Harry Potter and the Secret of the Twins

April 2002

The first day beck from Christmas holiday Rose seemed to decide to go against the uniform policy. Her black robes were embroidered with roses in black thread on the bodice and sleeves and along the hem, the neckline of her robes was perfect to show off Neville's gift. She had put her hair in an elegant twist (apparently) held in place by the comb Snape had given her. Lily's ring she wore discreetly on her right hand. Her cloak was black and lined in white fur, its silver fastenings in the shape of a rose. Harry had seen both Hagrid's harp and James's power sphere in her bag when she'd tucked in the books she'd received from Ginny, Hermione, and Remus.

"Are you allowed to wear that to classes?" Harry asked when he realized what she was wearing.

Rose grinned. "Technically, yes and no."

"And what does that mean?"

"Well, according to what it says that the uniform is, the robes should be plain, and I should be wearing a pointed black hat," she said innocently, looking at the floor and drawing with her toe in an act of guilt. "Other than that it's perfectly legal. I doubt I'll get in trouble. And it's just for today."

Harry sighed. "I get the point," He said dryly. "You can stop acting now."

Rose grinned wickedly and picked up her bag. "Come on, it's time for breakfast."

In Herbology Rose and Neville partnered (again) while they worked with the Snowflake Blossoms that were growing on the outside of the greenhouses. They were little winter vines with tiny white flowers that were used in several cures. At one point when they obviously thought that no one could see them Harry saw Neville playing with Rose's necklace and turned away when it became apparent that he was about to kiss her. Moments later Rose was gone from his head. She didn't return for quite some time.

* * * * *

Snape was in a foul mood during Potions, though Harry saw him smile briefly at Rose. They were working on a truth potion of average strength, and it was much more difficult than the one that had done before Christmas. Rose, of course, could do it easily. She partnered with Neville, and Harry wound up with Dean. Neither one of them really knew what they were doing.

"Potter! What do you think you are doing!" Snape demanded from directly behind Harry as soon as they began.

"Trying to make the potion, Professor," Harry said without turning around.

"The pixie wings do not go in until the end!"

Harry checked the list of ingredients in his book again. "It say they go in first."

"I said to put them in last. Detention, and next time pay more attention! See me after class."

Dean smiled sympathetically when Snape left. "You know, he did say not to put the pixie wings in till last."

Harry shrugged. "I didn't put them in yet. Let's get going."

They made the potion without any further problems, and it actually turned out fairly well. At the end of class Harry stayed behind for Snape to set his detention and Rose stayed to talk to him.

Snape turned to them the moment the last student had left the classroom. "Rose, I'll talk to you in a moment. Harry..." He smiled darkly and consulted a scroll on his desk. "See me at eight o'clock. Go."

Harry started to leave, but Rose objected. "No, Professor, I need to tell both of you. Please stay, Harry."

Harry looked directly at her. "Bad news." It wasn't a question.

Surprisingly, Rose shook her head slowly. "It's more... odd."

Snape laughed. "When you say something is odd in that tone..."

Rose grinned. "It is. Um... Professor, do you know about Caroline? I mean, what really happened?"

Severus nodded. "I found out about that attack after it happened. There was no way to stop it."

Rose bit her lower lip and nodded. "There was no stopping anything that happened," she whispered. "There was nothing that should have been stopped. I have Seen what the world would be like if some things had not happened..." she broke off with a shudder.

"Rose, don't let the Sight rule you," Snape said urgently, shocking Harry. It was amazing how much care was in his voice. His tone was actually fatherly, it reminded Harry strongly of Remus and Sirius, of his own father...

"I try," Rose said softly, fear clear in her voice. "I suppressed it for too long without knowing that I was, it's too strong, sometimes it gets away from me, and it's so clear..." She was crying slightly, and Snape clumsily put an arm around her.

"You will find your peace eventually, Rose," he said softly. "I did, though it cost lives when I suppressed it again. Never do that." Harry tried to fit together what he was saying. Snape was a Seer...?

"But all I see is death an pain," Rose half whimpered. "There's nothing I can ever do about it, I just see that it happens, that it has to happen."

"You've seen other things, Rose," Harry interjected. "Griffin's birth and your wedding, probably more that you've never mentioned."

Rose shook her head slightly, "I just told Mum and Dad the good, not all the bad attached to it. I'll never see Griffin as just my little brother because I know he'll die in the final battle against Voldemort's heir, at eleven, just after he begins at Hogwarts." She shook her head again. "Somehow, your whole family's there alive, even though Lily and James and Caroline are dead and you die shortly before my wedding..." She glanced up at Snape. "You'll live, you were in the vision, too. You help Harry and I make the spell that defeats Voldemort."

Snape looked disgusted. "Perhaps now we can find a way around that, and your younger brother's death."

Rose shuddered, closing her eyes tight. "I hope so. Somehow I think it will be necessary, but I hope so."

