1
Thanks for Not Caring

Ginny Weasley was bored by this meeting. She was bored by many other meetings, but normally, Tonks was there to make faces across the table or she had a bottle of nail varnish to occupy herself. Tonks was away on assignment and her mother had confiscated the varnish.

"Ginevra!"

She snapped to attention. "Yes Mum?"

"I've been saying your name for the past few minutes! Albus wishes to speak to you and Remus alone."
Alone? Me and Remus? Why? She stilled the questions in her head. "Right."

She stood, along with Lupin and awkwardly walked out of the kitchen and to the parlor where Dumbledore was waiting.

Half an hour later Ginny walked out of the parlor, leaving Dumbledore and Remus sitting down. Hermione appeared at her side, questioning.

"Congratulate me," Ginny said dully.

For once, Hermione looked confused. "Why?"

"I'm getting married."

"To – to Lupin!"

"WHAT!" came Molly Weasley's shriek.

"Yeah," Remus Lupin sighed from the doorway, his eyes resting on the shocked faces of his makeshift family. He didn't look any more pleased than Ginny and his look didn't improve as his gaze fell on the shocked face of Sirius Black.

After they'd calmed Mrs. Weasley (using several silencing spells and a well timed cooking spree) Dumbledore took it upon himself to explain the situation. Finally.

"I have cordially asked Mr. Lupin and Ms. Weasley to be espoused to further the ends of the Order."

"Why not-"

"Molly, I could not have asked Nymphadora because she is on a mission of the utmost secrecy and importance. She will not be expected back for another six months and this … issue I have assigned to this pair has rather a ticking clock."

"Ticking-"

"Yes Mr. Potter, it needs to be accomplished in ready time."

"Amusing as this infantile conversation of Potter's is," Severus Snape drawled, fastidiously flipping his hair out of his face. "What is that 'ticking-clock' mission."

Dumbledore began again, not at all flustered at being interrupted so often, or at Snape's sarcasm. "We find ourselves … low on resources for the upcoming conflict with Lord Voldemort."

The entire table winced at the name, with the exception of Harry and Dumbledore.

The Headmaster continued. "In an effort to bolster our flagging legion size and without any real hope of convincing the Ministry of Magic of his return, we have decided to outsource. We will send Mr. Lupin and Ms. Weasley, then Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, to Hungary."

"To make a treaty with the werewolves?" Hermione had the idea.

"What?" Ron, Ginny and Harry said, completely lost. Apparently Dumbledore hadn't enlightened her either.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Hungary is home to the pack-house for all Europe for werewolves. Their alpha lives there and if he agrees to fight our cause, everyone who is part of the pack will have to abide by his promise and fight as well."

Everyone got it now. Except…

"Why does Ginny have to marry Remus?" Harry asked. "No offense man," he said to Lupin, who was looking at Sirius.

"None taken," Remus said, not moving his gold-eyed gaze away. There was a silence. Remus realized what he was doing and tore his gaze away from Sirius, who had been stubbornly ignoring it. He moved smoothly into teacher-mode. "I, while a member of the Lycan clan-"

"Lycan?"

"Werewolf, Ron," Hermione said.

"While a member of the Lycan clan," Remus continued. "I am not a member of the pack and therefore have no allies to help me convince Lucian-"

"Lucian?"

"Leader of the werewolves, Harry," Hermione snapped. "Don't you two ever read?"

"We have you, Hermione," they replied.

"To help me convince Lucian," Lupin said. "Convince him to help the cause. I also have no wish to join the pack and build my reputation up, for it's a lifetime commitment and besides, the pack does not completely approve of me. Albus has respected my wishes and devised an ulterior plan. Ginny will go with me as my-" Here he paused, awkward. "As my wife, and by extension my mate to act as support."

"Why Ginny?" Molly said, the silencing charms now completely worn off. She still sounded strangled, as if she wanted to shout again.

"Hermione Granger is too well known and also important to our plans here in Britain," Dumbledore said. "And we have no other available females we can trust with something of this level of secrecy and importance. Death Eaters will also be attempting to treat with Lucian, and we cannot allow a civilian woman, even a willing one to compromise herself."

"But she's only seventeen!" Molly wailed. "She's only just of age. How will she survive in a marriage and in danger?"

Arthur attempted to comfort his wife. "Ginny can handle herself," he said, hugging Molly. "She has some of the best hexes I've ever seen in a woman her age and truth, in older ones as well. Remus will be there to protect her as well. They will be engaging in a platonic relationship, Molly."

"Of course," Remus confirmed, again shooting a glance down to his left at the now sullen Sirius Black.

"Should you wish to remain in contact, the pack-house is well-equipped with anything you should need, including Owl Post." The Weasleys looked relieved. "Remus, if you need to contact Ms. Tonks, I can attempt to find a transfer-"

"That isn't necessary, Albus," Remus said, supremely uncomfortable. "I spoke with Tonks early this morning and we are … no longer in need of contact."

Everyone was silent. Molly Weasley filled the yawning gap in the conversation by bustling about the long table and clearing dishes. Arthur Weasley and Ron also got up to help, Harry at their heels. Severus Snape begged his leave, with another flip of his greasy hair and left with Dumbledore and McGonagoll back to Hogwarts. Sirius too got up to leave for his bedroom. He left without a word or any acknowledgement that he realized Remus' golden stare was boring into his retreating back.

That left Remus and Ginny sitting at the table in the silent kitchen.

"So," Ginny said, now completely uncomfortable with her former teacher. "Married…"

"Yeah," Remus said, now not bothering to hold back the hurt that Sirius ignoring him had caused.

Ginny wasn't stupid. "What's wrong with you and Sirius? You fighting?"

"Yeah," the werewolf repeated, thoroughly depressed. "I guess."

Ginny decided not to dance around the rosebushes. "Are you gay?"

"What!" Remus spluttered. Then there was a silence as the seventeen-year-old arched a coppery eyebrow. He seemed to shrink in on himself. "Yeah, I guess."

"Okay." Ginny went to get some ice cream.

"Wait," Lupin said, confused. "Don't you care? I mean we're getting married…"

"A purely platonic relationship for support."

"Ah. Well, thanks for not caring."

"You're welcome." Ginny smiled around the ice cream spoon.

Chapter One:
I'm so worried about posting this. It's only the second fic that's longer than one chapter I've ever tried to do and I don't even know if it's any good.
In any case PLEASE review.
And this will be slash (guy on guy, yaoi) eventually. You can probably skip those parts if you dislike them. That's not for awhile. It's het 'till then.
Oh and this is a slight crossover with Underworld. Meaning I stole Lucian the werewolf and his henchmen. And the dude named Kraven in chapter three. But you don't need to have seen that movie to get any of this. I explain everything you need to know.
Again, review please!