Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in the Harry Potter universe J.K. Rowling does. The title "Waking the Witch" is inspired by the Kate Bush song of the same name. I do not own the song either. It can be found on Kate Bush's album Hounds of Love. The name Rosaleen was inspired by the Neil Jordan film The Company of Wolves. I don't own any of the characters in that film, either! I do, however, own my Rosaleen MacDuff Jasper, who is of no relation or incarnation of Neil Jordan's character in his film.
Waking the Witch
by Leah Pensotti
Chapter Three: And Dream of Sheep
Remus Lupin walked Rosaleen down the streets of Muggle London. As they walked, Rosaleen kept particularly tight-lipped and it did not seem to bother her escort. Her hair caught in the damp English breeze and Lupin could not help but watch.
"So where are we going exactly and what can I expect when I get there?" Rosaleen smirked lightly.
"Number 12 Grimmauld Place, once owned by the Black family and now it has been bequeathed to Harry Potter." Lupin said in a tone just above a hoarse whisper.
"Harry Potter? The same Harry Potter that-"
Lupin finished her sentence for her.
"Lived."
Rosaleen may not have been in contact with other wizards, but she had kept abreast on a few of the news from the wizarding world and had gotten many books delivered to her from all around the world. She found herself intrigued by the conversation.
"So tell me, Remus. What happened to the Blacks that they do not live there anymore?" Lupin hid his original instinct to wear an expression of pain over the loss of his dear friend Sirius and sighed thickly.
"Well, they all died. The Blacks were once one of the foremost pureblood families in Europe." Rosaleen sighed out of disgust this time.
"Oh, they were one of those families." She rolled her eyes and feigned being impressed. Lupin detected a tone laden with sarcasm.
"You sound like you have had an experience with that kind of family." He lead her down the street steadily and at a mild pace. Rosaleen nodded in agreement.
"Yes, indeed. My father's family were purebloods, full of pomp and circumstance. Of course they objected to my parents' marriage because she was a muggle. That is why they fled the country and immigrated to America." Lupin looked interested and commented softly.
"I am not familiar with any Jaspers. Was your family from Europe, Rosaleen?"
She bit her tongue, the werewolf had come too close. She smiled at him, forgetting for a moment that her eye teeth came to an unusual point, and then she answered to hide her mistake.
"I never said that my family name was Jasper, Remus." Rosaleen's eyes sparkled and hinted with mystery. A mystery that Lupin wanted to solve and a sparkle that made him want to howl. Instead, he allowed his lips to pull into a smile and them to both stop at a halt in front of their destination's door.
Rosaleen looked at the black door ahead of her and the grimy windows of the house. She inspected it discerningly, not finding it completely horrid. She turned to Lupin and nodded to the house.
"So this is it?" Remus confirmed with a shrug and a wink that suggested that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"It's rather nice on the inside. Oh and Rosaleen, be very quiet when we enter. Mrs. Black doesn't like to be disturbed, especially not in the middle of the night. We'll never get any rest if she starts screaming." He pulled her a little closer to the door and she stopped him cold.
"I thought you said that the Blacks are all deceased!" Rosaleen's eyes widened at him, the edges of gold more prominent than ever. Lupin rested his hands on her shoulders and gave her a comforting look.
"It's only her portrait. Just be careful and quiet." Lupin lead her by the elbow and through the black-painted door.
Rosaleen stayed immensely quiet, but kept a close eye on the sleeping woman in the painting in the front room. Lupin lead her up the stairs, lighting candles with his wand as he went. On the third floor, he opened the door to the room that is closest to the stairs. As the room illuminated, Rosaleen saw a small bed in the corner, draped in blue bedding, a night table and a desk along the side of the wall. The window was guarded by thick blue draperies that insured that no light could peep through. She smiled gratefully at him and he turned to leave her in peace.
"If you should need anything, I'm two doors down the hall. I would advise you avoid the far bedroom. There is an irritable hippogriff who has been pent up for some time inside." He nodded in farewell and then he felt her cold fingers wrap around his left wrist. He turned around and met her gaze, finding a sense of worry.
