Chapter Eight

It was Ginny who awakened in the middle of the next night, as the three of them slept in two separate motel rooms. Ginny was alone in hers, being the only girl, and Ron and Harry shared one. She sat up in bed, the sheets piled up around her waist. She wondered if the boys were awake, if they were talking or sleeping or perhaps something else.

She wasn't stupid enough to miss all the little hints and clues. There was something going on between Ron and Harry that she didn't quite understand. But she was certain that Ron preferred girls. She'd spied him sneaking many a young girl into the house over the past couple of years, all pretty and giggly and blushing. She knew what they were planning as they tip-toed up the stairs and crept into Ron's bedroom. She had always smiled and returned to her bed, never uttering a word of it to their parents. What made Ron happy made her happy.

But Ron's interest in Harry had been deeper than friendship, and deeper still than mere sexual attraction, and Ginny had sensed it time and time again. She wondered how it had come to this, how she had become her brother's rival for the affections of another boy. She considered avoiding a relationship at all with Harry. She didn't want to make Ron feel jealous of left out.

She scooted out of bed and pulled on a robe. She had decided to talk about the situation with Ron. Surely they could sort this out. She looked at the old wooden clock hanging on the wall opposite her bed. It was only two in the morning, Ron could still be awake.

She stepped quietly down the corridor to the next room, and knocked softly on the door. Seconds passed, and she knocked again. She waited ten more seconds before turning, assuming that the boys were asleep. She could talk to Ron tomorrow.

"Ginny?"

She turned back. The door was standing open and Harry was standing in the doorway, wearing black cotton shorts. There were no lights on in the room, and Harry's hair was wild and messy. He had been asleep.

"Did you want something?" he asked.

She paused, then smiled. "I was hoping to talk to Ron, but I suppose he's asleep."

Harry looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, he's out cold. I can wake him if you want…"

Ginny shook her head quickly. "No, that's all right. It wasn't really important."

Harry stared at her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded.

Harry stepped outside the door and closed it behind him. "You can talk to me then."

"No really… it was nothing."

Harry began walking back toward Ginny's room, and she followed uneasily. "Look, you don't go looking for someone at two in the morning if you don't need to talk about something. I can listen as good as Ron."

Ginny closed the door behind them when they entered her room and sat down on the bed. Harry sat in a chair across from her. "It's really the sort of thing I have to discuss with him."

Harry grinned. "In other words, you wanted to talk about me?"

Ginny went a little red. "Well, to be honest, yes. In a way."

Harry leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Pretend I'm Ron then. Talk about me all you want."

Ginny laughed. "Sorry, you and Ron are far too different for that. But… if you really want to listen… I guess I can talk to you."

Harry opened his eyes again, signaling for her to go on.

"You know that I'm developing feelings for you, don't you?"

Harry nodded.

"And I'm sure you're aware that Ron has an interest in you as well."

Harry smiled. "I'm well aware of that."

Ginny blinked. "Oh… so the two of you… oh."

"No, no. Don't take it the wrong way. Nothing serious has happened between us, but we did kiss… and… well… we haven't had sex or anything."

Ginny's mouth had dropped open. "I didn't realize it had gone that far. I feel stupid now."

"Why do you feel stupid? It's not like Ron and I are married. You're not trying to steal me from him, Ginny."

"But… he's my brother… I don't like the idea of competing with him."

Harry laughed loudly. "Competing? Ginny, I like you. I like Ron too. Ron likes you. You like Ron. We all like each other. Why can't we all be happy together?"

Ginny looked at him blankly. "That's… that's rather… unconventional, don't you think?"

"We're still young though. All three of us are. We should just enjoy the time we have together for what it is. We have all the time in the world to figure out the details."

Ginny smiled. "You know, I think you're right. Thanks, Harry."

Harry stood up and ruffled her hair. "To be honest… I always wanted a little sister. Or a little brother. Just something to take care of, I guess. No one took care of me."

Ginny looked up at him sadly. "I'm sorry. It must have been hard for you."

Harry shrugged. "It's all right. People suffer everyday. All we can do is move on."

Ginny stood up too. "And besides," she told him, walking him to the door, "you have a family now."

Harry nodded and smiled as he walked back down the hall and to his room. Ginny felt much better as she climbed back into bed, her mind finally at ease. Harry had been perfectly right. The three of them could stay together for a long time, being friends and perhaps more in the long run. There was no rush.

The next morning, the three of them wakened early and continued on their path to Azkaban. It would be a long trip on foot, but they didn't dare to use floo powder or any other magical route. Surely they would be intercepted that way.

It was late into the evening when they stopped to camp out in a forest. Ron made a small fire while Harry and Ginny set up a tent. They were in an unpopulated area, with no inns in sight.

Harry plopped down on the ground beside Ron, and Ginny beside him. "Isn't this nice?" she asked, "The three of us sitting around a campfire… we should tell scary stories!"

Ron groaned. "We're not little kids, Ginny."

"I think it'd be fun," Harry said, scooting closer to Ginny.

Ron frowned. "Okay. Whatever. Tell us a scary story, Ginny."

Ginny stood up and cleared her throat, then grinned at the two of them. "Once upon a time, there were three wayward campers out in the woods, sitting around a fire. They were laughing and talking and having a good time. But suddenly, they heard a long, loud, snarling sound from deep into the forest. The smartest and fairest of the three stood up and listened carefully. 'What was that?' she asked. The other two shook their heads. 'Who knows?' one of them said. 'Probably just an animal.'.

