Snape's song
Part 9
The oddly talented Miss Rose
Disclaimer: Not all mine.

Rose had been in detention repeatedly since Dumbledore left Hogwarts. For the first few days it was because of her involvement with the DA. She took that well as she wasn't alone. Soon after though it was just for Umbridge's sake of hating her. Cedric's ring returned to her hand for moral support, almost remembering why she was there and doing what she was doing.

Jasmine often winced when Rose, if ever she returned ran into the bathroom and blasted the cold tap on her badly damaged hand, because Umbridge had her followed to make sure she wasn't going to make any essence of murtlap. Also due to the late nights or for a better phrase early mornings, Rose was becoming more and more worn down. She could barely eat or drink because it all seemed too much effort.

Jasmine was walking Rose to potions, knowing something was bound to give at any moment. Sure enough Rose's head began to hurt and she went against the wall to steady herself up. Jasmine panicked and found herself barging into Snape's classroom and trying not to let everyone know what had happened,

"I need a word or two sir!" she said.

Snape frowned in confusion until Jasmine ran and he ran after her, hoping it wasn't a trick or that anything had happened to Rose. However his second thought had been right. By this time, Rose was in a terrible way. She couldn't stand and was being sick with next to nothing coming out as she hadn't eaten,

"Get Madame Pomphery! Now!" ordered Snape.

Jasmine ran as quickly as she could, out of fear of Snape more than concern for her friend. Snape tried to talk to Rose, but she had already passed out. Snape levitated her to the hospital wing himself, Madame Pomphery was quicker on hand than normal,

"Thank you! Holy Merlin! Poor girl....never have I seen a child at Hogwarts in such a bad way of exhaustion and lack of nourishment. I'll swing for that new headmistress!" cried Madame Pomphery.

Snape didn't want to leave. However he knew how it would look if he stayed. The only thing he could do was give Jasmine permission to stay with her, something that she was amazed with but didn't think about it in enough depth in order to figure out why.

Jasmine held Rose's hand which possessed a mass of cuts that shaped different words on top of each other. She could just make out the words 'illegal' and 'disrespectful'. It was the same hand which her third finger wore Cedric's ring.

Before Rose woke up, many people had sent her flowers and other gifts. Including Harry and his friends. The Weasley twins splashed out on huge, red flowers and yellow roses. Even Madame Pomphery raised an eyebrow. Somewhere on the desk, well hidden was a single black rose from Snape.

When Rose woke up she eventually found it and smiled. She soon had to hide it though as Umbridge came up to her. She was still tired and weak so just looked at her blankly as Madame Pomphery made sure she was alright. Rose could just about picture the matron hexing Umbridge out of the room and throwing all of her flowers at her, if things got out of hand. However there was no such luck for the recovering Hufflepuff,

"You're not getting out of it!" shrieked Umbridge.

Rose winced as the toad-like woman's voice went straight through her. She continued just to look at her but said,

"Ok. You win. Carry on. I don't want to fight anymore. You carry on with your detentions Professor, I'll turn up to every single one, until my hand falls off,"

Umbridge smirked,

"About time. You put up a very good fight Hunter. I have never met anyone so resilient as you. A worthy opponent you are. Now that I have made my point, you can carry on with what little time you have for revision," she said.

Rose lent back as Umbridge left. Madame Pomphery fussed over her and begged her not to over do it. However with only three weeks to the exams, Rose was left with little choice, but to be nudged awake every breakfast and even lifted to class by the Weasley twins, with little protest from Rose, causing them to be given detention by Snape when he saw this and many points from Gryffindor for other reasons. Even Snape had to nudge her slightly in potions and fake anger with her.

Everyone was on her side though. Even Madame Pince allowed her to stay in the library over night. Sometimes she managed to do it over night, sometimes she did not and fell asleep. Filch reported her to Snape, who once personally placed her back into his bed and took the sofa in his quarters himself. When Rose woke she looked around in confusion and wondered how she got where she was, until she found Snape asleep on the sofa. Rose smiled kindly at him and started to make hot drinks for them both as he got up and found her in the kitchen. He hugged her around the middle,

"You are working too hard," he said.

"I know but once the exams are over...I'm due bed rest for about...ever," she said smiling.

"They aren't called NEWTs for any reason you know...however you have had a little more on your plate than others. It is a wonder you're out of the hospital wing at all," said Snape.

