?"

"Physically she is getting better, Severus said according to her medical file she'll have a few permanent scars and a limp for the next six months if not a year." Remus sighed.

"Emotionally?" The old voice sounded very tired and concerned.

"She's a mess. All up she has only been awake for about six hours since the attack. She has already had four night mares in the last seven hours." Remus sounded worried.

"You should get some rest yourself, Remus. You'll be no good to anyone exhausted." The voice chided him.

"I know Albus, but she can barely walk, some one needs to be here in case she wakes and needs the bathroom…" He hesitated for a moment, "And we don't know how she is going to react when her family's death finally sinks in."

"Lucas…" Rose murmured, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Her little brother, he was only four." Remus commented quietly.

"I'm trying to get in contact with a few old friends in LA to find out exactly what is going on, things really are a mess at the moment over there." Albus sighed. "Get a house elf to watch her Remus, they can wake you if she needs you. You need to rest."

"Any news from Harry?"

"That's the reason I came down, I got a letter. He is studying in his room, his relatives are ignoring him mostly, Tonks and Made eye are watching him at the moment. They will be able retrieve him in a few more days, the wards are almost charged, here and there."

"Will he be coming here? Or to Grimmauld place?" Remus asked sounding a little relieved.

"Here I think will be best, he can get a little bit of training here with out getting into trouble." Albus chuckled. "Get some rest."

Rose rolled to get a little bit more comfortable, the pain dimming completely and settled back into sleep.

0000

Rose woke feeling much better, she laid there for a little while letting her memory catch up with her before slowly sitting up, grimacing as her leg protested movement. She looked to where her trunks were and blinked when she realised that they were no longer there and remembered that Uncle Severus said that the house elves would unpack for her.

She got a grip on her cane and limped painfully over to the wardrobe and draws and pulled out clothes to wear, settling on jeans, slip on sneakers and a low cut back blue top so her scars could be treated and dressed slowly, biting back whimpers of pain as she got her leg into the jeans, socks and shoes, after treating the scars she could see from the jar of balm on her bedside table.

She tucked the jar in her pocket and painfully made her way to the bathroom, emptied her near bursting bladder, brushed her teeth and her hair and made her way to the lounge room and sank down gratefully into a chair and set the jar down on the table.

She massaged her leg through her pants, sighing in relief as she felt one of the knotted muscles relax.

"Is Miss Rose hungry?" A low squeaky voice asked.

She turned and spotted a house elf near by and smiled. "A little." She nodded.

"What can Toddy get Miss Rose?" Toddy asked eagerly.

"Toast, scrambled eggs and hot black tea with two sugars please." She requested.

"Toddy show Miss Rose Dinning room" The elf gestured for her to follow.

Rose gritted her teeth as she got back to her feet and leaned heavily on the cane into another room, which had a dining table that seated four, with a small kitchen in the back.

"Toddy be right back with food." He said before popping out of the room.

Rose eased into a chair and leaned her cane against the table and began massaging her leg again.

"Morning Rose." A sleepy Remus came into the room, before pausing taking in her appearance. "Potion." He muttered heading into the kitchen and returned a few moments and handed her a phial.

"Morning Mr Lupin." She greeted him in return and sniffed at the phial before chugging it back quickly.

"Call me Remus please…too early for Mr." He muttered as he slid into a chair rubbing at his eyes. "You look better then yesterday."

"Feel better." She gave him a small smile. "I actually feel awake, instead of in a daze." She dove for the tea cup that arrived and hummed in appreciation at the taste, watching as Remus helped himself to the tea pot and dug into his bacon, eggs, sausages and toast.

"I didn't think that many American's liked going with out their coffee." He commented a few minutes later looking much more awake as he poured out his second cup of tea.

"Most don't. I can't stand it, horrible stuff." She shuddered. "It's just hard to find good tea there." She finished off her tea and poured a second before digging back into her breakfast. "My friend Carrie, she couldn't get started with out at least two cups of coffee to get her moving in the morning." She chuckled and shook her head.

"Sounds like me with my tea." Remus chuckled. "I'm no good with out my morning tea." He finished off his meal. "Did you put the balm on?"

"Yes, except my back and face." She nodded. "I left the jar in the lounge."

