CHAPTER NINETEEN

It was several days before Harry had a chance to talk to Jeanne. He, Neville, Ron and Hermione, and even Hagrid took to haunting the hospital wing over the next few days, until Madam Pomfrey lost patience with them.

"When she's well enough to see you, we'll send for you," she said crossly. "The dust gave her life back, but traces of poison are still in her blood. It'll take time, to leach it out."

Finally, on the fifth day, Pigwidgeon brought Harry a letter.

"Jeanne says she's well enough to see us," said Harry, reading the letter, "but Madam Pomfrey says only I'm to go. She doesn't want all of us crowding around her."

Neville looked disappointed. Ron was petting Pigwidgeon; he was proud of the part he had played in exposing Marcus Flynn, and had stopped complaining whenever Jeanne used him to carry her letters.

Jeanne was sitting up in bed when Harry saw her. She still looked rather tired and pale, but there was a happy look in her eyes. She smiled when she saw him.

"It's good to see the old you back," said Harry, when he saw her smile.

She reached out, and took one of his hands in hers.

"Thank you for using the stardust on me, Harry," she said. "I'm sorry -"

"It wasn't anything," said Harry, interrupting her. "I'm the one who should say sorry. I'm sorry I said all those awful things…I didn't know…"

She smiled, and there seemed to be tears in her eyes. She gave his hand an affectionate squeeze, then released it.

Harry looked at her. He noticed the wolf pendant, sparkling at her throat.

"You really love him, don't you," he said, looking at her in wonder. "All the stuff you must have gone through…"

She looked more serious now, and gave a small sigh.

"Yes, I went through all of it," she said, "but in the end, it wasn't a thorough cure."

Harry looked at her, startled.

"What?" he said, "but -"

She had a resigned expression on her face.

"The following night, the moon was still full, and he transformed into a wolf again," she said. "The person who donates the blood has to be dead. Bringing me back to life must have interfered with the cure."

Harry stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"He only transforms into a normal wolf now, though," she said, "so technically he's not really a werewolf any more. Severus won't need to make the Wolfsbane potion for him again. And he doesn't fall as ill after that as he used to, either. I guess in a way I don't mind…I'm so used to him being a wolf during full moon, I think I would rather miss it."

Harry still felt disappointed. After all the heartache Jeanne and Lupin must have gone through, Lupin still hadn't been fully cured.

"I'm sorry I stole your Cloak, Harry," said Jeanne, "but I really needed it. I couldn't have done what I did, that night, without it."

"It's all right," said Harry. "I still wouldn't have lent it to you, though, if I'd known what you wanted it for."

He fell silent, thinking. Jeanne, seeing this, smiled and began examining the bunch of flowers he had brought, which were now sitting in a vase by the bed.

Harry looked at her.

"Jeanne," he said, "Professor Donahue said you didn't trust Flynn from the start. But you only overheard him later in the year. How did you know…?"

"…that he wasn't to be trusted?" she said. "I saw his face when he first saw Remus, at the start of term feast."

She had stopped arranging the flowers, and was now looking at Harry.

"There was a look of absolute hate on it, for a moment," she said. "It made my blood run cold. Later, when the feast was over, I tried to get to know him. I wanted to know if he was reliable. I was the one who persuaded Severus to get a research partner, you see. Severus knew I would be pleased if a cure for Remus could be found; I think that was why he agreed to take up the project in the first place, even though he doesn't like Remus. But I didn't trust him, so I suggested that Dumbledore ask Donahue to recommend a partner, someone who could make sure Severus wouldn't try harming Remus by doctoring the potion.

"At the feast, I found that Marcus wasn't interested in talking to me at all. He'd heard I was just the gamekeeper's assistant, and he didn't think I was worth noticing. It was only later, when he must have found out that Remus and I liked each other, that he started trying to pursue me. He wanted to spite Remus by breaking us up, you see."

Harry was listening intently. A lot of things were becoming clear to him now.

"At first, I thought he was just a shallow and worldly idiot," said Jeanne. "I hung around, trying to find out how the research was going. I would transform into a small animal, and eavesdrop on all the staff meetings that were held to discuss the progress of the research.

"It became clear to me that Marcus wasn't very interested in the project. Severus was doing all the preparation and testing. Marcus merely suggested what ingredients to use.

"One day, I overheard him muttering to himself, 'Lupin, you'd better watch out!' I became worried. Pigwidgeon was with me at the time, and he volunteered to help me eavesdrop on Flynn. I was afraid he would neglect his duties to Ron, but he was so enthusiastic about helping that I couldn't put him off.

"You can imagine my feelings when I found out what Flynn was really up to. I bitterly regretted the part I played in bringing him here."

She gave a small sigh, and looked pensive.

"I had no proof to expose Flynn. I hoped that Donahue and I would find an alternative cure, so that we wouldn't have to use Flynn's potion. But after Donahue went into hiding, the authorities cut off my research funds, because unlike Severus, I had no qualifications. I hoped Severus and Marcus would call off the project, now that their main collaborator was gone, but Marcus insisted on carrying on.

