Chapter 3: We Were Wild Here Once

Ginny woke up slowly, at least slower than she normally would. She was aware of one thing from the start; she was not in bed. The second thing she realized was that, though she was not in bed, she was still extremely comfortable. Then she noticed…arms….wrapped tightly around her…and the warm body pressed against her from which the arms belonged to. Finally she decided that she wanted to sleep in this morning, and stay in the comforting arms of Remus Lupin.

"Remus," she sighed contentedly and watched as his eyes slowly opened. A slow smile spread across his face as she felt his arms tighten gently around her and he kissed the top of her head lightly.

"How are you?" He asked as his voice box adjusted to being used once again. She decided to relish in the feeling of the comfortable silence before she ruined it with chatter.

"Absolutely splendid knowing you're here," she smiled brightly at him and he chuckled. She felt the sound resonate from his chest as it met her own. They laid there in the silent company of each other and enjoyed the slight crackling of the fire that still hadn't died.

"What time is it?" Ginny asked. Remus moved his arm from Ginny's waist and she was suddenly sad that she'd asked the question. What are you thinking? He's your professor! Not yet he's not. It's still holiday. Ginny shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"It's just about five thirty." Remus squinted at his watch as though he didn't believe the time. Ginny was surprised as well, she felt more rested than she normally would with so few hours of actual sleep. Molly would probably be coming downstairs soon to start on breakfast.

"Hey, I have an idea," Ginny exclaimed, sitting up excitedly. Remus sat up beside her rubbed his eyes yawning widely.

"What?"

"Let's make breakfast!" Ginny watched as the smile slipped off of his face. Ginny looked at him concernedly.

"What?"

"I don't know how to cook." Remus admitted dejectedly. Ginny had to fight the urge to laugh. She'd always assumed that Remus would know how to cook considering the time he'd spent on his own. Ginny voiced this and Remus shrugged.

"Dumbledore lent me a house elf once I was out of school because of all the work I was doing for the Order and then with all the symptoms and my lycanthropy…there wasn't really much time to learn how to prepare a real meal for myself. I can make a sandwich…and I suppose I could toss a salad or two, but when it comes to kippers and eggs…I'm afraid no one ever taught me." Ginny smiled at him and grabbed his hand, immediately she felt warmth spreading throughout her body.

"Well this must be your lucky day, you see we don't have anymore kippers since Mum hasn't done the shopping yet, but the rest is plenty easy. There's really nothing to it, come with me. I'll show you how. Plus I'm sure Mum would appreciate it." Ginny said. Remus smiled at her, if not somewhat reluctantly, but he followed her to the kitchen.

XxXxXx

"Now I want you to pay very close attention and remember that participation gets you extra points to be used at a later time." Ginny told him winking suggestively. Remus gulped but kept his eyes trained on the young red head before him.

"What are the points valuable for?" Remus asked his voice cracking slightly. Ginny giggled at him and shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm sure we could put your extra points to some use." Remus simply stared as Ginny went to work she retrieved things from cupboards and cabinets and she set them on the counter. Remus was transfixed on her movements the whole time; she moved fluidly around the kitchen, like she'd spent her whole life in one and Remus admitted to himself that he was a bit slow to think that any daughter of Molly Weasley wouldn't know their way around the kitchen. Ginny walked toward Remus twisting her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck.

"Now," she started in a very business like manner which made Remus smile, "we'll be using your wand for basic preparations and clean up later, but the food preparation we are going to do the Muggle way."

"Why?"

"Because sometimes the Muggle way offers the best results." Ginny said simply. Remus nodded and allowed her to position him in front of a bowl on the counter.

"Now turn around and point your wand at the stove top," Ginny commanded. Remus did as he was told.

"Okay, now, the wand motion. Circle counter clock wise then flick, but make sure it's a slight flick." Remus concentrated on what she was telling him to do. He practiced and stopped when Ginny muttered 'good, good'.

"Now, concentrate, you're going to do the wand motion and the incantation is. Shaluer Incendio." Remus nodded and performed the charm; automatically the stovetop roared to life and produced a fire. Ginny clapped her hands excitedly.

"Very good Remus, I'm very proud of you. I think that calls for extra points on your grade."

"Oh…how many?"

"I do believe ten extra points would be acceptable." Ginny smiled. She showed him the basics, how to heat the oven how to beat the eggs, how to cook the bacon and the sausage, but what really intrigued him was the oatcakes.

The preparation took a while you had to measure out everything, then you had to mix, the mixing was where he had the most trouble. No matter how much he stirred it seemed that the chunks of flowers didn't want to dissipate so he resorted to smashing the spoon into the bowl repeatedly in anger. Ginny laughed at him, and he felt embarrassed that he couldn't master simple mixing. Ginny tried to guide his hands, but couldn't reach beyond his broad shoulders. She instead pushed herself up onto the counter top whispering 'shh…don't tell my Mum' in his ear which caused a shiver to run up and down his spine.

