The Twelve Days of Christmas
By deemarie
Chapter 7. December 30th
Ginny hadn't really slept. She lay curled in the crook of Harry's arm, waiting for his heart to stop its wild beating, his breath to slow. She felt full, full of love, full of Harry. He stroked her hair. They didn't say anything. There was no need. Harry sighed one last time and sleep overtook him. Ginny kissed his jaw, tears staining her cheek.
"Find me, Harry. Find me soon." She closed her eyes. The time was up. She felt the pull on her consciousness, and then she was gone.
Sun streaming in the window hit her closed eyes. She stirred. She was warm. Her skin was tingling. Slowly, Jane became aware of her surroundings. She felt a hard muscled chest against her back, one arm thrown across her, a hand gently stroking her breast, his breath gently caressing the nape of her neck. She turned slowly. Harry's face was so peaceful as he slept on.
What have we done? Her body ached pleasantly. No, she thought. This can't be true. He couldn't have taken advantage of her. That wasn't like Harry. She didn't know him well, but she knew him enough to know that he was an honorable man.
Jane tried to remember what had happened between them, but it was no use. Her last waking memory was Madame Pomfrey making her drink some foul potion. Then there was the dream. She had been in darkness, trying to comfort someone. Then there was a strange sensation of her holding something back. After that nothing until waking up here.
Harry turned over. Jane slipped out of bed. She grabbed her clothes, the jeans and jumper nearest. She had to get out. Jane didn't want to be there when Harry woke up. It was a cowardly thing to do, she knew that. But she was never brave.
Jane made her way out of the castle. She didn't want to think. Perhaps a walk in the snow would clear her mind, get rid of the awful guilt that filled her heart. She loved Remus. How could she have been with Harry?
Animals had roamed the grounds last night. There were tracks in the snow. Perhaps they were still about. Dawn hadn't been that long ago. She followed the tracks toward the lake. To keep from thinking about Harry, Jane concentrated on the tracks in front of her, trying to think about what animal left these tracks. They could belong to a dog, or perhaps a wolf? The shape of the tracks were changing, shifting, and becoming larger. They went from four prints to two. A wolf on hind legs? They shifted further. Were those footprints? Had the wolf attacked a person? A person who was...barefoot? Jane stopped. She scanned the snow for signs of blood. None, anywhere. Whoever it was, was definitely barefoot, IN THE SNOW! Jane quickened her pace. There was someone in danger, she knew it.
She looked up. There ahead of her by the lakeshore she saw a figure, facedown in the snow. She ran over. Let him be alive, she thought. How could he be? He was half naked, the only covering a pair of dirty torn pants. A light dusting of snow covered him, cloaking the color of his hair. She knelt down in the snow. His back was covered in scratches and bruises. Jane turned him over gently.
"Remus! My God, Remus!" His lips were blue. His skin was cold. Was he breathing? Oh, Remus, be alive! Yes, he was still breathing. What was he doing here? She had to get help, but she couldn't leave him. She was too far from the castle to call for help, and she couldn't carry him.
"Remus, you've got to wake up," she said, desperation in her voice. She slapped his cheeks, trying to get him to respond. "Remus, please, wake up!" His eyes fluttered open. He tried to speak, but the shivering of his lips kept him from it. Jane tugged on his arm trying to get him up. He wouldn't move. Finally the barest whisper of sound left his lips.
"Leave me, let me die." His eyes rolled up and he passed out.
"No, Remus!" Frantic with worry, Jane hugged him to her. She felt something hard against her thigh. His wand! She pulled it out. Could she use it? She had to. But what to do. Think! Try to remember, you are a witch, think of something.
"Mobilicorpus!" Lupin's body rose out of the snow. Jane wrapped him in her cloak. Her hand shaking as she pointed the wand at him, she started back to the castle. She could feel the spell weakening as she neared the castle, her strength ebbing. Just a little further, Jane, up the stairs. Through the doors. There were students on the stairs heading for the Great Hall.
"Help me!" Ken had his wand out instantly conjuring a stretcher under the cloak-covered figure. He shouted to his sister to get Madame Pomfrey.
Jane sat outside the infirmary one leg drawn up to her chin. She wrapped her arms around her leg, her head resting against it, her eyes downcast. It was taking too long. Why had he said that? Surely, he didn't want to die.
Harry stood at the end of the hall. Ginny was sitting in the chair. It had to be her! After last night, it just had to be her. He woke reaching out for her, needing to bury himself in her one more time, but she wasn't there. He grabbed the pillow and smelled Ginny's scent, apple blossoms. Harry couldn't help it, he was smiling.
It had never been like that before. Never. After Ginny disappeared, he tried to move on. He lost his virginity to one very experienced older woman. She seduced him, actually. It had been pleasant and there were no regrets. Neither had wanted a relationship with strings attached. They parted company as friends.
