A/N: Deal-with-it, I think you might by psychic because I'd written this well before your comments! BTW, I'm ready for an update of your story. (Hint, hint...)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Chapter Eight

Ginny awoke the next morning to find Remus staring at her intently. He blushed upon being caught.

"I'm sorry," he said bashfully. "You're just so beautiful."

Ginny blushed also and leaned up to kiss him. "You're amazing, Remus. Thank you for last night."

Remus chuckled. "I can't believe we did that." Ginny just nodded and smiled. She allowed him to envelop her in his arms, and she closed her eyes again as he kissed her. They were close to a repeat performance of last night when they heard bangs and shouts from somewhere in the building. Quickly springing to their feet, they dressed and looked anxiously at the door. Remus instinctively put his body in front of Ginny's to protect her.

"Ginny! Remus! Are you there?" someone shouted.

"Charlie!" Ginny called back. "We're down here!"

Suddenly the door banged open, and Ginny and Remus were faced with the Weasley brothers, Oliver Wood, Tonks and Snape. Ginny launched herself into Charlie's arms while Remus collapsed with relief. He felt someone hug him tightly and looked up to see Tonks with a huge smile on her face. He stifled a laugh, remembering how Ginny said Tonks had a crush on him. He stood and was embraced by all the Weasley brothers.

Oliver tried to kiss Ginny, but she pulled away, embarrassed. Remus's heart sank when he saw her in Oliver's arms, but was pleased that she pulled away from kissing him. He wondered if she would tell him what she and Remus had shared.

The group quickly exited the property and flew back to Grimmauld Place. Upon arriving, a Healer summoned by Dumbledore gave both prisoners a thorough exam and Healed the rest of Remus' wounds.

He immediately went to speak with Snape, Moody and the rest of the Order while Ginny was with her family. She managed to catch his gaze before he exited the room, and Remus merely smiled at her.

Oliver was gripping her in his arms when he said, "This is it, Ginny. You're staying home from now on. I won't lose you again. You're going to move in with me, so we won't ever have to be apart again."

She glared at him. "I'm not some possession you can put in a glass box, Olli," she said quietly. Before he could protest, she turned to her brothers and asked, "Why did it take you so long? What happened with the final battle?"

"We thought you were dead, Gin," Fred said. His twin nodded.

"Yeah, they sent your wand back broken with a note that said they'd killed Lupin too," George added. "It wasn't until the final battle that we even knew you were still alive."

"How did you find out?" Ginny asked.

Snape spoke up as the rest of the Order came into the room. "Zabini," he stated. "I was dueling with Malfoy when he called out to me. He killed Draco before I had the chance and told me that you were alive and being held prisoner. When the battle was over, we came for you."

"Incidentally, most of the Death Eaters were arrested. Of course, they're claiming to have been under the Imperious, but Zabini is cooperating fully," Moody explained. "Lupin, here, says he helped you." Ginny nodded. "That should earn him some leniency."

Ginny looked up at Bill. "Where's Mum and Dad? And Harry?"

"St. Mungo's," he said quietly. "Mum and Dad are fine, just a little banged up, but it might take a while for Harry to get better. Voldemort really did a number on him before Harry killed him."

At Ginny's worried face, Ron said, "Don't worry, Gin. Harry'll be fine."

"Miss Weasley," Snape said softly, "Lupin has told us everything." Ginny panicked for a moment, thinking he knew about what she and Remus had shared last night. She looked at Remus, who shook his head slightly, answering her unasked question.

Ginny sighed with relief. "Did you tell them, Remus? About what they did to you?" she asked firmly.

"Yes, Ginny," he said. "I told them what happened...to both of us." Her eyes were wide.

"What?"

"I didn't want you to have to tell it again, so I told them...about Draco," he said softly. "I was trying to protect you."

Ginny's eyes filled with tears and she crossed the room to hug him. They held each other, both crying for a while before her brothers made her go upstairs to rest. Remus watched her go upstairs with Oliver and couldn't help feel a pang of...something. Jealousy? Guilt? He pushed it from his mind and went to his own room to sleep.

A while later, Remus awoke to find Ginny sitting in a chair next to his bed. He smiled at her and sat up.

"Shouldn't you be resting or something?" he asked, smiling.