"But it wasn't just an animal," Ginny continued seriously, "It was something far more horrifying. They heard the growl again, this time closer and louder. Again, the girl stood up. 'We should leave. It's not safe here.' But the two boys ignored her. They were busy cooking a fish on the fire.

"The third time they heard the growl, the girl stood up once more. 'I know there's something dangerous out there! Let's leave now!' And again, the boys laughed and told her not to worry. But, it was right at that moment that-"

Ginny's voice broke off as a huge crashing sound filled the night air. Ginny, Harry, and Ron leapt back away from the fire as a large, dark beast landed right in the middle of them. It was obviously not human, with a fur-covered body and a gaping mouth full of razor teeth. It looked at each of them, growling under its breath. It whirled, seemingly to go after Ron, but in an instant Harry, Ginny, and Ron all three had their wands pointed at the beast.

It froze, staring at the wands. "It's a werewolf!" Ron stated.

"Anyone have a good spell handy?" Ginny asked, still watching the werewolf.

Harry called out a spell and a golden flame poured from his wand. The werewolf was knocked to the ground, and it cried out in pain as it began to revert to human form.

Ginny and Ron looked at him. "Whoa… that was pretty good," Ron said.

Harry didn't answer them. He was busy staring at the human man that was appearing where their campfire had been. He squatted down, pointing his wand at him. The man looked exhausted, and his clothes were in shreds. "Who are you?" Harry asked.

The man peered up at him, and his eyes were elliptical. "James!" he cried, thrusting himself against Harry and embracing him. "How… how did you…"

Harry shoved him back and pointed his wand at him again. "I'm not James! Who are you?! And how do you know my father?!"

The man looked stunned. "Your father?! Then you're… Harry!"

Harry lowered his wand. "How do you know my name?"

"My name is Remus Lupin. I was a close friend of your father's. I knew you as a baby… I never knew you survived!"

"Survived what?"

"The attack made on you by the Ministry… they told James, they told us, that they killed you!"

Harry sat down beside him. "Look, I don't even know what you're talking about. I was never attacked. I lived with Severus Snape until I was four. Then I grew up on the streets."

"Snape?! My God… how on earth did you end up with him?" Lupin asked.

"Not really sure. He always said that my father disappeared and left me in his care."

Lupin shook his head. "No… that would never happen. James would have left you with Sirius."

"You know Sirius too?" Ron piped in.

Lupin nodded. "I was on my way to his home tonight. He usually chains me up on nights like these. But I was delayed. I didn't make it in time."

Harry suddenly had an idea. "Do you know what happened to my mother? How did she die?"

Lupin had felt around in his tattered robes to find his wand, which he had used to restart the fire he had ruined. "I'm sorry, Harry. I don't know."

Harry sighed. "No one does, it seems."

Lupin looked at him. "James knows. After all, she died before his very eyes."

Harry looked back at him sharply.

He continued. "Your father was a bit of a … rebel. Even Azkaban couldn't keep him under control. So they decided to break his spirit. They already had Lily in custody. The last thing I heard, James and Lily were taken to a courtyard in Azkaban, and then it was reported that Lily was dead."

Harry looked into the fire. He felt like something warm had been poured into his heart. It was a horrible thing to hear, and yet he had been so thirsty for information on the subject that hearing anything at all made him feel better. So the Ministry had killed his mother, and told James that they had killed Harry. He already had a severe dislike for the Ministry of Magic, with it's anti-Muggle laws and strict rules. But now a deep burning hatred was emerging. He wanted to destroy it. He wanted to walk into the Ministry itself and level the place to the ground. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt that he would someday.

Lupin stood up. "It was wonderful to see you, Harry. I'd love to talk with you more, but the spell you cast will wear off shortly, and I'll become a monster again. I must hurry to Sirius."

Harry nodded. "It was nice to meet you. We'll see each other again, after I get back from Azkaban."

Lupin looked surprised. "You're going to see James?"

"Yeah. I've lived my whole life with all these questions. I think it's finally time I get some answers."

Lupin smiled. "You're very right. Just be careful. Azkaban is a dangerous place. You'll deal with more than werewolves."

"Like Dementors?" Ginny asked.

Lupin looked at her. "Yes, and then more than those."

Harry looked determined. "It doesn't matter. Whatever gets in my way, I'll go right through it. After all, I promised Sirius that I'd come back."

Lupin smiled at them one more time before he left, fading into the darkness of the forest. Harry watched him until he disappeared. He had met two very interesting people, two men who could have been fathers to him. He smiled to himself. They could still be my fathers. When I come back.

Notes: This chapter was a little bit shorter, wasn't it? I hope it didn't disappoint anyone. I'm still on the prowl for good fanfiction recommendations. Please share if you know of a dark/angsty DracoxHermione, HarryxGinny, or JamesxLily fic. Preferably NC-17. Also, thanks for all the reviews. Your answers to the questions really did help! This story will be wrapping up soon. I think chapter ten will be the last one. Then the next DraxHerm will start, though I think I'll wait a while before I start it. Basically, I need to get back into the DraxHerm mood (another reason you should be recommending good DraxHerm stories to me!). I also need to work out some ideas running through my mind.

In case anyone is interested, I have a website JUST for my writings now. Just go to my homepage and then click on "writings". I have some HP fanfics there that aren't posted here. Anyway, thanks for reading, and please leave a long review! :D