*AN* Trigger warning for implied SA of a minor
"Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life." –Lisa Weed
"Are you hungry dear?" Molly placed one hand on Rose's shoulder and one hand on her father's back. He had the kindest eyes.
Rose shook her head before her stomach growled loudly, alerting them to her lie, the smell of Stew floated around the room taunting her, she didn't want to take any more from them. "Come on petal, let's get you some real food those biscuits won't fill you up"
Ginny, who had already been at the table, gestured for Rose to sit in the seat next to her. Ron followed her sitting next to her.
"It's lovely to meet you Rose, I'm your Aunt Ginny and this is Uncle Harry."
Harry watched her suspiciously, raising his eyebrows in greeting, Ron knew the look all too well.
Rose smiled shyly again before her eyes widened and the terrified look returned to her face.
His scar stood out to her, a sudden recognition of who the man at the end of the table was. Rose's stomach knotted. Harry Potter. Narcissa had left her with Harry Potter.
"What's wrong sweetie."
The woman with the red hair who called herself Ginny spoke kindly to her, her honey-brown eyes gentle and happy but he was watching. She had heard stories of his anger, of his power. "Father" had been the only one to beat him but never fully, and Harry Potter had taken everything from him as just a child, how would he treat her? For the first time in her life, she found herself wishing he was here… Narcissa had lied, she couldn't be safe with these people if he was there. She shook her head hoping that if she stayed very quiet he might go away.
Rose stared at the table in front of her but looked as though she would burst into tears at any moment.
Ginny leaned in towards her
"Why don't you whisper if you don't want everyone to hear."
Ron found himself leaning towards her to hear Rose whisper, "Harry Potter will kill you if you look at him wrong."
Ginny snorted a laugh, "Maybe his morning breath will kill you, Harry's harmless…"
Harry who had been deep in his own thought broke free from it with a confused "What"
"She thinks you will kill her if she looks at you, Harry won't hurt you… not while I'm here anyway…" She smirked at her husband and cuddled Rose into her shoulder. "... I'd beat him up for you if he even remotely looked at you wrongly, where did you hear that he would do that."
The problematic questions had begun, calling Him "father" in front of her real Dad might cause offence, but she didn't know another name for him, except the forbidden one.
"My … well, he liked me to call him father, but he was never my father not really," she glanced at him as though scared to offend him. Ron tried to figure out who she was talking about. "Everyone calls him the Dark Lord. He told lots of stories about Harry Potter and how bad he is."
Harry opened his mouth to say something but after a side glance at Ron, he appeared to think better of it.
A generous bowl of stew and a plate of crusty bread rolls were placed in front of Rose.
Ron was conscious that he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable but he couldn't help watching as she practically inhaled the contents of the bowl that was placed in front of her. He watched as his mother filled the bowl a second time without questioning whether she would like more. Rose had a look of suspiciousness as she watched her grandmother He had seen that look somewhere before.
The hollow cheeks, the ever-present look of terror, the lack of energy. Harry had looked the same after each summer at 4 Privet Drive.
His thoughts were interrupted by Harry "Who brought you here?"
Rose stared at the bowl in front of her. "Lady Malfoy, sir."
"Why?"
"She said the manor wasn't safe for me any more, sir."
Ron couldn't imagine that place would ever have been safe for her but kept the statement to himself.
"So, Malfoy Manor, have you always been there?"
Rose could feel the tension rising, his tone, his face, the way he leaned forward, he was angry, like Father. It wasn't always her fault, but this time it definitely was. It always led to consequences.
"I've never left the manor before, sir,
"Hey Rosie, you don't need to call Harry sir," Ron interrupted, it made him feel uneasy. He made a gesture to Harry to stop the questioning, before reaching out to rub her arm, she tensed as though he had burnt her. He pulled away his hand slowly.
In the seconds he had looked away, Ginny and Harry had begun a very explosive silent fight, the Weasley temper had gotten the better of her and she had excused them from the table, dragging Harry away with her.
With Harry away Rose appeared to relax slightly, finishing her second bowl of stew and her 3rd bread roll before shifting uncomfortably on her chair.
"Do you want to get a comfy seat in front of the fire?"
She nodded.
Rose found herself stuck for words, over the years a million questions had burned in her mind, but now that she was sat next to him she had no idea where to start.
He sat on the sofa, and she sat next to him in silence, trying to find something to ask. It wasn't long before a large ginger lump of fur dived into his lap.
Since he had returned home Ron had put his differences with Crookshanks aside, a shared grief bringing them together, he often found the "hairy pig" sleeping at the foot of his bed.
The ginger lump immediately clocked the girl next to him, doing a visible double-take at her face.
Rose looked a bit scared, "This is Crookshanks, he was your mum's cat…"
Crookshanks who was not one for being cuddled moved onto Rose's lap immediately, climbing up to sniff her face before curling up in a ball on her lap.
She sat stiffly, "What is he doing"
"He likes you, try petting his head, like this." Ron took her hand in his and lay it flat on Crookshanks' head.