"Well, I felt that perhaps we needed to talk," Ginny said uncomfortably.

Remus sat up even further and turned to face her. "Yes, I believe we do."

"About last night..." Ginny began.

"Ginny, there's no need to explain," he said. "We slept together. It happened. Let's just get past it."

"But shouldn't we talk about it?" she asked.

"I don't think so," he said. "We were both afraid. We thought no one was coming for us. That's all."

"So, it didn't mean anything to you?" she asked in a small voice.

Remus took her hands in his. "Of course it did," he implored. "Ginny, how could it not? We needed each other, and what we shared was beautiful and special. But it's over now. We're back with those who care about us."

Ginny smiled meekly at him. "It was special to me too, Remus." She paused. "But can you do something for me? Something else?" He nodded. "Can we not talk about it ever again?"

"No," he said. "It won't come up again. I promise you that." He let go of her hands and glanced sideways at her. "I take it you don't want Mr. Wood to find out."

"No," she replied. "Olli and I have enough problems to work through without bringing that up." She hesitated before asking, "Do you feel guilty at all?"

"Yes," he said. "In a way I do. After all, I made love to a woman who belongs to someone else. But we were in a precarious situation, so that alleviates some of the guilt, I guess. But...I don't regret it." She nodded in agreement and smiled.

"Me either. So, we're okay then?" she asked, standing.

"Yes, Ginny," he replied. "And we're still friends." She leaned over to hug him, and briefly closed her eyes and took in his scent, as if trying to burn its memory onto her brain.

She quietly left his room and went off to find Oliver. They needed to have a talk.

Two days later, Remus was making his way downstairs. He walked past the library and heard voices arguing. He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he recognized Ginny's voice. She and Oliver were fighting again...about the same thing.

"But why do you need to finish you studies? I don't understand why you don't want to stay home and raise our family?"

"What family, Oliver? Besides, I want to do something with my life. I don't just want to have babies!"

"But Gin, I'm not going back to Quidditch. I'm going to be a Healer. You won't have to work."

"I want to, Olli. For the last time, I'm continuing with my studies."

"But how are we supposed to get married if both of us are in school?"

"Who says we're getting married? You certainly haven't asked me yet."

"I was going to." He paused. "Are you saying you don't want to marry me?"

"I don't know. I do know that I'm tired of you asking me to change who I am because it doesn't suit your idea of the perfect girlfriend. I know that I want to study to be a medi-witch. And I know that I want to be with a man who is proud of me and what I do."

"But Ginny-"

"No, Oliver. That's what I want. If you can't accept that, then perhaps we shouldn't be together anymore."

With that, Ginny turned and left the room, almost colliding with Remus, who was wearing a very stunned expression.

A few days later, Ginny knocked on the door of Hermione's flat. When the other girl answered the door, she immediately pulled her friend into a hug.

"Ginny, I heard about you and Oliver," Hermione said. "Are you okay?"

Ginny nodded. "I'm fine," she said, shrugging, "It was for the best."

The two girls strode into the kitchen, and Hermione immediately began making tea and pulling out biscuits.

"Are you glad to be back at the Burrow with your family?" she asked.

"Yes, actually. I've missed them. I'm just so glad all this fighting is over," Ginny replied. "Now we can get to spend time with each other again."

"You know, Ron was telling me yesterday that the Ministry worked a deal with Zabini," Hermione said while taking a seat at the table.

"Oh?"

"Yes, thanks to you and Professor Lupin, he only has to spend three months in Azkaban and then be placed under house arrest with an Auror for another six months," Hermione explained. "He gave up everyone, all the Death Eaters. I'm surprised. I mean he was a Slytherin after all."

Ginny looked thoughtful. "Yes, but he's a decent man. If it weren't for him, Lucius would have killed us both. You know, he never tortured Remus at all, and he even tried to stop Malfoy from attacking me more than once. He was the one who Healed Remus' wounds, too."

"How is Professor Lupin anyway? Have you seen him since leaving Grimmauld Place last week?" asked Hermione.

"No, I haven't. I feel it's best to keep our distance for a while," Ginny answered.

"Why is that?"

"Well, you know, I thought it might be uncomfortable between us."

"But why would it be?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, what I'm about to tell you can never be repeated, okay?" Ginny said sternly. Hermione nodded emphatically.

