Waking the Witch
by Leah Pensotti
Chapter Seven: Hounds of Love
"Now the hounds of love are hunting,
I've always been a coward,
And I don't know what's good for me.
Here I go,
It's coming for me through the trees.
Help me someone, Help me please.
Take my shoes off and throw them in the lake
And I'll be two steps on the water."
--Kate Bush, "The Hounds of Love"
The night proved to be damp; the air seemed to be laden with thick mists of water. They had apparated to Surrey only ten minutes before. Rosaleen looked around the muggle neighborhood and saw that it looked ordinary. She walked closely between Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the unfamiliar wizard as they made their way down Privet Drive. Alastor Moody led the way down the darkened street and they approached the house with the address of number 4.
Rosaleen kept a hand on her jacket pocket, where her wand was stealthily hidden. She leaned into Tonks and whispered, "What should I expect on this mission? Should we not have a larger guard to collect Harry Potter?"
"There are others, but they are currently on assignment for the Order. Some are tracking Collinwood; others are keeping accounts on known Death Eaters." Tonks replied knowingly.
"Death Eaters?"
"Servants of the Dark Lord," Tonks confirmed and then continued, "Expect everything you could possibly imagine and keep a keen eye. Just hope that it doesn't happen."
Rosaleen let out a fitful sigh. What was that supposed to mean? As Moody knocked on the door of the house, it quickly opened as if someone knew that they were coming. A thin woman appeared at the door, wrapped in a purple dressing gown and wore a very hesitant and weary look on her face. Moody nodded to her quickly and stepped in without her asking him to.
"Is he ready?" The woman nodded and answered.
"Yes. I received a letter last night telling me to have him ready." Moody nodded again.
"And what about your husband and son? Where are they?" The woman smoothed her hair and shook her head.
"Vernon and Dudley are still in bed, and probably will remain there for another four hours. I did not tell them about this. Let me go get the boy." The woman disappeared up the stairs and Rosaleen took a good look around the living room and saw framed pictures of an incredibly round boy on every table and shelf. Before long, the woman reappeared again, this time followed by a thin boy with dark hair and glasses who was pulling a trunk behind him and carrying a cage containing a snowy owl.
So this was Harry Potter.
"Ready to go Potter?" Moody welcomed him with a pat in a shoulder and his eye rolled to focus in on him. Harry nodded a little sadly and his eyes fell on Rosaleen for a fleeting moment. He did not recognize her.
Moody pushed Harry into the center of the guard, the four of them flanking him from nearly every direction. He did not say goodbye to his aunt, but turned away almost coldly. It had been the most miserable summer to date, since the battle at the Ministry only months before.
His mind mostly bent on Sirius and there was a constant replay of the events and what he could have done to possibly change them. Harry rarely left his room over the holidays. As much as he wanted to return to Hogwarts; he almost dreaded going back to Number 12 Grimmauld Place for the sake of the memories. He owned it now, because Sirius had bequeathed it to him.
Sirius...
As plagued and haunted as he found himself, Harry looked to his left and saw the new witch beside him. The Advance Guard was smaller than it was the year before and Lupin was missing from the ranks. Of course this was with good reason, for it was the last night of the full moon.
They made their way to the end of Privet Drive and Moody stooped over to pick up an empty, glass soda bottle. Rosaleen raised her eyebrows while Moody and Harry touched the bottle in a synchronized motion. They disappeared before her eyes.
It was a Portkey! Rosaleen hadn't traveled in this way in over a hundred years!
"Ready ladies?" Kingsley gestured to Tonks and Rosaleen to touch the bottle at the same time he did. As Rosaleen's hand connected with the portkey, she felt a near-violent jerk to her stomach and she shut her eyes. Her feet connected with familiar flooring and when she looked around she found that she was in the kitchen of Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
Moody grunted suspiciously, "That was almost too simple. We encountered no trouble at all. Something must be brewing."
Rosaleen looked confused and felt Harry Potter's eyes on her again. Moody saw the look on his face and quickly spoke up.
"Guess you're wondering who the new witch is, Potter? This is Professor Rosaleen Jasper. Dumbledore sent for her in America to come and work with us. She'll also be taking over Professor Filtwick's position in Ravenclaw and Charms class; as he is taking a break from teaching this year. Jasper will also be your instructor in Defense Against the Dark Arts." As Moody trailed off, Harry could not help to think of all the other teachers that had taken up that position. With the exception of Lupin and the real Moody, they were all hacks.
