Rose woke suddenly. Snape was asleep next to her. Snape. Her teacher. Head of Slytherin. She'd slept with the head of Slytherin. There was no excuse for it. She had been sober. However she couldn't help but feel touched at Snape looking so peaceful. He was so different to the dark eyed, frightening figure that seemed to haunt the halls as well as any of the ghosts. Rose snuck away quickly and quietly as it was early. However it wasn't long before Snape joined her in the great hall with his own morning drink,
"You should have woken me," he said.
"I didn't have the heart to," said Rose.
"I'd have made breakfast," he added quietly.
Rose smiled slightly,
"And when my friend asks why I wasn't as breakfast? I don't think she'd be very happy," she said.
"I see. So is that all?" he asked.
"All?" asked Rose.
Snape gave her a meaningful look and she sighed, but couldn't lie to him just because she felt he'd been through enough. She had to be true to herself,
"I don't know. I'm not used to it. Besides..." she began.
"I don't mean for you to be used," said Snape.
"And I don't mean to hurt you either," added Rose.
As she was facing the door, Rose saw Jasmine appear and had the subject changed so that she wouldn't know what was going on,
"I'll work on that on my next essay sir," she said.
Snape saw Jasmine sit down and nodded,
"Very well, there are a few other matters I wish to discuss with you. After dinner if it isn't too inconvieniant," he said.
"No sir, that's fine sir," she said.
Snape left quickly and Jasmine moved up the bench to speak to her friend who she hadn't seen for a whole night,
"Where in Merlin's name have you been?" she asked.
"Wasn't well. Better now though as you can see, so I wouldn't worry about it," replied Rose.
"Flitwick and Umbridge were looking for you. She's trying to stop your consert. He's doing his little nut," said Jasmine.
"She can't stop it though," said Rose.
"How do you know?" asked jasmine.
"Can she physically stop me? I'd love to see her try," said Rose.
"Haven't you noticed?" asked Jasmine.
Rose raised an eyebrow at her friend to make her continue,
"Every detention she gives, a kid leaves her room with a bleeding hand. Don't let it be you Rose, because I know you'll fight back," added Jasmine.
Rose looked around as more and more people filled the hall. She noticed many a bandaged hand on other pupils and saw them glare at Umbridge as she entered the room and stopped at her. The room was silent and Rose carried on with her breakfast,
"Miss Hunter! We couldn't locate you yesterday evening," she said.
"I was indesposed. I believe you have a problem with my concert," said Rose.
"Indeed. I'm afraid there will be no need to ensure the festive spirit this Christmas with your music," said Umbridge.
Rose smiled at her,
"Good for you. Pity the rest of the school haven't complained yet. Therefore I'll be here Christmas eve, singing away," she said.
"But I told you no," said Umbridge.
"And I told you yes. There is no law or rule banning it that has come from the headmaster or a senior member of staff. Therefore the show goes on," said Rose.
Umbridge smirked at her,
"Not if you don't have a singing partner. I believe that isn't going very well," said Umbridge.
Rose saw her look at a few bandaged handed people and smirk even more. She glared at her strongly and said,
"You. You're the one holding me up. Let me tell you something, you know who can't stop me singing by killing my partner. What chance have you?" she asked.
"Cedric Diggory was not murdered!" shouted Umbridge.
Rose grabbed her cup of coffee and threw it in her face. There was a sharp intake of breath as she began to realize what she had done. It hadn't been planned. One moment the cup was on the table, then it was in her hand and Umbridge's face dripped with coffee. Snape ran over to her and restrained her by removing the cup from her hand,
"One month!" cried Umbridge.
"No!" cried Jasmine.
"Madame Umbridge...the girl has not been well..." began Snape.
"Enough! She has had plenty of time to grieve for the boy! I mean it! One month my office," ordered Umbridge.
She left to clean up and Rose carefully got out of Snape's grasp,
"I'm afraid I won't make our meeting tonight sir," she said.
"You will come after your detention. I don't care how late," he said.
"Yes sir," said Rose.
Thanks to her sideshow, Rose was banned from organizing a concert and from the chior. Jasmine expected Rose to be furious but when she saw Snape wink at her, her worries were gone and she smiled slightly,
"Rose?" asked Jasmine.
"They can't stop me randomly singing aloud can they?" she asked.
"Rose..." began Jasmine.
"Just our house. Little house party...dear oh dear everyone brought a friend..." said Rose smiling.
Jasmine shook her head,
"You dig your own grave," she said.
Rose went to Umbridge's office. As ever when something appeared strange, she briefly took it in and accepted it as normal. A trick she had learned since her first year. The pink walls and kittens became unnoticed and Rose smiled at Umbridge,
"So do you preform the injury on my hand or do I do it?" she asked.
Umbridge turned her head,
"So you have noticed? Very good. Brighter than you look. Lines are all it is technically speaking. Come now Miss Hunter, sit down and write for me using this quill. You won't need any ink," said Umbridge.
"Because I'll be writing with my blood," added Rose.
Umbridge giggled,
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
"A few but I'd rather just get on with it," replied Rose.
"Good girl Miss Hunter, a much better attitude," added Umbridge.
"What do I write?" asked Rose.
Umbridge looked thoughtful for a moment before she replied,
"I will accept the truth," she replied.
Rose went on, knowing secretly that she already had done so. Rose winced only slightly as she went on but soon she began not to notice the pain. She noticed the darkness fall from the window and knew it wouldn't be long before she had to see Snape. As she wrote she thought of him fondly but with confusion. The more she thought the more it was unclear what she really thought of him, how she felt about him, how she cared about him. Eventually her thoughts were broken by a fake, pathetic sounding cough,
"Let me see," ordered Umbridge.
Rose put up her hand and she smiled,
"Not bad. That should keep you humble, for now. I will see you tomorrow," said Umbridge.
Rose left and went straight to the dungeons and found her way back to Snape's quarters and knocked on the door. She hid her hand under her sleeve as much as she could and knocked on the door. Snape answered it and raised an eyebrow,
"Very late isn't it?" he asked.
"Umbridge likes her lines," replied Rose.
Snape looked angry and Rose knew that he knew what had happened and what was to happen,
"Show me your hand," he ordered.
Rose pulled back her sleeve and showed him the blood on her hand, coming from the scratches that read, 'I will accept the truth'. Snape frowned deeply at it and Rose struggled to look at him through feeling guilty for trying to hide it from him,
"You're skin won't be able to take a month of this Rose. There must be away out of it," he added.
"I'll be fine. You have enough on your plate without trying to sort me out," said Rose.
"I can't let her do this..." began Snape.
"Severus let me...I'm old enough to take it. Clearly all of the teachers know about it but can do nothing. She'll have threatened everyone's jobs I know it, including yours and you'll already be on thin ice, after the incident when you tried to defend me," added Rose.
"Least I could do. Dare I ask what now?" he asked.
"When I know, you'll know. I meant what I said this morning. Do you really think we can make this work?" she asked.
"That depends on you. You can stay or you can go and I'll say no more about it," he replied.