Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, but to Rowling.

A/N: Chapter one here. I found this on my hard drive the other day half finished and decided I should work on it. It has single-handedly brought me out of writer's block! Here's to the few reviewers I had the first go round who wanted me to continue!

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Ginevra sighed and pushed a little harder to get through the surrounding crowd in Diagon Alley. It was once again time for the mad shopping rush to buy Hogwarts supplies for the upcoming school year. The list wasn't terribly long for books so she had waited to stop at Flourish and Blotts last. The books required were actually ones that would hold some meaning and could teach them things, which was why the youngest Weasley had conjured the notion of a certain fair-haired, bright eyed werewolf. Her most interesting classes had been under his teaching, and it excited her to think someone might be coming to teach that fell anywhere near his talent.

An unusually violent shove from the masses left her sprawled on the ground, her auburn hair in extreme disarray. She shook her head and pushed the locks back without feeling anger, it wouldn't help to get upset at someone she would most likely never see again. Looking up through the twin gray streaks in her hair she was shocked to see the cause of her unexpected tumble offering a hand to pull her up. Without much hesitation, she wasn't angry after all, she accepted the help and turned to thank the stranger, only to find herself looking into a pair of shining amber eyes glinting apologetically in the afternoon sun.

"Miss Weasley, what a surprise. I'm very sorry to have knocked you down, it's quite the mad house here today," Remus said, bending to retrieve her fallen merchandise.

"Professor Lupin! It is a surprise. Oh and don't bother apologizing to me, it's no trouble."

Remus glanced at her oddly for a moment before handing over her bags with a small smile. "I see you've grown up a bit since I've last seen you. But then again, I believe the last time I saw you was when you were fourteen at the Grimmauld place."

Ginevra smiled and nodded, motioning for him to follow her to the nearby books store. "Yes, that's right. Many things have happened since then. You know my brother Percy was…murdered last year. He was behind Fudge till the end, even after he had been confirmed a Death Eater. In the attack when the man was caught, Percy got caught in the crossfire. It's sad really, but I've moved on and I suppose the others have too. It hit my mum the hardest, I think she had hoped that he would come back and be the little boy she had raised to be prefect and Head Boy." Her voice wavered once but held firm thereafter.

Remus was listening intently and ventured along with her despite the fact that he had been headed for somewhere other than the book shop. Indeed he had heard of her brother's death but he hadn't known any of the details. He felt sorry for Molly; it must have been hard to lose a child even if she had six others still living. "If you don't mind me asking, how are you and Harry doing? I heard from him that you two had a steady relationship." He decided asking had been a bad thing to do as her golden brown eyes darkened a shade and her entire countenance had drooped.

"We're not in a relationship any longer. He called it off. It's ok, I mean I know why he did it and I don't blame him, but it still stings. He was too tired to go on, and I guess if I think about it, so was I. I was tired of putting up with the constant fear that I'd somehow lose myself and…." she paused, glancing at Remus pointedly and looking away. The poor man had no idea what she was trying to say, and it ate away at his curiosity, but he didn't want to pry.

If anyone could possibly understand what she meant, it would have been Remus, but Ginevra didn't want to talk about something like that in a place like Diagon Alley. Too many people listened in to conversations that were absolutely none of their business.

She smiled as Remus held open the door to Flourish and Blotts for her and continued their conversations along a different path. "I've told you about what's been happening with me lately, now it's your turn, Professor! Come on," she gave him a nudge, "spill!"

He indulged her a smile and watched her browse the books, thinking of how to answer. "Well, first of all, I've been living well, for a change. Sirius…" He cleared his throat, it was still hard to talk about him after all this time. "…well he left me a good sum of money in his will. Most of it went to Harry, of course, but enough of it went to me to ensure a comfortable life from now on. It's done wonders for my health," he grinned.

Ginevra blushed softly when she caught herself glancing at him in a most provocative manner, assessing his statement. It certainly had…

"Other than that," he continued, reaching to grab a book a little too high for her petite arms. She smiled gratefully. "Not too much. I've just really started to get my affairs in order. Although…remind me some time to sit down and tell you all about how Albus and I removed Mrs. Black's painting. Took near four months of constant work."

She smiled marvelously at him and he couldn't help an answering twitch of the lips.

"Good for you! That horrid old bat…all she did was screech. I'm glad you got rid of it!"

"I share the sentiments," he said with a chuckle. "Hogwarts shopping?"

She nodded absently, gaze following the row of defense books on dark creatures. "Yes…the book list seems improved this year, Hermione will be devastated."

"Of course. And she and Ron? Harry only tells me they are dancing around each other."

"As usual, though I'd say it's much more like taking giant, avoiding steps around each other, and Ron's much too clumsy to dance." She glanced over at him for a moment, fingers resting on a black spine, the gold printed word Werewolf standing out sharply. "Tell me, professor, do you keep in touch with my parents?"

Puzzled, Remus shook his head. "Not really. I see them every now and then at…meetings, but I rarely have the chance to chat anymore, I've been so busy. Though every now and then they contact me when they're…" He lowered his voice. "...researching werewolves for Albus."

Ginny bit her lip to keep from spilling something. The research, she knew, was for her. In the back of her mind she registered the old feeling of heat behind her eyes. What was wrong with her lately? It seemed ever since her break up with Harry she had lost all control over herself. It worried her, what if she were to get angry in the middle of Diagon Alley, and all those people around to witness her rage and strength…

A soft hand on her shoulder caused her to jump slightly, and she barely managed to stop the reflex to push his arm away forcefully.

"Miss Weasley? Are you all right? You looked very upset a moment ago."

She took a deep breath and smiled softly. "I'm fine, professor, just a little out there today. Maybe Luna has rubbed off on me. And please, call me Ginny. Or Ginevra, if it's not formal enough for you."

Remus noticed suddenly that she had indeed grown quite a bit. In fact, she now stood only around three inches shorter than him, though why he took notice seemed to elude him. "Very well, Ginevra, but you must not call me professor. It makes me feel old," he teased with a smile.

As they continued on down the aisle of books, Remus glanced over to the book her hands had been resting on. He wondered if she had done it consciously, or because of his presence. He was much inclined to believe the latter.

"Well, my lady, how would you like to accompany me to lunch?" he asked once they had left the confines of Flourish and Blotts. Her mood had turned slightly melancholy and he hoped his rusty attempt at teasing would be able to lift her spirits a bit.

Ginny's lips tweaked and she found herself restraining a small smile. "I would, kind sir," she played along, "however I find myself a bit…short on galleons."

He shook his head, reminding him he needed a haircut when the ends nearly stabbed him in the eye. "It's not a problem. It's a gentleman's duty to pay for the lady."

She sighed a bit and fidgeted with her cloak. "I could not ask you to do that."

"I insist."

"I insist you do not." She felt disappointed, in a way, but she knew she had better just leave before she gave in. "Maybe another time?"

He smiled a bit, but not as widely as before. "I suppose so. I would like to catch up with you about your family. And really, Harry only tells me so much. I'm just…not Sirius." He caught himself before he went on with that thought. "We must get together sometime before you leave for Hogwarts."

"Of course," she said, nodding and touching a friendly hand on his arm. "Just owl. There are some things I'd like to talk about as well. Have a good day, Remus. Don't get into too much trouble." She smiled and waved, walking off to the Leaky Cauldron to floo back home.

She didn't see him watch her leave, the confused look on his face growing deeper. She was so different from the little girl he once knew. Something had changed, and it wasn't just the effects of time and age. She was a mystery and he felt such a strong curiosity to find out what she was hiding.

He'd always been fond of a good mystery, after all.

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