Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I'm running out of creative ways of saying how I don't own it.
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AN: After looking at my notes for future chapters and where I am taking this fan fic, I decided I will have to put a sequel out after this. If I didn't, then some readers will be drumming their fingers on their desks, wondering when this fic is going to end. So, there will be a sequel after this fic ends.
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Blue Flowers of Celestial Years
Chapter 10: "A Given Name"
Remus' eyelids twitched as he was brought back to reality. He clicked his dry tongue, trying to build up some saliva in his mouth so his throat would not hurt when he swallows.
It was after the saliva built up that he tasted the unmistakable silvery, copper taste; it was blood. But whose blood was it?
Remus' eyelids opened wide, revealing his crystal-blue eyes. He saw a strangely familiar ceiling above him, but for the life of him, he could not remember where he saw it before. His sensitive ears heard movement from one person, but he felt like a quadriplegic, unable to move his head to look.
Remus took a sharp breath intake, his shoulder hurt furiously like he had been stabbed there by something poisonous.
"Lupin, are you awake now?" Madam Pomphry asked, looking down at him with worry.
Remus tried to move, but Pomphry force him down, furiously tucking the covers under his mattress to prevent him from moving.
"No moving, Mr. Lupin!" Pomphry scolded. "We almost lost you!"
"H-How did you almost loose me?"
Pomphry, for the first time, looked scared; the Healer did not answer. Instead, she only shook her head at the bed next to Remus, and then she walked out.
It took great effort for Remus to look at the bed next to him, but when he finally did, he gasped; Ginny was laying on a bed next to him, asleep, very pale and wounds all over her body. Slowly, the night before came back to Remus, slowly, like it happened in slow motion…
"Get away from him!" Ginny yelled, running towards him.
No, don't come near me! Remus tried to say, but his vocal cords would not move; that meant he must be near full transformation.
The Death Eaters yelled wand curses at Ginny; Remus heard her scream, smelled her blood.
By that time, Remus was in full wolf transformation, without Wolfsbane, and he smelled blood. The wildness came out in him, and he did not care who he attacked, who he killed. The wolf turned, seeing five Death Eaters ganging up on one girl, her blood spilling everywhere.
The wolf's golden eyes rested on the fallen girl, her wand out of her reach. The girl tried fruitlessly to kick the man off of her, her rich blood flowing out of her wounds, and yet she still kept fighting.
The wolf caught the girl's sent, separating it from the other men's scents so he could only smell her. She was not a stranger; the wolf knew who she was, and he liked her. The wolf saw the cloaked men putting her under torture spells, her screams filled his ears, her blood soaked the ground, and her wounds opened up even more.
A wild, dangerous rage filled the wolf when he saw the cloaked humans torturing another that he deemed his and his alone. It was not their right!
The wolf's golden eyes rested on the nearest man and he drooled; dinner time!
He jumped on the man, using his weight to pin the human down, and his teeth latched on to the man's neck; he broke through to the jugular vein, blood filled his mouth, and he lapped it up. In movement quicker than a flash, the wolf bounded to the next Death Eater, sinking his huge, sharp teeth into the man's neck, tearing the flesh out of it.
Before the men knew what was happening, Remus already killed three of them; now only two remain standing, Ginny still lying at their feet with her struggling to get up. She was still soaked in her own blood, and she was coughing.
How dare them! How dare they even think of touching her!
The wolf race towards the second man, who was not expecting the creature above him, his teeth snapping; blood, there was blood everywhere, and he must have more of it! Finally, only one moron left.
Problem was, this guy was prepared for an attack, and when the wolf jumped on him, the man took out an arrow, silver was dripping off of it. The wolf smelled it, but before he could jump back, the Death Eater plunged it into the wolf's shoulder.
The wolf howled, his eyes red with rage, and he jumped on the human, ripping his throat out at much as possible. His shoulder was hot with pain, and he fell to his side, next to the dead man.
"Remus!"
Ginny ran to the wolf's side, and gently grabbed the arrow, trying to take it out. The wolf growled in pain, snapping at the girl, but she put a hand on his head, petting him, and calming him down.