She positioned herself behind the bowl and faced Remus placing the bowl in the space between her legs. She motioned Remus forward.

"Now, here, give me the spoon." He handed her the spoon willingly, happy to get it out of his hands and he was about to move, "Oh no you don't," Ginny scolded, pulling at his hand and leading him back to the counter. She placed his hand on the spoon then placed her hand over his and slowly started guiding his hand and the spoon.

"See, slow and easy." Ginny said; Remus blushed at her statement wondering if that sounded as suggestive in her mind as it did in his. Curse the full moon. As if she was reading his thoughts Ginny leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "It's like touching a woman…if you're rough with her," Ginny jerked his hand and Remus' breath caught in his throat, "it's less likely she'll cooperate with you than when your gentle and confident." Ginny moved his hand in the easy motion again and Remus wasn't sure whether he wanted to lean in and kiss her or whether he wanted to run out of the kitchen screaming. Either way he was getting extremely turned on by all of this and he didn't know cooking could be such randy business.

Ginny leaned away from Remus and he was slightly able to collect his thoughts, but he was still quite dizzy from her proximity earlier. He shook his head and Ginny stared at him like she was intrigued with something. Remus looked behind him to see if she was maybe looking at something else.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Remus reached up and swiped at his nose only to find that there was in fact something on his face, he had flour on his nose, only he wasn't sure how it came to be there. He smiled crookedly at Ginny and she laughed at him.

"Well, yes you did do, but you found it and that wasn't the reason I was staring it's just…" her voice trailed off and Remus felt his stomach clench.

"What?" Remus asked. Ginny blushed and he felt his pulse quicken, she really was a beautiful girl. Girl! Exactly, she's sixteen, Remus, sixteen. Remus gulped.

"I—well…I was going to ask…well…there's no easy way to ask it is there?" Ginny looked at him as though willing him to speak, but the fact of the matter was that he didn't quite know what she was babbling about.

"Remus, when was the last time you kissed a woman? And I mean really kissed a woman, not just a peck on the cheek, but full blown snog worthy kiss that left you dizzy and breathless and wanting more." She looked at him and there was something in her eyes that Remus couldn't quite place. His mind was blank…searching frantically for an answer. What! You're going to answer her? Why is it any of her business? She just asked a question it's not like it's too personal. Yes it is. But I sort of feel like telling her…what could it hurt? Are you mad? Of course, you know what time of month it is.

"Lidia," he said without stopping himself. Ginny frowned slightly and stared at Remus as though she were waiting for him to explain.

"About two years after I graduated from Hogwarts I was working in a Muggle pet store since back then the restriction for employment of werewolves was even more worse than today. She was the veterinarian who came from time to time to check up on the animals. She had short brown hair and a tentative smile. We dated a couple of times and I tried to tell her about me—about my lycanthropy, though Muggles aren't supposed to know about the wizarding world or anything of the kind. She got suspicious, did I mention she was a smart woman? There were too many things missing."

"Missing?" Ginny asked there seemed to be pain in her eyes, Remus knew the pain must be for him, he was appreciative, but he wished that she wouldn't feel bad for him. He felt ashamed in a sense that he'd gained her pity.

"Information, about me, my life, my history…I couldn't tell her. How could I? I remember, it was night time and we were at her flat in London and she turned to me and she said 'Remus you know you can tell my anything' and I nodded and she said 'then why won't you' I…I told her that if I did she wouldn't understand. Heh…that made her angry of course, I didn't mean to insult her intelligence. She started to walk away and I just pulled her to me because I knew…I knew that would be our last time. I kissed her like I'd never kissed a woman in my whole life." Remus sighed and swiped angrily at his eyes as he felt a tear escape them. "And that was it; she was killed later by Death Eaters. I don't know how they found her, maybe it was just coincidence, but I blame myself." Ginny shifted the oatcake batter bowl out of her way and she wrapped her arms around Remus' neck burying her face into his chest.

"I'm so sorry Remus," she mumbled.

"It's not your fault." Remus said dejectedly.

"It's not your fault either." She told him as she looked into his eyes and wiped away the tears on his cheeks.

"Did you love her?" Ginny asked softly.

"No." Remus replied and found that oddly enough it wasn't a lie. He hadn't loved Lidia…he could have, with time he supposed, but he hadn't because he couldn't be honest with her.

"Sometimes we need people to help us learn how to feel again. I can help you feel again Remus, I want you to feel again." Ginny placed a slight kiss on the corner of his mouth and he found that he didn't care if it was wrong anymore, Ginny Weasley was offering a companionship that he needed, no strings to tie him down, no guilt…of course he wouldn't take it far, but having someone to hold every now and then was just the thing he needed.

They jumped apart as they heard a voice outside the kitchen door.

"What smells so heavenly in here?" Mrs. Weasley's voice was muffled by the door, but Ginny and Remus were quick to start on the oatcakes.

