Snape's song
Part 11
The oddly talented Miss Rose
Disclaimer: Not all mine

A.N: I could not come up with a good part for the 'meet the parents' saga, so I am starting this chapter as though they have been and left. References will be made to what happened though.

Rose and Snape returned from the Hunter house-hold, not very pleased. As Rose predicted they were not pleased about either the war or her involvement with Severus. Mr. Hunter had punched Snape in the face, believing him to be taking advantage of his daughter, Mrs. Hunter had slapped her daughter for protesting against the idea that Snape was using her and Rose hit her back out of anger. This meant she had made her choice. The ultimatum has been her parents or her magical life and love for Snape, to Rose it was a choice easily made.

Snape was sat, holding his nose at the kitchen table as Rose tended to it, muttering angrily over her family,

"I can't believe this. I knew they'd dislike the idea...oh sorry! But taking it out on you...there was just no need for it," she said.

"Jack is only three years older than me-ow!" he cried.

"I don't care if you are three years older than him! He can't go around punching wizards...next time he'll do it to the wrong wizard. To think I went to some effort to protect them!" exclaimed Rose.

"I can't blame them, but I thank you for your loyalty...even if it does sting," said Snape.

"I was a Hufflepuff for a reason. I'm not leaving you because my parents tell me to, or if anyone tells me to...Merlin! I should have been at the leaky cauldron five minutes ago! Tom'll be having heart failure!" cried Rose.

"This I have to see, you singing in front of a pub full of witches and wizards," said Snape.

Rose and Snape went out for the night, unaware that they were being followed. They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Rose began by apologizing to Tom for her lateness. Snape smirked as Tom just shook his head and smiled at her. Rose took her position on the stage. Snape was by the bar, finally close to some normality, listening to 'It's a kind of magic'. The mood in the pub was happy and pleasant. Everyone was miles away in their own world of music and magic...until the Leaky Cauldron was raided by men in dark robes and masks. Many people ran, few stood their ground be it out of drunken bravery or simply for their own rights. Rose saw Snape sneak away and she joined in the fray. Rose thought she was helping to fight off the death-eaters for others, until she noticed that they began to come for her and ignore the other witches and wizards,

"Big mistake mudblood! You crossed the wrong pure-blood that night!"

Rose recognized her voice, although she was masked she knew who was trying to kill her,

"You came for my friends. I couldn't allow any harm to come to them. I'm sorry for your brother in law..." began Rose.

Bellatrix laughed coldly at her. She then removed her mask and glared at the young singer,

"We don't want your apologies or sympathy Hunter! We've come for you! You can come as you are, or in a box. Either way, we care not but we have been told to give you a choice," she said.

Rose thought for a moment. She knew that the choice was more along the lines of: We'll kill you or he will kill you, die now, die later. To which she knew was the answer. If she was going to be another war victim, it would be at Voldemort's hand, not his minions,

"Alright. Take me to him," she replied.

Bellatrix smirked at Rose. She glared at her with an expression of strong hatred. Before she could be dragged anywhere, Rose was rescued as the number of Order members, who turned up, rather out did the handful of death-eaters that had been sent. The death-eaters knew that they were badly out-numbered and left without Rose, who breathed a sigh of relief as Professor Dumbledore walked towards her and she muttered,

"Where's Severus? He left during the raid...oh Merlin tell me he doesn't know..."

"Calm yourself Rose, nobody knows about you and Severus except for me. He's the reason we all came. He's at Hogwarts now, unless he has been called," said Dumbledore.

"Someone saw him here. I just know it sir," she said worriedly.

"You can't possibly know that my dear..." began Dumbledore.

"He was with me! How in hell's name is he supposed to defend that? How do they know where I was?" asked Rose.

Dumbledore took her away from the Order and into his office. To Rose it was just like being a pupil again, only now everything was more serious. Lives were at stake and honour was being questioned,

"I hope you are not suggesting that Severus betrayed you?" asked Dumbledore.

"Not with intent. I think he was being followed as a spy not many death-eaters trust. Seeing him with me...I hope he can come up with an excuse," replied Rose.

"You mean a lie," added Dumbledore.

Rose shot the old man a strong glare, as though convinced that he misunderstood their situation,

"Well I can hardly put it in the prophet. One of us would end up dead if the truth came out and I don't want it to be him," she said.

"Live in secret or die in the knowledge..." began Dumbledore.

"Sir! I am not suicidal and neither are you..." started Rose.

The door opened and Snape entered the room. They looked at each other with relief and started forward, but they both seemed to remember were they were and acted no further. Dumbledore looked at them both with disbelief and horror on his old face,

"Oh for goodness sake you two!" he cried.

Snape took a deep breath,

"I'm glad you're safe," he said.

