Harry woke up late in the afternoon to the loud, tuneless singing of the wooden doll. It sounded like some Russian folksong. She stopped when she saw he was awake.
"You left me alone yesterday," she said huffily.
"I had to go somewhere," said Harry, but she had now turned her back on him and was ignoring him. She stood staring out of the window, a sulky look on her face.
Harry noticed that someone had placed an early dinner - or perhaps it was a late lunch - on a tray in the room. He started eating, and the doll, tired of sulking, started her loud, tuneless singing again.
Harry finished eating, then to get away from the doll's singing, wandered out to look for the others. Lupin seemed to be catching up with some of his old associates, while Dumbledore and Oleg Bubcek were having a drink in the parlour, talking. Bubcek was puffing on an enormous pipe.
"Ah, Harry," said Bubcek, when he appeared. "Did you have a good rest?"
"Yes, thank you," said Harry.
"Ready for this evening, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, looking at him through his half-moon spectacles.
"I guess so," said Harry, "although - I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do."
Dumbledore smiled. "You'll know when the time comes."
Harry was silent a moment, then looked at Dumbledore.
"I forgot to tell you this," he said. "I don't know if it's important, but - the shape-shifter - well, she looks like she's Chinese."
"Is she?" said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "That's interesting."
Professor Bubcek was still puffing on his pipe.
"It doesn't mean she's not Russian, Harry," he said. "Russia has a border with China. Many of those living on the Russian side of the border are of Chinese origin."
"She doesn't speak like a Russian," said Harry.
"She might well be Japanese, too," observed Dumbledore. "I don't know if you are aware of it, Harry, but Kamchatka is fairly near to Japan."
"Oh," said Harry, feeling rather ignorant. He was silent a while, then remembered something else.
"Professor Dumbledore?" he said. "I was just wondering…Is there a special reason why you chose Professor Lupin to handle the shape-shifter?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Well, Harry," he said, "I think that among us, Remus is the most suitable person to tackle her."
Harry was puzzled. "But why?"
"My guess would be," said Bubcek, coughing a bit through a cloud of smoke, "that it's because Remus is a - is a - "
Dumbledore's beard quivered slightly. "Werewolf, Oleg. Werewolf."
"Yes, yes, werewolf," said Bubcek, looking nervously around, as if he were afraid Lupin might be eavesdropping on him. "So - er - having the ability to transform himself, he might have some intrinsic rapport with this shape-shifter, er, perhaps find it easier to communicate with her."
"Precisely, Oleg," said Dumbledore, his eyes still twinkling.
Harry, however, somehow felt that this wasn't the real reason for Dumbledore's choice.
The journey to Milkovo was similar to the previous night's, except that two turnip trucks were used to accommodate the twenty or so extra wizards who were setting out. Harry sat next to Professor Lupin this time, feeling slightly apprehensive. What if something went wrong?
Lupin, however, appeared quite calm.
"Just stay some distance from me till I calm her down a bit," he said to Harry. "When she transforms back to human form, you can come over and join me. And stay away from the fighting." He meant Dumbledore and the others attacking Deorg.
"All right," said Harry, feeling a bit down because his role wasn't very important. However, at least he wasn't being left behind.
They had tried evacuating the village, but the villagers had refused to leave. Most of its inhabitants, although aware of the carnage in the other villages, were just as frightened of the wild beasts in the forest. The most Dumbledore and the other wizards could do was put the strongest protective spells on the houses as they could.
"Well, that's done," said Lupin, when the last house had been charmed. "Hopefully the charm won't be tested…we should be waylaying them before they actually reach the village."
They took up positions outside the village. The road leading to the village went over a hill. Dumbledore and the other wizards were hiding near the crest of the hill, while Harry and Lupin were at its base, some distance from the road. Harry looked up at the sky, where a half moon was shining. He glanced at Lupin, and saw that he was looking at it too.
Lupin gave him a wry smile.
"I'm safe for tonight, at least," he said.
Harry couldn't think what to say, so he merely nodded.
The wait seemed to last forever. Harry found his thoughts wandering back to the previous night's happenings. He could see the girl's eyes, looking at him, dark and watchful, in the dim light of the cave. With her quiet manner, it was difficult to imagine that she and the beast were actually one and the same.
It was getting colder and colder; Harry found himself shivering a bit.
At last, a distant howling was heard.
"It's time," said Lupin quietly, getting up. "Wait here. When you see her transform back, come on over."
