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 Eleven: As We Say Our Long Goodbye
"And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do"
–Snow Patrol, "Run"
The next morning, anxiety and guilt played at Rosaleen's very nerves. By the next evening, she and the teenagers that were staying at Grimmauld Place would be at Hogwarts. She had to resolve it, she had to find a way to make peace with Lupin.
She dressed in black pinstriped slacks and a fitted green dress shirt and twisted the sides of her hair away from her face, but allowed it to fall it's full length down her back. Impending doom bubbled up in her stomach as she looked around her small room. Rosaleen had packed her trunk the night before when she arrived back to the musty old house. By tomorrow night, she would be at her new job and in a new environment.
Rosaleen made her way downstairs and as she reached the kitchen, she saw that the entire population of the house sat at the table along with Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebot. Everyone looked up at her and smiled with the exception of Remus Lupin. She smiled sheepishly in return, feeling a little embarrassed that she had been late to breakfast. She took the empty seat between Harry and Mrs. Weasley, the latter of which jumped up immediately and began to bustle around the kitchen to prepare her a plate.
"What would you like for breakfast, dear? We have a bit of everything." Rosaleen smiled at Mrs. Weasley, knowing that she would miss her maternal instinct very much when she was at Hogwarts.
"Toast and tea would be lovely." Rosaleen looked around the table and finally studied Lupin carefully. He avoided her eyes at every turn and continued speaking with Tonks, Kingsley and Mr. Weasley about the Ministry of Magic and the rumors that Cornelius Fudge would soon be stepping down from his position due to increasing pressure from the announcement that the Dark Lord had indeed risen.
Mrs. Weasley placed Rosaleen's tea and toast in front of her and then sat down again. Rosaleen felt Hermione look in her direction and watched closely as Rosaleen stirred her tea and took a sip. After many moments of silence on Rosaleen's behalf, Mr. Weasley turned to her and smiled.
"How are you feeling about leaving tomorrow?" Rosaleen smiled at Mr. Weasley and shrugged. She just hoped that everyone liked her and that she could teach her students well.
"Good. I'm nervous and excited at all the same time." Mrs. Weasley patted her hand and gave her a motherly grin.
"You'll do fine, dear. The students will take to you wonderfully." Rosaleen nodded and sipped her tea again.
"I hope so, I suppose I am more worried about the Dark Arts class than the Charms class and being the head of Ravenclaw more than anything." She felt Lupin look her way, his shoulders slouched slightly. She did not meet his eyes, for she knew that he would just turn away. Tonks spoke up gingerly, her hair was shoulder-length and cherry-red at the moment.
"Don't let them know you're worried, or they'll know. Go in there with confidence." Harry fidgeted in his seat with what Tonks said. He knew exactly what she meant. Some of the students like Draco Malfoy and most of the Slytherins would know. He hoped that Professor Jasper would find her footing quickly, he didn't think he could stand to see another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher go and have someone like Dolores Umbridge again.
Rosaleen felt Hermione looking at her again, particularly her mouth. She sent the girl a small smile and wondered what she was up to. Hermione acted like she knew something or she was on the case of finding something out. As Rosaleen turned around, she wondered what she would say to Hermione Granger that would convince her that she was in no danger, that Rosaleen would rather be tortured again for a hundred years before she would ever harm anyone at this kitchen table.
After breakfast, Rosaleen helped Mrs. Weasley clear the table as the others retreated elsewhere in the house. As they stood elbow to elbow by the sink, Mrs. Weasley spoke lowly to her.
"There's been a meeting called for tonight, Dumbledore thought that it would be good before the school term begins." Rosaleen rinsed off a dish and nodded, it would be a good idea, so she knew just exactly what she was stepping into.
After the dishes were done, Rosaleen went to her room and thanked heaven that there was a meeting that night, so she did not even feel tempted to take Snape up on his offer. She sat down on her bed beside Persephone's tiny slumbering form and scooped the kitten onto her lap.
Rosaleen knew what happened the night before inside the Leaky Cauldron was a mistake, a momentary lapse of reason. She hated herself for allowing it to occur. Nothing could come of it and she would not let herself fall in such a predicament again.
For the rest of the afternoon, Rosaleen sought refuge by the fire in the study and knew that she and Lupin would be playing a world class game of avoidance for the rest of the time that she would be at Number 12. With Persephone purring softly in the crook of her arm, Rosaleen dug into a theory book about defense magic and then finished off the last few chapters of Hogwarts, A History and made little mental notes along the way.