Harry's thoughts drifted to the prior school year, when Dolores Umbridge wreaked her havoc on Hogwarts and did not teach them anything remotely meaningful. So Harry himself secretly with other students formed a group to where they could practice their defensive skills. They had all done an excellent job with this group which they had named the D.A., or Dumbledore's Army.
He took in the sight of Professor Jasper; she was young, pale and had sad-looking eyes. Sometimes when he looked in the mirror, he saw that same look of grief and guilt. She looked like she could be brave, strong and have people trust in her. Yet Harry knew with his past Defense Against the Dark Arts instructors; none of them were as they seemed.
Rosaleen stuck her hand out to him and smiled a warm smile, "I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Potter."
Harry accepted her hand in greeting and shook it. Professor Jasper's hand was cold, like she had stuck her hand in the icebox and left it there for hours.
"I'm glad as well, Professor Jasper."
Before Rosaleen could respond, the Weasleys and Hermione swooped in from their bedrooms to greet their friend. Hermione hugged Harry tightly, as did Mrs. Weasley and Ginny while Ron and Mr. Weasley kept to shaking his hand. After the warm welcome, Mrs. Weasley began to shuffle around the kitchen and prepare breakfast.
Soon Rosaleen managed to excuse herself from breakfast by citing that she was very tired and had not slept well the night before. She retreated back to her quarters and collected her parchment, quill and books so she could go and set up shop in the study
Ginny and Hermione followed Harry and Ron to their room after breakfast and watched as Harry unpacked most of his belongings. His friends could sense the change in him, the little black rain loud of grief that now followed him around had become quite evident.
"So how much do you all know about professor Jasper?"
Harry asked as he folded some of his clothes and placed them in a drawer. Hermione, being the most studious of the group answered him before anyone else had the chance to.
"She's from Boston. While she lived there she worked with a group of muggle priests and held an auror-like position. Evidently, she tracked evil and then helped this group stop it. Dumbledore said that she has dedicated her life to the cause. He seems to trust her very much. She doesn't eat a lot and she has become quite close with Lupin." Ron snickered lightly and the attention turned to him.
"Lupin fancies her." Harry turned and raised an eyebrow to him.
"How do you figure that, Ron?" Ron smiled to Harry and continued.
"You should see the way she looks at her. His eyes get wide and he looks like his mouth is sealed shut. He gets all...well...moony!" Everyone in the room laughed at the unintended pun with the use of Lupin's childhood nickname.
"What about Jasper? Does she act the same around him?" Harry inquired briefly. Ginny shrugged and then spoke up.
"She's really very quiet. Keeps to herself mostly. Except for Lupin, she always speaks with him. Professor Jasper is very nice, but it is as Hermione said a few days ago; she seems so sad. But we've seen Jasper and Lupin have their moments. Hermione and I saw him kiss her hand by the study fireplace and then about two days ago when he was ready to leave, she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Lupin looked like his heart stopped dead in his chest."
Harry nodded, professor Jasper did seem sad. He noticed that before anything else about her when they were introduced. Grief followed her like a shadow and no matter what she did she could not escape it. For the past few months, Harry could understand that feeling. He sat on his bed next to Ron and sighed.
"So you all think that she is not all that she seems? Ron chuckled in return and responded.
"Well, she is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You know how luck would have that. But my mum and dad think she's lovely. Mum's really keen on having her meet Bill and Charlie." Hermione smiled wryly.
"I take it she's not a fan of Fleur Delacour?" Ginny giggled lightly and answered.
"She's about as big of a fan of Fleur's as she is of Bill's hair." All four of them laughed in unison, knowing Mrs. Weasley's extreme dislike for Bill's long hair. Harry smiled for what seemed to be the first time in months.
"Does your mum know about Jasper and Lupin, then?" Ron shook his head in response.
"Nah, you know how old Moony is. And Jasper, well, she's very nice, but she's not exactly openly overflowing with emotion. Besides, Lupin's not very dashing is he?" Ginny looked a little upset by Ron's comment.