"It's not a case of should be...its a case of having to be. The exams won't do themselves and I'd like at least one NEWT. I'm not too greedy," said Rose.

Snape smirked at her,

"Make it two. Potions and defence against the dark arts," he said.

Rose still struggled with her exams when the Weasley twins decided to boycott their own by delaying the exams until all of the mess had been cleared up from their departure. They had tried to get Rose to join them, but she shook her head. Someone had to keep an eye on Harry and the school.

Also a good job as Rose had finished all of her exams, when she saw Harry and Hermione being led away by Umbridge who had her wand pointed at their backs. Rose only noticed this for a moment and it took a while to register with her. Rose chased after her, shouting as loud as she could,

"Professor! Professor what are you doing? Leave them alone! Pick on someone who is an adult for a change!"

Umbridge rounded on her and Harry looked relieved to see her. Rose took her own wand out ready to defend herself,

"Rose! He has him! He has the one at the house in London!" shouted Harry.

"Run!" ordered Rose.

A huge fight broke out between Rose and Umbridge. Snape had taught her reflexes and other spells. However Rose had taught herself a different trick- to run as fast as she could and cause as little damage as possible. Unfortunately Rose caught up with Harry and Hermione, just as the centaurs surrounded them. Then Umbridge joined them, her wand still out which made her a threat to them. Rose had lowered hers in surrender,

"You are on our territory," said one.

"Alright...I'm sorry for any tress-passing, but if you will allow it, I will take myself and my friends back to the school..." began Rose.

"You're territory centaur? I think not! You only...." began Umbridge.

Rose forced Harry and Hermione out of the way as Umbridge failed to fight off the centaurs. They took her away into the distance and Rose finally turned to Harry in confusion and raised an eyebrow,

"What were you saying about Sirius?" she asked.

"Voldemort has him at the department of mysteries. Kreacher said he had left the house and...I saw him attack him!" replied Harry.

Rose nodded until Harry finished his sentence. She then frowned and thought that Snape had been able to stop that with the lessons,

"Hold on...you saw...What about Occlumency?" she asked.

"Snape stopped the lessons," replied Harry.

"What? When? Harry I don't want you going. I think it's a trick. Sirius is big enough and ugly enough to look after himself," said Rose.

Harry shook his head,

"Believe me...it was just like the attack on Ron's dad at Christmas! Rose you have to help us!" shouted Harry.

Rose had no choice but to follow them. Especially when Luna, Neville, Ginny and Ron joined them. They took Harry's route into the place and Rose ran forward when they got closer, only for them to find nothing. Rose looked around with her wand lit and walked forward as Harry argued with his friends and they found the prophesy. Rose began to walk backwards as someone came towards her,

"Harry get out of here!" she ordered.

The death-eater before her removed his mask and she knew instantly who he was. Lucius was very much like his son, the resemblance to her was unnerving. Rose kept her wand out as she backed away to find that Harry hadn't moved,

"Where's Sirius?" he asked.

"You really do need to learn the difference, between dreams and reality. Get the girl out of the way and give me that prophesy," replied Lucius.

"You go near them a bit more and I'll break it! I'm of age and I'm not scared to break you too!" shouted Rose.

"A Hufflepuff is standing in our way!"

"A Hufflepuff in the order of the Phoenix is standing in your way. Back off Malfoy and leave them alone! And that...whatever it is behind you!" ordered Rose.

"Bellatrix Lestrange..." began Neville.

"Leave it!" ordered Rose.

"Neville Longbottom isn't it? How's mum and dad?" asked Bellatrix.

Everyone had to stop Neville and Bellatrix flying for each other. Harry and Rose stood in front of the others. Rose knew Lucius couldn't get his hands on the prophesy and encouraged the plan he developed. To smash the shelves and run as fast as they could, as well as attacking death-eaters as they ran into them. Rose and the others all put up a good fight but she couldn't help but use some other spells that she had been taught, not by Harry.

They all fell and were captured. Only Harry and Rose remained unharmed and not taken. Lucius glared at her and silently ordered her with a motion of his head to disarm herself. Rose cast her wand aside and still stepped in front of Harry,

"Do what you will to me, but leave that boy alone," she said.

"As the one with a wand I shall be giving the instructions don't you think?" asked Lucius.

"Oh come on...bet you hate me more than him. I have muggle parents!" bragged Rose.

