Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. I do own this storyline.

Ginny made an extra effort to stay away from Remus over the next few weeks. She had no desire to talk to him or even to be near him. Remembering the past had brought back so many painful memories and her heart felt as though it were being torn apart yet again. She kept herself extremely busy with class work and even accepted additional duties around the school so that she would not have a free moment.

It pained Remus to see this, and he noticed how Ginny was never still for more than a few moments, even at mealtimes. It irked him to see that she was most often in conversation with Severus at these times. His dislike for the man grew with every passing day. Remus's one joy was that Lena would come to his office every chance she got, and the two grew very close.

Lena adored her father, and she was comfortable with telling him everything. She learned much about her mother when she was younger, and was eager to know everything about her parents. It seemed like a tragic love story to her, and she wanted them both to be happy. One day, she was in the office with her father, talking about Quidditch, when she came out with an unusual request.

"You know, there's a Hogsmeade trip coming up right before the Christmas holidays." She said, sitting on the floor cross legged. Remus gave a small laugh, ever amazed at how quickly his daughter jumped from subject to subject, much like her mother had always done.

"Yes, I know." He said to her with a warm smile. "What are you thinking of now?" He asked her, having to tell himself not to laugh at the earnest expression on her face.

Lena flushed and picked at the hem of her sweater, looking down at it rather than up at him, for she had a plan. "Well, I've never really had a family dinner… you know, with immediate family. We go to Uncle Ron's all the time, but it isn't the same as with your own true family." She started. "I've already asked in the Three Broomsticks and Madame Rosmerta said it would be no trouble at all to let us use one of the back rooms… and would you? Come to a holiday dinner?" She asked, quite out of breath as she looked up at him.

Remus had to laugh at that and he leaned forward and smoothed down her hair. "Of course, I would be delighted to." He assured her. He was rewarded when she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck in a hug. She wasn't shy about such things, especially not with him.

"Oh! I have to go plan! It's only next week, you know!" Lena exclaimed and pulled back, running from the room, leaving Remus shaking his head and laughing.

Lena wandered about the castle until she found her mother on one of her many rounds. She was outside, walking by the greenhouses, her long curls pulled back, a black scarf around her neck. "Mum!" Lena called when she got close enough. Ginny paused and turned, waiting for her daughter to join her.

"Is everything all right?" Ginny asked with some concern, seeing the anxious flush in her daughters face.

Lena nodded and smiled down at her mother. "Everything's fine, mum. I wanted to ask you if you would come to a holiday dinner at the Three Broomsticks. I've already got it all arranged, you simply MUST come!" She exclaimed, almost afraid that her other would claim she had something important to do.

Ginny was in fact about to tell her she had already accepted hall duty for most of the holiday. She found however that she could not refuse the look on her daughters face however and she sighed heavily. "Of course, if it means so much to you. Who is going to be there?" She asked her daughter.

Lena beamed up at her mother and hugged her tightly. "Oh I am glad for that!" She exclaimed. "Just us, of course." She smiled, meaning the us to include her father, though Ginny was unaware of this, not knowing just how close Remus and Lena had become. "I have to go plan! Bye, mum!" She called and scampered away. Ginny laughed and shook her head, continuing on her rounds.

"Hello, Ginevra." Came a low but pleasant voice. Ginny turned to see Professor Snape coming towards her. She gave him a slight smile and waited for him to reach her. They had become close friends, and Ginny had no idea that Severus was hoping it would turn into more than that.

"Hello, Severus. I wasn't aware that you had grounds duty." She said to him. She was fond of him, but not in the way that he hoped. Severus matched her as the two walked through the snow around the greenhouses.

"I do not have duties today. I was simply out for a stroll." Severus told her. They walked in comfortable silence for a time before he spoke again. "Ginevra, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me next weekend?" He asked her.

Ginny looked up at him, pausing for a moment. She had not expected anything like this. "Oh… well…" She started but was interrupted by him.

"Of course, if you would rather not…" He said hurriedly. Ginny shook her head and put a mittened hand on his arm.

"Please, I didn't say that, Severus. It's just that, Lena has just asked me to join her for a holiday meal next weekend, and I told her I would go." She explained. She saw the pained look on his face and she quickly went on. "You could join us if you would like. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind." She said to him.

Severus placed a gloved hand over hers and looked down at her. "I would like nothing more than to be included in your family, Ginevra." He said softly, his meaning all too clear. Ginny flushed brightly as she caught on and she could not bring herself to look away from him. "It's settled then. You will join Lena and I at the Three Broomsticks." She said, feeling quite breathless at the way he was looking at her.

Severus gave a small nod and leaned forward, having to bend quite a bit to reach her. He touched his lips to her for the briefest of moments, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I will leave you to your duties." He said softly and pulled back, going back towards the castle, leaving Ginny staring after him with a newfound wonder about him.

AN: WOO! Another chapter so soon? It's madness, I tell you! LOL Please review! I'm throwing a kink into Lena's plans, hehehe