Propensity

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: Thanks to aikakone for her continued encouragement and "beta-ing."

Chapter Nine

Two months had passed, and Remus was enjoying a quiet afternoon to himself. He pulled a book from the shelf in his study, and meandered into the living room of his small, but cozy flat. He had just made himself comfortable on the sofa and opened the book when there was a knock on the door.

He opened it and was surprised to see Ginny standing before him. It had been at least a month since he'd last seen her.

He tried to hide the surprise from his face. "Ginny! It's good to see you," he said, opening the door fully. "Do come in."

"Hi, Remus," she said entering the flat, avoiding his gaze.

He ushered her into the living room and invited her to sit. She did, if slightly uncomfortably, on the sofa. As she sat, Remus let his eyes sweep over her. She looked wonderful. Her skin was glowing and her hair was radiant. He also couldn't help noticing her slightly curvier figure. He was glad to see she'd filled out some, since their time in the dungeon had left her quite thin.

Ginny looked up at Remus, who was looking at her very intently. "It's so good to see you, Ginny. How are you? You look wonderful," he said happily.

She returned his smile weakly. "I'm okay. How are you? You seem quite happy in London."

"Yes, I am," he said. "How are your studies going? Are you enjoying them?"

"Yes, very much thank you," she said. "I'm about to start my practical studies with Madam Pomfrey at Hogwarts this year, actually."

"Really?" he asked. "That's wonderful. We'll see a lot of each other then." He beamed at her.

"Oh?" she inquired, nervously.

"Yes," he replied proudly, "Dumbledore's asked me to return to teach D.A.D.A."

"Oh," she said quietly. She hadn't expected that. She stood and began pacing around the room.

Remus was suddenly concerned. "Ginny, is everything alright?"

"Ah, Remus, there's something I need to tell you," she said anxiously. Worry crept to his face and he stood and walked towards her.

"What is it? Are you okay?" he asked fearfully.

"I think you should sit back down for this." She led him back to the sofa and sat next to him.

Remus searched her face. She seemed quite upset, and it was scaring him. She took in a deep breath and faced him.

"I'm pregnant," she stated.

Remus stared at her for a moment with a dumbfounded look on his face. Her voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Remus?"

He nervously ran a hand through his hair and fidgeted. "Ah, well, yes, I suppose congratulations are in order then, eh?" he said with a shaking voice. "I bet Mr. Wood is ecstatic." His mouth was dry. "I'm sorry, can you excuse me for a moment?" he said, getting up and going into the kitchen. He reached into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Scotch.

Ginny got up and followed him out of the room. She found him gulping from a large glass. He finished and looked back at her.

"Remus, it's not Oliver's." She paused. "It's your baby."

The glass he was holding crashed to the floor and shattered. Yet, he stood staring at her in disbelief.

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.

"That I'm pregnant, or that it's yours?" she responded.

"Both," he said shrugging.

"Yes, I'm positive I'm pregnant. I saw the Healer yesterday. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me, and I didn't even notice that I'd missed for two months," she said.

"And you're sure it's...?"

"Yes, Remus," she said gently. "I'm having your child."

"But how can you be sure of that?" he asked. "We were only together one night."

"Well, you're the only person I've been with since then," she replied. "Oliver and I hadn't been together since a few weeks before I went after you, and actually I had my cycle the week before that."

Remus turned bright red at that statement and merely nodded. He cleared his throat and asked, "What do we do now?"

She shrugged. "I don't know really. I'm due in the spring, and I'll be finished with my studies then. But...I haven't a clue."

"Have you told your family yet?" he asked, still shell-shocked.

She shook her head. "No, I wanted you to be the first to know." He nodded again. "Remus, you have no obligation here. I just wanted you to know. I felt you had the right. But-"

"Ginny," he interrupted, "I'm just surprised is all. I'm not angry or upset...just in shock."

"I know," she said. "Take your time."

Suddenly, a thought struck Remus and he slid to the floor. "Oh, God," he cried. "Oh no..." He looked up at her. "Ginny, it's my fault," he said despondently.

She crouched down next to him. "No, it's not. We were both there."

"No!" he said forcefully. "Not that. The baby...will be a werewolf." He put his head in his hands and sighed. Ginny pulled his face up to hers.

"Not necessarily," she told him. "There's a chance, yes, but it's possible he won't be." Remus looked up at her and forced a smile.

"I hope so," he said.

She smiled at him. "Remus, I want to tell you something. Werewolf or not, I want this baby so much."

He took her hand. "Me too, Gin. I've always wanted to be a father. Please let me be one to this child."