"OK," said Harry. He watched Lupin sprinting over to the side of the road, and take up position in a small grove of trees, wand ready in his hand. The howling was louder now. There it was - the beast was coming over the crest of the hill.
Harry watched tensely. Surely, nothing could go wrong.
The beast was nearer - any moment now -
A burst of sparks distracted his attention from the beast. Lupin was on the ground, his wand flying high in an arc away from him. A figure from a nearby tree was dropping like a stone onto him.
"No!" whispered Harry in horror. Forgetting everything, he started running forward.
He could see flashes of light as the two fought under the trees. Then - a huge burst of light in the distance to his left suddenly threw him sideways to the ground.
The beast shrieked madly. Harry started up. A blaze of light was concentrated on the cowled figure behind it. Dumbledore and the other wizards had attacked Deorg.
The chain binding the beast snapped. Snarling and shrieking madly, the animal bounded down the hill toward the village.
Frantically, Harry looked in Lupin's direction. Clouds were scudding across the moon; he could only make out two figures, one slumped on the ground, the other standing frozen as the beast raced toward him.
Harry started running toward them. The moon went completely behind the clouds for a moment. Harry ran blindly on. He was almost there…
Abruptly, the clouds cleared and moonlight shone down on the scene before him. For a split second, he had a glimpse of Lupin and the beast, standing stock still facing each other. The beast uttered a shrill scream. And suddenly, it was gone; only the girl was there, still on all fours, staring up at Lupin, a look of shock on her face.
Harry dashed up, panting and clutching his wand. Lupin had a slightly baffled look on his face. He glanced briefly at Harry, then turned back to the girl.
"Are you all right?" he asked her.
She was still staring, as if in shock. Then, after a few seconds, she nodded mutely.
Harry looked over at the figure of the other wizard on the ground.
"Who's that?"
Lupin glanced at the figure.
"Atlasov," he said.
"Is he - " said Harry.
"Dead," said Lupin, shortly.
He turned to Harry.
"Wait here with her," he said quietly. "I have to bury him. Wizard's honour. There are certain rites that should be performed."
"OK," said Harry, still panting and trying to catch his breath.
Lupin retrieved his wand, then came back and looked at the girl. Dressed only in rags, she was shivering. Drawing a cloak out of the air with his wand, Lupin gave it to Harry and said, "Give this to her before she freezes. And don't let her go anywhere near the fighting." He then strode over to where Atlasov's body was lying.
Harry went over to the girl. She was watching Lupin, but looked at Harry when he came over.
"Are you all right?" he asked, giving her the cloak and sitting down beside her.
"Yes," she said in a rather muffled voice, wrapping herself in the cloak. "Thank you," she added. She glanced in the direction of the fighting. Bursts of light and explosions were still issuing from that area.
"What's happening?" she asked faintly.
"We've attacked Deorg," said Harry. He looked at her. "You're free."
"Free?" she repeated numbly.
She seemed to be in shock. They sat in silence for a while. Harry watched Lupin excavating a hole in the ground; the earth was flying out of the ground into a heap at the command of his wand.
The girl was still shivering slightly. She had seemed more confident in the confines of the cave. Out here, under the open sky, she suddenly looked vulnerable.
She spoke suddenly, and Harry jumped.
"If you don't mind," she said, not looking at him, "I think I'd like to be alone for a while."
"All right," said Harry uneasily, feeling rather unwanted. He got up and walked over to Lupin, who had just placed the body in the grave.
"She says she wants to be alone," he said, when Lupin looked at him.
Lupin looked over at the girl. She was sitting still as a statue, staring into space.
"Let her be," he said. "Deorg's hold on her mind must have been wrenched free suddenly. She'll probably take a while to recover from the shock."
Harry watched the earth flying back into the grave at the command of his wand.
"Have you, um, done this before?" he asked Lupin.
"A few times," said Lupin, casually. He seemed to be searching for something on the ground.
Harry watched him for a few moments.
"Professor Lupin?" he said suddenly. "I was just wondering…The girl - what did you do - how did you get her to transform back?"
Lupin straightened up, frowning.
"A good question," he said, glancing back in the direction of the girl. "If I'd had my wand, I would have used a calming charm; that was what I'd initially planned."
"What?" said Harry, startled.
"I didn't do anything," said Lupin, looking around at the ground again. "She came bounding up so fast, there was no time to react."
