Say You Won't Care

-Chapter 19-

-Something is different-

Harry sat nervously on the couch in his navy blue boxers as Lupin paced angrily in front of him, trying to think of what to say first.

"I honestly can't understand what you two were thinking?" Lupin yelled finally. "Especially you, you should know better!"

Harry didn't say anything, he just sat there looking down and wringing his hands.

"Can you even imagine all the things that could have gone wrong…" he started to rant.

Harry knew this was coming because he gave Ginny his own scolding speech when she first showed up at his door. Only this time it was different because he was on the other side.

Harry tuned out a good portion of Lupin's lecture, and he zoned back in after hearing him say something about "Endangering the whole wizarding world."

"And this doesn't even have anything to do with the fact that I've caught you two practically naked! Though, it doesn't help your case at all. I just can't believe you, bringing her here, putting her and yourself in danger like that. How did she get here?"

Lupin asked making Harry's heart stop.

He tried to avoid the real answer to Lupin's question, "Ginny was getting depressed, she tried everything she could to find me… she wanted to know I was ok. She cares so much…"

"How, Harry?" Lupin asked firmly. He meant business.

"Hermione."

Lupin put his face in his hand and shook his head. "Out of all the people, I never would have expected her…" Lupin groaned, more to himself than to Harry. "This is not the kind of thing you need to be focusing on, Harry. You have to keep up your training and your studies. You have no time for..."

"Love," Harry said flatly, finishing his sentence.

"What did you say?" Lupin asked sternly.

"I don't have time for love? I shouldn't be focusing on caring about someone?" He asked cynically.

"I didn't say…"

"But its what you meant!" It was Harry's turn to raise his voice. "I think everyone forgets that I didn't ask for any of this shit!"

"Harry," Lupin said like he had heard it all before, which he probably had, but not like this.

"No! I have never been able to live normally before this, but now I'm thrown in here with no other choice. I know it's to protect me and to prepare, and that's fine, but what good am I if I go insane before I ever have to fight anyone! I started to think I might just decide to walk right out into the open on day, and screw all the consequences! It's just not fair! I don't eat, I don't sleep, I don't smile…" Harry trailed off, "unless she is here."

Lupin had resigned to just staring at Harry, realizing that there would be no way to cut him off now.

"She took care of me when you threw Neville's fucking death announcement at me and ran! She was the one who put up with screaming and the crying and bandaged my hand after I punched it through the wall! She stays up with me all through the night when there is no hope of sleeping. Ginny knows exactly what to say to make me feel better, and she knows when to say nothing all and to just hold me. She helps me get through this… sometimes its good to forget and get away from everything." Harry sighed and ran his hand through his messy hair before he continued. "Everyone wants to keep her from me. Everyone thinks she will be in too much danger if I love her, which may well be true, but everyone cares but her. Just the fact that she even came here shows that she is willing to take the risk that comes with being with me. She's already braced herself for tragedy, Lupin. How are you going to take her from me like this?"

Harry stared Lupin straight in the eyes, his stare boring right into his conscience.

Little did he know that moments before, Ginny had been nervously creeping down the stairs to spy on the extent of damage they did. She heard it, every single word. They may have been things she already knew, or things that she had done without giving any thought, but she felt stronger all of a sudden. She would admit that they had gotten themselves into quite a tough situation. But, from where she was standing she could see Lupin's face and could see that he felt it too. Harry wasn't going to let this go easily.

As she looked at him she knew, though she was pale and thin sitting on the couch in his boxers, he was and always had been her hero.

Ginny revealed her self around the corner of the stairway, now fully dressed in a maroon sweater and jeans. Harry noticed how she stood there and shuffled her feet for a second before walking. Harry thought she looked so adorable like that, when she was usually appeared so tough.

Ginny was scared, even though she did feel much more confident confronting her ex-professor fully clothed. "Hello, sir." Ginny said as formally as she could, smiling nervously. She sat next to Harry, whose jaw was clenched because he was still tense from ranting angrily. Ginny reached for Harry's hand and took it in her own. She rubbed is hand softly with her own, and he looked up into her eyes for a second. They didn't even take note that Lupin was watching them the whole time. Ginny smiled slightly at Harry and he became instantly calmer. They didn't need to talk; they could just read each other. This had all happened in a matter of seconds, all while Lupin stared in amazement. Up until that moment he had thought Harry was just being stubborn. But just from Ginny's small gestures, he could see a change in Harry. A change that no one else could bring. Adults often doubt young love, but he could see something different between them, and he hoped that he was right to believe this.

"You two put me into a very difficult position," Lupin said finally, sounding truly torn.

Harry and Ginny's attention immediately snapped back to Lupin, knowing that this statement meant that the fate of their visits would soon be decided.

"Every part of my conscience is telling me that this is a horrible idea and that I should take Ginny back to her parents immediately. You are too young and this is unsafe but… I just don't know," Lupin's face had changed from its hard stare. "Something is different here. There is something that is telling me that you two need this." Lupin said softly but seriously to both of them.

