My Hero, My Friend, My Love

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot.

Chapter Twenty: An Eventful Spring Day

March 17. It was St. Patrick's Day for some wizards and witches, but for others, it meant another grueling day at the office. Thus was the case for Remus Lupin.

He'd left early that morning, leaving his wife of three months writing on the front porch. He wished he could stay home with her, but the day before he and the Aurors had received a viable lead in the dragon case.

Sure enough, upon entering his office, he found Kingsley and Ron waiting for him. Both wore grim expressions. Ron looked nervously at his brother-in-law. He gulped loudly before speaking.

"We know who's behind it, Moony," he said grimly. "We know who's been buying and selling this stuff."

Remus looked at him expectantly. "Well, who is it, Ron? Kingsley?" He looked at both men with interest.

Kingsley quickly shut the door to the office and cast a very powerful Silencing charm around the room. The tall man looked at his colleague and said the name of the wizard they'd been chasing for so long. "Draco Malfoy."

Remus sank into his chair. Surely he'd misheard the other wizard. "Who?"

Ron answered. "It's Malfoy. He's been behind this the whole time," he said bitterly.

Remus's head spun wildly. "But I don't understand. He was our friend. He was at my wedding for Merlin's sake. Are you quite sure?" he asked incredulously.

Both men nodded. "We have to be very delicate about this, Lupin," Kingsley said. "After all, he's one of the top rookie Aurors, other than Weasley. He can't suspect anything when we go to see him. Merlin knows he's got enough galleons to disappear."

Remus nodded. He was suddenly hit with the thought of how Ginny would react. She and Draco had been very close once, and they'd remained friends. How would she take this?

The three men began to make plans for Draco's arrest. All three were not looking forward to this, as they'd trusted Draco with their own lives at one point or another. They began with the locating spells first. They hoped to catch him off guard.

Meanwhile, Ginny finished her writing on the porch and went inside to make lunch. She was trying to write her mother's memoirs, but she hadn't gotten very far yet. She was in the midst of cooking when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Draco standing before her with a sheepish smile one his face.

"I hope I'm not interrupting you," he said.

"Of course not," she replied with a smile. "Please come in. I was just starting lunch."

He followed her into the house and looked around. "It's really lovely in here. You and Lupin have done a lot with this place."

She turned to smile at him again. "Thanks, it's been fun working on it. It finally feels like our home now."

Draco slowly made his way over to her. She became slightly uncomfortable with the expression on his face. He reached her and enveloped her in a very strong hug.

She hugged him back gingerly. "Draco, is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yes, everything is fine, just fine," he said sadly. He pulled away and forced a smile at her.

"Draco, you know you can talk to me," she said. He nodded.

"I guess I'm just to the point in my life where I want more. I want to be married and have children, but there's no one special in my life right now." He sighed and sat down on the sofa with her.

"I told you that you'd ruined me," he said jokingly.

"Draco, you just need to get out there more. You work too much, just like Ron," she said.

"Ginny, I need to tell you something. I need to tell you the real reason Rebecca left me. It wasn't just because of you, although that was part of it. I need to talk to someone," he said desperately.

She rubbed his hand affectionately and stared at him.

He avoided her gaze and spoke again, this time with regret and shame. "Ginny, you know me better than anyone. You were the one to help me change who I was before. But I'm not the man you think I am. Rebecca found out what I was doing, what I was involved in, and when I refused to stop, she left me."

She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I haven't changed. I've done terrible things, Ginny, things that I regret now, and all for nothing. Nothing more than money and the knowledge of getting away with something. And in doing so, I lost the only woman that loved me and who I could have had a future with. And now, I'm so deep into it that I can't get out."

"Whatever you've done, it can't be that bad. Tell me, and I'll help you. I'm still your friend, and I'm here for you." She was suddenly scared for her friend.

He turned to face her, ready to let it all out, all his guilt and his misdeeds. But it wasn't to be.