"Remus and I...well, something happened in the dungeon, before we were rescued," she began nervously.

"You slept together," Hermione observed. Ginny's eyes widened.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"I could tell something happened between you, what with all the tension, but I wasn't sure what it was...until I noticed the way he looked at you after you got back," she explained.

"What do you mean, 'the way he looked at me'?"

"Whenever he saw you with Oliver he looked almost jealous. And he looked like he was attracted to you or something." Hermione paused. "Are you attracted to him?"

Ginny blushed. "He is handsome, you know. But he's also...Remus. So, no, I'm not. Besides, Remus wouldn't be attracted to me. He's not like that."

"Not like that? What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"I just meant that, well, Remus wouldn't have feelings for me. He's been in love before, and it ended badly. And he's told me before, he wouldn't risk getting hurt again," Ginny said cryptically.

"Professor Lupin had a girlfriend?" Hermione asked. "When?"

"Not a girlfriend...a wife," Ginny answered, "a long time ago."

"Merlin, you're kidding. Who was she?" Hermione asked.

"He and this girl from Hogwarts got married right after they graduated. Beth was her name. Anyway, they got married and after a few months, she was pregnant. But she died shortly after telling Remus about the baby," Ginny said. "And according to him, he hasn't loved anyone ever since."

Hermione's eyes were wide. "How did she die?"

"I'm not sure. He said that he came home one evening and she was lying on the sofa, like she'd died in her sleep," Ginny shrugged. "No one knows about Beth, except Dumbledore now."

"How did you find out?" Hermione asked.

"Remus and I shared a lot of secrets a long time ago...in my second year. He told me about her then, but we never discussed her again, until we were captured," Ginny said. "So I don't think he'd be falling for anyone now, especially me."

The girls sat in silence for several moments before Hermione spoke again.

"Ginny, can I ask you something rather...personal?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows at her friend. "Depends on what it is," she said cryptically.

Hermione blushed and stammered out her question. "Well, I've been wondering...I mean, Professor Lupin is a lot older than you and therefore...er...more experienced. And he's also a werewolf. So, I guess, I'm asking, well...what was it like?"

Ginny blushed as well. "You're asking me what sex with Remus was like?" Hermione nodded and Ginny laughed aloud.

After collecting herself, she cleared her throat. "Well, what do you want to know?"

"How was it?"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation," Ginny said through a fit of giggles. "But since you asked, it was rather nice."

"Nice?"

"Well, yes," she said. Then Ginny leaned into her friend. "Honestly...it was the best sex I've ever had."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Really?" she whispered.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, he was surprisingly very gentle and...er...took his time, if you know what I mean." She paused. "And you know what else?" She waited for Hermione to shake her head. "Remember how in third year you wrote that essay about werewolves? And you wrote how the male werewolf's...parts...are larger than the average male's? Well, you're right."

Ginny leaned back, somewhat triumphantly, and sipped her tea, as Hermione gaped at her. After a moment, both girls howled with laughter.

"If you tell anyone about this conversation, then I will have to tell everyone how you snogged Percy last Christmas after too much eggnog," Ginny threatened her friend.

"In that case, I swear on my life, I won't repeat it!" Hermione promised.

After calming down, the two girls retreated to the living room. "So," Hermione began, "you've started back to classes?"

"Yes," Ginny replied excitedly, "they're really interesting. And in two months, I start my practical training."

"Really?"

Ginny nodded. "I'm not sure where I'll do them yet, but it's pretty exciting. And after six months after that, I'll be an official medi-witch."

"That's great," Hermione said, smiling.

"So what are you going to do?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I'm going to start training to be a Potions Mistress," she answered.

"Maybe you can replace Snape one day," Ginny giggled.

"Maybe," Hermione said with a wink. "But I think I'd like to develop and improve potions for medicinal purposes."

"Wow," Ginny said, impressed. "You'd be great at that, Hermione!"

"Thanks, I'm pretty excited," her friend replied. She looked at the clock on the wall. "Gin, I'm sorry. I need to go. I'm to meet with one of my professors this afternoon."

"Oh, that's fine," Ginny replied. "I need to be going too. I'll talk to you soon, okay?" She left the apartment and Apparated back to the Burrow.