Insecurities nipped at her as she read, it was one thing to defend oneself, but it was another to teach others how to do so. Could she possibly succeed in this field? Persephone stirred and gave a little yawn beside her as the door to the study opened gently. Rosaleen peeked around the side of the chair and saw that Harry Potter stepped in and didn't seem to notice her sitting by the fire.
"Hello Harry." She called to him lightly and dropped the book she was reading onto her lap and made Persephone jump a little as the book made a tiny thud beside her. Harry looked in her direction and smiled faintly, he was not expecting to find Professor Jasper there.
She looked older, sitting beside the fire. Her skin was pale, even when being warmed by the hearth and there was a hint of complete weariness written on her features. She patted the empty armchair beside her own and motioned for him to sit down.
As Harry sat down, she spoke up rather non-chalantly, "Don't tell anyone Harry, but I am mortified about the beginning of the term. More so than I probably let on. I have never taught anyone before. I never really went to a proper wizarding school, my father taught me most of what I know and I have been doing it so long that I think that I will have a hard time explaining it to the students."
Harry sighed, he had felt the same way last year when Hermione devised the idea for the secret defense lessons when Dolores Umbridge had refused to have them do little more than read chapters in a book while in her Defense Against the Dark Arts Class.
"I find that it is easier to learn in a hands-on lesson than being bogged down with theories. That way you have the students attention from the very beginning, however, Professor Lupin used a healthy dose of both."
Rosaleen thought about what Harry had just said, and realized that he was probably right. She sighed thickly and nodded. Lupin had told her about Harry's experiences with Lord Voldemort when they had been discussing lesson plans one afternoon. She knew that he had seen much and come through it strongly. Perhaps it would do her well to take his advice. Silence tore through the study and Harry finally got up the nerve to speak up.
"Professor Jasper? Are your parents still alive?" Rosaleen shook her head negatively and petted Persephone as she stretched.
"No, my parents were murdered some time ago. But I found them, lying on the floor." Harry watched her carefully as she got a far away look in her eyes.
"Was it an unforgivable curse?" Rosaleen turned to him, finally free of reliving the memory that had haunted her for more than two hundred years.
"No. It wasn't magic that killed them at all. Their throats were ripped out by a vampire." She wanted to raise her hand to her lips after the words slipped out. Had she said too much?
Of course she had.
However she tried to play it off as such things as vampires were no big secret for her and patted Persephone lightly as the both of them sat by the fire in silence.
Thought's raced through Harry's head. Professor Jasper had quite an interesting history and he could tell that she did not mean to tell him certain things about herself. It had been days since he saw her in the presence of Professor Lupin and since her arrival, seeing them separate from each other was an odd thing indeed.
Earlier that day, Hermione had come to Harry, Ron and Ginny once more with the suspicion that Professor Jasper was not all that she seemed. Since then, Hermione had been delving into books and information and refusing to tell them anymore until she had evidence to prove her inklings. Hermione had rarely been wrong about these sorts of things and Harry was inclined to wait and see what she turned up. Rosaleen sighed and issued a small smile to the young man, though before she had a chance to speak the door to the study swung open to reveal Arthur and Molly Weasley, Tonks, Kingsley and Mad-Eye Moody in the doorjamb.
The meeting for the Order was getting ready to begin. Mrs. Weasley took Harry by the arm and ushered him of briskly, promising him that dinner would be ready once the meeting had adjourned. Moody's eye rolled in his socket, searching the room. Rosaleen sat back in her chair, awaiting the moment that both Lupin and Snape would be in the room with her and she felt the bitter sting of awkwardness in her belly.
Minerva McGonagall was the next to arrive and she looked around the room with a steely glance. Rosaleen could not help but sit there in silence and dread what was to come of her foolishness. She knew better than to play around with the delicate lives of mortals and it was time for her girlish errors to come to an end.
Finally, Lupin walked through the doorway. Rosaleen observed his kind, yet weary face, the familiar slump of his shoulders and the speckles of gray in his tawny hair. It was impossible, Rosaleen reminded herself, given the state of things that they could ever be anything more than friends and anything less than a professional relationship. As Lupin spoke to Professor McGonagall, his eyes drifted over to her and they stole a glance at one another. This time, however, it was Rosaleen who turned away and stared into the fire.
