Disclaimer: You know the drill. Jo's characters. My twisted brain.

Author's notes: Puzzled over this one for a few days, then whipped it out in about an hour or two. (Closer to five...but um...yeah.) I think I'm going to write a story about Dean...he reminds me of a very attractive young man that I might possibly make into my next venture. xD

Clink.

Crookshanks stared as the marble bumped into the pocket of fuzz he'd gained over the last year or so.

Clink.

I aimed again, nearly flicking the third marble, only to be interrupted by a horrific cry. It sounded like someone was strangling a puppy. I grimace at the thought. Really, since second year, I have the scariest thoughts sometimes.

Clink.

Crookshanks bats at the marble. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear he was trying to divert my attention away from something.

All the better to find out what it is...

"Sirius..." a crackling voice calls out.

I jump to my feet. I know Mum is shopping, and Ron and Hermione went to Diagon Alley, and Harry went with them, but only so he could see the twins' latest stuff...Dad was with Mum. Charlie, unaccounted for, but I know he's out. Tonks and Snape had something to take care of...Ew. What a horrible thought. I won't even share that one with you. Bill ran off to have lunch with Fleur, who is in town for a few days. Who else?!

"Sirius?" the voice comes again.

What do I do?

"Sirius! Please..."

"H-he's not...here, Remus," I whisper softly.

"Sirius...?" He is pleading now. I can hear it in his voice.

"H-he's not here!" I call out.

There's a creak on the stairs. Remus is up? Why? What would possess him to do that?

I run to the bottom of the stairs.

Hunched over like an old man, blinding feeling out in front of him, Remus. He's wrapped himself in one of the many blankets piled on his bed and managed to tie back his long hair.

"Sirius...?" he calls again.

A tingling sensation touches my eyes, and even if he can't see, I'll keep my eyes open.

Another creak.

"G-go back to bed, Remus..."

"Whose there?"

He doesn't know my voice? "It's me, Ginny."

"You can't be Ginny..." he murmurs. "Ginny's voice is..."

"Younger..." Merlin. He's got amnesia.

"Yes."

I climb the stairs towards him, as he tries to take another step. Feet speed up; I can see he's unbalanced. If he takes the next step, he'll...

I didn't even have time to get out of the way. He steps forward, or attempts to, and later I'll replay the motion in my head for hours, blaming myself endlessly, but for now, all I can do is watch him take the tumble.

Somehow it ends up that I have curled around him, after he fell into me, protecting his fragile body while we plunge down the remaining stairs. I tuck his head under my chin, clenching my teeth and closing my eyes. Arms wrap around his thin upper body, legs folding his up to mine.

We come to a stop finally. I know someone is crying, but I don't know if it is me or him. Maybe both of us are.

"R-remus...?" I whisper, choking softly.

"Wh-what's going on?" he whimpers.

"Oh great Godric..."

"Where's Sirius? Why can't I see anything?"

"No," I moan. It's the only thing that comes to mind. "No, no, no..." I can only groan and shake my head.

"Please...Tell me what's going on..." he continues to plead.

"Its all downhill from here, isn't it, Gin?"

Percy! Wide-eyed, I look up to the top of the stairs at what remains of the brother I grew up with.

"Do you understand now, Gin?"

"Don't call me that, you bastard."

"So you've gained a dirty mouth, have you? It was Fred and George, most likely, that corrupted your language. I don't suppose you've gained their irresponsibility too?"

"Piss off. You've never been a good judge of character," I growl at him. "Fred and George took care of my like you were always 'too busy' to. I'm glad for that too. I thank Mum every day for not leaving me with a prat like you."

A whimper interrupts us. I cuddle closer to the shrinking form of my once-professor.

"Where's my wand, Ginny?"

"They destroyed it."

His nostrils flare, cheeks reddening slightly. "Where is your wand, Ginny?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

I feel my shirt steadily growing wet and I glance down at Remus, curled into a small ball. His face is pressed to the crook of my arm, just above my left breast, tears staining the fabric one after another. He whines softly, sounding far more like a wolf than I'd like to admit.

Crookshanks suddenly is at my side, glaring up at Percy. He growls softly at the other redhead, tail thumping the floor several times.

"You think I'm threatened by that pitiful excuse for a werewolf and a fat cat with a bit of kneazle in it?" he laughs, humorlessly, watching me.

A single step. That's all he managed to take before Crookshanks flew up the stairs and attached himself to Percy's leg.

I take my chance and leap to my feet, half carrying, half dragging Remus. I can hear Percy screeching behind us. Panting, I try to adjust Remus into a more plausible position, but he starts fighting me. No! This isn't the time...We don't have time to do this...

I push him rather roughly into the kitchen. I will apologize later. Right now, we need to get out of here.

A handful of Floo powder and I grab him along with me, hoping it works with more than one person. Before I have time to throw down the powder, Crookshanks comes limping in. I yelp out when I see his bloodied state, wondering how any brother of mine could do that.

Frightened, I realize Percy has followed Crookshanks. Merlin, I hope this works. I dive into the fire, throwing down the Floo powder, while screaming, "DIAGON ALLEY!"

Dark eyes. Big dark eyes, dark skin and fuzzy hair. "Ginny?" Dean questions softly.

I cough, turning to one side to spit out the mouth full of dust and dirt. Nodding, I choke on grime.

Lips curl slightly at the edges while he helps me sit up. I realize that Remus isn't in my arms and scramble to get up. He pushes me back down. "Professor Lupin is fine. Tom took him upstairs. Seamus is up there with him."

"C-crookshanks?" My next thought.

Dean nods. "Lucky. Hagrid was here and he took Crooks' off to Eeylops."

"How did I get h--?" I motion to the basement, where I am currently located.

Dean pulls himself into a kneeling position, sliding his hands under my body and slowly lifting me up. "Silly girl. The whole Network's down, 'cause of you."

I feel heat rise to my cheeks.

"Bill and Fleur said to tell you, Percy's being taken care of." He smiles at me. Again my cheeks feel awfully warm. "Don't you know that you can't travel with that many people...let alone animals?"

I nod, leaning against his chest as he carries me up the stairs. "I just needed to get away..."

"Hm." His only response. Strong, dark, quiet...Artistic. And you wonder why I said he was my next venture...

When we finally get up to the room, he sets me down, giving me one of those smiles that makes me blush, and knocks on the door. Seamus answers, ushering us in. "Harry's apparently on his way with Theo and the twins. We can't get 'hold of yer parents, Gin, but we're working on it."

I nod absently. My eyes are drawn to the figure in the bed. He's so small. Like a child, so weak. I cross the room and sit on the edge of the bed. Fingers push the hair out of his sweat streaked face. I use the edge of the covers to wipe away said sweat, and promptly stand to look at Seamus and Dean who are watching me curiously. "Get me a wet rag, cool, if you please, and some extra water, lukewarm. A glass of ice cubes, and another rag, dry, mind." I pause a moment. "Oh, and a butterbeer."

"Butterbeer?" both the boys question.

"Yes, I can still taste dirt in my mouth. Now go!"

They take off and I smile. Told you Percy was a bad judge of character.