Forgive me for that 'chapter posting tease' a couple days ago. I realized I'd skipped a chapter!! So now, you get 2 for the price of 1. Woo hoo!! Comments are always appreciated of course. They are the twinkling lights that make my Christmas tree pretty!

"Mummy, you feeling okay?" William asked the next morning as he watched her walk to the table where he was sitting, noticing her making funny faces and almost limping.

Ginny felt her cheeks instantly grow hot with his question, remembering the physically and emotionally painful events of the previous night, not to mention the shame she now felt. "I'm fine, Sweetie," she said with a reassuring smile as she started to cut his sausage into small pieces for him. "Just hit my toe this morning when I got up and it still hurts." Indeed, it does still hurt, she thought to herself. But it's not my toe. It's my heart. She still was in shock that Remus left like he did.

"We go to Hogsmeade today?" William asked, chewing his sausage happily. "It's Saturday. No classes." While he sat in the wooden chair in the kitchenette, his short legs dangled and feet swung back and forth.

Ginny smiled as she buttered her bagel. She'd been telling him for a couple weeks that they would go to Honeydukes and it did look beautiful outside. "Sure, why not?" she told him. Walking was not exactly what she wanted to do, but she would rather endure a little discomfort than try to come up with another excuse as to why they couldn't go. "Would you like to ask Malachai to go as well?"

"Yes!" he answered, eyes wide, reaching for his cup of orange juice with both hands.

"All right then," Ginny said, knowing it would keep his attention away from her. "Let's finish breakfast and then we'll stop by and see if he can go."

William set his glass down after having nearly finished all of his juice and asked, "Remus go too?" He liked spending time with his mum's "special friend" and he'd been missing him lately.
Ginny fought another blush at the mention of his name, fighting to keep out the visuals from their coupling and the anger from the events afterward. "No, Sweetie, he's busy today," she said quickly, wiping her mouth with her napkin. "Maybe he'll go next time." She didn't really know if he was busy or not, but she was not about to see him right now. He obviously didn't want to see her otherwise he wouldn't have left in the first place. Ass, she thought snidely.

William was disappointed and looked down at his plate. "Oh," he said with a small shrug. "Okay."

Ginny managed to make excuses of why they couldn't see Remus for a week. She chose a different path to her classes, even if it meant going well out of her way, and was sometimes a couple minutes late to class because of her diverted path. For meals, she'd either remain in her classroom or in her chamber with her son. She also made excuses as to why Remus could not have dinner with them, telling William he was working on special projects with Hagrid and would be busy for quite some time. William wasn't happy, but what else could she do?

"Remus mad at us?" William asked suddenly as she was helping him with his picture book Friday night while they sat on the couch in front of the fireplace.

Ginny's heart plummeted at his question. She placed the book they'd been looking at on the cushion beside her and turned him slightly in her lap so she could see his face. While she didn't really know the answer to her son's question, she could not exactly explain what she did think to him. "Remus isn't mad, Baby," she tried to soothe. "Adults are sometimes very busy. He's been working with Mr. Hagrid on special assignments for the headmaster and they're not finished yet."

William glanced down and bit his lip. "Oh. Remus finish soon?" he asked, lifting his head to look at his mother.

"Hopefully," Ginny answered, noticing the sad expression on his face and brushing his red hair from his eyes. "You miss him, don't you?" She'd been so caught up in her own emotions that she hadn't bothered to fully think about her son's. Inwardly, she chastised herself fiercely. She'd had the mind to ask William about Remus becoming a 'special friend', but never bothered to take into account that her son might be becoming attached to him as well. I was a better mother when Neville was around, she thought harshly.

William nodded slowly and stared at his small fingers. "Remus is fun," he told her. "And helps with the wolf thing."

Remembering when Remus had said he loved William, Ginny thought she'd find out what her son thought about the older man. "You like him an awful lot, don't you?" she asked, giving him a slight squeeze.

