Remus was unbound and ungagged the minute Draco left the dungeon with Ginny. He punched the wall in frustration. He had failed her. Draco had caught them off guard that morning, and now he was going to hurt her.
Remus was pacing around the room when the door burst open again and Ginny was thrown back in the room. Her clothes were ripped and her cheek was red. She was crying hysterically. Remus ran to her and picked her up and carried her over to the makeshift bed.
She was still sobbing when she buried her head in his neck. He couldn't imagine what she'd just gone through, and he was apprehensive about touching her. But she seemed to welcome it. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently.
After several moments, she pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her cheek was swollen from apparently being hit.
"What did he do to you?" Remus asked her softly.
"Oh, Remus!" she cried before burying her head in his shoulder again. "Oh, God, I was so lucky," she said through tears.
"What do you mean? Did he not hurt you?" Remus asked incredulously.
She shook her head. "He almost did. He was so close, but then Lucius came in." She pulled back from him. "I heard them talking. The final battle has started," she said sadly.
Remus looked at her in disbelief. "It's started?" She nodded. "Oh, God," he continued. "It won't be long now. It will be over, one way or another." He took her hand. "I guess we can't do anything but wait now."
Ginny sighed. "Remus, everyone is gone. That's one of the things I heard when he was dragging me back. They're all leaving. What are we going to do?" she asked, fresh tears filling her eyes.
Remus gulped. If they were left alone, what would that mean? Would they be left to die there? Would the Order finally come for them? He had so many questions and absolutely no answers.
He looked at her, a wry smile on his face. "I don't know, Ginny. But whatever happens, I'm glad you're with me."
She leaned to rest her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're with me too, Remus."
Remus suddenly realized how tattered her clothes were. He didn't want her to be humiliated when she realized it, so he removed his outer robe and covered her with it. "You looked cold," he mumbled.
Ginny blushed, the state of her robes coming to mind. "Thanks," she whispered.
Remus reached to her cheek. "Did he do this?" She nodded. "What else did he do to you?"
Ginny pulled away from him. "I don't want to tell you about it right now," she said quietly. "Is that okay?"
"Of course, Ginny," he said soothingly. "I don't want to push you."
"Remus," she asked hesitantly, "will you just hold me for a while?"
He nodded and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She sighed and rested her head against his chest. It wasn't long before they were both asleep.
...........................
When they awoke again, it was dark outside. The silence was almost overwhelming. Even Remus, with his keen hearing, couldn't distinguish many noises. They sat in the dark, holding hands. Ginny broke the silence.
"Remus, if we get out, what will you do?" she asked.
"When we get out, Ginny, not if," he said confidently.
"Okay, then, when we get out," she conceded.
"Well," he said thoughtfully, "I've thought about teaching again, if Dumbledore will let me back."
"Of course he will," Ginny said emphatically. "You were my favorite teacher I ever had," she said shyly.
He was sure that if he could see her face, she would be blushing, as he could feel the heat rise in his own cheeks.
"Thank you, Ginny," he said humbly. "That means a lot to me." He paused for a moment. "What about you? What will you do?"
Ginny sighed loudly. "Well, I suppose Oliver and I will continue with our Healing studies, and I'm sure he'll want to discuss marriage at some point."
At this statement, Remus pulled his hand away. Ginny sensed a change in his mood. "Remus, what is it?" she asked.
"I was just wondering how you two ended up together," he lied.
Ginny smiled, remembering the events of a year ago. "Well, when I got home after graduation, Oliver was there visiting my brothers. He was even more handsome than I remember, and for the first time, he began to see me as me, not as the littlest Weasley. He found out about the Order and quit playing Quidditch to join. Everything else just sort of happened from there." She shrugged.
Remus couldn't help noticing her tale lacked the enthusiasm of a woman in love. "Ginny, can I be honest with you?" he asked.
"Yes, of course."
"Well," he began, "I know it's none of my business, but do you love him, really and truly love him?"
"I don't know," Ginny said quietly. "My family likes him, which is saying a lot. Olli and I get along well. He's very sweet and understanding, and he loves me. I do love him, but I don't know if it's enough to marry him." She paused. "Why?"
"I just don't think it's a good match," he said. "You're too passionate and spirited for him. And he doesn't seem like he wants you to be like that. It's like he wants you to be like him- obsessive and plain. And you can never be plain, Ginny."
"I never knew anyone else thought that," she said truthfully. "I've often wondered if anyone saw how different I acted around him." She paused. "I guess I was wrong. You're very perceptive, Remus."
He was suddenly embarrassed that he'd made his thoughts known. "I shouldn't have said anything," he said shamefully. "It's not my place. I barely know the boy. Let's change the subject," he said hurriedly.