"Did mum like cats,"
It wasn't what she wanted to ask but it was the first thing that came to her mind.
He smiled with his eyes, and he nodded.
A comfortable silence fell over them.
The warmth of the room coupled with her full belly lulled her and as she watched the dancing flames in the fire she felt an ease that she had never known before and before she could thinking of a follow up the question she had drifted into a dreamless sleep.
She felt tiny cuddled into his chest, he had no idea what he should be doing, what he should be saying but it felt like the most natural thing in the world, having his little shadow next to him.
He watched the fire burning in the comfortable lull in the conversation before gentle snoring began emitting from her.
He waved his wand summoning one of the large covers in the large basket by the fire. Throwing it over her, the door clicked open and Ginny entered joining him in front of the fire.
"Well that was an eventful night"
"You aren't joking."
The door clicked open a second time and Harry joined them.
"Well, what do you make of it?"
"What do you mean…"
"Odd that she turns up after all these years with a letter and not much else..."
He had forgotten the letter entirely, taking his wand he summoned the letter from the table, Ron turned the letter over in his hands, "Part of me doesn't want to know what it says."
"Well all of me wants to know so open it or I will." Ginny quipped.
The emerald green seal was emblazoned with an elegant M, the Malfoy crest.
Dear Mr Weasley.
I am aware that this correspondence will come out of the blue and may cause shock or distress, please accept my apologies for this. The girl who has presented this correspondence to you is Rose. She was born on the 1st of March 1998 to Miss Hermione Granger. She is your daughter. I am aware that this may come as a surprise.
Ginny snorted. "Oh no, no surprise at all… what an arse…"
In December of 1997, Miss Granger was captured and detained, during diagnostic testing it was discovered that she was 6 months pregnant. Under normal circumstances she would have been redistributed or executed, however, the prophecy that pertained to Mr Harry Potter was said to have pertained to more than just him. We do not hold all of the information but it was believed that your daughter was the other half of the puzzle. It is believed that she and Mr Potter will be the downfall of the Dark Lord. She was taken from her mother for this reason.
I am limited to what I can disclose to you safely, but know that while Rose has not always been well cared for she was loved beyond any doubt by both her mother and all those who took enough time to get to know her myself included.
There are many things we must do to keep our families safe Mr Weasley. I have done my utmost to keep Rose from being harmed or maimed over the last 8 years and while this has not always been possible, I now fear my ability to follow the orders set by Albus Dumbledore will be limited by recent changes in circumstances and as a result my home is no longer safe for her and as a result I have returned her to you.
You must keep her safe, she is our only hope for the future of our race.
NM
Ron's head swum, the letter gave nothing, yet implied so much. "As clear as mud like everything else in our lives." Harry whispered, "I'm going to go check on James and then head to bed, it's been a long day."
Silence fell over the siblings as Harry left the room.
"Well he isn't happy" Ginny stated rolling her eyes at him, Ron had known Harry long enough that he could read him like a book.
"I don't think he believes who she says she is."
"He doesn't… he's nervous about what it means that she is here."
"I can't turn my back on her Gin. I'm sorry..."
"... and if you even suggested it I would be dusting off my bat bogey hex…" She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't know why, Ron, but I know she is telling the truth, I can feel it… it's like Hermione's…"
".. back… I know I could smell her perfume, I heard her voice…"
"When did you …"
Ron knew what she meant, not a conversation he wanted to have with his younger sister.
"The day she arrived after … she … obilviated… her parents…"
"Wow, I didn't know you were together."
"We weren't… not really, wasted too much time on the mission…" He put his free hand behind his head, and the familiar thoughts returned. All the time they wasted, regrets, what could have been.
A sleeping hand searched for something under the cover.
"Give her your hand."
He placed his hand on top of the cover and four fingers broke through the crocheted holes and gripped his hand tightly, it was so reflexive it took his breath away.
Ginny laughed, "I remember the first time James did that, like being smacked in the face with unconditional love. "
"I have no idea what I'm doing Gin, I haven't got a clue about kids…"
"None of us do Ronniekins." She smirked at him before joining him on the sofa, she touched the hair of the girl who slept beside him "You just … fumble through and hope you don't break them…"
He felt a strong grip on his shoulder, his father smiled at him before departing without a word.
His mother leaned in to peck his cheek, "I've made up the bed in Fred and George's room if you want to take her up there, we are going to bed but if you need anything you know where we are."
He nodded, not knowing what to say. Ginny stood to leave before throwing her arms around him from behind the couch.
She hadn't hugged him since he was poisoned in his 6th year, before then they had been younger than Rose. "Eww, what's got into you" He teased.
The side of her face was wet and as she pulled away she wiped her face. "I was happy for you but if you are going to be a dickhead then I retract my emotions…" She punched him in the arm.
"Ey! Watch the punching, precious cargo here."
"Fair play, she is precious… didn't get that from you though did she."
She left the room with a chuckle and suddenly he was alone with her.
Less than two hours ago he hadn't known that she existed but it was as though she had always been there.
