Chapter 12: The Letter

When the clock struck midnight, Rose began ushering her students to the carriage-house. She was in a hurry to get back to her rooms and the students sensed that it was best to listen to her. As soon as they entered the realm of Madame Maxime's coach, she picked up her skirts and ran to her rooms. She made it with a few minutes to spare and tried to calm down. She began to frantically straighten out her living quarters and took her sister's box out. Her nerves were rattled. She could not sit still. She could only remember the many dances with him, the feel of his muscles under his layers of clothing. Her skin remembered the slightly calloused feel of his hands on her hips as they swayed to the music.

"Severus, why do you do this to me?" She whispered to herself.

"Missus, Professor Snape requires permission to enter," a squeaky house elf broke through her reverie.

"Let him in please, and could you get us a pot of coffee, a bottle of Firewhiskey and some light snacks? We'll be here for a while I think."

"Right away Missus."

She heard the portrait open and his light footsteps walking up the stairs. Rose turned and smiled at him.

"Severus..." she said breathlessly. She walked to him silently and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. A look of surprise crossed his face, then he slowly put his arms around her, as her head nestled itself in his chest. She had not grown much since he had last seen her. Her small frame was still as delicate as ever. She smelled like lilacs and vanilla. Severus couldn't help but inhale her scent. She was intoxicating.

"What is it Rose?" He said, breaking the silence. She looked up at him, fear laced her eyes.

"I have a lot to tell you Severus, and I am not too sure where to start." She was trembling as she looked up at him. A small pop was heard. They turned and saw coffee, Firewhiskey and finger sandwiches had appeared on her coffee table.

"I think you need to sit down for this." She gestured to a love seat across from the fire place. Rose sat in the armchair to the left of it. She gave him a measure of the liquor, served herself one and began. "Severus, I don't know how much you know about what happened to me. When James and Lily joined the Order, Dumbledore warned them that their families could be in danger. With all the issues with Petunia, Lily could not contact her and she figured that Petunia and Vernon could hold their own. The same was thought for our parents. They both wanted to keep me safe because they thought that I could be of help in reconstructing the Wizarding World after the war. The only problem was that, as you know, Sirius ended up in Azkhaban and he was the only one who knew where I was. For years, I debated going back home but I was afraid to do so without someone who could testify to the fact that I was telling the truth. I was always afraid. I had heard whispers of Voldemort being dead, of my sister and James having been killed and their having a son, but they were only whispers. I couldn't trust a hope." She sighed and looked up at him.

"Why didn't you write? You could've written to me to tell me," Severus said, pain filled his eyes.

"I wanted to but didn't know you had come to the light. What if you were still following Voldemort? I could've put myself in danger as well as Marius!" Frustration filled every word. "When Sirius came to see me to tell me all about what had happened, the box I have here appeared on my kitchen table and in it were a bunch of scrolls. That is where I got my first letter from my sister. Now, as I was getting ready tonight, the box glowed once more and your name appeared on one of the scrolls."

Rose opened the box and gave a scroll to Severus. He could not take his eyes off the scroll. His heart pounded in his chest and he could barely breathe. Could Lily have written to him before dying? He peeled the seal back slowly and began to read.

"Dear Severus,

I know that we have not spoken in years and that you have joined Voldemort on his quest for domination. I am not writing to you about that though. If you are reading this, Voldemort has achieved his goal of destroying James and I. What I hope you do is forgive me for not forgiving you in fifth year. Forgive me for not being a better friend and not keeping you away from those Death-Eaters you called friends.

I always regretted not making things up with you. I was so angry at you that day that I couldn't allow myself to forgive and see the events. Please forgive me for being so cold hearted. I know you are angry at me marrying James, just please understand that he is my soulmate. He was a git up until seventh year, I know that. But that all changed the summer between sixth and seventh year and well, the rest is history. I never did this to hurt you, I only followed my heart. I was unforgiving to you that day and it led to a series of events that should never have transpired. I fell in love with James before our seventh year and I do not regret that. I only regret not treating you better as a friend. I want you to know that we have a son, Harry. He is beautiful, Severus. He looks like James but has green eyes. He loves to zoom around the house on his toy broomstick and is always laughing. I hope we can protect him from the evil that is out there. If we can't I hope you will be his protector for us.

Severus, I am writing to you to beg you to leave Voldemort and join the light. I asked Dumbledore to do all he could to save you if you chose to join us. YOu are a good person, you are only mixed up with the wrong crowd because of loyalties you feel you have to uphold. Rose is alive. James, Sirius and I hid her with his Squib uncle and she is currently attending Beaux-Batons Academy of Magic. We were afraid that she would be targeted so we tried to protect her by pretending she was dead. Once all of this is over, Sirius will bring her back and she will take care of my son. Rose will need help caring for Harry and you know very well that there is no way she could ask Petunia for advice. She will need you, Severus.

You know that she only trusts you and that she never gave up on you joining the light. Please Severus, don't disappoint her the way I disappointed you. I may have hurt you, but you have to know that there would never have been more than friendship between you and I. She needs you, she loves you, more than her own life. She always was a much better friend to you than I ever was, she always was more loyal to you. I don't know if you understand how much you mean to her. I only ask that you treat her like gold and care for her. Severus, of the Evans sisters you befriended, Rose is the one who loves you for the right reasons. She never faltered in her love for you. The night where I sent you away in fifth year, she and I had a huge row. She defended you, told me I was the daftest human being to ever walk the earth to choose the Marauders over you. Little, quiet Rose, who never ever raises her voice or said anything to anyone yelled at me for nearly an hour. Severus, I knew then how much she loved you. She never told me, but a sister knows. Her heart always belonged to you. You need to open yours to her. I know she will not only make you happy, but she will keep you safe and sane after all the time you spent with Voldemort.

Severus, you need to lead your life and care for someone who will love you back. I hope this letter finds you safe, alive and serving the light, not Voldemort.

Your old friend,

Lily"

Severus' eyes were filled with tears and and he clasped the letter tightly. He wept slightly for the love he had lost. Rose looked down at him and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Lily?" He said as he looked up into her eyes.

Rose turned on her heel and left the room.

It took a few moments for Severus to truly register what had transpired. He read and re-read the letter, committing each word to memory. Lily had wanted him for Rose? Rose loved him?

Severus looked up and searched the room for her, but she was nowhere in sight. he grabbed his cloak and left the apartment in search of Rose.