Before Rosaleen could be consumed by the feelings of rejection, Dumbledore appeared in the room with Snape close at his heels. The meeting was soon to be called to order, but Rosaleen was internally climbing the walls and felt suffocated by the present situation. She was indeed a stupid creature for getting herself into her current position.
She ignored Snape's furtive glares in her direction, though she felt them fully. What had gotten into her the night before? What could she possibly had been thinking? After everything, now she knew she must suffer the consequences. The raging in her mind continued until Albus Dumbledore drew the meeting to Order.
"As we all know, the term begins tomorrow at Hogwarts and all who will find themselves there will need to be the utmost vigilant. The war has begun, and most of you will be on guard every day in one form or another. With that being said, I believe that Alastor Moody has news concerning the activities of the Death Eaters and other persons of interest."
Rosaleen watched raptly as Moody took the floor. Her gut instinct told her exactly what Dumbledore meant by "persons of interest." Moody ambled to the center of the room and spoke rather gruffly.
"Our men and women in the field have obtained information regarding the enigmatic Heathcliff Collinwood. It seems that he has made many appearances in London, Paris and other European cities for the past two months. Brazen behavior, if you ask me. Flaunting about like a dandy, he is. He has been spotted near a shop in Knockturn Alley twice, as well as at operas in both London and in Paris..."
Rosaleen did her best not to laugh out loud in disgust. Collinwood had always been amongst the old-world, decadent vampires. On one of her many hunts for him, she encountered an Austrian opera ingenue that he had entered into his harem. Annoying little nit gave Rosaleen one of the longest fights ever in a café kitchen, before the latter speared her foe cleanly through the heart with the splintered end of a wooden spoon. She shook the thought from her head and focused once again on Moody, who seemed to know that she was lost in thought and that he did not have her full attention.
"Collinwood has also been sighted with a woman who fits the description of Bellatrix Lestrange. The shopkeeper in Knockturn Alley also alluded that Collinwood seemed keen on asking questions about a long-thought dead family, the MacDuff's of Scotland..."
Rosaleen felt her stomach drop at the sound of her father's clan. Collinwood was not only working with Lord Voldemort, but he also seemed intent on dragging her personal life into the equation as well. Rosaleen shifted in her seat and listened as Moody continued.
"He especially seemed interested in the only known living member of the family, Maleficent MacDuff, who has publically resurfaced after she learned that her son Martin and his muggle wife produced a child sometime after he immigrated to the colonies around 1666. Maleficent herself is over 390 years old and she feels quite sure that she will meet her end soon. If an heir from her son's line exists, she wishes to bestow her inheritance on them. This, is something that Collinwood seems highly interested in–the inheritance."
Rosaleen felt the violent rattle of confusion and rage in the pit of her belly. Maleficent MacDuff was her father's mother and her grandmother. She had always thought that all of the members of her clan were long dead. Whatever the inheritance was, it was rightfully hers and Collinwood seemed poised to take it. Before Rosaleen knew what she was doing, she blurted out.
"What is the inheritance? Are there any leads?"
She felt all eyes in the room focused in on her, and she tried to hide the desperate look of anger on her face. Collinwood was up to something that reeked of trying to trap her. Moody's eye rolled around and brought her into focus.
"No Jasper, we haven't any leads yet on the nature of the inheritance. But we will soon. Tell me, does any of this ring a bell?"
Rosaleen clenched her fists. No, none of it rang a bell. But it did have to do with her family; her inheritance. She was never made aware that any of her family still existed, she would have thought that Father McCarthy and the others at St. Marina's would have had access to such information. She would've thought that she, in all of her travels, would have uncovered some clues that would eventually lead her on the path of discovery. But no, Heathcliff Collinwood had brought it to her attention.
"I'm sorry, but this is the first that I have heard of it. However, it doesn't truly surprise me that Collinwood would be involved in such a scheme. He has always been of the epicurean sort. Fine wines, lust for power, the opera, art, the blood of artists, musicians and his favorite–well bred young women. He's the type of vampire that you read of in books. He has a harem of females that not only do his bidding, but share in all of his lavish pastimes. Last time I encountered him, which was little over two years ago, he traveled with thirteen of them. Collinwood is materialistic, he wants to possess and to own all sorts of things to add to his collection. He is not one to merely feed on or kill his victims. He enjoys toying with them, possessing some parts of their being and seducing them. Whatever this inheritance is, he is not planning on sharing it. He wants it for himself."
She looked around the room, all of the faces she saw looked thoughtful and tensed. McGonagall shook her head negatively and sighed before she spoke.