She giggled at him. "Okay, let's do something Hermione and I did in school. We'd pick a person and use three words to describe them...only three."
Remus laughed at that. "Three words, hmm?" He thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll go first. I'll describe you."
"Okay," she said slowly.
"First word, I've already said- passionate. Second word, I would have to say is tenacious. Third word, hmmm, let me think," he said slowly. He turned to her and caught a glimpse of her eyes in the moonlight. "Third word is exquisite," he whispered.
"Exquisite?" she asked, stunned at his choice of adjectives.
"Yes," he said, "you're beautiful. Don't you know that?"
"No one's ever told me that, aside from my family," she replied.
"I can't believe no man has ever told you that. You're perfect," he said wistfully. "Any man's dream..." his voice trailed off as his comfort level dropped. He cleared his throat. "Okay, your turn."
Ginny blushed at his words and took time to collect her thoughts.
"Remus Lupin in three words...let me think," she said in mock seriousness. "First word, brilliant. Second word, intense, and third word..." she mumbled her last word so quietly that he didn't hear.
"Sorry?" he asked.
"Sexy," she said barely loud enough to hear. He laughed aloud.
"Surely you're joking," he cried through his laughter.
"No," she said defiantly. "I'm not. You, Remus J. Lupin, are incredibly sexy."
"I'm speechless," he said. "I didn't know anyone ever thought that way about me."
"Well, if you must know, I had a crush on you in second year."
Remus couldn't contain his laughter now. "Really?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Lots of girls did."
"Did," he said. "Past tense."
She giggled. "Actually, I know someone who has a thing for you now."
"Who has a 'thing' for me, as you call it?" he asked.
"Tonks," she answered.
"Tonks fancies me?" he gulped.
"Oh, yes," Ginny said. "Most definitely. I take it the feeling isn't mutual?"
"Well, no," he said. "For one thing, she's Sirius' cousin, and I've known her too long. For another thing, she's too...immature for my type."
Ginny was shocked at having this type of discussion with her former professor. "Remus Lupin has a type?" she asked.
"Ginny, I'm not a eunuch," he said. "I have had girlfriends, you know." Ginny laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks. "And I was married, even if I was only nineteen, remember?" he continued quietly.
Ginny's laughter stopped and she squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up Beth's memory," she said honestly.
"It's quite alright," he replied. They were silent for a time before Ginny spoke again.
"Well, what is your type?" she asked finally.
"I like strong, independent women. Women who know what they want and go after it. I like a woman who knows who she is and isn't afraid of who she is," he said. "It's not like it matters, though. I haven't found anyone like that whose ideal man is a forty year old werewolf."
"Remus, can I tell you something?" Ginny asked. (She couldn't believe what she was about to say.)
"Yes, you can tell me whatever you want," he replied.
"The werewolf thing?" Ginny began. "That's part of the aforementioned sexiness."
Remus was shocked beyond words. However, he kept his composure. "How so?"
"Well, you turn into this wild creature once a month. But at other times of the month, you're this laid-back, gentle, sweet man. Well, it's enough to make a woman wonder what it takes for the wildness to come out without a full moon," she finished, now absurdly flustered.
Remus reached over to stroke Ginny's hair. "It doesn't take that much," he said huskily.
Somehow, in the darkness of their dungeon, Remus' lips found Ginny's in a searing, passionate kiss. It wasn't sweet and gentle, like the man himself. It was assertive and possessive. When he finally pulled away, Ginny was left panting at this sudden show of emotion and yearning in Remus.
"Wow," was all she could muster.
Remus released his hold on her. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to do that."
She reached over to him. "No, I liked it. I've never been kissed like that," she said, embarrassed.
"Perhaps you should," he said before kissing her again, this time causing her to moan a little into his mouth.
Remus, although he was enjoying kissing her, pulled himself together again. He turned away from her.
"Ginny," he said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I don't know what's come over me."
"No, Remus," she said breathlessly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have provoked you."
"It's my fault," he said sheepishly. "No one's called me sexy in a long time."
She giggled. "Not to your face anyway."
He joined in her laughter. He felt the wolfish instinct in him begin to subside. "Let's not do that again. I don't want to compromise your relationship with Mr. Wood."
"That's probably a good idea," Ginny replied. She yawned and stretched. "I think I'll lie down for a bit."
She crawled to the mattress and got comfortable. "You know, if you're tired, you can lie down with me," she called over to him.
Remus hesitated a split second before joining her. He hoped his animal impulse wouldn't return with him in such close proximity to Ginny. As he laid there with her cuddled up next to him, he tried to sleep. But it was difficult. He began to think of potions ingredients in order to take his mind off the beautiful woman next to him. Thankfully, that made him fall asleep in no time.