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 Nineteen: Sanctuary
"With the gales
My little boat was tossed
How was I to know
That you'd sent her
With a lantern
To bring me in"
–Tori Amos, "Jamaica Inn"
Lupin waited for Rosaleen downstairs after dinner as she prepared her belongings to leave for the school. He did not wish her to leave just yet, seeing as though they had made such progress in such a short amount of time. Yet, in spite of the lovely things that had happened...his mind replayed the request that she had made just hours before.
He would not do it...he could not do it. He couldn't make such a promise to her. Memories of his horrible dream from months before came flooding back; especially the feel of her limp form in his blood soaked paws.
He would not allow it to happen...he cared for her too deeply.
Lupin could hear her saying farewell to the Weasleys in the kitchen and she emerged from the doorway wearing her waistcoat and carrying her shoulder and garment bags. Rosaleen gave him a weak smile and stepped over the threshold.
"I suppose that this is it, Remus. At least for a little while. I'll be apparating a few blocks from here and then just outside of Hogsmeade."
Lupin nodded and suggested, "I can walk with you, if you'd like."
Rosaleen nodded in agreement and they exited Number Twelve together and walked two blocks away. As Rosaleen readied herself to go, Lupin took her by the hand and drew her attention to him.
"Wait, Rosaleen." She looked up at him and saw a mixture of hope and sadness wash across his face.
"I just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed this weekend–despite getting bitten." Rosaleen chuckled lowly and dropped her bags to the ground.
"Indeed, we should go to the opera more often." The gap between them began to close until they were finally locked in an embrace. Rosaleen's head rested in the crook of Lupin's shoulder and she felt the pull of sadness within her, knowing that her request had disturbed him, if not completely shaken him to the core.
Lupin placed his mouth to her ear and whispered, "I shall miss you."
She patted him gently on the back and pulled him closer. Rosaleen did not want to let go just yet. There was still a little time left. She looked up at him and met his eyes squarely with her own.
"I will miss you, Remus, though I know that I will see you very soon. I will make sure of it." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips lightly.
Lupin felt his heart skip a beat, he would probably never get over the feeling of his pulse pounding in his ears every time their lips met. Every time it happened, he was just as surprised as the first time that such a lovely creature would respond to him in any way. Lupin hoped that the feeling would never end.
Rosaleen pulled away and picked up her bags. She gave Lupin a brilliant parting smile.
"Don't forget to write, Remus." He shook his head and returned the smile.
"I won't. In fact, I hope to go back to the house and compose a letter immediately."
"Ah, Bella. I see that you have escorted Heathcliff to me dutifully and quickly. Well done. " Voldemort hissed with pleasure.
Bellatrix issued a little pride on her cold, yet elegant features. Collinwood lagged behind, his hands shoved into his suit jacket pockets. He gave the Dark Lord a nod and spoke reverently.
"You wished to see me, my lord?" Voldemort nodded, his bald head and reptilian-like features were highlighted in the firelight.
"Indeed, Heathcliff. Word came to me about your rather indiscreet exploits at the Royal Opera house. If our plans are to work, you cannot foul them all up with your decadence."
Voldemort paced slowly, his hands behind his back. Collinwood sighed thickly.
"My lord, you cannot expect a man such as myself to remain inside for heaven knows how long..."
"No, I expect a creature such as yourself to follow the plans that we have made on the eve of our allegiance to hold up your end of the bargain...if you truly want the MacDuff girl as much as you claim to."
Voldemort's red eyes burned into Collinwood. Of course he wanted her...he had waited three hundred years to finally have her. Collinwood nodded slowly.
"I do."
"Then you will go to Maleficent MacDuff and convince her that you are her heir. Then you shall alert me. We shall share the power of what she offers, I shall become immortal and you shall finally have your bride. Oh–and only one other small detail. She is now our key to the opposition and to the Potter boy. Do not ruin my chances or I shall kill the girl without any hesitation whatsoever."