"You mean…" said Harry, slowly.
"I thought it was the end, for me," said Lupin matter-of-factly. "But she just stopped short, and transformed back on her own."
He bent over and scooped up a handful of small, round pebbles. Walking over to the grave, he scattered the pebbles over it, muttering some words under his breath.
Harry was silent, thinking about what he'd just heard.
"There, that's done," said Lupin, when he had finished. "Now we can go back - " he glanced in the girl's direction as he spoke, and stopped short.
Harry looked back. The girl had disappeared.
"I didn't watch her!" he said angrily in self-disgust, as they ran to look for her. "Stupid…idiotic…"
The battle was still raging on. Harry looked at Lupin.
"Do you think…"
"No," said Lupin slowly, "not there…somehow I don't think…"
He turned away from the fighting, looking down the road.
"The village!"
She was standing near the entrance, looking into the village. A crowd of villagers, some carrying burning torches, had gathered outside their houses, attracted by the fighting raging in the distance; but they were now looking curiously at the girl. Harry noticed that many of them were carrying roughly made weapons.
The girl turned to them as they ran up to her. Her dirty face, bathed in the glow of the torches, appeared calm and resolute. Before they could say anything, she spoke first.
"Don't come near," she said.
A murmur ran through the villagers. They were coming closer. Harry suddenly felt very nervous.
"What are you - " began Lupin, but she cut him short.
"They're coming for me," she said quietly, glancing at the crowd. There was a peculiar expression in her eyes. She turned again to Lupin and Harry.
"My time has come," she said to them in a resolute voice. "I have to pay for what I've done. I have blood on my hands. Their blood." She held up her hands, and Harry's heart skipped a beat. They were covered with bright red blood.
She bowed her head slightly, staring at the ground unseeingly. "I don't know how many I've killed," she said softly, as if to herself. "Menfolk…women… children… I can see them before my eyes. I saw their faces, heard their screams, when they died." She gave a quick shudder.
Harry was listening, open-mouthed. He felt as if everything was slightly unreal…the flickering glow of the torches, the soft voice of the girl…
"My time has come," she repeated softly, raising her head and facing the villagers again. "It's their turn, now."
As if on cue, the crowd started coming forward. Harry could hear angry muttering. There were a few shouts in Russian.
Lupin glanced at the girl's face, then at the approaching crowd, and said in a hard, sharp voice, "Harry, take my hand!" Harry grabbed his hand. Lupin reached out with his other and caught hold of the girl's arm, just as the first flurry of torches came raining out at them.
There was a whirl of light, and then they were standing in a forest clearing. A river glinted in the distance. It was strangely quiet; leaves were rustling quietly in the wind. The bursts of light and explosions were gone, as was the village.
The girl had a startled expression on her face. Glancing at her hands, Harry saw that the bloodstains were ebbing away.
She looked at Lupin.
"Why did you do that?" she said to him. "Are you going to kill me instead?"
To Harry's surprise, Lupin smiled.
"No one's going to hurt you tonight," he told her kindly. He looked thoughtfully around the clearing. "We'll make camp here tonight," he said decisively, "maybe have something to eat…" He looked at the girl again, noticing her matted hair and the grime on her, "…and we could all do with a bath, as well."
She flushed slightly and seemed ashamed, but Lupin didn't appear to notice. Taking out his wand, he said, "Let me see, a towel…" - one flick, and a towel appeared in his hand. "Soap, too…" Another flick, and a bar of soap appeared on top of the towel. He looked at her appraisingly. "And yes, some clothes…"
She looked quickly at him. "I - I can take care of the clothes, sir, really," she stammered, the colour rising in her face. She took the towel and soap. "Thank you," she added, uneasily, and then turned and slowly made her way toward the river.
Harry watched her retreating figure.
"What if she goes off again?" he asked.
Lupin was looking around the clearing again, but glanced in the direction of the river as Harry spoke.
"Oh, I don't think she will," he said lightly, his attention returning to the clearing. "We need to make a fire," he said. "Here, I think." He waved his wand, and flames leapt up merrily.
Harry stared at Lupin.
"But - why don't we just bring her back to the castle?"
Lupin was looking around the fire. "Bedding," he said, flicking his wand. Three sleeping bags appeared. He looked at Harry.
"The castle isn't safe for her, Harry," he said. "You heard what some of the wizards there think of her."
"But then," said Harry, "what's going to happen to her?"
