Chapter 12
I do not own Harry Potter in any way.
A/N - I rather hate this chapter, except for most of the last paragraph, but I was unsure how to wrap up second year. I'm so excited to start third year because I can focus more on the romantic relationship between Draco and Rosalie. And for those of you interested, I have another Harry Potter fic going called, "Once Upon a Stormy October Night". It's a Harry/OC.
That Saturday, Rosalie was in her father's classroom when McGonagall entered.
"Severus, could I borrow your daughter?" she asked.
"Of course Minerva", Severus said.
Rosalie hopped down from her stool and followed her out of the classroom. "Harry? Ron? What's going on?" she asked them.
"Don't know. McGonagall cancelled the Quidditch match", he said.
McGonagall led them down to the hospital wing. "I warn you. This could be a wee bit of a shock", McGonagall said.
The three saw Hermione lying on a bed, petrified.
"Hermione!" Ron gasped.
"She was found near the library, along with this", McGonagall said holding up a mirror, "Does it mean anything to you three?"
They all shook their heads.
"Now, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, you will make your way to Gryffindor tower. Miss Snape, you may return to the dungeons", McGonagall said.
When Rosalie returned the Slytherin common room, all the Slytherin students were there, along with her father. Rosalie sat down next to Draco and Blaise and asked, "What's going on?"
"Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into effect immediately: all students will return to their house common rooms by 6:00 every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exceptions", her father read.
Rosalie hoped Harry and Ron found out who the Heir of Slytherin was and soon.
Rosalie didn't see the Golden Trio again until the day of the last feast.
Hermione was returned to normal and up and walking.
Rosalie hugged her friend.
"Welcome back, Hermione", Ron said.
"It's good to be back", Hermione told him, "Congratulations. I can't believe you solved it!"
Before they sat down, Rosalie turned to Harry and asked him, "So who was the Heir of Slytherin?"
"Turns out it was Voldemort. His real name is Tom Riddle", Harry told her.
McGonagall tapped on her glass and said, "Could I have your attention please?"
Dumbledore stood up and said, "Before we begin the feast let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been Petrified".
Everyone clapped.
"Also, in light of recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been cancelled", Dumbledore said.
"Thank god", Ron said, while Harry and Rosalie laughed.
Hagrid entered the Great Hall and said, "Sorry I'm late. The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol".
Ron's eyes went wide and groaned.
The feast went well and Rosalie went up to her dorm to pack. While packing, she thought about what Harry had said and the memory she had seen.
Suddenly, everything snapped into place.
Rosalie dropped everything and stormed out of the dorm.
"Rose? What's wrong?" Draco asked her.
She pushed him aside and made her way to her father's office. She walked in without knocking.
"Rosalie, what's wrong?" her father asked her.
"You're one of them aren't you?" she asked him.
Severus sighed. "Rosalie…" he said.
"Don't lie to me", she told him, "Please just tell me the truth".
"How did you find out?" he asked.
"The day I was coming to see you, I was walking when a memory popped into my mind", she told him, "You and Uncle Lucius were talking about the Dark Lord and Dumbledore".
"How can you remember that?" he asked her, "You were four".
"I don't know. This is the first time it's happened", Rosalie said.
"Yes. I am one of them", he said.
"But how can you be a part of them? Of what they stand for?" she asked.
"I was young and foolish when I joined. Once you join, you can never get out", he told her.
"And Lucius?" she asked him.
"Is one too", Severus said.
"What does this mean?" Rosalie asked.
"There's a war coming, Rosie", he said, "And soon the time will come when you have to pick a side".
The only question was, when the time came, which side would she choose?