The holidays quickly descended upon Hogwarts, covering the rolling green hills with blankets of white snow as students and teachers bundled up to protect themselves from the bitter cold. Fireplaces crackled and popped to life providing warm, toasty glows throughout the classrooms and common rooms while Christmas wreaths and huge decorated trees adorned the stone halls. Most of the students were gone the week of Christmas, leaving remaining staff members time to work on the second half of the year's class preparations and enjoy temporary silence within the castle.
Ginny was fairly happy with how the first half of the year had gone, at least from when she took over for Madam Hooch and began the Quidditch history classes. The first years were doing much better with their flying lessons, each of them now able to fly up, hover and touch back down successfully. There were a couple that were immediate flyers and she was quite certain they'd soon be on their house Quidditch team as chasers. On the other side of the same Knut, there were a couple that grew quite familiar with the hospital wing before getting the hang of it.
The seventh years were doing exceptionally well in the Quidditch history class. Ginny knew they had other classes vitally important for their N.E.W.T.s and made sure to keep it informative and appealing but not overwhelming. She rarely issued any kind of homework or paper, keeping most assignments to class time only. When Albus complimented her on the way she handled her classes, it made her feel both proud and humble and was excited about the second half of the year.
Refereeing the matches had been the most challenging thing for Ginny. She knew Quidditch like the back of her hand from when she played on the Gryffindor team but she'd only had her position to concentrate on. Now, she had to watch everyone that was flying on both teams and that proved most difficult. It took her a couple games to get the hang of it and instantly developed a new appreciation for Madam Hooch.
William was doing exceptionally well in his classes with Malachai. They still met with Albus, Minerva, Severus and Hermione each day for an hour. At first Ginny was afraid he would have difficulty keeping up since Malachai was a year ahead of him. But William caught on much faster than anticipated and even Malachai helped him if he had questions. After classes were finished for the day, he would either spend time with Malachai and Hermione, Remus or Professor Sprout. He'd taken quite the liking to her and often asked Ginny if he could stay with her the days she didn't have afternoon classes. Ginny knew that Pomona would teach William about herbology, one of his favorite subjects, as well as share stories with him about Neville. Returning to Hogwarts had been the best thing for both of them.
Everyone in the Weasley family had stayed busy as well. Fred and George were now planning a joint wedding in the summer with their twin fiancées Tilly and Tiara, along with Molly's help, of course. Arthur received another promotion at the Ministry and was now working with Harry as an Unspeakable, causing him to have to leave home at all crazy hours of the day and night. Bill, also working at the Ministry in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and Fleur had their hands full with baby Richard, who was already exhibiting early signs of magical powers at almost three months old. Ron was busy assisting the coach of the Wimbourne Wasps professional Quidditch team thanks to Dean as they were approaching a possible championship while Tess, almost five months pregnant, fought her morning sickness still and tried to keep the peace between Eliza and Elizabeth who were bickering with each other more than their parents would have liked.
"Hermione, are you feeling all right tonight?" Severus asked, concerned when he returned from putting Malachai down for the night to find his wife lying on their bed.
"I'm just tired," she answered with a small smile, lying on her back propped up slightly on pillows, fingers interlaced atop her stomach. "I've got less than two months and I'm just ready for this to be over." She watched him walk over and sit beside her, the bed dipping slightly from his weight and smiled before saying, "I love our children, Severus, but no more."
The look in her big doe eyes told him everything her words didn't. He smiled and lightly placed his hand on her growing stomach knowing she was miserable and uncomfortable, wishing he could do more to ease her condition. Pregnancy wasn't easy, even in their world. "Whatever you wish," he told her. "Two children is two more than I thought I'd have."
She smiled at the man she loved more than anything, amazed at how different they were now than from her days as a student. "You're such a wonderful father," she told him, for probably the hundredth time. "Malachai just adores you." It always amazed her to watch them together, especially to see the man who used to snarl and bark now smile and play with their son.