"I can only think of one thing," said Lupin, nudging the sleeping bags into more suitable positions around the fire. "We're going to have to bring her back to Hogwarts with us."
"What?" said Harry, surprised. "To Hogwarts? But - will she come?"
"I don't know," replied Lupin. "But what choice is there? She can't stay at the Institute; Dorek and the other wizards there will kill her, sooner or later. No village here would take her in, either - you saw how the villagers acted just now. There isn't any place here, in Kamchatka, or for that matter, anywhere in Russia, that's safe for her."
Harry was silent, pondering this.
"It's only a temporary measure, putting her up at Hogwarts," added Lupin, conjuring up plates and cutlery. "Professor Dumbledore will likely think of something for her."
Lupin stoked the fire up a bit, then said, "Now for the food. Lend me a hand, Harry, instead of just standing there. You can at least make us a cup of tea."
They had just finished preparing the food when there was a burst of light, and Professor Dumbledore appeared. Seeing only Harry and Lupin, he glanced around the clearing, slightly anxious.
"Is everything all right, Remus?" he asked, "The shape-shifter - the girl - "
"Bathing in the river," said Harry, quickly.
Dumbledore smiled in relief.
"That's good, very good," he said. "I was afraid Deorg might have spirited her off when he escaped - "
"He got away?" said Lupin quickly.
Dumbledore looked sober.
"I'm afraid so. But his power is greatly reduced, his fortress destroyed, and his soldiers are probably now on their way home."
His eyes moved to look behind them as he spoke, and turning, they saw that the girl had come back.
Harry could hardly recognise her. Now that she was clean, she looked completely different. She had managed to comb her hair, and it fell, long and black, almost to her waist. She was wearing a green tunic together with close-fitting brown pants and boots. Harry wondered how she had managed to conjure them without a wand.
She stopped when she saw Dumbledore, her eyes wary, the usual rather sullen expression on her face. She reminded Harry of some wild creature, tense and ready to take flight.
Dumbledore smiled kindly, and went forward.
"My dear, it's a real pleasure to meet you at last," he said, taking her hands in his, and peering at her through his half-moon spectacles. "Allow me to introduce myself: Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Wizardry."
She looked rather startled.
"I - I've heard of you, sir," she said, finding her voice, "- and of Hogwarts. It's a famous school."
Dumbledore beamed at her.
"Excellent, my dear," he said, patting her hand. Then, bringing her forward to the others, he said, "and of course, you've met Harry already, and Professor Lupin - have you introduced yourself, Remus?" - Lupin, who was watching with a smile, shook his head - "This is Professor Remus Lupin, one of our teachers at Hogwarts."
She turned to look at Lupin, and for the first time that Harry could remember, she smiled.
Harry was startled. The difference was amazing; the smile seemed to transform her entire face.
Dumbledore thought so, too.
"Lovely, my dear, you have a lovely smile," he said, patting her hand again. "And now, tell us your name."
Her smiled vanished. She looked blank.
"My name?" she repeated. She looked at Dumbledore, then at Harry, and lastly Lupin.
Lupin nodded encouragingly at her. She looked confused a moment, and stammered, "It's been a long time - "
She looked at the ground, as if trying to remember, then seemed to pull herself together. Looking at Dumbledore, she drew a breath and said, "It's Jeanne, sir. My name is Jeanne."
Dumbledore beamed at her again.
"And a lovely name, too," he said. "And now, we have to decide, Jeanne, what are we going to do with you?"
She looked at him, then lowered her eyes, remaining silent.
Dumbledore looked at her, and said, "I have a proposal to make to you."
She looked up. "A proposal?"
"Yes, indeed," said Dumbledore. "I would like to extend an invitation to you, Jeanne, to come back with the three of us, to Britain, and stay at Hogwarts."
She looked surprised.
"To Hogwarts?" she faltered. "But - what could I do there? I can't teach - or anything - "
"There's one position vacant," continued Dumbledore, "which might well suit you - that of assistant to Rubeus Hagrid, our gamekeeper."
Harry gave an exclamation of delight. "It's perfect! That would be a brilliant idea, sir!"
"Thank you, Harry," said Dumbledore. He looked back at Jeanne, who was still looking doubtful.
"It has been a long day," he said gently, "and we're all tired. I suggest you have something to eat, and a good night's sleep, and think about my offer. I'll be back first thing in the morning to hear your decision."