He actually thought he had found someone to take Ginny's place about a year after she had disappeared. He had run into Susan Bones in Diagon Alley one afternoon. It was her hair he had seen, really. She was sitting outside Florean Fortescue's waiting for her Aunt, when the sunlight had flashed in her red hair. For a moment he thought he had found Ginny again. Susan saw him and waved. They struck up a conversation and from there a relationship had grown.
He knew it was hopeless after six months. The breakup wasn't pleasant. Susan had grown to love him. But whenever he was with her, he kept comparing her to Ginny. At least I was honest with her, he thought. He had run into her again over the years, since he was employed by the Ministry and her Aunt did work there. They got past their differences and formed a friendship of sorts.
Last night. Last night hope had flared in his heart again. She loved him. He knew that. She had to love him. This was his Ginny. He called out to her. There had been no answer. Where could she have gone? Probably down to breakfast. Harry got up, grabbed some fresh clothes and after showering went to join her. Alex had found him on the way to the Great Hall. Miss Weasley had found someone in the snow, nearly dead from the cold.
A frisson of fear had run down his spine. He didn't know how he knew it was Remus, but he did. What had happened? He practically ran to the infirmary. There she was, Ginny, his Ginny sitting there.
She looked up at him and hope died. It wasn't Ginny. Oh God, what had he done? Jane was staring at him. Her eyes glistening with unshed tears. At a loss of what to do, or what to say, Harry walked over to her.
"He said he wanted to die," she said weakly. "He tried to kill himself, Harry. Why?" Then she was in his arms, sobs wracking her body. The door to the infirmary opened and they quickly broke apart.
"Will he be all right?" Jane asked.
"He'll live. I've treated the frostbite and given him a restorative."
"Can I see him?" Madame Pomfrey sighed.
"You can try." Jane rushed past her.
Jane entered the infirmary quietly. Remus was at the far end. At least the blue tinge to his skin was gone. Jane let out a small sigh of relief. He was staring out the window, not even glancing in her direction. She approached slowly.
"Remus?" Jane knew he was aware of her presence before she said his name. He wouldn't look at her.
"Remus, please tell me what's wrong. I want to help. Nothing can be so bad that you would want to..." she couldn't say it. Still, he looked away from her. It was as if she wasn't there.
"I'm not leaving. Not until you talk to me." Remus sighed. He turned his head but not to her. He stared at the ceiling.
"Just go away, Jane. Go to Harry. He's who you want, after all."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. I saw you. I saw you and Harry last night."
"You couldn't have."
"Yes I could. I was outside your window."
"How? No person could be there."
"I wasn't a person last night."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a werewolf, Jane. I was transformed. A wolf can scale those walls. I saw you and Harry making love. I as a fool to hope for you. You and Harry belong together. It's fate. I can't fight fate. I'm tired of fighting, tired of living like this. I don't want to go on." As he spoke, Jane became more horrified.
"A werewolf? You can't be. They don't exist."
"Jane, think. You're a witch. Are they supposed to exist? If you can be a witch, I can be a werewolf." Realization hit Jane a hard blow. It was true, she knew it. She had known it before. Ginny knew. They all did, and they were not afraid of him. He lived with Harry.
"I don't care about your being a werewolf. It never kept Ginny...I mean me from being your friend."
"Harry said you'd feel that way." Harry. It all came back to Harry, Jane thought. She had to explain about what he saw.
"Remus, what you saw, last night..."
"I know what I saw. Don't deny it. Don't lie to me, Jane."
"I won't. It's true you saw us, but you don't know everything."
"Don't, Jane. Don't try to explain. I don't want to know. I think you should go now."
"But, Remus, you've got to listen..."
"No!" he shouted. "Just go." He turned away from her. Jane knew he wouldn't listen to her.
"All right, Remus, I'll go. If you won't listen to me, I'll find someone you will listen to." She left the infirmary. Harry was still standing in the hall.
"Jane, is he all right?"
"He saw us, Harry. He knows what happened. But he won't listen to me. I'm sure he won't listen to you either." Harry was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. Jane did. She walked determinedly away. She knew what she had to do. No matter what it cost her, she was going to do it.
She slammed the door to Snape's office open, and strode to his desk. Snape was sitting quietly.
"We finish this now, Professor," Jane said as she drew up a chair to his desk. She sat down. "I'm ready. Cast your spell and don't let me out from its effects until we find out what's going on."
"You, girl, do not tell me what to do in my office."
"You, professor, hold the key to unlocking this mystery. I can't go on like this. It has to end now." Snape glared at her. She returned his disdain.
"Miss Weasley, you are not prepared. You haven't sufficiently recovered. I will not take responsibility..."
"I don't care! I need to know. If I'm to ever find happiness I need to know who I am. Am I Ginny Weasley? Am I Jane Wilson? Who am I?"
"Very well." Snape pulled out his wand. Jane took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "As before, concentrate on the Chamber. Legilimens!"
