Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter Twelve
Three weeks later, Remus and Ginny arrived for another Healer appointment. She was careful to check if Oliver was around. Luckily, he wasn't. After receiving the Howlers from her family, she'd finally told Remus what happened with Oliver after her last appointment.
Remus, therefore, was extremely protective of her while they were at St. Mungo's. As they sat in the waiting room, he kept his arm around her shoulders as his eyes flitted around the room, looking for the "ruddy prick," as he referred to Oliver.
When Ginny's name was called, she immediately got a nervous feeling in her stomach. She and Remus retreated back to the exam room.
Healer Blanton came in shortly and proceeded with his exam. He could now cast an Illuminating charm on Ginny, allowing them to see the baby without hurting either of them. First, however, he checked the heartbeat again.
As the rapid beat filled the room, Remus looked at the Healer, frightened. "Is it supposed to be that fast?" he asked worriedly.
The older man chuckled at him. "Yes, a right strong beat this one has," he replied. Remus beamed at Ginny and kissed her squarely on the mouth before he even thought about it.
When he released her, Ginny laughed. "Good reaction," she quipped, causing Remus to become slightly embarrassed.
"Now," the Healer began, "I'm about to do the Illumination. Do either of you want to know the sex?"
The couple looked at each other, perplexed, for a moment. Then Ginny spoke up.
"Actually, I don't think I do. I think I'd rather be surprised," she said quietly. "But, Remus, if you want to know, then by all means..."
"No, I think I'd like to be surprised as well," he heartily agreed.
"Okay, then," Healer Blanton said, "I won't tell you."
He touched his wand to Ginny's belly and muttered, "Illuminsavo."
A black and white image glowed above her stomach. The Healer then began indicating the parts of the baby- the head, back, arms and legs.
"Look," he said, "ten fingers and ten toes."
Ginny began crying and Remus just gawked at the image of the child...his child...his and Ginny's child.
Healer Blanton cleared the image. "So far, so good. The baby looks perfectly healthy and developed so far. I'd say you have about four or five more months, Ginny."
"Shouldn't I feel him kick yet?" she asked.
"Perhaps," the Healer said thoughtfully, "But maybe not. It shouldn't be too much longer though. And actually, you may have already and not realized it. The first few times feel more like flutters...or so my wife tells me," he said with a chuckle.
The couple laughed with him and bid him farewell before proceeding back to Hogwarts.
A week later, Ginny planned to meet Hermione for lunch in Hogsmeade. Remus, having just recovered from another full moon, chose to remain at the castle.
The two girls met at the Three Broomsticks and ordered.
"So," Hermione began slowly, "how are you feeling?"
Ginny, who was just beginning to show, smiled broadly. "I feel great," she replied. "Honestly, I feel so much better than I did a month ago. I've got my energy back, thankfully."
"And how's Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ginny blushed. "He's good," she said with a smile. "He's getting more excited about the baby. And he's been very supportive and helpful."
"Ginny, you're blushing," Hermione observed. She lowered her voice before saying, "Is there anything going on with you two?"
"No," Ginny said adamantly, "at least, I don't think so." She sighed. "Actually, I'm pretty confused about him."
"What do you mean?" the other girl asked, taking a sip from her drink.
"Well," Ginny began, "he's great, very sweet and charming. And I love spending time with him. And I'm...attracted to him."
"So what's the confusion?" Hermione inquired. "Sounds like you have feelings for him."
"I know, but I'm worried that it's because of the baby that I feel this way for him"
"I don't know, Ginny," her friend said, patting her hand. "But think about that possibility. If there wasn't a baby, and would you still want to spend time with him?"
Ginny thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I would. He's wonderful." She smiled at her friend. "So what now? I don't think he feels the same way."
"Well, he is extremely devoted to you, especially now that you're pregnant with his child," Hermione observed.
Ginny sighed heavily. "Yes, Remus will be a wonderful father." She sighed again. "Okay, enough about me. What's going on with you?"
"I love my Potions training. In fact, I think I'll come back to Hogwarts with you," Hermione said.
