28th December 2011
Malfoy Manor
The moment her eyes opened the following morning, clarity crashed down upon Rose like the ice-cold water Bellatrix waterboarded her with.
Rose jumped to her feet, the rush of adrenaline coupled with fear left no room for thought.
A fast piercing slap impacted her face before she could recognise her surroundings, "You stink of death and debauchery half-breed. Time to get washed."
The memory of her Dad's desperate last moments filled her mind. Not some horrific dream, but a terrible reality.
"Crucio"
Rose sank to her knees, teeth gritted against the electricity coursing through her veins but the pain of it was nothing compared to the agony in her mind.
Their screams, the feeling of Albus and Lily clinging to her. James. They were all gone, she had nothing left and worse she failed her Dad by coming back.
"Torture already Bella… it's barely 7 am… let's give my girl enough time to open her eyes before she gets a taste of forever." A familiar voice laughed from the darkness.
"I'm not your girl." Rose croaked as the pain stopped.
With a single fluid movement, his hand was round her throat, taking her air, causing sparks to appear in her vision. Her feet dangled as she struggled, he had never been this strong.
"I know that you used to be cheeky before. I know they used to think it was cute. I know you revelled in the mediocre punishment that he gave you and getting away with it all, but rest assured now that the parchment is signed and you are legally my property, you will not get away with such insolence, choose your words wisely little thorn or face the consequences."
Rose tried to choke an agreement, but nothing came. She was sure she was going to pass out at any moment.
He released her, dropping her like a hot potato.
"Clean up, my girl cannot arrive in her new home looking like some common garden gnome."
His girl … it made her skin crawl.
She followed him to the showers.
"Strip"
She waited for him to turn around.
"Aren't you going to…"
"You have nothing to hide from me… one way or another I will see it all, likely by the end of the day… You can make this easy or hard… I don't mind which…"
He twirled his wand between his fingers, watching expectantly. The end glistened. The jagged metal called to her. If she could take it she could slit her own throat…
"Well… I don't like to be kept waiting."
He pulled her from the fantasy.
She pulled her jumper over her head, her grandmother had made it for her at Christmas. She clung to it for a moment. It still smelled of cinnamon and "Home"
"Put that rag and the rest of your clothes on the floor."
Rag… It had been wrapped in maroon paper, with a big maroon bow. Rose remembered it crinkling under her fingers. The shimmer of the bow. It was her's - no one else's. Made for her. You don't wrap a rag in a bow with a chocolate frog and homemade fudge. You don't throw your arms around the person who made a rag and make their eyes sparkle with happy tears.
Every stitch was done with love. Rose knew because she watched her grandmother making them. Her wrinkles lifted as she hummed to herself counting stitches. Up, round, under, off …
She said a brief goodbye, taking a moment to mourn her grandmother before doing as instructed.
He peeled it from the floor in utter disgust, as though it was infested with an unseen vermin before setting it alight.
Rose let out a sob but thought better of voicing her feelings..
"Oh Rose, don't cry, a beautiful new wardrobe has been arranged for you."
She continued to undress in silence, determined steps came towards her before grabbing her chin.
"Aren't you going to thank your master for buying you some pretty new clothes?"
"Thank you." She whispered dryly.
"Thank you … what…" He spat. His saliva hitting different spots on her face made her gag.
"I don't know wha…"
His palm impacted her face. For a moment Rose saw stars. Before his nails dug into her chin again "Thank you Master" He spoke as though it was obvious. His grey eyes revelled in her confusion and pain.
She remained silent for too long, she contemplated her next move, obedience would make it easy, but death would come quicker with punishment.
His wand jabbed into her side, electricity coursed through her body. Rose felt her head impact the floor and tasted blood in her mouth as she thrashed angrily on the floor.
One … two … three seconds
Eight … nine … ten …
The pain stopped as suddenly as it came.
"Thank you .. what …" he repeated, his silver eyes bore into her.
"Thank you, master…"
"Better, now wash, you stink of poverty."
Poverty… before she had been taken home there had been many comments made about "the Weasley blood traitors" over dinners and at the many balls and occasions she had been forced to endure.
With poverty and embarrassment, they breed like fleas.
The words ingrained in her mind were said as though they were bad. But she would take all those now for one more shot at love. To be home in their embrace. Money doesn't buy class, decorum, happiness…
But it does buy your body…
Her orange Chudley Cannons t-shirt was next. It had been his… her Dad's he had 3 of them but this one was his favourite. He had pulled it over her head the night after she arrived home… it became her favourite nightshirt. Then her favourite T-shirt. Now it would be engrained in her mind, her favourite pile of ashes.
He burned the evidence of his misdeeds quickly after. She removed the jeans and underwear in one swoop, turning her head before throwing them to the floor. The smell of her own blood was enough to trigger her memory and cause her to empty her stomach.
She covered herself, the cold nipping at her flesh. He forced her eyes back to him, before moving her limbs allowing him to inspect her body inch by inch. He smirked at the marks his nails had left on her hips, the snake dancing its way around her neck.
"Have you blossomed…"
Rose had no idea what that meant but she was sure as shit she knew she never wanted him to say those words again
"I don't know"
"How can you not know?"
"I don't know what you mean,"
"Have you menstruated…"
For a brief moment, she was back in the bathroom in the Burrow, screaming for her Dad… she was dying… bleeding out… He had thundered up the stairs and battered down the door before realisation hit him, Rose cried loudly, while he laughed to the point of tears but he held her close and eventually reassured her it was natural, she wasn't dying just growing up, she remembered every word of the awkward talk that followed, he had fumbled his way through, answered all her questions honestly before swallowed his pride and asked Ginny to explain some of the finer details. Aunt Ginny had been much better at explaining, but Rose would never tell her father that.
"Yes" escaped her eventually.
"Well, I will need to ensure you are on the potion then."
"What potion…"
"The contraceptive potion of course…can't be having unwanted bastards running around can we, Narcissa would not be happy with that," he stated as though he was telling her the sky is blue.
The consequences of what he had done hadn't crossed her mind, the thought of a part of him moving within her made her feel filthy.
"Please can I shower now?"
"Of course. I'll be right here."
He never removed his eyes from her, creepy as he had ever been but now possessive and dominant.
She scrubbed and scrubbed but nothing removed the dirt. He was ingrained in her being. Soap made the dirt move around her flesh.
A voice in her head reminded her to remain calm. "Just like chess do each step as it comes."
She had been standing under the burning water too long.
"You are going to damage my prize." He forced her head under the water to remove the shampoo before turning the water off abruptly.
The cold goosebumped her flesh.
Lucius watched as the droplets of water ran from her.
"I'm cold…"
There was no warning as he slammed her face into the wall.
She struggled, he fumbled with his robes before the pain was back.
Protect your mind, Rose, he can take your body but not your mind.
"I tell you what you are, do you hear me little thorn… I am your god now."
One hand found her throat again, bending her neck unnaturally far back, making eye contact, squeezing the life from her.
His other hand found her centre, rubbing forcefully.
"What do you say for angering me?"
"Sorry," She croaked. He was insane, his eyes wild, something built in her stomach. Shame congealed within her with rapid speed.
"Sorry … what…" he spat again.
"Sorry master." Her shame burst. Stars and sparks burst from her with tears and bile.
"Your body betrays you little thorn…"
He jolts to a painful stop again.
He let her go, she curled on the floor.
She wanted another shower.
Fuck a shower, she wanted to die
The next few hours blurred into nothingness. He made her dress in uncomfortable tight clothes that revealed too much. He scrutinished her hair, instructing the houseelves to smooth her tight curls and leave sleek ringlets. Her face was thickened with makeup and before she could think properly, she was seated at the all too familiar banquet dining table
"My little Rose… how long it has been."