Harry didn't know what to do when Jane had left him. He knew Remus wouldn't see him. He knew Jane had gone to Snape. He certainly wasn't wanted there. He hadn't felt this helpless since he had left the Yucatan not finding Ginny. He went down to the Great Hall, intending to get breakfast, but thought better of it. I don't want to answer any questions right now. He went to the kitchen and nicked some food from Dobby. He ended up in his common room, staring into the fire. Harry fell asleep waiting for answers.
It was late in the afternoon when Madame Pomfrey had brought Jane back to her room. Harry was asleep on the couch. They went quietly as they could to Jane's bedroom. Madame Pomfrey gave Jane the headache potion again, laced liberally with a sleeping draught. She got Jane into bed and waited for her to sleep before leaving. She went over to Harry and gently woke him.
"Madame Pomfrey?" he said sleepily. Then realizing she was there, he came instantly awake. "Jane, is she okay? It's not Remus is it?"
"Miss Weasley will be fine. I've given her a potion. She's sleeping and is not to be disturbed. Mr. Lupin is fine, still in the infirmary. Professor Snape would like to see you in his office in about an hour. Dinner is being served in the Great Hall. I suggest you go get something to eat."
There weren't many students here this holiday season, but you would have thought there were more. Everywhere Harry went, there would be a group of them, talking quietly in a corner, or outright staring at him. When he saw Ken and Alex he stopped and chatted with them. Ken had become quite popular with the other students. Even Slytherins were stopping him, asking about Harry Potter.
Of course rumors were running rampant. Why was he here? Who were Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter seeing? The general consensus of opinion was that Snape was going to retire and Mr. Potter would become the new defense professor. Miss Weasley, they all agreed, was going to marry Mr. Potter and the two were here to check on suitable quarters for a newly married professor and his wife. A group of students were hanging about the corridor discussing the subject.
"There's no way Snape's ever going to retire," an indignant Slytherin boy said.
"You're just saying that because he's head of your house," said a Ravenclaw girl.
"Look, I know Snape's a bit of a bloody bas-" the Ravenclaw girl gasped. "Sorry," continued the boy from Hufflepuff. "But he's a damn fine defense teacher. You don't have to like him, to learn lots of good stuff from him."
"I'm so glad you feel that way." The startled students stared at the object of their conversation. No one had ever seen him outside his office or classroom since his accident. "Now I suggest you all go about your business before I deduct points from all your houses." The students muttered their apologies and quickly departed, many casting glances back over their shoulders. Snape dismissed them from his mind and continued on toward the infirmary.
Snape arrived just as Madame Pomfrey was going to dinner.
"Is Lupin awake?" It took the matron a moment to answer. She was just as surprised to see him out of his office as everyone else had been.
"He is. Do you think it wise to try to see him, Severus?"
"Wise? Definitely not, but it has to be done, Poppy."
"Very well," she replied. "You can see him. Don't think he'll want to listen to you, given your history, though."
"Oh, he'll listen. You can go to dinner, Poppy. Rest assured, I won't hurt him." Reluctantly, Madame Pomfrey left. Snape guided his chair quietly to Remus' bedside. Remus was laying there his eyes closed. Snape could tell he wasn't asleep.
"Well I can see the last of the Marauders is still among the living." Remus eyes shot open.
"What are you doing here? Come to gloat?"
"Gloat, my dear Lupin, I never gloat." There was a long pause as they glared at each other. Finally, Remus sighed and looked at the ceiling.
"There are exactly 751 pieces of peeling paint up there." Snape's lip curled in a sarcastic smile.
"Finally got the better of you, didn't I?" Remus refused to answer him. "I'm not here to play these silly games with you. We need to talk."
"Talk! You and I have never talked, Severus. Nor do I wish to do so now. You had better leave."
"I think not," Snape said, enjoying the discomfiture he was putting Remus through. "You'll want to hear this."
"What could you tell me that I would possibly want to hear?"
"I could tell you about Jane Wilson." Remus tensed at that. "You do know the reason Potter and she are here?" Remus nodded. "I've discovered a few things. Important things. Things that just might explain it all." Remus turned to Snape.
"Ginny Weasley and Jane Wilson are two separate people."
Snape returned to his office rather smug with himself. There, Lily, he thought, I'm repaying my debt to your son. Now I can finally move on. Harry was waiting outside the door for him. He had wanted to see Harry in an hour but his time with Remus had taken longer than he thought. He was rather enjoying his role as a thorn in Potter's and Lupin's sides.
"You said to meet you in an hour, Professor. What kept you?"
"All will be explained shortly, Potter. If you'll step aside?" Harry moved from where he was. Snape waved his wand, and the wards on his door receded. Snape rolled smoothly to his place behind his desk. He motioned for Harry to sit down.