Ginny ripped the silver arrow out of his shoulder, the silver eating away at his flesh. She put her mouth to the wound, sucking out the blood and silver, and she turned her head and spit it out on the ground. She repeated the process several times before she felt satisfied enough to stop.
The girl got as much sliver poison out of his system as she could; thank Merlin she got to the wound in time. The wolf tried to get up, limping as he walked to the nearest water bank, which he could smell a few paces ahead, hidden in the foliage.
Ginny tried to help the pony-sized wolf, trying to get him to lean on her as much as possible. The wolf growled softly, but he could not object any further as they headed towards the water.
When they got there, the wolf went into the water and the liquid soaked the wound, causing the rest of the silver to run out of his system. At least he would be able to last until sunrise, but after that was debated.
The wolf looked back, seeing the girl who was his laying on the ground, her blood slowly clogging, but she was in too much danger from all the loss of the red liquid. The wolf jumped out of the water, shaking the water off, his coat quickly drying, and he bounded towards her.
He licked Ginny's face and she stirred weakly, opening her brown eyes for him. She smiled weakly, looking up at him.
"Remus…"
The wolf growled; that was not his name! 'Remus' was the name of his human half. The wolf was not that human! He was a creature of the night, the prowler of fears; he needed a name that did not associate with Remus.
"What's wrong, Remus?"
The wolf growled again, nipping her head to tell her that he was in charge, that he is the leader. Ginny gasped when she felt strong, sharp teeth nipping her skin, although they did not break through it.
"You don't want to be called Remus?" the girl asked.
The wolf growled softly, telling the human girl that he wants another name. Ginny looked thoughtful, trying to figure out a name.
"I'll call you… Romulus!"
The wolf grunted, excepting the name; at least it was better than being called 'werewolf' or 'wolf' by Remus. Speaking of Remus…
Romulus prowled his mind, searching for the man, when he found him; deep in his mind, asleep because the Wolfsbane potion was not there to keep the wolf in his imprisonment. Romulus grunted in satisfaction and he turned back to the girl.
Ginny had passed out.
Romulus licked her face, trying to wake her up again, but her eyes stayed closed. The wolf panicked more, and he nudged her face, trying again to wake her, but in vein. He half barked, half howled, trying to make noise to wake her up.
She was still passed out.
It was after his howling that he heard a few men walking towards them, their wands illuminating light, and they called out the girl's name.
Romulus growled, covering Ginny with his huge body, and got ready to attack in case of any danger. Five men appeared, all of them had red hair, and they were calling for Ginny. He will not let anyone take her from him! She belongs to him!
The oldest man, red hair and balding, stopped short at the sight of Romulus; then he looked beneath the wolf, seeing the girl under that huge body. The wolf, Romulus, knew what the men were thinking when they saw the bloody, torn up girl.
He must have attacked her and killed her.
Almost howling in rage, the oldest man was about to attack Romulus, only to be stopped by the younger version of him.
"Stop, dad, that's Remus!"
The wolf growled; his name was not Remus! The wolf was named by the one he deems his mate, the girl under him. Romulus growled, showing his blood stained teeth, knowing that the men thought it was the girl's blood.
He had to protect her at all costs! These men were strangers, so they all posed a threat!
The one who looked like a younger version of the oldest man shot a stunning spell at Romulus, and the wolf stiffened, falling on Ginny, and unable to move. The other men quickly got the wolf off of the girl.
"Ginny?" the oldest man cried in panic. "Ginny?!"
The girl stirred, looking up at the man holding her.
"Daddy?"
"Oh, thank Merlin you're alive!"
"Daddy, Romu—I mean, Remus is hurt; silver poisoning!"
"Alright, Bill, make sure he cannot break the stunning spell, and levitate him to Hogwarts." Arthur commanded.
His son did as he was told, and Arthur carried Ginny in his arms; both Ginny and Romulus watched each other as they made their way to the castle...
