Rose slept well past noon until bright sunlight managed to wake her up. Irritably, she pushed away her sheets and got out of her bed. Yawning, she stretched a bit, trying to ease her stiffened muscles.

Sighing, she painfully changed into her favourite robes, hoping it to improve mood. Staring at her full reflection in mirror, she ran comb through her waist-long, black hair. They were long not taken care of as Rose just tied it up in messiest manner for two weeks.

She kept the comb away and turned back to the mirror. She caught sight of slightest of scar on her cheekbone, a grim reminder of the battle. Her stomach tied into knot as she shook the thought away.

There was a knock at her door. Faking a forced smile on her face, she went up to it and yanked it open.

"Afternoon", chirped Professor Slughorn in cheeriest of his voices. His hands were clasped behind him.

"Afternoon, Horace."

"Woh, Minerva was right. Your curse is broken. And, sorry, I wasn't able to come down to visit you. Lots of work, you see." he said not letting Rose interrupt.

"Oh, it's no problem", she replied, waving her hand as it didn't bother her a bit. She wondered where the other professors were. The only staff she saw was McGonagall, Pomfrey and Slughorn including Snape if she bothered to count him.

"I went down to Hogsmeade yesterday and picked up a few sweets for you." He said, handing over two boxes to the young witch. "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs. I thought of buying Fizzing Whizbees, but thought otherwise. Good day to you."

Rose thanked Horace for gifts and retreated back into the room. Placing the boxes onto her table, she went back to the mirror and braided her hair as fast as she could.

Her stomach growled as she snatched a chocolate frog from the box and went down to the Great Hall.

After her lunch, she sat there, coupling some chocolate with her tea. She took a bite of chocolate, feeling it melt into her mouth. She ate remaining chocolate and sipped her tea when something fell off the table.

She bend to see the chocolate frog card fallen, face-first, near her feet. Sorry, whoever you are.

She picked it up and turned to see which witch or wizard she found, just to choke on her tea. In her hand was the card of Severus Snape. She blinked to make sure that light was tricking her, but it wasn't. He was there, returning a blank expression to her (or was it a frown?).

"Ah, there he is."

Rose started and turned to see Minerva stand behind, beaming down at the card. "Horace was searching for it in three boxes of chocolate frogs. The newest one to be included with other four."

"Oh, is it." She said, turning back to her card. "Then he might use it."

Out of corner of her eye, she saw the elder witch sat next to her. "How do you know five more cards are included to the collection?" she asked, out of curiosity.

"Daily Prophet has been repeating nearly same thing since ten days. Most of the articles are almost same, talking about the war, defeat of the Dark Lord, Severus's loyalties, you saving him. I feel that they don't want most remote witch or wizard to miss this news."

Rose glared at the card in her hand. Could she ask Minerva about it? Just in more mixed up form. All the more, she didn't want anyone to know about.

"Minerva, can ask you something?"

"Oh, of course. You can."

Taking a deep breath, she turned towards the former. "Suppose, you were asked by Professor Dumbledore to perform a task and you agree to it, no matter what he might ask for. Later on, you realize that you have to save Severus, completely unaware of his loyalties. Would you done that if it was in your hands but not as promise of who has total faith in you?"

The elder witch thought about it deeply as Rose looked at her hopefully. She sat quietly, looking at the floor, probably weighing same pros and cons the latter thought about earlier. After a minute or so, she turned to the younger witch.

"As I stood for the good side, I was never favoring a war. I didn't want death on either side, good or bad. It was a waste of magical talent. The night of war, I and other teachers forced Severus to leave. I had not forgiven him for murdering Professor Dumbledore at that moment. But if I was to save him, I would have. He is noble teacher and his death would have cost wizarding world a great talent."

Rose slumped back in her chair. Minerva was right. Not everyone can kill someone. But everyone would save anybody, any soul, if they can. And she thought the same when it was her chance.

"You are right. I did save Severus because I couldn't let him die and I could help him."

She got off her chair and hurried out the Hall before latter could make up what she meant.