He shook his head. "I just never thought it could be like this," he told her, for probably the hundredth time. "Especially not after my past. I assumed I'd be dead by now anyway, never dreaming I'd have so much to live for." Even though it seemed easy for him to fill his roles now, he remembered years ago how impossible a family seemed. And even with the first pregnancy, there were nights when a panic-stricken Severus couldn't sleep, wondering what he would do with a tiny, helpless baby. He had been absolutely terrified.
Hermione removed one of her hands to cover his. "So what shall we name her?" she asked, tracing abstract patterns on the top of his scarred hand, mainly from years of working with scalding hot potions.
Severus smirked. "Don't you mean 'him'?" he teased, knowing his wife wanted a daughter to complete their family.
Hermione shook her head. "Nope, this one's a girl," she told him confidently, squeezing his hand for emphasis. "So what shall we name her?" She did not want be the only female in the Snape household.
"How about Isabel?" Severus suggested. "Or maybe Bella?" He'd been thinking of names the past few days.
"I like Bella," Hermione agreed. "I like Sabine too."
"Sabine Snape," he repeated with a nod. "That'll sound rather nice when the sorting hat puts her in Slytherin." He winked at her. Which house their children would be sorted into was a constant source of good-natured ribbing between them.
"You mean when it puts her in Gryffindor," she corrected with a playful wink in return.
"They'll both probably be sorted into Hufflepuff," Severus quipped, rolling his eyes. "Or Ravenclaw. Imagine, a Snape in either of those houses!" He'd have to have a little discussion with the sorting hat.
Hermione reached for her husband, pulling him down to her for a quick kiss. "And we'll be terribly proud of them," she said with a laugh. "Regardless."
Placing one arm on the side of her body to hold his weight, Severus touched her cheek lightly with his free hand. "Yes I'm afraid that is true," he agreed reluctantly. "As much as I hate to admit it."
They shared a laugh again as Hermione reveled in the happiness that surrounded her. She had a husband she adored and two children she loved more than she thought she could. When she'd entered Hogwarts years ago as a student, she thought it would be the gateway to the world. She just didn't realize that world would be within the castle. Severus was a complete different person; she barely remembered the dark, sinister man who once shook her nerves when he stormed into the classroom, barking at students and scaring them half to death with his glares and sneers. Now he was a loving, kind and attentive husband and father. Granted, life was not perfect as they were both assertive people with opinions that did vary quite often, but ultimately loved and respected the other more, hardly ever raising their voice, even when disagreeing. She wouldn't trade her life for anything.
"Where were you?" Severus asked quietly, noticing the far away look in his wife's eyes. Even though she'd been looking at him, he knew she wasn't really seeing him.
"Just reminiscing a little I guess," she answered, reaching out to play with falling strands of his black hair, noticing just a few grays scattered about, thinking how distinguished it made him look. "Professor Snape." She couldn't help but giggle after she said it.
He rolled his eyes. "Not that again," he said with disdain, shaking his head. She loved to give him a hard time about the fact he'd been her teacher. "Don't you ever tire of that, Miss Granger?" He raised one eyebrow and looked down at her, trying to make the face he did in his classroom so often.
"Actually, no," she answered quickly. "But I'm not 'Miss Granger' anymore. I'm Mrs. Snape."
He smirked but had to admit that he loved to hear her say it, especially when she said it so proud. "Must be a lucky man to have you," he said quietly with no amusement on his face. Reality said he should be alone, or worse dead, not in love, married and a father. His own life amazed him.
"Oh I consider myself lucky to have him," Hermione said, pulling him to her for another kiss. "And you just wait till I get this little human out of me and recover and I'll show him just how much."
Both eyebrows rose this time. "I think he might hold you to that," Severus told her, voice low and husky. "He'll be more than ready by the time you are, I can promise you." Passion had never been something they lacked. It was strong at the beginning and had continued the past few years.
"Consider it a date," Hermione said, pulling Severus back down to her.
Remus sat at his desk in the classroom, staring at a test that he'd been attempting to grade for the last thirty minutes. It really wasn't much of a test as his class wasn't much of a class. It was nice to be working with Hagrid again and to be close to all his friends but he was no simpleton, having known Albus and his ways a very long time. Yes he was terribly thankful to be teaching again but knew there was an ulterior motive to his presence at Hogwarts.