"Uh huh," William answered with a small nod. "He's like my daddy now."

Oh boy, she thought, reaching to hold his small hand. "Do you love him, William?" she asked. "Even a little?"

Big green eyes looked up into hers. "Yeah," he answered quietly.

Ginny hugged him as he sat sideways in her lap and cradled his head to her chest with her arm around his body, unsure of what to say since she was confused as to where she and Remus stood. "I'm sure Remus misses you as well," she consoled. "And I think it's wonderful that you feel that way towards him. He cares about you very much."

"He does?" came the soft voice.

"Yes, he does," she confirmed. "And I'm sure you'll be able to see him again very soon." She paused, hoping to change the subject. "How would my big boy like some ice cream? You did excellent with your picture book tonight."

"Okay," William said quietly with little enthusiasm and slid from her lap.

Ginny watched as he walked towards the small kitchenette table slowly with his head down. It broke her heart and made her question how she felt. This is why she was leery of getting involved with anyone. Once William became attached, it turned into something a little more complicated. She wondered if she should talk to Remus for William's sake. If he didn't care about her anymore, perhaps he could still see her son periodically. Damn him! This was not how it was supposed to be.

Hermione cornered Ginny a couple times the next week, asking if she'd spoken to Remus yet. When Ginny told her no each time, Hermione shook her head and gave her a disapproving look. Ginny couldn't help but wonder if she'd been asking Remus the same thing and what his reaction was. Probably walked away from her like he walked away from me, she thought with disdain. Ginny had briefly contemplated leaving Hogwarts at one point, but somehow knew she wouldn't be allowed to.

Wednesday evening after picking William up from playing with Malachai, Ginny called a house elf to order dinner in for them. Before eating their roast chicken and carrots, she reminded her son it was time to take his 'no wolf medicine', as he called it. He usually took the Wolfsbane potion the evening of the full moon to ward off the change and would sleep through the night with no nightmares.

"I want Remus to give it to me," he told her, sitting at the table with his arms crossed.

Hermione had told Ginny that he'd been very stubborn all day, not wanting to listen or do what he was told. Both of the women understood the temporary aggressive streak that surfaced a couple days before the full moon and often placated the child until the moon phase changed and his 'normal' personality returned. Hermione had also told her that Malachai and William had been very secretive but she was unsure as to why, passing it off to whatever game they'd been playing. Malachai understood William's condition and was very good at dealing with him.

Ginny was caught off guard by her son's request. "Remus isn't here," she told him, uncorking the small purple glass bottle that contained the potion and starting to reach for him.

"No!" he exclaimed, sliding from the chair and taking steps away from her. "I want Remus to do it! I want to see him!"

"Remus is busy and…"

"Don't believe you!" William yelled while his small hands clenched into fists at his side and small cheeks reddened. "I want Remus to give it to me, not you!" Then he ran to his bedroom and slammed the door.

"William!" Ginny exclaimed, rushing behind him but finding the door locked. When did he learn how to lock the door? She used her wand, but nothing happened. What the… "Open this door!" she called out. "William, you have to take this now! You know what will happen if you don't!" Her heart began to pound at the thought. What had gotten into him? And who showed him how to ward a door like this?

"No!" came the crying voice from inside of his room. "I want Remus! I won't take it without Remus!"

"William, you must!" Ginny yelled, knocking on the door again. "Let me in!"

"No!"

Fuck! He'd never done this before. She fought to take a few breaths in a futile attempt at calming herself. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn't call Remus. Should she call Hermione and Severus? Albus? Poppy? Force the door open somehow? Her biggest fear was his escalating anger and what it could cause.

"How about we go to Remus' chamber together?" Ginny called out, trying once more.

"No! I want him here!"

Dammit! Ginny ran to the fireplace after glancing at the clock. She tossed in some floo powder and called out Hermione's name. Instantly she was walking into their chamber, seeing that Hermione was breastfeeding Sabine, and Severus was sitting with Malachai eating dinner.