Collinwood wanted to threaten him in retaliation, but if he were to act overeager, then he would ruin his own chances with the MacDuffs. Voldemort underestimated him greatly, though it was better to play along for the moment.
"Then I shall leave tonight. I will not disappoint you, my lord."
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat up late in the Gryffindor common room working on a potions essay for Snape and non-verbal charms for Jasper. Hermione scribbled furiously on her parchment, Ron stared sleepily into the fire and Harry continued to think about Professors Jasper and Lupin at the Three Broomsticks.
If they were meeting to talk about Order business, what news could there possibly be? Did it concern Voldemort? Did it concern him? Or did they merely meet to discuss teaching strategies? Or perhaps none of the above? Maybe they were just talking...something that they had not done for a month.
Harry sighed and Hermione raised an eyebrow to him, "Is everything alright, Harry?"
"I suppose. I just keep thinking about Jasper and Lupin. I just wish I knew what the Order was up to. I hate it when they keep issues concerning myself away from me."
Ron leaned forward, his interest piqued with a subject away from his homework, "Maybe they were talking about personal things...like on a date."
"I don't know, Ron. I still have this feeling about Professor Jasper...something that she isn't telling everyone...Therefore it may be something that she and Lupin have in common...a condition, perhaps." Hermione interjected passionately.
Ron's eyebrows knitted together, "You think she's a werewolf? But she hasn't disappeared for three days or missed any classes."
Hermione took a cleansing and hesitant sigh and braced herself for the reactions of her friends.
"No, Ron. I think that she may be a vampire."
Silence fell over the common room and Ron shook his head and Harry looked stunned.
"There is no way, 'Mione. She is in the sun all of the time." Ron stated firmly.
"But she never eats, she is always ghostly pale and drawn and she has no reflection. I saw it with my own two eyes." Harry hung his head in his hands, taking in Hemione's theories and suspicions.
It seemed as though that it was always something earth-shaking and that everybody had their secrets. Always a mystery to be solved and there was most certainly never a dull moment. Hermione had been right about Remus Lupin almost three years before. Perhaps she was right again...there were very good odds that it was true.
"I suppose that there is only one way to find out," Harry sighed, "tomorrow night with the map and the cloak."
On Monday night, Rosaleen stood outside the door to Snape's office in the dungeon and dreaded the meeting that was about to ensue. True to his word, Lupin sent a letter earlier that day–lamenting the brevity of their time together, praising her and revealing almost all that he hid in his heart.
His words alternately thrilled her and frightened her. The closest she had ever had in her life to a true-to-form romantic relationship was with Heathcliff Collinwood, and that one had not panned out very well. Rosaleen adored Lupin and cared for him greatly, though she feared like much of her life that it would all end in blood and tragedy.
Rosaleen hesitated knocking on Snape's door. She really did not feel like being lambasted by him for not being up-front with her ties to the MacDuffs. Finally, she knocked and the door flew open quickly. Snape looked down at her in a satisfied manner and gestured for her to come in.
"I was wondering if you forgot our appointment, Rosaleen." She shook her head and sat in the chair that was in front of his desk, though he paced in front of the fire rather than sitting down.
"Tell me, Rosaleen. What do you know of your family heritage? Tell me all of what you know of the surname MacDuff."
"My father only told me about his family being the reason that my parents immigrated to the States. My mother was not a witch and they did not approve because of their blood status...and that is pretty much it." Snape shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Let's think in a broader scale, shall we? Are you familiar with the story of MacBeth?"
Rosaleen shook her head. Of course she had read Shakespeare. "You mean the MacDuff who killed MacBeth in the end? Who was not born of woman, in a technical twist?" Snape nodded and continued his nondescript glare at her.
"After closer investigation, I delved into your family tree even further. I went so far as to chat up some dodgy characters who have links to the Dark Lord."
Rosaleen stood up and became enraged, "YOU WHAT?"
Snape continued to pace and met her eyes squarely with his own. "Sit down. The information will interest you, Professor. After a closer investigation and hints from outside sources, I have discovered that most of the men in your family were squibs, though they became great men of military. That is, with the exception of a few and that includes your father. Power passed from mother to daughter, but in your case, father to daughter."
