Disclaimer- All Harry Potter characters and such belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury and… Warner Bros. I'm just borrowing them to add my little bit to the world. Love and kisses.

A/N: So I got a couple of reviews stating that my fuzzy math was positively hairy. Unfortunately, it's going to stay that way, because I'm too lazy to go back and refigure everything and I'm rather on a roll. So, sorry to those of you who are loyal to all that timing. Thanks for all the reviews and I hope you fell inclined to add some more.

Chapter Two- From One Home To Another

                Ginny tried hard not to cry. She wouldn't give them her money, she was carefully going over all the self-defense she knew and trying not to faint from lack of air. She thought she heard someone say, "This isn't a nice game", before she spurred into motion. She stepped down hard on the foot, got enough room to turn, put a knee in his groin, an elbow in the solar plexus and a fist to the nose. She made to run back to the Leaky Cauldron, when a wand light nearly blinded her. Tom looked for a moment frightened and then burst into a great belly laugh.

                "Tom, I just-!" She was speechless, she ran crying into his arms. "How can you laugh?"

                "I think you gave Mr. Potter a right turn." She turned around in disbelief her fear turning abruptly to anger. James sat in the wand light looking in immense pain. Sirius was trying to help him up and Peter was looking regretfully at her. Remus thudded up behind them.

                "They didn't." He sounded disbelieving. "You got what you deserved, James." He snapped and looked to Ginny. "I'd like to shake your hand." Ginny instead ran into his arms.

                "I always liked you." She whispered, more than herself to anyone. Remus pulled away, surprised. "Thanks a lot… Moony." She waved to him and Tom and started back down the alley, stopping by James to give him a good kick in the shin.  "And you!" She pointed to Sirius, who cowered. She moved the finger to Peter who blushed and kicked a stone lazily, which hit James on the leg. He groaned and Ginny stuck her tongue out at him. Making sure she had her wand out, she continued towards the flat. She arrived without mishap, Oliver was drunk. Luckily, he was a happy drunk.

                "Ginny. I'm so sorry about today." He stumbled over to her with a drink in his hand. He handed one to Ginny, who set it down on the counter behind him.

                "I've had quite enough, thank you. And you're forgiven. Even though you were being a right git and I want you to know it." He nodded sadly and she kissed him gently, prying the glass from his hand and setting it behind him next to her untouched one. They pulled away for a moment to take care of the business of shirts and then continued.

                "Ginny. Ginny, Ginny, Ginny." Oliver whispered in her ear still working at her bra. She ran her hands up and down his chest. He was probably the most attractive guy she had ever been with.

                And she was a girl who had run into her fair share of guys she felt she could jump in the sack with. First, there was Seamus Finnigan. The ever-smiling, charming Irishman. And Harry thought his interview with Rita Skeeter had been the turn around for Seamus. He was lithe and attentive, she was happy he was her first. She had been dating Michael Corner, a small detail she had left out when telling Ron why they broke up. Oh well, no harm done. Then, there was Neville. She wasn't sure at first, but he was so sweet and needy. She had started to love the pudgy sweetheart. She had known she was genuinely falling for him, and so they decided to… do it. All of fifth year, then something happened. He backed away and Harry moved in to comfort her broken heart, by reminding her who exactly she had really been in love with all that time. She always thought that maybe Harry had had something to do with Neville, but had been so blissful with the boy- who- lived that it never occurred to her to ask or , for that matter, care. She slept with Harry more quickly than with Neville, or even with Seamus, who was most definitely spur of the moment. Maybe for him more than her, she was always a little insecure in their relationship. At least at first. They had been pretty healthy and normal by the end of it. And Oliver, what could she say, Oliver was great.

                He sighed in her ear and rolled over, falling to sleep almost instantly. She pulled on her old robe, leaving it open and trailing, to deposit her money into the large jar they lovingly called Gringotts, and moved to clean up the kitchen. She sniffed at the glass that Oliver had been drinking from and blanched. Good thing she hadn't had any of that. She poured them out in the sink, after taking a quick sip from her cup. He had remembered to significantly water it down. Good boy. She yawned as she wiped down the counters and rinsed the dishes. She did a quick walk through of the flat and picked up clothes and other things that Oliver had managed to toss around during the day. It was a nightly routine for her, and it was comforting. She was starting to understand why the house become spotless and the food delicious when her mother was under considerable stress.

