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.
Author's Note: I have read HBP, and even though there are changes concerning main characters in the canon, I will not be including them into my story and I will finish it as I first dreamed it all up last summer.
Waking the Witch
by Leah Pensotti
Chapter Sixteen: How Soon Is Now?
"I am the son
and the heir
of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
how can you say
I go about things the wrong way
I am human and I need to be loved
just like everybody else does"
–The Smiths
"How Soon Is Now?"
Rosaleen arrived at Number Twelve the following afternoon carrying three large garment bags over her shoulder. As she carefully maneuvered past the portrait of Mrs. Black and into the kitchen. She caught sight of Tonks and Lupin sitting at the table having afternoon tea.
They looked surprised at the load she was carrying and quickly stood to greet her. Tonks had a little bit of a fearful grimace on her face, knowing exactly what was waiting for her inside the bags.
"What's all that, Jasper?" Tonks asked anyway.
"Muggle formal wear. Don't look so terrified, Tonks. Your dress is neither uncomfortable or embarrassing." Rosaleen winked and handed her one of the bags and Tonks took it with a look of apprehension on her features, then turned to go upstairs.
"And for you, sir, your tuxedo." Lupin took the bag from her and clutched onto the hanger.
"Thank you, Rosaleen, for getting the clothes."
"No problem at all. So what have we got to do?"
"Well, Tonks will be positioned on the floor and you and I shall be in the balcony. All of us have these." Lupin pulled out a set of gold-plated opera glasses.
Rosaleen took them from him gently, turning them over in her hands, "Are they bewitched?"
"Of course." Lupin smiled, "Highly sensitive for vision and they also display transcriptions–simply put, they read lips." Rosaleen smiled in return at the sheer ingenuity.
"That's very good. I suppose we'd better get dressed, we'll be late otherwise."
Lupin shook his head in agreement and they walked up the stairs to their respective quarters. Rosaleen surveyed her familiar room and basked in its musty comfort. It was nice to be back.
She unzipped the garment bag and revealed a thin-strapped, gauzy crimson evening gown and a matching floor-length coat that was tailored to the waist and had a high collar. After she put it on, she charmed her hair shorter in length and a deep brown-black in color. Rosaleen styled it in a refined twist at the nape of her neck and donned the garnet and pearl earrings that Father McCarthy had sent her.
For a finishing touch, she lined her eyes with black kohl and glossed her lips a sheer red. Along with her makeup, she packed in her handbag her wand, Father McCarthy's rosary, a wooden stake and muggle money. Rosaleen dotted a little French perfume on each wrist and behind her ears and then stepped into her silver heels.
Rosaleen felt her emotions overflowing and slowly turning into nervousness. As much as she longed to see Collinwood and capture him. At the same time, the prospect of Lupin and Tonks getting hurt became very real. She would do everything in her power to prevent it from happening.
She pulled on her coat, grabbed her hand bag and pushed the thoughts aside. Rosaleen walked down the stairs to find Tonks disguised with a short blonde bob and wearing the satin, navy gown that she had picked out earlier for her that day.
"Tonks! You look fantastic" Tonks looked a little bewildered and nodded.
"No one will ever recognize me in this get up." She acted mildly uncomfortable and Rosaleen handed her an oversized silver cross. Tonks looked down at it and then back to Rosaleen.
"I pray that we will not find ourselves in a situation where we will need to use it." Rosaleen tried not to wince at the feel of the cross left upon her palm and hoped that Tonks did not notice. Before she could worry any longer, she heard Lupin's footsteps on the stairs and turned to meet him. She could not help but smile at him; he was wearing the black tuxedo and overcoat with his hair neatly combed.
When Lupin finally emerged from upstairs, he barely recognized the two witches in front of him. Tonks he was used to changing appearances, but Rosaleen on the other hand, was a different story. The latter smiled at him and nodded approvingly.
"My Remus, you scrub up well." Her hair was dark, but her eyes sparkled the same yellow-green and blood-red stones and pearls dangled from her ears. He tried to respond in a witty way, but everything he considered sounded ridiculous.
"Thank you."
Tonks smiled, "Some things we should discuss before we leave...tickets..."