He summoned the small footstool, putting his feet up he allowed her to sleep curled next to him, holding his hand in her vice-like grip.
Ron didn't sleep that night, his mind in overdrive, keeping watch over her, making sure the fire burned enough so she wasn't cold. Ginny was right, it was like being smacked in the face with unconditional love. She looked like Hermione when she was asleep but so skinny. The longer he looked at her, the more he saw her. Her hair was matted together, dirty and unwashed, the top of her dress was threadbare, and the skin that had been visible on her neck was peppered with bruises and small cuts.
He stifled the anger growing in his stomach, and mentally made a list of things to covertly ask her in the morning.
It wasn't until the morning light came and his mother opened the door to the living room that he realised he had kept his watch the entire night.
"Ron… have you been there the whole night."
He stretched widely before nodding.
Rose woke with a jump, an unexpected movement dragging her from the depths of a dream. A screeching Meow followed and as her eyes adjusted to the brightness it hit her. She wasn't in the dungeons anymore.
There was no smell of dampness.
Her neck was not stiff from sleeping on the floor.
Her fingers didn't ache from the cold.
She was warm…
And he was there…
For a moment she wondered if she had died in her sleep. She looked around for her mother but instead found only him and the red-haired witch from her dream who smelled of cinnamon and warmth.
"Hey smudge, sorry did I scare you."
He stood stiffly stretching before walking towards her.
She was sure it had to be a dream, but he reached out to her. She stared at this hand for a moment. If this was a dream she would wake up in the awful place soon, she reached to touch his hand and he squeezed hers…
It wasn't a dream.
The red-haired witch joined them, "Why don't you go and have a shower and change your clothes, I'll fix us some breakfast."
She didn't want him to leave. What if he was gone forever? But the witch looked "kind" and he had mud on his jeans.
"I'll be right back smudge."
Rose was ushered to the table, she sat silently as the witch flustered around the kitchen. She flicked her wand and pots and pans began cooking all sorts of things. A soft melody came from a small box on the counter.
"Do you like Celestina Warbeck petal?"
"I'm not sure ma'am…"
"It's Granny dear, call me Granny… if you feel comfortable with that obviously… call me whatever you like really, I'll pretty much respond to anything."
Rose nodded, fidgeting with her fingers and swinging her legs.
The red-haired man entered the room, and with a glance at Rose, he smiled brightly. "Morning Weasley's."
He sat in the chair next to her, Rose liked him already. He was definitely "kind". She didn't know if she was included in the "Weasley's" but she liked the thought of being a part of it.
"Why don't you help me by getting some plates from the cabinet little petal."
She stood as directed eager to help, Arthur moved to his wife and whispers behind her stopped her in her tracks.
"She just about had an aneurysm when she woke this morning Arthur. I've never seen a child so distressed."
Arthur held his wife's shoulders and kissed her cheek lightly, "Well my darling wife I seem to remember a certain black-haired boy who came to us very broken, despite everything he has endured, he is a very well-rounded person now thanks to your careful love and tenderness, fixing broken people seems to be your speciality."
A crash broke their chat they turned to see Rose trembling standing in front of a broken plate, tears sprang to her eyes. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to... I'm so clumsy."
"Hey, hey, hey… it's ok … it's just a plate…" Molly chuckled as she patted the girl's shoulder "It could be worse, it could be your leg."
Roses' eyes grew wide, "Please don't break my leg. I'm sorry I can … I will try … I can't fix it, I don't know how… to .. fix it… Please don't hurt me..." Her sobs grew more desperate by the second.
Molly pulled the tiny shaking girl into her shoulder. "Now see here my little petal… I don't know what happened to you before you came here, but I promise you as your grandmother - No one will ever hurt you again, and the ones who have before will have me to answer to one day. We don't do punishments especially not for accidents that can be so easily fixed."
With a flick of her wand, the plate was back to its original state. "See, all fixed, and no one is any the wiser"
"Would you be able to teach me that, then I won't get in trouble when I'm clumsy again… if you decide to send me back."
Molly knelt down next to the small redhead, their faces almost level. Cupping her face in her hands, she took a moment to survey her newly acquired grandaughter's face.
"You will never be going back there again, over my cold dead body will you ever set foot in that place again, I promise you, on all that I have, you will never ever suffer as you have again. You are home now."
Home. The word struck her. Home sounded like kind, it sounded like the feeling she got when they spoke to her.
She stood just as Rose threw her arms around her middle. Molly stroked her fingers through the red curls, the girl had the perfect blend of her father and mother's hair. Matted and unkempt but so beautiful, just needs a grandmother's touch, that would be her job for this morning.
"Mum is now a good time?" Ginny poked her head around the kitchen door.
"Always" Molly stroked Rose's hair as she smiled down at the girl. "Would you like to meet one of your cousins?"
Rose nodded.
Ginny appeared at the door ushering in a small boy with messy black hair and blue eyes.
"James, this is your cousin Rose. She's come to stay with us."