Remus blinked at Ginny; she stayed with him the whole time despite the danger to her life? Why would she do such a thing? Too tired to think any more, Remus closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Remus awoke once again when he felt a cold cloth on his forehead. At first, his vision was blurry, but then he saw a redhead above him.
"Gin-Gin?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Oh, Remus, you're finally awake!" Ginny exclaimed, hugging him lightly and being cautious of his wound.
"Ginny…"
"Do you remember what happened?" she asked, letting go of him to dip the cloth in some cool water, and then she placed it back on his forehead.
"A bit… Why did you stay with me?"
"I couldn't let you die."
"But you could've died."
Ginny paused and thought about what Remus said; when she finally comprehended that situation, she nodded.
"Yes, I could've, but you were with me."
"I could have killed you; Romulus could've killed you."
Ginny looked at Remus with a speechless expression, which made her teacher chuckle softly.
"I remember that much of that night; you named my wolf half 'Romulus.' He likes that name because I never cared enough to give him a name of his own. Although I must say, his new name makes me nervous."
"Why?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Have you heard of the Roman Mythology story of Romulus and Remus?"
"Well, I glanced at it when I had the muggle book, but I forgot the story."
Remus gave Ginny a small smile.
"Romulus and Remus were the founders of Ancient Rome; twin brothers. They were raised by a she-wolf, and when they got older, they built the city of Rome. The twin brothers got into an argument, and Romulus ended up killing Remus."
"So that is why that name makes you nervous?"
Remus nodded, his body feeling less and less numb.
"That is one of the reasons Romulus protected you from your father and brothers; you gave him a name."
"He's very taken to me." Ginny murmured.
Remus hesitated before agreeing.
"Yes… he is, but he is till a wolf."
Wanker. Came a voice in Remus' head; Romulus must have awakened, or he was listening to the conversation the whole time.
"He may be a wolf, but he saved my life from those Death Eaters." Ginny explained, putting the cloth aside. "I'm indebted to him."
That's my girl! Romulus said, gleaming. She knows who the master is.
Pedophile wolf! Remus growled at his other half.
Oh, you are such a deviant! Look at her closely and tell me if she is not a woman! Those huge watermelons on her….
Remus felt his wolf side drool, and he mentally shook his head. He looked back at Ginny, continuing the conversation.
"Yes, but you saved our life from the silver poisoning, so really, we are indebted to you."
Damn you, Remus!
Shut up, wolf.
Stop calling me wolf! I have a name now, you know!
"So, how can Romulus and I repay you for saving our life?" Remus asked, now able to sit up, his back supported by the railing behind him.
Don't ask her that!
Ginny thought about her teacher's question; at that moment, numerous dirty thoughts came into her head, causing her to blush.
"Um, I'll tell you when the time comes, okay?"
Remus nodded, taking the glass of water next to him, wanting to drink the coppery taste of blood out of him out. His hands were still shaky, and the glass almost dropped out of his hand.
Ginny quickly grabbed the water, scooted herself closer to Remus, and brought the glass to his lips. She tilted it slowly, allowing the clear liquid to drain into his mouth, which he greedily drank.
"Do you want some more?" Ginny asked when the glass was empty.
"No, but thank you."
Ginny set the empty glass down on the table, scooting a little closer to Remus.
"Seriously, how do you want me to repay you?"
"Make me a werewolf?" Ginny answered with a question, not really thinking about it.
Hallelujah! Romulus jumped around the confinements of Remus' mind. She wants to be like us!
She was being sarcastic! Besides, even if she was serious, I would never turn her into one of us! I would never damn her to suffer that for the rest of her life!
"You're joking, right?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ginny laughed, nodding her head, and she turned serious.
"But if you were willing to bite me, I wouldn't give it a second thought."
"Gin-Gin…"
They were both silent as they tried to comprehend what Ginny just said. She would not give it a second thought? Was she so willing to be curse?
Look at her in a different light, boy. Romulus said in Remus' head, this time serious.
Remus looked at how Ginny's red hair gave her a red halo when the light shined on it just right. Her lips were red, not too red, but a perfect redness and her eyes were a deep, chocolate-brown that he wanted to his own forever.