                Her mother. Ginny sat down with a pang in a mothy armchair they had purchased, second- hand. Her family. They were all so wonderful and giving and kind and… tears rose up in her eyes and a lump  constricted her throat. She gratefully sobbed, wringing a shirt of Oliver's in her hands mournfully. She was so busy, she rarely had time to emote. She constantly remembered. Every time she looked  in the mirror she was reminded of hair, every shade of red, curly and straight. Freckles, a sprinkling across the nose and rainy days spent mapping out constellations on arms and legs with a felt marker. Brotherly kisses and hugs, warm arms, a ratty crocheted shoulder to cry on. She cried for longing and family that Oliver and Tom couldn't provide, no matter how they tried. She cried because the faces that had once stood out so well in her mind now blurred when she tried to recall them. It had only been a month, and already she felt as though she had spent years in the body of Ginny Wesley, longing for the two lives to join. What she wouldn't give to be working the Leaky Cauldron with Tom in 2004. To be able to go home at night and find solace in the arms of… who?

                Oliver and Harry were polar opposites as far as looks went, but when you came down to their personalities, they were similar creatures. Loving, irresistible and teasing. An awful jealous streak, though Harry didn't yell like Oliver. They both liked to hold her in public and take long walks in the city and country alike. She dreaded to get either of them started on Quidditch. They were more obsessed than she, and that was saying something. Both were industrious and hard-working, but fun-loving at the most appropriate and inappropriate of times. Neither of them liked to read, an infuriating habit. When she returned to the future, as if these months had not passed by, walking out of the kitchen as though they had been in there only seconds, what was she to do when her two loves stood face to face? When they stared each other down, and Harry wasn't sure why?

                Oliver had been with her, here. They had struggled to make ends meet, to put robes on their backs. She and Harry had never shared that. Never shared the pain of being young and old at the same time. Harry, Hermione and Ron had joined with those struggles, but Ginny had never been offered to share that with the Dream Team. Oliver and she were a couple by consequence and physical attraction, Harry and her shared something more spiritual. Harry had always had her family's blessings, she wasn't sure she could tell them about this time she spent in the past. Wasn't sure how to explain that she had been the funny girl in the story they had always been told about the scrubbed wooden table in the kitchen. That she finally understood why Tom in the Leaky Cauldron eyes always filled with tears when he saw her and why he always treated the family like royalty. That people she thought she never knew, she still didn't know yet, loved her. There were things that she couldn't share with her family anymore, things that didn't relate to partying and boys, normal things she hid from them.

                She was different now, different from her family. It was if the past was pulling her from the impending future. How she longed to return to the days when she didn't remember the 70's, when she saw a group of friends not torn apart by the future. It made all the deaths of the future that much harder in the past, in the flesh.

 The world here was safe,  people didn't talk in shadows. Old friends weren't spies or under any sort of suspicion, they were old friends. You could trust people, setting down your wand for a moment or sleeping soundly didn't put your life in danger. And yet, having that safety and security always at her side made her more wary of the shock and pain that the future would bring. After all, hadn't someone once said, those who are happiest in war are those who have never been in peace? She had lived in wary peace most of her life, and the war had come as more of a relief than anything. Now this absolute, assured calm where magic was magic and the dark arts would never rule, was unsettling. Especially for someone who could currently make a fortune as a seer. And she could see unexpected storm clouds on the blurry horizon.

*                                              *                                              *                                              *                                              They had decided to split everything when they got back. They spent their last week together selling furniture and dishes, buying a trunk and packing memorabilia and money. Ginny lovingly packed her all her robes and clothes from the 70's vowing to wear them at least once a week. They saved a few magazines and all the pictures they could find. Ginny posed in hot pants and bellbottoms with tube-tops and other fashionable flowery tops. Oliver displayed what he affectionately called his Gringo Afro along with some of his own Muggle attire. Ginny was starting to genuinely love her flowy 70's style hair and was wondering how she was going to explain to the others exactly how it was that it happened.

That was how the day found her, on August 31, wandering around Muggle London peering in every store she encountered. She wanted something to remember these two eventful months. Teetering around in those ridiculous heels that had water and glitter swirling around in the heel and the part that elevated the toe, wearing absurdly tight pants, except for the bottoms, and sporting a loose sports top, she was shopping. She lowered her huge sunglasses and brushed a feathery strand of hair from her face. There came the Marauders, probably on their way to the Leaky Cauldron. They looked like a bunch of confused drag queens, dressed in robes as they were.

"Hey Wesley!" Sirius waved, and she smiled. Their reconciliation had come about being about as lengthy as James' healing . Speaking of the little mugger, he ruffled his hair and approached her, puffing out his chest. She was his and Sirius' height in these heels, and little taller than Remus and a lot taller than Peter, who was her same height when she was on level ground.