He hid behind his mother's legs peeking out at her a few times before smiling widely.
The shower had cleared his foggy mind and was exactly what he had needed, Ron had raided the attic and found a box of Ginny's old clothes, for once he was grateful that his mother had hoarded the items, dungarees and a long stripey rainbow t-shirt, they were old and slightly well-loved but better than what Rose had just now.
He opened the door and she immediately broke into the biggest smile.
They spent the day playing with James, integrating her into the family routine. Fred and George popped over as they always did and arrangements were made for Ron to change his hours at the Wheezes, he had been working there for the best part of three years, under a glamour. The pay wasn't great but between that and Ginny and Harry's job in a local muggle shop, they kept their heads above water.
By the end of the day Ron was exhausted, the last 24 hours had been the longest Ron had ever experienced but as the sunset and his mother ushered Rose away for her bath he took a moment to take stock of how his life had transformed in a day.
He wondered if he would wake up from a fever dream but the purple bag in the middle of the table told him he was very much awake.
With a deep breath, he pulled it towards him.
This in itself was proof enough that she had been real.
She had lived.
He had left…
He shook away the thought wondering what treasures he would find within it, eager to find every part of her.
He opened the bag. Her bag.
The bright Orange caught his eye immediately.
He dragged it from its prison. His Cannons comforter.
His hands shook and his resolve to see the contents of the bag disappeared immediately.
Harry had told him that she had slept with it every night he had been away.
Tears again.
Pain in his chest.
He gripped it too tightly.
Her perfume.
After all these years.
His face buried it in, he was there again that July night.
Her lips, her skin.
He could feel her breath as she slept covered by it.
If he didn't hold on to it it would disappear.
Like she did…
A small thunk broke his grief.
Two letters landed on the floor
He reached for them before he recognised the writing.
Her writing.
Two letters.
Were they her final thoughts?
One for Rose … crisp, neat.
One for him … The envelope was tear-stained and crumpled.
The door clicked open and Ron hastily wiped his face.
It was her.
Their little Rose.
She returned from her bath, her hair less wild, all brushed and clean. She sat with him at the table, smiling her shy smile. She appeared, like him, to not be able to find the words.
"Your hair looks nice,"
"Thank you, Granny, did it for me, it didn't hurt at all."
She looked at the blanket with curiosity, and it hit Ron. The bag wasn't his to explore, it had been returned with her.
"I… erm…. I'm sorry I was looking in your bag"
"That's not my bag, Lady Malfoy gave it to me before we left the manor. I've never seen it before."
"Oh" was all he could think to say.
There was silence before she reached out to touch the blanket.
"It's pretty."
Like you whispered in his mind.
Ron cleared the frog from his throat before continuing "... I found something from Mum. I thought that we could read them together and talk about them if you needed to."
She took the letter opened the envelope, smiled at it and folded it over.
"Do you want to talk about what it said?"
She shook her head and turned the letter over… it hit Ron… the letter was upside down.
"Rosie… can you read?"
Her ears flushed red and she once again looked frightened.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of it you can't" He retook her hand stopping her from fidgeting with her fingers again.
"I can teach you how to read if you like."
"Really" Her eyes were wide, happy and staring as though he had offered her all the gold in Gringotts.
"Mum would never forgive me if I didn't smudge, do you want me to read it to you."
She hesitated, before nodding.
He took the letter in his hand, turning it around the right way. The moment he saw her writing a lump appeared in his throat and regretted his offer.
My little Rose,
I have only known about you for a few weeks and we have yet to meet but already I don't have the words to describe to you how much I love you already.
I hope more than anything you never have to read this letter, I hope I can find a way to be with you all your life, but if you are reading this and I am no longer here, know that I have never really left you. I will have followed you through your life like a ghost, and I will never be more than a breath from you in spirit.
I want you to know a few things that I want you to carry with you your whole life through.
I am your mother, my name is Hermione Jean Granger. I am a muggleborn witch born the Jean and Henry Granger. They are dentists (they tend to people's teeth) and I am proud to be their daughter. They are currently safely tucked away from the people who wanted to hurt them. I am proud of my blood status and you should always be proud of yours.
I don't know what you will be taught but know that Muggleborns are not an abomination, they are an anomaly, something that many consider shouldn't be allowed but nature has found a way to make people like me from nothing and that is something truly special. I hope you see this too.
Your Dad is Ronald Bilius Weasley a pureblood wizard, the son of Molly and Arthur Weasley. You come from a proud and noble line of wizards and witches that can be traced back to Merlin himself. The Weasleys are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. I hope you have the chance to try your Granny's treacle tart, it was and probably still is Uncle Harry's favourite.
Your Dad is a brave, wonderful and clever man, he is kind, loving and I know that when he meets you he will absolutely dote on you.
I want you to know that you were made with the purest magic known to muggle, magic and mortal kind.
Love.
You exist because of love. I loved your Dad, he loved me, unequivocally without any doubt and I want you to choose to live your life with love for all other beings. You were named partly after my Grandmother Rosemary. She was the human incarnation of love and I know that you will be just like her.
