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 Two: Turn and Run

"But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run

And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out.

And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted,
All the time, all the time"

– "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead

Well into December, Rosaleen and Snape continued to carry out their secret liaison. She would berate herself every night afterwards, but had more or less accepted her fate. She was undeserving of Remus Lupin, and she planned to tell him when she returned to Number Twelve for the Christmas holiday. She did not wish to hurt or hinder him any more than she already had.

She cared for him more than anyone else. That is why she had to let him go.

She had received an owl from Molly Weasley inviting her to the confines of Number Twelve for Christmas along with her family, Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebot, Harry and Hermione. It would be a time that she looked forward to and also dread.

She only hoped that Lupin would still want to speak to her after she dealt him the news. If he did not, she would understand. However, it was all the better for him. She had hurt him and he was allowed to react however he wished. She deserved whatever he had to say.

Rosaleen laid in bed, not wearing much more than a black, lacy slip and braided her hair at the nape of her neck. She twirled the long plait in her fingers and waited for the knock that she had been expecting all evening. It was nearly midnight and he was late.

Finally, three knocks came with quick succession on her door. Rosaleen rose from the bed and answered, letting Snape in quickly. He looked acerbic, more acerbic than he usually did. While he was never truly tender with her, he had taken to holding her when they slept and sometimes even kissing her when they said goodbye. She had become accustomed to the silence between them.

"You're almost an hour late." Rosaleen locked the door behind him and walked around to get a square look at him. Snape shook his head as to tell her that it was not the time to bicker.

"I was called away." He touched the inside of his left arm and Rosaleen instantly knew what he meant.

"Was there any talk of Collinwood or the inheritance?" Snape shook his head and began to undress.

"No, I doubt many others beside Bellatrix know of those plans...perhaps I will hear of them soon for myself. Rose, there is something I need to speak to you about..." She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to speak. She found his behavior worrisome, to say the least.

He looked her over with a lingering glance. Though she looked comely, there was something that had plagued him since the day in his office. Her dreams...

"The dreams, that you had in the summer...I think that someone may be using Legilimency on you...is there a reason that you believed I tampered with the potion?"

Rosaleen shrugged and sat on her bed, a little blind sided by the course of conversation, "Well, you made it and beforehand, I only dreamed of my past. I spoke with Lupin one evening and he agreed to take some and he had a dream, too. That is what lead me to believe..."

"Did he say what the dream was about?" Rosaleen stared at him blankly for a moment and then turned her head away.

"He told me that he...killed me in his dream...you don't think..." She trailed off and her thoughts were confirmed by the firm nod that Snape dealt her.

"I think that it is a very strong possibility that someone is making you both see what they want you to. I use Occlumency...I have had no dreams as such." Rosaleen sighed and held her head in her hands. Once again she crashed down to reality. It was no secret that the search for the MacDuff's had stalled since she and Snape had become intimate.

Snape walked over to her and she pulled him down on the bed and wrapped her bare legs around his hips. Rosaleen nipped at his left ear and the side of his neck. Though he wanted no more than to slip the flimsy black material off her body, he began to wonder if someone else was making her act that way...

In the small hours of the morning, Rosaleen and Snape laid beneath the covers in her four-poster bed with the curtains drawn. Rosaleen turned over on her side to look at him. He laid on his back, his head sunk into the pillow and looked thoughtful.

Rosaleen raised an eyebrow and inquired lowly, "What is it?"

Snape sighed heavily, she was more stimulating when she did not speak in so many questions. He had been mulling over ideas why someone would use Legilimency on Rosaleen and implant dreams of himself. Of course, there was his connection to the Dark Lord, and Snape did see Rosaleen on a daily basis at the school...

...the only reason he could find that it would happen was to scare Rosaleen from the arms of Remus Lupin and into his own, so she could be more accessible when the time comes...

...but time for what?

"Nothing of consequence. Can't you sleep?" Snape looked obliquely at her in the darkness, the yellow of her eyes shone brightly.

"No." Rosaleen murmured with a perturbed tone.

"Perhaps I should ask you what your thoughts are bent on?"