                "Cut it out, Prongs," She chided. "It doesn't work on me." He smiled at her use of his nickname.

                "You're just feeling yourself being overpowered. Your hand is reaching for that ring," he gestured to her wedding ring, "and wants to toss it into the gutter and jump into my arms for a snog." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

                Her and Oliver had to decided to get married after all. They had agreed it was for memories and for a support network and viable proof for inquiring folks. They couldn't deny, however, that they could stay together in the future without unwanted explanation and acknowledged that they would probably separate in the future. Ginny wondered how it would feel to be a married woman in the future, where no one even knew about it. And when she brought out that marriage license, let them all see the date of marriage. July 28, 1974. She had finally confessed all to Tom and he and Mary Caldwell were witnesses at Ministry of Magic that day. She had pictures of her in a white sundress and Oliver in rented dress robes, kissing and cutting a cake back at the Leaky Cauldron.

                 "What are you out in the real world for?" Peter wanted to know, watching two attractive woman as they made their way past the group.

                "I'm looking for something to take home with me." She said.

                "We'll go with you to Diagon Alley," James suggest hopefully.

                "Oh, I suppose so, I certainly haven't found anything out here." She finally said, exasperated with her luck. Sirius got excited.

                "SHOPPING TRIP!" He shrieked shrilly, drawing stares. Ginny blushed and let them usher her back through the Leaky Cauldron. She waved to Tom who offered her a free butterbeer.

                "On these heels, you've got to be kidding." She whispered. He laughed and instead gave her Fizzy Pumpkin Juice, something she dearly wished they had in the future.

                "So what do you want?" James asked.

                "I don't know." She admitted.

                "Gobstones?" Peter pointed to a golden set in the window.

                "No." She shook her head. "That's not it."

                "A broom?" James said hopefully.

                "No."

                "How about a nice book?" Sirius smiled.

                "Nope."

                "How about a pet?" Remus asked.

                "N- yeah." She nodded. That wasn't a bad idea. Remus led them into a people free pet crowded shop. Ginny had been in there before, but only because it was an enduring business. She glanced at rats, and found herself looking at Peter who smiled.

                "They're cute, huh?" He acknowledged, poking at the cage.

                "Adorable." They peered into cages of all kinds, but nothing seemed right. A cat jumped up on the counter next to where they were looking. Ginny did a double-take. It was the most beautiful cat she had ever seen. It had a hundred colors within its fur, it was small and delicate with curved ears that reminded Ginny of horns. She rang the bell next to the cat, who rubbed her head on Ginny's knuckles. A young woman appeared looking as though she had just woken up. She brushed messy hair out of her eyes and smiled at Ginny.

                "What can I do for you, doll?" She brushed the cat lovingly with the back of her hand.                

                "This cat, is it for sale?" Ginny smiled at the woman, willing it so. The Marauders had joined in on the petting of the cat and she was clearly and audibly enjoying it.

                "Pita? No." That name sounded tantalizingly familiar. The cat on the counter suddenly became an unfairly attractive woman and Ginny recognized her.

                "You!" She accused. James, Remus and Peter took their hands away quickly. Sirius, who had been scratching the cat's chest, winked at her. James pulled him back. "Down boy!" Ginny said.

                "You aren't supposed to remember me." Pita whispered.

                "Well, I do. And when I get to where I came from…" Pita understood and gasped. "I'm going to report you to the authorities." Pita looked relieved and laughed.

                "I am the authorities." She whispered. Her nose suddenly wiggled and became like a pig's. "Boo."

                "TONKS!" Ginny threw her arms around her. The Marauder's looked confused, as did the woman behind the counter. Tonks looked around her at The Marauder's,  she paled.

                "Is that…?" Ginny nodded. It took her a moment to recover. "What are you doing here?"

                "I don't know, exactly. It was weird. What year did you come from?" Tonks thought a moment.

"Your fourth year. The summer. You're currently in number 12."

                "Oh!" So Tonks didn't know that Sirius was dead, yet. "I'm going into 7th year, I'll be back soon."

                "I wish I could help you out." Tonks said, Ginny was aware that everyone was trying to listen in on their murmured conversation. "But Ministry business is Ministry business and it would come over weird if I brought someone back."

                "Is there any sort of time travel device that dictates time and place?"

