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-One: The Only One That's Understood

"I got my head, but my head is unraveling
Can't keep control, can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart is no good
And you're the only one that's understood
I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you're reaching back and shaking me
Turn off the sun, pull the stars from the sky
The more I give to you, the more I die

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you
And I want you"

-Nine Inch Nails, "The Perfect Drug"

Rosaleen could not answer any of Lupin's letters that had piled up over the two weeks that had passed.She could not, in good conscience, write him a letter that contained anything remotely romantic and deceitful about the goings on at the school. So, much like avoiding Severus Snape, Rosaleen avoided informing Remus Lupin of his yet unknown, but already broken heart.

She diverted her attentions elsewhere. She had helped Professor Sprout in the greenhouses, listened intently to Filch's complaints about certain members in Ravenclaw and assured him that she would call a meeting for reminders in the Ravenclaw common room. Rosaleen found herself intrigued by the thought of visiting Professor Trelawney, thanks to the talk amongst the teachers and students alike. Perhaps sometime she would visit her...when she felt like she did not have that much to hide.

One morning, Madame Hooch and Professor McGonagall waved to her in the Great Hall before breakfast. Rosaleen took a deep breath and made her way over to the pair. McGonagall put her hand on Rosaleen's and spoke in a low, sightly-maternal tone.

"Students are beginning to wonder about you, Rose. You rarely come to meals and make your presence known outside of classes. The Ravenclaw and Slytherin quidditch match is tomorrow. I am sure that your house would love to see you in attendance."

Rosaleen shrugged, McGonagall was right. She should take a more active role in her duties as head of house; "Certainly. It sounds like fun."

"Now, there's the spirit!" Madame Hooch exclaimed.

Rosaleen bid goodbye and made her way to the staff table and the empty seat that waited for her, right next to the person that she did not want to see at all. Rosaleen slid into her spot coolly and waited to hear his voice drone an apathetic good morning to her.

But it never came.

Who did he think he was? He intruded on her private time and coaxed her with a demanding seduction...

Now, that wasn't entirely true.

Rosaleen had allowed herself to be seduced...in fact, at one point she may have even been the seducer. There were theories about vampires that they were completely amorous, sexual and erotic beings. She had never fancied herself so, but she was discovering new things about herself and her family with each passing day.

Maybe it was true. Heathcliff Collinwood was a completely sensual, worldly and decadent being. Morgan LeFay, from what Rosaleen had read, was no stranger to taking many lovers and having many clandestine affairs.

Perhaps the secret laid within herself. Perhaps Rosaleen was just immoral and hurt people that she cared greatly for. Completely self-destructive and iniquitous

Rosaleen quietly sipped her tea and quietly fumed at herself and the man who ignored her.

The next morning, Rosaleen made her way to the school's quidditch pitch wearing her coat, gloves and the scarf that bore the colors of the house of Ravenclaw. She climbed the stairs to the staff section and sat next to Professor McGonagall, who welcomed her with an approving nod.

She watched quietly as the stands filled up with teachers and students alike. A dark figure appeared out of the corner of her eye. Severus Snape sat a row behind her next to Professor Sinastra. Once again, Rosaleen noted that he was ignoring her, and it angered her thoroughly. So thoroughly, that she had a hard time paying attention to the match.

Why should it matter? She had ignored him for weeks. For some reason, Rosaleen found the whole matter to be all of his fault. He put something in the potion to make her have dreams, he weaseled his way in to helping her with research based on Dumbledore's good graces. She had fallen prey to him...and it angered her. Now he, of all people, was ignoring her.

At the same time Rosaleen knew that she was normally a rational thinking creature. This was as much her fault as any. She had become obsessed with the situation, analyzing it over and over again, trying to garner its meaning...perhaps it had none. Rosaleen told herself that she didn't even like Severus Snape, but that was obviously a fallacy. There was something there. Something that she could not explain, but something that existed and that she had inexplicably given life.

Before she knew it, the match was over. Ravenclaw had secured a slim victory, thanks in part to Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker, catching the golden snitch. As the stands emptied, Rosaleen found herself following Snape back to his office at a safe distance. She was a woman possessed. Rosaleen was not a woman of a brazen nature, but on this Saturday afternoon, she was.

