My Hero, My Friend, My Love

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot.

Chapter Fourteen: Graduation and Touching Nerves

"Are you nervous?" Sirius asked from behind her.

"You're kidding right?" Ginny retorted. "I'm about to give a speech in front of the whole school, half the Ministry of Magic and my entire family. Yeah, you could say I'm nervous."

He laughed at her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You'll be fine. You didn't finish at the top of your class for no reason, you know." She turned and hugged him. "Come on," he said, "it's time to go."

She sat nervously through the ceremony and blushed when her name was called, as she received the loudest cheers of any of the students. Of course, that was because there were four Weasley brothers, three sisters-in-law, Sirius, Harry and his fiancé, Draco Malfoy and Remus Lupin in attendance.

She stepped forward to give her speech.

"Headmaster, Professors, family and friends, honored guests,

none of us would be here today without all of you. You have

raised us, taught us and loved us for so many years. It is now

time for us to go out and make our own place in the world. We do

this with much excitement, a little sadness and great trepidation.

I have learned so many important things here at Hogwarts, but

the best bit of knowledge that I will carry with me wherever I go

comes from a very wise woman- my mother. She told me to always

say what I think, do what's right, but most importantly, to follow my

heart, no matter what. So that is my encouragement to you, fellow

students. No matter where it leads, follow your heart. Congratulations

to all of you."

As she concluded her speech, she looked at her family and friends, who were applauding enthusiastically. However, Remus was deeply troubled by her words. How could he possibly follow his heart when it led to someone he could never have? He pushed the thought from his head and went to congratulate Ginny.

Ginny hugged her brothers, then Harry and Shaine, before turning to George, who was waiting expectantly for his hug. Instead he got a punch on the arm.

"You git," she said, playfully, "I still can't believe you eloped!"

George and Katie laughed. "Well, Hermione was driving him crazy with wedding plans, and I didn't care when or where it happened as long as we were together, so we just did it," Katie explained while looking lovingly at her new husband. George grinned.

"Got her fooled, don't I?" he teased and everyone laughed.

"Well, I'm very happy for you both," Ginny said.

The happy couple went off to talk to Sirius. Ginny noticed Draco and smiled warmly at him.

"Thanks for coming, Draco," she said giving him a small hug. "I'm sorry Rebecca couldn't make it."

Draco looked down at his feet. "Actually, I'm not," he said bitterly. "She broke off the engagement. We're no longer together."

Harry and Ginny looked at him, wearing identical shocked expressions. Ron just nodded. "What happened?" Ginny asked.

"Some things just don't work out," Draco shrugged. He quickly excused himself and walked away. The other three looked at each other curiously.

Ginny went to set her things down and looked around her and smiled.

She had missed having everyone around. Shaine and Harry were talking weddings, as their own nuptials were a month away. Ron and Draco were discussing Quidditch, of course. George and Katie were talking with Sirius; Fred and Hermione were fussing over their daughter; and Bill and Fleur were scrambling after Arthur who was attempting an escape from his parents. She searched the crowd around her again, but she still didn't see Remus. Then, she saw him, leaning up against the back of a chair a few yards away. She began to make her way over to him.

He saw her coming over to him, and his face broke into a smile. "There's the lady of the hour," he said proudly.

"Why are you being antisocial?" she asked playfully.

"Just giving you time with your family," he said, shrugging.

"I'd much rather be with you, you know," she replied.

He looked away from her. "You shouldn't say things like that, Ginny. You never know who might overhear and get the wrong idea," he said brushing past her to speak with Sirius. Ginny followed his retreating figure with her eyes. "What was that all about?" she thought aloud.

Remus knew he'd spoken harshly, but he didn't want to hear things like that from her, unless she was going to back it up with a passionate kiss. And he knew she wouldn't. He found Sirius and bid him farewell before leaving.

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Ginny saw her owl fly into her room through the open window. "Nothing?" she asked the bird.

The owl hooted before flying into her cage to rest. Ginny sighed. This was the fourth letter she'd sent to Remus, and he had yet to write her back. She found the last letter he'd written, shortly after her graduation and read it again.

Dear Ginny,

Please allow me to offer my congratulations on your graduation. I was very honored to be asked to sit with your family during the ceremony. I have no doubt we will see great things from you in the future.

I wish you the best of luck with your writing career. I regret that certain things have come up at work, and I will be unable to see you as often as you'd like. Please accept my apologies, but this conflict cannot be avoided.

I hope the rest of your family is well.

Best regards,

Remus J. Lupin

It was so stuffy, so formal, so un-Remus. Most of his letters were witty and endearing and, at times, romantic. But this letter sounded like something he'd write to a distant aunt, not to his closest friend.

Without thinking, Ginny let the tears forming in her eyes cascade down her cheeks. She missed him terribly and wondered what she had done wrong to make him distance himself from her.

She heard a knock on her door, and she quickly dried her eyes before speaking. "Who is it?"

"It's just me, Gin," Sirius replied upon entering her room. He noticed her red eyes and walked over to her. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, must have had something in my eyes," she lied.

"Okay then," Sirius said, unconvinced. "We'd better go. We don't want to be late."

She nodded and stood to smooth out her dress. She and Sirius quickly apparated to the church for Harry's wedding. They quickly took their seats near the front. Soon, the rest of the Weasley clan showed up. The kids, Molly and Arthur, were staying with Hermione's parents for the day, so the adults could attend the wedding. Remus was the last one of their normal group to show up, and unfortunately for him, the only vacant seat was next to the one person he'd hoped to avoid- Ginny. He sighed quietly, but smiled weakly and settled down next to her. Before she could say anything to him, the music started up.