She produced three tickets and handed two to Lupin and kept one for herself, "You two in the balcony and I am on the floor. If you spot Collinwood, us the opera glasses to get my attention. I'll meet you both after the show. Keep your ears open for any news."
Rosaleen had no idea that the group was riding separately. Instead of looking terrified, she merely nodded. Tonks said her farewells, picked up her coat and made her way out of the house.
Lupin offered Rosaleen his arm and she smiled and accepted it. They made their way up the street and hailed a taxi to take them to the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. Once inside the taxi and on their way, Rosaleen slipped Father McCarthy's rosary into Lupin's hand. He looked down at the talisman and back at her. She merely smiled a mysterious smile and murmured, "For protection, just in case."
He placed the rosary in his inner tuxedo pocket, where Rosaleen's jasper bracelet already resided. Lupin looked at her and fought the urge to gush about how lovely she looked. Rosaleen had a different hair color, an extravagant gown and hints of makeup–but she still looked like her wide-eyed, sad self.
He had missed her, though he knew that she was doing well with the students and Hogwarts in general. She flashed him a smile tinged with nervousness.
"How are you feeling, Rosaleen?"
She shrugged and sighed, "I am worried about tonight. That Collinwood will show and that you and Tonks will see a different side of me. A side that I haven't encountered in nearly two years."
Lupin nodded; he understood. Before he could respond, the taxi came to a halt and Rosaleen paid the driver. Lupin stepped out of the taxi and walked to Rosaleen's side and helped her out of the automobile.
She clung to his arm when they walked through the doors. Rosaleen looked around her at all the muggle couples and families. That is how the other half lived. They dressed up and went to a show.
Rosaleen and Lupin checked their coats in the coatroom and climbed the stairs to the entrance of the balcony. Lupin handed the usher their tickets and he lead them to their seats, handed them programs and they sat.
She felt Lupin's eyes on her and turned to meet his glance. She smiled at him and wished she knew what he was thinking. Lupin felt the thoughts race around in his head, the sight of Rosaleen's bare neck and shoulders unnerved him. She was so pale, yet surprisingly sturdy-looking. He wanted to trail a bent finger down the slope of her neck, to her collarbone and to her shoulder.
Suddenly, Sirius's voice popped into his head, "Perhaps you should try it, Remus. Her reaction may surprise you."
Lupin stifled a sigh and instead looked down at the program the usher had given him and read the title around, "La Traviata."
Rosaleen looked at her own program and tried not to wince. Verdi's opera of star-crossed lovers; about which most great stories and operas are about, which translates into "the fallen woman." Yes, Rosaleen knew the opera well.
"Are you familiar with the story, Remus?" Rosaleen folded her hands in her lap and focused on the crowd. Lupin shook his head and negatively and answered in a soft tone.
"No, but I am looking forward to it. Have you seen it before?" Rosaleen nodded in response.
"Yes, I believe twice. You'll like it, standard opera fare with all the things that make a great story." She trailed off softly after taking notice of Tonks in the audience below.
"Rosaleen..." Lupin started and leaned towards her just as the house lights dimmed. She turned to meet him, their faces only inches apart, Lupin looked at her unwaveringly, "I wanted to tell you how lovely you look tonight and I..."
"Tonks." Rosaleen butted in gently.
"What?"
"Tonks–she's looking at us through her opera glasses." Lupin followed Rosaleen's eyes to where Tonks rested in the audience beneath them and saw that Rosaleen was right . He leaned back in his chair and the orchestra began the overture.
Rosaleen scanned the audience, looking for Collinwood's visage. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Lupin watching raptly as Alfredo sang his confession of love to Violeta. She turned her attention to the stage as well and watched as Violeta refused to make promises to Alfredo, but gave him a flower and told him to return when it withered.
Why did the opera have to be a tragedy? Why could it not be a comedy?
Lupin was completely taken in by the music, the story and the staging. When Violeta presented Alfredo with the flower, Lupin's hand instinctually shot to the pocket when Rosaleen's bracelet and rosary laid. Lupin stole a look at how she peered over the balcony and down at the audience.
Maybe Sirius was right, perhaps he should try.
As the lights came up for the intermission, Rosaleen let out a heavy sigh. There was no sign of Collinwood thus far. She turned to Lupin and saw that he had a strange look in his eye, one that she couldn't describe. He leaned over and took her hands in his.