"We're telling you that we need this," Ginny said looking at Lupin earnestly.

Lupin smiled slightly and nodded.

"Does this mean we can still see each other?" Harry asked with a curious grin.

"I guess it does."

"Does that mean we don't have to tell my parents!" Ginny asked excitedly.

"Absolutely not," Lupin said, correcting her.

"Why!" she said angrily crossing her arms over her chest.

"Do you want to be able to see Harry again or not?" Lupin threatened. "You are lucky it was me that found you here like this, and not one of your brothers."

Ginny had a brief mental flash of the screaming that could have gone on if her any of her brothers would have caught her with Harry in only a blanket. She shivered a bit and resigned with an, "Ok ok…"

"Well, just let me handle your parents, because I know the best way to deal with them," Lupin added.

Once Ginny understood what Lupin was saying her attitude changed completely. "Thanks you! Thank you!" Ginny squealed, jumped up and hugged Lupin, causing him and Harry to laugh at her. "I-I'm just so happy… thankful…" Ginny beamed. "Do I have to be there when you talk to them," she stopped smiling for a second.

"I don't think you should."

"Even better!"

"Well I am glad that you are happy, but remember, just because you can come here, it doesn't mean the business that Harry has to deal with gets ignored," Lupin instructed firmly.

"Yes sir …I mean, No sir! Oh you know what I mean," Ginny was so excited she could hardly talk.

"Now that that is settled, I need to talk to Harry about some business in private. Can you excuse us for a moment?" Lupin asked, getting back to business as usual.

Ginny had no problem with this, she let them know happily that she would be in the kitchen making some lunch for all of them. Harry smiled as he watched her walk toward the kitchen until he couldn't see her anymore. Lupin watched him carefully and said to him, "She's really something, huh?"

Harry just smiled to himself and muttered a soft, "Yeah."

At that point, even though he knew he wasn't, Lupin felt like a proud father. And being his most fatherly figure, he realized there was something else he had to bring up with Harry.

"You did remember to use protection didn't you, Harry?"

It took Harry a second to realize what he was talking about. He couldn't believe that he was practically getting "the talk" from Lupin. He absolutely had been safe with Ginny, but most certainly did not want to talk about it.

"Lupiinn…" Harry said embarrassed.

"I'm being serious. You can never be too careful about those kind of things." He said, and pressed Harry again for his answer, "Well?"

"Yes!" Harry said finally, and Lupin grinned at Harry's embarrassment. "Merlin…" Harry grumbled.

"Good."

"Lunch is ready!" Ginny yelled from the kitchen.

They both stood to walk to the kitchen, but before they got to the doorway Lupin had to add one more thing, "My goodness Harry, is that any way to dress when going to lunch with a young lady?"

Harry looked down and realized he was still in his boxers. He bushed slightly and ran off up the stairs grumbling once again, this time it sounded vaguely like, "He thinks he's so funny…"

Lupin shook his head amusedly and walked into the kitchen to enjoy some lunch.

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(a/n- So that was the chapter, longer than the last and that is all that matters! Haha fairly quick update considering all the classes and crazy Choir rehearsals I've been having. Not to mention I have a super horrible cold, and I'm sneezing like crazy! So did you like it? There is a bit more mushy stuff to get through, but then the story will have some intense conflict. Please stick with me and keep up with the reviews 

Here is a thanks to my reviewers from last chapter…..

Irishwolf14- Thanks so much for the review. Honestly I never really thought about Hagrid being involved much in this story, but your review intrigued me. If you would like, you can send me a message with any Hagrid suggestions you may have, and I could consider them. ) Thanks again!

SloanePeterson-Thanks so much for the review! This chapter was less sad than the rest. :-)

LadyToxxik- I hope this chapter makes you laugh too (Though I hope all the laughing doesn't get you in trouble at work) Thanks for the review!

Chellina-Thanks so much for the sweet review! I try to update as often as I can!

Brolly-ann-miller- Well this chapter is all about what Lupin had to say, so I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks! )

KRB91- I know I know! I'm sorry it was short, but being my first post from my new computer and program and stuff it was more like a test drive. Haha. I hope you like this chapter as well! Thanks for the review as usual!

spyhorse- Thanks for the review, as always! This chapter was longer than the last thank goodness, though I will say that my chapters will never be called "long chapters"

pettybureaucrat- Yes they were very lucky it wasn't her parents, though I think Hermione would have cared less than Lupin because she already knew Ginny was there. School is going very well, thank you! By the way, I wasn't planning on adding that end part between Harry and Lupin until I read your review with the comments about safe sex. I thought it would be funny to add in. Hope you liked it! Thanks for the review :-)

Courtneeey- Insert thanks for Courtney's non-existent review here Lol Jk I know you read it. We really need to figure out how to get your computer to stop recognizing the review boxes as pop-ups. I miss your witty reviews almost as much as I miss you!

-Sincerely, Your sneezing author-

-Jenna-