Harry, followed by Ron and Draco, entered at the front as Shaine's two sisters preceded her down the aisle. As his bride entered the church, Harry beamed.

Ginny teared up a few times during the ceremony, and Remus, always the gentleman, offered his handkerchief. She smiled at him through her tears. At one point, she reached over to gently touch his hand, but he moved it away before she got close. She couldn't help imagining her own wedding in the back of her mind, like so many girls do. However, in her fantasy, when she, as the bride, looked up at the groom, it was...Remus!

She quickly jolted herself out of her daydream and stiffened up next to the man from said daydream. After that, she didn't look at him once during the rest of the ceremony.

At the reception, she danced with all her brothers and Sirius, but she kept hoping that Remus would ask her. However, it seemed like he was avoiding her. She decided to ask him, point-blank, what was going on. She found him speaking with Bill at one of the tables.

"Bill, could you give us a minute, please?" she asked, trying to sound confident. Bill looked slightly puzzled, but excused himself anyway.

"Remus, why are you avoiding me?" she asked pointedly.

He was slightly taken aback by her directness, but answered her with something less than the truth. "I'm not avoiding you. I was just talking to Bill."

"Well, I've been dying to see you today, to talk to you, but every time I get close, you disappear," she explained.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize. Was there something you wanted to discuss?" he asked, trying to sound aloof.

"Nothing in particular. I just miss you. I miss your letters," she said as she sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry about that. Work, you know, has gotten very busy. I'm afraid it takes up so much of my time." He paused and stood up. "In fact, I must be going. There are some things I need to see to."

"No," she said firmly.

He looked down at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said no," she replied, standing up next to him. "I'm not done talking to you."

He sighed irritably, but she continued, nonetheless.

"Have I done something wrong, Remus? Are you angry with me?" Her tone was softer and it sounded as though she were trying not to cry. His heart immediately melted, but he stayed strong.

"No, of course not," he said stiffly "I've just been incredibly busy." He paused hesitantly. "I'm very sorry, but I do have to go." He walked away from her quickly, without waiting for a reply.

Sirius noticed them talking. Ginny looked upset, and Remus departed from her quickly. He hurried to catch up with his best friend.

"Moony, what was all that with you and Ginny?" Sirius asked.

Remus glanced back at Ginny who was seated at the table looking at her hands in her lap. His mother's ring glinted on her hand, and he swallowed hard and looked back at Sirius.

"Nothing...it was nothing," he said quietly.

"Then why does she look upset?" Sirius countered.

"I've been avoiding her," Remus admitted. "I can't be around her anymore, Sirius. It's too hard. I love her, and it hurts to be too near her."

Sirius never expected to hear that from Remus. He sighed inwardly and put his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Then perhaps you should tell her how you feel, Moony."

"No!" Remus said harshly. "I can't. You were right all along. It would just confuse her and make her pity me. I don't want that from her. It's best to leave it this way." He looked back once more at the woman he loved and fought back his own tears. He turned back to Sirius. "I have to go." Without another word, Remus fled the reception and apparated back to his own flat and picked up the first thing he found, a vase, and threw it against the wall in frustration.

Sirius looked for Ginny, but he didn't find her. He assumed that she went home, so he said farewell to Harry and his new goddaughter-in-law and left. He went upstairs and before he reached her door, he heard her sobs. His heart broke immediately.

"Ginny?" he asked as he quietly entered her room. She was lying on her bed, crying into her pillow. He walked over and sat down next to her and rubbed her back soothingly. "What is it, Ginny? What's wrong?"

She looked up at him with her red, swollen eyes and took a deep breath. "He hates me," she said softly. "I don't know what I did, but he hates me."

"Who hates you, my dear?" he asked.

"Remus," she said chokingly. "He stopped writing to me, he's been avoiding me. He completely blew me off today. Ever since graduation, he's been like this. I don't understand. Did he say anything to you?"

Sirius didn't answer her immediate question. Instead, he asked a much more difficult question of his own. "Ginny, how do you feel about Moony, honestly?"

She calmed herself as much as she could and looked down at her hands before answering. "I love him," she said finally.

"Like a friend or something more?" Sirius pushed on.

"No," she shook her head. "I don't know when it happened or why, but I'm in love with him." She fell into another sobbing fit. Sirius just pulled her into his arms and let her cry. He hated this. He had been so careful to make sure nothing about Remus hurt her, and he had failed. Here she was, the closest thing to a daughter he'd ever get, and her heart was broken.

He continued to rub her back, but he finally gave her some sound advice. "You need to tell him, Ginny."

She pulled back and looked at him in shock. She shook her head vehemently. "No, I can't. He doesn't love me. He doesn't want anything to do with me."

Sirius put his hand under her chin and forced her to look up at him. "I guarantee you he doesn't hate you," he said with a bemused expression.

"Really? How do you know?" she asked hopefully.

Sirius cleared his throat. "I know because...because he loves you too."

"What?" she asked, not really believing what she'd just heard. He nodded.

"Yes, he does. I stopped him from telling you," he replied, looking ashamed.

"But why, Sirius?" she pleaded. "Why didn't you want me to know?"

He stood up and turned away from her. "Because I didn't want you to get hurt. I had no idea you felt this way about him. If I had...well, I don't know, but things might have been different."

"What am I going to do, Sirius? It hurts so much," she began to cry again.

"Well, the first thing you're going to do is stop crying," he said and she laughed a little. "And the second thing we're going to do is plan."

"Plan what?" she asked.

"Moony's birthday is coming up, and he never likes to make a big deal about it. But we're going to do it for him," Sirius smiled teasingly.

"That's the best idea you've had all day," Ginny said, standing to hug Sirius.