Rosaleen hesitated in telling him about how she dreaded seeing Lupin. How it would tear her in two to look at his kind face and gentle, warm eyes and tell him that there relationship could not be. She felt like a fool. Remus Lupin had pushed her away for fear that he would hurt her. Still, Rosaleen pushed him to let her in. Then, he had finally came around at the Opera, and things seemed to be perfect. Now, she had ruined it and avoided writing him anything other than completely brief and rather sterile letters.

In only a few days, she would be face to face with him. He was unsuspecting and she was duplicitous. It grieved her to imagine the scenarios in which she told Remus Lupin that she did not want to have a romantic relationship for him. The truth is, she did want to; but she could not lead a sordid double life with such an authentic person. It pained her. She didn't understand what she and Snape had, yet at the same time deep inside, she was enjoying it. The little dark, secretive parts of her relished it.

"I received an invitation to spend the holidays with the Weasleys at Number Twelve." Rosaleen heard Snape chuckle shrewdly.

"I see, this is about him. Isn't it?" Rosaleen did not appreciate the way he emphasized the word. Wasn't it enough that she had spent the last month having a seedy, yet titillating affair with him at the expense of Lupin's heart? Why must he be so cruel?

"Yes it is, Severus." Snape rolled on top of her, their noses nearly touching. He wanted to feel her heart move and see her eyes when she answered his next question.

"Are you going to tell him?" Tears glassed over her eyes and she bit her lower lip. His weight stirred her up and she knew what he was trying to get her to say. She nodded in affirmation.

"I am going to tell him that I don't think it is wise that we continue our amatory relationship." Rosaleen felt Snape's gaze turn heated.

"But you are going to side-skip the fact that you and I have been sleeping together for a month?" Rosaleen felt the sting of his words and brushed the dark hair out of his eyes.

"I am already breaking his heart and his trust, Severus. Shall I humiliate him as well? I think not. For myself as much as his own, I want to remain friends with him in some capacity. Also, I will not have you at odds with each other. I do not want to hurt him anymore than I have to all at once..."

Snape chuckled balefully, Remus Lupin was a pitiful creature. Though, it would bring him joy to know that he had purloined the object of Lupin's affection from beneath his nose. Some overtly masculine part of him would enjoy that very much. He could imagine Lupin sitting in the confines of Number Twelve, looking pathetic and pining away for Rosaleen. If she would ever leave him, Snape would not pine, but would probably miss the physical proximity and heat their bodies made when they were together...he could see himself becoming a little possessive of her in that capacity...

He felt her legs wrap around him and knew that she felt the same urge that he did. Though he did not believe that he would pine for her, he certainly did not want to imagine not being able to touch her ever again.

Bellatrix Lestrange watched her master pace in front of the fire. Only she and Lucius Malfoy were left of the meeting that was called that night. Lord Voldemort planned only with them about the MacDuffs and the dealings behind Heathcliff Collinwood's back. The vampire did not know that in accordance to promising him the MacDuff heir, that the Dark Lord had been planting ideas and visions in her at night when she thought she had turned off her mind...

"Do you think Severus believes that he loves this girl, my lord?" Lucius asked. Lord Voldemort chuckled wickedly, his red eyes showing some evil amusement.

"Come now, Lucius. Severus does not have the capacity to love something like her. She is merely a form of carnal entertainment...though, I daresay, I do believe he could become addicted."

"But you did not cast a spell on him, Master. How is it that you knew he would go along?" Bellatrix inquired solemnly.

"You see, Bella, much like yourself, this Rosaleen possesses that forbidden quality of darkness. Something that, as you know, Severus is very intrigued by. He is experimenting and he wants to control her, possess her. Their's is a very physical relationship...no love or tenderness involved. It is based on lust and desire and the weakness of the flesh...everything that is said to be wrong. When the time is right, when Collinwood comes with the inheritance and I have my immortality, we will unwittingly lure Severus here with the girl..."

Lucius Malfoy looked admiringly at the Dark Lord and questioned lightly, "I suppose Collinwood would not be happy to know that his prize has been spoiled by one of our own?"

"If Heathcliff Collinwood believes that the MacDuff heir has maintained her virtue for more than 300 years, then we have not fully taken advantage of his stupidity as we should have!"

Days later, Rosaleen was preparing for her visit to Number Twelve, packing warm clothes, pajamas and presents she had bought for the Weasleys and Lupin into her bag. Persephone, on the other hand, she had to force into her carrying case. The cat had not cared for her mistress' taste in company for the past month.