"Ginny!" her friend exclaimed, startled by her entrance. "What's wrong?" She knew Albus had spelled their fireplaces to work between their chambers only, but never expected it to be used.

"William won't take his medicine!" she wailed, pacing and wringing her hands. "He's locked himself in his room and I can't get him to come out and I'm afraid to try to force the door open. He's insisting that Remus give him his medicine."

"How did he learn how to lock the door?" Hermione asked curiously, fixing her bra and shirt from Sabine's feeding and placing her on her shoulder for burping.

"I don't know," Ginny answered, running her hands through her hair. "I knew that he was missing him, but I didn't think he'd do this. He has to take that potion!"

Severus noticed the guilty expression on his son's face as he sat across from him at their table and instantly knew where William learned about locking doors. "Malachai," he began, voice low. "Is there something you wish to tell us?"

The child looked up into the stern face of his father, seeing his lone raised eyebrow and pursed lips, knowing better than to lie. "He just wants to see Remus," Malachai answered quietly, putting down his fork. "He misses him."

Ginny and Hermione, still holding Sabine, walked over to the table. "Were the two of you talking about this today?" Hermione inquired.

He nodded and bit his lip.

"Did you have anything to do with teaching him how to ward the door?" Severus asked, trying to hold his temper, knowing his son meant well even if it was wrong.

Malachai nodded again.

Hermione and Severus exchanged looks. Their son had never behaved like this before.

"I think you need to go to your room after you apologize to Miss Weasley," Severus told him slowly. "Your mother and I will be in soon and we will discuss punishment for your inappropriate behavior."

"I'm sorry, Miss Weasley," Malachai said quietly. He put his napkin on the table, slipped from the chair and left the room silently.

"What am I supposed to do?" Ginny asked in exasperation. "I just can't believe this. I really can't."

"Perhaps it would be prudent to fetch Lupin," Severus offered, trying to keep his sarcasm at bay, but not doing a very good job at it. Women, aside from his wife, usually drove him mad.

Hermione shot him a look and put Sabine in his lap. "Come on," she said, taking Ginny's arm and ignoring her husband's comment. "Let's go visit Remus right now."

"I can't!" Ginny exclaimed, pulling away, emotion escalating within her. "Not after what he did to me!"

Hermione stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Well Ginny, you have a choice," she began, visibly annoyed with her friend. "You can either allow your son to transform and risk getting bit yourself or you can talk to Remus."

"I'll take my chances," Ginny muttered, crossing her arms.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her stubbornness. "Fine," she said, turning and heading for the door. "I'm going to find Albus then. We'll just let him handle this. I'm tired of being in the middle of you two."

"No!" Ginny called out, following her, reaching for her arm. "No, don't tell Albus."

Hermione spun around quickly. "Then we're going to Remus!"

A couple fearful tears fell from Ginny's eyes. "Dammit!" she exclaimed. "Damn him!"

Severus walked over to them, cradling his daughter in his arms. "If I may interject into this already rational conversation," he quipped, facing Ginny. "There is no one here that wishes to speak with Lupin less than I. However, if my son's life were at stake, or potentially at stake, even I would put my own opinions aside to ensure his safety. Miss Weasley, William is at his least reachable level mentally due to his condition. You will not be able to reason with him. If you insist on this behavior, you could either anger him to the point of a partial transformation or he will change completely, neither option is advisable. I implore you to put aside your own personal issues with Lupin for William's sake." He paused. "Hermione will go with you. Surely it couldn't take any longer than a couple minutes."

Ginny was wiping angry tears. She hated when she couldn't argue with someone and she felt horrible for being so selfish. "I'm a horrible mother," she finally said, shaking her head. "Just awful."

"You are not," Hermione soothed, softening a little after her husband's explanation and Ginny's seemingly reluctant acceptance. "You're upset and it's understandable. But Severus is right. You need to do what's best for your son. Unfortunately he's put you in a situation where you don't have much of a choice." When Ginny continued to fight tears, Hermione reached for her hand. "Come on, Honey. Let's go get it over with. Time is of the essence."

