Rose stayed in the wing for few more days. She recovering her strength and walked around the room whenever Madam Pomfrey was in other side of castle. But that didn't cheered her anymore, because every time food was brought to her, the nurse would cut a sorry figure of her other patient. "Just for once he awakes and hears that we are victorious."

Maybe that or I should have been killed in the very battle so that he wouldn't have needed saving. Rose didn't much understand why Pomfrey wanted him to live, and she wasn't even interested in knowing.

There was something more serious for her. In her free time, she tried casting a few spells but neither of them worked. Scared, she tried out all the spells and curses she knew. None worked.

"Oh, there is nothing too serious." McGonagall assured when she visited her. "You just need a wand to perform magic from now on. You are just the same as ever."

The visit went on well till her visitor displayed her worry for Snape. "I would wish he would get well soon." she said, wiping her tears.

Rose clenched her hand into fist and loosened it, taking in breath. She didn't want to burst her anger on Minerva. She wished that Pomfrey would ask her to leave and it happened. Thank you very much but now you shouldn't start.

That night, she slept as peacefully as she could. Pomfrey said that she could go back to her room next day. That cheered her the most in last few days.

Rose was awaken by groan. It was still dark and nothing was quite visible in the hospital wing. The only light was coming from under the door of Madam Pomfrey's office.

Turning around, she saw Severus stirring. "Severus?"

The elder wizard turned towards her. "Is it you, Rose?" he whispered hoarsely.

She nodded, unsure if he saw it in such a darkness. She forgot all the anger she had for him.

"How long?"

"Eight to nine days." She just finished saying when she heard footsteps. Slumping back in her bed, the office door opened. Madam Pomfrey went to attend Snape.

Rose drifted back to sleep.

Next morning, Rose left the hospital wing before Severus could wake up. She had her breakfast, alone, in the Great Hall. Not many days ago, it was filled with dead and injured students. Breath stuck in her throat as she thought about it.

Clearing up her plate, she walked back to her room. She passed by open door of the wing. "She left?" her ears picked up.

She backtracked and stood by open doorway, out of the sight.

"Yes. She is lot more fit than you are."

A pause. "Is she really visible to you or I was hallucinating last night?"

"No, she has become visible. No one knows how. I heard her say that she wasn't able to do magic."

"That's strange. Maybe I can figure out what happened."

Rose was caught by surprise. Why Snape was interested in knowing what happened to her? What he had to do with her?

"Not so soon Severus. You need rest." She stepped away and she marched off to her room.

Rose sat on her study table like she had done two weeks ago. The only difference was that she was not getting bored. She was busy with her next year's lesson plans that Minerva handed her.

As the night wearied on, she found it hard to be focused. She got off her chair, when there was flapping of wings.

She turned towards the window and saw a snow white owl flying into the room, dropping a letter onto her bed before flying out.

Sitting on her bed, ripped open the letter.

"Dear Professor,

I and my friends received a letter from Madam Pomfrey. It said that you were doing well. We had been extremely worried about you when we found you in the Shack, unresponsive. When we got you and Professor Snape back to castle, we couldn't stay long enough to speak to you.

But I and my friends would like to thank you for saving Professor Snape's life.

It was quite strange for me to want the Professor to live. He appeared to be the worst teacher anyone can ever have, favoring only his house favourites. But when I saw his memories, I realized that he did it to save me. He worked as a double agent of Dumbledore and was in Order of Phoenix a little before Voldemort tried to kill me.

I even got answer why he allied with Dumbledore. It was in honour of my mother's memory who was his childhood friend. Firstly, I didn't believe in it, but I realized that he was brave enough to backstab Voldemort, even die trying.

I just don't find enough words to thank for whatever you have done for Professor Snape.

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley"

The letter slipped out of Rose's fingers. She was dumbstruck. So that's what McGonagall wanted to tell me.

She realized her mistake and now that there was something which Dumbledore wanted her to learn from Severus, she must know it.

She hurried out of her room, running toward the hospital wing. Slowing down near the door, she realized it was already ajar. Slipping in through the narrow gap, she looked around the room. Her eyes fell on curtains, blocking the view of Severus's bed.

Gently, she tiptoed near the curtains to avoid waking up Pomfrey. She held the end of it when she thought she shouldn't wake him up. But impatience was building inside her. She wanted it to get over as soon as possible.

Drawing a sharp intake of breath, she yanked the curtains aside. Moonlight bounced off the white sheets. Severus wasn't there.