"I was beginning to panic. After Flynn's attempt on Donahue's life, I knew he was serious about killing Remus. I tried to persuade Remus to change his mind, to let us to be together even though he was a werewolf, and forget about the cure, and call off the project. But he was keen on it; he thought, if it worked, then we could be together at last."

She paused, and shifted to a more comfortable position on the bed.

"I told Remus that Marcus wasn't to be trusted, that he wanted to harm him. But he didn't believe me. He said there was no reason for Flynn to dislike him. I couldn't tell him about Flynn hating his parents, because then I'd have to tell him I'd learnt it from Donahue, and the secret of my research would be out."

She stopped, and looked thoughtfully at her flowers for a moment, then looked at Harry again.

"There were only two things I could do now. The best solution was to find proof of Flynn's plans; but I didn't know if I would succeed.

"The only other choice I had was to break with Remus and go steady with Flynn. There was no other way I could get money. Then I could continue my research, still keeping in touch with Donahue. And I could also buy ingredients for the known cure, so that if all else failed, I could donate my own blood and switch the potions."

She sighed, and lay back on her pillows, looking rather tired.

Harry, though, was thinking of something, and didn't notice her tiredness.

"When you finally obtained the proof, you could have exposed Flynn straight away," he said. "You didn't need to sacrifice yourself."

She sat up again, looking at him.

"Yes, I know," she admitted. "But I was under so much stress that I wasn't thinking very clearly, by that time. I knew I had hurt Remus a lot, by being with Marcus, and I felt he'd never trust me again, even if he found out in the end what I was up to. I felt I had destroyed our relationship, and it was gone forever. The only thing I could do for him now was to help him get cured. Besides, I felt I might one day be killed by Deorg anyway. I'd rather die, helping Remus - since we couldn't be together anyway - than die for nothing at the hands of Deorg."

A movement caught Harry's eye. Professor Lupin was standing behind Jeanne, listening. He now walked to one side of the bed, so that he was standing across the bed from Harry, and looked at her with a grave expression on his face.

Jeanne saw him and went pink.

"How much of what I said did you overhear?" she asked.

"Nearly everything," he said, still looking at her.

She went even pinker. She opened her mouth to say something more, but now Madam Pomfrey had come over as well.

"You've far exceeded your ten minutes, Harry," she said firmly, "Time for you to go…She needs to rest!"

"Hold on a minute, Poppy," said Jeanne, "give me another five minutes. I haven't told Harry the real reason I wanted to see him, today."

Madam Pomfrey looked at her, then sighed and nodded, and walked off.

Harry looked at Jeanne in surprise.

"Harry, what I actually wanted to tell you today," she said, blushing, "is that Remus and I are getting married."

Harry was dumbfounded.

"You are?" he gasped, looking at her and Lupin in astonishment. "When?"

"Next week," said Lupin.

"Next week!" said Harry. "But - but it's the holidays already! Me and the others won't be able to come!"

"It's going to be a very quiet affair, anyway, Harry," said Lupin. "Just the two of us, and the priest, and Dumbledore as witness."

He paused, looked at Jeanne, then back at Harry again. "So many things have happened these last few months, not all of them happy, that we're emotionally exhausted. We just want something simple, without any fuss."

"You can still have something simple, with us there," said Harry, trying to persuade him. "You could hold it this week, before school closes."

Lupin smiled, and shook his head.

"She's not well enough, Harry," he said, glancing at Jeanne, "and Dumbledore won't be free at that time."

"You could hold it next term, when we come back!" said Harry.

Lupin smiled, and shook his head again.

"No, Harry. We don't want to wait that long. We've waited long enough." He stopped, and looked at Jeanne again. "It's only a formality, anyway, - the ceremony; just a piece of parchment. I believe, in our hearts, we were already married a long time ago."

She smiled at him.

Harry didn't see Jeanne again that term, but he did pay Professor Lupin one last visit in his office, on the second last day of the term.

"This is for you and Jeanne, from me and Ron and Hermione," he said, heaving a large package onto Lupin's desk. "We got it in Hogsmeade yesterday…we got permission to go from Professor McGonagall first, of course," he hurriedly added.

Lupin looked speechless with surprise.

Harry racked his brains, trying to remember the words Hermione had been drilling him to say all morning. It had been something very long and flowery, but now he could only recall one line.

"We hope the both of you will be very happy together," he recited.

Lupin was still looking surprised.

"Why, Harry, you shouldn't have!" he said, at last. "We really didn't expect anything…"

He broke off, and examined the gift, still looking surprised.

"Hermione spent the whole night wrapping it," said Harry, watching him. "She and Ron didn't want to come; they seemed to think it was better, if I came alone to give it."

Lupin was smiling now. He looked at Harry.

"Thank you, Harry," he said, "and please thank them as well, too."

Harry felt slightly embarrassed.

