A/N: Half way done. For those of you who were wondering how on earth this story was going to become Remus/Ginny when he left (I tried to stick to canon, since he did leave at the end of third year…he left) here's the answer.

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Chapter 5: The Calm Before

            Remus Lupin reappeared during Ginny's sixth year, just as the war with Voldemort really took off. He'd been in the field for the past three years, but Dumbledore finally convinced him that he'd be more use at the castle, both to the cause and to the young Ms. Weasley whom he'd grown inexplicably attached to during his single year of teaching. Ginny and Minerva, Albus had confided, were not dealing with Voldemort's return very well at all. They'd quickly become withdrawn and while Ron, Hermione and Harry were helping out with Ginny all they could they didn't have much time between the war and school. The Headmaster didn't have much more time than they did either. Now that the Ministry was involved, Fudge was begging every day for help, there was the Order to coordinate, the school to run, and Minerva and Ginny to care for.

            Something was going to give and as neither of the ladies would seek him out, Albus was afraid that it would be them. So Remus returned. He took over the Defense against the Dark Arts position, tried to help the headmaster with the school and kept an eye on Ginny. But even then it was not enough, and no one saw what was coming.

            Ginny had just left his office moments ago. Remus had taken to having tea with her in the afternoon, giving her a chance to talk and feel safe. It seemed to be working. The dark circles were disappearing and Remus was getting a glimpse at the absolutely breathtaking woman underneath. He'd taken to saying goofy things just to get her to laugh. It struck him once that she look quite a bit like Lily, but while his dear friend had been soft spoken and gentle, Ginny was a regular spit-fire. She could be as sarcastic as Snape, as mischievous as her legendary brothers, and she rivaled Hermione in intelligence. She was also rather gentle. She asked after him after the full moon, with no other motive than concern for his wellbeing. If he didn't know any better, he would have said he was falling for her, but of course he wasn't.

            Still, he was glad she was improving and glad to be a part of it. He knew Albus had taken to using his time in the garden with Minerva in the same way and it seemed to be working as well. But he wasn't the only one who had noticed their improvement, and not everyone was pleased with it.

            Albus Dumbledore watched his deputy out of the corner of his eye as she fiddled with the petals of the rose next to her. The color had returned to her face, the luster to her hair. She wouldn't tell him what had happened, but he was glad she seemed to be doing alright and that was enough for him right now. A piece of black silk had been blown out of her bun by the wind and currently hung down in her face. He smiled and took the piece in his fingers. After a moment of just feeling how soft it was he tucked the lock behind her ear and let his fingers trail down the side of her neck.

            She sighed a bit. "Something wrong my dear?"

            She shook her head and turned to him, a genuine smile on her face. "No, I was just thinking. I never thought I could be happy after Malcolm died, and this certainly isn't what I wanted when I was with him, but I realized I am happy. As happy as could ever be."

            "Well I am very glad you are happy." He told her patting her hand and holding it in his. "What did you want when you were young?"

            She blushed and laughed a little. "The least ambitious thing I could. Malcolm and a house full of children."

            "Why did you never try for it?"

            "It was to dangerous." And the snappish tone of her voice told him he was pushing to far.

            Albus backpedaled. "Well, I for one am glad you decided to teach. I can't think of a better professor, deputy, or for that matter," he looked at her over the top of his glasses, "friend in my acquaintance."

            Minerva's cheeks burned and she laughed as she pushed his shoulder. "Charmer." She leapt up off the bench and turned to face him. He stood slowly and walked over to her. Their eyes were locked together and the teasing grin slipped off of both their faces. This had happened quite a few times in their long friendship, but both shied away from it. Albus knew he should say something to break the moment, but his brain couldn't think of anything. He was nearly to her when Minerva broke free of the spell between them. "I…I have papers to grade…" she finally gasped out, and broke into a run back to the castle. He should never have let her go.