"Rosaleen...the night we came back from Diagon Alley... I want to apologize..."
She looked down in the audience to see if Tonks was peering up with them, but she was mysteriously nowhere to be seen.
"You already did that Remus." Rosaleen shook her head sadly.
"No, I want to apologize for pushing you away. You're all I seem to think about." Lupin's expression softened and Rosaleen was tempted to continue, but she saw what they had come to find sitting a mere two boxes over.
Heathcliff Collinwood sat in his box in a black designer suit. He was accompanied by six of his brides, who preened and fawned over him–smoothing his suit and whispering in his ears. Rosaleen looked away from the sight and back to Lupin and his continuing apology.
"...And perhaps I was being hasty about the dreams and all..." Rosaleen sat safely behind Lupin and out of Collinwood's line of sight and put a hand to Lupin's lips.
"He's been beside us the whole time, Remus. I swear he wasn't there before the house lights went down. He must have arrived late...anyway, he is two boxes over." Rosaleen spoke in a hushed whisper. Lupin's face fell with the urgency of Rosaleen's news.
She looked calm, though he knew what brewed beneath the exterior, "Does he have any friends with him?"
"Six of his brides. One of them being Dauphine. She has been his right hand ever since I refused to go with him." Rosaleen's eyes burned. She was ready for the fight.
Lupin non-chalantly turned away from Rosaleen when he felt himself to be in a natural position and looked over his left shoulder. Heathcliff Collinwood was everything he was rumored to be, if not more. Handsome, nicely dressed and overtly decadent. His brides gave him all of their attention to him, as if their world revolved solely around him.
Lupin looked away and felt his stomach churn with the realization that Collinwood expected Rosaleen to do the same and sit obediently at his side. Such a sight would surely kill him. Lupin eyed Rosaleen pensively and saw that her eyes were still fixed on Collinwood.
"They're getting up. Where is Tonks?" Rosaleen was ready to spring into action and they needed to make up a plan fast. Remus scanned the crowd and shook his head.
"I'm going after them, you find Tonks." He stood as she rose to leave and he caught her by the wrist. A lock of dark hair fell over one green eye and Lupin brushed it out of the way.
"You be careful, Rose. Tonks and I will be right behind you."
Feeling the call of battle and boldness spring up inside her, Rosaleen pulled Lupin to her by his tuxedo's lapel and planted her lips firmly to his. He was clearly surprised by the action, but managed to press her to him with his hands on her hips.
She pulled away and nodded to him, "Don't be long, Remus."
Rosaleen darted through the balcony's entrance and saw Collinwood and his harem not far ahead. Lupin's heart pounded in his chest and he could feel it in his ears. He scanned the floor for Tonks and eventually found her in the far corner, appearing in the doorway leading to the auditorium from the veranda. He waved his hands over his head and she obediently put her opera glasses up to her eyes.
"Meet me outside." He mouthed to the auror.
Rosaleen followed the group into the bowels of the building until the path ended outside in the damp London night. She was in back of the Opera House and there was no one to be seen. She'd lost them.
"Looking for something, Rosaleen?" A dreaded voice slithered from behind. She opened her bag slowly and pulled out both her wand and her wooden stake. She spun on her heel to see Heathcliff Collinwood smiling at her, his harem only paces behind.
"Hello, Heathcliff." He stepped toward her with a sly grin on his face. She whipped out her wand and placed it to his throat and he merely chuckled.
"Not this again, love!" He knocked her wand away and took a loose strand of her newly-dark hair in his fingers, "Dark hair suits you Rose, but you should know by now that there is no hiding from me. I caught your scent as soon as I walked in."
Rosaleen clenched the stake in her grasp and pointed her wand back into his direction, "What do you want with the MacDuffs?"
Dauphine slunk over and stroked Collinwood's shoulder while eyeing Rosaleen, "The traitor asks too many questions, Heath dearest. Finish her off so we can find supper."
Collinwood shook his head and batted Dauphine's hand away. Rosaleen glowered at the jealous, raven-haired vampiress and sighed.
"Honestly Dauphine, I don't understand why you are so jealous. Being Collinwood's top cronie is a completely unenviable position. Believe me, if you want it so badly, it is yours." Rosaleen turned her attention back to Collinwood and continued to hold her wand at his throat, "Now tell me of your interest in my family."