"Oh? For what?"
"I want to thank Sev- er, Professor Snape. He's been very helpful," Hermione explained.
"You've spoken to Professor Snape?" asked Ginny.
"Actually, we've been corresponding, and...I had lunch with him last month in Diagon Alley," Hermione confessed.
At Ginny's surprised expression, she continued. "He was there restocking his supplies, and I was there looking for some research materials. When he found out that I was studying Medicinal Potions, he was intrigued. So...we had lunch."
"Interesting," Ginny commented.
"He's really not that bad, not anymore," Hermione said defensively, "He's actually quite sweet and...rather charming."
Ginny nearly spit her drink across the table. "Snape...charming? The same Snape that called you an insufferable know-it-all for seven years?"
"He's just rather shy, Gin," Hermione explained. "Honestly, he's not all bad."
"Okay, Hermione," Ginny said. "I'm sorry. I won't tease you, but please tell me you're not having a crush on him."
Hermione didn't say anything, but she was grateful when their food arrived.
"So I guess you heard that Blaise was released from Azkaban last week," Hermione said casually. She looked at her friend, trying to gauge her reaction.
"Oh?" Ginny replied. "That's good. Isn't he under house arrest now?"
Hermione nodded as she poked her salad with her fork. "I gather you haven't spoken with Ron then," she said.
Ginny set her fork down and looked down at her lap. "No, I haven't. I got a Howler last week from Mum and Percy. Bill wrote me a nice note, but I haven't spoken with anyone else in my family since I told them about the baby." She sighed wearily. "What about Ron?"
"He's been assigned to Blaise, you know, to watch him and everything," Hermione answered. "Blaise had to move into Ron's flat. Ron has to be with him all day, all the time."
"Oh," Ginny said, her eyes widened. "How's Ron taking it?"
"Well, he's sort of confused, really," Hermione replied with a sigh. "On the one hand, Blaise was a Death Eater. But on the other hand, he took care of you when you were captured and led us to you after."
"Tell Ron to be nice to him," Ginny said emphatically. "Blaise is a good man." Hermione nodded in response.
The girls finished their lunch quickly, and they headed back to the castle.
Ginny left Hermione in the Entrance Hall and proceeded to Remus' chambers, while Hermione left for the dungeons.
"Remus!" Ginny cried, entering his chambers. "You've got to come with me!"
"Where in heaven's name?" Remus asked, sitting up on his sofa. "And what are you so excited about?"
Ginny grinned mischievously. "Come with me, and you'll see."
The pair silently crept through the corridors to the dungeons. Ginny put a finger to her lips to silence Remus' questioning gaze.
Before he could speak, Remus heard voices coming from the Potions room.
"Hermione, I'm so glad to see you."
"Oh, Severus, I've missed you! It's been too long since we last saw each other. I can't stay long though. When can we see each other again?"
"I don't know, my dear. It's getting harder to be away from you. I miss you so much. Those Floo chats aren't enough."
Remus looked at Ginny, confused. They quietly pushed the door open and peeked inside. The scene that lay before them made Remus' stomach drop.
There was Hermione Granger locked in a passionate embrace with...Severus Snape? Before he could digest that information, Severus leaned down and kissed Hermione deeply and with fervor.
Remus couldn't handle it, and he turned and quickly ran back to his chambers, gasping for air. Ginny followed closely behind him, giggling the whole way.
"Why in hell did you let me see that, Ginny?" Remus yelled, only half-joking.
"Calm down, Remus," Ginny said, closing the door behind her. "I just wanted to see if there was anything going on between those two. How was I supposed to know they'd start snogging each others' lips off?"
Remus chuckled...then slowly began to roar with laughter. "I'll never let him live it down!" he said through his laughter.
Sure enough, the next morning at breakfast, Remus sat down next to Snape.
"So, Severus," Remus began, "how is everything going?"
Snape glared at him. "Lupin, what could you possibly want? Don't you have anything better to do than annoy me?"
"Actually, no, not that the moment," Remus answered.
"Oh, why don't you go find your young lover and have her give you a flea dip?" Snape spat.
