07

The air turned from a warm autumn breeze, to a brisk cold whip as time entered December and Christmas drew ever closer – Ginny watched from her position at the window as the Weasley's living room underwent a makeover by Molly, Ron and Hermione and in one afternoon suddenly turned into a large decoration that reminded Ginny strongly of Hogwarts. So strongly that she almost missed the place, missed spending Christmas mornings there – the excitement of sharing presents with her friends was far more exhilarating than with her family where she almost always get second hand items.

Harry would always get her something nice and overly expensive, which she always felt guilty about; perhaps even more so now. She always got him a present of course, but they were all cheap, hand made or down right ugly – and when she had compared them he would merely laughed it off and hug her, issuing a "Merry Christmas" before heading off with Ron and Hermione.

The decorations inside, the snowy slopes outside – it all reminded Ginny of Hogwarts and of her friends; but evidently she had chosen correspondence, and with all the commotion around her doing that, she supposed it was best to stick by her choice and go with the flow – so she did. And with Harry… well she just read her books; figured reading was her only escape from reality - which was Christmas, can never be the same without Harry.

-

Harry woke suddenly. The dull rays of light well and truly poured into the room and Harry felt foolish to have slept in. Downstairs he could hear distant movement which he undoubtedly figured was Remus making or cleaning up breakfast. With a yawn and a stretch and a sudden urge to mock the elder werewolves date, Harry proceeded downstairs and was about to have himself heard when he froze at the doorframe.

Indeed, breakfast was being made. But not, as Harry had expected, by Remus Lupin. His face turned up into a wry frown as he saw the slim figure and long legs of a woman rushing around with pots and pans and bubblegum pink hair.

'Remus?'

Harry did some quick thinking and dodged out of the way, just as Tonks looked towards the doorframe. She gave an odd frown and continued what she was doing. Harry grinned again and eventually made his way upstairs – it appeared Remus had a bit more explaining to do than at first thought.

Harry lay back to bed thinking he may of well as just slept in longer anyway, and although he didn't drop off back to sleep, he could hear the calm complacent sounds of the not so comforting cold winds and the trudge of snow against the window frame. He heard voices drifting lightly up through the floorboards and could hear when Tonks left saying goodbye to Remus.

He watched her go through the window, disappearing a couple hundred yards along against the white snow. Harry gave Remus a minute to think before he headed down to find the elder man sitting awkwardly at the table with dirty plates scattered around.

He looked up with beady red eyes.

'Don't you say a word!' Remus sneered, rubbing his temple.

'Oh but I intend to-'

'Harry…' Remus said as calmly as he could. 'Not a word.'

Harry was unable to control himself as he grinned from ear to ear.

'Come on.' He said, taking a seat opposite the ageing werewolf. 'I want to know – what happened.'

Remus stared blankly at him.

'You don't need to know.' Remus sounded confident.

'Oh I do.' Harry said, smiling abroad. 'I want to know, every minor and miniscule detail.'

Remus sighed deeply and thought he may as well give in.

'It turned into something more than I anticipated, OK?' Remus said. He got up from the table and leant over the sink. 'She was persistent – I tried to brush her off but…'

'But something got the better of you?' Harry asked hopefully, trying not to sound overly enthusiastic and to have the werewolf stop in his tracks. 'Something, animalistic?'

Remus groaned as he slid down the cabinets onto the chromatic tiled floor and put his head in his hands.

'I couldn't help myself.' Remus went on. 'Some things they say about werewolves and…- look I am not quite sure if I can be comfortable talking about my private matters with you.'

'Were adults here.' Harry said calmly. 'I know what you mean when it's hard to turn down woman. I use to do it on a daily basis. Card mail mainly, wanting to marry me and meet me – all of that.'

'But I fear I've committed myself to something that may have ruined a poor young girl's life.' Remus said. 'Oh god what am I going to do?'

'Wait.' Harry said.

Remus looked up to him. 'I'm sure I heard Hermione say something about werewolves managing to live a normal life. Have a wife or girlfriend and family-'

'Those cases are rare, Harry.' Remus said insecurely. 'Most times they don't know about their husband's condition – and believe his monthly illness comes from allergies.'

'Well what about those who have known?' Harry said, trying to sound confident. 'How did they work out?'

'I heard stories. They got too close – and got eaten.' Remus said it so easily but Harry shed a shudder.

'Well you know – I think you should go for it.' Harry said, grinning.

He made his way over to a small pile of pancakes and, although they were cold, piled them on and added syrup.

'Tonks is smart. She obviously likes you.' Harry stuffed a pancake in his mouth. 'Whi nop gife it er twy.'

'What?' Remus spat.

Harry swallowed. 'Why not give it a try?'

Remus shook his head and Harry put the plate down.

'Could be the best decision of your life.' Harry added, forking another cold pancake in his mouth.

Remus stayed quite and went over to sit at his desk.

'Well think it over…' Harry suggested, shrugging. 'I'm off for a walk.'

Remus looked up. 'In this whether? It's snowing-'

'I am quite capable.' Harry said, as he slouched a jacket over his shoulders.

'Be back in a bit.'

-

Harry watched from a far - wrapped up in an extremely large winter jacket – as the Burrow turned from an ugly frosted house, to a colourful, Christmassy house, still leaning abnormally to one side and most obviously, held up by magic. Ginny had not participated, but had instead taken the initiative that Harry had, and sat back and watched.

Had Harry not excelled in charms, and been unable to cast a perfect invisibility spell over himself – he would have been spotted. Ginny looked out the window in his direction on countless occasions, looking positively bored and uninterested. Her head buried in her book mostly, unless a loud enough sound caught her attention, or if she would get to an interesting part of the book and look out through the window trying to picture it.

Eventually, after several hours passed, Harry had had enough and – waiting to make sure Ginny was looking away – got up and promptly left as hurriedly as he could. He found Remus at his desk, as normal, writing long loopy words as scribbly as he could and looking up as Harry approached him.

'I've thought about what you said.' He said instantly.

'OK.' Harry replied, nodding.

'I'll level with you.'

A sly grin appeared slowly on his ageing face as he placed the quill on his desk and crossed his hand. 'I'll re-consider some sort of relationship with Tonks-'

'Right.' Harry nodded.

'If you tell Ginny Weasley you're alive.'