Five minutes later, they were standing in front of Remus' door, waiting for him to answer.

When the door opened, Ginny couldn't look at him and focused her attention to the floor.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked, fighting a shameful blush and noticing Ginny's tearstained face.

"I'm afraid we're having a little problem with William," Hermione said quietly. "He has refused to take his potion and, as you know, the full moon is tonight." She paused and offered an apologetic smile, both for Ginny's silence and her request. "He's insisting on seeing you before he'll take it and has locked himself in his room."

Remus looked back and forth between Hermione and Ginny. He thought it was interesting that Hermione was doing the talking, but then in an instant, he understood. Ginny wanted nothing to do with him and went to Hermione and Severus instead of coming to him. He supposed he deserved it after what he did to her. His heart went out to the child though. He had missed spending time with him. "I see," he said. "Well let's go give William his potion, shall we?" The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could return to his chamber. He'd not been in a very good mood today anyway for obvious reasons.

After a short, silent walk, the three entered Ginny's chamber. She sat lifelessly on the couch while Hermione fetched the potion to give to Remus who was knocking on William's door.

"William?" Remus said gently. "I'm here. Unlock the door for me, okay?"

A few moments later, the door opened so Remus could enter and then it closed again.

Hermione waited patiently outside the door while Ginny remained on the couch with her arms wrapped around her body. She hated this. Her heart was pounding and she was horribly uncomfortable. She told herself she should be grateful that Remus would come over and humor her son, because after all, he didn't have to. He could have told them both to bugger off.

Staring into the empty fireplace, Ginny heard William's door open and close again. She heard Remus tell Hermione that William was fine now and would be asleep soon and heard Hermione tell him that she had been very concerned about him lately, though Ginny knew she was referring to her and not her son. When Remus walked by the couch on the way out, Ginny stood up, knowing she had to say something.

"I…uh…" she stammered, looking down at her hands as her cheeks felt hot. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said simply, offering a small smile to Hermione and leaving Ginny's chamber without another word, knowing the need for his presence was over.

When the door closed, Hermione turned towards her friend with her arms crossed. "You two are unbelievable," she told her in disgust, frustrated with both of them, but more towards her friend. "You in particularly. Remus thinks you could care less about him because he probably thinks he hurt you. And you can't even explain to him the very simple event that more than likely caused him to think that to end this pathetic silence." Usually she could remain calm even when frustrated, but not this time. "Dammit, Ginny! He's a wonderful man who adores the hell out of you and your son. He has stood by you from almost the very day that you lost Neville. How often has he held you while you cried, hmm? Honestly. What the hell is your problem? I know you're stubborn, but this is ridiculous. I care for you a great deal, but the next time William demands to see Remus, you're going to be the one to fetch him because I WON'T! Now, you'll have to excuse me while I go discuss punishment for my son that was more than likely trying to help your son feel better because his mother was lying to him and being a bitch!" She knew her words were harsh, but right now she didn't care about being nice. Her two friends were hurting each other over nothing.

After Hermione stormed from the chamber, slamming the door behind her, Ginny curled up into a ball and sobbed like she hadn't since Neville's death.

Friday, two weeks since 'that night', students were settling in for their History of Quidditch class when Ginny saw Albus step into her classroom.

"Headmaster," she greeted with a small smile, mainly for her students to see since she felt nothing like smiling. "To what do I owe this honor?" She knew the answer to that question even though she asked it anyway. And if her assumptions were correct, this visit was the result of a previous visit by Hermione, possibly even Severus.

He smiled sweetly and peered at her over his half moon shaped glasses at her. "Professor Weasley," he began, remaining by the door. "Would you be so kind as to stop by my office after class? I need your attention for just a few minutes." He'd been telling himself he would let Ginny and Remus work out their own issues, but after hearing of William's outburst, he decided that perhaps a slight intervention was needed to move things along before something horrible happened.