"He may not be dashing, Ron, but he is kind and honest. Perhaps they have some sort of an understanding?" Harry agreed with Ginny and Hermione got up and paced the floor like a detective on a case.
"There is something about her, though. She is pale and never eats. She wears that piece of green jasper around her wrist. It's said that jasper has the ability to keep away nightmares and help those that wear it sleep. It's also used to protect against spiders and snake bites. She never sleeps and always retires before supper. She has this rosary on her night table and then there was also the other night with Snape." Ron shrugged at Hermione's evidence.
"Hermione, he probably had to talk to her about the Order, is all. Anyway, it was like a five minute conversation." Harry looked interested and Ginny nodded to him.
"Snape came to the house a few nights ago and asked to speak with Jasper in private." Harry shook his head and agreed with Ron.
"I really don't see Snape and Jasper getting along. He was just probably passing along news from Dumbledore or McGonagall. Ron's probably right." Ron grinned with Harry's affirmation while Hermione looked on grimly. She didn't suspect Professor Jasper of anything deceiving or evil. It's just a feeling she had.
Rosaleen sat in the study, her quill scratching furiously against the parchment. Studying and making lesson plans took her mind off Collinwood, blood and Snape. She heard the study door open quietly and she turned her head to see Lupin enter.
He looked much better, though pale and a little scruffy. Lupin smiled warmly at her and Rosaleen stood to greet him.
"Hello, Remus. Are you feeling better?" Lupin walked closer and nodded. He was elated to be home, to say the least. It had been a rough few days and now that she stood before him, the memories of those days slipped away.
"I am much better. What about you Rosaleen? How have you been?"
She gestured for him to sit in the chair beside hers. She sighed thickly and shook her head, "There have been some things, Remus, that I need you to help me with."
He tried not to spout out 'anything' too quickly, but instead, he shook his head and bid her to continue.
"I'm running out of blood. Father McCarthy has found a wizard for me to contact to get more. He lives in London in a place called Knockturn Alley..." She opened her mouth to continue and Lupin raised his hand.
"Knockturn Alley? Are you sure?" Rosaleen nodded in return.
"Yes. Is there something wrong?" Lupin shrugged and gave her a nervous smile.
"Well, it's a slightly dodgy place. Mostly operates in Dark Arts items and instruments. Can you not find somewhere else?" Rosaleen shook her head indicating that she could not.
"I'm afraid not. If Father McCarthy found anywhere else, he would've told me. Of course, I suppose I could always resort to feeding on innocent people again." Remus looked at her worriedly.
"Anyone in particular you'd bite first?" Rosaleen looked at Lupin curiously and gave him a semi-wicked smile.
"Actually, yes. One Severus Snape. That leads me to the other thing that I need to talk with you about." Lupin sighed. Snape. Wouldn't he ever let up?
"What happened, Rosaleen?" She looked at him in an uncomfortable way and then turned her eyes from him.
"Ah, well. It's the potion. It was to produce a dreamless sleep, but it's not working." Lupin look interested and leaned forward.
"Are you still having nightmares?" Rosaleen sighed and shook her head.
"Not exactly, I've been having dreams. Strange dreams and they are nonetheless disturbing. It think that Snape tampered with the potion." Lupin scratched his head. Snape could've done it, Lupin wouldn't put it past him.
"Do you want me to try it? If I suspect something is amiss, I'll confront him." Rosaleen mulled over the idea, it sounded like it could work. But what happened if he had her dreams?
"I'm not sure about that, Remus. It may be a little embarrassing." He did not look satisfied with her answer and shook his head.
"Do you trust me, Rosaleen?"
"Of course I do. But..."
"Then we will both take the potion tonight and see what happens."
Lupin found himself on top of a hill on a clear and bright day. As he walked upward, he glimpsed Rosaleen resting against a white, flowering tree. Her hair flew long and wild on a breeze as a mild blush dotted her cheeks. Rosaleen wore a white sun dress and on her lap rested the head of a large, black dog. She stroked its head and its eyes filled with sleep.
He called to her and she smiled at him sweetly. Rosaleen rose and walked to him, the dog following close at her bare feet. Once she reached him, her eyes met his. There were so many things that he wished to say to her, but he could not open his mouth.