Harry winced and hissed her name, but she took no notice of him. Lucius raised his wand as Rose used wand-less magic to get her wand back and the rest of the Order appeared including Sirius,

"Didn't know you cared so much!" he shouted.

"You wish Sirius!" cried Rose.

"Merlin loves a trier!" added Sirius.

The battle began and Rose took down and assisted in the capture of many death-eaters. Including Lucius Malfoy, who even begged when she turned to him threateningly,

"No- please...my family..." he began.

Rose knew full well that he would never have done the same for her, but it didn't stop her hesitating or Lucius looking momentarily relieved. That was until someone else got him and then Rose turned in time to see Sirius get hit by something from Bellatrix's wand and fall into the veil. She ran forward to help Remus with Harry but she was too late. It was only then she noticed someone had cut her at the side. Remus struggled to leave the veil and Tonks could only watch him. Rose motioned her head to him so that Tonks could see and went to him. Rose went to help Hermione back to Hogwarts and supported Ginny to a bed with her ankle. She had forgotten about the cut at her side until Madame Pomphery coughed at her and pointed to it, then to a bed.

It didn't take Rose long to realize what had happened. There had been another victim of the war. Her heart went out to the Gryffindors, who like her also knew of his innocence and the fact he never got chance to clear his name. She pitied the late Mr. Black but was almost glad of the fact, Voldemort had been seen at the ministry and that now people believed that he was real.

Rose and the others soon noticed that Umbridge was with them, clearly rescued from the centaurs. With the others she also couldn't help but make a hoof sound every so often and make her jump in fright. Nobody could question her heart because not many people had hands as badly scarred as hers.

Rose left the Gryffindors and didn't make for Hufflepuff tower, but for the dungeons. She didn't have to go far to find Snape, walking up the stairs towards her. She stepped to the side as he stopped her,

"I was just coming to see if you were alright," he said.

"I am. Sirius Black however has seen better days. Why? More importantly why didn't you tell me in the first place? We could have been spared this," she said.

"Don't blame me for that man's death!" he muttered angrily.

"I do not. I'm just saying you shouldn't have stopped those lessons. Not without good reason and I hope there is one. I hope your reasons justify your conscience, because I know you have one. You don't have to explain yourself to me, I'd never expect you to. Just tell me was it worth lives?" asked Rose.

Snape stayed silent. Rose nodded. She was right. It hadn't been worth it. She then said something that really hit home for Severus Snape,

"What if it had been me Bellatrix had hit? What if I had fallen? Would it have been worth it then?" she asked.

Snape looked at her with concerned eyes,

"Rose...I'd never..." he started.

"How could you? I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore. It isn't that I don't care but I told Lucius and Bellatrix who I was. I leave in the summer. We part as...pupil and teacher now. Nothing more," said Rose.

"Please don't..we'll think of something between us. A different house, our house...some sort of safety charm...please don't end this over Black's death," begged Snape.

Rose put her hand on his cheek. She looked him in the eyes, as she had done to others before and ended the relationship,

"Goodbye," she said.

Rose removed her hand and went quickly back up the stairs. When she reached the entrance hall, she looked up and saw Dumbledore walking towards her. Rose knew that he would want to see her,

"The very leading lady. Quite brave you were tonight. Very, in-fact. Yet you like others don't look too thrilled," he said.

Rose shrugged,

"You're back at Hogwarts, Umbridge is packing her bags, the world now knows about Voldemort and I can say Voldemort. However my hand is covered in scars, a man is dead and I just ended a relationship. Pretty balanced really isn't it sir?" asked Rose.

Dumbledore calmly walked down the stairs to her,

"We all make mistakes. Some more than others. Don't be too harsh on him. If he looses you, well he will have few pleasures in life. You are a glimmer of hope. Don't go out in a breeze, but a hurricane. He needs someone who understands him for who he is," he said.

Rose smiled sadly,

"I understand him...I love him but I can't stay. You should have seen Lucius Malfoy's face when I told him about my parentage," she said.

"You're not with Lucius, you are with Severus. A less-bias Slytherin you will never in your time meet," argued Dumbledore.

Rose looked back at the dungeon, then at Dumbledore for permission to go. He nodded at her and she went back, deep into the dungeon and knocked on a familiar door. Inside, Snape looked confused until he opened the door,

"Come for your toothbrush?" he asked coldly.

"No. I've come back," she replied.

Snape let her back into the room, into his heart and into his life. They sat down together and said nothing. Just contented with seeing each other.