DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N ~ For aikakone! I can't be mean (what a wimp I am)!

ShibbySpunkyChick ~ Thanks for reading and reviewing, am a huge fan of yours!

Chapter 11: Observations

"If we're going into Muggle London," I began as we waited for our turn to use the Floo, "I need to stop by my house and change into some Muggle clothes. That is, if you're still up for dinner?"

"I think I'm always up for food," she grinned, regaining some color to her cheeks.

We Flooed to my house so I could dress accordingly. My job at the Ministry afforded me a few more luxuries than I had previously been accustomed to having. I now had a fairly decent selection of 'stylish' (Tonks' phrase, not mine) Muggle clothing. Since Ginny was in black capris, I grabbed my black trousers and a light blue button down shirt, turning up the cuffs twice. I also grabbed my wallet that had my Muggle identification (courtesy of the Ministry) and Muggle money. Arthur actually had a few Muggles come in and teach a 'How to blend into Muggle Society' class which was actually very useful.

It was a pretty warm night, so I didn't grab a jacket. When I emerged from the room, I noticed Ginny standing at the mantle tracing her finger around the frame of the wedding picture. "Harry told me he loved me for the first time at your wedding," she said when she noticed me watching her.

"I remember."

"I miss him so much," she whispered as the tears began to fall.

All I wanted to do at that moment was to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything would be all right, but I couldn't. As a matter of fact, I couldn't move at all. I was frozen in fear of my own emotions, which were now in overdrive. I can't have these feelings for her, not now! "It will be all right," I finally managed to say.

Apparently, or hopefully, she was oblivious to my current state of confusion. "If it wasn't for this baby I don't know how I'd manage at all."

"You'd manage."

"I don't know how." She continued to cry. "I don't know how you did it, I don't know how Fleur managed, and I certainly don't know how Ron's managing."

"Not any better than you." I smiled at the memory of the night at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Guess I'm just not very good company these days," she said, trying to straighten herself up.

"You're fine company," I assured, finally trusting myself enough to place a calming hand on her shoulder. "I can make us some supper if you'd like?"

"And miss the chance at another milkshake?"

We Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron so we could enter Muggle London. "Mrs. Potter, what an honor," Tom said as we stepped out of the fireplace.

"Thank you, Tom," she smiled warmly. "But I'm afraid we can't stay. Have some business in Muggle London."

"That's all right," Tom grinned, showing his lack of teeth. "Not sure I have enough Firewhiskey tonight."

I'm sure I blushed as Ginny gave me a rather scathing look. Apparently neither Ron nor Draco had divulged the details of our outing.

The little diner I had referred to wasn't far, and it was a pleasant evening for a walk. Ginny gave pause once outside as London was much busier than Godric's Hollow. It amazed me to think of the tragedy and pain she has suffered when I saw her so in awe of the hustle and bustle of a city like London.

From the outside the little diner didn't look like much, but it was a popular little fish and chip place. Ginny still seemed perhaps a little overwhelmed by the entire evening.

"Hey Remus!" Ezzy (short for Esmerelda), the waitress, called out. "Haven't seen you 'round these parts in awhile."

Ginny hadn't realized that she had closed most of the distance between us. She was unsure of her surroundings and pretty beleaguered by the events of the evening. I placed a reassuring hand on the small of her back, and felt her instinctively relax a bit.

"Oh, 'ello luv," the woman said with an even bigger smile. "So it's a table for two tonight is it Remus?"

"That would be great, Ezzy," I answered with a smile and guided Ginny to follow her.

"You come here often?" Ginny asked as she situated herself in the seat.

"Often enough I guess," I admitted guiltily.

"So will it be the usual for you tonight?" Ezzy asked as she sat down some ice water.

"Am I that predictable?" I laughed.

"And what will it be for you, luv?"

"Just a burger and chips," she said a bit undecidedly.

"And a chocolate milkshake," I added with a smile.

It wasn't long before Ezzy returned with two chocolate milkshakes. Ah, the joy of observation. Ginny eyed the newly presented culinary creation with unadulterated bliss. "Is this for real?" she gasped.

All I could do was chuckle to myself as I watched her. She looked like a child at Christmas. "Very real."

Something sat uneasily with her, but what I couldn't determine. Conversation remained light as we ate, and usually centered around what I had been doing at work, accomplishments of Billy, Merry or Nat, Charlie's recent visit, or Seamus and Colin's continued struggle to adopt a child. We finished our meal and I settled the bill. It had gotten a bit chillier outside, and now was regretting my decision to forgo grabbing a jacket. Not for my sake as much as for Ginny.

"So what exactly did Tom mean when he said he didn't think he had enough Firewhiskey?" Ginny asked as we approached the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron from the London side.

My cheeks burned of embarrassment. "Took your advice and got Ron out of the house," I answered cryptically.

"And?" She stopped and began tapping her foot. With her arms crossed in front of her, she looked all the more pregnant.