The voice cut through her daze like a knife.
He floated into the room like a ghost, his grey and leathery completion had aged him 20 years since the last time she had seen him.
He took a seat at the head of the table next to Rose.
Opposite her sat Lucius, his green velvet suit coupled with his head held high made him look like a peacock in bloom.
The door opened quietly, "Apologies my Lord I was… otherwise engaged " Draco approached the table avoiding Rose's gaze.
"I thought we could enjoy a last breakfast together to mark the celebration of our little Rose being found and returned safely before she is taken to the Compound."
The compound…
A plate appeared before her, steak, potatoes and broccoli.
She furrowed her brow, and both Draco and Lucius separately met her gaze and looks of confusion followed.
"Eat, eat… we wouldn't want it to go cold."
Steak wasn't Rose's idea of a breakfast.
She hated the way the elves cooked meat here, it always had an off taste like there was something not quite right. She took the smallest cut of steak, enough to be seen to eat it. She would do her usual, pick at the vegetables, cover the meat with her napkin and pretend to no longer be hungry when they questioned why she hadn't eaten.
Rose's grandmother made the most beautiful stews, soft meat marinated to perfection. As she ate the potatoes and vegetables Rose noticed that "father" wasn't eating. It wasn't entirely unusual he never really ate occasionally picking at odd bits of the feasts he was provided with, most of the time he merely watched, observing like a vulture.
Something was ominous about his watching today. He was smiling.
Draco and Lucius finished their meals without a word. Draco, like Rose, had difficulty swallowing the chewy meat and cleansed his palette with Orange juice.
"Will Mother not be joining us today Father…" Draco quipped across the table "I'm sure she would be interested to see your new toy." His eyes briefly fell on Rose.
"I have yet to see your mother this morning but I am sure that she will have nothing to say about my long-awaited acquisition." Lucius polished off his glass of wine before slamming the glass to the table and gesturing for the elves to bring more.
The Dark Lord stood from his seat before walking around the back of Rose's chair. He placed his hands on her shoulders making her tense. "Why my dear fellows, I have a confession. See when this flower was brought back to us, I took it upon myself to find the culprit of who allowed her to escape."
Rose's stomach dropped, Narcissa.
She would have been punished for helping her … His nails dug into her shoulders. Rose's gaze trained on the steak in front of her. A horrifying thought crept into her mind. She immediately shooed it away as the mere thought alone would make her vomit.
"I found the culprit very easily, and I was very distressed to realise that it was none other than our fabulous hostess. Your mother and wife."
Lucius looked horrified, Draco kept his composure but terror crept into the light within his eyes.
They ate her…
Rose felt the bubbling in her stomach.
"She had to be punished, as you both know I will not stand for disloyalty." He laughed.
"My lord … where is my wife." Lucius' face was pale as his voice croaked the question.
"Why she is on the table of course. Why let good meat go to waste."
It took far too long for the two men opposite her to register what had been said, Draco vomited immediately screaming expletives before leaving the room horrified.
Lucius stared at Rose, she was sure he was going to rip her limb from limb. She wouldn't have blamed him either, it was her fault. Narcissa saved her and gave her life as payment for the 5 years of happiness.
Everyone who touches you dies.
"Take her to the compound, I do not wish to have her in my line of vision any more, you will no longer consider me father, child, and you will experience a lifetime of punishment for your disappearance. I hope it was worth it" The Dark Lord demanded from behind her before exiting the room with a swoop.
Lucius didn't move, Rose didn't breathe.
He launched himself across the table, sending her chair flying. Both fists clenched around her throat. "You lost me my wife … she is dead because of you!" He slammed her head into the back of the chair multiple times. She bit her tongue on the third impact.
As the world blackened around her, a voice broke through.
"No! You are the reason she is dead!"
The hands left her throat, and Lucius stood to face Draco who had returned to the room.
"Do you want to know why she helped Rose escape… She heard your disgusting conversation all those years ago."
Rose rubbed her throat. Lucius watched his son silently.
"She was a child when you bought her"
"Hardly, she is only 4 years from being legal…"
"She was 8 years old, when you bought her, she was only a little older than Scorpius is now!" Draco screeched his eyes red and raw. "Mother heard your sickening conversation, that is why she saved her. If you hadn't had those perversions Mother would still be alive…"
She had been trying not to breath, not to draw attention to herself. But he had damaged her throat and Rose couldn't contain the cough that had built in her any longer. Both men turned to look at her. They were like day and night. Despite Draco's devastation her watched her with sympathy, Lucius watched her with an angry sneer.
She expected an attack, she expected to be stunned, she wasn't expecting his boot being stamped on her head before everything went black.
The Compound
The next few hours passed as a fever dream, she lulled in and out of consciousness, she remembered being bundled into a small space in a muggle car. Too tired to be claustrophobic, she remembered very little of it except the rhythmic bumps, she knew she was no longer in the manor.
She remembered she had been pulled from the car, the light had burned her eyes.
A tall man had opened the boot, before grabbing her arm, and dragging her over his shoulder, he hit her head on the way out.
"Stop whining" He snarled at her.
She recognised the gates immediately, and as they closed behind them, she felt the hope leaving her, the first time she had been here, they had gone to the left, this time they had gone to the right. She watched the large door to the left fading from her vision and she was sure she could hear terrified, desperate screaming.
There were so many path's, so many hallways, angry snarling guards guarded the halls.
The room was pink, so pink it hurt her eyes.
The sound of kittens meowing stabilised her hearing, coupled with the fruity perfume that overpowered her nose she felt disorientated.
"Well, it's about time you woke up." A toad-faced woman sat opposite her, drinking a cup of tea from a white china cup and a saucer. Her pinky finger jutted out comically and her sickly smile turned Rose's stomach.
She must have been asleep, the chair had a high back and pink fabric. She touched it with her fingers, so soft.
"Where am I?" Rose whispered.
The woman placed her saucer and cup on the table before her.
"Your new home of course, if you are a good girl, work hard and do exactly as you are told, then we will get along just fine. If you don't … well let's just say, the consequences will be severe." She chuckled a sickly false laugh.
Rose didn't like this woman. The little voice in her mind screamed nutter. Her own voice was much quieter "What will I be doing?"
"Well, we will leave that as a little surprise for tomorrow… today I have a little pre-work task… I like to ensure my girls know their place… Are you literate?."
Rose nodded. Her dad had taught her to read and write.
"You will speak when spoken to." Her voice raised suddenly.
"Yes…"
"... Madam Umbridge…"
"Yes, Madam Umbridge."
Umbridge… surely it couldn't be the same one… Rose remembered her Dad and Uncle Harry had talked about the woman who had been their teacher, she was a complete nutter.
"I know exactly who you are Rose. Your mother was a trouble-making, know-it-all little Mudblood who had no idea of her place in the world, your father a disgrace to his blood status. Both believed they were above their place in the world… both are dead…"
She placed a quill in front of Rose, "Their deaths are no loss to our world."
Evil… only evil people say things like that.
"But you will remember your place, Rose… you will write the words Mudblood & Blood traitor..."
The bitch was giving her lines, her dad and Harry had joked about her lines.
Harry had shown her the scar she had left on him "I must not tell lies." She provided no ink. It was the same Umbridge.
"How many times?" Rose held her head high, she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of showing fear or fighting back.
"As many as it takes for the message to sink in…" She smiled sweetly.
As she began to write the words burned into her skin. She bit her lip, she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Her uncle Harry's had remained on his hand, Rose's made patterns across her back, and her arms, she felt the sting on her legs. Like a delicate tattoo, her heritage was now engrained on her flesh.
