Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter Eleven
"So, how was your first week?" Ginny asked Remus one evening. They were situated on the floor in front of the fire in his private sitting room.
He sighed wearily. "Tiring," he replied. "Perhaps I'm too old for this."
She playfully swatted his arm. "If you're old, the Dumbledore must have one foot in the grave," she said cheekily, and Remus grinned back at her.
"I know," he said seriously. "It's just been a while since I've dealt with teenagers all day. What about you? How's your first week in the infirmary?"
Ginny beamed. "It's great! Madame Pomfrey pretty much lets me do all the work, and she just gives me instructions and supervises. I love it!"
Remus smiled at her proudly and yawned, reclining all the way back onto the floor. "So three weeks until you go back to the Healer?" he asked.
"You mean 'we,'" she replied instantly. "Oh...yes," she said, realization hitting her. "That's a full moon, isn't it?" He nodded, and Ginny began to cry.
Remus sat up and put his arm around her shoulders. "Ginny, why are you crying?"
She sobbed into her hands and mumbled something incoherent. "What is it?" he said, rubbing her back.
"You won't hear the heartbeat," she sobbed. Remus was touched, but amused at the same time. She was crying about that?
"It's okay," he said calmly, "I'll hear it next time. You mustn't cry."
"I'm sorry," Ginny said, getting her emotions under control. "Hormones, I suppose." Remus couldn't contain his laughter. He roared, falling onto his back again. This time, he brought Ginny with him. She began to laugh with him.
"Oh, joy!" he exclaimed. "I get to deal with hormones now."
"Yes, and you bloody well better enjoy it, too," Ginny said, reaching over to poke him in the stomach.
"Of course," Remus said with mock seriousness. They laughed again, before Ginny sat up.
"I need to go back to my rooms," she said, slightly disappointed. Remus, too, tried to hide his displeasure at her departure.
"It is getting late," he conceded. "I'll walk you back." He stood and helped her up.
"Remus, I'm pregnant, not incapacitated," she teased. "I can manage to walk 50 meters to my rooms."
He blushed, knowing that he'd only wanted to walk her back to spend more time with her. He wished he could see more of her, but between his teaching and her work, they'd barely seen each other all week.
She hugged him good-bye and left. Remus sighed loudly and got ready for bed.
Ginny, meanwhile, dreaded going back to her room. She wanted to stay with Remus longer, but she knew she needed to check on the two first years in the hospital wing before going to bed.
As she fell asleep that night, her thoughts drifted to Remus and his warm smile, the smile that had comforted her all those years ago. She hoped their child had his smile...and his eyes...and his sense of humor...
Ginny continued these thoughts as she drifted off to sleep.
Ginny tapped her wand against the Portkey to activate it. She left quickly, as she was running late for her appointment.
She sat in the waiting room, and soon her name was called. The appointment went well. She heard the rapid heartbeat of her baby and cried, wishing Remus was here. But he was too weak from the full moon. Healer Blanton, however, assured her that at her next appointment, in three weeks, they would be able to hear it even better and possibly determine the sex of the child.
As Ginny was leaving the Healer's office, she unfortunately ran into Oliver. She tried to brush past him without speaking, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"I looked at your records," he said. "I had to, part of my studies."
"And?" Ginny asked.
"I can do math, Ginny," he retorted. "I know that when your child was conceived, you and I were still together." He looked at her with hurt and disdain in his eyes. "I can't believe you cheated on me. And with your old teacher!"
Ginny sighed and gently took Oliver's hand. "Olli, I never got to explain what happened. I'd like to, if you'll give me the chance." When he nodded, she continued, "When Remus and I were in the dungeon, all the Death Eaters left. No one from the Order had come for us. I know now that you thought we were dead, but we didn't know that. It had been three days, and we thought we were going to die. It was a moment of weak desperation for both of us." She looked up into Oliver's handsome face. "Even though Remus and I slept together, I still loved you at the time, Oliver."
"Then why did you break up with me when you got back?" he asked.
"I told you. You wanted me to be someone I wasn't. I would never be happy sitting at home and having babies, and that's what you wanted. But it wasn't what I wanted. We wouldn't have worked; you know that, deep down," she replied.
He nodded, but looked thoughtful for a moment. "Do you love him now, Ginny?" he asked. "Please be honest. I think I deserve that."