"All right, Professor, what is this all about?" Harry said as nonchalantly as he could even though he was too anxious to hear what Snape wanted.
"I've discovered something about Miss Weasley." He saw Harry tense ever so slightly. Just a moment longer, Potter. He was really enjoying this.
"Professor!"
"Very well, Potter, very well. You and Miss Weasley have come here to find out why she had memories of 40 years ago. There is an explanation for that."
"You know what's happening?"
"Not precisely, but I have a very good idea. Those 40 year old memories are Miss Wilson's."
"How can that be? Ginny isn't Jane Wilson."
"Ah, but she is. You see, Miss Wilson was a, how shall I say this delicately, she was a companion of Tom Riddle's." Harry raised an eyebrow. "There is dark magic involved here, Potter. Ancient dark magic. Somehow, Jane Wilson's essence, her personality, her soul has been transferred into Miss Weasley." Harry was no on the edge of his chair leaning across the desk.
"You mean there is someone else inside Ginny? What kind of magic can put someone's soul into another body?"
"I don't have that knowledge. But I do know it is powerful and old, incredibly old.
"You know Miss Weasley was here earlier. We held another session. The images, the memories were quite disconcerting. From what I have seen, it seems Riddle had a lover. They traveled the world searching for ancient magic. Ways to cheat death become immortal."
"Jane was a part of that? Part of that monster's search?"
"She was unaware of his true purpose, at first. He had convinced her it was for both of them. A way for them to be together forever. Riddle was quite the charmer. He had her convinced, a simple seduction for a witch so in love. And she was in love, desperately so. You know how he can control people. You witnessed it firsthand when his mere memory possessed Miss Weasley in her first year."
"I remember." Harry felt the anger coursing through his veins.
"Miss Wilson tried to leave him. He had become abusive. But he was too deeply imbedded in her. Partly her love for him held her there; partly it was his dark magic. She fought his control, she had almost broken the spell."
"Almost?"
"He discovered her strength growing. They had been in the Americas at the time. Apparently, they had found a temple, a place where spells for immortality were to be found. This particular spell required a sacrifice. A soul to be given. A soul in love. Riddle couldn't let her leave. In his own twisted way, he cared for this girl. She had nearly given him a child, you see."
"What? What happened?"
"When he found out, he made her get rid of it." Harry's face contorted in rage. "He did not want an heir. He was certain he would find a way to live forever. He would brook no rival."
"She did it? Willingly?"
"As I said, he did have a measure of control over her. She did do it, but it haunted her. It gave her the strength to fight him."
"So he used this spell on Jane? She was the sacrifice?"
"He tried. It failed and Jane Wilson's soul was trapped."
"You said they were in the Americas. Were they in the Yucatan?"
"That was unclear to me. I am assuming that is so. To that end, Potter, I want you to go to the library and see what you can find concerning Mesoamerican magic, though I doubt even Madame Pince may be able to help."
"If the spell isn't there, how can we help her?"
"I took the liberty of sending an owl to a colleague of mine. Someone I met in my youth who is as interested as I in dark magic."
"There's someone here who can help?"
"No, Potter. Dr. Gresham is in America. He is a leading expert in the Ancient Magic of the Americas. I met him when he was here as an exchange student. I assure you, if anyone can discover what happened, Jacob Gresham can."
"What about Ginny? Where is Ginny? She was here last night."
"I'm not sure if she is there. Her soul is trapped somewhere. Somehow when Miss Wilson's memories surface it triggers and exchange of sorts. I don't understand it myself."
"Then last night, it was Ginny."
"Yes, Potter, Miss Weasley was there. Unfortunately, Miss Wilson was unaware of what had transpired. The irony in all this is that Lupin saw you."
"I know."
"Miss Wilson held that memory quite clearly. There was also the memory of what she tried to tell Lupin."
"Then that's why..."
"Yes, Potter."
"I've got to talk to him, explain."
"I have already done so."
"You what?"
"If we are to bring Miss Weasley back, then Lupin must be involved."
"Why?"
"When Miss Weasley returns, Miss Wilson will disappear, most likely forever. I can't see her doing so willingly unless she has time to make her farewell to him."
"You're growing sentimental, Professor."
"No, I am repaying my debt to you."
"For my mother?"
"For Lily."
Harry went back to Griffindor tower late that night. Madame Pince didn't like it, but Harry had been insistent. Together they had searched for anything on Mesoamerican magic. There wasn't much. Just a few references to Aztec, Mayan and Incan gods in an obscure old tome. But there was a book by Jacob Gresham, MY JOURNEY IN CENTRAL AMERICA. Glancing through it, Harry didn't think there was anything here that could help Jane, but he would read through it, in case Dr. Gresham came.
He checked on Jane. She was deeply asleep. He tucked the covers more tightly around her, kissed her forehead and went back to his room. Once in bed, he pulled out the book by Dr. Gresham. He read late into the night, finally falling asleep with his glasses still on.