"But if Collinwood is indeed working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, then he will never allow Collinwood to do such a thing. He only rewards those who prove to be faithful, and even so it is never justly. The MacDuff's were one of the most extensive pureblood families up until the 1800's. It is said that feuding amongst the family members led to many of their deaths. Maleficent MacDuff as matriarch was said to have great and terrible power. Who knows what she is to bestow on this heir...or even worse on Collinwood or his new employer."
Thoughts racked Rosaleen's brain. This is not exactly what she had thought the meeting was going to be about. She thought that it would be about getting the order up to snuff as the children went back to school for the beginning of term. She thought that perhaps Dumbledore would shed a little more light on what to expect as she took up residence at the castle. The headmaster looked on, seemingly unfazed by the revelations that had unfolded by the study fireplace and finally spoke up.
"While we have cause to worry, I must say that a perfect window of opportunity has arisen. With the help of our wizards and witches in the field and from the mouth of our own Professor Jasper, we have unveiled one of Heathcliff Collinwood's weaknesses."
"Wealth?" Snape offered. Professor Dumbledore shook his head.
"Well-bred young women?" Mrs. Weasley shrugged. Once again, Dumbledore shook his head.
"No, it's the Opera." Lupin tossed a glance in Rosaleen's general direction. Dumbledore finally nodded in agreement.
"That's right, Remus. If Collinwood does so happen to have such a passion for it, then it will be the perfect place to position members of the Order. Tonks, Professor Jasper and Professor Lupin, I should think. There will be many muggles there so it will be necessary to blend in. Alastor, assemble those who gained the information on Collinwood and ask them to pay special attention to details of where he goes and when. Any talk of any Opera and we will summon you three to go there. I think that this is quite enough for tonight. We all have a big day tomorrow and we all need the appropriate rest for such an undertaking."
As the meeting came to an end, Molly Weasley herded most of the meeting members downstairs and into the kitchen for the evening meal. As Rosaleen collected her books and clutched Persephone to her chest, she was stopped by the black-clad figure of Severus Snape, who looked down at her in a cold manner. He waited until the footsteps were out of earshot and spoke lowly.
"Have you given any thought to what I said last night?" Rosaleen shook her head. She had thought about it indeed. She beat herself up over what happened the night before and sighed thickly.
"I fear, Professor Snape, that last night was a mistake and that it would be detrimental to our working relationship if anything more were to happen. Besides, you and I don't even get along."
Snape crossed his arms across his chest. No, they did not get along. Yet, something about Professor Rosaleen Jasper reminded him of himself. It was the darkness that followed her around like her shadow and the coldness in the feel of her skin.
"Very well, then, Professor Jasper. I assume we will cross paths tomorrow night at the start of term feast." His voice was sharp and menacing and then he spun on his heel and through the door of the study. Rosaleen thought that the encounter was almost too easy and expected much more from Potions Master by way of verbal sparring.
Rosaleen skipped dinner with the rest of the household, though she ultimately regretted it since it was the last night that she would spend in Grimmauld Place. The musty old house, as dilapidated and dirty as it was; was alive with the closest thing that Rosaleen could relate to a family. As Persephone napped on her bed, Rosaleen heated a mug of the blood that she and Lupin had obtained at Knockturn Alley with her wand. As she drank, she thought of how a pulse felt beneath her lips. When she thought about things of that nature, like opening veins and the steady rhythms of the mortal heartbeat as it slowed to a halt–she would pick up her rosary and pray until the crucifix left a dark indentions in the palms of her hands.
All in all she was still a beast, but now at least she was a trained one.
Once Father McCarthy told her that if she were to kill her sire, that she would be freed of her curse. What the Father didn't know was if there was any truth to the myth. If she killed Heathcliff Collinwood, she would have sought vengeance for her parents murders as well as the centuries of darkness, in a way she would be freed. If she killed him, she may die too and finally be delivered to a long-deserved rest, that too was a form of freedom. The most hopeful thought, however, was that if she emerged victorious from her battle with Collinwood, that she would be released of the curse all together and would become mortal once again.
Rosaleen took another sip from her mug and scolded herself. The latter hope was highly unlikely.
She delved into her thoughts about her grandmother. Was McGonagall right? Was Maleficent MacDuff the owner of great and terrible power? And what of this inheritance? Would it actually be something that she would want to possess?
Collinwood seemed interested in it, so therefore she was intrigued.