What Remus couldn't figure out was why he didn't mind and why he wasn't questioning Albus. He was content at the castle, as he'd always considered it his home. He'd grown up with everyone there and had shared both the best and worst times of his life in the classrooms and halls. He couldn't imagine not being at Hogwarts when he thought about his future and missed it horribly the years he wasn't there. Those were enough reasons to not mind, he surmised. And then he pictured Ginny.
Ginny. Beautiful, young widowed Ginny. He'd literally known her all her life. He remembered the joy when Molly finally had a girl, the first female in two or three generations of Weasleys. He remembered how Molly tried her best to keep her feminine while Ginny fought to be a boy like her brothers, wanting to do everything and anything they were doing. She's been a scrawny, tiny thing growing up but feisty as a caged hippogriff. And smart. She didn't miss much and was quite calculating when it came to something she wanted. He remembered her rough start to Hogwarts when Tom Riddle temporarily controlled her and her beautiful ending when she and Neville fell in love and then welcomed little William into the world after her graduation.
Sometimes he still couldn't believe that Neville was gone. It had been almost six long months and all ready so much had changed. Ginny was teaching at Hogwarts as well and very happy, at least as much as she could be. William was now taking the Wolfsbane potion and, between that and starting classes with Malachai, his recent aggressiveness and temper flare-ups had slowed. He was a smart child and Remus couldn't wait to see him grow into a young man, knowing he would do great things just like his father.
Remus spent a lot of his free time with Ginny and William. Her little boy was funny and had quite the sense of humor. Remus and Ginny had always been close, never running out of subjects to talk about, but now with both of them teaching, there was even more. He helped with preparing lessons, gave her pointers for handling the students and tips for the actual teaching of the course material.
He had to admit, Ginny was no longer the little girl he once knew. She was a young woman; a beautiful young woman. He often wondered when it happened, when she changed. He never looked at her as anything more than a little sister…well…at least not until he found out everyone thought they'd become more than just friends. He remembered the party where Harry and Arthur approached him and how they didn't believe when he told them there was nothing more than friendship between them. They'd both laughed off his comments as if he was a virginal fifteen year old who didn't know a girl had a crush on him. He was a grown man and no stranger to the opposite sex. But Ginny? That was a completely different story.
Wasn't it?
Or was it?
He didn't know what she thought as they'd never talked about such things. He did notice her hugs stopped and that she didn't touch him as much. Why was that? Was she backing away? Was it because they were both teaching now? Was it because someone had said something to her? What if Harry made the same comment to her that he had to him? Was she making sure to keep her distance as not to lead him on?
The internal questions never stopped and often kept Remus awake at night. He cared for her and William so much; treasured their friendship more than anything. He would never say or do anything to jeopardize that. And honestly, the last thing she needed was someone after her. She was still mourning the loss of her love, the father of her son. Ginny had loved Neville with all her heart. It would be a while before she would be ready for another. He knew that.
If he was real honest with himself, he knew Ginny was the reason he didn't mind Albus' motive. He enjoyed time spent with her whether they were talking about old times or discussing their classes, and the fact their chambers were just down the hall from each other made it easier to visit as well. Was it possible that Arthur and Harry had known before Remus did? How? He still wasn't real sure of his own thoughts just yet.
And that's what was catching him off guard. He was having thoughts about Ginny and had no problem admitting it scared him tremendously.
"Here you go," Hermione said, handing a cup of hot chocolate to her friend, glancing around at the mess of shredded wrapping paper and colored ribbons left behind from the morning frenzy of two children and four adults opening Christmas presents. "Let's enjoy the quiet for a few minutes before we start cleaning up." Severus and Remus had taken the boys outside to romp through the snow for a bit and hopefully dispense some of their boundless energy.
"Thanks," Ginny said, taking the mug and carefully sipping the hot liquid. "We did make shambles of those presents, didn't we?" In a couple hours, Remus, William and she were going over to her parents' for round two with her brothers and their families.