Rose smiled warmly at him,

"I'm glad you're safe too," she said.

Dumbledore began to shake his head in despair. The conversation seemed far too normal for a pair that were so in love, by the way they looked at each other,

"What happened?" asked Rose.

"I told them that no order member was to live alone. Least of all you and they think I hate living with you...I'm sorry but I might have used some terms that..." replied Snape.

"Say what you must. I understand. I was just worried they'd find out and hurt you. I thought that's why they wanted to take me," added Rose.

"It was, but as you had help...I told them about this idea and they think it's added punishment on top of having to work here," agreed Snape.

Dumbledore finally got to his feet,

"Oh really! Considering you love each other...I've never seen a more suited pair in my life. I'm sure you both have things to discuss..." began Dumbledore.

"You told me to tell no one," added Snape strongly.

"Rose isn't no one. I'd never tell you to keep anything from Rose. I value your relationship even more than you do," replied Dumbledore.

Snape and Rose went home. He poured them both a drink and Rose noticed something about Snape she had never seen...fear in his eyes and uncertainty as he moved. He seemed to struggle with how to start the conversation as he sat down. Rose went to him and sat at his feet,

"What is it?" she asked.

"This, could be the end of my life and our relationship. Forgive me if I don't hurry what I am about to tell you," he replied.

"I'm not leaving you. Too much has happened. Is it something that the dark lord wants from you?" asked Rose.

"No. Something the headmaster wants from me, something Narcissa Malfoy wants from me. Something I have to do or I won't live to say I didn't," replied Snape.

Rose frowned in confusion at the names he mentioned. Dumbledore and Narcissa Malfoy had no connection in her mind and certainly nothing in common as far as she was aware. Rose put her hand on Snape's knee and he looked at it without expression,

"What is going on?" she asked.

Snape took a large sip of whiskey before he responded to his young partner, who's eyes didn't leave his face,

"Draco Malfoy has been set a task of murder. Narcissa made me make the unbreakable vow, that I'd do all I could to help and if I had to, do the deed myself. I'm not a killer, I never have...least of all the chosen victim,"

"Dumbledore?" asked Rose.

Snape nodded and felt cold when her hand left his knee in shock. Rose stood up and walked to the other side of the room as Snape continued,

"He wouldn't hear of it when I said I'd rather die than kill him. We had a fight about it. He brought everyone I ever cared about into the argument, you mostly. He has until summer only as it is, he wants me to kill him and not Draco...now can you really say that you'll stay?" asked Snape.

Rose had silent tears rolling down her face. They seemed to race each other down either cheek. She wiped them away. Snape stood up and Rose could feel him getting closer to her and see his reflection in the window,

"Look at me," he said.

Rose slowly turned around. Snape expected her to flinch as he ran a finger down her face, but she did not. At that moment, murderous thoughts of her own ran through her mind. She did not like to see Snape so scared and worried about the future and doubting her. She wanted to take it all away and she only had one idea, one method of removing his obligation to end Dumbledore's life. It would be her obligation. Rose wanted to do his job for him, to break the vow, to give him his life and to let Dumbledore die with the dignity he clearly wanted, rather than to fade away during the next summer term like a flower.

Rose got up the next morning especially early. Her wand left the table swiftly and quietly, just as she made her way to Hogwarts. Rose stood before the stone that led to the old man's office and said the password without fear and clearly. She didn't even knock, she barged in on the old man having breakfast, who calmly looked up at her and laid down his knife and fork,

"Good morning...I believe he told you," he said.

"How could you put him through that? You evil old man!" snarled Rose.

"You want to do it for him, like I knew you would. Why? I know you love him more than your own life. But I tell you this, I will fight you and stronger have fallen at my hand than you Rose Hunter," said Dumbledore.

"Then why does it have to be him? I can understand you want to die with dignity! I would to if I lived as long as you...but pick someone who owes you less. You say you know how much I love him, then why cause us both so much pain? Do we mean so little to you?" asked Rose.

Dumbledore shook his head. He no longer looked as angry as he did when he used her full name,

"Rose...you and Severus are both assestts to my order. You are both wonderful people who bad things have happened to. However, I have thought this through myself. As you have kept your silence on your relationship...your memories will be the key to his freedom. I state now, I ask Severus Snape to end my life as soon as he has to. This is not a murder, this is keeping a boy's soul safe and my death...my way. Obviously you must only put forward my statement or else this could go wrong," replied Dumbledore.

"And if I die before he is tried?" asked Rose.

"Bottle it as soon as you can and give it to him. Tell him I say he's not to view it until he is caught," replied Dumbledore.

"He won't take orders from me..." began Rose.

"But he will from me. Do as I say and say it is under my orders. My pensieve is over there. You know what to do," added Dumbledore.