My Hero, My Friend, My Love

Branmuffinpower- I had to have a little tragedy in this story. Give a girl a break! ;o) But from here on out, it's mostly happy. (Notice I said mostly...)

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot.

Chapter Six: Going Home for the Summer

Dear Remus,

I swear to Merlin, I'll be glad when the N.E.W.T.S. are over! And I'm not even the one taking them! Hermione is, of course, having a bloody breakdown. Ron and Draco are constantly quizzing each other during meals, in the hall, even during Quidditch matches! Even Harry is nervous. He says he cares so much because he figures he can't play Seeker forever. If I make it out of this semester without killing one of them, it will be a miracle.

Enough of that, though. How are you? Your last letter seemed like you were buried at work. I hope things have calmed down for you. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write to you, but every time I sat down to respond to you, someone wanted to be quizzed for their exams. I'm seriously thinking of not bothering to take them next year. I don't want to go through the madness of it, really.

You are coming to graduation, aren't you? I know Harry would be thrilled to have you there, and I know I would like to see you as well.

I have to be honest, I'm a little nervous about going back to live with Sirius for the summer. It's not him, I just feel like I'll be a bother to him. I mean, Harry leaves right after graduation for Ireland, and Ron starts Auror training pretty soon too. I do have a job working in my brothers' shop for the summer, but I'm just afraid that I'm going to be in Sirius' way. Please don't say anything to him about this. I don't want to upset him.

Well, Hermione is looking at me frantically, so I guess I need to review her for Transfigurations. I don't know why for. She's almost as good as McGonagall. Hope to hear from you soon!

Ginny

Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione. "Honestly, if you don't know it by now, you're not going to! And it's not like you have to worry about it, Hermione."

"Please, Ginny. I swear this is the last time," Hermione whined. "Besides, I want to do really well. If Malfoy beats me, I'll never live it down."

"Oh, all right. But only so you can put Draco in his place," Ginny giggled at her friend.

Two days later, all the Seventh Years were breathing a collective sigh of relief, having finished their exams. After finishing dinner, the boys were all making plans to go flying, while Hermione was making last minute notes for hers and Fred's wedding, which was two weeks after graduation...one month away.

Ginny, meanwhile, was completely engrossed in Remus' latest letter.

Dear Ginny,

You must take your N.E.W.T.S. next year! However do you expect to get a decent job? Wait- you're probably joking. In that case, I can honestly say the exact thought crossed my mind when I was in school.

I will be at graduation, and I am looking forward to seeing you again. I will be meeting Sirius first and we'll be making the trip together. I give you my word that I won't convey your concerns to him, but let me say this. I can promise you that you will not be a bother to him. In fact, he is looking forward to you coming to stay with him. He's been running around like a madman, making plans for the two of you to do things. I know that he will be lonely without Harry and is looking forward to your company.

My apologies for the brevity of this note. If I'm to be gone for a few days, I must get some things off my desk. See you soon.

Yours,

Remus

Ginny laughed at Remus, not getting her joke about her exams next year. She shook her head and thought, "Sometimes he is so dry." She smiled at the thought that she would see him in two weeks. She had enjoyed their correspondence over the last several months. She'd been able to confide in him about all sorts of things- her fear of being lonely during the summer, her slight jealousy over Draco's new girlfriend and her secret excitement that she'd beaten both Draco and Hermione in Charms. She was glad to have his friendship, as she often felt left out of the Trio at school.

What she didn't know was that Remus was equally glad of their friendship and kept her letters in a box at his home. She was the dearest friend he'd had in a long time, aside from Sirius. What mattered to him even more was that she knew of his "condition" and didn't care. She was his friend regardless, and she often wrote him extra letters during a full moon, to keep his spirits up.

& & &

Two weeks later, Ginny stepped through the barrier from Platform 9 ¾ and was greeted by Sirius and the twins. She'd been a little hopeful that Remus would be with them, as he hadn't been able to make it to graduation after all. He written her a quick note, explaining that he had boring meetings he couldn't get out of and promised to drop by Grimmauld Place to see her soon.

She sighed into the hug from Sirius, and he released her and immediately grabbed her trunk. "Always a gentelman, he is," she thought. Sirius and Ginny had shared a moment at graduation, and he'd told her how glad he was that she would there during the summer. Her concerns began to wane with the time she spent with him, and while she still wasn't thrilled with being alone in that big house with him all summer, she was not as depressed about it.

Harry greeted his godfather at the station before leaving for the portkey the Quidditch team set up for him. He was needed immediately for practice, but the team would let him return in two weeks for Hermione's wedding. Harry turned to Ron and the two shook hands before Harry wrapped Ginny in a bear hug.

"See you in two weeks!" he called as he walked quickly out of the station.

"Come on, Ginny," Sirius said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Feel like going home with an old man?" She laughed at him and poked him in the stomach.

"Sure, but at your age, are you up to carrying that trunk? It's pretty heavy." He dropped both his arm from her shoulders and her trunk from his other hand.

"You're right. You carry it!" he turned to run from her, but she managed to swat at him. He turned and grinned at her before picking up her trunk again. They linked arms and left the station with the twins and Hermione behind them.

The next two weeks passed quickly. Ginny spent her days working at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and her evenings at home, as she'd finally come to think of it, with Sirius. After dinner, they would typically read, think of improvements to make to the house, or play games. He was in the process of trying to best her at Wizard's Chess, but she'd learned from the best, her brother Ron. Sirius had yet to beat her, much to his chagrin.