Remus Lupin shot out of his sleep, horrific visions danced through his head. Yet more of Rosaleen's memories had reared their haunting head in his slumber. Cold sweat clung at him and he ran a hand through his hair and fought the urge to go and ask her what it all meant. He laid back in his bed, eyes wide and wild. At this rate he would never sleep again.
Lupin could not sleep until he knew. Quietly, he padded to Rosaleen's room, knocked gently twice, though there was no answer. Finally, he turned the knob and peeked into the dark room to find Rosaleen and her kitten warm and comfortably asleep in her bed. He stood in the doorway and looked on. She looked peaceful. For the very first time since he had met her, she looked at ease.
Her long hair draped across the pillow, the white shocks even evident in the dark. She stirred slightly and her eyelids parted in the dim light from the hallway. Before he could turn and leave, Rosaleen shot up from her bed with her wand at the ready and pointed at him. Lupin threw his hands up in surrender and Rosaleen focused in on him.
"Remus? What's wrong?" Lupin motioned for her to lower her wand and she did so quickly.
"Forgive me, Rosaleen. I did not mean to wake you. I had another dream...another memory of yours." Rosaleen's expression softened and lit the candle by her bed with a wave of her hand. He looked shaken to the core.
"By all means. Tell me which one." Lupin pulled up the chair from her desk and sat in it wearily.
"You...and a dead family...your teeth and eyes..."
Rosaleen knew immediately what he was speaking of.
"That was right before I was captured. One of my little rampages that I have told you about. I fed on them. During times like that, or when I am in a fight–I change, much like you do. Yellow eyes, very long and sharp teeth. I told you I was a monster, Remus. Now I have become well learned on how to keep my monstrous side under control and I seek forgiveness for the things that I have done."
She could tell that it had scared him. She had nightmares about it so many times before, that she knew the feeling. She looked at him carefully, she felt the slightest bit vulnerable sharing her memories in such a manner. Rosaleen reached over to her night table and pulled out the tall flask that Snape had filled with the sleeping draught.
"Here. Professor Snape remade the potion. I took some tonight and there are no effects like the last time. Take it. I will have him make more for me tomorrow." She reached out the bottle to him and he took it carefully. He looked flustered and nodded and then prepared to speak again.
"There was another. Men and women being hanged. You watched from the forest." Rosaleen sighed thickly and remembered after Collinwood had introduced her into the life of a vampire, the Salem Witch Trials had taken place and she watched as innocent muggle men and women were put to death.
"Thou shall not suffer a witch to live. That was the feeling in those days, in early Puritanical America. That was the aftermath of the Trials, Remus. I was just turned by Collinwood, while I knew what was going on, I did nothing to stop it. The bloodlust drove me not to care. What you saw was yet another on my list of regrets. I could've helped them if I would have been in the right state of mind. They were all innocents."
Rosaleen looked down at her hands and Persephone mewed unhappily as her slumber was being disturbed. Lupin was silent for quite some time and she did not enjoy the feeling and sound of silence.
"Are you frightened of me now? More so than you already are?" Rosaleen continued to look down, but heard a exhausted sigh coming from his direction.
"I am not frightened of you, Rosaleen. It's just that I had no idea of what had happened. It's like you said, we have to learn to keep our monsters in check. I do the same, I take a wolfsbane potion to head off the violent creature underneath." Rosaleen looked up at him and saw that he was honest in his words.
"Yes, but you are not a murderer like I am. You haven't killed innocent people, now have you Remus?" There was almost an accusing look in her eyes that he could not decipher with his own.
"No, I haven't." He didn't know what else to say. Her eyes softened a bit and then she sighed in a tired manner.
"I'm sorry, Remus, that you have been seeing my memories. Trust me and take the potion. It will help. We have a big day tomorrow. You should get to bed." Lupin cast a glance at her. Their relationship had become distanced but still friendly. He blamed himself for that.
He rose to his feet, bid her goodnight and shut her door behind him. He was a fool and now he had to live with his choice; a choice that he still stood behind for the most part. He took a swig of the potion as he padded his way back to his room, tomorrow would indeed be a long day. Most of all it would be a day of goodbyes.
Rosaleen scanned her small room for one last time. By that evening she would be sleeping in a different bed and home for the next nine months. Rosaleen pointed her wand to her trunk and muttered.
"Reducio."