3 hours later…
Her resolve to make no noise and give no satisfaction lasted an hour and a half. At this point, Rose looked up to see that the sadistic bitch was still watching her every move, "Yes…" She had questioned.
"How much longer?"
She had hoped that the woman would take pity on her. Blood droplets coated her body and the pain had reached a numbness that would sting in the morning.
"When I say stop, I will let you stop. Until then… keep … going…" Umbridge picked up her delicate tea cup and took a sip.
As she began to write again, she felt her lip quiver and a heavy sob fell from her before tears, her emotion was more humiliating than the punishment.
As the third hour ended, the bitch raised her hand.
"You would have had an easy life, had you not caused the death of Narcissa Malfoy. You would have been kept in his private quarters, serving only your master… but now …" Umbridge smiled again, "Now, I would like this to send a message to you little thorn. That while you think you are above punishment because you currently are his favourite toy, for the moment. But you are just as vile as all the other little sluts I have dominion over. You are nothing, and you deserved every moment of pain… would you like to know why?"
Sluts who are sold by you and your vile boss.
Rose shook her head.
A sharp slap stung her face.
"... dirty little girls like you, deserve pain… your mother was a dirty little tramp… and you will follow in her footsteps… dirty little sluts who allow their legs to be opened need to remember their position in life… and now that it is painted on you for all to see I'm sure that you will stay in your rank…"
The woman stood from her seat, walked around the table and stood next to Rose's chair. Her perfume was sickly sweet and fruity, it overwhelmed Rose's senses. Her manicured fingers touched Rose's chin, pointing her face to look up at her.
"You know deep down that this … is all your fault… don't you?"
No
"From your birth, you have caused nothing but pain…"
She's lying to you
"Your mother was killed because of you… Narcissa tried to protect you and was murdered … for you …" Her toady face contorted with disgust as she said "you" as though she had smelled something vile.
"You killed your sweet innocent cousins… in cold blood."
How could she know this…
Umbridge removed her hand from Rose's face but Rose couldn't stop staring into her blue eyes. Tears ran thick on her cheeks.
"You were the reason your father died… poor Ronald… tried to save you…"
Her sickly sweet smile returned.
"You deserve this pain Rosie… every moment of it… and you know that don't you."
Rose nodded as realisation flooded her being.
Something caught Umbridge's attention, a knock at the door but Rose continued to stare ahead as a war of words erupted between the two parties. She couldn't hear the words, her mind full of the crashing of water staring at the desk in front of her. Her mind swam with the recognition of all the people she had killed, whose deaths she had caused, those whose lives she had destroyed, and for the briefest time, she allowed herself to dream of a world where she had never been born.
His scent overpowered the sickly sweet fruit and the bitch was chased from her office. He touched her hands, breaking her trace and Rose met Draco Malfoy's grey concerned eyes.
"What the fuck did she do to you?"
He inspected the markings on her arms, the blood congealing on her skin.
"I did it, I deserved it…"
He grabbed her face.
"Now you listen here, you aren't that easily broken Granger…" He faltered for a moment, "your… your Mother was a pompous pain in the arse and a complete know-it-all… your Father was an absolute prick but he would have charged into battle head first without a wand for his cause… they would spin in their graves if they thought you gave up that easily."
The sound of heels in the hallway signified the return of Umbridge, Draco leaned into Rose's ear.
"There is so much more to your story than I can tell you, Rose. Remember to use your thorns. Never let them take your mind."
"Lucius I must insist that your son is punished and banned from my establishment… he has completely degraded me in front of…"
Draco smoothed his robes, standing straight. Before placing two fingers under Rose's chin pulling her to stand with her back straight and her head held high.
Lucius Malfoy entered the doorway with a flourish, his eyes angrily darting between Rose and Draco "What is the meaning of this Draco?"
Draco said nothing. Instead, he turned Rose to face the wall before, placing a hand on the back of the dress she had been wearing and with one pull he ripped the fabric cleanly from her body leaving Rose to grab at the fabric to prevent her being rendered entirely naked.
"11,000 Galleon's father, surely you would want her to be intact and not scarred for life?"
"I did nothing, Lucius, she did it entirely to herself." Umbridge rounded the door with her sickly smile.
She heard Lucius approach her, his fingers ran over the dried blood on her skin. He was furious.
"Draco, take her to get cleaned up I need to have a word with Dolores."
The door slammed behind her as they left, and Draco said nothing. He had led her down the hall, his fingers entwined with hers.
"I'll be waiting outside." He handed her a towel.
She cleaned the blood, inspecting her scars. When she turned the shower off he handed her fresh clothes. Used his wand to dry her hair. He watched her lips. She wondered what it would feel like to touch his lips. She needed to thank him after all.
"I made a promise to mother to protect you…"
31st December 2011- 19th January 2015.
At first she had fought back, cried, screamed tried to run.
But that was selfish.
She was lucky.
She kept reminding herself.
The other girls slept in small group dorms, they were sold for sickles to anyone who would pay for them, disease and worse ran rampant in the main halls, or so she was told. She had only been their once, Draco had walked her through to show her what her life could have been like. A blonde girl with curly matted hair had grabbed her face scarring her eyebrow with her nails.
No she was lucky, Rose had her own room, she got to choose her clothes,she had her own bathroom. The ruby in his crown, she was sold for Galleons, hundreds of Galleons a time.
The men who visited her were clean… very clean… cruel and bordering on sadistic but at least they were clean. She reminded herself as she took the potions and cleaned her wounds.
Being Lucius's favourite had its perks, a locked door, and a part time bodyguard.
Draco had been stationed as her semi-permanent guard. Four days a week, he unlocked her door, vetted the men who entered, he stood guard outside her door as the highest of the dark lord's men, and the closest friends of Lucius Malfoy paid for her time. Her body. Draco ensured she was never hurt too badly, and that she was fully protected and potioned. He was the only one who spoke to her as though she was human, he made sure she ate, even when she didn't feel up to it.
3 days a week his father visited her, and it was then there was pain and pleasure, shame and self-hatred. Rose liked to pretend those days weren't real. She would visit her grandparents orchard in her mind, play and laugh with her cousins. She learned the noises and motions to go through, it became a dance, a little routine. She would even occasionally think of Draco.
She became obedient, and accepting, the less she struggled the easier life was.
She counted the days.
At 17 she would be allowed to "run". The same test track she had as a child. They had stopped her being mauled and murdered back then but now she had a guarantee, it would end. Every girl did it, it was a right opf passage, an end to the turmoil. At 17 she would face death, if she passed she would be free. If she failed she would go beyond the veil, to be home with her family again. No one passed, everyone died. But death is a mercy after this life.
On the days it wasn't easy she reminded herself
She was so lucky.
20th January 2015
"You have two customers," Draco shouted as he opened her door that morning.
"I don't do groups though…" Rose shouted back before standing looking between the two masked men. Draco winked at her before closing the door she heard the clink of the charms on the lock and the timer above her door showed 30 minutes.
She had never been bought for less than an hour.
"Sorry… I don't…" She began.
"It's been too long smudge" A familiar voice cut her off, and her heart jumped. The two men removed their masks and pulled down their hoods.
They stood before her like ghosts of a past life.
Their red hair, freckles.
Her Uncle Fred and Uncle Charlie stood before her like a dream.
"What … how …"
"We had a bit of help from a snake…"
Flinging her arms around Fred's neck Rose broke into sobs. Quickly moving onto Charlie she pulled back. "He told me you were dead…"
"Who…"
"Lucius,"
"Lies…" Fred shook his head
"George was murdered… that's true but we have been in hiding…"
"Went back to the house to give everyone a proper send-off…"
Rose suddenly felt a pit in her stomach, "Did you find…"
Charlie pulled her into his chest.