Ginny Weasely was not a girl; she was soon going to be a woman, if she is not one now. Remus snapped his eyes away, ashamed of how he was looking at a sixteen year old, his student, even if she had the body of a woman.
She still had the mind of a child.
Ginny does not know what love is yet. She does not have the mind set to be in a deep relationship yet. Despite all that Remus told himself, it did not make him desire her any less. That he damned himself for; she is not to be touched!
Yet Remus wanted her.
"Ginny, I think you should go."
Ginny looked confused.
"Well, one, I wouldn't go because I need to look after you, and two, I have to stay here because I am still injured… well, according to Madam Pomphry."
Remus sighed.
"Well, I guess we only have each other for company then."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
During their week stay at the hospital wing, Remus and Ginny got several visitors. Ginny was sitting on her bed, talking to Remus, when Harry and the gang came in the room. As soon as he saw her, Seamus ran to Ginny's side and abruptly hugged her.
"Ginny, Merlin, Ginny!" Seamus cried. "I thought you would die for sure!"
Ginny patted Seamus on the back gently to comfort him.
"It's alright, Seamus, nothing happened to me thanks to Re—um, Professor Lupin."
Remus smiled weakly, looking away from the couple. At the same time, he berated himself for… what is that feeling? Oh, yes, jealousy.
Remus felt like a silly schoolboy once again; at any time now, he expected James, Sirius, and Peter to come running through those double doors, carrying get-well gifts and such, and then rant about Quiditich and "greasy-haired Snivillus."
Yet that would never happen again; the Marauders no longer exist.
"Thank you so much, Professor, for saving Ginny." Harry said in respect.
Remus shook his head, but did not say anything else. How could he when her family thought that he chewed her to pieces? More to the point, how could he ever forgive himself for putting her in such danger?
Remus glanced at Ron, who was hugging his only sister, too worried about her to pay him any notice; that was fine with him.
"Professor," Hermione started. "Did you get silver poisoning? I read all about the symptoms; you have a pale face, and you look like death ran you over three times—"
"Say, Hermione," Ginny began. "Tell me about that book you mentioned to me. I think you said it is called, Hogwarts: A History."
Hermione looked like she just won a million Galleon prize; she sat down next to Ginny and explained all about the book that no one would ever read.
As Hermione bored Ginny to death, Harry walked over to Remus.
"Hello, Professor."
"Harry." Remus said, nodding towards the "James clone."
"Mr. Weasely, Bill, Charlie, and Fred and George searched for hours for you and Ginny. You should have seen how worried Mr. Weasely was when he came in, carrying Ginny."
Remus knew that Arthur was more worried about Ginny than him, which is perfectly understandable. Yet, for the sake of argument, Remus managed a small smile.
"How are you feeling, by the way?" Harry asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Just like Ms. Granger described me; like death ran me over three times."
Harry blinked a few times and smiled in a way that reminded Remus of James once again. Poor boy; he would never know his parents.
"Did you read the Daily Prophet yet, Lupin?" Harry asked, pulling out the newspaper.
"No, not yet."
Harry opened it up, and in big, bold letters it said:
MASSACER AT HOGSMEADE
"I don't like what they said," Harry said, opening the article. "It said that the Ministry's Aurors were too late to get there before up to fifty wizards and witches were killed. You guys tried your best; and it was a surprise attack!"
"Don't worry, Harry," Remus tried to comfort. "The Daily Prophet is mostly a political and 'pointing fingers' type newspaper."
"I'll try to remember that." Harry said, folding up the revolting newspaper. "I mean, look at what they did to poor Ginny."
"Yes, indeed, Harry. Yes, indeed."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
When Remus finally got out of the hospital wing, he found himself far behind in work. Amazing what just one week can do!
It was not a surprise to him when Ginny came through the door at exactly 7:35 pm, like she always does. There was never a time when she was not on time at that exact hour.
"Ginny, I'm afraid I can't entertain you for tonight; I have too much to do." Remus informed, looking tiredly at the stacks of papers.
