Bitter Sweet Truth

Harry awoke to the flaming curls of Ginny's hair. The sunlight played across her face like an intricate blanket, velvety and ever warm. She shifted slightly and squeezed tighter to his side. The leaves on the earth were soft; little could be said for the hard ground. Harry's leg was numb from the way he slept on it and his neck was slightly stiff from leaning against the tree trunk. Ginny's delicate head was perched on his chest, her arm wrapped around his stomach and her legs draped across his own.

The heat from her body made him tired once more but also comforted. He had never been this close to someone he truly loved before. Because that is, what he felt. He had been feeling it for the past month now; a tiny tugging of his heart and a fluttering in his stomach whenever Ginny touched him or a warm feeling when she smiled at him. Now that he thought about it, he had similar feelings back in Hogwarts. But not as strong. He knew they were there but didn't understand what they meant. Now he did.

He loved Ginny. Unlike the love he had for Hermione, because he loved her but was not in love with her. If that at all made sense. The feelings he felt for Ginny were completely unnatural to him. Just being this close to her evoked a strange sense of calm and serenity. For a fleeting moment, he thought of spending the rest of his life with her. Just the thought of that made a large grin spread across his face.

She shifted slightly and rested her head lower down, upon his lap. Harry struggled to overcome the tingling feelings spreading through his body. He was able to ignore her presence when he thought about Dolores Umbridge; the toad-like woman who taught his fifth-year Defence Against the Dark Arts class, but thinking about her made anger grow in him. He chanced a glance down at the sleeping girl.

She truly was beautiful. Her radiant red locks framed an angelic face, full of cute freckles and young beauty. Her creamy shoulders lay exposed, as her shirt had been pushed down slightly in her sleep. Harry's cloak was draped over her middle and his legs. Their heat kept them warm and feeling secure. Harry continued to watch her sleep, while listening to the birds begin to sing songs of happiness and summertime.

It was sometime later when Ginny finally decided to wake. She opened her hazel eyes to meet Harry's emerald. She seemed startled at first but then relaxed, sinking back down onto his body.

"Good morning," she said yawning. Harry smiled. "Morning, sleep well?" he asked. She looked up at him and smiled brilliantly. Harry sat enchanted by her glittering smile and soft lips. In an action, both slow and calm, Harry leant down and connected her lips with his. They remained like that for a few moments, just enjoying the feel of their bodies connected, before Harry pulled away. Ginny had her eyes closed and mouth slightly open. Then she smiled and opened her eyes.

"I could get used to waking up like this!" she said, both of them laughing. "So could I," Harry said, running his hand through her fiery hair. She turned around and leant up against him, her head resting against his shoulder his legs on either side of her.

"It's so beautiful out here," she said after a few minutes of silence. Harry kept his eyes on her and answered, "Yes, it is," Ginny tilted her head up and laughed. She then lifted her hand and brought his mouth down to meet their lips once more. She shifted her position again, so she was sitting on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck while his hands were placed on her back. So there, beneath the singing birds and soft rustling leaves, the boy-who-lived and his saviour sat in the light from the rising sun, kissing intimately and returning each of their love.

………………

The sun was half way to reaching the middle of the sky when the two made their way back through the trees. They followed the same path they trod last night, but this time, they were together and content with the silence surrounding them. Sunlight broke through above their heads as the trees thinned out and the Burrow came into view. Hermione and Ron were sitting on the back steps, both laughing and smiling like old times. Harry felt a twinge of sorrow inside him that he was the cause of them being apart for so long, but it soon was lost when Ginny squeezed his hand a bit tighter.

Hermione and Ron looked up when Harry and Ginny appeared across the lawn, leaves tangle in their hair and dirt rubbed on their clothes. Ron's smile faltered some-what but Hermione was grinning knowingly.

"Have a nice night?" she asked lightly. Harry smiled at her and looked down to Ginny who was smiling up at him. "Sure did," Harry, answered happily. At his words, Ron seemed to snap out of what-ever trance he was in and smiled brightly.

"And where, might I ask, did you two sleep?" he said, feigning anger. Ginny strolled forward and flicked her brother on the nose. "That is none of your business!" she said, laughing at his appalled expression. She disappeared into the house, but not before rushing back and kissing Harry lightly on the lips. She smiled at him before being followed into the house by a gaping Ron. Harry sat down next to Hermione, unable to keep the smile from his face. She was smiling at him. She reached up, and pulled a twig from his hair.

"I'm glad you're happy," she said softly. He smiled at her and grabbed her hand. "And I'm glad you're happy!" She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "We will get through this, won't we?" she asked, staring off towards the forest. He followed her gaze and felt his joy ebb slightly. "I hope so," Harry said. "I hope so."

………………

The day was spent lounging around the Burrow, playing chess or else catching up on old times. Harry was finding it difficult to breathe after Ron had brought up the 'Malfoy' incident in their fourth year, when Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody had changed the blond haired Slytherin into a ferret. The memory brought tears of mirth to all their eyes, even Hermione managed a hearty chuckle.