Remus left the room and returned with the jar and quickly applied it to her scars on her back when she lent forward, and then did the same for her face. He placed the jar on the table and then washed his hands in the kitchen.

"Poppy is going to want to check you over later, she is the school nurse." He informed her as he poured a third cup of tea. "She'll be coming down here until you are able to go more then a few feet with out pain, as the hospital wing in on the other side of the castle, a good twenty minute walk from here, at a good speed."

"Hogwarts is a castle?" Rose asked in surprise.

"Yes, a very old castle." Remus smiled. "With lots of steps…which maybe a problem for you for awhile."

"Give me time and I'll get there." Rose shrugged. "Give a week or two and I'll have no problem getting around these rooms." She looked down at her leg. "I just hope I'll be able to get around by the time school starts again."

"We'll see how things go." Remus replied with a small sigh. "If you can't then you may need a tutor, but we'll deal with that when the time comes." He finished off his cup and set it down near the pot, a few moments later all the dishes disappeared. "What do you want to do today?

"I thought I might go through what the elves sent and then settle down on the couch with a book for awhile." Rose replied thinking about it for a moment. "I don't want to undo the good healing with moving around too much too fast."

"Understandable." Remus nodded. "I've got a bit of my own paper work to get done to get ready for next term and hand it in to the headmaster."

"You're teaching?"

"Yes, the headmaster asked me to return this year." He nodded as stood. "I should be back in a few hours, if you need me call for a house elf to come and get me."

"I will." She nodded and she got a hold of her cane and made her way back to her room and took a long look at it. A wardrobe that was bigger on the inside then on the out side and a chested draws held all her clothes, cloaks, shoes, belts, robes and coats; stood at the far corner out of the way.

On the wall with the door stood a seven foot tall nine foot wide book shelf holding all her books that she had collected over the last six years for all her classes and hobbies, plus a few from the family library.

In a few blank places on her walls stood paintings that she had done, mainly landscapes but a few of friends and family. She moved slowly to the family portrait that she had finished just last month but hadn't gotten time to spell it so they would move. She had already done to other spells so they were like her family, those spells had taken her two years to learn after one of her teachers had found that she had a real talent for portraits. It was how she had made a little bit of pocket money while at school doing cheap portraits for her school friends to practice.

She reached out a hand and gently caressed the painting, feeling a few tears slide down her cheeks.

"I miss you." She whispered before taking the picture down and curling up with it on her bed and pulled a pillow tight to her chest and dissolved into tears, finally letting her grief out.

She felt like she was drowning, and choking on her sobs not quiet able to get enough air to breathe.

"Oh Rose." A sad and tender male voice breathed and she felt her felt being pulled up and arms wrapping around her and holding her tight, rubbing her shoulders and stroking her hair, whispering words that she could make out. Feeling those arms anchor her and the words that spoke of understanding, she held nothing back crying herself into exhaustion.

0000

She woke with a sore throat, her eyes gritty and swollen and feeling like a wet dishrag and her leg throbbing in pain.

She slowly pulled herself out of her blankets and caught sight of the portrait leaning against her bedside table and gave it a watery smile before grabbing her cane and hissed her way to the bathroom and washed her face and went to cast a few refreshing charms before remembering she didn't have her want on her and hadn't seen it since the attack.

Cursing and muttering under her breath she made her way to the lounge and found Remus reading on the couch.

"How are feeling?" He asked sitting up straight after catching sight of her.

"Like a wet rag, but better." She shrugged, her voice a little scratchy. "Have you seen my wand? It wasn't with my things."

"Accio Rose's wand." He called out pulling out his own wand but no wand appeared, he frowned and gestured for her to wait and made his way down to her room and she heard him cast again and came back still frowning. "I'll get in contact with Saint Mungo's but it is possible that it was lost."

"I really liked that wand." She sighed and slumped down in her seat whimpering as leg twisted a little.

"I'll get you a potion, it's been a few hours since your last one." He said as he hurried out of the room and returned with a phial.

She drank it down quickly and made a face. "I'm not going to be able to take this one much longer." She sighed as she handed him back the empty phial.

"Why not?"

"It's addictive, it can't be taken for more then a week." She answered with a small frown. "I'll have to change to one of the less potent ones, it's not as powerful and not addictive but I'll have to take it more often."