Ginny's heart beat a little faster, knowing it would be just a matter of time before he summoned her about Remus. "Of course, Headmaster," she said with a nod. Dammit, she thought, feeling like her mother had just caught her with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Lemon drop?" Albus offered when Ginny approached his desk an hour later when her class ended.

"No, thank you," she said and sat down, waiting for what she knew would come, feeling like she was six years old all over again. Why did she always feel like a kid in trouble around him?

"Classes are going well I presume?" he asked casually, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

Ginny smiled sweetly at his attempt to be indirect, but she wasn't buying it. "Albus," she began. "I don't think you called me here to inquire about my classes." She saw no reason to beat around the bush at this point.

He chuckled softly. "You are perceptive, my dear," Albus said with a nod. "I should like to ask about you and Remus, if I may."

"Of course," Ginny said, her heart beginning to race again. She could never tell him no. No one said no to Albus Dumbledore.

"I noticed during the reception a couple weeks ago that you two seemed very…comfortable together," he told the young woman before him, choosing his words carefully. "But since then, I've not seen you together as I normally do, chatting and walking together in the halls." He paused to lean forward and peer over his spectacles at her. "Just terribly busy I'm assuming?"

Ginny bit her lip and glanced around at the many portraits that hung on the walls and then back at the all-knowing wizard in front of her. She considered lying and making an excuse as she had for the past number of days to anyone who inquired, but knew he would not believe her. She could not lie to him as much as she wanted to. "We have not spoken since that night," she said quietly. "Well not really." Emotions began to surface that she tried to push away.

"I did hear of William's tantrum," Albus told her, remembering Hermione's near tirade about the event. "You did not speak to each other then?"

Ginny swallowed. "Just a 'thank you'," she answered, feeling rather small and horribly guilty.

"I see," Albus said with a nod. "So it's been by choice then?"

As she remembered how lonely and angry she'd been the past couple weeks, a lump began to form in her throat so she only nodded. She didn't want to cry, but the tears were ready.

Albus studied her for a moment. He had a feeling what that particular night brought, but he couldn't understand why they hadn't talked since and why they didn't talk the night he came over to assist with giving William his potion. He'd only seen Remus a couple times and he looked as if he'd lost his best friend. Hermione had been the one to come to him with heavy concern that only he would be capable of reaching her before it was too late. He stood up carefully and walked around his desk to sit beside her in the other chair, reaching for her hand. "Why, Child?" he asked gently. "What did he do to you?" He couldn't imagine Remus doing anything bad enough to warrant this treatment.

She tried hard to remain composed, but Albus' genuine concern broke down her resolve in an instant. "He…he just left me…that night," she answered, wiping a tear from under her eye. "Afterwards…he was…just gone." She was somewhat embarrassed to admit what they'd done, but what was a little more shame at this point? She couldn't feel much worse honestly.

Albus nodded and patted her hand. He wasn't going to pry for details, as they really weren't his business anyway nor were they necessary, but the picture was a little clearer. "Why haven't you talked to him?" he asked. "Asked him why he left that night. There must have been a reason."

"Because he obviously didn't want to talk to me," she said, wiping a couple more tears with her free hand since Albus still held the other. "Otherwise he would have stayed with me…at least as long as he could have."

"There must have been some misunderstanding," Albus offered gently. "A miscommunication." He paused. "Do you truly believe deep down in that fair and just Gryffindor heart of yours that after as many years as you've known him that Remus would take a gift as beautiful and precious as your love and just throw it away?" He knew she knew better and hoped he could reach the reason within her.

Ginny shrugged, biting her lip to keep more tears at bay. Albus' words were truth and she felt like a fool. Could there be a reason he would have left other than not caring about her? She couldn't imagine what it would be, but his departure made no sense and contradicted his character. She understood the point Albus was making.