"Of course. I was hoping you'd say that." She blushed shyly. He hugged her tightly to him.

Remus sighed wearily. "You're afraid aren't you?" Ginny asked him. "Because of Beth?" He nodded sadly. She rubbed his shoulder affectionately. "I promise I'll be careful and keep all my Healer appointments."

"Beth did all that," he muttered. "And she still-"

"Remus, we just have to have faith, okay?" she said. "In the meantime, will you do me a favor?"

"Anything," he smiled at her.

"Remus," she began. "Will you go with me to see my parents?"

"Yes, of course I will," he responded. "But should I be afraid?"

"Most definitely," she said with a smile. He laughed nervously, but deep down, he wondered what her family would do.

--

The next afternoon, Ginny arrived back at Remus' flat to Floo with him to the Burrow. They were both nervous, Ginny more so than Remus. But they both tried to look confident. After all, surely Arthur and Molly would be thrilled about a grandchild. Or so they hoped.

As they tumbled out of the fireplace, Molly greeted them first. She was thrilled to see Remus again, but she was confused as to why he was there...with her daughter.

"Remus, Dear, look at you," she fussed. "You're entirely too thin. Come, let's eat so I can put some meat on those bones." She pulled him towards the kitchen.

"Mum," Ginny said, "Remus looks fine. Leave him alone."

"All right, Ginny," Molly replied. She turned to Remus. "I'm sorry, Dear."

Before he could speak, Molly was ushering them out onto the back porch where the rest of her family, Harry and Hermione had gathered.

"Look who Ginny brought!" she called happily.

Everyone greeted Remus with enthusiasm, and he couldn't help wondering if this enthusiasm would last once they knew why he was there.

Ginny sensed his nervousness and patted his hand as they sat down on a bench. "Uh, I have some news to share with everyone," she announced.

Everyone looked at her expectantly. "Well," she began slowly, "it would seem that...uh...well, the thing is, see..."

"Come on, Gin," Ron said. "Out with it."

She shot him a glare before turning back to her parents. She held her head up and said, "I'm pregnant."

For the first time in years, total silence fell over the Weasley family. They all, plus Harry and Hermione, stared at her.

Arthur blinked several times. "I'm sorry, dear, what did you say?"

"I'm going to have a baby," she replied. This time, her statement was met with questions and yelling.

Ron: "Bloody hell!"

Harry: "Are you kidding?"

Hermione: "You're not serious!"

Fred: "But you're only a baby!"

George: "How did this happen?"

Percy: "How irresponsible can you be?"

Charlie: "But you're not married!"

Bill: "How could you let this happen?"

Molly: "Ginny, how could you do this?"

Arthur: "And just who is the father?"

It was Arthur's question that brought silence to the family again. The brothers looked at each other.

"That much is obvious. How did Oliver take the news?" Percy asked.

"No, Percy," Ginny said, "it's not Oliver." She gulped. "Remus and I are having baby."

Seven Weasley men stood from their seats and took one step towards Remus, who had paled considerably.

"Is this true, Remus?" Arthur questioned.

"Yes, Arthur. It's the truth," Remus answered his friend.

"And can I assume you'll be getting married?" Molly asked haughtily.

"Well," Remus said nervously, "uh, see...well...we haven't exactly discussed it...but-"

"No, Mum," Ginny interrupted, "we're not getting married. We don't know what we're going to do exactly. All we know is that we're having a baby together."

"So, you're not in a relationship with Remus?" her father asked.

"Nothing more than friendship," Ginny replied. "Please understand. Remus and I are great friends, but we're not in love and we're not getting married."

"Not even for the baby?" Bill asked.

Ginny shook her head at him. "No, Bill. I will only marry for love."

"Can I say something please?" Remus interjected. Everyone looked at him. "Arthur, Molly, I care for Ginny very much. She's very special to me. No, I don't love her, but I do care for her. And I will love this baby very much."

"But how did this happen? When?" Molly sobbed.

"Mum," Ginny began delicately, "it was during our capture. We thought we were going to die."

Molly turned to Remus, red-faced and teary-eyed. "How dare you? My only daughter! How could you?"

"Molly," he said earnestly, "it wasn't something we meant to happen. It just happened."

Molly began to sob hysterically. "But my only daughter, throwing her life away."

Ginny began to cry as well. Remus put his arm around her to comfort her. Arthur did the same to Molly. He turned to his daughter. "Ginny, we're very disappointed in you. You're always so impetuous. And now look where it's gotten you. Pregnant. And unmarried."

"I'm sorry, Dad," Ginny cried. "I really am. This isn't how I planned it, but it's happened. Please don't hate me."