By deemarie
Chapter 7. December 30th
Ginny hadn't really slept. She lay curled in the crook of Harry's arm, waiting for his heart to stop its wild beating, his breath to slow. She felt full, full of love, full of Harry. He stroked her hair. They didn't say anything. There was no need. Harry sighed one last time and sleep overtook him. Ginny kissed his jaw, tears staining her cheek.
"Find me, Harry. Find me soon." She closed her eyes. The time was up. She felt the pull on her consciousness, and then she was gone.
Sun streaming in the window hit her closed eyes. She stirred. She was warm. Her skin was tingling. Slowly, Jane became aware of her surroundings. She felt a hard muscled chest against her back, one arm thrown across her, a hand gently stroking her breast, his breath gently caressing the nape of her neck. She turned slowly. Harry's face was so peaceful as he slept on.
What have we done? Her body ached pleasantly. No, she thought. This can't be true. He couldn't have taken advantage of her. That wasn't like Harry. She didn't know him well, but she knew him enough to know that he was an honorable man.
Jane tried to remember what had happened between them, but it was no use. Her last waking memory was Madame Pomfrey making her drink some foul potion. Then there was the dream. She had been in darkness, trying to comfort someone. Then there was a strange sensation of her holding something back. After that nothing until waking up here.
Harry turned over. Jane slipped out of bed. She grabbed her clothes, the jeans and jumper nearest. She had to get out. Jane didn't want to be there when Harry woke up. It was a cowardly thing to do, she knew that. But she was never brave.
Jane made her way out of the castle. She didn't want to think. Perhaps a walk in the snow would clear her mind, get rid of the awful guilt that filled her heart. She loved Remus. How could she have been with Harry?
Animals had roamed the grounds last night. There were tracks in the snow. Perhaps they were still about. Dawn hadn't been that long ago. She followed the tracks toward the lake. To keep from thinking about Harry, Jane concentrated on the tracks in front of her, trying to think about what animal left these tracks. They could belong to a dog, or perhaps a wolf? The shape of the tracks were changing, shifting, and becoming larger. They went from four prints to two. A wolf on hind legs? They shifted further. Were those footprints? Had the wolf attacked a person? A person who was...barefoot? Jane stopped. She scanned the snow for signs of blood. None, anywhere. Whoever it was, was definitely barefoot, IN THE SNOW! Jane quickened her pace. There was someone in danger, she knew it.
She looked up. There ahead of her by the lakeshore she saw a figure, facedown in the snow. She ran over. Let him be alive, she thought. How could he be? He was half naked, the only covering a pair of dirty torn pants. A light dusting of snow covered him, cloaking the color of his hair. She knelt down in the snow. His back was covered in scratches and bruises. Jane turned him over gently.
"Remus! My God, Remus!" His lips were blue. His skin was cold. Was he breathing? Oh, Remus, be alive! Yes, he was still breathing. What was he doing here? She had to get help, but she couldn't leave him. She was too far from the castle to call for help, and she couldn't carry him.
"Remus, you've got to wake up," she said, desperation in her voice. She slapped his cheeks, trying to get him to respond. "Remus, please, wake up!" His eyes fluttered open. He tried to speak, but the shivering of his lips kept him from it. Jane tugged on his arm trying to get him up. He wouldn't move. Finally the barest whisper of sound left his lips.
"Leave me, let me die." His eyes rolled up and he passed out.
"No, Remus!" Frantic with worry, Jane hugged him to her. She felt something hard against her thigh. His wand! She pulled it out. Could she use it? She had to. But what to do. Think! Try to remember, you are a witch, think of something.
"Mobilicorpus!" Lupin's body rose out of the snow. Jane wrapped him in her cloak. Her hand shaking as she pointed the wand at him, she started back to the castle. She could feel the spell weakening as she neared the castle, her strength ebbing. Just a little further, Jane, up the stairs. Through the doors. There were students on the stairs heading for the Great Hall.
"Help me!" Ken had his wand out instantly conjuring a stretcher under the cloak-covered figure. He shouted to his sister to get Madame Pomfrey.
Jane sat outside the infirmary one leg drawn up to her chin. She wrapped her arms around her leg, her head resting against it, her eyes downcast. It was taking too long. Why had he said that? Surely, he didn't want to die.
Harry stood at the end of the hall. Ginny was sitting in the chair. It had to be her! After last night, it just had to be her. He woke reaching out for her, needing to bury himself in her one more time, but she wasn't there. He grabbed the pillow and smelled Ginny's scent, apple blossoms. Harry couldn't help it, he was smiling.
It had never been like that before. Never. After Ginny disappeared, he tried to move on. He lost his virginity to one very experienced older woman. She seduced him, actually. It had been pleasant and there were no regrets. Neither had wanted a relationship with strings attached. They parted company as friends.