"Don't you think it worth it to find out before you decide to shut him out of your life and out of your son's life?" he asked, gently squeezing her hand. "Ginerva, please don't allow what my wife and I allowed. I beg you, Child. No good can come of it. Please promise an old man that you will go talk to him."

Ginny nodded, knowing she'd do anything he asked because of her tremendous amount of respect for him. "Yes, Albus," she answered with a shaky voice. "I promise I'll talk to him. I'll go right now."

After being enveloped by Albus' flowing velvet robe when he hugged her, Ginny decided to find Remus right after leaving the headmaster's office, knowing if she didn't, it would be another week before she could muster the courage and, quite honestly, she didn't want to be called into his office again. The look of disappointment on Albus' face was powerful enough to make even Severus shameful.

Ginny stopped by Minerva's office to pick up William since their 'class' was over, only to take him to Hermione, asking if she would mind watching him for a few minutes while she took care of something important.

When Hermione saw her friend's pleading eyes without a verbal explanation, she understood and agreed immediately, calling to Malachai that William was there and mouthed "good luck". It was about time. She was ready to hex them both and had known Albus could get through to her.

Ginny's heart was pounding as she headed for Remus' chamber. What was she supposed to say? He was the one that left her. She remembered she'd been sorted into Gryffindor for a reason though and told herself that what he did wasn't right. She deserved to know why he did that to her after so many years of friendship. She deserved to know why he'd said such wonderful things to her to turn around and treat her and, indirectly her son, so badly. She deserved truth.

Ginny knocked on the door and waited, unsure if the pounding she heard was her knuckles on the wood or her heartbeat. She knocked again and waited. Where was he? She left the castle and began the trek down to Hagrid's hut, thinking maybe he was still working with him. She thought of forgetting this venture, but when she pictured Albus and his disappointment once more, Ginny knew she had to finish this.

After jogging down the gentle slope towards the hut, Ginny knocked on Hagrid's large wooden door and waited, trying to catch her breath.

"Ginny!" Hagrid exclaimed after opening the door. "Good ter see ya! What brings ya down 'ere?"

"Have you seen Remus the past few minutes?" she asked, seeing something behind him in a cage that was making an awful racket, but not wanting to know what it was.

"'e's down by tha lake," Hagrid answered with a broad smile. "Sent 'im down there 'bout twenty minutes ago ter get some knotgrass from the banks for our murtlaps."

Ginny nodded. "I see," she said, looking out towards the lake, instantly remembering the wedding and how amazing that day had been for so many reasons, wishing like hell that she didn't have to have this talk with him. "Thank you Hagrid. I'll see you later."

She waved and headed for the lake, heart thumping madly in her chest. She couldn't decide if she was angry, sad or nervous. Maybe it was a mixture of all. It took a few minutes for her to reach the lake and locate Remus along the edge, watching as he gathered knotgrass to put in a burlap bag with little enthusiasm. As she walked, she thought about going back to the castle. His back was to her so she still could. She quickly told herself that she could not do that. She'd promised Albus that she would talk to him. If Remus couldn't back his words up, at least she could.

Ginny was just a few steps away when Remus stood up and turned around, having heard her approach, knowing his senses were more acute from his condition. He looked uncomfortable and glanced up at the castle a couple times as if trying to come up with an excuse to leave.

"Hello Ginny," he said quietly, looking down at the ground as he fumbled with the burlap bag of knotgrass.

"Hi Remus," she said uncertainly. "Hagrid…uh…told me you'd be out here."

He glanced up. "You were looking for me?" he asked curiously. Why would she want to talk to him? He was no man, just an animal that hurt those he cared about.

"Well…yes," she answered playing with her fingers. "I tried your chamber but you obviously weren't there. So I thought I'd check with Hagrid since you've been working together."

Remus nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, he's got these Murtlaps that he wants to breed so he can eventually take the growths from their back to Professor Sprout," he explained. "And knotgrass is apparently their favorite food." It certainly wasn't Remus' choice line of work, but Hogwarts was his choice location. It was better than nothing he surmised.

