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 Twenty: Wicked
"And goodness knows
the wicked's lives are lonely.
Goodness knows
the wicked die alone.
It just shows when you're wicked,
you're left only
on your own..."
–Stephen Schwartz, "No One Mourns The Wicked"
from the musical Wicked
Weeks later, Rosaleen spent most of her time outside of class poring over Shakespeare's MacBeth and both muggle and wizarding takes on Arthurian legend. When she was not reading or teaching, she was composing or reading letters to Lupin.
Rosaleen wanted to see him. Dealing with Severus Snape was uncomfortable and unnerving and seeing someone with a kind face and who cared for her would mean a great deal. However, Snape had helped quite a bit with the MacDuff genealogy...and he had shown her the cross. She had visited it twice since the night that he had first taken her there.
Rosaleen sat up in bed, her four poster curtains drawn in all around her. Persephone was curled up at her feet, oblivious to the storm that raged on outside. It was nearly two in the morning and she could not sleep. Too many thoughts, theories and speculations floated around in her brain. She shut the book she was reading and added it to the pile beside her. Rosaleen picked up the most recent later from Lupin and read it over again:
Rosaleen,
I hope all is well at the school. You sound a bit sad in your letters. Perhaps we can meet one weekend and talk about your research, amongst other things...
Other things being their relationship, no doubt. Rosaleen wanted no more than to find shelter in his arms. It was unlike her to feel that way, but she had never experienced a relationship such as theirs...and that scared her.
Soon, dawn would come and it would be Halloween. She had learned that the dramatics surrounding the holiday in the muggle world were much different than amongst the wizards. Rosaleen was curious about the festivities that would occur. She had been cloistered in with a gaggle of priests for almost two hundred years...so it would be her first real Halloween experience.
Rosaleen rolled over and pulled the heavy covers all the way up to her chin. She put all of her thoughts and worries the back of her mind and tried to sleep.
She failed. She laid awake the rest of the night until dawn.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the library on Halloween afternoon, looking up everything they could find on vampires. They had followed Professor Jasper almost every night as she made her way to the dungeons to meet Professor Snape. Hermione knew that the meetings bothered Harry. Telling him that the Professors were probably working on plans and research for the Order did not help. Harry wanted to be involved and included in major discussions about Voldemort.
The most confusing meeting had occurred the first night that Professor Jasper had ventured to Snape's door. He had pulled Professor Jasper out of his office by her arm and she was fighting it the entire way. Ron pulled out his wand and wanted to stop it, but Harry and Hermione both held him back.
When they had returned, Professor Jasper was in tears and Professor Snape did not have his usual scowl, rather, he looked solemn.
There had been no more crying episodes, but arm loads of books being ushered in and out of the dungeon on a nightly basis. Ron and Harry seemed reluctant to believe her claims on Professor Jasper's vampirism, though they wondered what their young teacher had in league with someone like Professor Snape.
Harry let out an exasperated sigh and shut a book rather violently. Ron looked up, having felt the frustration in the room.
"Why don't we call it a night? The Halloween feast will be starting soon." Ron said with a lackadaisical shrug of his shoulders.
Harry looked to Hermione and she nodded in agreement. Perhaps it was better that they just took a step back, for sanity's sake.
Rosaleen sat at the staff table, dressed in fitted black robes with a high collar over a milk-white dress. Her hair hung loose, save for a few strands in the front that were twisted away from her face. The Great Hall looked magnificent lit with jack-o-lanterns and hovering candles. She noticed a dark form sit beside her and heard, "Good evening, Rosaleen."
Rosaleen turned to meet him, "Hello Severus."
His black eyes burned through her and she turned away. Snape cast a small, wan smile in her direction, even though she was no longer looking at him. They spent most evenings working together about her lineage and vampiric status, yet he knew so little about her.
She never asked questions about him.
They had arguments, sometimes very heated ones when it came to the exact location of Morgan LeFay's castle in Edinburgh to who exactly was Heathcliff Collinwood's sire and Rosaleen's grandsire.
Rosaleen seemed to avoid him the rest of the day, until she made the descent down to the dungeon for another night of blistering research. She was frustrated, he knew that. But sometimes, he felt that her feelings went deeper.
Perhaps she was as drawn to him as he was to her.
In his evidence and argument in this case, was the brief encounter at the Leaky Cauldron. He knew that she had affectionate feelings for Remus Lupin...yet he had an inkling that she suppressed quite different feelings for himself because of it.
It was that reasoning that lead Severus Snape to Rosaleen's door that night to test his theories.
After dinner, Rosaleen climbed the stairs to her bedroom for a nice, warm cup of Knockturn Alley blood, some light reading on Arthurian legend (transcribed in Old English, no less) and curling under the heavy covers with her cat on the pillow beside her.