"Know your potions then." He smiled.

"One of my best subjects." She nodded. "I'm average in nearly all my classes, except for the arts."

"The arts?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Potions, healing, portrait making, music and carving" She explained with a smile.

"You did those paintings?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes." She nodded.

"What's your worst class?" He asked with a impressed look.

"DADA and Transfiguration." She sighed. "I never get better then A's."

"Hmm maybe I can help, I'll be teaching DADA."

"Won't help." She shook her head. "I've had two years of tutoring with the teacher and friends that get good marks and I still couldn't get good marks. The Professors just said that they weren't my areas considering what I am good at."

"It's going to be hard for you here then." Remus sighed. "We only teach Potions out of your good subjects and Severus runs that with an Iron fist and sharp tongue."

"Hmm, I'll get by." She shrugged. "What am I going to do about a wand?"

"Well, if it wasn't sent along with you then they didn't find it so we'll have to get you a new one." He studied her for a few moments. "We can go in a week or two when you can get around easier. As it is you are not supposed to use magic during the holidays."

"What?" She cried in disappointment.

"You don't have that law in America?" He asked in surprise.

"Legal age for magic is Sixteen in LA." She sulked.

"It's seventeen here, but as you are staying at the school, technically you can get away with it." He gave her a sly wink.

"I can't do any of my hobbies with out my wand…and I need new clothes and more supplies…" She sighed. "That's why we were at the alley that day, we hadn't even had a chance to get anything, we'd only just arrived and met up with my friends." She dashed away a stray tear that slid down her cheek.

"Do you have your Gringotts key? We can owl order most of what you need I'm sure." He offered with an understanding smile.

"Yeah I have it." She gestured to her charm bracelet.

"I'll get some catalogues from all the stores, you write a note to Gringotts and get an account set up for the shops you need to buy from until we can get there in person." He stood up.

"But I need a wand to do the ordering." She pointed out to him.

"Alright." He sighed. "We'll go tomorrow, that way you can take your time getting every where, it's after lunch now and I have an appointment with Albus that will take a few hours."

"That's fine." She gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you Remus."

"It is no problem." He returned the smile. "Send Toddy for me if you need me, I need to go before I am late."

"Will do." She nodded and returned to her room. She put the portrait back in place and scanned through her books before pulling out one and curled up on her bed before calling Toddy and requesting Tea and some sandwiches and settled down to read.

0000

Rose wasn't sure how long she had been lost in her book when a female voice calling out for Remus jolted her out of the story. She grabbed her cane and made her way to the lounge and saw a woman in her late forties frowning before she huffed.

"Can I help you?" Rose asked as she entered the room.

"Oh hello dear, you must be Rose." She smiled. "I'm Madame Poppy Pomphrey."

"Ah the School nurse." She nodded and took a seat. "Remus mentioned that you would be coming by."

"Where is that rascal?" Poppy scowled.

"He's in a meeting with the headmaster." Rose shrugged.

"Well, I've been through your file, but would like to run a few diagnostic spells just to see how you are doing." She gestured with her wand.

"That's fine." Rose nodded and settled back into the chair.

"How is your leg? The doctors said that it was the worst injury." Poppy asked casting spells.

"Painful." Rose grimaced. "I'm on strong pain potions every six hours just so I can walk around with out pain or even just sit." She looked up at the nurse and saw the concerned look. "I'll have to come off them by the end of the week and put on to the slightly weaker ones, or I'll get addicted."

"You know your potions then." She nodded looking a little relieved. "According to the records you've only been awake for just under three days is the correct?"

"Yes, I was only awake for two hours before they put me back to sleep for the hospital transfer to Saint Mungo's and I was only awake for an hour before Remus picked me up, awake for a further hour or so before falling back asleep." Rose nodded.

"And how long were awake today?" She asked taking a few notes.

"Two hours before I cried myself to sleep for three hours, I've been up for four hours." Rose replied after thinking for a few moments.

"Alright I want you to change potions now, rather then later, not more then six phials a day, if you need more then get Remus to call me down and I'll give you another check over to make sure that we haven't missed anything." She pulled a small case out and handed it to her. "The case will refill every morning so I can monitor your doses."