"You and your new friends should do more homework, little witch. Your grandmother believes that your father had a son, because I told her so. She never knew you existed and my accomplice and I have a mutual understanding. He gets what he wants and I get what I deserve."
Rosaleen felt her features darken and then her eyes turned from green to bright yellow, like a cat's. Her canine teeth grew long and she felt them poke out from her lips. Collinwood smiled exuberantly and breathed.
"There's my little queen!" Dauphine hissed with a jealous rage and Rosaleen noticed that the other brides faces matched her own.
"The MacDuff's will aid the Dark Lord without realizing it, though I doubt they will mind. And in doing so, the Dark Lord will help me finally have you at my side."
Rosaleen twirled her wooden stake in her left hand while keeping her wand pointed with the right, "I fear I will not let that happen, Heathcliff, without a fight."
The harem crept towards Rosaleen menacingly as if they were going to pounce. She hit two of them with a full body bind and stuck her stake into their chests as the fell down. Collinwood only shook his head.
"You don't fight fairly, sweet Rose." Rosaleen smirked and shrugged.
"You're one to talk, Heathcliff. Besides, you have at least ten more brides. You won't miss these."
Dauphine hissed again with rage, "Traitor!"
"Indeed I am, Dauphine."
Suddenly, Rosaleen caught sight of two figures running down the alleyway with wands at the ready. Lupin and Tonks came upon the scene just as Rosaleen and Dauphine began to circle each other.
"Rosaleen!" Lupin cried and fired spells off of his wand like rapid fire.
She looked at him momentarily and shook her head. She could also see the look of surprise in Tonks eyes at the sight of her eyes and fangs. Dauphine smiled menacingly and leapt backward into the air, flipping over and landing behind Lupin. She took him by the hair, twisted his head to the side and bit down on his neck.
Tonks yelled at the top of her lungs while firing at the remaining brides. Rosaleen inserted her stake into one's back as Dauphine choked on Lupin's blood. She spit it out fervently, as though as she just swallowed acid. She threw his limp form to the ground in disgust.
"Werewolf." She spat and wiped the back of her pale hand across her bloody lips.
Tonks fired upon the last bride, allowing Rosaleen to dispose of her with her stake . Both she and Tonks ran to Lupin's side as Collinwood and Dauphine leapt onto the rooftop of a nearby building.
"We'll meet again soon, Rosaleen MacDuff!" Collinwood called out with a cackle as he and his right hand bride made their escape on the rooftops of London. Tonks looked at Rosaleen angrily.
"MACDUFF? You're the heir? Why–"
Rosaleen sank to her knees and took Lupin's face in her hands.
"Remus...can you walk?"
He let out a weak sigh, "Rosaleen MacDuff?"
"I'd say that's a no. We can apparate near Number Twelve and then we can help him in." Tonks looked furious at her suggestion.
"Why should I trust you? Why did you keep us in the dark about your family and being a vampire.? Now Remus..."
"He knows about my condition. He smelled it on me the first time we met. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall know as well. As for my ancestry...that is a little painful and complicated. I will reveal everything to the Order upon our return. But now we have to go, Remus is losing a lot of blood."
Rosaleen sat Lupin up and pulled him to her and they disappeared, leaving Tonks to make it back on her own.
A/N: Here is the second part of the chapter that I split up! There is more almost ready to come–I will type it up and have it posted by Friday! Look forward to an intense meeting with the Order, Rosaleen and Remus quiet time and Snape's interest is even more piqued with the odd news. Also, Rosaleen receives a new mission from Dumbledore.
To Angel Of Harlem: Just you wait, sweets! Next Chapter is chock full o' romance. By the way, isn't Gerard Butler scorching hot in Phantom? Yikes! Here's to summer reading and more Rosaleen and Lupin–and I am working on the next installment for Halla and Boromir as well! Love ya! Can't wait to hear what you think about the next chappie!
To Sarah: Thanks for the review and welcome to the fold! I can't wait to hear from you again! Here is your requested chapter!
To lupinsiriusluva: This chapter is a little longer, but there is more to come! Be on the lookout for the next chappie in a few days! Thanks!