Molly turned from her daughter and went back into the house, sobbing. Arthur went to follow her, but turned back to Ginny and Remus. "We don't hate you. We're just upset right now."

Ginny's brothers were very uncomfortable and couldn't look their sister in the eye. The twins hugged her quickly before mumbling something about getting back to the shop. Percy just shook his head and walked away. Ron just kept gaping at her. Harry and Hermione led him away after hugging Ginny. Bill and Charlie hugged their sister and nodded at Remus before Apparating away.

Ginny turned to Remus, her eyes red and swollen, and he held her for a moment before taking her hand and leading her to Floo back to his flat.

--

Once there, Ginny bawled some more on his sofa. He made her some tea and rubbed her back gently.

She calmed down some and looked back at him. "That could have gone better, don't you think?" she asked sarcastically.

Remus chuckled briefly. "They'll come around, Ginny. It will all work out. You'll see."

"I hope so. I guess it's a good thing that I leave for Hogwarts in a few weeks," she said. "That will give us all some time apart."

Remus looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ginny, at Hogwarts, do you want people to know?"

"I guess I haven't thought about it," she said. "They'll know I'm pregnant soon enough, though. I guess they would want to know who the father is. And it's not like I'm ashamed of you," she said with a small smile.

"You're not?" he asked honestly.

"No," she said, "You're a wonderful man. Why would I be ashamed of you?"

Remus blushed at her compliments.

Ginny smiled at him and hugged him. "It's getting late. I need to get back home."

"Ginny, you're upset; they're upset. I don't want you to get emotional again. Why don't you just stay here tonight? You can take my bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."

"Are you sure?" she asked. He nodded. "Thanks," she said. She was grateful that she didn't have to face her parents again.

He changed the sheets on his bed and gave her a shirt to sleep in. She went into the bathroom to wash her face and change clothes. When she returned back in the bedroom, Remus was turning down the covers for her.

She giggled at him in his pajamas, blue plaid pants and no shirt...and furry wolf slippers? "Aren't you going to get cold?" He shook his head.

"Come on, I'll tuck you in," he said. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "What?" he asked innocently. "I'm practicing." She laughed at him. As she got into bed, she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Remus," she said. "For everything."

He pulled the covers up around her and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Ginny." He turned to close the door.

"Good night, Remus."

--

Ginny awoke in the middle of the night and briefly wondered where she was. She got up, intent on getting something to drink. As she exited the bedroom, she remembered she was in Remus' flat. She tiptoed into the living room and gazed at Remus' sleeping figure on the sofa. He was in a very contorted position, and Ginny had to stifle a giggle.

As she looked at him, she took in all of his features. His hair, still caramel-brown, had more grey in it than when she first met him those many years ago. His eyes were currently covered by his eyelids and framed with dark lashes. His face was prematurely wrinkled for a man of forty, but on Remus it added to his grace, instead of detracting from it. Her eyes drifted down to his uncovered bare chest. He was quite tanned actually, for a werewolf, and well toned. His shoulders were not as broad as one might think, but in Ginny's opinion, he had the perfect build for a man of his height, which was a few inches over 6'. All in all, Ginny saw that Remus Lupin was a very handsome man.

She began to walk into the kitchen, still on her quest to quench her thirst when he groaned loudly in his sleep. She paused for moment to see if he would wake and when he didn't, she started out of the room again. But he yelped again and began thrashing about. Ginny walked over to him quickly and saw that he was covered in sweat. He was having some sort of nightmare!

Ginny gingerly reached out to him. "Remus," she said quietly. He didn't respond. His eyes were squeezed shut and his arms were flailing about. She shook him harder. "Remus!" she cried. "Wake up! It's okay. I'm here, just wake up," she said holding his arms down.

Suddenly Remus' eyes snapped open, and they flitted about the room before settling in front of him on Ginny. He gasped for breath and she caressed his forehead. "Shh, it's okay" she cooed. "I'm here." She gently pulled him up into her arms and held him for a moment.

When his breathing returned to normal, he pulled back from her. "Are you okay?" she asked. Remus blushed and nodded. "Do you think you can get back to sleep?" she questioned him gently.

"In a little while," he replied hoarsely. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

"No, I was going to the kitchen when I heard you." She paused. "Do you want to tell me what it was about?" she asked hesitantly.

Remus shook his head. "No, I'm fine," he insisted. "You should go back to bed."

"No, I'm worried about you. I'll stay here until you're okay."

He smiled at her, and took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you," he said gratefully, "But I'm really fine."