Your Dad once said, "Don't let the muggles get you down." I want to amend that statement slightly.
My little Rose "Don't let the world get you down." You are a fierce and thorny little warrior who will grow into the most beautiful strong brave woman. Remember knowledge is power, so devour all the books you can. Remember to think for yourself and think about what is good and right and never be afraid to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.
You will change the world. I can feel it in my bones and I will do everything in my power to give you all the support I can.
Remember to hold your head high and love above all else.
I love you my little Rose
Mummy
"So she did love me…" a whisper from her lips. A thought that she had not intended to vocalise.
He had with great difficulty made his way through the letter with only streaming eyes.
The thought that she could ever doubt how much Hermione had loved her was too much.
They broke together.
It felt like an eternity later their tears subsided to small hiccups, and neither of them spoke, in the silence the exhaustion hit him, the bags under her eyes were the size of his former Hogwarts trunk, he ushered her up the stairs, he showed her to the little bedroom, his mother had made up for her, Fred and George's old room. It was basic with twin wardrobes, twin desks and two twin beds. It had a permanent smell of gunpowder but it was peaceful and serene.
He tucked her into bed and told her if she needed anything he was right at the top of the house to follow the stairs and she would find him no matter what time it was. She seemed to slip off to sleep very quickly despite her new surroundings.
He was grateful to be allowed to close the door, to breathe for a moment. The bright orange cover he had anticipated covering her with was still clutched tightly in his hand with the letter burning a hole in his hand since the moment he recognised what it was.
Ascending the stairs he felt a ball of nausea building in his stomach.
He left her, there was no way the letter would be some teenage love note… so why was he so desperate to read it.
Closure.
He didn't want closure, not really, he wanted her.
He wanted to be taking her to their room after all these years, all the nights he had wondered what if to be a horrible dream.
He wanted all the days he had been unable to will himself to leave his bed to be a nightmare and to wake up with her there.
But she was gone, and he had to accept that she wasn't going to come back. He wanted to break down, but he couldn't do that either… not now that Rose needed him.
He reached his room, closing the door behind him softly and lighting the lanterns, sinking to his bed he surveyed the quilt before holding it to his face. It had her smell still. After all these years. A series of stray hairs which he picked up and placed in his bedside drawer. He was aware of how weird this was. He felt himself cringe internally. But they were proof that she had lived and he wasn't ready to let them float off into the universe just yet.
Ron,
I don't know if you will ever get this letter, I hope you don't because it will mean I have found a way back to you, but if it does find you and I am truly gone before I get a chance to say all the things I wanted to, then know it is sent with love.
While I admit, I was angry when you left, it only lasted for a few hours, the worst part of you not being there was the gaping absence of you I didn't realise would remotely exist until the moment you were gone.
I've never wished to have my time turner more, to get even a few minutes to tell you how sorry I was for letting you go. I know the Horcrux affected you, I should have seen sooner how ill you were, I wish I could have stopped you from leaving. I hope that you are ok, wherever you are, I hope you are safe, I hope that you have found happiness, I pray that you and Harry have reconciled, ended the war and destroyed all the Horcruxes, but if you haven't please don't give up. Remember more than anything I believe in you.
I wanted you to know, more than anything my feelings have never changed, I have loved you for as long as I can remember and while I may not have always known what kind of love it was but I am in no doubt now.
Our daughter is proof of that.
To say I was shocked when they told me I was pregnant would be an understatement. I was so scared of what it meant, but I guess in part it meant that you never really left me. There was always an invisible string that tied us together.
The treehouse will always be our place, I meant every word, I love you. I will love you in every life. You will always be my King. My knight in shining armour. Our love grew into our little Rose.
If her kicks and somersaults are anything to go by she will be a keeper like her daddy, strong-willed like me, and clever and wonderfully vibrant just like her daddy. They don't treat me badly here, of course, I would never be here by choice, but I haven't been hurt so if that is a question in your mind, know I have been at peace with it all. I tell her stories every night about our adventures, our time at Hogwarts and how hard we fought for a better world for her.
I'm running out of parchment so I will need to keep this short, I just wanted you to know that I love you more than I can put into words and I know you will be there in spirit when she enters the world. I have a hunch she will arrive on your birthday. (Happy birthday by the way) Tell her about me, teach her to love reading, to consume knowledge like it feeds the soul, teach her to play chess and if you must teach her to fly for the love of Merlin be careful. Also if you feel the inclination to tell her about S.P.E.W. I think she quite like's hearing my stories about it at night.
Ron could barely see through the tears and was struggling to breathe through his streaming nose but the mention of S.P.E.W had him laughing in a way he hadn't experienced since that July night.
A soft knock came to the door, he wiped his face before opening the door.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and staring, she stuttered… she had been crying again. He scooped her up, without hesitation. She didn't need to tell him what she needed, he needed her too, he needed her close, even if it was for a little while, they would navigate the big scary world together.
She was after all his reason now.