After her trunk shrunk, she picked it up and placed it in her jacket pocket along with her shrunken jugs of blood. For the train journey she had chosen to wear her pinstriped pants, white dress shirt and dove-gray sweater vest along with her waistcoat. She had tied her hair back into a loose knot, picked up Persephone's travel case along with her small shoulder bag full of books and the robes she would change into before they reached the school.
Rosaleen made her way downstairs and saw that the kitchen was in near chaos. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry had all of their trunks stacked on top of each other along with Harry's owl, Hedwig and Crookshanks who looked unhappy in his traveling case. Mrs. Weasley had them all sitting at the table having breakfast even though they were dangerously close to being late. Mrs. Weasley caught sight of Rosaleen and smiled brightly.
"Ah, there she is! Rosaleen dear, what can I make you?" Rosaleen smiled but only shook her head.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Shouldn't we be leaving soon?"Mrs. Weasley chuckled and patted her cheek.
"We're doing well this morning. Besides, Moody and Tonks have not arrived yet. Now what would you like to eat?" Rosaleen relented and shrugged.
"Tea and toast will be fine." Rosaleen set down her bag and Persephone and took the empty chair next to Ron. As sad as it would be to leave Grimmauld Place, there was this rising sensation inside of her. She couldn't help but feel that she wanted to leave and get it over with. All the anticipation was really getting to her.
No sooner did she sit down than Moody and Tonks breezed into the kitchen entry way. Moody's eye wheeled around in it's socket. He didn't look very pleased, yet again, with Moody sometimes it was hard to tell.
"There's no time for cooking, Molly! If we're to make it to King's Cross on time, we must be off immediately"
The following minutes became a manic rush as the teenagers and Rosaleen picked up their baggage and animals, Mrs. Weasley cleared the table and cleaned the dishes with a swish of her wand and Mr. Weasley and Lupin joined the others for the departure to the train station.
Lupin felt better than he had in days. The potion that Snape had made for Rosaleen had not only given him a peaceful night's sleep; but also left him feeling refreshed and energized. He looked to Rosaleen, who was carrying Persephone's case and her shoulder bag. She gave him a small smile once she caught his eye and he walked over to her.
"Do you have everything? Where's your trunk?" Rosaleen patted her interior coat pocket and nodded.
"It's right here, along with more breakable objects." Lupin smiled and caught her meaning.
"Do you need me to carry anything?" Rosaleen shook her head negatively. Lupin was in a good mood, one of the best moods that she had seen him in since before she had taken the first batch of potion.
"I believe that I have everything under control, but thanks for offering. Did you sleep well?" Lupin nodded and stuffed his hands in his coat and lowered his voice.
"Yes, I did. Are you sure about not taking the potion with you?" Rosaleen took her chance to nod.
"I'm sure. I'll ask Snape to make some more. Though I doubt he will be happy to do it." Lupin smiled, he knew what she meant.
Suddenly, Moody called the group to order. He wore a fedora on his head and covered his eye. Tonks stood beside him, she had changed her looks to incorporate long, brown hair in a braid and wearing a tailored business suit.
"We'll be taking a portkey to Diagon Alley and then muggle cabs from there to King's Cross Station. Everyone on their best behavior and try to blend in. Arthur, may I suggest that you surrender the muggle currency to Harry, Hermione and Professor Jasper so there will be no problems when paying for our transportation?" Mr. Weasley looked taken a back and a little embarrassed , but nodded and handed a wad of bills to Rosaleen.
She smiled and counted, seeing that there were six ten pound notes in her hand. Rosaleen handed one ten pound note to Harry and Hermione and then kept one for herself. She tapped Mr. Weasley on the shoulder and handed him the two remaining notes.
"Ten pounds should be enough for each cab. But I think you should keep the rest in case I am wrong." Rosaleen smiled broadly and Mr. Weasley looked happy with the fact that she had intrusted him with a role. After the money was distributed, Moody continued with the plan.
"Harry, Hermione and Professor Jasper will ride in separate cabs. Along with them, there should be one member of the guard. In one cab, there will be Professor Jasper, Ginny and Tonks; in the second cab it will be Harry, Lupin, Arthur and Ron Weasley; and I shall go with Hermione and Molly." With that being said, Moody produced a frying pan from his robe and issued everyone a crooked smile.
"Dumbledore gave this to me this morning. Made sure no one knew about it. It should drop us right beside the Leaky Cauldron. Group that is in the first cab should go first." Rosaleen shifted Persephone to the same side as her shoulder bag and walked up to the front with Ginny and stood beside Tonks.