"We got them from the treehouse."
The timer ticked down quicker than Rose cared to acknowledge. The trio spoke, cramming 4 years of talk into the time and before they knew it there was a warning knock on the door.
"We have to go…"
"There is more to your story than you know Rosie, I know it's hard, but trust us, we are coming back for you… and Ginny, we are going to get you out."
The masks returned to their faces, the hoods covered their heads and as they left Rose was once again left with the feeling of awakening from a dream.
They were looking for her, they had found her and her Aunt Ginny was alive.
27th January 2015
Lucius had called her to his office with no context, she had rarely left her quarters. This was never a good sign.
Umbridge smiled at her from behind the desk.
The platter in front of Lucius immediately caught her attention, red pooled around the rim.
Her stomach dropped.
"Did you think they would rescue you…"
"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what you are talking about."
Fuck! They know.
"Your uncles were in here a week ago… and you … failed to inform security…" Umbridge smirked, her words punctuated by little smarmy inflexions.
That's their blood.
Rose pushed the bile down trying to maintain composure.
"I told them to leave… I told them I didn't want to be rescued."
"Lies will not be tolerated…" Umbridge took the whip in her hand.
Rose backed away.
"I'm not lying, why do you think they didn't try to get me out…"
With a crack, the whip hit Rose's face.
"Don't damage the merchandise, Dolores"
Umbridge placed the whip back on the table before clutching something in her palm, she twisted her hand to reveal two small vials in her hand. "You see Rose. The thing about memories is… they don't lie… they are like weapons. And I can assure you these will be used to aid your punishment."
"I won't stand for disloyalty little thorn." Lucius's face burned with disappointment. He lifted the silver lid.
The lifeless heads of her uncles stared up at her without seeing. Another set of deaths that had been her fault.
Draco held her the following day as she mourned them, he stroked her hair and told her it would be ok, he should never have helped them, they had gotten cocky, it wasn't her fault.
It was her fault, but he was right, it would be ok, she would be gone soon too.
1st March 2017
She had counted the days, the hours the minutes.
17 means you get to run, to try, to die. She had been awake for hours. She dressed in a white summer dress, she had curled her hair and done her make up the way she liked. Minimalistic and innocent.
Draco opened her door as he always did, she smiled widely at him, he took a little longer to answer as he watched her skipping towards him.
She put her arms around his shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Someone's happy…" He pushed her away smoothing his suit jacket.
"It's only once in a lifetime that you get to turn 17…" She smiled.
"Aren't you frightened?"
"I get to see my family after I die… there's nothing to be frightened about…"
"He … wants to see you in his office…"
No matter what Lucius Malfoy planned to do she wasn't going to let it ruin her spark. Not today, she would be hugging her Dad soon…
Rose entered Lucius's office. He sat in the high backed leather chair, twirling his wand in his fingers. He gestured for her to take a seat. Rose smiled widely and took a seat opposite him. It occurred to her that this may have been the first time she had smiled in his presence.
"There has been a change of plans little Thorn."
Silence
"You won't be running today…"
It had been too good to be true.
Her smile disappeared.
She didn't know what other fate she could have considered for her but Rose didn't like the thought of anything that didn't involve her death.
He isn't going to let you die…
"But.. sir... Everyone runs the gauntlet at 17…"
He smirked his sickly smirk. "Not you, my girl, you are too precious to be ripped to shreds,"
"So what will happen to me…" She asked not really wishing to know the answer.
"You will be coming home with me… for my personal collection."
Personal Collection…
"It's awfully cumbersome to visit this hell hole just to play with my favourite toy."
He stood and walked around her, she felt his fingers grazing her skull as he intertwined his hands and her hair, the motion had always been enough to render her silent. She knew what came next, Rose knew what the rest of her life would look like if he was allowed to take her back to the manor. He pressed himself against her back through the space in the back of the chair.
This was Lucius' final mistake, the tip of his wand grazed her arm, and before rationale Rose could think of a plan, her inner Weasley had grabbed the weapon, and pointed it at him.
"Stupify." She screamed, a faint white light emitted from the wand hitting Lucius in the face. It shocked him enough for him to let go of her.
He stood dazed for a moment, and she ran to grab the door. It had been enchanted and didn't move, she was trapped
"You really think it would fully respond to you." He mocked her. "Give me my wand immediately"
The redhead refused, the wand still pointing at him, "You insolent little brat, you think this will do anything other than make your life a misery for longer? Now give it to me!"
As he bore down on her ominously something snapped in Rose's soul.
After 4 years, she wouldn't live another lifetime with him, she would never submit to more of what he had already done.
The metallic end of his wand called to her… as it had all those years ago.
Now was her chance, she would never escape, but Merlin she could have a little fun taking him down with her, in the meantime….
Just one hit is all you need…
He expected her to listen… his hand outstretched… she would be a good girl …
No
Not today…
Today was her birthday and today she got to have some fun…
She moved forward holding the wand out to him…
Obedient doe eyes Rose…
Her heart thundered in her chest as she reached him, "that's better… now … what will be your p…"
She gave him a small smile, it caused his conviction to falter… that microsecond of terror in his eyes made her feel powerful, driving her resolve.
"Rose …" escaped his lips before she plunged the tip into his neck. She hit something important, the spray of blood told her that much. It was bad. She had been bad. But why then, did it feel so good?
And why stop now little thorn… keep going.
He attempted to grab her again, but she plunged the pseudo blade into his face, his chest, and his neck again and again and again.
She hadn't smiled like this in years.
An eye, nose… teeth… blood
He stumbled backwards, she followed lowering the makeshift blade, stabbing him in the crotch…
I wonder how he likes it …
Penetrated over and over.
She stabbed until there was nothing left to stab and the screaming subsided.
She dropped the weapon to the floor shaking with adrenaline, but triumph quickly turned to terror.
"Shit, Shit, Shit…"
His hand reached for her…
"I'm sorry…" shaking she tried to fix him, his blood coating her hands, her face… she pulled his head into her lap… "I'm sorry…"
He hadn't been that bad, she had been protected, she was his favourite and she repaid him with this…
The door opened swiftly, and Draco entered. Whatever he had been about to say disintegrated immediately.
He slammed the door behind him recognising Rose. "What have you done." He whispered.
"I'm sorry…"
It was a massacre, she cradled Lucius's head in her lap while he lay on the floor lifeless except for the blinking of his remaining eye.
"Rose, What the fuck have you done!"
"I'm sorry"
Draco's hands grabbed his own hair.
Lucius reached for Draco's ankle, as his remaining eye pleaded for help. Draco moved away.
"Muffliato."
Draco dragged Rose to her feet, his father's head impacted the floor sharply.
"We need to continue with the plan, you need to escape tonight, I'll… fuck I don't know…, but we need to go now."
Escape… what…
And suddenly the door was open, Draco wasn't holding her back…
He checked the hallway. All clear.
"Come on"
"What…"
"Hurry…"
"But he's dying…"
"Good…"
Good
Good
The word bounced around her mind. It was good…
Karma…
Run… the other word bouncing around her mind…
Run… with … him …
His hand in her's their fingers interlinked.
Her hands were coated red.
Run…
His blood was in her mouth, it coated her teeth.
A glance from Draco and he cleaned her face.
They walked together, side by side, slowly at first before picking up the pace.
No one was stopping them…
No one batted an eyelid.
He squeezed her fingers…
An alarm sounded behind them, screaming and chaos…
"Mr Malfoy, you need to come now … it's your father…"
Someone behind shouted for Draco to turn around. He kept walking, and Rose followed behind him. He never let go of her hand.