It was Ginny's turn to nod. She was familiar with the growths and how they were pickled and eaten to promote resistance to curses and jinxes, sort of like muggle vitamins that were taken to ward against diseases. "I haven't seen you much the past few days," she said quietly, unsure of where to start.

He shuffled his feet in the grass and fumbled with the bag again. "Yeah, well, Hagrid's had me pretty busy," he told her. Didn't she hate him? Why was she still speaking to him? He'd been almost certain their friendship was over.

She bit her lip, trying to keep her tears at bay. "I've been busy too," she offered, crossing her arms in front of her. She was quiet for a few moments before adding, "William was happy to see you the other night."

He smiled slightly then. "He was?" he asked, affection in his voice. "He's such a sweet kid. I've missed him." It had made him feel quite proud when the little boy had pitched a fit to see him, wishing his mother had done the same.

"Just him?" Ginny asked, as her voice cracked, allowing her eyes to search his face, pleading for something from him. "Do you only miss him?"

Remus lifted his eyes then to meet hers without shifting them away. "No," he admitted quietly. "Not just him." He'd spent hours agonizing over what he should do or say and had even left his chamber a couple times over the past few days only to get halfway to hers before turning around in uncertainty and self pity.

A tear slipped from her eye that she wiped away quickly. "Why, Remus?" she asked, as a couple more fell. "Why did you leave me like that?" She couldn't wait any longer. She just had to know. If he didn't really feel any of those things he said, she needed to know so she and her son could move on.

Remus shifted his feet and looked around, clearly uncomfortable. "It's best," he answered, voice low as his gaze was out over her shoulder. "I'm a werewolf, Ginny. I don't want to put you in danger." He'd always used his condition as an excuse for everything. Why not now? It was truth anyway.

"Danger?" she asked incredulously, almost laughing at his words. "My son is a werewolf. I'm already in danger. That excuse is a bit absurd." Did he really think she'd fall for that? He'd always used his condition as a crutch and she was tired of it.

"Then you don't need me adding to that," he stated simply as if the conversation was over and started to walk away.

"I see, so you lie to me and bed me first?" she asked, voice rising as she turned to face him. "Couldn't you have told me before we climbed into bed? Or did you discover I was just not enough for you physically and your condition was a convenient excuse as usual?"

"You think I used you?" he asked, his voice rising to match hers. "How could you think I'd do such a thing?" She'd known him for a number of years. Did she really not know him any better? He couldn't remember the last time he'd used a woman for sex. That just wasn't him.

Ginny crossed her arms. "Let's see," she began. "Getting me hot and bothered all night, telling me you loved me and my son, having your way with me, but I'd say disappearing the second I left the bed is probably what gave me the biggest clue," she said sarcastically.

He threw down the burlap bag and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "It wasn't…that's not why I left," he said, motioning with his hands. "I didn't use you, Ginny. I'd never use you like that!"

"Then what do you call it?" she exclaimed. "Everything was perfectly fine until we had sex and then you were up and gone. I'm not an idiot, Remus!"

"I had to leave!" he exclaimed, taking a step toward her and then a step back, looking anywhere but at her. "I just had to leave."

"Why in the hell did you have to leave?" She was yelling now.

"Because I hurt you!" He was too.

The serenity and silence of the lake surrounded them as they stood, both looking away from the other, wishing they were anywhere but there. This is why they'd both avoided the other. The last time they'd yelled at each other was when he took William for the first change.

"You leaving is what hurt," she admitted, barely above a whisper as more tears fell.

"No," he shot back, shaking his head. "I hurt you…during…I saw it…I saw…"

"What are you talking about, Remus?" she asked confused. "Saw what?"

"Blood," he answered quietly, looking down at the ground again, almost feeling sick at the memory. "When you got up, I saw it on the sheets. I did it. I hurt you. I couldn't…control myself. You don't deserve that. I'm an animal and I belong outside with the other animals, not with a woman as precious and wonderful as you." His words were barely more than a whisper.