"Can the change over wait until tomorrow afternoon?" Rose asked biting her lip.

"Why?" Poppy frowned at her.

"Remus is taking me to Diagon Alley so I can replace my wand, it was lost." Rose explained.

"Alright but no more then three phials tomorrow." Poppy agreed reluctantly and wrote out a note. "Give this to Remus, so he knows what changes we've made. Did they actually tell you what damaged your leg?"

"Only that I'd have a limp for a few months." Rose shook her head.

"Hmm, they probably weren't sure." She sighed. "There is a small chance that the limp could be permanent, there is a lot of muscle scaring that can't be seen visually. Keep using the balm and we'll see how things are next month…" She pulled another jar out of her bag and handed it to her. "This is a muscle relaxant, it'll help when you leg gets bad, also use it before you have to walk more then twenty meters it will take some of the strain off." She looked over her notes. "Try not to sleep more then nine hours a day after next week, but if you are too tired then by all means nap, it this sleeping pattern keeps up for more then two weeks tell me and I'll look into it." She packed away everything. "I'll be back next week to look you over again and see how you scars are healing."

"Well the nurse told me that they already look a lot better then they did." Rose sighed.

"Well that is good news, take it easy for today and use that relaxant before bed and before you go out tomorrow."

"I will, thank you."

"You are very welcome dear." She smiled and then left.

Rose went back to her room and called Toddy for a small dinner, ate, changed for bed and settled down to read for another hour before turning in for the night, only to have to get up again, massage her leg and return to sleep.

0000

Rose woke to Toddy calling her name.

"What is it Toddy?" She asked groggily slowly sitting up.

"Master Remus is asked Toddy to wake Miss Rose so you can get ready to go shopping." The elf squeaked.

"Thank you Toddy." She nodded blearily and stumbled her way to the bathroom, showered and wrapped herself up in towels when she realised that she had forgotten to grab clothes. She doctored her self with her all her medication and dressed in a dark green robe and joined Remus at the dinning table with a mumbled greeting.

She gulped down two cups of tea before she realised that Remus was trying not to laugh at her.

"Didn't sleep well?" He asked with a small chuckle.

"I slept like a log, probably why I am have so much trouble." She shrugged and ate her toast.

"Well go to Gringotts first, get you some spending money and set up accounts at some of the local stores before we go and get your wand…you may need to bring a spare pain potion, there will be a lot of walking." He informed her.

"What if I wrote out a list of what I need and while I am getting my wand and a few robes you can grab everything else?" She suggested with a small frown. "That should cut down the amount of walking I have to do."

"Yes that would be a good idea Rose." He nodded in agreement and left the room for a moment and returned with a never out quill and parchment.

She quickly but clearly wrote the potion ingredients that she need for her portrait paints, she needed new brushes and canvas's, two new robes, a wand, a painting robe, and new hide gloves.

She wrote down exactly what type and how many brushes and canvas's that she needed. She handed the list to Remus and stood.

"I'll get all of this while you are getting your wand and robe…Oh I forgot your back." He shook his head as he remembered.

"It can be doctored tonight, it pains me not a few hours will make no difference." She waved him off. "When do we leave?"

"In a few moments."

"I get my cloak." She nodded and made her way down to her room and easily swung her cloak over her shoulders and slipped her spare pain phial in to her pocket and made sure that she had a firm grip on her cane and rejoined Remus in the lounge before he lead her into what appeared to be a study.

"We will be flooing to the Leaky Cauldron. Would you like a hand? The landing can be quiet abrupt." Remus spoke as he picked up a handful of floo powder.

"The less jostling I get now the better." She nodded in understanding and gave him a soft smile as he wrapped an arm around her waist and tossed in the powder and called out the pubs name and stepped through holding her steady.

He caught her easily as she buckled during the landing and helped her away from the fire.

"Alright Rose?" He asked when he realised that her leg was not coming back under her control.

"A moment." Her voice pleaded softly.

He lead her to a seat and helped her sit and crouched in front of her. "Are you in pain?" He asked softly.

"No, no pain it just gave out on me." She shook her head, as she massaged her knee for a moment.