"It's fun to watch the boys, isn't it?" Hermione said with a huge smile. "Even Severus enjoys it, though he'd never admit it." She laughed but then winced as the baby kicked. "Ooh, Sabine doesn't like to be left out of this gift thing." A hand absentmindedly rubbed her large stomach, knowing this child would definitely be a Quidditch player from the constant moving and kicking inside her.
"Sabine?" Ginny asked curiously, not having heard Hermione call the baby by any name. "It's a girl?" She knew Hermione had just a couple more months and was anxious for the time to arrive.
"I think it is," she said. "Severus is determined for another son but I know it's a girl. We picked out a boy name too, just in case." She winked. "But I call her Sabine all the time now."
Ginny laughed. "You know, William doesn't miss a thing," she said, taking another sip. "He's asked me twice now when he'll get a brother or sister, insisting that because Malachai and his girl cousins are getting another sibling that he should as well."
"Oh really?" Hermione replied. "Boy he doesn't miss much, does he? You and Remus will have to be careful." She'd said the last statement on purpose and waited for Ginny's response.
Ginny's eyes flew open in surprise at her comment. "We'll have to be careful?" she repeated. "What's that supposed to mean? We're just friends and haven't…"
Hermione laughed. "Ginny, Honey, it's okay," she said sweetly, interrupting her. "I'm just messing with you. I know you're just friends. For now." She wished her friend could see what she saw though.
Ginny sighed and shook her head. "Why does everyone insist on hooking me and Remus up?" she asked. "Even Harry and my dad think we're….together." She just didn't get it.
Hermione sipped her hot chocolate. "You two spend a lot of time together," she pointed out. "You have lunch with him. You often have dinner together. He spends a great deal of time with William, playing and hanging out. And he's basically been by your side since…well…you know."
"Since Neville's death," Ginny finished quietly. "It's ok. You can say it."
"I know," Hermione said barely above a whisper. "But what would be wrong if two old friends decided there was a bit more between them? Would it be bad?"
"Nothing I guess," Ginny answered. "Except that the two old friends are the only two not trying to get together. The two friends are just friends." She tried not to be exasperated as she knew Hermione cared about her and only wanted to see her happy. And since she was happy with Severus, Hermione wanted everyone to be happy.
Hermione sighed. She saw the way Remus and Ginny looked at each other, the way they talked to each other. She heard the comments people made about them and they were all good. The teaching staff at Hogwarts thought very highly of them both and quite a few thought they were together all ready. "Sometimes friends are the last to know," she said. "Are you saying you're not attracted to him at all?"
Ginny started to open her mouth and then closed it realizing what would happen if she said what she was about to. Remus was in no way unattractive but he was her best friend. She wasn't planning on hopping into bed with him or anyone else for that matter any time soon. "Hermione, I think we should start cleaning up before the guys come back in," she said with a smile, setting her mug down and getting up from the chair. She was temporarily finished with the conversation that she knew would come up again anyway.
"Okay, okay," Hermione agreed, setting her mug down as well and reaching for her wand. "I'll spell the bag open and you spell the trash in." Excessive moving about was not going to happen for her at this stage in her pregnancy. She wasn't finished with their talk though, having held the best in her arsenal for last, but would wait till another time to bring out the big gun. Hermione had heard this song and dance from Ginny before but it had been about Neville and it was time Hermione reminded her of that.
Ginny swore for two years that Neville and she were just friends and had absolutely no interest in each other though they spent all grades of time together. Everyone else around saw them and realized they were falling for each other. They were the last to know. So Hermione didn't believe her now. What she did believe was that Ginny was sad and lonely and treasured Remus as a friend and didn't want to make a mistake. She would only admit her true thoughts when she felt comfortable and confident in her feelings and not a moment before.