"So, what has Malfoy been up to anyway?" Harry asked lightly. The others immediately stopped their laughing and their faces grew serious. Harry's smile completely faded, remembering that silence all too well. "What has happened to him?" he asked blankly, watching Ginny's eyes flicker with unknown fear.

"It's not as much as what's happened to him, but what is happening with him," Hermione said cryptically, looking around the room as if trying to find hidden spy objects. "And that is supposed to mean…" Harry said, trying to draw information out of the trio. Ron was scratching something off the table while Ginny was biting her bottom lip.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to suffer through another round of 'lets not tell Harry'?" he said sarcastically, staring at Ron with blazing eyes. Ginny finally looked him in the eyes and said, "Something need to be brought out in the open," Her gaze turned to Hermione who was looking pale and Ron who was acting like a spider had crawled on his leg.

"Well?" Harry said, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. His movements did not go unwatched by Ginny, as she shortly lost her words.

"Well, erm…yes, Hermione?" she said pleadingly, turning to the older witch with wide eyes. Hermione smiled slightly, her eyes briefly glittering.

"Where to start?" she said, biting her nail. "Okay, with the beginning. Shortly after you defeated Voldemort, the Aurors rounded up any Death Eaters they could find, on the Minister's orders. But after only around a year, he released them claiming 'without the Dark Lord, there are no Death Eaters," what a loud of rubbish it was. So, everything quietened down for a while, but that was before it started again." Hermione paused here for dramatic effect, before continuing.

"It started in Wales, a few deaths here, a few disappearances there. No one seemed to pay much attention. Then it came to Britain. Many Ministry Representatives vanished, leaving a questionable hole in their spot. There was outrage at the Ministry and Arthur struggled to keep it in control. Aurors were sent to investigate certain murders or disappearance and when no clues were found, people began to fret. They thought it was Voldemort back again and we tried to calm them down stating that it could not be Voldemort because you killed him. Then after that was said there was even more uproar at where you had gone and if you even cared if more people were dying," at these words Harry made to stand but at a silent gesture from Ginny, contained himself.

"This all happened around the beginning of last year, when I was still teaching at Beauxbatons-!"

"How come you aren't at Beauxbatons now?" Harry blurted. Hermione smiled. "Vacation. Anyway, I got wind of the disappearances and such and my thoughts immediately turned to Voldemort. The style was the same and the link between the victims was that they were all mudbloods or half bloods, another of Voldemort's traits. I heard that Arthur was struggling with figuring out what was happening and I was beginning to think it really was Voldemort back.

"At the moment, there has been Death Eater activity running all through Britain, with someone leading them. This person is striking harder than Voldemort ever did and his strikes seem pointless. No one seems to know who he is or what his motive is. It's as if he's a Voldemort copycat, but taking things a bit more brutally. I did not know Ginny was searching for you, and I'm not sure what I would have done back then if I did know. But, when I think about it now, it makes sense. You were the one to take down Voldemort in the Second War and the only one to stop the constant attacks. The public needs someone they can rely on and look up to, before it was Dumbledore, and now it is you. It has always been you." She ended, looking into his eyes with a glassy look. Harry did not know what to do.

"I'm not, and never will be, Albus Dumbledore!" he said loudly, getting Hermione to jump at his sudden outburst. "I never said you were!" she said softly.

"I know, but the way you said that makes me think I'm bound to be the only one able to stop this new wave of terror, and the only one capable of getting the world to calm down!" he said humorously. The others looked at him blankly, Ron with a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeh, that's the idea!" he said. Harry gaped at them. "But how am I supposed to do that?" Harry hissed nervously. Ginny grinned. "With our help of course!" she said brightly, turning the mood around.

"But I don't want publicity, I never have!" he tried to defend himself. Ginny laughed. "We know, but that's about to change!"

"I don't like the look of that smile," Harry said fearfully, eyeing the sly grin tugging at his girlfriends lips. Oh, god, how I don't like the look of that smile! Harry thought suddenly, thinking off running for it through the open back door. But it was too late, Hermione had also adopted that sinister smile and Harry was beginning to feel scared. He looked to Ron for help to find the redhead had retreated back in his chair a fearful look on his face as well.

"Don't look at me! But you should see your face, you look like you're back in the Shrieking Shack, staring the werewolf straight in the eye!" said Ron, laughing at Harry's expense. Harry briefly glared at Ron and was about to shoot a retort back at him when suddenly something popped into his head. And finally, it all made sense. He quickly stood up from his seat, his eyes wide in understanding and mouth open in nerves and excitement. His friends looked at him in concern, the girls' frightening smiles vanishing.

"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Ginny standing as well. Harry looked at her and shut his mouth. "Nothing anymore, if what I've just figured out is true, then I will be the happiest man alive!" he said, grabbing his cloak off the coat hook and looking back to his friends.