                "Yeah, there is. Good luck getting a Death Spinner in this time, though." Tonks patted her on the shoulder and then said louder. "So you want a cat? Well, you're in luck, cause I just had kittens." She pointed Ginny to the back and shut the door. She put a soundproof charm on the door and gestured Ginny to the box of kittens.

"Tonks, you didn't really…" Ginny looked in disbelief at the adorable little balls of fur.
"Nah, I was just imitating their Mommy." A cat jumped onto her lap and then into the box.

"Are they ready to live without her?" Ginny asked and Tonks nodded. There were two kittens with

 their mama's ears. Ginny picked them up and surveyed them both up. One of them had salt and pepper hair and bright blue eyes. The other she thought was black, until a beam of sunlight hit it and she found that it was an extremely dark shade of red. She looked into the green, black flecked eyes. "This is the weirdest looking cat I think I've ever seen." She set the other one back in the box. "I want…" She ignored the kitten's squeals at the indignity, "her." She said softly.

                "Yeah, good choice." Tonks brushed the hair back on the cat.

                "So, you look different." Ginny studied Tonks unusual change.

                "It's my disguise, Pita." She presented herself happily. "I'm here for a month. I saw you on my first day here, and I panicked. Sorry. How did you remember-"

                "Alcohol." Ginny said dryly.

                "So I'll see you when I get back?" Tonks said softly. She suddenly somber.

                "You will. You know something." She accused.

                "You'll know, eventually." Tonks let Ginny out and closed the door behind her. Everyone stepped back from the door and looked around guiltily. She purchased the kitten and supplies for her care. The kitten clawed up to her shoulder and looked around loftily. Everyone laughed. Sirius shouldered the kitten's 'diaper bag' and they left.

                "Did you hear anything?" She accused and they shook their heads.

                "You tampered with the room. We couldn't figure out what spell it was." Peter accused back.

                "What will you call her?" Remus now had the kitten in his hands.

                "Diabla." Was the confident reply. "Do you guys want to go back to the flat with me?" They had never been there. "It's empty, because we're moving out and all, but I think I can rustle something up." They exchanged looks and followed her. Ginny bumped into someone and pulled back; she had knocked all these woman's things out of her arms.

                "Sorry, excuse me." She apologized and then paused. This was Lily Evans, Harry's mother.

                "Oh, it was my fault." She said, smiling broadly. "Grabbing my school supplies at the last minute,  I get so rushed." She rolled her eyes. Ginny smiled back and knelt to help her with it all.

                "Hey Wesley, what's the hold up, are we going to your flat or not?" Ginny blushed. James' statement sounded like it implied something. She wondered if James and Lily were dating yet. Apparently not. Ginny was amazed at Lily's quick change of expression. She quickly gathered the rest of the packages and stormed away.

                "Thanks a lot." She said to Ginny and disappeared into the crowd. James sighed and looked back at her. He looked wistful

                "Prongs has it bad." Sirius patted him on the back. James pulled away Ginny led them the rest of the way to her flat and she was greeted by Oliver. He frowned at the Marauders, but was so thrilled with the kitten that his bad mood was soon remedied. She gave them a quick tour and then fixed up chicken soup by magic. It was received enthusiastically. She let Oliver and the Marauders get to know each other better for the afternoon and they seemed to get along slightly better. They all headed down to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner and Tom closed early for the enthusiastic farewell supper. They couldn't talk about time travel because of the Marauders, but it was fun all the same.  The aforementioned foursome couldn't understand.

                "You'll see him whenever you want." James said to Ginny of Tom. She had to grab more drinks from the back to cry. She could see Tom soon, but he had to wait 30 years for her to understand and go to see him. She came back and handed everyone butterbeers and had Fizzy Pumpkin Juice for herself. Oliver took her hand under the table and fiddled with her ring with his fingers. Ginny looked up at him and he gave her hand a squeeze. She was a married woman and practically a different person. How could she leave the kitchen like the carefree girl she had been just two month's previously, or rather 30 years ahead? How could they do as Oliver and she had agreed, separate like acquaintances and have her go back to Harry? She wasn't sure about Harry anymore, no matter what she had thought only a month ago.

                She spent that night in the arms of Oliver, her husband, and was sure that it was their last. They made love and then sat up the rest of the night. One with the other. Ginny cried into his bare chest and he cried into her glorious hair.