He helped her to rise when she gestured that she was ready. He lead her to Gringotts where they quickly dealt with and she handed Remus one of the small pouches of money and made her way to Ollivanders.

She stepped into the shop and smiled as she spotted the man easily in the shadows.

"Good Morn Ollivander, Master Wand Marker." She greeted him formally.

"Good Morn Miss." He replied his eyes sparkled and chuckled. "How may I help you?"

"I need a replacement wand, my own was lost nearly three weeks ago in America. It was a special one to me…it was a brother wand to my own father." She replied with a sad smile.

"And the brother?" He inquired.

"Destroyed as far as I know, along with my own." She sighed. "Destroyed in the Attack in LA."

"Sad story that, what was your wand Miss…"

"Miss Rose Prince" She introduced herself. "It was ten inches, white holly with two foal unicorn tail hairs."

"Two hairs?" He blinked in surprise. "That is rare, tell me Miss Prince what is your talent?" He asked shrewdly.

"I am a painter and carver, Sir." She smiled.

"A true painter?" He asked his eyes lighting up.

"Yes sir, My talent was found early when I was twelve, I have spent the last four years being trained, properly. I have spent the last two years practicing on other students, charging only a few knuts in payment." She nodded.

"Well let us see if we can find a wand that will suit you here." He pulled a few choices out of his stock and one by one they made their way through, them until they finally got one to give of bright swirls of magic. "White Oak, nine inches, phoenix feather and unicorn tail hair." He informed her with a bright smile. "Almost as rare as your first wand, Miss Prince." He studied her for a moment. "Did you pass the tests?" He inquired vaguely.

"I did." She nodded and watched as he cast a few spells on her wand.

"You are a Master, Miss Rose, no law of underage magic can hold you. You can now use your magic with no fear or reprisals." He grinned at her.

"Thank you Mr Ollivander, how much for the wand?"

"Eight Gallons, Miss Rose"

She counted out the money and handed it over with a smile. "Good Day Master Wand Maker."

"Good Day Master Painter." He nodded in return.

She made her way awkwardly to Madame Malkin's through the crowd and easily made her order of the two robes she needed, along with a good sturdy second hand robe to be used for painting, before remembering that she would need School robes and ordered them as well, making sure that enough room was left in the hem that they could be let down if she needed too and ordered a few pairs of shoes.

She was paying at the counter when Remus arrived.

"Mr Lupin, is there anything I can do for you today?" Madame Malkin asked brightly.

"Not today, Madame, I am just here to escort Rose." He shook his head with a smile. "Are you all finished?"

"Yes, Remus." She nodded hiding a wince as she felt her leg seize for a few moments before it decided that walking was a good idea. "Did you get everything?" She asked as they walked slowly out of the store with Rose's shopping and made their way back to the pub. She was surprised that it hadn't taken more then two and a half hours to get it all done.

"Yes I got everything on the list, exactly as you had it all written down, along with catalogues so you can owl order in the future and set up accounts with the shop owners too." He nodded.

"Good, that will make things easier." She nodded in agreement.

"Are you all set to head back?"

"Yes, I think my leg has had enough." She nodded as they entered the pub and headed straight for the floo. Once again Remus held her tightly and flooed with her back to Hogwarts.

"Is there anything you need?" He asked as he walked with her back to her room and set the bags down on her bed.

"Is there a spare room?" She asked thinking. "I would like to set up my painting supplies so I have something to do when I am not reading."

"There isn't at the moment no." He shook his head. "But I can ask the headmaster. It won't take too much for him to have another room set up for you." Remus assured her.

"If you don't think it would be a bother…" She said hesitantly.

"No bother Rose." He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I'll talk to him after lunch, but for now is there anything you want to do?"

"I might take my supplies to the lab and start on a few potions." She mused digging through the bags that Remus had set down, and dragged over one of the emptied trunks and placed her potions supplies in it. Before finding the pots that he had also bought for the paints after they were made, and added them to the trunk.

"The good thing about you being in the school is that you don't have to worry about getting letters telling you not to use magic." He grinned at her.

She just gave him a serene smile and dug through her old supplies that she already had and added them to the trunk before closing the lid. "Could you show me to the lab that Uncle Severus said I could use?"