"Maybe I can help again?" Ginny said, turning her offer into a question.
"I would like that, yet, need I remind you that you don't get paid for doing my job?"
"Oh, there is nothing wrong with trying to help someone so their workload is lessened."
Remus smiled gratefully, going back to his papers as Ginny pulled up a chair next to him. They were really intent on the graded papers so they did not talk for a half hour. When the piles of papers were finally gone, both Remus and Ginny laid their heads down on the desk, completely exhausted.
"Have you… ever heard of the muggle Shakespeare?" Ginny asked, her head still down on the desk.
"Of course, what muggle, or anyone who knows about the muggle world hasn't?"
"Well, I heard about him through some plays he wrote, and some poetry. I didn't know he also wrote poetry."
"Yes, he did." Remus said, finally getting the strength to sit up.
"Do you know any of his poetry?"
"Yes, and there is one that I memorized that I wanted to say to the one I love, if I ever found her."
"What is it?" Ginny asked, sitting up with Remus.
"Well… I said that I only wanted to recite it to the one I love."
"What's wrong with only resisting it to a friend?"
Remus looked at Ginny, turned around in his feet to face her, and started reciting his favorite poem by Shakespeare.
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."
Remus looked at Ginny, not knowing why her face was getting so close. Before he knew it, he felt soft lips pressed so very gently against his own lips. When he pulled back, both he and Ginny were looking at each other, wide-eyed.
Suddenly, they were not focusing on Shakespeare any more.
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MORAL DILEMMA AND I NEED READERS' OPINIONS: I ordered some books from a book catalogue. No problem, right? Not so; along with the books, I accidentally got the Harry Potter books, one through five, and the address was not mine. In other words, those books are not for me, but I got them for FREE, and I do not have all the Harry Potter books that are out on market. This could mean that some disappointed person is not going to get their present for their birthday, or Christmas. So, what should I do? Keep the FREE Harry Potter books, or send them back so that person can get their wish? Please tell me!!!
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LupinFan227: You will hurt me if I kill of Remus? (mumbles something) Thank you for the complements and thank you for your review!
Twisted Illions: Yes, they are both alright. Thank you for your review!
Branmuffinpower: LOL!!! Once again, you can find a way to make me laugh! That's a good thing, considering that my fiancée is the only one (besides you) who can. My friend wants to kill both you and me now because of the whole Hermione/Ron thing. Well, try to catch your teacher when she is in a good mood (if that is possible), and then ask her if she knows J.K. Thank you for your review!!!
brokentoy19: Yes, the title does say it all. Yes, you did spell ecstatic correctly. Thank you for your review!
Andromida-1971: I personally think that Ginny is brave because she had to be if she put that Bat-Bogey Hex on Draco in Order of the Phoenix. Another thing, she can't Apparate… yet. His wolf form knew the difference between "kill" and "save," thankfully. Remus is starting to know how he feels about her, but he will go through a "denial" period. Thank you for your review!!
Dangerous Soul: Remus destroying all Death Eaters in the area? That does sound good… I think, in a way, he did destroy them. Well, he tore them apart, but that still counts as destroying, right? Thank you for your review!
Raclswt: Thank you for the complements; what kind of remus/ginny action were you thinking of? Because they had some "action" in this chapter. Thank you for your review!
Remusgrl01: I love your name! Yes, I am cruel. I left people hanging many times in my Inuyasha fan fic and I was threatened by a reviewer, so I didn't do that as much. Thank you for your review!
Bianca: Remus and Ginny are cute together. I hope you liked this chapter, and thank you for your review!
Tante: 2:30 am? Wow, I hope you didn't have a job or school to go to the next day! But, thank you; I feel special… which is a good thing. I try to describe the emotions as clearly as possible so readers can get some kind of knowledge of what Remus and Ginny are feeling towards each other. Yes, I do know about the "carrier" and "career" mistakes, and I will be changing that soon. Thank you for your review!
blackdragonofdeath13: Nice name! I hope you liked this chapter, and thank you for your review!