05

Harry yawned as he woke the next morning pleasantly to the birds chirping outside and the strong smell of flowers and pancakes wafting through the air. He breathed in and sat up just as the door to his room opened and Remus popped in holding a tray of pancakes and eggs.

'Morning!' he said.

'Morning.' Harry replied half-heartedly.

'You sound cheerful,' said Remus as he stepped over the threshold, 'here I made breakfast. Seeming as you have for the past fortnight.'

'Thanks.' Harry said.

'I'm sorry I wasn't quite sure how you like your pancakes,' Remus shrugged, 'so I brought extra syrup.'

Harry laughed. 'Great. I usually do have them drowned in syrup actually.'

He added the necessary content until it was draining off the plate and onto the tray.

'Ginny been through on one of her daily raids yet?'

'Nope.' Remus said flatly.

'Good.' Harry said nodding.

Remus eyed him. 'Good? Does that mean you might be tell-'

'No.' Harry said firmly. 'I wanted to ask you last night you see – I'm not sure if I did – but did Ginny say anything about that note folded up in the book.'

Remus frowned. 'Note?'

'That one. Where you wrote about the column in the paper,' explained Harry, Remus looked confused so he added, 'of my death.'

'Oh.' Remus frowned again. 'I didn't realise it was- no she said nothing.'

Harry nodded.

'Does it give you away?' asked Remus, sounding hopeful.

'Not entirely,' said Harry, 'mainly that you are glad you didn't have to believe what you read – hopefully she saw it as an old man that's lost his way.'

Remus sighed reasonably loud. 'Hopefully…'

-

Ginny stepped over the threshold, his door was open again and there was no sign of him.

'Remus?'

She pondered her decision before closing the door and heading along the hallway. The kitchen was empty, as was the study area and the library so Ginny placed the book she had borrowed on Remus' desk and promptly raided the bookshelf.

'Ever heard of knocking?'

Ginny yelped and looked around. Remus stood smiling with a grin and holding a tray with a couple of empty plates.

'Remus!' Ginny breathed.

'Sorry to startle you.' He said smiling.

'I could have hexed you.' She said.

'And I you.'

'I'm sorry but the door was open and-'

Remus waved it off. 'Please. It's fine really – so you finished that book already?'

'Yes.'

'You certainly are tearing through them,' he informed her, discarding the tray in the sink, 'I'll be out of books soon.'

Ginny frowned. 'Remus, who was that tray for?'

'Huh?' Remus looked around. 'Oh- for me. You know, breakfast in bed. Thought I'd try something new.'

It was a bad lie, Remus knew it. Ginny pursed her lips but returned to the book shelf convinced all the same.

'Any recommendations this time?' she asked him.

'Actually… I think I might… ahh yes,' Remus happily moved away from Harry's empty tray and reached to the top shelf to grab a large dusty book, 'here's one you might like. Definitely seventh year material. An old book made in the early fifteen hundreds, it's also in the Restricted Section back at Hogwarts.

'Oh I would know,' Remus continued as Ginny looked at him funny, 'this very ONE was nicked by James and Sirius in our second year. There are some pages about ancient historical magic and warlords – but the reason they stole it is because it holds many detailed pages about Animagus and its process.'

Ginny suddenly became interested.

'Animagus?' she said, grabbing it rather forcibly from him.

'As I said, seventh year material,' said Remus, 'many teachers recommend a student to read this when they see absolute potential. And Ginny my dear – underneath that strong, neglected arrogance I see full potential for you. Perhaps not wasting a life time as a Historical warlord, but rather an Auror – and being an Animagus can be a lethal weapon for an Auror in many ways and many situations.'

Ginny nodded. 'Right.'

Seems like it was all she could say.

'Just have a read,' Remus said, smiling, 'take your time and assess your options. Perhaps ask your father about it, he has the right contacts at the Ministry – there is no reason why you can't potentially become a legal Animagus. And well… it could get your mind off some things.'

Ginny nodded. 'Thanks. Remus, really – thanks.'