She looked at him sternly. "Don't argue with me. Don't you know I have the 'Molly Weasley' maternal instincts?" she teased him. "Now lie back."

Remus didn't protest any more and leaned back into his pillow. He didn't want to tell Ginny that the nightmares would return as soon as he closed his eyes. He didn't want to tell her that in his sleep he remembered and relived the torture and the beatings at the hands of the Death Eaters. So he just laid there and let her run her hand across his forehead and over his cheeks. She smiled down at him and leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. As she did so, he closed his eyes.

Thinking he was asleep, Ginny got up to leave, but Remus gently grabbed her hand and tugged her back down. "Stay with me," he whispered. "Please."

Ginny smiled down at him, now that his eyes were back open. "I will, but only if we go to bed. This sofa isn't big enough for the both of us." Remus nodded, got up and led her back into his bedroom. They climbed into the bed, and he allowed her to pull him into her arms. She held him all night. He didn't sleep much, but he did find a few moments of comfort, knowing he was safe with Ginny.

--

Remus woke the next morning to find a note from Ginny lying on the pillow next to him.

"Remus,

Had to leave for classes this morning, but I wanted to come by later, if that's okay. See you then-

Ginny"

He sighed and got up to begin his day. He needed to go to Diagon Alley to get his teaching supplies for the school year.

Later that afternoon, Ginny knocked on the door of Remus' flat. She smiled at him as he opened it.

"You look tired," he commented to her.

She shrugged. "Part of being with child, I guess. I'm always tired," she replied.

Remus grimaced at her response and wondered if she was truly happy about this pregnancy. He noticed she had a rather large box in her hands, and he quickly took it from her, assuming it was heavy.

"What's this?" he asked her.

"It's something for you," she told him, sitting down. "Actually, you could say I'm sort of returning it to you." He looked puzzled. "Go on, open it."

Remus opened the box carefully and took out the object in it. He immediately recognized it, though it was a bit more chipped than he remembered. He looked at her curiously. "But this is the Pensieve I gave you when you were my student."

She smiled ruefully. "Yes, but I don't need it anymore. After last night, I think it could be of more use to you."

Remus looked away from her, slightly ashamed. "It's the torture," he said quietly. "I haven't been able to sleep since we got back."

She put her hand on his arm. "I know. That's why I'm giving this back to you. Use it as I did," she implored. "When you gave it to me and helped me take all the memories of the Chamber out of my mind, I was happier, more relaxed. When I was ready to deal with them, I emptied the Pensieve. So now I'm giving it back to you."

Remus looked at her, thoroughly impressed with the young woman next to him. "How long before you were ready?"

"It was right after my fourth year, a few days after the Department of Mysteries," she replied looking down. "That's when you saved me again, and I knew I was ready." She smiled up at him. "But I was afraid of my memories for too long. You won't be."

"How do you know?"

"Because," she said simply, "you're the bravest wizard I know."

He smiled back at her, but his eyes clouded over briefly. "Ginny, I want to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me." She nodded. He hesitated a moment before looking her directly in the eye. "Are you happy about having this baby?"

She looked slightly taken aback by his question, but answered it honestly nonetheless.

"Well, at first, I was upset, even angry. After all, Olli and I broke up because I wasn't ready to have a family. But knowing that I'm having your child...I don't know. It's different somehow," she answered.

"What do you mean, 'different'?" he pressed.

"Remus, you are one of the most wonderful men I know. You're also one of the only men I trust completely, other than my father and brothers. I have to say that if I was going to have a baby with someone this early in life, I'm glad it's you," she said blushing.

Remus turned pink as well. "You know it's going to be complicated and other people are going to react the same way as your family, but I will be with you through it all. I want you to know that," he said earnestly.

"I'm glad because I'm pretty scared about all this," Ginny replied honestly. "Oh, that reminds me, I have another appointment with the Healer in two weeks. I thought you might want to go with me." She looked at him hopefully.

"I can go?" he asked, and she laughed at him. "Yes, of course I want to go. I'm so glad you asked." He smiled grandly at her. "You know, I'm a little nervous now."

"Don't be," Ginny said to him. "You're going to be a great father." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. He beamed at her.

Ginny stood. "I need to get home," she said. "I don't want Mum to worry." Remus nodded.

Remus watched her leave and turned back to the Pensieve. He sighed. "Well, now's as good a time as any," he said to himself.

Quickly, he removed the horrible memories of his torture from his mind. He almost accidentally removed the memory of being with Ginny, but he stopped himself abruptly. He wanted that memory in his mind forever. After all, it was the only time they would ever be together, and he wanted to savor it.