"I should be back before morning!" He said quickly, but seeing the disappointed look on Ginny's face made his stomach churn. He walked over to her and looked into her eyes. "Don't worry!" He said, kissing her deeply. When he pulled away, she was staring at him, shocked. Harry smiled encouragingly and pulled out his wand. The other's eyes it warily before he just grinned and pointed it at himself.

"Wish me luck!" he said before vanishing with a loud crack.

……………………

The night was growing darker. The moon was a pale gibbous, glowing as if a crystal ball caught in the universe with the many stars and burning planets around it, floating suspended in nothingness. He watched it with a wry gaze. It would be full tomorrow night and he could all ready feel the wolf inside him, struggling to be released. He shuddered in the cold wind biting into his flesh.

Still, he stayed out in the night, savouring the moment he was a human and not the dangerous creature, lurking in his mind, waiting for the moment to spring loose and take control of the body they shared.

Clouds briefly obscured the growing light of the moon and he looked about in the darkened shadows. He listened for any presences in the dark, waiting for the appearance of the visions sure to come. They visited him regularly. His friends. His old friends. Taunting him from places, he could not go, from places he was scared to venture. They had all left him, for why, he did not know.

One after the other, they had left him, taking a piece of himself with them to that place beyond the stars. First, it was James, his dear brother and friend. The mighty Prongs, never again to grace the lands with his magnificent form, his soul and body ripped from him; and with him, he took a part of his heart, never again to be replaced.

Then Sirius was taken from him, accused of killing James and sentenced to life in Azkaban. It would have been better if he had died. Then he would not have suffered through the endless days of the Dementors powers killing him slowly. But then he was returned to him, wasted but still the same Sirius he was so used to. He had just gotten used to having him back and apart of his heart restored, when he was ripped from him. His last brother was taken. And the remainder of his sane side fled from him.

There was one other that caused his pain to double inside him. One more person he used to call friend. Peter Pettigrew had betrayed his only friends and joined the Dark Side to become a murderer and traitor. How he hated that rat of a man with beyond belief. He was the reason he had no other brothers and no life long friends. Wormtail had taken them from him and he could never forgive him for that. Not as long as he lived.

After Sirius had died, there left only one other that made him carry on. This person was able to bring him out of impending doom even when he was being destroyed inside. Harry, James' only son, had saved him. The boy was so determined to help him that he ignored his own pain that was tearing him inside. The two of them had helped each other cope with their losses and their strength had grown to overcome their own demons. But now, that was not the case. Harry, too, had left him. Like the way the sun fades and the moon rises, Harry had vanished.

And the remainder of his heart was taken. The wolf inside him was now the only part of his soul that lived on. So, atop the grassy hill, Remus Lupin looked up at the moon and smiled wryly. How he hated the moon.

There was a loud crack in the distance, coming from behind the old shack to his side. This worn house had become Remus's home over the years. With the boarded windows and smashed front door, every part of it contained memories that just sat beyond the vision. So Remus had stayed within the crumbling walls, trying to gain what was lost, to no avail.

A shadow appeared beneath a tall, oak tree. Remus turned to it and chuckled mechanically.

"Back again, old friend?" he spoke, his voice hoarse and cracked with misuse. The figure beneath the leaves stirred ever so slightly. "Oh, so you're shy tonight, huh?" he said. Remus knew this was Sirius, back again to haunt him from the grave. He came every night to blame him for his or James's death. And every night, Remus believed him.

From the shadows, the figure stepped forward, his hair framing a thin face. The absence of glasses made Remus so sure it was Sirius Black that he did not pay attention to the strange green glint sparkling in the man's eyes.

"And have you come back to taunt me with your unseeing eyes and bite at me with your foul words. Oh, yes, I remember your face old friend and you know how much I wish to see it in reality once more!" Remus spat, closing in on the silent form drenched in shadows.

"What? No words to stir my mind or no visions to play with my emotions? Do you not want to tease me and dare me to follow you beneath the ground, where you will torture me with the sight of you?" he snarled stopping before the towering tree and waiting for the memory to speak. But, the figure was silent as he stepped into the moonlight and Remus Lupin caught his eyes. Those bright emerald eyes that only two people could have. One was Lily, the beautiful woman he grew to love and the other was her son, Harry. But Lily was dead; she was another to be killed from actions brought on by Wormtail. And Harry was gone, vanished after he defeated the Dark Lord. But here he stood, as clear as the tears running down his cheeks.

"Are you another vision to scare me and cause me pain?" he whispered, stepping closer to the boy he wanted so much to see. Harry Potter spoke then, with a voice so much like his fathers.

"I'm not a vision, Moony," he said into the night, causing Remus to weaken at the sound of his nickname. "And I would rather die before hurting you anymore!" he said. And that finalised it. Remus collapsed to the wet dirt and let of a bone-chilling sob, that was only matched by Harry's falling tears.

…………………

Hey people, how was that reunion? I'm not sure if it came out very clearly as I was very determined to get this out! I've been waiting for ages to write Remus back in and now he's here! Yay! But beware, there are sure to be some scenes involving Remus and Harry talking that may be quite saddening! So keep a tissue handy, and chow!

DW