"Remus, wait. Dumbledore said that you taught at Hogwarts. I know nothing of the school, the rules or the house that I am heading. Won't you help me?"
Lupin looked a little taken aback by her request. She wanted his help?
"You want my help? What with?" He saw her search for the words, her pointed teeth peeping out discreetly.
"Teach me how to teach. I've worked alone my entire life! I'm not sure if I can handle children, let alone teenagers. You've done this before; don't allow me to go in there blind. I want nothing more than to succeed, but I fear that I go in with no knowledge that it will threaten what I have been summoned to do." Lupin saw the truth in what she said, those kids would eat her alive if she went to Hogwarts as is. Besides, it would bring him company for a few hours every day.
"Very well then, Professor Jasper. First lesson is tomorrow and we shall cover the history of Hogwarts and events that take place there. Until then, I wish you goodnight." He nodded to her as he pulled away and felt Rosaleen give his wrist a squeeze before releasing him to go.
A man held a cup out to her invitingly, begging her to take it. Rosaleen smelled the warm aroma of blood as it filled her nostrils. The man smiled at her; his blue eyes twinkling, willing her to take a sip.
"Come now, dearest. You haven't eaten in days. You need to feed." She reached out to the cup hesitantly, her teeth aching for the feel of the blood against them. As soon as the cup was in her hands; the man knocked it out of them in one swift blow. He pulled a large crucifix out from behind his back and pressed it to her chest, next to her heart.
Rosaleen screamed in pain; it seared and coursed throughout her body. How it burned!
"You will never kill again, you horrid creature. If you knew what was good for you, you'd give up the fight and starve to death. Then perhaps, you will find some peace!"
"It burns!"
Lupin awoke to the woman's screams and fumbled to find his footing. He donned his robe and made his way to her quarters with a candle in his grip. When he opened the door, he found her twisted in her blankets and whimpering in pain.
He approached softly and gently shook her and called her out of her fitful dream.
"Rosaleen. Wake up."
Her eyes opened quickly and she shot up like an arrow. Lupin sat on the edge of her bed, completely exhausted but worried. Rosaleen looked embarrassed and she pushed him away respectfully.
"I'm sorry Remus. I should have told you that I am prone to nightmares." She ran a hand through her hair and he saw the polished stone hanging from her wrist. It was a piece of green jasper. He touched it inquisitively and whispered.
"This doesn't protect you as it should. Ward off evils in the night, I mean." Rosaleen quickly shoved her hand beneath the blankets and safely out of his reach.
"Old wives tales, Remus." She grumbled in a weary tone. Rosaleen shivered in her light nightgown and felt drenched in cold sweat.
"What scared you so? Where were you in your dream?" His pale eyes pleaded with her but she had to refuse him.
"You don't want to know, really. It is best left with me." She averted her eyes away from his; but he continued to lock his attention on her.
But I do want to know, Rosaleen. Chances are I've been there before. He thought to himself. He rose from her bed and stood in the doorjamb. She looked so much in pain that it pulled at his chest to watch her.
"Try to get some rest, Rosaleen. The Weasleys arrive tomorrow with Miss Granger in tow. I daresay you'll need all that you can manage."
She managed a weak smile and a whispy goodnight.
A/N: Next up The Weasleys and Hermione come to Number 12 and Rosaleen learns from Dumbledore that the vampire she has been looking for has resurfaced in England. Oh and tension and sparks fly between Rosaleen and Severus Snape, much to Remus Lupin's chagrin!
PLEASE, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
To Angel of Harlem: Thanks for the songs and the faithfulness. I hope you are enjoying both stories from both fandoms! Keep reviewing and let me know what you think! I'd love to read your involved story on Middle Earth! Keep me posted and I'll help as much as I can!
To TheLostDuck: Glad you like it! It is going to get more dark and Potterish in the next few chapters! Review again, love!