The Burrow was chaos from the beginning of the visit to the end, as usual. Aside from Arthur and Molly, also at the house were Ginny, Remus and William; Ron, Tess and their daughters; Fred and George with Tilly and Tiara; Bill and Fleur with baby Richard and Harry, surprisingly still single. Molly had prepared a feast for a small army and, after a very late lunch, everyone opened presents. William, Elizabeth and Eliza were so excited with their gifts they quickly disappeared to one of the downstairs bedrooms to play. Richard was fussy so Fleur took him out of the main room a few times to try to feed him or change him and quiet his cries while Tess was in and out of the bathroom from continued morning sickness, much to Molly's delight. Fred and Tilly and George and Tiara never seemed to be separated for longer than two minutes and discussed their upcoming weddings with anyone who'd listen.
The three kids had been playing for almost an hour when Ginny heard one of the girls scream and knew the getting along had lasted as long as it could. Eliza came running out of the bedroom, face red and wet from her tears, screaming, "He broke my toy! He broke it!" followed by Elizabeth running out and also screaming, "I told him to stop but he wouldn't listen!"
Immediately Ron, Tess, Ginny, Remus and Molly rushed to the room, as the others were outside, followed by two mad little girls to find a just as equally mad little boy. "I didn't break it!" William yelled. "It was 'Liza's fault! She wouldn't let me play!"
"William," Ginny began, forcing herself to keep her voice as calm as she could muster. "Why do we have to go through this every time you play with your cousins?" It was like clockwork. They'd start playing together just fine but always ended up fighting and having to be separated.
"I didn't do it!" William yelled, stomping his foot, face almost instantly reddening. He always got blamed for things he didn't do! It wasn't fair!
"Eliza, did you share your toys with William?" Tess asked her daughter for clarification. She'd been concerned with her girls the past couple months as they'd taken to fighting with each other, something they'd never done. Being twins, they'd always been close and gotten along beautifully.
"No because he wouldn't share his!" the little girl pouted, crossing her small arms. "Then he just started taking ours."
"No I didn't!" William screamed at the top of his lungs, little hands clenched into fists hanging at his side.
"That's enough, young man," Remus said sternly, knowing the angry child needed to calm down immediately before something terrible happened and in front of his mother and family. "Come with me right now. We need to have a little talk."
"But I didn't…"
"Now!" Remus nearly yelled, much to the surprise of the group, and himself.
William's eyes grew wide but listened as he glanced at his mother but then joined Remus, silently following him outside.
All eyes turned towards Ginny as she felt her face redden. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, watching as Tess led the girls back into the bedroom to try to settle them down. She walked with her mother and brother back into the kitchen, wringing her hands with worry and concern. "It's the…the bite. Every once in awhile, he'll display this…aggressive streak. This is probably the angriest I've seen him." She hadn't been this scared before, feeling her heart pound inside her chest.
"Should you go talk to him with Remus?" Molly asked, noticing her daughter was white as a sheet and feeling completely helpless.
"I…well…he understands it," she answered. "He told me when this started that William could become more aggressive and short tempered. It's best that he handle this." She paused. "I wouldn't know what to say."
"The wolfsbane helps though, right?" Ron asked, thinking he'd heard something like that. He'd seen his girls mad at each other before, especially recently, but they'd never been that angry. It was scary and he was concerned for his little sister's safety.
"It does help but it's not one hundred percent," Ginny answered, fighting a growing lump in her throat. She often found it easy to pretend he was never bit until something like this happened, causing the reality to surface again. "I'm sorry…I just need a couple minutes." She quickly headed upstairs to her old bedroom to cry in peace. Seeing her sweet little boy in such a state of rage and knowing it was from the bite just broke her heart and reminded her of that day at camp.
Molly and Ron sat quietly at the table for a few minutes lost in their own thoughts until Remus walked into the kitchen alone.
"Where's William?" Molly asked concerned, clutching a tissue. "Is he ok?" She wondered if the pain would ever stop for her baby girl.
"He's with the twins building a snowman," Remus answered calmly. "He's fine." He glanced around. "Where's Ginny?"
"Terribly upset," Ron answered, shaking his head. "I think she headed for her old room." He slid a freckled hand into his red hair, resting his head on it and glanced at his mother, wondering to himself if he should speak to his wife about letting the girls play with William since they seemed to always end up in a fight, even before the bite.