Severus Snape had heard the footfalls behind him and new exactly who it was. Rosaleen had followed him from the quidditch match between their two houses. Perhaps this was the moment that he had been waiting so impatiently for. He would not deny that on All Hallow's Eve, he had gotten a taste for something he liked. He had spent weeks waiting for her, fighting the urge to appear to her first. And the moment had finally arrived.

He shut the door to his office behind him quickly and waited at a close distance to hear her approach and knock. The light, yet anxious rapping came upon the door with a fervent urgency. He gave it a few moments and opened the door halfway. Snape painted on an apathetic visage and growled at her.

"Something important I hope. I am a very busy man, Rose." She stepped in, her face awash with anger and he shut and locked the door.

"How dare you ignore me so blatantly!" She erupted.

He pushed the way the urge to smirk at her and remained emotionless, "I daresay you ignored and avoided me first. I haven't missed any meals and hid in the library instead."

"Of course I did! I have no idea how to feel about what happened...and what continues to go on between us. I can not comprehend it. It makes no sense! Yet, I cannot deny that it is there. Halloween is enough proof of that. I let you in! I should have run you out!" Rosaleen stomped her foot, her green eyes taken up by an angry yellow rim. Snape merely folded his arms across his chest and looked irritated.

"Maybe you should try to not think about it so much, try to categorize it or classify it in a neat and orderly way. Perhaps it is better left unexplained." There was a certain chill to his voice that made Rosaleen outraged.

"How can I not? You are someone, who until very recently, I had nothing but disdain for. Then you...you..." She clenched her fists and could not finish her sentence.

"I did what?" Snape looked very interested in her answer.

"You did this to me! You gave me that potion and made me dream of you! You put thoughts into my head and I...I allowed them to happen! I let myself do it! Subliminally, you seduced me! Now I can't stop thinking of you, horrible you, when I have someone who cares for me deeper than I have ever experienced or deserve! I have broken Remus's heart! I have betrayed him. I have chosen lust over love!" Rosaleen's cheeks burned pink and she hung her head.

Snape was at a loss for words, he never thought that she would openly admit her sins to anyone, let alone him. She had dreamed of him? He had done many things in his life, but tampering with her sleeping potion was not one of them.

"I did not meddle with your potion. To that I swear. You said that you had dreams...about me?" He warded off emotion and remained chilly when he spoke. She shook her head and raised her eyes to him again.

"About...us."

"Do you have the gift of foresight?"

She shook her head, not that she knew of. She stepped closer to him and could not stop herself from making another mistake. She had bit the forbidden fruit and she was hooked. For all the times that she had told herself that she was wrong and horrible, it could not repress the fact that she wanted him to touch her again. She wanted it, though she knew it was wrong and despite the fact that she did care for Lupin. Cared for him, yes, but her body ached for the awful Snape to touch her.

Before she knew what she was doing, Rosaleen had taken Snape by the fabric of his robes and smothered him with a kiss. Snape pressed her against him, feeling every curve and muscle of her body against his. Their hands fumbled with each other's clothing until every button came undone and every stitch of clothing had littered the floor.

After suffering two more "indiscretions" in Snape's office, they were curled together on the rug and drenched in each other's sweat. Rosaleen wept silently, her back to Snape's chest as he trailed kisses down the back of her neck and shoulders.

She had not fallen from grace.

She had jumped willfully.

Rosaleen was pained by what she had done to Lupin, though she could not stay away from Snape.

She would have to tell Lupin soon.

A/N: Hello all. Remus receives a broken heart in the next chapter, though Rosaleen does not tell him the WHOLE truth. Snape becomes worried about Rosaleen's dreams, thinking that their attraction may be the doing of another, more powerful being. Collinwood visits Maleficent MacDuff and Christmas at Number Twelve is strange and strained.

Please Read and Review!

Love,

Leah P!

To Marie: Rosaleen and Snape is a very addictive relationship. I wanted it to be twisted and dark...neither of them really realizes why they attract each other...as for Snape liking the slap–he was happy to get a rise out of her, to confirm that she does have some feeling toward him. In all honesty, I think their relationship is a little sadomasochistic and different than the caring, deep feelings that she and Lupin have. It is completely lust-fueled. But is it their own? Or is someone else having a hand in it? Ah, for that you must wait to find out ( I am such a tease!). Rosaleen does love Lupin. It's a confusing situation and a fun plot device as a writer. I hope you had a great birthday and that you stick with the story! Let me know what you think about the chapter!

To Sarah: Here's to more Snape and Rosaleen! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please drop me a line!