"I can honestly say that I don't love him. I do have feelings for him, though," she said truthfully. "I don't know if it has to do with the baby or if it's something more."
Oliver gave her a sad smile. "He'd be lucky to have you, but I can't pretend I'm not still hurt."
"I know, and hurting you is the last thing I ever wanted to do, you know that," she implored.
"Yes, I know. It's just hard," he replied, looking uncomfortable. "Look, I need to get back to work. Good luck, Gin."
"Thanks, Olli. You, too." Ginny quickly turned and activated to Portkey back to Hogwarts before her tears fell.
Ginny's journey back to the hospital wing of Hogwarts didn't go as planned. She ended up in the Entrance Hall instead. Students and professors were scurrying in the halls, and there was a pungent odor coming from the hospital wing. Ginny hurried down the corridor, but Remus was waiting for her and stopped her.
"No!" he cried. "You can't go in there."
She looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face. "Why not? What happened, Remus?"
"Potions accident in the first year Hufflepuff class," he explained, gently pulling her arm down the hall. "Madam Pomfrey doesn't want you in there. We're not sure what blew up, and she doesn't want anything to harm the baby. And incidentally, neither do I."
He led her to his chambers, and Remus sank onto the sofa, letting Ginny close the door. She looked at him, as she sat down. He looked weak and tired, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"Long night?" she asked, gently stroking his arm.
"It wasn't too bad," he lied. "I just got awakened too early." He sighed wearily. "How did the appointment go?" He looked her directly in the eye for the first time that day. His eyes narrowed as he saw that hers were red. "And have you been crying?"
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. Through her sobs, she explained that she'd heard the baby's heartbeat and how fast it was. Remus looked only slightly disappointed. He perked up at the notion that at the next appointment, they could know the baby's sex if they wanted. Ginny debated whether or not to tell him of her altercation with Oliver. She decided against it for the time being.
"Well, I don't know how long the infirmary is going to be tied up, but you're welcome to say here until dinner," Remus said, yawning. "I won't be in the Great Hall, as you know."
She nodded. During the full moon, Remus preferred to keep to his chambers as much as possible. "When will Professor Snape bring your potion?"
"Before he goes to dinner." Remus looked at her troubled face. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Ginny bit her lip in frustration. "Remus, did you ever write that letter to my parents?" she asked.
He sighed. He'd hoped she wouldn't bring that up. "Not yet," he replied evenly. "It's been busy with classes, and I was actually waiting for the air to clear a little more first."
"Don't," she stated.
"Don't...what?" he asked, confused.
"Don't write the letter," she said, turning her gaze from him. She knew her brothers would speak to Oliver, and she feared a letter from Remus would upset her family again, once they knew how hurt Oliver was.
Remus could tell there was something deeper troubling her, but he wasn't in the mood to push right now.
"All right, Ginny," he said, "I'll wait a little longer."
She waited with him until Professor Snape brought the Wolfsbane Potion. Remus downed it in one gulp with a grimace gracing his face as he swallowed.
"Miss Weasley, I regret to tell you that you won't be able to go back to your own chambers tonight," Snape said. He looked highly agitated about the incident. "We can have another room set up for you this evening, if you like."
"You can stay with me. Please?" Remus asked.
"Are you sure?" she asked him.
"Yes, but only if it's okay with you. I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he insisted.
Snape rolled his eyes. "Look, as much as I'd like to stay to hear the end of this 'lover's debate,' dinner begins shortly." With that, he exited Remus' chambers, his black robes billowing in his wake.
"Are you sure?" she asked again.
He chuckled and took her hand. "I insist. Besides, as soon as the moon comes out, I'll sleep."
She agreed and left Remus for the Great Hall for dinner.
When she returned, the sun was already setting, and Remus was not in his outer sitting room. She heard his grunts and groans from the next room, closely followed by a low howl.
She crossed the room to the door of his bedroom and opened it slowly. She'd only seen Remus in wolf form once before, the summer before her fourth year of school. Seeing him as a wolf, though, she knew she'd never be accustomed to it, even if she saw it for the rest of her life.
He made his way into his sitting room and took his spot on the rug in front of the sofa. Ginny sat on the sofa and opened a book to read. Her hand absently went down to stroke his back and he growled in contentment at her touch.