As they all reached out to touch the pan, they were transported dizzily to the very same alley way in which Rosaleen encountered Snape outside the Leaky Cauldron. Rosaleen looked around to Ginny and Tonks and they all leaned against the wall and waited for the other two groups to arrive.
Rosaleen peeked out into the activity of the street. Business seemed steady all along Diagon Alley, but it was not booming as it was the first time that she ever visited the shopping district. When everyone had arrived, Moody lead them briskly through the Leaky Cauldron and through the front entrance, where Rosaleen noted that they stood on the streets of muggle London.
Moody adjusted his fedora and waved them on as they followed him up the street. Rosaleen heard Persephone crying faintly, obviously not happy that they were moving so briskly. Rosaleen kept her eyes roaming around them, keen on the lookout for anything that may be unusual, or more unusual than the group of people she was a part of.
As they neared a street corner, Rosaleen saw that Tonks had sprinted ahead and stopped a cab, while Moody and Lupin were flagging down two others. Rosaleen and Ginny loaded their luggage into the cab that Tonks was holding. Before she got in, she looked behind them and saw that the others were also preparing to leave.
Lupin looked up before he himself stepped into the automobile and briefly met Rosaleen's green-yellow eyes. A faint smile pulled at her lips and she gave him a nod and took her place inside the cab beside Ginny. Lupin took his seat beside Harry and thought of the empty days at Grimmauld Place that were yet to come.
As the cab pulled off to the train station, Rosaleen felt the slightest bit weak and tired from being out in the light. The sun was not even out that day, though the weather was dry and overcast. The charm allowed her to go about at times other than the night, but it was hard on her eyes. Being a primarily nocturnal creature, her eyes were sharp and powerful in the dark. They were so sensitive that the sun made them sting; which could ultimately make her vulnerable to enemies during the day.
The ride to King's Cross was a silent one. Rosaleen was consumed in her own thoughts about the days to come. Mostly, she was anxious to be settled in at Hogwarts castle and at the same time she was sad to leave Grimmauld Place. She would miss Lupin, even though they had become distant. No matter the situation, she enjoyed his company. He was the first real friend outside of the monastery that she had in over 300 years.
She was excited to get to work teaching and finally experiencing everything that she had read about in the books that Lupin had let her borrow. A little fear remained that the students would be frightened of her or that she wouldn't live up to the expectations that Dumbledore and the others had for her.
The cab driver's voice broke her from her reverie. They had arrived at the station just in time. Ginny and Tonks waited outside of the station for the other cabs while Rosaleen paid the driver.
When she turned around she saw that the other two cabs had arrived and the rest of the group filed out of them. Moody checked the time, saw it was half past ten and then he gave them a twisted smile of approval.
"Well done. As we enter the station, stick together. Keep on the lookout and blend in. Constant vigilance!" Rosaleen nodded and smiled. She rather enjoyed Moody's gruff yet idiosyncratic personality.
Rosaleen flanked Harry's left side as Ron and Lupin flanked the right. The train station was booming and people hurried in all different directions. As they approached the space between platforms nine and ten, she watched as Molly and Arthur Weasley met a hurried pace and walked through the barrier.
It was a strange sight, indeed to see a large group of people trying to look inconspicuous to run through a solid barrier. Rosaleen and Moody were the last to go through. Moody bid her to go first and she readied herself by gripping onto Persephone's case and then securing her shoulder bag. As she took off into the barrier, she found herself on a new platform and confronted with a bright red steam engine bearing the moniker of the Hogwarts Express.
She felt a hand on her wrist as it pulled her to where the others stood. Mrs. Weasley straightened Rosaleen's jacket collar and looked the slightest bit bleary-eyed. She reached up and patted Rosaleen's cheek and drew in a heavy sigh.
"It's been wonderful getting to know you, dear. I have faith that you will keep an eye on Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione, even though they are not in your house. Please keep in touch, you can send an owl to the Burrow. Make sure you eat well and get some color into those cheeks. I'll see you at the next meeting."
Rosaleen smiled at Mrs. Weasley and placed Persephone gently on the ground so she could embrace the closest thing that she had to a mother. She heard Mrs. Weasley's breathing hitch and she squeezed Rosaleen tightly.
"Thank you. I promise I'll write." Rosaleen spoke lowly. She too was getting somewhat emotional.
