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 Eighteen: Collinwood's Reverie & Rosaleen's Request
"I have stood many times outside her window at night
To struggle with my instinct in the pale moon light
How could I be this way when I pray to God above
I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street."
–Sting
"Moon Over Bourbon Street"
Heathcliff Collinwood sat in front of his lair's large fireplace, what was left of his harem lounge on pillows and sofas behind him, drinking blood from fine crystal champagne flutes. The leisurely night at the opera had gone awry, but in a surprisingly wonderful way.
She had found him.
He ran a hand through his shiny dark hair and continued replaying the evening over and over again. That little witch named Rosaleen invaded his thoughts and had for centuries. It had been a little over two years since he had last seen her, but she had changed. The need to avenge her parent's death remained, but there was something else–she seemed to have more of a purpose than just that.
Collinwood had no idea why his thoughts bent on her so, she was not the fairest of the maidens he had turned; Dauphine the former French courtesan held that title still. Perhaps it was Rosaleen's refusal to come with him, to be his right hand aided in the obsession. She is lovely and still holds an innocence so deceptively sweet, something that she had retained from when he had first met her in Salem.
Perhaps he had been a little hasty in killing her parents, but he needed to have her to himself. He needed her to aid in his power and coming from the hallowed MacDuff clan in Scotland would certainly aid in his cause.
If only she would come to him willingly, he would happily rid of his other brides–even the stunning and loyal Dauphine. Everything that he had done as of late has been for the elusive Rosaleen, even setting off into an alliance with the Dark Lord. He had promised Collinwood that if he aids in bringing down his opposition and helped him achieve immortality, then he would bring Rosaleen to him as his payment and reward.
All of the trouble thus far for an ungrateful wench.
Little did he know that the Dark Lord's opposition would bring Rosaleen to England to work for them, little did he know that he would be confronted with her so soon and with such bitterness in her wake. Obsession, was what it came down to. Heathcliff Collinwood was nearly six-hundred years old, himself. He had terrorized towns, turned thousands into vampires–but he had never suffered so than at the hands of Rosaleen MacDuff, also known as the one that got away.
She had no other passion for him, other than to see his demise. However, she did not know how he longed for her, her fiery spirit and wiliness. She had made him a man possessed the moment she refused her position as his prized bride. So long ago...
Rosaleen had tore him in two, and they continued on a cat-and-mouse game. She followed him, pursued him and he lead her on–thrilled with the fact that she would travel the lengths that she had just to dispose of him.
Collinwood would tame her, he felt it in his bones.
Soon she would be with him, rightfully at his side and they would rule in darkness and blood. The MacDuff inheritance would make that so. He hoped to possess her fully–mind, body and what remained of her soul.
Rosaleen thought she knew so much, but she did not know anything about her family. Her mother and father had sheltered her from the truth, the immense power that ran in their bloodline and the one witch that was the source of it. The source of the MacDuff's power stemmed from that of one of Merlin's apprentices, a woman who is both shadowed in good and evil.
The MacDuff bloodline began with none other than Morgan Le Fay.
If Rosaleen only knew.
Heathcliff Collinwood vowed the same injury on Rosaleen. The next time they crossed paths, he would kill those with her mercilessly.
He felt a slender hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Dauphine looking down at him. She was weak and had taken ill after feeding briefly off the werewolf who came to Rosaleen's aid. Her raven hair fell over her shoulder in graceful waves and she shook her head.
"You are still thinking about her. Put Rosaleen out of your mind tonight, Heath. She is not worth worrying about. She is befriending vermin and werewolves." Collinwood kissed her hand and Dauphine groaned, looking ill again.
"Still under the weather, love?" Collinwood pulled Dauphine on his lap and cradled her. She nodded slowly.
"His blood was like poison. I have not felt this bad since... I died." Collinwood stroked her hair and heard the door open behind him. He did not have to turn around to see who it was, he felt her presence distinctly and caught scent of madness, superiority and arrogance.
"Hello Bellatrix, I trust your Master has sent you with a message?" Bellatrix Lestrange crept into the firelight and stood before Collinwood and Dauphine. She wore a look of cold fury and she held her wand tightly at her side.
"I believe he is your Master, too. He has heard about your little outing last night. What exactly are you playing at, Heathcliff?" Collinwood sighed, not really feeling like fighting with the witch about him being his own master.
"Honestly, Bella, you cannot expect a man like myself to be in London, cooped up in this stuffy old manor and not be able to go out and enjoy the fine arts and culture." He flashed her his devilishly handsome smile and she in turn gave him an icy stare.
"Dumbledore and the opposition know about you and your habits, Heathcliff. Now that the MacDuff heir is working for them, we cannot have you roaming about the city. The Dark Lord wishes to see you and discuss plans for the future."