A few hours later, Ginny closed her book and stretched grandly. Remus the wolf was sound asleep beneath her on the floor. She stretched out on the sofa and reached her hand out to him again. She rubbed his back affectionately before succumbing to sleep herself.
When she woke in the morning, her arm was dangling off the couch, resting on the floor. Remus hand covered hers. Her eyes followed his hand, up to his arm, to his shoulder, to nude body!
Not that she hadn't ever seen him naked before, but Ginny blushed all the same. She wasn't embarrassed about seeing him; it was more about her thoughts about his nude form. He was gorgeous! Her eyes were just grazing over his nether regions, when he stirred.
"Are you done yet?" he asked sleepily and cheekily at the same time.
"Uh...er...I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.
"Right," he said, sitting up. "Did you want to keep ogling me, or can I get dressed?"
She responded by throwing a pillow at him and blushing even more. Remus laughed at her as he walked to his shower.
As he stood under the hot water, Remus smiled to himself at Ginny's reaction that morning. He didn't understand why she seemed so enamored with his body. After all, they'd seen each other naked before.
"But, he couldn't help admitting to himself, "I wouldn't mind seeing what made up those new curves of hers that are hidden under her robes." He shook the thought from his head. Apparently, the effects of the moon hadn't worn off yet. He quickly finished his shower and dressed for breakfast.
The owl post arrived on the next Tuesday morning, and Ginny received three letters. Two, she immediately recognized, were Howlers. She quickly scrambled out of the Great Hall and out of the castle before they erupted. Sure enough, one was from Percy and the other was from her mum. Molly's went first:
"GINERVA WEASLEY!
HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO OLIVER? HE IS QUITE HURT AND UPSET! HE LOVED YOU AND YOU BROKE HIS HEART. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!"
Percy's wasn't much better:
"GINNY! OLIVER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST WIZARDS FOR YOU, OTHER THAN HARRY. AND YOU DUMPED HIM FOR AN OLD MAN! AND YOUR TEACHER! WHY YOU COULD BE WITH SOMEONE LIKE PROFESSOR LUPIN AND NOT OLIVER DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! HAVE YOU GONE COMPLETELY MAD?"
Ginny burst into tears and began to crumple to the ground, but two strong arms wrapped her into a hug instead. She cried against her comforter's chest, and he ran his hand over her hair, whispering things into her ear. She didn't hear any of them, but soon she felt better. She pulled back to look up at Remus.
He smiled at her. "I guess it's a good thing I didn't write that letter yet," he said amusedly.
Ginny managed a small smile. "No, otherwise you probably would have gotten one too." He chuckled with her.
"Who's the other letter from?" he asked, as she gripped it tightly in her hand.
"Bill. I'm afraid to open it, even though it's not a Howler."
"Do you want me to stay while you read it?" he asked.
She nodded and the pair sat on the steps of the castle while Ginny opened the letter. It made her cry again but for a different reason.
"Dear Ginny,
I know you must be hurting right now, both from the family's reaction to your news and Oliver's response. I know we were all in shock, but don't worry. Everyone will come around. You are an adult now, whether we like it or not. I, for one, am thrilled about being an uncle and hope you and the baby are doing well.
Remus Lupin is a good man. He is an excellent wizard and has been a part of our extended family for some time. I know they two of you aren't in a relationship, but I would hope that your friendship would grow as a result of this baby. Should you decide to pursue anything beyond friendship with him, I want you to know that you have my support. There aren't many men that I would approve of for my only sister, but Remus is one of them.
Take care, Ginny, and don't let negative words get you down. You have to make your own choices and your own decisions. I trust you to make the right ones.
Love,
Bill"
Remus put his arm around Ginny's shoulders as she cried.
"See? Not everyone is upset about this," he said. "Bill's even happy."
Ginny nodded enthusiastically. "I've always been closest to him." She sighed heavily. "I need to get to the hospital wing. I have to check on my Quidditch injury from yesterday."
Remus stood and helped Ginny to her feet, hugging her quickly. "Want to come round for tea later?" he asked suddenly. She smiled up at him.
"I'd love to," she said before disappearing back into the castle.
Remus smiled broadly to himself before heading off to his first class.