Miles they walked, chaos continued, Lucius Malfoy was declared dead over and over until the words lost all meaning.
They reached the door… unguarded…
He took the handle and the door swung open. Light streamed in and Rose inhaled her first breath of fresh air in 4 years.
This had to be a dream...
Something had to happen…
This was all too simple…
Too good to be true…
All these years and all she had had to do was open a door…
Draco grabbed her hand pulling her towards the gate, towards the barrier, to freedom.
She felt the buzz of the charms encasing the building, her skin vibrated as the thrilling exaltation of freedom hit her.
He pulled her close, the scenery disintegrated around her before everything abruptly stabilized, the moon shone behind the ruins of her home.
The Burrow
She was home again.
This was no glamoured front now.
It was really broken.
It was the same as the day she left… except for the gravestones clearly visible in the garden, their shadows cast in the moonlight.
Draco paler than he had ever been looked terrified. His feelings painted the same picture as Rose's did within her chest.
Her heart thundered, threatening to leave her chest entirely.
"We got out …"
"You are free…"
"You freed me…"
"It shouldn't have been that easy…"
Their chests heavied as the adrenaline coursed through their veins.
She felt her chest swell with Gryffindor's bravery, threw her arms behind his head and planted a kiss on his lips.
He didn't pull away this time, instead, his hands found their way into her hair. Pulling it free from the ponytail it had been in. His fingers felt good, safe, and homely.
They broke apart for a moment.
Staring.
He swept her off her feet.
He was all she had wanted for the longest time, he wanted her back. She was really kissing Draco Malfoy.
This won't end well.
He pulled his shirt over his head and she stood for a moment in complete awe. He was chiselled, beautiful… his black tattoos painted on his white flesh, she wanted to touch every one of them.
She had seen a lot of men… not one of them like him.
He can't love you
She silenced the voices in her head, as he ripped her shirt from her body, her buttons flying in all directions.
Wanting kisses peppered her as he freed her from her bra and hitched her skirt before pulling her pants down, leaving them clinging to one heeled ankle. He encompassed her entirely, he wanted her… and she wanted him. Her saviour… he was the reason she was here now.
He doesn't want you
Shut up this is how we thank him
I'm warning you this is going to end in tears
The voices in her head argued amongst themselves, she focused on the smell of his hair, apple, his breath, mint… the feeling of his chest rubbing against her bare chest as he kissed her.
He entered her as though he was made for her body. Filled her in a way that she had only dreamed of before. His moans and mewls… he was happy… he loved her…
She felt the pressure building within her… it had been a long time since Lucius had forced orgasm from her… they were used for shame and after all, the merchandise doesn't need pleasure, just use some lube if you need to.
But this time felt different, special. She was free, he had saved her, he loved her, and he was going to protect her. She felt the wave in her stomach crash. Squeezing her eyes shut she couldn't stop the moan.
How unladylike? Umbridge would have quipped. But fuck her she needed a good shag to stop being such a cunt.
It was loud, triumphant, beautiful energy flowing from her, colours, and lights flashed behind her eyes. This was love. This was real. She kissed Draco, riding out her pleasure. That's what you are meant to do right? Give love to the person who is loving you…
His forehead crashed to hers, and his hips forced painfully into hers but she continued planting small kisses on his cheeks.
"'Mione"
Rose's eyes snapped open as reality hit her. She allowed herself a moment to process. Mione … Mione was Hermione… had he been thinking about… She stared at the side of his head, sweat poured from him as he panted frantically.
"What did you just say…"
His eyes snapped open before meeting hers.
Draco pulled free from her, pulling up his trousers quickly. "I … erm …" He fumbled, zipping himself.
"All these fucking years! All these years I thought you actually loved me."
"Hey kid…"
Told you he didn't want you…
"Kid…" a scream erupted from her as she scratched the surface of the anger that took hold, "... are you serious Draco … Don't you dare call me kid after we just did that!"
"It's not like it's the first time Rose…"
Surprise took her breath from her, as with most days in her life, Rose awoke from a wondrous dream and returned once again to stark grey clarity.
Rose felt something crack.
Something irrepairable.
She wasn't Rose anymore.
He had broken her.
No, she had broken herself believing he was her prince charming.
She could handle the deaths of her family being entirely her fault.
She could handle being violated in every way imaginable.
She could handle having to kill people who she loved to prevent them from this life.
But never again would she trust her own mind to tell her what was and wasn't true.
This wasn't love it had never been love, and for the briefest of moments, she cursed her inner child for thinking that such childish follies as true love were real.
That he had been her knight in shining armour…
He wasn't a knight, he wasn't even a fucking pawn, he was just Draco Fucking Malfoy, a pampered little daddy's boy who ended up on the wrong path in life.
It could never have been anything other than a quick fumble in the mud.
She had never wanted that, it had always been the choice of another.
Her innocence was taken from her… by his father she reminded herself… her body had been others to violate as they felt the need.
Her mind had told her that he had wanted her, her soul had told her that she loved him… that he had reciprocated those feelings.
But he had not moaned her name… no, he had moaned her mother's name… how was this the most fucked up sentence Rose had ever thought. Despite everything she had endured in her life … THIS was what surprised her…
He loved her mother… he lusted after her mother… the one whose life he had taken… moments before he had stolen her (Rose) from her arms… before HE had forced this life she led upon her.
It was his fault.
He might not have bought her.
Raped her.
Sold her to hundreds of men over the years.
But her story began with him.
Kill him too
"That was the first time I've wanted it… that meant something to me..." She ignored the voices in her head, the rationalisation of his potential murder, and gave him one last chance.
"It was a mistake Rose… the adrenaline…"
He was never going to take responsibility…
"Too fucking right it was a mistake…" She laughed rearranging her own clothes, trying not to think about the unpleasant sensation of what he had left inside her. "...consider that payment for getting me out of that hell hole."
"Payment … Rose I didn't want payment… Merlin this is so fucked up…"
He grabbed his hair before giving a stifled scream of frustration.
"I'm sorry… we should … I should never have instigated that… but…"
There was always a "but", Rose's Grandmother had always said when you say the word but you make everything before the word into lies, especially an apology. She held up her hand to silence him.
"Why did you bring me here? I killed your father, you should have killed me or handed me in."
Draco looked around before he ushered her into the former pig pen, which was now reduced to the barren dry earth. He cast a series of protection charms before turning to Rose. "Mother…"
"What about her?"
"When she helped you escape she made me promise that I would continue her work if anything was to happen to her."
Draco reached into his pocket, producing a small metal box and a roll of parchment. "Did you ever wonder why my mother protected you all those years?"
"Not at first, but after she was killed when your father fucked me for the first time I figured it was to stop him doing that."
Draco screwed his face at the crass explaination, Rose didn't care. It was the truth.
"You have a job to do Rose, Dumbledore left you something, I think the prophecy…"
"Fuck the prophecy, and fuck Dumbledore"
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "... I'm just going to go, you seem incapable of rational conversation at this moment…"
"Let me moan your Mum's name when we have sex and see how rational you feel."
He ignored the comment entirely continuing his conversation.
"Short story, my mother was a double agent, before you were born she was given something by an aide of Dumbledore's and asked to keep it safe until you were old enough."
Draco reached into his pocket and removed a bag bigger than should have been able to fit there.
"Undetectable extension charm?" Rose asked.
He nodded before reaching into the bag. "He left these for you in his will, it seems he had plans for you."
He handed her the bag, a wand and a small metal box.