"Of course." He nodded and chuckled as she flicked a moricorpus spell at her trunk so it would follow them. "It's three doors down." They left the quarters. "The password is Dunderheads at the moment." He gestured to the portrait and showed her to the clean lab three doors down.

A note sat on the table for her and ingredients were set up in a cabinet near by, with the cauldrons lined up on the bench by the wall.

She set her trunk down and opened the note and smiled as she read.

Rose,

Feel free to brew what ever you see fit, your scores and tests show that you are capable of brewing so I shall trust you judgement for the moment. Though if you could keep a list of what you brew so I know what you are doing would be appreciated, so I can test them later.

Uncle Severus.

"Uncle Severus says I can brew what I like." She chuckled.

"Will you be okay for a few hours?" He asked with a small chuckle of his own.

"Oh yes I'll be fine." She nodded. "I'll be back for dinner"

"Alright, send Toddy if you need me." He said as he left her to brew.

She spent the next few hours brewing her paints, taking care with each colour and casting the spells that they needed to be used correctly. She carefully poured each one into a it's own pot, casting a few more spells before sealing the lids.

"Miss Rose is to return for dinner" Toddy said as he popped into the room.

"Thank you Toddy." She nodded and set the used cauldrons at the sink to soak, so when she came back she could easily clean them. She scrubbed her hands carefully to removed all traces of the potions she had used before making her way slowly back to her rooms.

"Good brewing?" Remus asked as she took a seat with a tired sigh.

"Oh yes." She gave him a tired and pained grin.

"Albus has made a second room for you to use for you hobbies across from your own room." He informed her with a smile as food arrived. "How are you feeling other wise?"

"Tired." She yawned. "My leg is really starting to ache though."

"Have you taken more potion?" Remus asked with a small frown.

"Two of the new pain potion Poppy gave me." She nodded. "I needed it to complete my brewing."

"That can't be good Rose, you were only brewing for four hours." He looked at her in concerned. "Maybe you should have stopped brewing if you were in that much pain."

"Once started they had to be finished or it would have been ruined." She shook her head.

"This new potion isn't strong enough is it?" He asked softly.

"We shall see." She shrugged as she picked at her food, not really all that hungry. After awhile she gave up pretending to eat and set her utensils down and stood gripping her cane. "I'm tired Remus, I'm going to bed." She stated softly and left the room with her limp more pronounced then Remus had ever seen it.

She collapsed on to her bed too tired to change and hugged a thick pillow to her chest and quietly sobbed herself to sleep, wishing the pain would stop.

0000

Remus watched over her as she tossed and turned restlessly in her sleep, whimpering and even crying out in pain.

After an hour he could no longer stand her cries and called Poppy down to look her over, watching his worry clear on his face as she cast spell after spell.

"She has strained her leg a bit, the pain has exhausted her." Poppy sighed. "The potions I gave her did work but from what I read of her system they are only last two hours against the pain. There really is nothing that I can do Remus, if I give her more of the stronger pain potion she is at high risk of becoming addicted and she knows that."

"In other words she is just going to have to grit her teeth and bare it." Remus sighed.

"Just so." Poppy nodded sadly. "When is Severus due back?"

"I don't know for sure. He said he should only be gone three or four days, but if he was going to be longer then he would send word."

"It maybe best for her to stay in bed for a few days, limited movement, bathroom trips with an arm to lean on. The only thing we can do at the moment is take it one week at a time and see how her leg reacts." Poppy suggested, adding a few notes in a file she pulled out of her apron.

"Do you think she would be able to sit and do something?" Remus asked looking at a painting hanging on the wall. "She loves to paint and it will give her something to do with her hands."

"That shouldn't be a problem." Poppy nodded. "But no walking for a few days, I really shouldn't have let her go t o Diagon alley so soon."

"Neither of us should have but she needed supplies and a new wand, something to keep her going while she was recovering." He sighed. "Three weeks all up, since she was injured, still in constant pain, no I shouldn't have taken her."

"While it wasn't good for her leg, it was good for her mental health to go out to the alley considering what happened last time she was in one." Poppy sighed in agreement. "I've spelled the pain potion case to notify me when she takes one, so I'll be able to keep track of how much she takes, she is a sensible girl."

"Let's just hope she stays sensible." Remus nodded slowly and they left the room.