My Hero, My Friend, My Love

BMP- Sorry for Sirius' attitude, but it's necessary right now!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot.

Chapter Eleven: Strained Relationships

Ginny, for the second year in a row, woke up on Christmas morning in her bed with no recollection of how she'd gotten there. The last thing she remembered was getting sleepy and resting her head on Remus' shoulder as he worked in the library. She laughed at the thought that he must have carried her to bed, like he had last year. With that thought, she bounded out of bed to head downstairs to thank him. However, before she left her room, she noticed a wrapped Christmas gift sitting next to the door. It had a note attached to it. She opened the note, curiously.

My darling Ginny,

Thank you for your friendship during the last year. It has meant more to me than you will ever know. I hope you like your present. I got it for you in hopes of cultivating your early writing career. (And perhaps you'll thank me in one of your first novels.)

You mean the world to me, Ginny. I wanted you to know that.

Happy Christmas,

Remus

Ginny smiled at the note before opening her gift. Inside, she found four leather bound journals, each in a different color- red, blue, green and black. They were beautiful and sophisticated looking. They also reminded her of the journals her mother often wrote in, when she managed to have a few minutes to herself. This memory brought tears to her eyes. "But how could Remus have known that?" she thought to herself.

She quickly found her gift for Remus in her school trunk and went downstairs to thank him for the journals.

She went into the kitchen and greeted Sirius and Ron with kisses. "Happy Christmas, gentlemen."

Ron hugged her back. "Happy Christmas, Ginny. Come on upstairs. We're about to open presents."

"I'll be there in a sec. Just let me get a cup of tea," she replied.

Ron exited, leaving Sirius and Ginny alone in the kitchen.

Sirius looked at her, suspiciously. "Sleep well last night?" he asked.

She looked at him curiously. She thought she'd heard an accusatory tone in his voice. She dismissed the thought. "Surprisingly well, considering I was on the couch most of the night."

"Oh?" was his reply.

"Yeah, I'm a little embarrassed, actually." She added, "See, I couldn't sleep so I went down to the library, and Remus was there working. We ended up talking for a while and eventually fell asleep." She giggled. "I'm glad no one saw us. I'm sure we made quite a sight. Where is he anyway?"

Sirius looked at her hard. "He left earlier."

"But why? It's Christmas," Ginny said.

"He didn't say," Sirius said. "He must have had things to do. Are you upset?"

Ginny looked at him, dumbfounded. "Well, of course I am. It's Christmas, for heaven's sake. He should be with his friends. Aren't you worried?"

Sirius shrugged. "Not really. He's an adult after all. He'll be alright." He set his teacup down. "Come on, we're missing the excitement."

Ginny nodded, still in shock that Remus had left on Christmas morning, without even saying good-bye. Something wasn't right, but she'd have to figure it out later.

The rest of the day passed without mush fanfare. Aside from watching Arthur play with all his new toys, there wasn't much excitement, at least, not for Ginny. She was worried about Remus, wondering what could have happened to make him leave so suddenly. As she sank into her bed that night, she decided to pay him a visit tomorrow and find out.

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Needless to say, Remus was surprised when he opened the door to his flat the next morning to find Ginny standing on his doorstep with a worried look on her face.

"Ginny! What are you doing here? Come in. You must be freezing," he said in a shocked voice.

She entered his flat and was impressed at the simple elegance and charm that it held...considering the man that lived in it was a thirty-eight year old werewolf.

"You left so suddenly yesterday. I was worried," she said, looking into his eyes. She noticed how sad they looked. She reached up to touch his cheek. "Remus, what is it? What's happened?"

He closed his eyes and pulled away from her touch. "Didn't Sirius tell you?"

She shook her head. "He just said you left, that you probably had things to do."

Remus thought quickly. Should he tell her about Sirius or not? Should he tell her how he felt or not? He was still trying to think of what to say when she spoke again.

"You had a row, didn't you? You and Sirius?" she questioned.

He gulped and nodded.

"What about?" she pressed.

"I don't care to discuss it right now," he said in a strained voice.

"But, Remus..." she said.

"No, Ginny, not now," he said a little more forcefully than he wanted. He looked back at her, and saw her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry. I just came to make sure you were okay and to thank you for the gift. I'm sorry to have bothered you." She turned to leave, trying not to cry in front of him. He'd hurt her feelings, and she didn't want him to know.