"Dumbledore was dead before I was even conceived, how would he know who I was to leave me anything"
"...I don't know what it is but the ministry has tried for years to open that and figure out what it does before it was sneaked to my mother. They also haven't been able to figure out where the things left to Granger, Potter, and Weasley are. We believe that this could be the answer to killing, the dark lord." Draco continued, ignoring Rose's point.
She turned the wand over in her hands, she felt it tingle. Her magic awakening in her veins.
"I saved your life tonight Draco… but if I ever see you again I will not hesitate in slaughtering you where you stand."
"You saved my life? Are you joking"
She placed her wand to his throat... "Give me one reason not to slit your throat right here and now"
"Scorpius"
"...deserves better… now get out of here before I change my mind and slit your throat."
Shaking his head he disappeared in front of her eyes. As he disappeared into the night she allowed herself to break down, years of anguish. She screamed, punched the walls, herself, yanking at her hair, she fisted chunks of ruined curls before throwing them to the floor and falling beside them sobbing.
She sobbed until she could no longer breathe.
Stupid girl…
She lay in the dirt, her chest heaving, her body and mind were so exhausted. She closed her eyes for the briefest moment.
She awoke to the sky being pitch black and the sound of purring in her ear. Her arms wrapped around a ginger feline. It took a moment to recognise the angry face of her newest teddy bear.
"Crookshanks," Rose jumped up dragging the cat into her lap, gripping the ginger feline with a force so strong she feared she would crush him. "I missed you."
Crookshanks was notably skinnier than he had ever been, his coat was matted and dirty and his face gave an exhausted look.
She sobbed again, he allowed the hug to last as long as Rose needed. When no more tears would come, she sniffled and wiped her eyes and nose. "I'm so glad you are here."
He mewled happily before jumping from her lap, he walked towards the remains of the house, and Rose remained seated, her eyes now trained on the graveyard that had been erected next to the house.
She stood approaching the stones, Charlie's messy handwriting informed her that he had been the one to find them.
8 graves…
No tears came to her as she read their names just emptiness, Molly, Arthur, Ronald… Harry… her resolve faltered as she saw the three names she had caused at least they were found, given a real burial, and George…
No Ginny … no Charlie, no Fred.
The ginger feline quickly returned, pestering until she got the message to follow.
Seeing her home like this was something otherworldly. It didn't feel real.
There was no glamour now to make it look like a ruin, it was real. Large portions of the walls were crumbled and gone and the roof on the floor that held the "kids room" had gone entirely.
Crookshanks scratched at the front door, as the wall was no longer present Rose attempted to lead him around the wall and into what was once the kitchen, the ever-bustling heart of the Burrow.
He refused to listen, stubborn as ever he scratched at the door to be let in. Rose sighed heavily before opening the door from the inside, and he entered as nonchalantly as ever. The years had not been kind to him but he was the same stubborn little pig with hair that had successfully established that a rat was actually a man in disguise almost a lifetime ago.
"Happy?" Rose asked with a sniff. "It's not quite the same as before, but it's nice to be back here."
She didn't know why we made the statement, but whatever part of her had made the statement was right, it was good to be home.
Crookshanks ignored her conversation, he was focused on something else, Rose was too busy inspecting what was left of the kitchen. It was still exactly as she remembered the night it all happened. The pots and pans Molly Weasley used to cook many a feast remained in the cupboard they had always been housed in though covered in a thick layer of dust.
Rose went around opening each cupboard before closing them one by one. Upon opening the final cupboard Rose gave a sharp "Oh"
The face of the Weasley clock was stood up at the back.
All but two of the spoons had fallen off the face. Rose picked up the clock and the fallen from their resting places on the shelf. The pictures of her family waved happily at her, happy tears flowing down the cheeks of her grandmother's picture.
Rose fell to the floor sobbing openly again. She clutched the clock to her chest with the spoons in her hand, confirmation of their death was too much.
A loud meow from Crookshanks broke her grief. He batted something toward her.
It tinkled across the stone floor, The Deluminator.
He must have dropped it…
She stared at it before putting the clock down, Rose took the deluminator in hand.
"Thanks, boy." She whispered. She clicked the button sending a small ball of light to illuminate the small broken light on the countertop.
The cat meowed again, signalling he wanted to be followed before darting upthe stairs.
She didn't want to go, to visit the museum of their last moments, she wanted to keep her memories closed, precious and safe, not tainted by reality.
Unrelenting Crookshanks got louder and louder more insistent, until she gave in sighing, "I suppose you have something else to show me."
She took the lantern in her hand, removing the wonky pane of glass and placing it on the worktop, and gingerly climbed the stairs.
She followed Crookshanks as he wound his way up the wonky stairs, she glanced upward, her father's room called to her, but Crookshanks made a beeline for Harry and Ginny's room. Entering the room you could be fooled to think that the former scenes were pure imagination, the room was pristine. Only a layer of dust, a broken window, and an unmade bed suggested the lack of occupancy.
She had only been in the room once when her Aunt had been doing her hair on an uneventful Tuesday afternoon but it was exactly as she remembered. White, crisp, clean.
Crookshanks led her to a pile of photo albums pawing at them expectedly.
"This is a bit of an invasion of privacy Piggy," Rose said hesitantly, Crookshanks mewled.
They are dead… they don't need privacy any more…
"I suppose they aren't here to tell me not to."
She took the top one before sitting on the bed. Crookshanks jumped up to sit on her knee. The leather-bound Album felt heavy, she recognised it as being the one that had been in her mother's bag when she had returned home.
Rose opened the first page, a picture of Lily and James Potter, dancing in the snow, they looked so happy. Turning the page to a photo of her parents and Harry in their first year at Hogwarts. Flicking through the remaining pictures showed the trio ageing, and various activities at Hogwarts Christmases at the burrow and one at Grimmauld Place. Rose smiled, as she flipped to the last page. A loose photograph fell out. Rose caught it too busy looking at a photograph of the trio taken at Bill and Fleur's wedding. "Bill and Fleur's wedding. 1st August 1997. Hey, piggy my mum must have been pregnant there."
Crookshanks meowed knowingly before batting the picture in Rose's hand.
She turned it over to look at it. "Oh look it's you and James, hey look he's got a little broom. How cute."
Crookshanks continued to bat the picture, Rose turned it over to find unfamiliar pencilled writing. "Harry - Jan 1981
Crookshanks continued to bat the picture, his paw eventually smooshing the cat running across the picture being chased by a cackling baby Harry.
"Eh, you're going to crinkle the picture." Rose scolded. "I know it looks like you…"
Crookshanks mewled again, his paw stamping on the picture again.
His eyes met her's and for a moment she was sure she had seen him wink.
Rose looked back at the picture again.
"Wait… Piggy is that you."
With a confirmatory "meow" Crookshanks jumped from the bed, his mission complete he exited the room allowing Rose to process what he had revealed.
She felt as though a rug had been pulled from under her feet, but she had no idea why.
She replaced the picture in the back of the book, before closing it softly. Running her fingers around the outside of the book before gripping it to her chest, "Seems a shame to leave these here to be found by someone else…"
It's not stealing when they are dead…
Rose searched the room for anything that could be useful. Somewhere in the haze of the last few hours, something in her mind told her this would be her last visit, that she would take anything precious with her and never return.
She left ladened with photo albums, a pair of Ginny's dungarees, jeans and a few of Ginny's jumpers.
She would be unlikely to wear them again anyway. If she had survived this would have been the first place she would have come, descending down the rickety stairs, Rose placed her haul on the worktop before returning to her grandparent's bedroom.
There was one thing she wanted in this room, and she wouldn't leave without it. She opened the door to see the floor was concaving underneath the bed, she assessed the danger and gently stepped across the stablest-looking floorboards. She took a small jewellery box from her grandmother's dresser, two more photo albums, a series of photographs of red-haired happy faces from the walls, and both her grandparent's wands which were still in their bedside drawers.
