To love a man who's locked

Pancakes and mother

I woke up in a tangle of limbs next to Severus as the sunlight hit my eyes. The snow was falling sweetly over the sun. It was the 24th of December, I decided I should probably spend some time with my mother as I haven't seen her very much. I slowly slipped out of bed and hopped in a steaming shower, I wrapped a towel around my wet body and began getting ready for the day. I picked some jeans and fishnets, I placed a white turtleneck and a Beatles T-shirt over the top, they were a muggle band that nobody really knew so I liked that. I quietly made some toast and slipped on my docs and was out the door. 

It must have been 8 in the morning. The castle was so quiet and tranquil, the sunlight was hitting the pillars and making shadows on the corridors. I stopped for a second to bask in the morning sunshine, it was surprisingly warm seen as it was December.

It was a short walk to mother's quarters. I arrived and knocked on the door softly, she was an early riser just like me and I knew she would be awake. She emerged from the room in an emerald dressing gown, her hair neatly plaited at the side of her head. Her face immediately broke into a warm smile, her arms outstretched 

Minerva - Please come in dearie, have you eaten you look a little pale 

I shook my head 

Minerva - How about pancakes?

Rose - I would love that mum 

She led me to the sofa next to the kitchen and began mixing the eggs and milk. I always thought it was weird she cooked the muggle way but she said it was more rewarding. She heated up the old pan and poured the gloopy mixture in, steam began rising from the pan as her eyes fixated on the pancake, making sure it wasn't burning. I placed one of her records on the player and it began spinning Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen began playing. I laid back on the sofa and relaxed as the smell of cooking pancakes hit my nostrils. The sound of a pancake flip crashed onto my ears, I shot up from my place on the sofa and saw my mother smiling from ear to ear as she had been successful in flipping it. I smiled back at her as the sizzling continued. She called me over to the clear glass table and placed a heaping stack of pancakes, drizzled with caramel sauce and whipped cream in front of me. 

Rose - Mother! This is amazing!

She sat down across from me with a slightly smaller but still identical version. We laughed and joked as we dove into the sugary treats. I laughed at her stories as I trailed my spoon along the empty plate. She had decorated her dorm with fairy lights and a dinky christmas tree in the corner. A question popped in my head so I thought now would be a good time to ask

Rose - Mother?

Minerva - Yes dear

Rose - Can I keep staying at Severus'

I realised she didn't even know Severus and I were together, she probably didn't even know I had been staying with him. The words just fell out. She raised her eyebrows and looked over her glasses at me 

Minerva - Of course you can, I was wondering when you might bring that up 

I went red as she cleared away the plates, I felt a pit of embarrassment growing in my stomach

Minerva - You mustn't feel embarrassed dear, believe me you and Severus both look the happiest you have in a long time 

That was her seal of approval. And I was bloody happy for it

She managed to usher me out as she had tons of work to get on with. I thought decorating might be a good idea. Severus was still fast asleep when I arrived, I had begun tactically placing fairy lights with my wand when an owl began tapping on the window. It was one I hadn't seen before, it had a matte black envelope in it's beak with a white wax seal. 

Dear Severus and Rose  

the front read in beautiful handwriting. I carefully opened the wax seal and pulled out the bit of dark parchment 

Dear Severus and Rose 

I Lucius Malfoy, am inviting you to Malfoy Manor for this years Death Eaters ball. The date will be the 24th of December at 7pm. Formal wear required 

Lucius Malfoy 

Rose thought it totally odd she was invited, maybe she was just as Severus' partner, but why would her name be on the letter?