"Fine, I will be there tomorrow night." Collinwood sighed as Dauphine put her arms around him protectively. Bellatrix Lestrange fumed at his answer.
"The Dark Lord waits for no one, Heathcliff. You come with me now."
Rosaleen sat back into the comfortable chair in the study after Lupin had given her a rather detailed history of Severus Snape at Hogwarts, his Death Eater days and what he knows of his current status as potions master at the school. Truth be told, she did not know what to think. She herself had been in dark places and continued to fight to stay out of them. She should give Snape the benefit of the doubt, but there was a new found disdain that he had for her judging by the confrontation they had after the meeting with Dumbledore and McGonagall.
The sun had long faded into darkness and soon Mrs. Weasley would be calling them down to dinner. Everything was so backwards, there was no semblance of life before the weekend began.
How things had changed.
Lupin looked worried as Rosaleen continued to stare off into space. It was not exactly how he had envisioned their last evening together before she had to go back to the school. She was distant and her thoughts strayed further away than they had just the evening before.
Damn Heathcliff Collinwood and Severus Snape.
"Tell me what you are thinking, Rosaleen." She met eyes with him and shrugged, thoughts whizzed through her mind so quickly that she was unable to grasp onto one of them for any period of time.
"I think Snape knows more than he is letting on. Now that he knows that I am the MacDuff heir, perhaps he will clue me in. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe he knows everything about my family, but I think he knows the smallest of facts that will blow the research wide open." Rosaleen cradled her head in her hands for a moment, feeling a headache coming on.
Lupin leaned forward, his eyes filled with warmth and caring, and took her hands in his own and removed them from her face. She looked distraught, confused and unsure. Far from the confident Rosaleen he had saw the night before at the opera, in battle and later with him.
"There is only one way to find out, Rose. Snape is an odd creature and he has offered to help. Merlin only knows his reasoning, but if you feel that he can help than you must take the chance." Rosaleen smiled a small smile and allowed her upper canines to be exposed. She nodded quickly in agreement.
"Then I must. I know so little about my family. My father told me only the basics. Scotland. Pureblood. Any information would add to my knowledge at this point. Maleficent MacDuff is looking for her heir for some reason and the inheritance is something that seems dire to pass on to another generation. Perhaps Dumbledore is right, the inheritance could be more dangerous if bestowed on an imposter. Therefore, I agree with the members of the Order and I will seek out Maleficent and receive what it is that she wishes to give. But there is something you must promise me, Remus..."
He shook his head and squeezed her hand, "Anything, I'll do anything for you."
"You must promise me that if I receive the inheritance and if something were to happen, if I were to spiral into darkness and madness and hurt human beings again...you must not hesitate to kill me."
Lupin looked horrified at the statement, the sheer prospect of killing her...he could not do it. He shook his head negatively and spoke vehemently, "I will do no such thing, Rosaleen. I will help you through it, but I will not make such a promise."
"But I could hurt anybody–even you. It could be the Weasley's, Tonks, or the students. I care about you all too much to value my own wicked life above the mortal innocent. If it happens Remus, and it may not, either way you must do this. If you care about me you would save our friends, yourself and even me from the misery of falling into evil. I know it is a hard question to be confronted with, Remus, but it needs to be addressed." She looked at him sadly and he merely cupped her face in his hands.
"I will do everything in my power to help you, but that scenario will not happen. You will not let it happen and I certainly will not let it happen. We will fight it every step of the way." Rosaleen felt a little sorry for him. Of course, she did not wish it to happen; but she thought that Lupin was being a little unrealistic given her past history and the darkness surrounding the powers of the MacDuff clan.
"We should probably get down to supper or someone is bound to come looking for us." Rosaleen took him by the hand and led him out the door of the study, still plagued with thoughts about the future, going back to Hogwarts and meeting Snape once again.
A/N: Next chapter will include deep delving into the MacDuff history–including the Arthurian and Shakespearean times. Snape and Rosaleen take a field trip to a historical site and the trio is hot on the heels of Rosaleen and her past.
Please Read and Review!
To lupinsiriusluva: I am thrilled that you love to hate Dauphine. Never you worry, like most villains she is sure to get her due at some point! Can't wait to hear what you think about the new chappie!
To Astarael Undomiel: Rosaleen and Remus will hit some bumps along the way, as do most relationships...but more good stuff to come. I will not be including the HBP stuff with any character because I resolved to finish the story as I first envisioned it last summer. I hope this chappie gets to you before you depart. Good Luck on your travels!
To Sarah: This one's for you, sweets! I thought everyone needed a good look inside the mind of Heathcliff Collinwood. I hope you enjoy it! Can't wait to hear from you!