Instead, he fell on his knees before her and Rosaleen still stood and drew him into an embrace, his head resting against her stomach. Her fingers fumbled through his hair in comfort and his arms wreathed around her waist.
Suddenly, she lowered herself to the ground and took his face in her hands. She laid gentle kisses on his temple, his cheek and then finally she rested her forehead against his. Lupin nuzzled his nose against hers and then caught her lips with his own. He kissed Rosaleen hungrily and stole her breath away. She made a little gasping sound and went limp in his arms.
Lupin pulled away and looked on in a worried state. Blood bubbled out of the corners of her full lips and he panicked. He felt warm liquid on her back and between his fingers. He laid her down on the ground gently and then surveyed his own hands.
Instead of hands, he saw that he had large, blood soaked paws and retracted claws.
He had killed her.
Rosaleen's white dress was now spotted with crimson and the black dog snarled at him viciously.
Lupin threw his head back in anguish and howled at the top of his lungs.
"NO!"
Lupin woke in his own bed, his heart beating in his chest. What a horrible dream! A cold sweat clung to every inch of him.
The black dog...Sirius?
He could still feel Rosaleen's limp form against him. He killed her in the dream.
Lupin fought back waves of anger. He could never hurt her. More importantly, he would never hurt her.
He felt the dry ache in his mouth and made his way downstairs to the kitchen, where he found Rosaleen sitting at the table with a very stressed look on her face. He froze in the doorway. She looked like a ghost of his dream in her white night clothes and her hair loose down her back. The dream flashed through his mind over and over again.
Rosaleen looked up and saw Lupin. She eyed him in a weary way and then sat back in her chair and sighed.
"Bad dream?" She patted the table beside her, bidding him to sit down. He did so, but a little hesitantly. The feelings he had after the dream had left him raw. Lupin nodded to her slowly.
"Very bad."
"Are you going to tell me what it was about?" She shifted in her seat and met his eyes curiously, waiting for him to tell her.
"I can't, Rosaleen. It was horrible." Lupin shook his head. He couldn't even tell her of the amorous nature of the dream, let alone the fact that he had killed her.
"Whatever it was, Remus, it was only a dream." She did not look at him and played with an empty teacup on the table.
"Why are you still up? Did you have a dream as well?" He asked in an inquisitive tone and she shook her head and still avoided his eyes.
"I didn't take the potion, Remus. I knew what would happen. Now you know. Do you think Snape meddled with it?" Lupin sighed and nodded.
"I'll speak with him." Actually, throttle him was more like it.
Silence fell over them. Rosaleen couldn't help but wonder what Lupin had dreamed of. He seemed more disturbed than she had woken up. She reached for his hand to calm him, but when her fingers grazed his, he pulled away. Rosaleen looked at him in shock and whispered.
"You're afraid of me." It was unlike him to do something like that. Lupin sighed and shook his head.
"No, I'm not. It's just that I'm feeling odd. My dream, it was too real..." Before Lupin could finish, Rosaleen's eyes widened with realization.
"You dreamed about me, didn't you?" Lupin ran a hand through his hair. He was perplexed.
"I...well...yes. I did." Lupin managed to finish. Rosaleen's eyes burned through him. Did he dream about her and Snape? Or was it something else?
"What happened, Remus? If it involved me, please let me set your mind to rest." Lupin looked to her; she was trying to help him. Rosaleen's sad eyes pleaded with him and he relented.
"You died, Rosaleen." She smiled ironically and shook her head.
"I died a long time ago, Remus. What I am living now is more of a half- life or a shadow. Collinwood turned me into a shameful creature and I damned my own soul forever by feeding on my first victim. So therefore, it cannot be true." She gave him an odd grin, he could see her pointed fangs poking out discreetly.
Lupin knew that she was right. He sat forward and told her the most disturbing aspect of the dream.
"In the dream, I killed you." Rosaleen looked taken aback and shook her head.
"Did you kill me with a wooden steak through the heart? Did you cut off my head? Throw me out in the sunlight? Drown me in holy water or set me alight?" Lupin shook his head.
"No."
"Then it didn't kill me. You didn't kill me, Remus. I know that you would never do anything like that. Though, I must say that I deserve it." Lupin looked shocked by her words and countered.