"Oh my, Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley showed her shock right on her face, "and Remus?" she walked up to Remus and grabbed him in a very Molly Weasely hug, "I didn't know you could cook!"

"Well, I can't but Ginny's showing me some new things," Remus commented and saw Ginny blush slightly as she moved to put some more oatcakes on the griddle.

"Come now Mum, we wanted to do something for you, you're always running around the place taking care of everyone else, breakfast is the least we could do." Ginny said smiling at her mother.

"Well thank you." Molly looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes and grabbed her in a huge hug. Remus thought that Ginny might suffocate and die from the force of the hug, but she looked embarrassed when her mother let her go.

"Mum," Ginny mumbled showing her embarrassment.

"What? Can't a mother appreciate the fact that her daughter is growing into a very beautiful very capable young witch?" Molly asked glancing at Remus as though he should back her up; he didn't hesitate.

"She is beautiful and capable Molly isn't she? You and Arthur have done a wonderful job." Remus leaned over and kissed Molly on the cheek, Molly made bashful sounds while holding her cheek and blushing.

"I'll set the table," he offered before Molly could beat him to the punch and set out to do his job.

XxXxXx

The sound of contentment filled her ears as everyone tucked in for breakfast. Ginny was happy that she'd got to spend that time with Remus. She didn't know how much hurting he'd been through and she really did want to help him. She blushed as she remembered their earlier conversation. She hoped he didn't think that she was some common slag for the suggestion she made. It wasn't like she was offering him sex; she was just offering him companionship…sort of like what she had with Sirius. Every once in a while she needed someone to hold her, someone she could talk to, someone she could express her feelings to. The fact that Remus Lupin was an attractive man was just a bonus she supposed.

"So you really helped make this?" Sirius looked at Remus as though he thought Remus was pulling his chain.

"Yes, it was mostly Ginny though; if she weren't there I would have totally botched it." Remus conceded.

"Don't I know it," Sirius snorted, Ginny swatted at his arm from across the table.

"Come now Sirius, have a bit more faith in Remus. He can do anything he sets his mind to, just like you. Maybe one of these mornings I'll teach you how to cook." Ginny suggested. Sirius blanched at her statement as though cooking was the last thing he had on his mind, which it probably was.

"Or I could teach you something different." Ginny said lightly yet suggestively.

"I bet you could," Sirius said, a light shining in his eyes. Ginny saw Remus looking at her, but it wasn't a stare of reprimand he looked like there was mischief there.

"I assure you Ginny; you should stick to teaching me. I am a better student I would actually learn something; after all Black here was normally more interested in the teachers' anatomies rather than their lessons back in our day." Remus smirked and Sirius looked at him in surprise.

"Listen, just because one year in Defense Against the Dark Arts I almost got kicked out of the course for stalking the teacher doesn't mean that I was more interested in her body, I happened to have a lot of questions thank you very much." Sirius huffed.

"Yeah like if you could owl her sometime. Oh and there was that one time that you asked her to attend Hogsmead with you." Remus offered; he looked very pleased with himself. Ginny was very happy to see the two were getting along together and reminiscing about the past.

"Randy buggers the both of them," someone whispered, a shiver ran down her spine. Harry seemed to have that effect on her lately. She arched her eyebrow at him expertly and leaned to whisper in his ear.

"Don't tell me Mr. Potter that I'm to presume that you never get randy?" she pulled away slowly relishing in the blush that was creeping onto Harry's face.

"Well…no…I—I mean yes…I mean…I do get…er…randy from time to time, but it comes with my age group. Look at them, they're in their late thirties, they should be past that age by now." He gave her a significant look. She looked across the table to the two boys trapped in mens' bodies and smiled slightly. They were both still teenagers at heart. Sirius hadn't matured mentally and it was his nature to have plenty of energy and Remus, well, Remus never had anyone to love because no one was there to understand his lycanthropy. Yet, when Ginny looked at them, she saw life and happiness. She could almost swear that she could grasp at the memory of the young Marauders. The shy smart boy who never knew his beauty and kept to himself because of his disease, but enjoyed a good prank with his friends; and the heartthrob who demanded the attention of all the girls, never quite knew when to be serious (no pun intended), and lived life by the minute.

"Don't you see it Harry?" she asked almost in amazement. Harry looked at her and smiled.

"See what?" He glanced across the table. Ginny bit her lip and sat contemplating for a little while before she looked Harry in his emerald eyes, she smiled brightly at him.

"They were wild here once."

XxXxXx

Harry looked across the table and smiled grander. The two men were still bickering over some teacher, but they looked younger and younger by the minute. Ginny was right, they were wild here once.

A/N: There it is….sorry to go all deep on you with the whole Ginny/Remus scene, trust me there will be plenty of Harry/Ginny as well as Sirius/Ginny to go around. The question is…which pairing prevails? Dun dun dun. Reviews make the heart grow fonder!