She shut the door to her quarters gently behind her, changed into her nightdress and poured herself some blood that Matthais Grubb had sold her into a bone China tea cup.
As she eased herself into her four poster bed, Persephone mewed in an unhappy tone from having to move. Rosaleen opened a book and rested the teacup on the night table. Perhaps she would write Lupin back and meet him. She should take a break, even if it were only for an hour over drinks at the Three Broomsticks.
Suddenly, a knock came upon her door. She rose, walked to the door and pulled it open a crack to see none other than Severus Snape standing before her. Rosaleen opened the door all the way to let him in, despite the strange look on his face.
"Severus? Is there something wrong?"
He gave Rosaleen a quick appraisal. Bare feet and legs; a thin, heather-hued nightdress; wild, long hair that fell just above her waist and a very curious look.
She couldn't discern the look on his face. Rosaleen felt vulnerable and she took a step back from him.
"Tell me why you're here, Severus. Say something, or I shall be forced to get my wand."
Snape said nothing, but stepped very close to her. Rosaleen wished to recoil, but her body betrayed her and she was unable to move. He was so close to her that Rosaleen could feel the breath on her cheek. She avoided his eyes and hoped that he would move away.
But he did not.
Instead, Snape placed his fingertips beneath her chin and turned her head so she could meet eyes with him.
"I know that you do not fear me. You fear only what may come of this. What your friends may think. You know nothing of me...only what certain others have told you." Snape sounded cold and Rosaleen batted his hand away.
"What are you trying to say, Severus? Speak more plainly." Rosaleen looked anxious, but not frightened. Snape stepped even closer, almost pressing himself against her.
"I know that you are drawn to me...as I am drawn to you."
Rosaleen scoffed aloud, "Nonsense."
"A lie." Snape hissed, his eyes never wavering from hers.
"I work with you. I have no feelings other than that. I care very deeply for another."Rosaleen stood defiantly as he stepped even closer.
"I never asked about you caring for me. This runs deeper, Rose. Chemistry. Innate physical attraction. You haven't forgotten the night at the Leaky Cauldron, have you?" Rosaleen felt like running, but something held her in her place.
"That was a mistake. An indiscretion."
Snape flicked the strap of her nightdress off of her right shoulder. Rosaleen was incensed. She drew back her hand and slapped him forcefully across the face. Snape smirked at her in a pleased way and captured her by the waist with his hands.
And defying all reason, Snape kissed her...
And she kissed him back.
It was like a battle of wills. Rosaleen threw her arms around his neck in a rough manner and he picked her up and carried her to her bed.
Persephone was spooked by the scene and scurried to the chair in the corner of the room. Snape dropped Rosaleen on the bed and climbed in with her. She didn't know what she was doing, yet she was perfectly aware of what was going on.
Later that night, Rosaleen pulled the sheets up to her chin to cover herself. Severus Snape laid beside her and they did not talk or touch. There were no kind words or tender touches, instead, they laid on opposite sides of her bed.
Rosaleen felt horrible. What had occurred was possibly the worst mistake of her past two hundred years. She did not care for Snape at all...but obviously there was something there.
How would she ever face Lupin again? She had betrayed him. She cared for him, yet she did not fight Snape away ardently. She should've brandished her wand and sent him running.
Snape sighed thickly and Rosaleen turned to look at him. Her green eyes questioned him and the situation in general. He found his curiosity filled yet he was nowhere near satisfied. He wanted no more than to pull her to him and do it all over again.
He learned that the feel of her cold skin extended from head to toe and that the feel of her fangs clipping his bottom lip when they kissed drove him mad.
"Is there something wrong, Severus?"
He shook his head no," I suppose I should leave. It's too late for the students to be up. This is the perfect opportunity."
Rosaleen nodded and Snape rose and dressed as she stared upwards. She would certainly never be forgiven for it. She was wicked for betraying Lupin in that way. Rosaleen felt so many wonderful and deep feelings for him, yet when Snape was around she lost all reason. No amount of praying could deliver her from breaking Lupin's heart. No matter what she did or said, it would ruin their relationship. It already had.
Rosaleen did not deserve him. Tonks had been right. Rosaleen had hurt him, though she promised not to.
Snape stood by her side of the bed once fully dressed and peered down at her. It took everything in his power not to stay just an hour more. Curiosity would surely be the end of him, much like the plight of the cat. Rosaleen sat up on one elbow and held the bed covers close to her with one arm.
Snape smiled wickedly, "And when did you become modest?"
Rosaleen sighed in a disgusted manner, turned away from him and waved toward the door, "Goodbye, Severus."
As he turned to leave, he felt her self-loathing and the hatred that she felt towards him. She hated him for being right. He saw her repression and proved her wrong. But mostly, Rosaleen hated both herself and him because she had enjoyed it. She had enjoyed their coupling.