She shook Mr. Weasley's hand and bid farewell to Moody. She and Tonks spoke for a few moments about what to wear to the Opera. They both seemed intrigued by the idea of going undercover. As Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny said their farewells and boarded the train, Rosaleen made her way to Lupin.
He stood with his hands in his jacket pockets with a very undefinable look on his face. Rosaleen sighed and looked away, afraid of what she was about to say. It all made her feel too exposed.
Lupin could tell that Rosaleen was conflicted with what to say, for he very much felt the same way. He would not see her everyday. Even though the past few days had been rocky, it would be hard to go back to a life in which she was not around. She looked at him with those sad, age betraying eyes and opened her mouth to speak.
"You're the first real friend I've had in a long time, Remus. That is really important to me. You're really important to me and I'll miss you."
She looked away again, that had sounded jumbled and ridiculous. Surely she was more articulate than that?
Lupin smiled faintly and could not help but to take her hand in his. She turned her eyes to him and waited for him to speak. The moment felt like an eternity.
"I'll miss you as well. The house will feel empty, especially without you." He stopped suddenly, and wondered if this was the right time to say what was in his heart. Rosaleen put Persephone on the ground once again and dug in her pocket for a moment. Then she opened his hand and placed something warm and metallic in the palm.
He looked down and saw that it was her bracelet with the green jasper charm. He looked up at her with astonishment and she shrugged in return.
"I thought it would help chase away nightmares." Suddenly, the train let out a warning whistle. It was time to go. Rosaleen picked up Persephone and gave him one last look.
"Goodbye, Remus. I'll see you at meetings and for the Opera." Lupin nodded and watched as she walked away and called behind her.
"Until then, Rosaleen." He watched as she boarded the train and made her way into the passenger cars, finally settling in the same compartment as Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione.
Lupin fingered the bracelet in his hand. He was a prize fool. If he had any bravery in him, he would have embraced her for all to see. He would have told her everything he kept buried in his being.
The train gave one last call and finally began it's journey to Hogwarts. Lupin stood on the platform a few feet from the Weasleys, Tonks and Moody and watched as the familiar faces in the train's window waved to them. Rosaleen smiled along with the teenagers and then gave him one last solid nod.
When the train had passed them by, Lupin placed the bracelet in his pocket and released a rather heavy sigh. Mrs. Weasley took him by the arm and patted his back.
"She'll be back, Remus. I'm sure she's feeling the same way about you." Lupin nodded and wanted to chuckle. It was hard to hide anything from Molly Weasley.
A/N: I hope everyone enjoys this super-sized chapter! Next up: Rosaleen and the teenagers on the Hogwarts Express, the start of term feast, an interesting reception as a new professor, Hermione overhears a conversation, investigating the MacDuff family, a sighting of Collinwood and the first day of classes.
Please Read and Review!
Love Ya!
Leah P!
To Lyta: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and that you are enjoying the triangle! Snape did not intend the dreams, but someone else may have...I'm not sure if the Malfoy's will find out. They may try to flatter her once they find out that Rosaleen is friends with Snape. She will be spending some time with him now that she is at Hogwarts. Truth is, I'm not sure what is going to happen until I am writing it! Thanks for the review! Hope to hear from you again!
To Miria: Rosaleen is on her way to Hogwarts! I cannot wait for her to get there! Thanks for the review, I can't wait to hear what you think!
To Astarael Undomiel: There will come a time when Remus will stop pushing Rosaleen away, I promise. He is beginning to realize what he has done and will come to regret it. Thank you for your loyalty! I have not read "Why do you Stare," but I will remember to do so! Thanks!
To Larka: I am glad that you were entertained! I am sorry that you found the talking to be out of character. Thanks for the review!
To Dianatyne: Snape ultimately can be trusted, however, he complicates things for Rosaleen and Remus. But it is the complication that makes the story worth the while! Thanks for your support!
To Erlina Elf: Here is the next chappie for you! I believe Remus will abandon his reasoning before long and will want Rosaleen more than anything. Until then there is the matter of Snape. I am happy to e-mail you! Much thanks!
To Angel of Harlem: It just may be an angsty love pentagon before long! Add in Collinwood and Sirius and viola! Haha. Anyway, I got the "U2 Show" coffee table book for Christmas! I love it! Don't worry, I won't leave Hallahiriel on the back of Owynvan's horse much longer. There will be a lovely action-packed chapter on the way with loads of Faramir and Boromir! I may end up entitling one of Rosaleen's chapters "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own." Love Ya!