He levitated the mattress from Fred and George's old room. Placed it on the floor, it was a squeeze but they had a lifetime to iron out the details and now was a time for putting broken pieces back together.
As he settled onto the mattress on the floor, she hung her arm over the bed and watched him silently. For a moment he was back in the darkness of Grimmauld Place lying on the sofa cushions staring into her hazel eyes. He took her hand again.
"I got you smudge, I'm right here."
"Always?" She whispered.
"...and forever"
From that moment Ron and Rose became just that, Rose made herself his shadow.
She grew up alongside the family and 5 short years passed with blissful happiness. She gained two more cousins, Albus and Lily, both of whom she adored. She learned to read and as her mother asked she consumed the knowledge that her mother's purple-beaded mobile library contained, she learned how to beat her father at wizards chess, a trait that made him glow with pride.
She could have lived in this life forever.
But as Rose had previously known, happiness cannot last forever and she would remember the day everything changed, for the rest of her existence.
Rose had always been intimidated by Kingsley Shacklebolt. He held a formidable presence in the room even when he laughed heartily with her Grandpa. He had dropped in after Christmas dinner, the merriment of the day hung in the air and everyone was stuffed to the brim with Turkey and Christmas pudding.
There had been a sombre pause in the festive and without much warning her grandmother had ushered her away for the bath and bedtime routine.
Once stories had been read, James, Albus and Lily slept soundly in the bunks that surrounded her the curiosity got the better of Rose.
She crept down the winding stairs sitting within earshot of the living room.
"Why would Lucius Malfoy be looking for my daughter." Her Dad demanded of Kingsley in a hushed tone.
"I'm not sure you will like the answer to that Ron."
"You aren't dropping that on me and then not telling me the full story."
"You've heard the stories of the Compound… the death eaters call it the Black Farm, no light that enters there escapes, we had three undercover agents who have been taken there and none of them came out alive."
Her blood ran cold at the mention of its name.
"What does that have to do with Rose?"
"There is said to be a section of it that caters to … certain perversions… I don't wish to haunt you with the details."
Forgetting she was meant to be hiding, Rose entered the living room, "The compound is where they sent all the muggle-borns, the traitors and the surrogates isn't."
"Rose! You are supposed to be in bed…"
Kingsley held his hand up to Rose's grandmother.
"You've heard of the Compound."
"I was sent there for a while when I was younger. I had been really disobedient, so "He" sent me to the playground. Only it wasn't a playground, not really it was really frightening."
She was aware that all eyes were on her, she pulled her dressing gown tighter round her.
"You've never told me any of this Rosie…" Her Dad looked concerned. Suddenly she wished she had stayed upstairs, hidden.
"I didn't want to scare you."
He gestured for her to join him on the sofa before pulling her in for a cuddle.
Kingsley produced a small notepad, "Can you tell me about it?"
"My memories are fuzzy but I can try … What do you want to know?"
"Where is it?"
"I don't know, they took me in a muggle car, from the manor it was a really long drive"
"How long"
"I can't remember, I was only 5, it felt like hours we passed a sign that said, it had a big white rose on it"
"I thought you had never left the manor," Harry, sitting at the dining table drinking whisky, interrupted.
Rose knew her Uncle didn't trust her, he never had, there was always a reason to discredit the things she said. She had heard the arguments he had had with her Aunt Ginny.
"I'm sorry for lying…"
Harry opened his mouth, interrupted by Kingsley.
"What happened in the compound, how did you get in."
"Lucius had my hand, the gates opened on their own, people, maybe two or three men and a woman in her underwear, they all had these tattoos on their arms, like big snakes that went up and around their necks. They all bowed to him, there were two huge doors… he took me to the right-hand side… we went down through the floor, he asked me if I wanted to play a game and took me into this little room… he…"
The repressed scenes flickered in her memory. She could feel her Dad watching her…
"He… what Rose?" Kingsley pressed.
"I don't remember"
But Rose could remember, with stark clarity. The drink he gave her tasted like Almonds but smelled of his cologne, peppermint and pine. The fuzzy feeling it gave her. The way she wanted to touch his hair after it.
"Be a good girl," and the whisper of "Our Little Secret"
"I remember a glass room with a wardrobe…"
The wardrobe had opened as thin black fingers slithered from it.
The laughter, the taunting… "filthy half-breed" their faces pressed against the glass.
It chased her, it caught her… They opened the door the black fingers flew into the wardrobe… something else entered… like a human with broken limbs, it crawled like a dog along the floor, faster and faster reaching her with its grey skin greasy and slick. Teeth nashing.
"I think that's enough." Her Granny rescued her from her thoughts. "I think you need to go to bed dear."
Rose looked at her and nodded obediently.
That night the nightmares returned with the uneasy feelings that hadn't plagued her in 5 years.
The following day, Rose sat on her father's broom riding the breeze just under the tree line of the old orchard. There was an unusual ominous chill in the air, like the calm before the storm.