                *                                              *                                              *                                              *

                They slept for awhile on the train. After they woke, Oliver played with Diabla while Ginny read a book that Tom had recommended. They were quiet for a long time, comfortable quiet. The only noises were the kitten and pages turning. A different little old lady came with the trolley cart and Ginny was grateful; her stomach had been rumbling uncomfortably. They worked their way through a case of pumpkin pasties and a couple of Fizzy Pumpkin Juices. Oliver and Diabla settled down for another nap and Ginny, bored out of her mind, left to explore. She wandered the train, vaguely looking for a bathroom. She found one, to her surprise, and pushed open the door. James Potter fumbled and cursed. Ginny turned around with her eyes covered. "Sorry. Sorry!" She twitched uncomfortably and fumbled with the door. "It was open."

                "My mistake. Leave it, I'm almost done." He said. She hummed loudly. "Okay, done."

                "Why couldn't I have just left?" She asked, maneuvering around him so he could wash his hands. She jumped uncomfortably from foot to foot, finally putting her jacket over her lap, she disposed of her previous Fizzy Pumpkin Juices.

                "Uh… whenever you open the door, the whole world can see the occupants." James was turned around, so she performed a little modesty magic that every teenage girl learns and they shifted so she could wash her own hands. "So, Wesley?" Ginny looked at him, sitting on the toilet seat with his head in his hands.

                "Hmmm?" She asked, drying her hands on a paper towel and aiming it for the little trashcan. It missed. James put it in there for her. They exited one at a time and she ran into Lily Evans for the second time in a rather incriminating suggestion of her and James.

                "Hi." She blushed as James appeared beside her and the pretty girl frowned. "No damage from my clumsiness, I hope." She said trying to continue a conversation while Lily glared and James mooned. Ginny elbowed James in the stomach when he started to ruffle his hair.

                "No, everything was fine." She glared at them both a moment longer and left.

                "I never did anything to her." Ginny cried. "Why is she glaring at me like that?"

                "She thinks you're shagging her worst enemy." James sighed. "What would you do?"

                "Oh… I know. I had the greatest comeback for this. I didn't know you were a lesbian and they say what do you mean or why or something and then you say, cause he has no dick. Yeah?" James chuckled and ruffled her hair as if she were a girl instead of his elder.

                "Yeah."

                "So why does she hate you?" They looked at the corner that Lily had disappeared behind.

                "She thinks I'm conceited, you know, that I have a big head." James admitted.

                "You are. But you're still very likable." Ginny leaned against the wall.

                "And devastatingly handsome?" He waggled his eyebrows.

                "You'll do." She started walking away. "And that'll do." He caught her sleeve and she turned to look at him, he looked for a moment as thought he didn't know why he had grabbed her.

                "The husband-"

                "Oliver." Ginny corrected.

                "Oliver." He repeated. "When he's yelling at you about hanging out with us, which happens fairly frequently and isn't very nice…" Ginny nodded and motioned for him to continue. "Well, when he starts yelling about Potter and stuff, is he talking about me?" Ginny hadn't expected that and talked slowly, so she could choose her words wisely.

                "Partly. But he also talks about an ex of mine, of sorts, kind of a future ex…" James looked confused, she shook her head. "Sorry, that's not the point. The point is, He seems to think I'm confusing one Potter with the other, which isn't true because I'm married. Very happily married," She added as he opened his mouth. "So, no, James. He doesn't need to talk about you." She started to push herself away from the wall, but he put an arm beside her head and one around her waist.

                "Are you sure?" He whispered, and leaned in to her. She was for a moment enticed, but the moment gave way to a millimeter of space and she pushed him away with a hand to his chest.

                "I'm sure." She finally said, staring into his eyes. "I'm married."

                "Are they the same?"

                "James." She gave him a firmer push.          

                "Denied!" They both looked opposite of the way Ginny had come and saw Sirius in a fit of giggles, Remus with his eyebrows raised and Peter looking impressed. Sirius and Peter hit a high five. James smiled and shut Ginny's mouth with his thumb.

                "Come on." He gestured for her to join them and she followed somewhat reluctantly. Throw guy number three in the confusing mix she liked to call Ginny's Life. 

                *                                              *                                              *                                              *

"See, Wesley, you don't know the half of it." James was telling her.

"I know more about you than you think." She challenged and nodded to the others. "About all of you. You'd be surprised." They exchanged glances.

"And what would that be?" Sirius, sounded doubtful.

"Shocking things. Blackmail material." Having put down a few Butterbeers, she was feeling daring. "Like your nicknames." They gasped.

"How do you-?" Peter whispered. She laughed. "You're bluffing!" He accused.

