So begins the beginning of Rosalind Celia Arden,

Reader, have hope!

When all is ended,

Rosalind, who is Electra Evangeline Cristo,

Shall be so much more!

PROLOGUE

The dungeons of Hogwarts had exchanged many hands over the years. It had seen brilliant witches and wizards come and go, most of whom had done little with the place. The dungeons changed them, but they did not change the dungeons - until a bright-eyed, willowy lass with a guitar case in her hand and newly procurred Order of Merlin under her belt came striding through the door. She took one look at the dungeons and knew she was back home. The dungeons took several looks at her and decided she could stay.

"'Take me for what I am,'" she declared as she hung a muggle musical poster on the stone walls. She threw pillows and healing crystals around. "'Who I was meant to be!'" She jumped up on the desk, her navel ring gleaming in the candle light. "'And if you give a damn – take me baby or leave me!'"

As unconventional as this new professor was the dungeons decided that they liked her. She brought new life and interest to the classes and the depression lifted off the almost-lowest part of Hogwarts. They laughed at the crushes the young wizards had on their beautiful teacher. The gloomy stones had to admit that the honey-hued hair of the teacher had a certain appeal in green gloom of brewing potions, that her laughter was infectious and mesmerizing, and her music certainly came from those muggle things called 'angels.' Professor Arden loved to play for the students, but only the stone walls saw her release the fiery soul within.

One morning Professor Arden had a visitor – a male visitor. She had never had a man here before and the dungeons did not know if they approved or not. Tall and broad he was with a head of yellow hair! Hufflepuff, they remembered him, and terrible at potions. Drew Walker! He had a wedding band on – tsk tsk – what was the professor up too?

The professor had been sitting at her desk, tuning her guitar, when the Auror had arrived. Her amber eyes reflected surprise, joy, and a hint of worry. She set her instrument aside and rose to greet her guest. No affectionate hug or immediate laughter, but a handshake suited the occasion.

"It's good to see you, Drew," she said in a all-together too smooth of an accent for someone that grew up in London. A hint of a Parisian tone colored her voice. "I see an old face here and there but this truly is a delight! How is Zenith? How's the job? Please, sit." She motioned to the first row of work tables.

"This brings back memories," Drew said as he scanned the vacant dungeon. "I don't have time to stay, Rosey, I'm on the clock. I just needed to come back to ask a few questions."

"I didn't think this was a social visit. A drop of firewhiskey in Hogsmeade would be more our style of a reunion anyway. Not many like to visit this old place."

'Old place?' Hmph! The dungeons were offended.

Drew's smile held sadness. "I should have come to see you sooner."

"You make me sound like something shoved into a hall cupboard that you want to forget about!" Rosalind dropped back down behind her desk and propped her feet up on it. "I am happy, thank you very much! Happy, successful, and my students love me."

"Can you say the same for your colleagues? I heard you been causing a stir in the potions community with your wild theories."

"I do not have 'wild theories,' Drew. What I have are collections of facts that clearly illustrate the importance of -"

"Please," he interrupted, "spare me the lecture, Rosey! I wouldn't understand your babble anyway." He grinned at his old friend from schooldays. "I admit, I never pictured you'd actually do it."

"Do what?"

"Exactly what you said you do in our sixth year, before your mum made you transfer to Beauxbatons. You said you would become a 'famous potions master' and teach at Hogwarts. I always saw you on stage with your bloody guitar and signing autographs. I see you still play." He nodded toward the expensive-looking instrument.

"Oh, well, you know, I keep it in tune." Rosalind leaned back in her seat and stared off into space. She was uncomfortable with the tidal wave of memories that came with Drew. He had been one of her best friends in school. She still liked to think of him as a dear comrade, but now there was a brick wall between them and it had a name. "Please, Drew, cut to the chase. I know why you're here. My answer is still the same as it was two months ago when you sent me an owl."

"C'mon, Rosey, I know you better than that. You were thick as thieves at school and I know you kept in touch over the years."

"I haven't heard from Dante in over eight months, Drew. I don't know where he is and I don't know what he's doing. I'm not his sitter for Godric's Sake!"

"He's cost you a lot, Rosey. Why keep him safe?"

"Not as much as you think, Drew. The different last names helps a bit."

"There aren't many who don't know you're twins. I know that the rumors hurt you, I know that you're innocent, Rosey, but if you don't cooperate then how do I keep people believing that?"

Rosalind narrowed her eyes into bright amber slits. "I am cooperating, Drew. Haven't I answered all of your bloody questions?"

"Rosey-"

"I think you should leave now."

Shaking his head, Drew headed for the door. He turned back to look at his school friend. His blue eyes almost pleaded with her to tell him the truth. "Off the record, Rosey, if you knew where Dante was would you tell me?"

She lost all of her patience. "Cut the melodrama, Drew! Tomorrow you can write me a nice letter asking all of these stupid questions again, but right now, I'm angry at you and I want you to leave. Dante is my twin, but if – IF – he is doing something criminal then of course I would help you find him. Now go away and leave me alone."

Drew rolled his eyes as he was leaving. Some drama queens never grow up.

The dungeons glared at the now-deemed 'intruder' as he left. Stupid boy! Any professor that had the honor of working at Hogwarts did not have to answer to anyone! Especially not some over sized Auror. Oh no! The professor had pulled out a thick, leather-bound volume from the black hole of her desk. She only looked at the thing when she was depressed or tipsy.

She skimmed through childhood photos of her and her adopted parents, pages of her stepbrother and his personal zoo of pets, and pictures of Rosalind herself. Some with guitars and drums, tinkering with machinery, laughing with her stepfather in Italian, and, finally, school years. The latter portion moved, depicting the transition into the wizarding world. She stopped on pages with pictures of a younger Rosalind and Drew Walker, obviously at a Quidditch game, and waving at the camera. She flipped the page to an array of the same two faces – hers and her twin brother. While Rosalind was golden-haired and petite, Dante was tall and fierce-looking. His blues glared into the camera, even when he attempted to look happy and smile.

Rosalind peeled away a picture and held it up to the candlelight. A much younger girl and her brother were pushing each other back and forth in a battle for more room in front of the camera. Her amber eyes grew misty and she returned the image to its place in the album. She closed the book and hid it again in her desk. Very few of her students would dare to search her things, but she didn't like to dally with the possibility. She liked her privacy.

Leaning back in her chair, Rosalind plotted. "Won't leave for a week or so. They expect me to leave right away. Ha! Fat chance!" She shook her head and popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth. "I need a vacation."

It was time to find her twin.

Lyrics from 'Take Me or Leave Me' - Rent