% % %

Fred's and Hermione's wedding was beautiful. They'd combined both wizard and muggle traditions for the affair. Hermione made a beautiful bride, and Ginny made a gorgeous bridesmaid, in her light blue gown. She grinned throughout the ceremony because she was the only one who knew a secret. Hermione had confided in her before walking down the aisle that she and Fred were going to have a baby. Ginny was ecstatic at the thought of being an aunt.

At the reception, she took turns dancing with her brothers, Harry and Sirius. She was tired from all the excitement and was just about to tell Sirius she was leaving when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked into Remus' hazel eyes.

"Saved a dance for me, I hope?" he questioned with raised eyebrows.

"Remus! I didn't even know you were here." Ginny hugged him tightly.

He returned her hug, noticing how lovely she looked and how much she'd grown up just since Christmas.

"I got here a little late and sat in the back," he replied. "You look beautiful by the way."

"Oh thanks." Ginny blushed at his compliment. "Blue isn't really my color, but Hermione loves it."

"So about that dance..." Remus' voice trailed off as he offered her his arm.

"I'd be honored," she replied and took his arm.

They walked onto the dance floor and he took her in his arms.

"I'm sorry I haven't written much lately. Things have been busy. Several werewolves have gone on strike because of their employers' refusal to let them miss for full moons. It's been a bugger to deal with," Remus said.

"Isn't that illegal?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, but some people feel that the law doesn't apply to them," he said bitterly.

She rubbed his shoulder reassuringly. She knew he hated it when others were so prejudiced against werewolves. She smiled up at him.

"And I'm sure with your brilliance, you'll have it settled in no time," she said confidently.

He smiled back at her, thankful for her support. "Brilliance, eh? You're the brilliant one, beating out two students a year ahead of you in Charms. I daresay I'm impressed."

She blushed again and looked down at their feet. He had a knack for embarrassing her. He laughed softly at her reaction, and they continued dancing.

Their interaction went unnoticed...except from one person. Sirius watched his best friend and his young charge dancing, talking and laughing and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. "Since when are they so close?" he wondered. He shook the thought from his head. He knew of their mutual respect for one another after the final battle, so he didn't think anything else of their association.

Ginny and Remus danced once more together before realizing that it was getting late. She saw Sirius signaling her that he was ready to leave. She turned to say good-bye to her dancing partner.

"Thanks for the dance, Remus. I hope that strike is resolved soon. I hate it when you're stressed," she said.

He smiled wryly at her. "You just hate me being stressed because it means I have less time to write you amusing letters."

She giggled. "Of course. A girl likes getting mail."

"Well, in that case, I will be a better correspondent from now on." He leaned down to kiss the back of her hand. "Good night, Miss Weasley."

"Bye, Remus." She turned and left with Sirius.

Unfortunately, Remus' promise to be a better correspondent was in vain. Things did not let up for him at work, and soon she realized that two weeks had passed without receiving a single letter from him. She was disappointed, but she was busy at her job and working on schoolwork in the evenings. After one particularly stressful morning at 3W, she shouted to George that she was heading out for lunch and would be back in an hour.

She made her way down to the Leaky Cauldron. All the other restaurants in Diagon Alley were so busy at lunch, and she was in a hurry. She rushed in and found a table quickly and glanced over the menu. A shadow appeared, and she looked up, assuming it was the waiter. It wasn't.

"May I join you for lunch?" Remus asked. She nodded and he sat across from her. "Been keeping busy?"

"Uh, yes," she rolled her eyes. "Fred and George are driving me batty at the shop. I've got schoolwork coming out of my arse, and Hermione feels the need to tell me every little detail about being pregnant. Ewww!"

Remus just laughed at her. "I know what you mean. Just when I think my life is calming down, something else comes up. I can barely remember what my own flat looks like, other than my bed. It's all I do lately- work and sleep." Their food arrived and they both began eating.

"I'm sure you think I'm a prat," he said out of the blue.

She looked confused. "Why would I ever think that?"

"Well, I haven't written since I saw you at the wedding, and I feel terrible about it."

"It's fine. I understand how busy you are," she answered.

Remus' heart fell slightly, thinking that she didn't miss their correspondence. He cleared his throat and his mind. "Sirius driving you up the wall yet?"

"No, not really. He's been great, lots of fun. He's all excited because we're going to Ireland for Harry's birthday in a few weeks. We'll get to see him play in an exhibition match."

"Sounds like fun. Please give Harry my best when you see him," Remus said, trying to sound upbeat. However, it didn't go unnoticed by Ginny.

"Remus, is everything all right? You seem out of sorts." she questioned.

"Oh, no. Just a lot on my mind." He smiled at her.

The finished their lunch with idle chitchat. She looked at the time and realized she'd have to hurry to get back to the shop on time. As she stood, so did Remus, as he was a gentleman.

"I'm glad we ran into each other. Would you think me a silly schoolgirl if I said I'd missed you?" she asked shyly.

"Not at all. The feeling is mutual." Remus smiled broadly. She beamed at him.

"Do you think we could have lunch again, same time next week?"

"I'd enjoy that," he responded. She smiled at him once more before heading out the door. That afternoon, Remus went about his work with an extra spring in his step, although he wasn't entirely sure why.