As she buttoned up her coat and wrapped her scarf around her neck, a solid knock came upon her door. Rosaleen placed her wand in her coat pocket and turned the knob slowly. She looked up once the door opened and saw her petulant lover at the door.

"Hello, Severus. Come to see me off?" She gave him a jovial smile and let him in.

"Actually, I came to tell you that I have a meeting that may divulge possible information on the whereabouts of your grandmother's home...Collinwood has been seen in parts of Scotland...Do you wish me to keep you informed while you are away?"

She nodded, "Of course. Is there anything else?"

"I'm sure I can think of something..." Snape inched closer to her and Rosaleen openly rolled her eyes.

"I don't have time for that, Severus." He locked the door behind him and Rosaleen sighed heavily.

"I am already packed, I look nice and I don't want to get mussed." She said firmly as he circled her waist with his arms and tried to escape it, "If you continue to do that I won't give you your Christmas present."

He chuckled in a slightly depraved way and his hands attempted to undo the buttons of her coat, "Perhaps just a peek of it?"

Rosaleen could not believe her ears. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pressed it firmly against his throat. She gave Snape a rather unapologetic look and spoke.

"I really didn't want to do this."

"You wouldn't." Snape hissed.

"Try me." She bared her teeth at him to make sure that he knew that she meant business. She wanted to look nice when she arrived at Number Twelve and not like she did in all of her post-indiscretion glory. Snape took a step back and did not look pleased. Rosaleen picked up her luggage and smiled faintly.

"Do you have plans for the holiday?"

Snape sighed in an irritated tone and responded, "Perhaps."

"Well, I will see you when I return. Happy Christmas, Severus." Rosaleen unlocked the door and picked up Persephone's case with her free hand and left him alone in her room. Perhaps a break from the dizzying and obsessive tryst would be what they both needed.

Rosaleen made her way up the walk of Number Twelve Gimmauld Place and knocked gently on the door. No sooner did she knock that the door flew open and Molly Weasley ushered her in quietly. She looked very excited to see Rosaleen and lead her into the kitchen where Arthur, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Lupin all sitting around the table drinking hot tea and butterbeers.

Before Rosaleen could offer up a hello to the group, Remus Lupin rushed to her side to help alleviate some of her burden. As he took Persephone's carrying case from her, an ecstatic giggle rose up among teenager and adult alike. Rosaleen and Lupin looked around at the others and then at each other. Lupin shrugged and Molly Weasley stepped in and pointed upwards to the doorway of the kitchen.

As Rosaleen followed Mrs. Weasley's finger, she recognized the leafy green bouquet hanging above her head.

It was mistletoe.

Rosaleen gaped a bit, not expecting this form of torture to be inflicted upon her within minutes of arriving.

"Come now Remus, kiss her. It's tradition." Molly Weasley cooed, a bright smile awash on her face. She seemed to be very proud of this predicament.

Rosaleen felt her heart pull in her chest. It was going to be a very long holiday...

A/N: Up next--A Christmas Celebration for the ages. Rosaleen attempts to tell Lupin, Collinwood finds Maleficent, Harry remembers a detail, the full Weasley clan, Tonks and Moody all make appearances–as well as a guest Rosaleen was not prepared to see. More mistletoe and kisses to go 'round.

Please Read and Review!

Love,

Leah P!

To Katie Scarlette: Glad you enjoyed the tease! More Rosaleen/Remus and Rosaleen/Severus to come. I really enjoy writing the lusty Severus and Rosaleen scenes. It is a nice change of pace...and I guess I am a bit pervy, too. Please write a new story or update the ones you have already posted! I would love to read it! Please Read and Review!

To Astarael Undomiel: I enjoy the Severus/Rosaleen pairing, too. It has really reinvigorated my writing. Snape to me, is a bit possessive when it comes to women, and I hope to bring that out in later chapters. Please stay tuned!

To Liv: Thanks for the review! I am glad that you like the story! I am happy that you want to stick with it. Here's the next chapter for you. Be sure to drop me another line!

To Sarah: More Collinwood in the next chappie, I promise. Rose is definitely enjoying herself and her time with Snape...please read and review!