Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Thank you, reviewers! Sorry I made you wait.
The Beast Within
Chapter 4
"I will, Ginny. I will."
The witch closed her eyes, feeling every inch of her soaked body, unable to warm her cold insides, no matter how hard she hugged herself. Tears slid down her cheeks, red stained rain drops. I'll never come clean again. Never. No matter how much I try to wash. And the only arms that can hold me are my own.
When she looked up again, Remus was staring down at her, eyes wet but lit with gold specks, the hint of wolf hunger. "We need to get you out of that gown," he said softly, his voice the only thing that stopped Ginny from shivering.
She nodded but offered no solution, standing still and silent, marble white beneath her crimson cover.
Remus reached out, snatching the rag of a blanket off of her cot and holding it out to her. "Here, wipe off your face and arms with this. We'll wash you're hair off with the rest of the water."
Ginny quickly ran the coarse fabric over her face, rubbing so hard that her skin burned. She ran the cloth over her arms and knees. Without a word, she bent her head down, letting the werewolf pour the cold water over her.
She gasped at the cool shock, but proceeded to wring out her locks with her hands. The blood ran down the floor toward the outer wall, streaming around Lupin's feet. Her professor noticed it, his nostrils flaring as he naturally took in its scent. Ginny looked away from him. Don't, Ginny. Don't see him that way—that's not Remus Lupin. He's not the wolf yet. He's still the man who used to make you feel safe. . . .
A tiny smile crossed her face, and Remus raised a puzzled brow.
"I was just remembering something funny," she said. With a smirk, she added, "Are you going to take your clothes off or not, Professor?"
Remus's eyes widened. "What did you. . . ?" The shock diminished. "Oh, I . . . These robes may be a bit too big for you, but they should work," he said, slipping out of his already open over robes until he was only wearing a simple button-up and a pair of ragged slacks.
"I'll have Madam Malkin take them up as soon as we escape," Ginny answered, enjoying the look of surprise on Remus's face as he slowly gave her a smile. "Will you keep watch for me while I change?"
"Oh. . . Of course." He sat his robes on the cot, turning to face the metal netting of their cage, an eye on the corridor in search of any guard.
"No peaking, Professor," Ginny chided, her voice shaking as she slipped out of the sopping gown. For Merlin's sake, I'm developing Fred and George's humor defense mechanism. Poor Remus probably doesn't know what to think of my jokes. . . .But perhaps watching him blush is worth it. "Remus," said softly. "Do remember that time in Grimmauld Place a few years back when you were staying the night while my family was there? It was after midnight, and I had wandered to the restroom. . . ."
"Miss Weasley!" he reprimanded. "I know this is a desperate time, but I believe you agreed to never bring that up again. That was rather embarrassing."
She held back a grin, tossing the gown across the cell, watching Lupin's back tense at the sound of the wet cloth hitting the floor. Ginny quickly reached across and grabbed the robes. They almost wrapped around her body twice, but she tied them shut without complaint
"I was just going to say that I guess we're even now. I walked in on you in the tub, and you got to be here. . . .Well, for this little number. I suppose embarrassment is fairly well divided."
Remus turned on his heels. "I dare say it's not, but that's not the point. If your mother ever found out about that she'd never let me in your house again."
"It's not like it was your fault I didn't knock. . . .And Mum would do no such thing—I'm not a child anymore," Ginny said.
"You were a—"
"Not anymore. That's what I said." Her voice grew soft. "Look at us, talking like normal people in a normal situation. Like people who aren't going to die. Isn't that funny. . . ."
No, Ginny. Don't cry again! It's not worth it.
But the sobs escaped her, nevertheless, wracking through her frail body. She held her face in her hands, turning away from the wizard, but Remus grabbed her shoulder, pulling her in close to him. She found herself holding to him as they both sat down on the cot together, her face hidden against his chest.
She expected him to pat her back and tell her that everything was going to turn out fine, but he didn't, instead rubbing the spot between her shoulders with his palm, his cheek pressed against her ear.
"I know you're a woman, Ginerva. A strong woman," he whispered and let her cry, undisturbed.
She lay against him, so comfortable, so warm that she had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, she realized that some time had passed and that she had fallen asleep on him. Quickly, Ginny pushed herself up straight, staring at the man who seemed as lucid as ever.
"I didn't want to wake you," he said. "If the bedding is any indication, I doubt you've gotten a good night's sleep, or day's as it were."
"You're right," she said. "I think I might lay down a bit."
The less time I'm think about tonight, the better. I wish I could just sleep all of this way, though, I know I'll want more time when I wake up, when the moon has risen. . . . She swallowed deeply, maneuvering around on the cot as Lupin's weight lifted from it.
She rested her head on one arm, curled up like a fetus, the sound of Remus's pacing becoming a lullaby that pushed her back onto sleep's kind borders.
End Notes: There's actually not that many chapters left to this story, so I should be updating again soon. Sorry about just giving you this filler piece. The next chapter will be much longer (and rather fun to write). Tell me what you think.