"What did you want to tell us?" Snape asked, changing the subject.

Rose opened her eyes and straitened. "About Caroline, right." She pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill, then wrote: Hello, Caroline.

Silvery words blossomed on the parchment in response. Hello, Rose.

I have Harry Potter and Severus Snape with me.

I know. I can see you, even though I can't make it where you can see me. Not yet. Why's Snape here?

What I am, how I became this, why I can write to you?

Yes.

Harry, Severus: I am a lost soul. Or I would be, except my identity was changed when Voldemort killed me and so I became attached very strongly to Rose. Harry?

Rose handed Harry her quill and he wrote: Yes, Caroline?

So polite. If I didn't know certain things about you than I might think you were perfect. Is it alright if I tell your secret?

Very funny. The thing about the Mindlink? As long as this gets burned. That would put

-Rose in danger, I know. Anyway, the time I've spent with Rose has strengthened my anchor... hold, and backed by the existence of the Mindlink between you and Rose I can write to her. Actually I can write anywhere. Since lost souls age, I've been unofficially attending school with Rose. That's about it.

Rose took the quill back from Harry and wrote: I'll write to you tonight, Caroline.

No, I'm getting tired. Tomorrow.

Tomorrow then.

Find out who I am.

I will.

Rose smiled grimly at Harry and cupped the parchment in her hands. It burst into flames and curled into ashes, then those too disappeared into the flames, which lingered a moment longer and were gone completely. "That is without the power sphere," she said calmly, then she grinned mischievously. "The winds of fate are yours, brother in spirit."

Snape gave Rose an odd look. "Where did you pick that term up?"

"What, 'brother in spirit'?" Rose asked, confused. "Harry."

Snape glanced at him, and he shrugged. "I got it from Sergio. He said Rose and I are twins in spirit."

"I see," Snape said, his voice still odd.

"Why?" Rose asked edgily. "I know that tone."

Snape nodded. "Voldemort would call his current serpent his brother or sister in spirit. It seemed like he was trying to gain more control over them, nothing at all like the statement of fact it is for the pair of you."

Rose nodded and turned to Harry. "We need to hurry if we're going to have any time to eat lunch."

When Harry arrived at his detention that night Snape was sleeping with his head on his desk. Rather than wake him or skive off, Harry sat down and pulled out some of his homework. After about a forty-five minutes Snape woke up.

"Potter! What are you doing here?"

"You gave me detention," Harry said, looking up from his History of Magic essay.

Snape narrowed his eyes slightly. "Of course. What are you working on?"

"History of Magic essay."

"Finnish it and you can leave," Snape said, looking a little dizzy.

"Are you alright, Professor?"

"I will be in a moment," Snape grunted. "It was just a vision."

"You've never turned up in class like this," Harry said a little worriedly.

"It was... more intense... than usual," Snape said through his teeth. "Though they're nothing compared to what Rose has to go through."

"She never talks to me about them," Harry said quietly. "I think she blocks me out when they come, too."

"I would do the same," Snape said more calmly. "Rose has visions while she is conscious to levels that would destroy me even in my entranced state."

You have Trance Predictions?" Harry asked, confused.

"No!" Snape snapped. "There is only one person in this school who has those," he said with obvious disdain for the predictions.

"Professor Trelawney," Harry said, nodding. "So... you have predictions like Rose's only less and while you're asleep?" Harry guessed.

"There, boy, you have it," Snape growled sourly. "Now go."

"I'm not done with my essay," Harry objected.

"Now this is something I never thought I'd see," Snape sneered. "Mr. Potter, wanting to stay when I let him leave."

Harry shrugged. "And I never thought I'd see you being nice to anyone, but I certainly saw it today," he said nonchalantly. "Rose loves your gift."

"So it seems," Snape breathed. "She is the daughter I will never have."

"She was worried that you'd someday marry, though," Harry added.

Snape shook his head. "There was one woman I would have married, and she married someone else, someone I hated, and now she's dead."

Harry blinked. "You loved my mum?"

Snape looked him over suspiciously. "Didn't your godfather ever tell you? Your mother was my girlfriend from the middle of our first year to just before Halloween of our fifth. Then she fell in love with your father." He smiled almost cruelly. "I believe it would be something like if the girl you loved fell for Mr. Malfoy."

Harry was impassive. "Not at all. It isn't safe for anyone to be too close to me, though I can't help everyone, and anyone I fell for would have the good since to stay away from Malfoy."

"Even if she was a Slytherin? Remember that your mother was a Gryffindor."

Harry snorted. "No danger there."

Snape smiled darkly. "Lily was the only one I told about my gift before I left Voldemort. Then I told Professor Dumbledore, and now Rose."

"You teach her, don't you?"

"I teach her, support her, and do what I can to keep her from being destroyed by her gift," Snape said grimly. "Now go."

Harry nodded, gathered his things, and left. It had been a very interesting detention... and not one he was likely to tell Ron and Hermione about.