She knew something was going on, her Dad and Harry had been spending a lot of time away from the house, and she had caught her grandmother who always wore a cheerful happy smile staring off into the distance with fear painted her features. She always put on her happy face as soon as she noticed Rose's presence but tension hung in the air like fog.
Harry waited at the side of the field.
She sighed, descending and landing next to him.
He nodded in greeting. She suddenly became aware that this was the first time they had been alone in the 5 years she had known him.
"I have a favour to ask of you, Rose."
Silence.
He cleared his throat. "Your Dad would never forgive me if he knew what I was about to ask of you but… it isn't for me…"
Cryptic as ever.
"The intelligence is they are closing in on us."
"Why don't we leave then."
"If it was that simple I wouldn't be standing here having this conversation, would I?" He spat the words like venom.
"Sorry…"
"I need you to promise me, that if we are … found… you will take James, Albus and Lily to safety."
She nodded.
"And if there is a risk of capture… you will…"
He stalled. His voice broke.
"You know the three unforgivable curses…"
She nodded, unsure what he could ask of her that involved those.
"If there is a risk of you four being captured… use the third… make sure they … meet me beyond the veil."
She felt a shiver run up her spine as the weight of it piled on her.
"You want me to kill them…"
"Sometimes death is a mercy…"
He stared at her silently, expectantly, demanding obedience.
"Remember the life you had, remember The Compound. They deserve better."
He touched her shoulder. "You are like her you know." he stated emotionless as he turned leaving her with the implications of his task.
In the dark room, she woke with a start a shiver travelled the length of her spine before three cracks outside the window caught her attention. Rose crept crept to the window. In the distance, she spotted three hooded figures.
She whispered a sharp and terrified "No…"
"What are you doing, Rosie," James whispered sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Even in the darkness, he sensed his cousin's terror, he got up quickly throwing on a pair of jeans over his pyjamas.
"Get my Dad and your Dad, I'll get Albus and Lily. But be really quiet ok, and don't go near the windows or turn on any lights."
The young girl took a long dressing gown cord wrapping it around herself she tied Lily to her front in a makeshift carrier, before lifting Albus onto her back.
She left her bedroom and stood at the bottom of the stairs, she was met with the terrified face of her father.
"Ok Rosie, well done." He put Hermione's beaded bag over her head, "there is enough food for about two weeks. Head to Shell Cottage, Tinsworth, and under no circumstances come back you know the drill."
"I don't want to leave you, Dad." Rose had tear-streaking her face "I only just found you."
Ron kissed her cheek, "I know, me and mum are so proud of you, I will never leave you, not really. Be brave my little Gryffindor."
Her Uncle Harry appeared behind Ron, bustling him out of the way, "You need to get out of here now. James, listen to your cousin and no matter what happens don't come back…"
Harry threw his invisibility cloak over them. "Remember what we spoke about, if there is a risk …"
"I know what to do," Rose cut him off. Ron squeezed her hand. The unspoken goodbye lingered in the air.
Screams echoed throughout the small town of Ottery St Catchpole.
The sky was quickly illuminated green by the Dark Mark and the sounds of Bellatrix Le Strange's laughter sounded the end of the massacre.
Rose turned her head, to shout for James to hurry up and help her, as the cloak tangled around her feet. It tangled around her legs as she fell to the floor, turning herself ensuring she landed on her side rather than onto either of the children strapped to her.
"They are coming, Rose!"
She heaved herself up, "Open the tree house now!"
James ascended quickly, taking Lily as she was handed to him and Rose and Albus followed quickly.
As they reached the door shutting it quickly behind her Rose took out her mother's wand whispering the protective enchantments she had learned the previous day.
The room looked creepy illuminated with a green hue from the mark outside.
Outside the treehouse she could hear footsteps, "They went this way…"
She put her hand over Lily's mouth, and James followed her lead covering Albus's mouth. Both children who would normally have wiggled and protested, understood the seriousness of the situation.
Rose recognised the voice, Antony Dolonov… a cruel and evil man.
"Fucking find them!" Greyback… her heart dropped.
"They are here and we aren't leaving without them…" Scabior.
More voices, more vile words. She shook, Lily looked up at her pointing at the "fireworks"
"You are my sunshine my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never who dear, how much I love you." she sang, barely more than a whisper.
The footsteps passed but she knew they would be back. She knew there was no escaping this.
"Death is a mercy…"
James pressed against her holding Albus on his lap. He was shaking while telling his little brother it would be ok. She threaded her arm around the two boys.
There was no saving them. Even if she managed to apparate, there was nowhere to go nothing.
Through tears, she whispered, "Hey guys, you want to see something cool." Lily nodded excitedly clapping her hands.
Rose held out her hands before closing her eyes, she would never say the words, to end their lives would destroy her, but she had done this before, for Jean. If she focused.
Three green butterflies sprouted from her hands, looping in the air, Lily squealed excitedly, and Albus watched in awe. Lily was the first to go, her hands immediately grabbed for the butterfly, and as her fist closed around it she falls into eternal sleep. Albus is next, jealous of his sister getting a butterfly he slipped into sleep with a pouted bottom lip. They both cling to her in death as sobs rack through her body.