                "Oh no, I've got you figured out. Moony, because you're such an awful flirt." Remus laughed. "And you… Padfoot, are sneaky." Sirius rolled his eyes. "And Wormtail." She glanced at his pants and shrugged. "I'm sorry man." Peter blushed and snorted. "Prongs." She whispered. "Prongs…" She seemed to be thinking, he watched her in amusement. "Because of your horns." His jaw dropped. "That or the prongs on your pitchfork." She recovered quickly, coming to her senses and laughing. The Marauders laughed with her. Remus watched her closely however.

                "You're onto us." He sounded sincere.

                "Oh yeah, I know all." She giggled and started to stand up. She had worn heels and she stumbled unsteadily falling into Remus' arms. He escorted her out and offered to walk her back.

                "You're drunk." He sounded delighted. "No wonder you never…" She hiccuped.

                "Drank? Yeah. You couldn't tell before?" He saved her from slamming into a wall.

                "Nope, walking and talking in unison must have been the clincher. I don't think the other guys caught on, though. Should I let them in on the little secret?" He finally propped her up against a wall and let her slide into a sitting position. She let him tussle with the knot tied at her calf.

                "No. They might take advantage of me." She whispered, giggling. He pulled off her first heel and shook it like a snow globe.

                "What fun." He remarked dryly. "I really won't tell them if you don't want me to."

                "Don't." She said seriously, offering him her other leg. He slung them behind his back and helped her up, having first to refuse her foot and grab onto her hand.

                "So, how many did you have, I have no idea where we're going by the way." She pointed straight ahead and flexed her feet uncomfortably.

                "Four. And it's on the right. Hold on, I have to pee." He let her into the bathroom and set himself in front like a bodyguard, he heard her struggle for a minute.

                "You need assistance?" He said loudly as he heard a slamming noise.

                "Nope." There was a loud bang and then another slam. "Everything is under control." He doubted it, but didn't say anything. He nodded to a first year, who looked at him with wide eyes as another loud bang came from the bathroom. "M'alright!" Ginny shouted. The first year moved on. He waited another long while and the door opened. He turned around. The toilet lids were askew and pulled off the hinges and the knob was pulled complete off.

                "How did you do that?"

                "Dunno, had to use the sink." Ginny grabbed onto Remus and they started back to her original compartment. "So, what were we talking at before?" She scratched her nose and made to go into a compartment off to the left. Remus pulled her away.

                "Nothing, I don't think."

                "Oh, right." She continued to scratch her nose and then pointed to a compartment. "That's it, I'm sure of it." Remus opened the door and hefted her into it. She stumbled into Oliver's arms.

                "Thanks." He said to Remus, pulling her away and offering him access into the compartment. Remus helped him help her into a chair. She curled up lengthwise and didn't stir.

                "Your wife…" Remus started shaking his head.

                "Is the hardest person in the world to keep sober. We had to go home from a restaurant early one night, because she had a single glass of wine." Oliver snorted.

                "Is that about the same as four butterbeers?" Remus grinned as Ginny began to snore.

                "You let her have four?" Oliver laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't have to carry her."

                "Oh."

                "I usually try and cut her off at two."

                "Oh!"

                "The most I've seen her have is twelve and she had to crawl home from the Leaky Cauldron. Her limit it about six on an empty stomach though." He brushed a lock of hair from her face and smiled. "Thanks again." He said, looking up. Remus took the hint. Oliver closed the door behind him as Ginny hit rolled over and hit the floor with a huge thump. She sighed contentedly.

                *                                              *                                              *                                              *

                "Gin. Gin! Wake up." Her eyes slit open and she saw her husband.

                "I need some of Tom's stuff." He tipped the contents of a paper cup into her mouth, she blinked furiously. "Thanks, honey. Are we there yet?" She jumped onto her bare feet, surprisingly agile.

                "Yeah, yeah we are." He tossed the paper cup into corner and offered her her shoes, which she waved away. "Alright then, here we go." He handled her shoes much the way Remus had and they started out into the already full corridor. Ginny bumped into Lily.

                "Jeez, I'm sorry. Every time I leave a door or something I seem to bump into you." Lily assured it was quite alright and looked over her shoulder with interest. "Oh, Lily Evans, this is my husband Oliver Wesley. Oliver, Lily. You might recognize her." She stepped on his foot discreetly as they were moved along the corridor.

                "Oh, wow." He looked at Ginny with avid eyes. "Is she-?" Ginny nodded. Lily looked confused.

                "I didn't think we had met before." They shook hands.

                "You just look like a model we know." Ginny said. Oliver winked at Lily and Ginny shoved him in the chest. "Men and their wandering eyes. Funny how women can't get away with it." She looked pointedly towards Oliver, who blushed.