Suddenly, three wizards apparated into the house with their wands at the ready. Draco, knowing he was finished and feeling desperate, grabbed Ginny up, forced her in front of him and held his wand at her throat.

"Wands down gentlemen, or she gets hurt," he threatened.

Remus, Ron and Kingsley looked at each other, not sure of what to do. Remus looked at Ginny and saw the fear in her eyes, and felt a rush of rage at the man holding her. The other two men lowered their wands, but Remus kept his pointed at Draco and started towards him slowly.

"Leave. My. Wife. Alone," he said sternly. He eyes held an anger and rage that Ginny had never seen before in her normally gentle husband. She saw his hazel eyes flash with yellow, and she knew the wolf in him was rising to the surface. He looked ready to attack his prey.

"No!" shouted Draco. "Drop it werewolf!"

Ron, for once in his life, kept his wits about him during the crisis. He gulped and tried to rationalize with his friend- former friend. "Draco, mate, you don't want to hurt Ginny. You know you don't. Come on, let her go."

Draco's eyes glanced over at Ron for a moment before locking again with Remus'. "No, Ron. I'm sorry, I can't do that."

"Malfoy, we heard you before. You were about to tell Ginny everything. I heard the remorse in your voice, mate. Come on now. Let us help you. We'll put in a good word. I promise."

Draco seemed to waver for a moment, trying to believe his friend. Remus took that moment to act quickly.

"Expelliarmus!" he yelled, casting Draco's wand away. "Stupefy!"

Draco fell back, unconscious, and Ginny threw herself into her husband's arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Ginny was crying hysterically, but she nodded her head. Remus stayed where he was, and the Aurors quickly bound Draco's arms and legs.

Two more Aurors came quickly to get reports from all the men and Ginny before taking Draco away. Remus took Ginny to St. Mungo's to be checked out, just to be safe.

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A few hours later, Remus and Ginny returned home to find an owl waiting for them.

Remus recognized the script. "It's from Dumbledore. It looks important."

Ginny came over to sit next to him. They read the letter together, eyes widening with every line.

Dear Remus and Ginny,

A terrible thing has happened. A young witch gave birth to a son early this morning. The baby is healthy, but his mother didn't survive. It is most unfortunate because the boy's father perished in an accident early this year. After his death, the mother left instructions that if anything happened to her, the child would be left in my care until I could find suitable parents.

I can think of no one else better to raise this child. The two of you have so much love to give, and I think it would do this young child well to be adopted by you. The child is here at Hogwarts in my care. Please send me your answer as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Ginny was stunned. She looked at her husband who was wearing an identical expression. "Remus, can this be true? Can it be possible?" she asked.

Remus shook his head sadly. "No, it's not possible. There's no way." He sighed. "Unless..." He thought for a moment, his brow furrowed.

"Unless what, Remus?" Ginny questioned.

He shook his head again. "I need to talk to Albus," he said making his way over to the fireplace. He flooed the Headmaster, and soon Dumbledore's head appeared in the fire.

"I see you received my owl. I trust you have a decision?" he asked, eyes twinkling.

Remus looked at the elder wizard and spoke very softly and very humbly. "Albus, are you sure? Is the Ministry really going to let someone like me adopt a child?" His voice held fear, the fear that nagged at him, telling him he could never be a father.

"Remus, it was left to me to decide who would raise the child. I know of yours and Ginny's situation, and it is my feeling that you are the best people to raise this boy," Dumbledore replied.

"But I'm a werewolf," Remus pursued. "And the law clearly states that werewolves can't adopt."

"It is true," Dumbledore conceded. "That is the law." He paused momentarily. "However, upon the mother's death, all parental rights went to me. It is not my decision to raise this child. Therefore, it is up to me, entirely me, to choose the parents for this child. And, naturally, I chose you." He smiled at the couple, who looked quite relieved.