James moved in between his siblings to cuddle into Rose's chest. "There are only three."
"That's OK little man."
"What about you though"
He looks at her with a pleading look and at that moment she wanted to take him and run, to try to get to Uncle Bill's, but the risk is too great, they would be here soon. If they caught them they would take them both back to the manor and that was a fate worse than death, she had promised her Uncle Harry if there was any risk at all to them…
She smiled her bravest smile, "You know me Jamesyboy… I'll be ok … I'm a Weasley after all we are tough as nails"
He looked frightened, and she moved Albus to cuddle into Lily and pulled him into her free arm. "Hey, just think one day when this is all over we will be at Hogwarts together, I'll spend most of my time shouting at you for losing Gryffindor points because of your stupid pranks…"
He smiled at her, the sadness still behind his eyes, he knew what was about to happen, he knew there would be no Hogwarts for them but he accepted his fate with true Gryffindor bravery. "You will always be my best friend" he whispered as he closed his hand around the remaining butterfly.
She held them in her arms, her three little loves, if she closed her eyes and focused hard enough she could imagine that they were sleeping, that her sobs were their sleepy shallow breathing.
His voice echoed through the haze of grief.
"It's ok Rosie… I'm here…" It wasn't his usual tone, but it was him. She had never needed him more.
She ran to him, she needed him, she didn't know how she would explain what she did. But he would love her regardless. He would understand.
She felt nails gripping her skull and suddenly she was face to face with Lucius Malfoy.
"Imperio."
Her soul left her body as reality hit her. She sank to her knees, her mind screaming and tears rolling down her cheeks.
He took her arm in his hand, pressing the tip of his wand to her arm. Pain erupted as black flames carved images into her flesh. A black serpent slithered from its tip and made its way up her arm burning and searing as it went, she felt it reach her shoulders and snake around her neck constricting as it moved.
"... And now to take what has been mine … much later than I anticipated but…" he surveyed the mark on her neck "... Better late than never."
Malfoy ran his thumb over her bottom lip before forcing her head to turn just in time to see the blade run over her father's throat.
She couldn't move, she couldn't scream, she couldn't react.
"This is your fault." He told her.
"Watch him struggle," he moved along her jaw with his hand before moving around her, surrounding her being. "Watch him try to protect you," his hands travelled, causing a ball of sick to form in her stomach. Rose wished she could leave her body, to die now with her Dad, whose death directly resulted from her stupidity.
He forced her onto all fours, their eyes met and silent apologies were exchanged.
Ripping of fabric added to the melody of gargled screaming and manic laughter.
Her mind blanked, the smell of his cologne, blood and dirt overwhelmed her being. She wanted to run, push away, to curl up but she was still, and could only focus on the life ebbing from the person who had loved and protected her, who she repaid by making these his final moments.
Life left him, and Bellatrix kicked his body to the ground.
It ended almost as quickly as it began, with pain and his nails in her flesh.
Lucius stood rearranging his robes and smoothing his hair, Lestrange kicked her boot into Rose's face her nose exploded with pain, but still she couldn't move.
"Stop crying, you are coming home after all… and you better get used to that… by the time they are done with you… "
"Enough Bella," Lucius interjected. "Let's not be vulgar."
"Pathetic little half-breed."
A further blow hit Rose's head before everything went black
The familiar stench of dampness met her as her eyes flickered open hours later.
She was cold.
Her neck ached.
Her body was bruised, but none of it mattered… they were all gone.
"I didn't expect to see you again."
Draco Malfoy appeared beside her. A sympathetic look on his face.
"I didn't want to see you again either Malfoy."
"I heard you … made a choice."
She protected them, it wasn't a choice.
"I had the choice of making sure they never had to live this life or saving myself and I chose them,"
"You killed them, Rose, you can frame it however you want to make yourself feel better, but you killed them… they were children Rose..."
"Death is a mercy… "
Silence
She unconsciously touched and picked at the mark on her arm. Draco grabbed it inspecting it, the name Malfoy emblazoned on the snake's length—the same as the girls at the compound.
Her arm resting on her legs, his heart dropped as he noticed the blood. "You're hurt"
She pulled her legs up to her chest. Before staring into the darkness, "What is he going to do with me now?"
"Who?"
"Your father."
He shuddered at the thought.
Draco approached his father's quarters. Flinging the door open he found his father in his high-backed chair, a glass of Ogden's in hand.
Lucius looked him up and down with an inquisitory gaze, "Do come in Draco."
"Cut the sarcasm, I know what you did…"
"Whatever do you mean Draco…"
"She was just a child!"
A cruel smile appeared on his face confirming Draco's unspoken accusations to be true. "She is my property Draco, I paid for her many years ago."
"She's not property, she's a 13-year-old child, you filthy cretin! Why would you remotely want to …" He couldn't formulate the words to describe it.
"...because Draco, who is going to stop me"