Remus sighed and raked both hands through his salt and pepper hair. "I know that scared her," he said quietly. He also had known he needed to be the one to talk with William about his behavior because she wouldn't have known how to handle him in such a state. He hoped she wasn't mad at him.
"Go talk to her," Molly encouraged, tears filling her eyes. "Please, Remus. You're the only one who can help with this. The rest of us are just…." She wiped away a tear, determined not to cry as she reached for Ron's hand and squeezed, not able to finish her sentence.
Remus wanted to leave Ginny alone but knew there was truth in what Molly said; and he couldn't tell the Weasley matriarch 'no'. He quietly left the kitchen and headed up the stairs, down the hall to the closed door at the end and knocked quietly. "Can I come in?" he asked, hoping she would let him in.
Moments passed before the door opened, revealing a red faced Ginny, clutching a tissue and wiping her nose. She silently walked over towards the window while he closed the door behind him and joined her, standing beside her.
"Is he ok?" she asked, voice shaky.
Putting his hands in pockets, Remus nodded, staring out of the window but not really seeing anything. "Yeah he's ok," he answered. "We had a little talk and he apologized."
She nodded in response. Then, "He could partially change from being that angry, right?" The lump jumped to her throat again. If she ever saw him begin to…
Remus hated when she asked questions he couldn't lie about. Still not looking at her, he answered, "It is possible."
Big tears slipped from her eyes at his answer, one arm across her chest and the other at her mouth, trying not to cry but losing the battle horribly. She hung her head and covered her face, not able to do anything but cry in fear for her baby.
Remus looked up towards the ceiling, wishing she'd never had this to go through, wishing he could lie to her but knowing neither was possible at this point. He silently put one arm around her and pulled her to him to just allow her tears. She was a scared and worried mother and nothing he said would stop that. He wrapped his arms around her, gently rubbing her back and fighting his own emotion, knowing how hard this was on both of them.
It was a few minutes before her crying slowed, pulling from him slightly to wipe her eyes and nose. "What d-do I do?" she asked. "What i-if you're n-not around…and he c-changes?"
"Shhh," he soothed, still holding her. "We'll be at the castle for a few more months. I'm just a couple doors down from you. You and William will be fine. I'll be right there when you need me. I promise." He gently cupped her face and raised it so her eyes met his. "I promise," he repeated. "Okay?"
She nodded and felt him kiss her forehead, still wiping her face. "Okay," she said quietly with a small nod. "Thank you."
"No need for that," Remus told her. "I'm just glad you aren't mad with me."
"Why would I be?" she asked.
"Well you're his mother," Remus answered. "And I…well I just sort of took over down there." He couldn't help it though. Part of him stepped in because he knew what could happen and how dangerous it could be but there was another part of him that felt compelled to discipline William for his outburst. He could only assume that because he'd spent the last few months with him, being the father figure, a 'parental' side of him was forming. He didn't think that would ever happen. But he also didn't want to step on Ginny's toes. She was William's parent, not him.
"I'm glad you took over," Ginny told him, her hand on his arm. "What could I have done? I was a mess! I'm still a mess. And he was so angry. I probably would have yelled and made it worse. Please don't think you're ever taking over. I need your assistance with him, Remus. I really do."
He felt better hearing her words. His sensitivity was always prevalent in situations like this and needed her reassurance and was glad his actions had been appropriate. "Okay," he said. "I just wanted to be sure."
"We should go," she said, suddenly wanting to be at home and nowhere else. "I want to go." She was ready for this day to be over.
"All right," he said, understanding her request and silently agreeing with her. "I'll leave you alone for a few minutes and get William and our things together. Your call, whenever you're ready."
"Okay," she said, nodding. "I'll be down soon."
"How is she?" Arthur asked when Remus came back downstairs, thankful he could help his little girl. He worried about her constantly, happy she was back at Hogwarts.
"She's just a little alarmed," he answered, downplaying her true emotion. "I think we'll be leaving soon though."
"I understand," Molly said, nodding. "William's still outside playing with Fred and George and their fiancée's."