Remus looked at his wife with anxious eyes. "Well, what do you think?" he asked her softly.

"Oh, Remus. You know what I want. But it's entirely up to you," she replied hopefully.

Remus' mouth grew into a broad smile. "Well, my darling, it seems we have a son." He grinned at Dumbledore before saying they would be over to pick up the child the next day.

Ginny fell asleep next to him on the sofa that night as he finished his report to close the dragon case. He smiled down at her, and realized how exhausted he was himself. He didn't have the energy to take her up to bed, so he curled up next to her on the sofa and they stayed there all night, sleeping off the events of a most hectic day.

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The Headmaster beamed as the couple came into his office. A Ministry official was also there. He was to sign the necessary paperwork and place the adoption charm on the new family. This would officially make the baby Remus' and Ginny's son.

Dumbledore picked the child up from the cradle next to his desk and handed the baby to Ginny first, as Remus signed the papers. When he was finished, Ginny handed the baby to her husband. Upon taking the child, his child, in his arms, Remus felt a swell of pride in his chest and he fought back tears as the tiny baby looked up at him.

The Ministry official looked at the couple. "Do you have a name for the child?" he asked.

Remus and Ginny looked at each other. They hadn't thought of any names. Remus suddenly smiled broadly and spoke. "His name is Charles. Charles Black Lupin," he said with a choked voice. Ginny's eyes filled with tears.

She looked at her husband. "After my favorite brother and your best friend. It's perfect," she said softly.

The Headmaster and Ministry official smiled to each other. The official wrote the child's name down and placed the charm on the family.

After departing the Headmaster's office, the new family went to find Sirius in his office. He looked up from his desk to see who was interrupting him and was surprised to see Remus and Ginny with a baby.

"Ginny, Moony, what's this?" he asked, getting up.

Remus grinned broadly. "Sirius, I'd like you to meet our son, Charles Black Lupin." Sirius still looked puzzled.

"We've adopted him...with Dumbledore's help," Ginny explained.

"He's beautiful," said Sirius gazing down at the now sleeping baby boy. "What did you say his name was?"

"Charles, after my brother," Ginny said while softly stroking her son's black hair. "Charles Black Lupin."

Sirius grinned broadly. "Black, eh? I like that."

He hugged his friends, and visited with them a little longer. They told him of the events from the previous day and of how Charles came to be their son. Before too long, though, they had to go, since they had guests waiting at their house.

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Remus and Ginny flooed back to Lupin Cottage, where their family awaited them. They were greeted with oohs and ahhs over the new baby, as he was introduced to the family.

Hermione, whose hormones were surging, cried for her sister-in-law. The rest of the Weasley brothers grinned, knowing their new nephew had been named for their brave older brother.

Ron interrupted the excitement with more good news. "Harry and Shaine owled me earlier. Shaine's pregnant, she's due in the winter." Everyone cheered, and began writing their friends a collective letter offering them congratulations and telling them of the new addition to their own family.

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Some time later, after everyone left, Remus quickly transfigured some things into a baby bed and other necessary items until they could purchase them. He climbed into bed with Ginny that night and held her in his arms.

"Gin, did you ever think we'd have a child?" he asked.

"Never," she replied honestly. "Remus, I'm so happy. When we got married, I didn't think I could be any happier, but I am. We have a son."

"I know," he replied. "I never told you how much I wanted children. I've always wanted to be a father. But I knew it could never happen for me. Yet somehow, I am. And you're a mother. My darling, you were made to be a mother."

The happy couple kissed lovingly...until Charles' cries interrupted them.

Ginny giggled. "Guess our sex life is over now." Remus laughed.

"Not entirely," he said cheekily. "He has to go to school at some point." Ginny rolled her eyes and started to get up to see about her son. Remus stopped her. "I'll go," he said. "I'll check on our son."

As he left the room, Ginny smiled to herself. "Our son," she said aloud. "I like the sound of that."