Escaped Again?! Never Mind...

Chapter 15 ~ Daniel's Secret

Snape's memory took up Rosa's every waking thought. The terrified expression on Snape's face, the laughter of the passers by, but most of all, her father's injustice kept replaying in her head.

She thought that Daniel must have noticed, but he didn't say anything. He never pressured her to talk about her problems.

Although, Daniel also seemed a little distant himself. Rosa had been aware of it for a while, but never said anything either.

It wasn't until she and her friends were having dinner in the great hall, that Rosa knew she had to talk to him about it.

"So, have you guys finished that essay for Professor Flitwick yet?" Hermione asked.

"You mean the one that has to be 2 rolls of parchment?" Said Ron, sounding annoyed. "No, Hermione. I haven't."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, Daniel. What did you do for your third paragraph?" She asked expectingly.

"Oh, um...I actually haven't done that essay yet." Daniel said sheepishly.

Rosa's head snapped towards him. This wasn't like him.

As the others continued talking, Rosa gently nudged Daniel's side.

"What's bothering you?" She whispered.

"Later." He replied.
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After supper, Rosa and her friends were walking back to the common room.

Daniel was looking at the floor for the whole time. Rosa could tell he was worried about something, and she had to talk to him.

They reached a crowded corridor, off of which, was an empty hallway.

Rosa took hold of Daniel's hand, and pulled him out of the stream of students, and into the deserted area.

"Blimey, Rosa." Daniel said, and ran a hand through his hair.

"Sorry." Rosa said. "I had to talk to you. You've seemed upset for a while now, and I knew you wouldn't say anything left to your own devices."

There was a pause between them.

"Dan, just tell me what wrong." She said, and put a hand on his shoulder.

Daniel took a deep breath. "I've been thinking of telling everyone that I'm an animagus."

Rosa smiled. She had been waiting for this for years now.

"So, just go for it!" Said Rosa.

"But, I don't know how." Daniel replied shyly. "I don't want anyone to think less of me."

"Daniel, no one is going to think less of you because you can turn into a husky." Rosa reassured him. "Trust me...I didn't."

Daniel took another deep breath, this time because of exasperation.

"But, hey." Rosa said, and lifted his head so his eyes met hers. "There's no rush, alright? You tell them when you think the time is right. Don't let me, or anyone else influence you."

Daniel smiled his usual warm smile that Rosa had missed so much.

"So, what about you, Rosa? What's been bothering you? You've seemed...distant lately." He said.

In this moment, Rosa seriously debated telling Daniel all about Professor Snape and his history with her mother and father.

While in Snape's memory, she couldn't help but notice the way Snape looked at a girl who must have been Lily Evans. Rosa knew right away that there was obviously something going on between the two.

"I'm failing Potions." Rosa said, trying her best to sound devastated.

"No way." Daniel said in disbelief.

"Daniel, I'm serious. That's what Professor Snape wanted to talk to me about the other day."

"No, you're not." Daniel said, only this time he was laughing. "Don't think I haven't seen the grades on your papers." He crossed his arms. "There's something you're not telling me."

Rosa took a shaky breath.

"He told me not to tell anyone." Rosa said warningly.

"Then why did he tell you?" Daniel inquired.

"Something about me being 'special'. I'm still not sure what he meant."

Daniel laughed again.

"You are special, Rosa. You know that, but, I don't think I've ever heard of Professor Snape being so...pleasant."

"I know." Said Rosa. "Dan, he just seemed so genuine. Do you really want me to tell you?"

He looked at the floor for several moments, before finally meeting her eyes.

"No." He concluded. "Obviously whatever he told you is personal, and I don't want to pry."

Rosa let out the breath she was holding.

"Thanks, Dan. That means a lot."

Daniel's smile vanished in an instant, and he looked behind Rosa with a shocked expression.

"Don't thank me yet." He said.

Rosa whirled around just in time to catch a glimpse of a familiar black cloak disappear behind a cornor.

"Yeah, maybe it's best to keep to myself." Rosa thought.