Before she could get to the door, he grabbed her and turned her to him. He pulled her to his chest, and she began to cry into his shirt.

"Oh, my darling," he said soothingly. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm just upset. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He ran his hands over her hair and couldn't ignore how soft it was or how she smelled so close to him...like vanilla and cinnamon. She pulled back to look him in his eyes. They conveyed hurt and compassion at the same time.

He smiled gently at her and wiped her tears away. "You liked the journals?" She nodded, and his smile grew. "I'm glad. I saw your mother writing in one similar to those a few times."

Ginny smiled back at him at the mention of her mum. "I almost forgot. I have a gift for you too." She pulled away from him entirely and pulled a wrapped present from her robe pocket and handed it to him.

Remus couldn't contain his excitement as he pulled her to sit with him on the sofa so he could unwrap his present. She'd found it in a small shop in Hogsmeade a few weeks ago. He knew it was perfect for him. It was elegant and refined, yet simple.

He pulled the silver pocket watch out of the box and looked at her incredulously. "Ginny, this is beautiful. My father had one of these when I was a boy. I always wanted one. I love it!" he exclaimed before kissing her cheek.

She was so glad he liked it. But he was missing an important part of it. She leaned over to him. "Turn it over," she whispered.

He did as he was instructed and his heart melted at the small inscription.

To Remus,

Happy Christmas

Love,

Ginny

He looked at her, speechless. This was the best gift anyone could have ever given him, and more importantly, it came from her, the woman he loved. Suddenly, the painful thought returned to his head- that he loved her and he couldn't be with her.

He sighed and looked at her smiling face. He knew it would upset Sirius, but he had to tell her what happened.

"Ginny, we need to talk," he said slowly.

"Remus, what is it?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. She began stroking his thumb affectionately. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. But something happened yesterday. Someone saw us sleeping on the couch and they weren't happy about it. This person jumped to conclusions, and I felt it was best if I left. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"So let me get this straight. Someone is upset because they saw us...er...sleeping together?" she giggled at her choice of words.

"Ginny, it's not funny," Remus said pulling his hand away from hers. He stood and started pacing, while running his hand through his hair. "It wasn't good."

She dropped the smile from her face. "I'm sorry. You're right. I'll be serious." She thought for a moment. Suddenly it all made sense. "This is what you fought about it, isn't it? You and Sirius?"

He turned back around to face her. "Yes," he said without blinking.

"Oh, bloody hell," she said more to herself than to him. "What did he say?"

"Well, it's Sirius. So, he pretty much overreacted, jumped to conclusions, the whole bit," he said wryly. "He also said I couldn't see you anymore," he added softly, not looking at her.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked, her voice raising with each word. "Well, that's too damn bad, isn't it? Because I don't accept that. I will be friends with whoever I want. You are my friend, and I will see you whenever I want."

Remus had to smile at her tenacity. He loved her spunk. But he had to overlook it for the moment. "Gin, I think you're going to have to go along with this for a little while, at least until he calms down enough for me to talk to him again."

"No!" she shouted at him. "I will talk to him when I get home. I'll not be kept from seeing you. He can't do that!" She was furious with Sirius now.

"Ginny, I don't think that's such a good idea. Let me try and talk to him again. This is between me and him really."

"God, he is so overprotective! He just makes me so mad sometimes," she said roughly. She looked up at Remus again. "Will you really talk to him again, please?" she asked pleadingly.

"Yes, I'll talk to him in a few days," he promised.

"I don't want to lose you, Remus," she said softly.

He sat down next to her again and brushed some hair out of her face. "You won't lose me, Gin. I promise you won't. I'll always be here for you." He put his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

They held each other for a while before Ginny pulled away.

"Remus, will you do something for me?" she asked.

"Anything...well almost anything," he said cheekily.

She giggled. "Well, will you meet me in Hogsmeade in a few weeks?"

He pulled away further from her. "I don't know Ginny. I don't want to upset Sirius more than he already is." Seeing her disappointment, he tried again. "I'll tell you what. If all goes well when I talk to Sirius, then yes. If it doesn't, then no. I won't risk upsetting him any further or being a bone of contention between the two of you."

"All right," she grumbled. She stood up. "I'd better be getting back. They'll be worried."

He walked her to the door. "I'll talk to him, Ginny. It'll be all right. I promise." He hugged her again before closing the door behind her.