"And we both got just a little inebriated."

Ginny seemed to contemplate that answer a little as she twisted a lock of her hair with her fingers. "But I thought you had a really high tolerance to spirits," she finally asked as tactfully as she could.

"I do." If at all possible, I had perhaps turned as red as the Hogwarts Express.

She gasped as the realization set in. "Oh."

Tom flashed us a toothless smile as we passed through the bar in order to use the fireplace. "I know it's a bit late," Ginny said as she took a pinch of Floo powder, "but could you come over for a cup of tea?"

"I'll follow you."

When I stepped out of the fireplace at Potter Place, Ginny was already headed towards the kitchen. Sometimes it felt as though all we did was boil water and drink tea. She indicated for me to sit at the table, which I did and quietly observed her.

Her movements weren't quite as fluid as they used to be, hindered by her rounding mid-section. Her hair, still down, seemed to be a great source of irritation for her at the moment. She swiped at it irritably before wrapping it into a twist and sticking her wand through it. She remained quiet as she toiled in the kitchen, as if in deep thought about something.

"How about we sit in the lounge?" she said while handing me a cup of tea. "It's more comfortable."

Once we had settled, I waited for her to explain why she had asked me over for tea at such an hour (wouldn't Rita Skeeter have a field day with this?), although she never did. "Ginny, is there something you wished to discuss with me?"

"Yes," she sighed. "It's Draco."

A flurry of thoughts and emotions flooded me at that moment, and not one of them good. I sincerely hope I had kept my face impassive for Ginny's sake however. "Oh?"

"He's getting very persistent about me moving into Malfoy Manor with him. And Emery isn't being much better," she continued to explain.

"And you don't want to move?"

"Well, no, but that's not it," she sighed in complete exasperation. "Draco is one of my dearest friends, but…" She broke off again, still searching for words to put to her feelings.

"Ginny?"

"I don't know, Remus. I just get this feeling that…well…I just sort of get uncomfortable around him lately." She was completely exasperated at her inability to solidify her feelings into words. "He's been acting rather strangely."

"He's very protective of you," I mentioned as if a mere observation.

"That's just it," she sighed, "he almost acts jealous."

If only she knew that she hit the proverbial nail on the head. "He carries a great deal of guilt about what happened your fifth year."

"It's not that." She was getting aggravated at my apparent lack of understanding.

"You think he may have feelings for you?"

"Well, kind of." A flash of pain and sorrow briefly filled her eyes. "I don't know how to say this, Remus. You know I really love Draco, I do. He's been a great friend, but he kind of scares me sometimes."

"Ginny," I tried to remain impassive, "if you don't want to move in with Draco, just say something. We'll work something else out."

"I've tried to say something to Emery, but he's being just as difficult as Draco." She sighed.

"Everyone is just worried about you, Gin."

"Well I wish they would stop worrying," she said in exasperation. "I don't even want to go to the Burrow any more. Mum is being really overbearing since Merry and Nat went back home. Ron's putting things back together at his house, and Fleur and Billy went back to France. I don't see why everyone else can live their life the way they want to."

"Everyone else didn't marry Harry Potter," I pointed out.

Ginny rolled her eyes at me but laughed all the same. "But what am I supposed to do? Emery is getting ready to pack me up and move me himself. He absolutely refuses to let me live by myself, anywhere."

"What about moving in with Ron for awhile? Or even George?"

Ginny gave pause remembering her older brother and the loss of his twin. It had taken its toll on George. "I'll talk to Ron, I'm sure he could use the help with the kids. Will you talk to Emery for me?"

"Of course I will," I said. "After all, I think it's my fault he found out about Draco's offer."

I was leaving to Apparate home and had just stepped out of the anti-Apparation wards when an uneasy feeling settled in my bones. Every nerve I had screamed that something wasn't right. My hand instinctively grasped my wand and held it at the ready.

It was nearly midnight, and Ginny was turning off all the lights to go to bed. I caught a glimpse of something or someone out of the corner of my eye, although can't be sure exactly what. I knew I had to get Ginny out of there.

Acting as though I had forgotten my jacket, I went back up to the house and knocked on the door. Ginny looked surprised when she opened the door. "I forgot my jacket," I announced, and hoped she understood.

She eyed me precariously a few moments, but decided to let me in the house. Once the door was closed, I practically shoved her to the fireplace. "Floo to my house now," I demanded. "Then Floo Daria and tell him your house is being attacked."

She stood rigid for a moment as panic flooded her. "Oh my God!"

"GO! NOW!"

Without further argument, she Flooed to my house.

I grabbed a jacket of Harry's and flung it over my shoulder casually. Thank God she hadn't packed anything, then went to leave. "I'll owl you tomorrow," I called back through the door before I shut it and tested the lock. Returning back to the Apparition point, I did what they were anticipating me to do, I Apparated.