Remus shrugged. 'No problem. Now would you like a cup of tea before you go?'

'Actually. Yes thanks that would be excellent,' Ginny smiled, thinking mainly to socializing with the werewolf, 'just a drop of milk, two sugars and-'

'Hold the cream, yes I know.' Remus smiled and busied himself over the stove. 'I may be old – but thankfully I have my memory.'

Ginny frowned at this as he had only the other day put out two plates for him rather than one. She didn't look into it that much, instead she managed to read three pages of the large book before Remus had made their tea and placed it on the table. She sat down with him, took a biscuit and informally talked to him for as long as she could.

She felt quite sorry for the elder werewolf with such a rough life.

Being bitten at such a young age and being feared by many for so long. Having no real friends until Hogwarts and even after having them turn purposely into animals to assist his transformations at full moons – they each took different paths and almost, not intentionally, left him behind.

And now Harry Potter had gone – the only real true link that Remus had to his old friends. And Ginny felt, as she made her way through the opened meadow hills towards the Burrow, their talk was some sort of progress in a friendship she would hope would bring some enjoyment to the aged werewolf – and of course herself.

-

Harry had watched her go and could hardly stand it anymore. She was still growing and looking more beautiful with every day that passed. He was letting time slip away – a time that should be of enjoyment not disclosure and it was something he would continue to miss if he didn't do something about it.

When Remus brought up lunch some time later; Harry was still looking outside.

'As I told you before Harry,' he said, putting the tray over his lap, 'the longer you leave it…'

'The worse it will become,' Harry finished, nodding and practically thrusting the roll in his mouth.

'Well…?' Remus asked, 'she does miss you Harry, I can see it in her body language. She would hate you to keep doing this to yourself. Tell her. At least tell her. And from there you can work from that to Ron and Hermione and soon to the rest of them.'

Harry swallowed and sighed. 'I need more time.'

Remus frowned and looked out the sun filled window.

'Harry as I am neither your parent nor guardian I cannot tell you what to do,' said Remus, placing the tray on the bedside table. 'But you have to remember who else this is hurting – all the people you are deceiving. Ginny especially; you need to tell her.'

'But Remus I'm not sure that-'

'Just her.' He said. 'You definitely owe yourself that.'

Remus nodded and left to let Harry ponder his thoughts.

-

Ginny's afternoon was uneventful. She didn't bother to stop by home for a bite to eat, instead settled under a tree and entranced herself longingly with the latest of Remus' book. It was quite an in dept explanation of the steps towards becoming an Animagus, all the hours of long gruelling mind control and the sacrifices needed to become one. Ginny could see why Remus meant it was a difficult, yet very useful thing to become.

It had a list of every single Animagus on record; Ginny had some fun trailing her finger along the thousands of names throughout the centuries trying to pronounce the more obscure ones. Minerva McGonagall was there "…successfully transformed into a grey tabby cat with recognisable loops under the eyes suggesting the transformation of glasses."

Ginny read on, her thoughts for the first time off Harry James Potter – the first time since he had split up with her at Albus Dumbledore's funeral some thirteen months ago. And apart from the fact she couldn't believe Harry had been on her mind for over a year, she continued, her eyes dashing back and forwards across the pages and with every word Harry seemed to be pushed back further. Almost as if she was getting over him in a way.

But reluctantly she knew she never would.

Yet as her mother called for her and Ginny responded by getting up from her place under the tree heading for home, Ginny still partially wanted to believe Harry was alive, even though it was highly unlikely now. She would give away anything and everything she owned in a heart beat if she came to know somewhere out there Harry Potter still breathed the same air that she did and was lurking in the shadows.

Perhaps he was wanting to return but restraining himself – fearing the world, not wanting to be exposed as a celebrity anymore. And she wanted to know the truth, the absolute truth of what had happened that night. As much as she didn't want to accept it, Ginny felt that after almost two months (the Death Eaters had been unable to remember any of it and had had their souls sucked out by the Dementors) Harry Potter was officially dead.

And it hurt.