Rosaleen sank into her chair, not really sure how she felt about Snape informing her of her own family. He disregarded her grudging look and continued...
"Therefore the MacDuffs, in a sense, where not technically pureblood. However the women who were born generation to generation were unusually gifted. This is because of a forebear that was one of the most powerful witches in history. She had a home near Edinburgh...some called her Morgaine, but most know her as Morgan Le Fay."
Rosaleen sat up straight and her eyes widened. The half-sister of Arthur? The nemesis of Merlin?
"Morgan Le Fay? She is...was..."
"One of your ancestors, though I do not know how directly. One of the nine sisters of Avalon. Some say a healer and a shape-shifter, yet some depict her as the evil and cunning half-sister of King Arthur. Remember that Arthur was non-magiking, though he did receive help from Merlin."
Rosaleen looked flabbergasted and stared off into space. Snape's eyes lingered on her too long and she snapped.
"How do you know all of this? Who did you speak to? Surely stuff of this matter is not written in readily available texts!"
She stood up and stared him down and Snape scoffed heartily, "Would it trouble you so to say 'thank you, Severus?' I have done a lot of work for you and you repay me with such ungrateful and suspicious words. However, you only seem to reserve such kind words to escape your pretty mouth for Remus Lupin."
Rosaleen fumed, there was no need to bring Remus into the discussion. Snape seemed to be...jealous. Could such a man be jealous?
"I want to know how you discovered this, Severus. Is it true?"
Snape did not speak, but instead grabbed her arm roughly and dragged her out the door, out of Hogwarts and outside the gates of the school. Rosaleen stopped and demanded as she pulled her arm out of his grasp.
"What are you doing?"
"We have to apparate. There is something I need to show you."
Rosaleen looked up at his dark eyes, grasped her wand tightly and bared her teeth at him. "Why should I trust you? Or anything that you say?"
He studied her delicately curved, yet deadly lengthened canines. They shone like pearls in the moonlight. So complex and so dark.
Snape sighed, he would never get her to come with him at this rate. Rosaleen stood there, unamused with her arms across her chest. He gave her an enigmatic look and spoke in a grave tone.
"I have found a place used for sanctuary by the MacDuffs. It used to be a cross, but the centuries have reduced it only to the base. It's in the north east Fife of Newburg and it overlooks the Firth of Tay...this piece of information is, as you say, 'written in readily available texts.' It is featured in most muggle guidebooks of Scotland."
For a moment, Snape watched her features softened and calmed. Rosaleen mulled over the prospect of apparating with Snape. Perhaps he was truly trying to help. Finally, she relented.
"Fine. I'll go with you."
Snape held out his hand to her, motioning her to take it. She didn't know where she was going, therefore she could not apparate there by herself. Rosaleen looked at Snape's hand with hesitation and finally took it with her own/
Snape marveled in the feel of her skin, cold like smooth marble floors on bare feet in the winter. Before he knew it, they had arrived at a grassy hill overlooking water. Rosaleen took a good look around felt the night air on her face and watched as the wind moved through the wild grass. The autumn night was cool and balmy while the half-moon hung low in the Scottish sky.
"There." Snape extended his arm to point to what look like a large pile of rocks. Rosaleen picked up her robe and skirts and began the climb. Snape followed her and came to a stop beside her when they finally reached the top. He watched intently as Rosaleen stared at it. Her green-yellow eyes glossed over with the salt of tears that began to trickle down her cheeks.
She was crying?
Snape could not decide how to react. In his normally cold demeanor or with a subtle, gentle inflection...so he settled on the monotone.
"It is said that any MacDuff kinsman can seek sanctuary here."
Rosaleen stepped closer and laid her hands on the cool, rough stone. Sanctuary. Her heart broke thinking of her father and mother...how little she seemed to know about her own kin. All of the time that came with her immortality was given to vengeance and not to doing justice finding out about her lineage on her own. Now cold blood coursed through her veins. Rosaleen wept openly and her arms wrapped around the MacDuff cross in a full embrace. She looked like a child.