A pang of anger came to her stomach, they had gone to their deaths completely unarmed, and while she tried to shake away the thought, she hoped their deaths had been quick and painless.
"Where are you …" She whispered as she opened and closed the wardrobe and looked under the bed.
And then she saw it, under the bed. "Ahh, there you are." She reached under the bed and pulled. A floorboard snapped, and she ran from the room as the floor collapsed under her feet.
Rose breathed heavily clutching the fluffy rabbit to her chest. "Babbity" Her dad's childhood cuddle toy, when she had finally braved sleeping in her own room she had horrendous nightmares, until "Babbity" saved her, she never had nightmares when I held him… her grandmother had taken him to fix his ear, the irony wasn't lost on her that the only night she slept without him in the 5 years was here they came.
Never again.
Descending the stairs she piled the items she had on top of the ones she had acquired from Harry's room.
With a deep breath, she ascended the stairs again, stopping at the bedroom she had shared with James, Lily and Albus. She reached for the handle before pulling her hand back quickly. No good could have come from revisiting this room.
Protect your mind, Rose. Don't torment yourself
She moved past, climbing further and further, past doors of various rooms until she reached his room.
Ronald's Room.
She had stood outside the door the first night she had arrived.
The door had felt so much bigger back then. She had been terrified to knock in case he was angry at her for disturbing his sleep. But the voice in her mind had urged her to go to him, told her that he needed her as much as she needed him.
She would have given everything she had, for him to scoop her up the way he had done that night.
She turned the doorknob and opened the door.
It was as though he would wander back in at any moment, the bed unmade, left in a hurry and his top drawer open… but everything else was as it had always been. The wizard's chest game half played from days before, the muggle radio Rose's grandfather had enchanted to allow the Order to communicate with each other, his copy of Hogwarts A History by his bedside. The cannon's players from years gone by flew from the posters.
It smelled of him, the room had his happy vibrant energy. She could feel his presence soothing her soul.
The muggle radio suddenly buzzed to life.
"The higher you build your barriers, the taller I become. The taller I become
The further you take my rights away, The faster I will run, You can deny me, you can decide, To turn your face away, No matter 'cause there's, Something inside so strong, I know that I can make it, Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong, You thought that my pride was gone, oh no, There's something inside so strong, Oh, something inside so strong, The more you refuse to hear my voice, The louder I will sing, You hide behind the walls of Jericho, Your lies will come tumbling, Deny my place in time, you squander wealth that's mine, My light will shine so brightly it will blind you, Because there's, Something inside so strong, strong"
Rose shook, the radio silenced and turned off. She touched the dials attempting to turn it back on but nothing happened. It made no sense.
She sat heavily on his bed taking in the energy of the room.
Stalling
With a heavy sigh, she stood determined to continue, Rose took several pictures from the room, the letter her mother had written to him, his "R" sweater, his cannons t-shirts and his copy of Hogwarts history with the note from her mother.
I expect you to read this one, Ronald. Love Mione xx
After returning to the kitchen, Rose stood by the counter ladened with newly acquired items. She contemplated her next move: a swishing Ginger tail caught her attention once again followed by a loud angry Meow.
Crookshanks waited for her at the door again.
"You know piggy, the way the breeze is in here, you would think that the entire wall was open for you…" She said sarcastically opening the door for the fickle feline.
He meowed loudly again signaling her to follow him.
"Ok, I hear you, let me get this stuff in my bag first." She said opening the backpack that Draco had left for her.
She emptied the contents, "Wonder what he thought I would need, money… what a surprise… I would say fuck him and leave it here but I figure he owes me for ruining my life. Oh is this muggle money?"She placed the bag of Galleons to one side and inspected the large pile of £10 and £20 notes.
"It's weird, isn't it piggy, its like parchment…" She pulled out a cheese sandwich next. "Oh, thank Merlin, food.".
Polishing off the sandwich in a matter of seconds, she returned to the bag, pulling out a change of clothes, the roll of parchment and the small metal box. "Is that it…" She looked annoyed. "One change of clothes, a wand, a sandwich, and money… No potions, no note explaining what I am meant to do, no cauldron, no sleeping bag…"
She rolled her eyes, she didn't know what she was expecting in truth. She had wanted him to care, to love her in the way she had grown to love him over the years.
It was a stupid little girls crush… not love… he would never look at you that way.
Damaged goods.
Pathetic.
She shook the thoughts away as she repacked the backpack, stopping momentarily to look at the metal box he had given to her.
Nothing happened as she turned it and there were no notable areas in which she could open it herself, she shoved it in the bag with everything else. Now bursting at the seems she hid it in the cupboard under the sink, before returning to Crookshanks.
"Where to now?" She asked following as he scooted away.
It wasn't long before the pair reached the base of the treehouse. Rose felt a cold chill as she looked up at the place she regularly saw in her nightmares, "Crookshanks, I really don't want to be here." The ginger cat ignored her, instead sitting next to the ladder to the treehouse and purring loudly.
He met her eyes once again… and winked. He definitely winked this time.
A flash shot through Rose's brain. She watched herself setting down her mothers bag… Uncle Harry's cloak…
"That's where I hid … surely it can't still be there…"
She climbed the ricketty ladder again, pushing the hatch up, it was exactly as she had left it… minus the bodies. It hurt to be here.
Rose scanned the area, a hollow feeling in her chest chewed at her, it was so sharp and painfu. She had been tempted to leave before she saw the cloak shimmer in the dim light. It was still there. The cloak and her bag were both still intact and very much real.
Triumphantly she laughed. "After all this time! Is this real?" Crookshanks meowed from outside, Rose went to look what was happening. He stared at her with his glowing amber eyes, promptly flicked his tail to her, before darting away back to the house. She knew she needed to get back to the safety of the Burrow, so she slung the bag over her shoulder and gripped the invisibility cloak tightly.
As she scrambled down the ladder. A faint meowing caught Rose's attention. She searched for the source, Crookshanks having left a few moments before. It sounded younger than him. The bush next to her shuffled, and she pointed her newly acquired wand at it. Rose had no idea how to use it so the logical part of her mind questioned what she had planned to do if it was an attacker. With another loud meow and a jump a small ginger kitten pounced from the bushes.
"Oh, hello…"
It pounced onto her boots, biting her laces. Rose picked it up, "Where did you come from little one…"
He was tiny, fuffy and the most gorgeous ginger colour, except for the small smudge of brown on his nose.
"You've got dirt on your nose, by the way, just there"
She searched the area and found no other kittens or signs of a mother cat. He was very friendly and quickly cuddled into her arms. "I'll take you home and check you over…"
She walked quickly back to the house and after taking her time to inspect the little kitten and allowing him to curl up on one of the old sofa cushions she survey the contents of the bag, grateful to see there was a tent, a large cauldron, and some still usable potion-making supplies, she extended the clothes that she had now outgrown and put the items she had acquired from the various bedrooms into her mother's bag which was significantly lighter to carry than the backpack.
Rose sat on the floor, flicking the deluminator button and turning the light of the lantern on and off. The sun was starting to rise she knew she couldn't stay forever but where to go from here was anyone's guess.
"You coming with me piggy," She whispered to Crookshanks, who stayed silent indifferently curled in a ball on her grandparent's bed, which was now located in the living room.
"What do I do now then," She asked no one in particular.
The ball of light that had been returning the lantern instead floated over to the now empty backpack. Rose stood and cautiously went to the backpack, she had known enough danger in her life to know that when something appeared to be unsafe, it more than likely was.