He actually thought he had found someone to take Ginny's place about a year after she had disappeared. He had run into Susan Bones in Diagon Alley one afternoon. It was her hair he had seen, really. She was sitting outside Florean Fortescue's waiting for her Aunt, when the sunlight had flashed in her red hair. For a moment he thought he had found Ginny again. Susan saw him and waved. They struck up a conversation and from there a relationship had grown.
He knew it was hopeless after six months. The breakup wasn't pleasant. Susan had grown to love him. But whenever he was with her, he kept comparing her to Ginny. At least I was honest with her, he thought. He had run into her again over the years, since he was employed by the Ministry and her Aunt did work there. They got past their differences and formed a friendship of sorts.
Last night. Last night hope had flared in his heart again. She loved him. He knew that. She had to love him. This was his Ginny. He called out to her. There had been no answer. Where could she have gone? Probably down to breakfast. Harry got up, grabbed some fresh clothes and after showering went to join her. Alex had found him on the way to the Great Hall. Miss Weasley had found someone in the snow, nearly dead from the cold.
A frisson of fear had run down his spine. He didn't know how he knew it was Remus, but he did. What had happened? He practically ran to the infirmary. There she was, Ginny, his Ginny sitting there.
She looked up at him and hope died. It wasn't Ginny. Oh God, what had he done? Jane was staring at him. Her eyes glistening with unshed tears. At a loss of what to do, or what to say, Harry walked over to her.
"He said he wanted to die," she said weakly. "He tried to kill himself, Harry. Why?" Then she was in his arms, sobs wracking her body. The door to the infirmary opened and they quickly broke apart.
"Will he be all right?" Jane asked.
"He'll live. I've treated the frostbite and given him a restorative."
"Can I see him?" Madame Pomfrey sighed.
"You can try." Jane rushed past her.
Jane entered the infirmary quietly. Remus was at the far end. At least the blue tinge to his skin was gone. Jane let out a small sigh of relief. He was staring out the window, not even glancing in her direction. She approached slowly.
"Remus?" Jane knew he was aware of her presence before she said his name. He wouldn't look at her.
"Remus, please tell me what's wrong. I want to help. Nothing can be so bad that you would want to..." she couldn't say it. Still, he looked away from her. It was as if she wasn't there.
"I'm not leaving. Not until you talk to me." Remus sighed. He turned his head but not to her. He stared at the ceiling.
"Just go away, Jane. Go to Harry. He's who you want, after all."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. I saw you. I saw you and Harry last night."
"You couldn't have."
"Yes I could. I was outside your window."
"How? No person could be there."
"I wasn't a person last night."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a werewolf, Jane. I was transformed. A wolf can scale those walls. I saw you and Harry making love. I as a fool to hope for you. You and Harry belong together. It's fate. I can't fight fate. I'm tired of fighting, tired of living like this. I don't want to go on." As he spoke, Jane became more horrified.
"A werewolf? You can't be. They don't exist."
"Jane, think. You're a witch. Are they supposed to exist? If you can be a witch, I can be a werewolf." Realization hit Jane a hard blow. It was true, she knew it. She had known it before. Ginny knew. They all did, and they were not afraid of him. He lived with Harry.
"I don't care about your being a werewolf. It never kept Ginny...I mean me from being your friend."
"Harry said you'd feel that way." Harry. It all came back to Harry, Jane thought. She had to explain about what he saw.
"Remus, what you saw, last night..."
"I know what I saw. Don't deny it. Don't lie to me, Jane."
"I won't. It's true you saw us, but you don't know everything."
"Don't, Jane. Don't try to explain. I don't want to know. I think you should go now."
"But, Remus, you've got to listen..."
"No!" he shouted. "Just go." He turned away from her. Jane knew he wouldn't listen to her.
"All right, Remus, I'll go. If you won't listen to me, I'll find someone you will listen to." She left the infirmary. Harry was still standing in the hall.
"Jane, is he all right?"
"He saw us, Harry. He knows what happened. But he won't listen to me. I'm sure he won't listen to you either." Harry was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. Jane did. She walked determinedly away. She knew what she had to do. No matter what it cost her, she was going to do it.
She slammed the door to Snape's office open, and strode to his desk. Snape was sitting quietly.
"We finish this now, Professor," Jane said as she drew up a chair to his desk. She sat down. "I'm ready. Cast your spell and don't let me out from its effects until we find out what's going on."
"You, girl, do not tell me what to do in my office."
"You, professor, hold the key to unlocking this mystery. I can't go on like this. It has to end now." Snape glared at her. She returned his disdain.
"Miss Weasley, you are not prepared. You haven't sufficiently recovered. I will not take responsibility..."
"I don't care! I need to know. If I'm to ever find happiness I need to know who I am. Am I Ginny Weasley? Am I Jane Wilson? Who am I?"
"Very well." Snape pulled out his wand. Jane took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "As before, concentrate on the Chamber. Legilimens!"
