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Chapter Eight: Question Time

Chapter Eight: Question Time

November 18th, 2017

Despite the fact that the clock showed it had only been a few hours, Rose felt as though she had been sleeping for weeks. Definitely more than a few hours. Focusing in on her surroundings, Rose stretched, before realising CC was next to her.

"How long have you been here for?" Rose asked, siting up straight and moving away from CC.

"How are you feeling?" CC replied, answering the question with a question, reflecting the answer onto Rose.

"Fine. Tired. What day is it?" Rose asked, looking at CC suspiciously.

"September 20th." CC answered after a moment of hesitation. "You've been... asleep for a few days. How are you feeling? Your body temperature has risen considerably - are you stressed?"

"I... I don't know." Rose answered, her head spinning. "I can't remember."

"Don't worry." CC replied, resting her cool hand on Rose's forehead. "Everything will go to plan."

Rose remained silent. What plan?

"How do you think your parents are?" CC asked, probing Rose for answers.

"I don't know. Worried."

"Do you think they are looking for you?"

"Yes. Why?" Rose answered briefly.

"Why so monosyllabic?" CC asked, looking concerned. "I'm only asking. Those that hold you here are scared of your parents. But I remember them still as children - I was your age when I first met them."

Rose listened carefully as CC talked, but when the words came to a stop, she found her voice. "Do my parents know you? If they do, you could put me in contact with them! They could come and take me home."

"I knew them, long ago." CC answered cryptically. "And if I told them about you, they wouldn't believe me."

"Why?" Rose asked, curious.

"You are very talented, Rose. You have so much potential. You are so intelligent, and have capabilities beyond imagination. If your mother knew, I would say she would be jealous." CC spoke quietly, almost whispering.

"You haven't answered my question." Rose countered.

"Because they would never think I would be capable of this - of anything." CC replied. "Enough about me, anyway - do your parents talk about the war much?"

"Not always. We try to avoid the subject, but if it is brought up, they will talk to us about it." Rose began to explain further, beginning to feel relaxed and comfortable talking. "We never talk about it on the 2nd of May, because it's Vic's birthday, and we want to make sure she isn't uncomfortable. But when we do talk about it, they don't tend to mention names or show off, just talk about the people that aren't here anymore."

"I knew some of those people." CC replied, a far off look in her eyes. "And now, I don't even know those who stayed behind."

She made it sound as though they had a choice, Rose mused. While her parents didn't bring up the war often, if at all, they were very clear on the fact that those who were killed did not decide to move on, that most were innocent and that the war should never have happened at all.

"Moving on." CC spoke abruptly, and Rose looked up confused, unsure of what prompted the change in tone. "Are you ready to continue your schoolwork? We wouldn't want you uneducated. If you tell me what classes you would like, I can arrange the books and materials. It was a while since I left Hogwarts, so I'm not entirely sure what you need, but I'm sure we will manage. Any classes in particular you would like?"

"Charms, Defence Against The Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Potions..." Rose began, unsure of what CC was trying to do. "History of Magic, Muggle Studies-"

"Right, well, I'm sure I can try and organise those for you." Cutting Rose off, CC began to write some notes down in a notebook. Rose was fairly certain it hadn't been there before. She leaned over slightly to catch a glimpse, but CC closed it before she could read anything.

"I don't understand."

"Don't understand what, sweetie?" CC asked, gazing down at her innocently.

"Why me?" Rose asked, the question burning through her mind.

"Oh, Rose. If only you knew." CC spoke with an almost wistful look in her eyes, gazing at Rose with a slight smile.

"But I don't. And I want to."

"Rose-" CC was cut off as Rose sat up, beginning to talk accusatorially.

"No, don't try to brush it off with one of your cryptic riddles. I want to know why I am here, why I have been here for three weeks, as you say, and when I will let out! I want to know!" Rose finished out of breath, watching as CC stood, about to speak, as her eyesight began to dim and fade.

~*~*~*~

Yet again, Rose found her eyes adjusting to the light streaming in from behind the blinds. She felt a cool hand pressed against her forehead, and could vaguely make out voices coming from the figures around her.

"Rose? Rose..."

"She should have woken up by now. I knew this was a bad idea..."

"We need her. We can't afford complications..."

Rose stirred, determined to break free of the dream-like state she was currently in.

"Rose. Rose, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can." Rose murmured quietly. "Why?"

CC focused in her eyes, and began to speak. "Are you alright? Do you remember anything?"

"No, I don't. Why? Is something wrong?" Rose asked, concerned.

"No, don't worry, nothing is wrong." CC replied, smiling gently. "Just fall back asleep."

Fall back asleep...

Fall back asleep...

Fall back asleep...

Rose obliged, a migraine indicating her brain was exhausted.

Fall back asleep...

Fall back asleep...

Fall back asleep...

"She's asleep."

~*~*~*~

Watching from the corner, a shadow slipped out, leaving no trace as silent footsteps plodded along a deserted corridor. The entire building was silent, with no one watching as the figure attached a note to an owl, who flew off almost immediately after the note was given.

In the midst of the fog, it flew steadily, wings beating loudly, anxious to deliver the message that it knew was important.

"We need to talk - Rose."