Sorry about the wait! School had really been loading me up with papers and various other forms of teacher torture! For those who are still reading, you people are awesome. Please read and reviewâflames will be used to roast my English teacher and principal.
Dinner was a mostly silent affair, with Harry and Remus trying valiantly to make conversation between Ron and his parents. Ginny and Hermione added things every now and then, but seemed to sense that it wasn't any good.
Remus, going into the kitchen to get dessert, sent up a silent prayer to whatever deities were listening that all of them would survive this night. Just as he closed the refrigerator, he noticed a carton of eggnog. 'Ah ha!' he thought. 'If this doesn't loosen things up a little, I don't know what will!'
"âSo Filch comes around the corner, and he finds Arthur and I making out in the courtyard!" Molly continued in an overly bright voice. The eggnog was doing its work, and Remus was wondering if it had been a wise decision on his part. Arthur was smiling a lot more now, and Ron had lost his sullen expression.
'I guess I just sit back and hope for the best!' he mused to himself as he began to clear the table.
"Hermione! That's your fourth glass of egg nog!" he heard Ginny hiss, concerned.
He turned in time to see his love toss back the eggnog in one gulp. He allowed himself a barely audible groan. There were going to be some serious hangovers in the morning, and he was not looking forward to it.
Eventually after telling stories until 4 in the morning, Molly and Arthur crashed on the sofa, and Harry helped Ron up to their room while Remus carried a very drunk Hermione up to her room. She was giggling the whole way up, and trying to get him to kiss her. "Whoa!" he muttered as he caught a whiff of her breath. "Not on your life, sweetheart." He said silently. Placing her into her bed, he closed the door quietly.
Harry came out of Ron's room a few seconds later. "He's going to have one nasty hangover." Harry observed.
Remus chuckled a little. "Not as big as Hermione's. She had 5 glasses of egg nog." Harry winced in sympathy.
"How are you doing?" he asked the boy softly. Harry thought about the question for a long moment.
"I feelâsorta numb, like I'm not really feeling anything, but at the same time, I know that I like Ginny. I really miss Sirius." Harry replied, his voice growing thick with unshed tears.
Remus reached out and placed an arm around his shoulders. "Let it go, Harry. You think Sirius would want you to still be grieving for him?"
Harry smiled weakly. "He'd probably say something like, "Come on! Life's a party! Don't cry, you silly git." Or else he'd just shake his head and look up at the ceiling"
"Like you were a totally hopeless case, and he was giving up." Remus finished. "I got that particular look a lot from him when we were in school."
Harry talked to Remus until 6 in the morning, after which time they both decided to continue the discussion later after they'd gotten some sleep!
Someone running up the stairs awaked Remus. Ginny came bursting into his room.
"Hope you're decent, Rem. We've got some problems downstairs. Fred and George came back, and they kinda had that New Joy of Sex book that I gave 'Mione, but Mum saw it, so now she's yelling at them, Ron is yelling at her to leave them alone, Dad is yelling for everyone to stop yelling, and Mrs. Black is adding her vocal talents to the mix!"
He groaned. This was not what he'd had in mind for the day.
"Okay, go back downstairs and try to establish some semblance of order. I'll be down very shortly."
Throwing on some clothes, he ran downstairs to where the ensuing Bedlam was in session.
"ENOUGH!!!!!" he roared. Everyone stopped talking. "Mrs. Weasley, that book does not belong to Fred and Georgeâit's mine. I asked them to pick it up for me, but they obviously got a tad curious and tore the wrapping off of it. Ron, you need to work out your issues with your parents, but not in a way that the whole house is privy to them. Now, I'm going to go take care of Mrs. Black. I suggest you make yourselves comfortable, and when I return, I will cook some breakfast for those of us who desire some." Remus finished in a deceptively calm voice. Nobody dared to voice any argument.
Breakfast went slightly better than dinner, thanks to Fred and George. Both twins had caught Remus's eye and mouthed a silent "thank you". Now he knew just how much fun they'd probably had with their girlfriends
Hermione came down, looking quite green. Remus merely handed her some muggle aspirin and a mug of hot tea. She took it gratefully and sat down at the table.
"Who was doing all of the bloody yelling?" she asked grumpily. By the time it was explained to her, the aspirin was kicking in, and she looked happier.
"Toast?" Fred asked.
"Sure." She replied, trying to keep a straight face. He winked and turned to say something to Ron.
After the dishes had been washed and put away, Remus chased everyone except the Weasleys outside to go for a walk so they could have a badly needed family discussion. Hermione looked somewhat funny in one of his old overcoats. The bottom reached down to her ankles, and it was patched in several places.
Harry and Ginny wanted to go somewhere cool, but Remus told them, somewhat wryly, that he wasn't exactly the hippest guy around. It was then that Hermione spotted the dance hall.
A muggle country band from America was playing and the admission was very cheap. Hermione dragged them in all inside, and they found some seats. A slow dance came on, and Remus asked her to dance with him. The words flowed around them as they swayed.
It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Now I just can't believe you're in my life
Heaven's smilin' down on me
As I look at you tonight
I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars
Soft moonlight on your face oh how you shine
It takes my breath away
Just to look into your eyes
I know I don't deserve a treasure like you
There really are no words
To show my gratitude
So I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars
It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Remus smiled down at her. "It isn't night," He whispered. She giggled and replied, "It doesn't matter, silly. It's called atmosphere."
"Ah, I see." he replied. Harry and Ginny had joined them on the dance floor, and both couples were content with the way things were going at the moment.
"Keeper of the Stars" is the property of Tracey Byrd. It's in my head because I have to play it at a wedding.