He released her hand, and turned to Lupin and Harry. "I have some final things to arrange with Oleg tonight, including deciding how to keep tabs on Deorg, so I'll leave you here for now. Remus, you don't have anything to settle at the Institute, do you?"
"No, Headmaster," replied Lupin.
"I'm off, then," said Dumbledore, and with another smile at Jeanne, he was gone.
Harry woke up in the middle of the night, and saw stars trembling in the sky above him. For a moment, he couldn't recall where he was.
Then he remembered. Turning, he saw Jeanne, in her sleeping bag, across the campfire.
She was awake. She was staring up at the sky, her expression less sullen than usual. She seemed to be thinking about something.
Harry turned the other way, and tried to sleep. But after a few minutes, he turned and looked at Jeanne again.
She was sitting up now, looking around at the forest. A gentle breeze blew, stirring her long hair.
All at once, she rose, and in one swift fluid movement, raised her arms. She seemed to shrink; her hair was disappearing…feathers were sprouting…a barn owl stood in her place.
In a flash, the owl spread its wings, and was gone.
Harry sat up in dismay, and turned to look behind him.
"Professor Lupin! Jeanne - she's gone! - " he began, but stopped short when he saw that Lupin was already awake and sitting up.
Lupin shook his head at Harry, and looked thoughtfully at Jeanne's empty sleeping bag. "Not to worry, Harry, I'm sure she'll come back."
"How do you know?" asked Harry, astonished.
Lupin was still looking at the sleeping bag, but Harry had the feeling he wasn't really seeing it.
"She hasn't realised that she's free, yet…" he said thoughtfully, as if to himself. "It all happened too fast…"
Lupin looked at Harry and smiled.
"She'll be back, Harry, don't worry," he repeated. "Go back to sleep."
Harry lay down, but couldn't sleep. Sure enough, five minutes later, the owl came hurtling back out of the sky, landing on the vacated sleeping bag. It swelled, changed shape, and then Jeanne was there again. She was shaking slightly, and seemed to be in some distress. Nervously, she glanced around.
Harry quickly shut his eyes, hoping she hadn't seen him watching her. When, after a while, there was no sound from her, he cautiously opened his eyes and peeked at her.
She was standing with her back to him, bending slightly and looking at something in her hands. Then, all at once, she straightened up, and without a backward glance, walked away into the forest. Something in her hand gleamed in the firelight before she disappeared among the trees.
Harry sat up again.
"Professor Lupin!" - but Lupin's sleeping bag was empty.
Harry frantically got up and pulled on his shoes. Feeling among his robes for his wand, he went dashing after Jeanne.
At first he thought he'd gone in the wrong direction, but then a movement caught his eye and he saw her. She was in a small clearing, created by a fallen tree which lay decaying on the ground. Moonlight dimly illuminated the area; Harry could see her clearly enough, including the long knife in her hands.
Harry's stomach lurched when he saw the knife. Where on earth was Lupin?
Jeanne seemed to hesitate a moment, then raised the knife, ready to plunge it into her chest. Harry clenched his hand on his wand. Now! He had to disarm her now! -
"Put the knife down."
Harry jumped. The voice had come somewhere from his right.
Jeanne whirled around, knife still raised in one hand.
Lupin stepped out into the clearing from behind a tree, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Put the knife down," he repeated.
She hesitated. Harry held his breath. The seconds ticked by. She was staring at Lupin, her eyes wide. Then, very slowly, she lowered the knife.
Lupin was walking toward her. He stopped in front of her, extending a hand.
"Give it to me, Jeanne," he said quietly.
She stood frozen, looking at him.
"Give the knife to me."
She looked at the knife, then at Lupin again. Harry was still holding his breath.
After what seemed a long time, she slowly reached her hand out, and gave the knife to Lupin.
Lupin took his wand out, gave the knife a tap, and it disappeared.
Jeanne had turned away. She was shaking slightly, one hand over her mouth. Lupin went up to her, looking concerned.
"Are you all right…?" he began.
She shook her head slightly, then started sobbing. Lupin gave a small exclamation, and then, with a curious expression on his face, gently took her into his arms.
She cried harder than ever. Harry stood where he was, unable to move. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from the scene before him.
Lupin let her cry a while. Then, when her sobbing had subsided somewhat, he looked over to where Harry was standing and said calmly, "Go back and get some sleep, Harry. I'll look after her."
Harry went.
To be continued.......