                "I know the feeling." Lily admitted, though she didn't seem to mind. "So you're married but-" Ginny prayed at her not to say more and looked pleadingly at the red head. "you two attend Hogwarts?" Lily finished, smiling knowingly at Ginny. 

                "Yeah, we're still figuring out how we'll work everything out. I go to Hogwarts but he doesn't.  I might not come after all though, I don't really need my N.E.W.T.s." She grabbed Oliver's hand as they walked out into the cool night air. He squeezed it. "I don't really need anything."

                "Me either." He kissed her softly. Lily sighed happily.

                "You two look… blissful." She whispered. She peeked into one of the carriages. "Only room for two in here. Won't you come with me, Ginny?" Lily pulled her in before she had a chance to answer. It was empty. Ginny looked confused.

                "Evans, what?" Lily slammed on the front of the carriage.

                "Go!" It started away. "You're married?" She accused Ginny, sitting down calmly.

                "Yes. Despite what you think, there's nothing between James and I."

                "Truly? Because I'll go to your husband…"

                "Why would you meddle? You hardly even know us!" Ginny shouted.

                "Because…" Lily said loftily.

                "You better not, Evans. There's nothing. We're just friends. Jealous, are you? Don't really mind when he messes with his hair, do you? Wondering what it looks like when it's been rolled around on a pillow for an hour or two?"

                "I could just ask you!" Both had stood up now, and were yelling furiously.

                "I couldn't tell you, but you're probably thick enough to ask!"

                "The hell you couldn't!" Lily roared. The door popped open and stairs unfurled, but they didn't notice, just kept on arguing. "And the only one thick here is you."

                "Oh, keep talking! I can see right through you! You're just jealous because you want the git, and you think I have him but I don't!"

                "Oh, leave Potter out of this, the point is you're running around on your husband and don't want me to tell!" Oliver and James exchanged confused and suddenly suspicious looks.

                "I told you I haven't and it would be none of your business if I did."

                "Go jump in a lake." Lily snapped.

                "I wish you would." Ginny snapped back.

                "Leave me alone, cow!"

                "Oh touché," Ginny said sarcastically. "Try again."

                "I will." Lily, still furious, was getting flustered.

                "Strike two." Ginny on the other hand, had calmed down.

                "Aargh!"

                "And you're outta there!" Ginny imitated an American accent and pointed to the door, they both did a double-take as they saw the Marauders, Oliver and a whole crowd of other people clustered at the entrance. There was thundering applause. Ginny gestured for Evans to leave. "Age before beauty."

                "Don't let me stop you." Lily snapped. Ginny got out, her temper flaring again.

                "Alright Evans. You'll get yours." She got close to her face and pulled away, sweeping down. The five boys trailed after her and the crowd parted for them.

                "What was that?" Remus wanted to know. "Are you okay?"

                "Nothing, Evans. I hate her, come on."

                *                                              *                                              *                                              *

                Dumbledore promised to meet with them after the feast. They joined the Gryffindor table. They were surrounded by the Marauders, so they didn't need to worry about talking to everyone.

                "Seriously, what happened?" Oliver asked, pressing for what seemed the hundredth time. 

                "Look Oliver, she accused me of something I didn't do." Ginny said impatiently through a mouth of roasted potatoes. "That's it, end of story."

                "It's true. Good ol' Prongs tried, but she let him know he was barking up the wrong tree." Padfoot elbowed James in the side, who blushed and looked apologetically to Oliver.

                "Daresay, I slipped your mind." Oliver said through gritted teeth.

                "Honey…" Ginny warned, setting a hand on his rapidly curling fist.

                "Let's just go up to Dumbledore's office." He pushed away from the table and started to pull her away.

                "But I'm eating!"

                "Too bad!" He gave her a yank of the wrist. She looked apologetically at the others and filled up her plate as much as she could, grabbing it and scurrying away with Oliver. When they were in Dumbledore's office she ignored his shouting and instead ate her dinner. Her plate cleared itself when she had barely finished and she stood up. "Where are you going? I'm not finished!"

"Dessert." She snapped. He grabbed her by the arm as she passed him and pulled her back. She fell back and knocked her head, hard, as she felt something twist in her ankle. She let out a small scream and Oliver cried out in horror.

"Ginny, I…" He seemed at a loss for words.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled and limped out of the room, still toting her plate. She got back to the Great Hall and took her original place, filling the plate up with desserts. Remus was the only Marauder left.

"Why are you limping?" He asked in an undertone.