Though he was eager to suffer another indiscretion with the lovely professor; he knew that it was her move. He would not act again until she was ready. He would wait for her to come to him.
"Goodnight, Rose." Snape murmured as he exited from her quarters. Rosaleen laid in her darkened room and felt the cold of bitter tears on her cheeks, neck and hands. Even Persephone couldn't stand to look at her.
The next morning, Rosaleen did not get out of bed for breakfast. Instead, she laid there, devising plans on how to avoid Severus Snape for the rest of the time in England. She also had to think of a way to make amends to Lupin, and it was also obvious that she would have to let him go.
She could not be trusted–especially not with the hearts of those who had faith in her.
Perhaps she should resign. Go back to hunting Collinwood on her own before anyone else she cared about could get hurt.
Rosaleen dreaded seeing Lupin. He was bound to know just by looking at her. He would probably smell Snape on her skin, no matter how hard she scrubbed. Lupin would know that Snape had touched almost every inch of her skin–and that she had allowed him to do so.
She was a wicked, inconsiderate and weak creature.
Finally, Rosaleen pulled herself from the comfort of her bed, dressed and readied for classes. She grabbed her books and her wand and hurried out the door and through the corridors to her first charms class.
By lunchtime, Rosaleen had been on autopilot for most of the day. She had dashed the idea of resigning. Dumbledore had asked her to come to help figure out and finish the alliance between Voldemort and Collinwood...that cause was bigger than her...and Snape...and Lupin, for that matter.
She sat in the library alone, trying desperately not to think of the events that occurred the night before. She tried not to feel Snape's hands on her bare skin. She tried not to remember the look in his eyes...and how that look may have been reflected in her very own.
Desirous. Lustful. Carnal. Sinful. Wicked. Rosaleen felt horrid. She was in no position to teach children...or to hold any form of authority.
Rosaleen's reverie was broken by the appearance of Hermione Granger bustling through the library. Rosaleen collected herself and painted on a weary smile.
"Hello Hermione. No lunch today?"
Hermione shook her head and returned the smile, "No, just finished early. Thought I'd find a few books to read for leisure."
Without being too intrusive, Hermione stole a glance at the stack of books before her professor...Magical Histories of Scotland, books on Merlin, Arthurian legend and what looked to have been Professor Jasper's own dog-eared copy of MacBeth.
Curious reading...but nothing overtly suspicious.
Rosaleen smiled again, gathered her books and then rose rather quickly, "Well, I will let you to it. I should leave and ready for my next class. Have a good day, Hermione."
Hermione nodded and smiled, wondering what had made the professor so worried and drawn. She always seemed somber, yet good-natured, but never so frazzled and unkempt...
The evening following the indiscretion with Professor Jasper, Severus Snape sat alone in his office before the fire and sipped firewhiskey He had been trying, rather unsuccessfully to drink away the urge to ascend the stairs and pay a visit to the damned vampiress a second night in a row. However, the thought of being twisted in her sheets and watching her beneath him seemed very tempting.
They hadn't talked the whole day. She had made obvious attempts to avoid him. Snape was under the distinct belief that they should not talk. They did not even have to be friends. Their chemistry ran so much deeper than any of that rubbish...so much deeper than what she could possibly feel for Lupin.
Rosaleen trusted in Lupin. She wished to protect him and mother him. Their relationship was nothing more than sugary sweetness and sweet whispered nothings. There was not pandering nor patronizing between Snape and Rosaleen. There was only heat and searing physical attraction.
This thinking and remembrance of the night before made him stand up and sit down three times. How he would love to march up to her room and have her again. He craved it.
Her lips tasted like the faint metallic of blood. Knowing that she could overpower him and feed off him did not bother him in the least, rather added to the intrigue. She was dangerous...or at least she could be...
Snape took another sip of his drink and remembered what he had promised himself. He would wait for her to come to him. Rosaleen would not be able to fight it for long...
...she would appear...
...eventually.
A/N: Woah! Big fly in the porridge, huh? Up next–more of everything. Collinwood meets with Maleficent MacDuff and Christmas is on the way.
Please R&R!
To Camilinha: Glad you like the story! More Remus in the next chappie. Don't worry about Collinwood...evil though he may be! Thanks for the review! Let me know what you think!
To Angel of Harlem: Tick...Tick...Boom! No more ignoring it now! Glad you had a great time at the U2 show. I cannot wait to hear the new stuff and choice cuts off of Achtung Baby! Please let me know what you think of this chapter! Love ya!
To lilegyptiangoddess: Ah! Remus Lupin and Rosaleen are destined to be together despite certain road bumps (coughSnapecough)! Please read and review! Thanks!
To Jacque Trahan: Glad that you enjoy the story! Please let me know what you think as the story progresses! Your review was lovely! Thank you!
To Pickledishkiller: Yes, she is wise, that Hermione. Soon, she will blow the whole case open!