"Neville and Hagrid each got something for the both of you, too," he said, "but they said they would give it to Jeanne when they see her."

Lupin lifted the parcel with both hands, as if testing its weight.

"I'll give it to Jeanne to unwrap," he said. "It's heavy…I sincerely hope you didn't go to too much expense…"

"Well - actually we got it at a discount," confessed Harry, going red. "It's a tea-set. I saw Jeanne admiring it, once. Grenivere let us have it at a good price…he was having a closing down sale."

Lupin looked surprised. "He's moving out, is he?"

Harry nodded, and fished out a small package from the depths of his robes.

"He gave this to me, to give to you. Said it's from your grandfather."

Lupin was looking astonished again. He took the package and turned it around in his hands, examining it.

"He didn't tell us what was inside, but said to open it straight away, before you went and bought your own," added Harry. "He - he said your grandfather had already carved the names on it."

Lupin looked thoughtfully at the package, then tore the wrapper off. There was a small box inside, similar to the one that had held the wolf pendant. Lupin opened it, and a look of complete amazement came over his face. Even Harry was too surprised to speak.

The box contained two rings, one smaller than the other. They were silver in colour, and shimmered with starlight. The large one was plain, but the smaller one had a very small gem, like a star, on it. Harry could see that some words were inscribed on the inner surface of each ring.

Lupin was looking completely thunderstruck. He took the rings out and examined them, read the inscriptions, and then tried the larger ring on. It fit perfectly.

"I really must go down and have a talk with Grenivere, before he disappears," he said, still looking amazed, and staring at the rings.

"I - I'm afraid he's already left," said Harry. "He told us yesterday he was leaving first thing this morning. Said that he'd finished what he came here to do."

Lupin looked at Harry. "He said that, did he?"

Harry nodded. Lupin turned his gaze back to the rings again, frowning slightly. He shook his head in astonishment.

Harry looked at the smaller ring.

"I'm sure Jeanne will like it," he said. "I know she likes Starlight jewellery. Is it silver?"

Lupin smiled. "No, Harry. These are made of peritin - platinum that has been treated with dragon fire. It's one substance that holds starlight very well."

He fell silent, looking at the rings again.

Harry watched him. There was something he wanted to ask Lupin. He felt he really wanted to know, before the term ended.

"Professor Lupin?" he said. "Can I ask you something about the Marauder's Map?"

Lupin was still absorbed in the rings, and it took him a moment to reply.

" - I do beg your pardon, Harry," he said, tearing his gaze from the rings, and looking at Harry. "What did you say?"

Harry suddenly changed his mind. It wouldn't be good if Lupin found out that he had been spying on him and Jeanne using the Map.

"Oh - er, nothing," he said, flushing slightly, and trying not to look guilty. "It's not really important."

Lupin put the rings aside, and looked directly at Harry.

"No matter if it's unimportant, Harry," he said, "What is it?"

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Madam Pomfrey poked her head in.

"Remus?" she said, "Could I have a word with you?"

"Just give me a few minutes, Poppy," said Lupin, "I'm just finishing with Harry here."

Madam Pomfrey nodded, and shut the door.

Harry tried to escape.

"It's really nothing…we'd better not keep Madam Pomfrey waiting…"

"Not at all, Harry," said Lupin, smiling and looking at him. "Tell me what it is."

"It's - it's about the Marauder's Map," said Harry. "I was just wondering - is there any particular case when a person might not show up on it?"

To Harry's surprise, Lupin laughed, and looked extremely amused. He also looked slightly embarrassed.

"Why do you ask that?" he asked, smiling at Harry.

Harry tried very hard not to look guilty. He felt sure Lupin could see right through him.

"No particular reason," he said. "I was just wondering, that's all."

Lupin continued to look amused.

"Why, in fact, there is, Harry," he said, still smiling. "When we wrote the Map, we felt there were certain rules we should follow, to avoid it being abused should it fall into the wrong hands. The objective of showing the location of people on the Map was so that we could avoid anyone who might interfere in the particular adventure we were embarking on, that day. In particular, the Map was not meant to be used to invade anyone's privacy."

Harry felt his face going red.

"Bearing this in mind, we wrote it so that certain individuals would not show up on the Map," Lupin went on, "especially those indulging in any form of, er, - romantic activity."

"Oh!" said Harry, his face suddenly flaming red. "You mean -"

"Precisely," said Lupin. His eyes were twinkling as he looked at Harry.

Harry could feel his face getting redder and redder.

Madam Pomfrey knocked again, and opened the door.

"I don't mean to rush you, Remus," she said, apologetically, "but I'm in a bit of a hurry. This will only take a minute…"

"It's all right," said Harry quickly, "I've got to be going…"

He rose and said goodbye, as Madam Pomfrey came into the room and deposited some pieces of parchment onto the desk.

Lupin's eyes were still twinkling.

"Thank you again for the gift, Harry," he said. "Jeanne and I will see you next term."

Harry was still blushing as he left the office.