"I forgot you're a prefect, Moony." She said softly, rubbing her thumb against the badge.

"He didn't-?" Remus looked murderous.

"You're right, he didn't." She smiled. "I- uh, tripped fell on my face and I think I sprained my ankle." She rubbed the back of her head, wincing. Remus rubbed a hand down the back of her head. She drew a sharp breath.

"Fell on your face and got a bump the size of London? Don't lie to me. I don't like it." He bared his teeth and Ginny was reminded that he was getting to act like a wolf.

"Nearing that time of the month? Leave me alone." The color drained from Remus' face.

                "What is that supposed to mean?" He asked fiercely.

                "You just reminded me of someone PMSing. Especially right now." Ginny held out her hand. "Peace?" He shook it.

                "I'm not PMSing at you. You just ought to tell someone if Oliver is beating you up."

                "But he's not." Ginny insisted. "We were just arguing and I meant to leave and he tried to stop me but we got into a scuffle. He didn't mean it."

                "Look. I lived with an abusive father for about 11 years. They never mean it."

                "Ugh, what a day! First, I'm accused of running around on my husband and then my husband is accused of beating me." Ginny put her hands over her face and let her elbows rest on the surface of the table. "I'm telling you he didn't do anything of the sort." She said at the disbelieving snort he made.

                "Alright, alright. Let's go get those fixed up." He helped her up and out of the Great Hall. She checked the staff table. Dumbledore was still seated at it.

                "Okay." She laughed as he finally levitated her and enjoyed the sensation of flying as he guided her up the stairs and to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey, a young woman who insisted they call her Poppy, greeted them.

                "What happened?" She asked, pressing on spots at the ankle.

                "Ginny fell over backwards." Remus said softly. Ginny silently thanked him. He nodded to her. Poppy didn't seem to understand. "You better check out her head." He said and left her. Poppy fixed up her ankle and then looked over her head, she clucked her tongue.

                "Don't think you did anything too permanent. These things heal best on their own, but I'll give you something for the swelling. It'll be tender. She handed Ginny a steaming cup and Ginny gulped down the contents. It tasted like honey.

                "Ooh. I like it." She whispered, then gasped as her breasts shriveled and disappeared from her chest. "Oh my god!"

                "Oh my god!" Poppy screamed and then furiously threw a pinch of  Floo powder into her fire. "SIRIUS BLACK!" They waited a moment and then the spinning figure of Padfoot came into the room.

                "What's up?" He smiled at Ginny. "How's it going, Poopy?" He winked at the fuming nurse.

                "Very mature… now change her back!" She pointed to Ginny who crossed her arms.

                "Uh…" Sirius looked Ginny over, and shook his head. "I don't get it."

                "I gave her something for the swelling on her head." Poppy said through pursed lips.

                "What'd you do to your head?" Sirius asked and then hit himself on the forehead. "Oh jeez."

                "Well done, now change her back!" Sirius winced at the woman's tone.

                "How'd you know it was me?" He stalled.

                "Who else would it be that has a particular gift for potions?"

                "Uh… Snivellus Snape."   

                "Severus Snape would never sink to that level. How do you change her back?"

                "There's no antidote?"

                "WHAT?" Poppy and Ginny both screamed. Ginny threw her arms up in the air and Sirius winced. Ginny quickly crossed her arms again.

                "How much did you drink, Gin?" He smiled apologetically.

                "So, I'm stuck like this forever?" She yelled.

                "No… no. Oh man, I'll ruin this if I tell you." Ginny looked murderous, so he changed his mind. "Eat lima beans. No joke." He said as she looked exasperated. "You eat a pound of lima beans and you get… uh you get better."

                "That better work." Poppy warned. "I'm getting tired of having to throw out all my potions and having that incompetent potions master of yours work them out. I'll report the next one to Dumbledore, I will." She pursed her lips and sent them away.

                "So Gin," Sirius swung his arms at his side. "Sorry about that."

                "Let's go down to the kitchens," She muttered. He followed her, still apologizing profusely. She found Oliver in the kitchens, drunk.

                "Ginny, I am so sorry." He stumbled over to her blearily. "How's everything?"

                "Most husbands beat their wives when they're drunk and apologize when they're sober." She snapped. She asked the house-elf at hand for a pound of lima beans.

                "Cooked with what, missus?" The elf asked.

                "Am I allowed to have it with anything?" Sirius nodded. "With butter and corn. Would you bring out some buns, too?" She told the elf, who bowed and left them. Ginny cursed and sat down to wait.