"I'll be spending some time with him, explaining to him how to control when anger hits like that," Remus told them. "There'll be some rough spots but he'll be all right." He would do everything he could to prevent this from happening again.
"He's just a little boy," Arthur said to no one in particular, shaking his head as he stood by his wife still sitting at the table, hand on her shoulder for support.
"I know," Remus sadly agreed remembering his own difficult childhood. "I know."
"Can I play with some of my new toys?" William asked when they flooed back to the castle and stepped into the main area of their chamber.
Ginny faced him then and crossed her arms. "Do you think you deserve to?" she asked simply.
William looked down at his shoes and played with his fingers. "Well…"
"Honestly," Ginny added, hands on her hips, fighting to not get angry.
William shook his head but didn't look up. He knew he was in trouble.
"Maybe you'd better spend some time with your school books," Ginny suggested. "Or better yet, get ready for bed."
"Yes Mummy," William whispered, turning and heading for his room without another word and quietly closing the door behind him.
Ginny took a deep breath and looked at Remus. "Now I'm just being mean," she said in frustration, sitting down on the couch. She rested her elbows on her knees and rubbed her temples.
"No, you're being a mother," Remus corrected, standing in front of her. "You did the right thing. He knows he did wrong. He knows he scared you. He knows he has to learn to control when he gets mad."
"How does he know all that?"
"Because I told him."
"Oh."
He sat down beside her then and both were silent for a few minutes.
"Thank you," she finally said, looking at him. "I wish I could say more. It doesn't seem enough for how much you do." She didn't know what she would have done if he hadn't been there, yet again.
Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box he'd purposely waited all day to give her. "Happy Christmas," he said with a smile, anxious to change the subject.
Her mouth dropped. "You bought me a present?" she asked, embarrassed she didn't have one for him. "But we said we wouldn't do gifts, Remus."
"I lied," he told her with a wink. "Just open it."
She did and gasped when she saw what was lying in the small velvet lined box, lifting up a beautiful ruby bracelet. "Dear Merlin!" she exclaimed, quickly hugging him. "Remus, it's just…wow…you didn't have to…but I love it!"
"I chose this one because the cuts of the rubies matched your ring," he told her, taking it and fastening it around her small wrist, loving how she looked at it, knowing she'd think of him every time, almost surprised at how much pleasure he found in that. When he'd seen the bracelet in the little shop in Hogsmeade two weekends ago, he knew she had to have it.
"Thank you so much," she beamed. "It's the best present I got today. I can't believe you did this. It's just…it's wonderful, just like you."
Remus tried not to blush but knew he was anyway. Whether she truly meant it or not, it made him feel good to hear it. "Do you know what I would like from you as a gift?" he asked, heart pounding, hoping she wouldn't say no. "If it's all right with you?" He'd just thought of it and could think of no better way to end Christmas day.
"What?"
"One dance."
Ginny was surprised but instantly smiled at his request. "Okay," she answered, noticing her heart was suddenly pounding, this time not from fear. "I think we can manage that." She thought for a moment and then summoned something that her father had given her months ago. Was she nervous? Her heart seemed to beat even harder at the thought of being in his arms for a reason other than to cry.
"What's that?" Remus asked, looking at the item in her hands.
"It's called a radio," she explained. "It's how Muggles listen to music." She placed it on the mantle above the crackling fireplace and added, "But I cheat," then tapped it with her wand until she heard "White Christmas" playing. She loved taking Muggle items and adding her magick to them.
"You and your father," Remus said with a laugh as they put their arms around each other and began to slowly sway to the music. "Happy Christmas, Ginny."
"Happy Christmas, Remus," she said, eyes briefly meeting his before resting her head against his shoulder and momentarily forgetting everything else around her.
A little boy stood, peering out past the slightly opened door, silently watching his mommy and new friend. William knew he'd scared her earlier but hadn't meant to and was glad that she looked happy right now. It made him smile. He didn't want her to be sad and she always seemed happy when their friend was around. He still missed his daddy, but since he couldn't be there, William was glad Remus was. He quietly closed the door and went to bed with the smile still on his face.