"How ironic," Remus began, ignoring the derogatory comment, "that you should mention my young lover. Jealous that I get to see mine on a daily basis?"
Snape grew paler than normal, if it's even possible, and stared dumbfounded at Remus. "I don't want to know how you know, but you'd better keep this to yourself, if you know what's good for you," he hissed.
Remus merely chuckled. "Oh, my dear Severus," he mused, "I wouldn't dream of letting this out. It's too difficult to even imagine...even if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."
Snape glared at Remus again. But Remus just laughed before returning to his breakfast.
The next week, Madam Pomfrey sent Ginny to Diagon Alley for some supplies. Ginny wished she could ask Remus to come with her, but he was having trouble with his sixth year class. So he had to stay behind.
The Apothecary in Diagon Alley was, unfortunately, two stores down from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Ginny didn't really have a desire to see her brothers, since their reaction to her pregnancy left much to be desired, however, George noticed his sister in the street and made a beeline for her. "Ginny! Wait, please!" he called after her.
She turned hesitantly and faced her brother. They stared at each other for a moment before George stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. "Gin, we wanted to come see you, but Mum would have killed us," he said pulling away. "But Fred and I, well, we're happy if you're happy," he finished.
Ginny smiled as her eyes filled with tears. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder. "Thank you, George," she sobbed. "I've missed you both."
He led her into the shop so they could visit with Fred. The twins still didn't quite understand how or why Ginny and Remus had slept together, nor did they want to know. But Ginny's happiness meant more to them than their own confusion, and as long as she and the baby were healthy, they were happy.
"It's not that we don't like Lupin," Fred said. "He's a fine fellow. But we're just not sure that we like him for you."
George glared at his brother. "What Fred meant and didn't say well is that we're with Bill. If you and Lupin want to get married or something, we'll support your decision...as long as you name the baby after us."
Ginny giggled at her brothers and hugged them once again. She returned to the Leaky Cauldron so she could Floo back to Hogwarts.
She replenished the supply cupboard in the hospital wing just in time for dinner.
As she sat down next to Remus at the Head Table, he slipped her a note. "Hermione was here earlier, and she left this for you," he said. She grinned at him and patted his hand.
"I have some wonderful news," she said, taking the note from him. "I saw Fred and George today, and it looks like they're coming around."
"That's brilliant!" Remus said, beaming at her. "See? I told you it would all work out. Just give the others some time." She nodded and opened Hermione's note.
"Dear Ginny,
I can't believe you told Remus Lupin about Severus and me! How dare you spy on us! Severus was very upset. He's afraid all the other teachers will find out that he's involved with a former student and get angry."
Ginny rolled her eyes at that statement. "I'm having a bloody baby with Remus, and they don't care," she thought.
"Furthermore, I'd hoped that anything I told you would remain between us. I certainly haven't told Severus anything private about you and Remus. I just ask that the both of you keep this information to yourselves. Severus and I don't know where this is going, and we'd like to figure it out for ourselves before anyone finds out. Please, Ginny, don't tell anyone.
Love from,
Hemione"Ginny felt a slight pang of guilt and showed the letter to Remus. He read it and nodded, looking into her saddened eyes. He patted her knee under the table and gave her a reassuring smile.
After dinner, Remus walked Ginny to her chambers for the evening. "I'm glad about Fred and George," he repeated. "I knew those would be the first to come around."
Ginny nodded. "Oh!" she said suddenly. "I forgot to tell you. Blaise was released last week. He's staying with Ron now."
"Ron's the Auror in charge of his case, then?" Remus asked. "I read last week where he'd been released, but the Prophet just said he'd been released into the custody of an unidentified Auror. Hmm, interesting," he said. He turned to Ginny and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Good night, Ginny," he said softly. "Sleep well."
"You too," she replied before entering her chambers.
Remus watched her door close and walked slowly back to his chambers, thinking of little else than the feel of his lips on Ginny's cheek.
A/N- To see what's happening- or will happen- with Ron and Blaise, please read my new fic, "Prisoner of Love." Thanks!