With nothing left to lose she opened the bag, the light then entered a side pouch causing it to glow brightly, opening it she found the scroll of parchment.
She opened it "The last will and testament of Albus Dumbledore."
Sitting on the floor again, she read the contents, pausing at each item.
"The Deluminator…" She held the small green device in her hand
"...Copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard… I know I saw that somewhere…"
She opened Hermione's bag reached arm deep and returned quickly with the small purple book. She placed it on the floor next to the Deluminator.
"The Golden Snitch…I wonder if that's still in the bag." Further rooting in the bag revealed the small golden ball.
"The sword of Gryffindor, dad said that had been stolen… and to Rose Riddle … well that's not my name… the music box… I wonder how I …"
Rose had begun to muse about the intricacies of opening the box before a sudden breeze appeared in the formerly still living room. A bright light blinded her before the metallic box sprang open. A ghostly song played before a large red and orange bird flew into the room almost as if from thin air.
Rose stared in a mixture of awe and terror. The ghostly form of an old man rose from the floor in the centre of the items.
"Rose, my dear, you have made an old man very happy tonight. I can only hope that you will use the opportunity ahead of you to ensure that our timelines will be corrected."
"Are you a ghost," She stammered.
He chuckled politely, "No my dear, I am a mere memory of a person who once was, do not be frightened I mean you no harm."
The old man wore elaborate robes, her had a long beard tied with string around the middle and a the bluest eyes Rose had ever seen hidden behind half moon spectacles, he walked across the room to stand beside the bird. "This is Fawkes, in life he was my most faithful friend, I have instructed him to do the same for you in my death… there is more for you within the box"
The music box contained a tiny book.
Rose's hand reached for it bringing it closer to her. It expanded in her hand, it dropped onto her knee and expanded further. The cover read, fabulam rosa et potentiam
Confused she looked up at the old man in front of her. "I can't read this"
"It's Latin." Dumbledore tapped his ghostly wand on the cover, "mutalio Linguae Anglicus"
The words transposed themselves, no longer unreadable "The Song of Rose and Power" now emblazoned at the front of the book.
Opening the book something hard fell to the floor, the metal tinkled on the stone flooring.
Rose picked it up inspecting it, a gold chain with a small hourly glass at the centre of a golden circle.
"What is this?" Rose asked intrigued.
"A time turner, your mother had one very similar she used it to save the life of none other than Sirius Black"
"I remember my mum telling me about her time turner…"
"You have the power to change the past." The ghostly form whispered pointedly.
Something about the situation felt very wrong, during the stories her Dad had told her that messing around with time was illegal and dangerous. Her grandfather had told her all about the unspeakables, the men and woman who worked in the department of mysteries, who had gone missing or died horrendous deaths as a result of time being messed with. Part of her told her to play it safe. But the other part of her knew this was her chance, to change it all and make the world a better place. To save her Mum and Dad.
"Well, that's a plan isn't it." She finally whispered.
"I have waited a very long time for your arrival, Rose. All of this is part of the bigger picture and I have a task I must ask of you… one that could save not only the lives of all those who you love dearly but also our entire world. Do not debate your choices for too long."
Rose sat in front of the small garden of graves. With a flick of her wand, the headstone was changed from Charlie's handwriting "Ronald Bilius Weasley." to "Here lies, Ronald Bilius Weasley & Hermione Jean Granger. Separated on earth but together forever in the afterlife."
Her face was raw and red and unmoving as she continued to change each gravestone from a simple name to a sentimental message.
The snitch fluttered towards her. Followed by the Albus Dumbledore. She was of the impression that he was beginning to run out of patience for her stalling.
Taking the fluttering ball in her hand, she inspected it "I open at the close."
"I do believe that snitches contain flesh memories," Dumbledore's spectral form informed her. "That should have been able to help Harry at the close of a situation,"
"He's dead, there can't be any more closed than that."
The snitch fluttered to life in her hand. Levitating less than an inch from her palm she could hear clicking within it. The golden casing cracked open to reveal a tiny stone within.
"Ahh, the resurrection stone, I do believe you are about to get a visit from some very special guests," The old man smiled sweetly folding his hands behind his back before walking away.
The day had exhausted her, Rose thought nothing of the old man's words until upon turning back to the graves in front of her she was suddenly enveloped by three weightless beings.
"ROSIE!"
The voices, those that haunted her dreams, invaded her reality. Her little loves. It couldn't be real.
She raised her arms to hold them but there was nothing to hold. They pulled away from her smiling widely shedding happy tears, Lily, Albus and James laughed and giggled in front of her.
Rose had no words, she stared at them knowing at any moment they would disappear.
"Why is she staring at us?"
"She thinks we are ghosts, Lily."
"That's silly we aren't ghosts…"
"We are real Rosie…"
"You can't be…" Her voice cracked.
"Pinky promise" James offered his pinky finger to her.
She offered her finger. He connected with her, wrapping his smallest digit around hers as they always had, she felt no flesh, only a warmth that had been absent from her life since she took his light from the world.
Looking past them she saw the smiling faces of her Granny and Grandad, Fred, George and Charlie in the background they waved and smiled at her.
Desperately she searched for him.
"Smudge" He appeared with his arms outstretched.
"Daddy!" She flung her arms around his middle like all the others are there was nothing to hold, but the energy that surrounded her was enough to confirm that he was very much here with her now. She squeezed her eyes tight and imagined his arms. She felt his chin resting on her head
"My brave little smudge."
Rose's legs give out and she sank to the floor, she allowed herself to be surrounded by him.
Her eyes screwed shut, the energy changed in a moment, and suddenly she smelled something familiar from another life. Her perfume. Rose looked up to see Hermione holding them, she had a hand on her shoulder and one on Ron's back. A family hug.
"You have been so brave, darling girl but your part of our story is not over yet"
She reached to touch the time-turner that swung from Rose's neck.
Her Dad nodded "You are strong, you are brave and you have a chance to change all of this for the better. If anyone can do it, it would be you."
"What if I fail,"
"What is the worst that can happen? You have survived everything that those scumbags have done to you so far."
"What if I make it worse?"
"It can't be worse darling…" Her mother assured her, Rose felt uneasy
"Will I see you again?"
Her Dad smiled at her taking her face in his hands, "You will, and I promise you smudge, on all that I am. I would know you anywhere."
Dumbledore's hand touched her shoulder. "You could spare all of these lives, it is your choice, of course… all you need do is turn the glass, three times should suffice.
His words echoed in her mind… "Three times should suffice."
She stood with the time turner between her fingers. She watched it, expecting a divine voice to give her a sign.
Smudge purred happily from inside her bag, he would be coming with her, Crookshanks curled in her grandparent's bed was too old and seemed to have a relatively comfortable life.
Rose hesitated for a moment, but what did she have left to stay for?
She looked at the clock on the counter… Two hands remained.
"I can't leave Aunt Ginny…"
Rose couldn't leave her, suffering at their hands. The world stilled around her as she contemplated how she would get to her. She was so lost in thought she overlooked the clock hand crackling and it wasn't until the cling of metal on wood echoed the Burrow that she realised.
She was too late…
Without a second glance, she spun the centre of the time turner three times. Her surroundings spun and she watched the changing landscape, The Burrow burst to life in front of her, and she watched sped-up reversed memories, her uncles and father de-gnoming the gardens, hanging washing, teenagers talking and walking turned to kids playing and babies toddling, winter, autumn, summer and spring spiralled around her before landing abruptly on a brisk morning.
30th October 1991.
The Burrow
"Well, my dear Rose. I have waited a lifetime to meet you properly in the flesh."
Albus Dumbledore stood before her, looking at her kindly over his half-moon spectacles.