Normally, Severus Snape would have concocted something snide to say, though his cruel with was hampered and rendered speechless. Rosaleen laid there with her head down on the rock for a half an hour.
Sanctuary.
Could such a place exist?
After watching for several minutes, Snape finally decided to pull Rosaleen up from the rock. She was limp with grief, so he held her by her waist and allowing part of his black, billowing robe to cover her. Rosaleen looked at him with a hint of embarrassment.
"I am not ready to leave."
"I must disagree. We'll discuss more back at the school over tea."
After they had apparated back outside the gates of the school, Snape poured Rosaleen a strong cup of tea in his office and she avoided looking at him.
"Severus, I–erm, thank you for taking me to the cross...I had no idea that it ever existed."
Snape felt gobsmacked, but he kept his exterior cool. Had she just thanked him? He watched intently as she sipped her tea and felt a question burn on his lips.
"Did you feel anything while you were there?"
Rosaleen took another sip from her teacup and then set it back to rest on the saucer. She thought about how it felt to lie on the stone and feel an odd connection to a family she had never even met.
"It's hard to explain. It was a feeling I haven't encountered since my parents were alive. It was comfort...it felt like home."
"Sanctuary?" Snape asked. Rosaleen shook her head yes, fighting back the emotions that surged deep in her belly.
"I should go. Thank you for the tea." Rosaleen stood to go and Snape called from behind her.
"Tomorrow we shall research more Arthurian legend. More of Morgan Le Fay. Something tells me that whatever Maleficent MacDuff has to give may have originated with her."
She turned and gave him a curt nod and made her way through the dungeon to her quarters.
Rosaleen could've sworn that she felt eyes on her in the corridors and silent footfalls behind her.
A/N: Next up–Rosaleen and Snape have words and a brief, uh, encounter. Ron, Harry and Hermione continue their investigation of the DADA teacher and do not like her association with Snape. More Lupin smooshiness and Collinwood scheming to come.
Please R&R!
Love ya!
Leah P!
To Gabrielle Briant: Here's your update! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks for the review!
To RidinginHydePark: Thanks for the very lovely review. Rosaleen's entanglement with Snape will deffinetly fall under foolish and reckless...and consuming. They really don't like each other, but there is a bit of spark there which will make a heck of a fire. Thanks for the review! Feel free to respond again!
To Pickledishkiller: Here's the long awaited update! Thanks for the 'splendid' review!
To AstaraelUndomiel: Glad to have you back! How was your trip? More Collinwood in this chapter to come! Please drop me a line!
To Angel of Harlem: Hah! Rosaleen's tail! I never thought about it in that context! Snape and Rosaleen get closer in a very weird way. I think I need more Sirius in the next chapter–what about you? How was the Boston show that you went to? Was U2 everything you had hoped and more live? I am counting down the days until I see them for the fourth time. So exciting! Please let me know what you think! Love ya!
To lupinsiriusluva: Don't worry, I promise that Bellatrix and Dauphine will in some way get their comeuppance. Keep on reading! Thanks and Love!
To Marie: I didn't intend Lecter, but I wanted Collinwood to come from the same mind set, I guess. Art, madness, bloodlust...but I wanted him to be a bit more playboy-ish like James Bond. Glad to see that you like Dauphine...more of her to come. I can also promise you more Tonks interaction as well...thanks for the in depth and wonderful review! I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter! Love ya!
To Katie Scarlette: Chapter 18 was sad...I am sorry! It didn't feel that sad until I read it again. Let's just say that Rosaleen and Severus will get romantically entangled...but she truly cares for Remus. That old battle between lust and love...you gotta love it. Guilt ensues and more blood will be shed. There will also be a fair amount of jealously on the part of Snape, because Rosaleen feels differently for Lupin. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful compliments. I blush when I read them! Can't wait to hear back from you!
To Sarah: Heathcliff is one of my favorites, too. No shame in liking the bad boy...most girls do!