Harry didn't know what to do when Jane had left him. He knew Remus wouldn't see him. He knew Jane had gone to Snape. He certainly wasn't wanted there. He hadn't felt this helpless since he had left the Yucatan not finding Ginny. He went down to the Great Hall, intending to get breakfast, but thought better of it. I don't want to answer any questions right now. He went to the kitchen and nicked some food from Dobby. He ended up in his common room, staring into the fire. Harry fell asleep waiting for answers.
It was late in the afternoon when Madame Pomfrey had brought Jane back to her room. Harry was asleep on the couch. They went quietly as they could to Jane's bedroom. Madame Pomfrey gave Jane the headache potion again, laced liberally with a sleeping draught. She got Jane into bed and waited for her to sleep before leaving. She went over to Harry and gently woke him.
"Madame Pomfrey?" he said sleepily. Then realizing she was there, he came instantly awake. "Jane, is she okay? It's not Remus is it?"
"Miss Weasley will be fine. I've given her a potion. She's sleeping and is not to be disturbed. Mr. Lupin is fine, still in the infirmary. Professor Snape would like to see you in his office in about an hour. Dinner is being served in the Great Hall. I suggest you go get something to eat."
There weren't many students here this holiday season, but you would have thought there were more. Everywhere Harry went, there would be a group of them, talking quietly in a corner, or outright staring at him. When he saw Ken and Alex he stopped and chatted with them. Ken had become quite popular with the other students. Even Slytherins were stopping him, asking about Harry Potter.
Of course rumors were running rampant. Why was he here? Who were Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter seeing? The general consensus of opinion was that Snape was going to retire and Mr. Potter would become the new defense professor. Miss Weasley, they all agreed, was going to marry Mr. Potter and the two were here to check on suitable quarters for a newly married professor and his wife. A group of students were hanging about the corridor discussing the subject.
"There's no way Snape's ever going to retire," an indignant Slytherin boy said.
"You're just saying that because he's head of your house," said a Ravenclaw girl.
"Look, I know Snape's a bit of a bloody bas-" the Ravenclaw girl gasped. "Sorry," continued the boy from Hufflepuff. "But he's a damn fine defense teacher. You don't have to like him, to learn lots of good stuff from him."
"I'm so glad you feel that way." The startled students stared at the object of their conversation. No one had ever seen him outside his office or classroom since his accident. "Now I suggest you all go about your business before I deduct points from all your houses." The students muttered their apologies and quickly departed, many casting glances back over their shoulders. Snape dismissed them from his mind and continued on toward the infirmary.
Snape arrived just as Madame Pomfrey was going to dinner.
"Is Lupin awake?" It took the matron a moment to answer. She was just as surprised to see him out of his office as everyone else had been.
"He is. Do you think it wise to try to see him, Severus?"
"Wise? Definitely not, but it has to be done, Poppy."
"Very well," she replied. "You can see him. Don't think he'll want to listen to you, given your history, though."
"Oh, he'll listen. You can go to dinner, Poppy. Rest assured, I won't hurt him." Reluctantly, Madame Pomfrey left. Snape guided his chair quietly to Remus' bedside. Remus was laying there his eyes closed. Snape could tell he wasn't asleep.
"Well I can see the last of the Marauders is still among the living." Remus eyes shot open.
"What are you doing here? Come to gloat?"
"Gloat, my dear Lupin, I never gloat." There was a long pause as they glared at each other. Finally, Remus sighed and looked at the ceiling.
"There are exactly 751 pieces of peeling paint up there." Snape's lip curled in a sarcastic smile.
"Finally got the better of you, didn't I?" Remus refused to answer him. "I'm not here to play these silly games with you. We need to talk."
"Talk! You and I have never talked, Severus. Nor do I wish to do so now. You had better leave."
"I think not," Snape said, enjoying the discomfiture he was putting Remus through. "You'll want to hear this."
"What could you tell me that I would possibly want to hear?"
"I could tell you about Jane Wilson." Remus tensed at that. "You do know the reason Potter and she are here?" Remus nodded. "I've discovered a few things. Important things. Things that just might explain it all." Remus turned to Snape.
"Ginny Weasley and Jane Wilson are two separate people."
Snape returned to his office rather smug with himself. There, Lily, he thought, I'm repaying my debt to your son. Now I can finally move on. Harry was waiting outside the door for him. He had wanted to see Harry in an hour but his time with Remus had taken longer than he thought. He was rather enjoying his role as a thorn in Potter's and Lupin's sides.
"You said to meet you in an hour, Professor. What kept you?"
"All will be explained shortly, Potter. If you'll step aside?" Harry moved from where he was. Snape waved his wand, and the wards on his door receded. Snape rolled smoothly to his place behind his desk. He motioned for Harry to sit down.
"All right, Professor, what is this all about?" Harry said as nonchalantly as he could even though he was too anxious to hear what Snape wanted.
