When you Wake a Sleeping Dragon - One Shot [TW/CW]

[Rozalina Antonina Nightshade]

Trigger Warning/Content Warning: This one shot does include attempted murder. Read at your discretion.

July 2027

Rose had led a rather quiet life in recent months. The world had gone quiet as the events of last year finally seemed to be behind them. Hogwarts had recently reopened, introducing an entirely new education system to the magical people of Britain. The concept wasn't new, muggle schools had been using it for some time. But it seemed Hogwarts had finally decided to follow the example. It meant little to nothing to Rose. If it didn't affect her, Rose didn't care. She'd go about doing her work as always. Enjoying her solitude with temporary comforts when she felt lonely. Content to simply exist without any sort of change or excitement.

Unfortunately others did not think similarly.

Rose was still a Nightshade. The last of her mother's line, in fact. Being a Nightshade in general put a target over your head, but being the last of a line made her disappearance even more tempting. Few in the family were stupid enough to come after Rose however. They knew the young woman preferred to stay out of the mainstream of family politics and only interfered when it meant herself or someone else. When she did step out of the shadows though... Well there was a reason she was the last of her mother's line. Rose's sense of survival was strong. There was little she wouldn't do to ensure it. And that was made her truly dangerous. 

After a long day Rose finally settled in the sitting room of her home in Knockturn alley. She poured herself a glass of wine and pulled out a book to read. Book open she raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. It took only a moment for Rose to recognize the ever so slightly off taste. So subtle that most wouldn't have even registered a difference. For someone that had been raised in a house of violence she knew it immediately. Just that touch of bitterness concealed behind extra sweetener. Immediately Rose spit the remaining mouthful she'd taken but it was too late, she'd already swallowed some. She flew into action, not caring as the wine glass shattered on the floor, sending shards of glass across the hardwood and cutting through the  slippers as she rushed out of her chair and towards the stairwell that led to the basement. She could already feel her fingertips going numb. Shit, it was a fast acting poison. 

Rose stumbled down the stairs, barely keeping her balance and began to rummage through her medical supplies. She didn't know what kind of poison it was but she kept a few bezoars on hand for exactly this purpose. Her vision was swimming, her fingers clumsy as she finally found it, barely stuffing it in her mouth before everything went black. 

Several hours later Rose woke. Sore, groggy, head throbbing. But at least she was in her bed. Her house elf must have found her and heard the commotion, bringing her to the bed only when sure Rose would survive. That didn't make it pleasant however. Nightshade poisons, even when given an antidote, were never pleasant. Already her thoughts, though sluggish, were racing. Someone in her family had attempted to poison her. But what was the most infuriating? They'd had to have been in her home. That thought made her blood boil. Her home, a place no other Nightshade was ever welcome. The only place she truly felt secure. They'd trespassed on her territory.

With a groan she sat up. She could feel her whole body trembling but it wasn't from the poison. It was the rage. Pure and unrestrained wrath. How dare they! She stared down at her trembling hands. After a moment she clenched them into fists, her teeth grit tightly together as her eyes narrowed. They'd pay. They'd pay dearly for this. 

It had been a long time since the last time Rose had ever felt this angry. And just like that last time, Rose wouldn't be stop until they suffered tenfold. She'd made sure of that.