"You don't deserve it at all, Rosaleen." She grew serious and felt a wall inside of herself fall down.
"I have done horrible things. I was not always under control. I was a vampire in the truest and fullest sense of the word." Lupin had a hard time imagining it, but he knew that she was telling the truth. Rosaleen gave him an ashamed half-smile.
"Collinwood wanted me to join him, to be one of his brides. He had already gathered five in his harem. Women, in such circumstances, usually follow their sire and aid him?" Lupin tried not to grimace at the terms 'brides' and 'harem'.
"Why did he want you, Rosaleen? Why did you not follow him?" Lupin cringed at the realization of what he just said. Of course, he knew why Collinwood wanted her. She was young and lovely and a witch. Rosaleen shrugged and answered.
"I was a true witch, he knew that. He overpowered me at the beginning, but he didn't count on me overpowering him after I turned. Now, I am more powerful than he and his brides combined. I hunt him and now he flees. I suspect that is why he is working for Voldemort. The Dark Lord is promising him more power if he, in turn, helps him in his quest for immortality. Then he will have to run from me no longer." The corners of Rosaleen's lips turned downward. She looked perturbed.
Lupin sighed, he was ashamed for pulling away from her. However, he did know that some dreams held truths.
"We'll find him, Rosaleen, before anything of that nature happens. As for Knockturn Alley, I will accompany you tomorrow night."
A/N: Next up, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny talk to Lupin. Lupin confronts Snape. Snape and Rosaleen have a brief encounter and Lupin accompanies Rosaleen to Knockturn Alley.
Please Read and Review!
To The Lost Duck: Glad you're back! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
To Erlina Elf: Harry's here! I think Hermione will find out soon, but will make an accord with Rosaleen. I love the name Rosaleen, too. As soon as I watched The Company of Wolves, this story glued. The film is a twisted fairytale about werewolves and a take off of Little Red Riding Hood. Of course my Rosaleen is a vampire and a witch and a blonde. The girl in the film is a teenager and a brunette. I just thought it was inspiring considering the relationship with Remus. Keep reading!
To Fallen Angel of Hell: There will be delays with Rosaleen and Remus, now that he had the dream and he's scared that he will hurt her. Of course, Rosaleen is not quite at the "more-than-friends" point with Remus, though she trusts him and cares for him very much. Snape on the other hand is COMPLETELY a lust issue. He and Rosaleen share the same darkness. Stay tuned and thanks for the reviews!
To Miria: There will be plenty of Snape to come! Mark my words! Rosaleen and I have become very close, though I look nothing like her. She's my more morose side in human form. There is a constant battle inside her between guilt, vengeance and hope. Thank you for the lovely review. Please keep reading and reviewing!
To Loopy: I am glad that you enjoyed this story! I hope that I continue to keep you interested. I am holding off the romance between Rosaleen and Lupin, now that he dreamed that he hurt her he is more hesitant, but he still cares for her deeply and there is a lot of longing. I don't try to write Mary-Sue's, but if it happens, it happens. At least Rosaleen is not a run-of-the-mill Mary-Sue :-)! Please stay tuned and write again!
To Kimipeli R. Lupin: Hold on to your seat, 'cause it's all downhill from here! I am glad you are back and I hope that you continue to read and review! SO much more is about to happen!
To Angel of Harlem: Another dream for you, and this one was WAY more twisted! I read The Blue Cloak you have a knack for the twisted dreams! Anyway, Rosaleen isn't really weary of handsome men, she is more distrusting of them than anything. Thanks to Heathcliff Collinwood, who we will soon see more of! Please write soon! Oh, and Halla will be naming her babies in the next chapter! Love ya!
P.S. The song at the beginning of the chapter is the title track from Kate Bush's 1985 album. She is an enchanting and an intoxicating songwriter. Very original. If any of you are interested in what I listen to while I write this story, you can go to Amazon's site and type in Kate Bush under Popular Music and then listen to snippets of the songs and the album. Other songs that have been used for titles are "Hounds of Love", "And Dream of Sheep" and of course the song "Waking the Witch" that inspired the title of this story. If you can, listen to "The Big Sky" and "Jig of Life." I hope that enough of you are interested enough to give her a chance. The album is a masterpiece!
Love,
Leah P!