"I've discovered something about Miss Weasley." He saw Harry tense ever so slightly. Just a moment longer, Potter. He was really enjoying this.
"Professor!"
"Very well, Potter, very well. You and Miss Weasley have come here to find out why she had memories of 40 years ago. There is an explanation for that."
"You know what's happening?"
"Not precisely, but I have a very good idea. Those 40 year old memories are Miss Wilson's."
"How can that be? Ginny isn't Jane Wilson."
"Ah, but she is. You see, Miss Wilson was a, how shall I say this delicately, she was a companion of Tom Riddle's." Harry raised an eyebrow. "There is dark magic involved here, Potter. Ancient dark magic. Somehow, Jane Wilson's essence, her personality, her soul has been transferred into Miss Weasley." Harry was no on the edge of his chair leaning across the desk.
"You mean there is someone else inside Ginny? What kind of magic can put someone's soul into another body?"
"I don't have that knowledge. But I do know it is powerful and old, incredibly old.
"You know Miss Weasley was here earlier. We held another session. The images, the memories were quite disconcerting. From what I have seen, it seems Riddle had a lover. They traveled the world searching for ancient magic. Ways to cheat death become immortal."
"Jane was a part of that? Part of that monster's search?"
"She was unaware of his true purpose, at first. He had convinced her it was for both of them. A way for them to be together forever. Riddle was quite the charmer. He had her convinced, a simple seduction for a witch so in love. And she was in love, desperately so. You know how he can control people. You witnessed it firsthand when his mere memory possessed Miss Weasley in her first year."
"I remember." Harry felt the anger coursing through his veins.
"Miss Wilson tried to leave him. He had become abusive. But he was too deeply imbedded in her. Partly her love for him held her there; partly it was his dark magic. She fought his control, she had almost broken the spell."
"Almost?"
"He discovered her strength growing. They had been in the Americas at the time. Apparently, they had found a temple, a place where spells for immortality were to be found. This particular spell required a sacrifice. A soul to be given. A soul in love. Riddle couldn't let her leave. In his own twisted way, he cared for this girl. She had nearly given him a child, you see."
"What? What happened?"
"When he found out, he made her get rid of it." Harry's face contorted in rage. "He did not want an heir. He was certain he would find a way to live forever. He would brook no rival."
"She did it? Willingly?"
"As I said, he did have a measure of control over her. She did do it, but it haunted her. It gave her the strength to fight him."
"So he used this spell on Jane? She was the sacrifice?"
"He tried. It failed and Jane Wilson's soul was trapped."
"You said they were in the Americas. Were they in the Yucatan?"
"That was unclear to me. I am assuming that is so. To that end, Potter, I want you to go to the library and see what you can find concerning Mesoamerican magic, though I doubt even Madame Pince may be able to help."
"If the spell isn't there, how can we help her?"
"I took the liberty of sending an owl to a colleague of mine. Someone I met in my youth who is as interested as I in dark magic."
"There's someone here who can help?"
"No, Potter. Dr. Gresham is in America. He is a leading expert in the Ancient Magic of the Americas. I met him when he was here as an exchange student. I assure you, if anyone can discover what happened, Jacob Gresham can."
"What about Ginny? Where is Ginny? She was here last night."
"I'm not sure if she is there. Her soul is trapped somewhere. Somehow when Miss Wilson's memories surface it triggers and exchange of sorts. I don't understand it myself."
"Then last night, it was Ginny."
"Yes, Potter, Miss Weasley was there. Unfortunately, Miss Wilson was unaware of what had transpired. The irony in all this is that Lupin saw you."
"I know."
"Miss Wilson held that memory quite clearly. There was also the memory of what she tried to tell Lupin."
"Then that's why..."
"Yes, Potter."
"I've got to talk to him, explain."
"I have already done so."
"You what?"
"If we are to bring Miss Weasley back, then Lupin must be involved."
"Why?"
"When Miss Weasley returns, Miss Wilson will disappear, most likely forever. I can't see her doing so willingly unless she has time to make her farewell to him."
"You're growing sentimental, Professor."
"No, I am repaying my debt to you."
"For my mother?"
"For Lily."
Harry went back to Griffindor tower late that night. Madame Pince didn't like it, but Harry had been insistent. Together they had searched for anything on Mesoamerican magic. There wasn't much. Just a few references to Aztec, Mayan and Incan gods in an obscure old tome. But there was a book by Jacob Gresham, MY JOURNEY IN CENTRAL AMERICA. Glancing through it, Harry didn't think there was anything here that could help Jane, but he would read through it, in case Dr. Gresham came.
He checked on Jane. She was deeply asleep. He tucked the covers more tightly around her, kissed her forehead and went back to his room. Once in bed, he pulled out the book by Dr. Gresham. He read late into the night, finally falling asleep with his glasses still on.