Ginny's heart instantly felt lighter. She didn't know he'd seen that, of course she hadn't known it was there either until she'd returned to her empty bed. "Remus, anyone would have done that," she explained, understanding a bit more now. "It's been quite awhile since I've…done anything. It wasn't because you lost control." She reached for his hand, sensing he was not yet convinced, almost wanting to laugh in relief. Hermione had been right.

"But, when it gets closer to the full moon," he argued. "I get more aggressive. I can't help it. I was forceful and I made you…I hurt you badly. I left because I…I was ashamed at what I'd done to you. I couldn't bear the thought of hurting you." It was not the first time that had happened, but he'd wanted to make it the last.

Ginny smiled a little and wiped her face, taking a step closer to him. "Please believe when I tell you it wasn't that," she repeated. "Whoever would have been in that bed with me would have caused that to happen. Anyone, Remus. Even someone who wasn't a werewolf." He hadn't lied to or used her. He'd thought he'd physically hurt her and that's why he'd left. Merlin. Why couldn't he have just said something?

"But if I'd known," he continued. "If I could have been sensitive to you. If I could have been more gentle. I'm sure you tried to tell me and I ignored you. I lost control and that's unacceptable."

"I didn't try very hard," she admitted with a shrug. "I think I pushed on your hips a little, but I didn't say anything. I was embarrassed. I probably should have told you beforehand what was more than likely going to happen, but it just didn't seem to fit the mood, you know? I didn't think it would be a big deal."

"I ruined it," Remus said shaking his head. "I just…I ruin everything. I'm sorry, Ginny. I wanted it to be special. I'd thought about being with you for so long."

"You do not ruin everything," she reassured him. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you ahead of time. It was not your fault." She paused and reached for his other hand, squeezing both of his in hers. "Did you mean it when you said you loved me?" She had to know.

He lifted his head to look into her eyes, realizing just how much he'd missed her the past couple weeks and how miserable he'd been. "I love you so much, Ginny," he said, squeezing her hands. "I'd never lie about something like that. You know me better."

"Well I love you too," she told him, searching his eyes. "We just need to…we have to talk, Remus. Instead of one, or both of us, assuming something, can we please agree right now to talk about whatever it is?" She shook her head. "These two weeks have been hell for me. And they've been hell for William too."

"I've been miserable without you," he admitted with a small smile, feeling slightly better after hearing her explanation. "I'll work on speaking up about things, I promise. It's never been one of my strong suits, I'm afraid. But you knew that already."

Immediately they were in each other's arms in a tight embrace, remaining still and quiet for a few moments. "So I was thinking," she whispered in his ear, suddenly feeling a bit playful. "Maybe we should have another go."

Remus pulled from her so he could see her face, but kept his arms around her waist. "Have another go?" he asked, gazing into the beautiful emerald eyes that he'd missed like hell. "You mean…"

"Exactly," Ginny confirmed with a nod and a smile. "Practice makes perfect, doesn't it? If we wait another eight months or so, the exact same thing will happen and then we're back where we started." She didn't ever want to go through that with him again.

Remus shook his head. "Dear Merlin," he breathed and leaned close with the intent of kissing her. "I love the way you think."

Inside the castle, Albus and Minerva peered from a small window, each holding a glass of wine in one hand while their other hands were entwined.

"Albus, we shouldn't be watching," Minerva told him matter-of-factly.

"We're not eavesdropping," he pointed out. "We happened to be gazing out over the lake when they started talking." He cared about the two of them and couldn't stand when they were at odds with each other, especially over something as insignificant as a miscommunication.

Minerva smiled sweetly at her cunning husband. "You talked to one of them, didn't you?" she asked, sipping her wine.

Albus winked at her and grinned. "Why, would I do something like that?" he asked.

"Most definitely you would and most likely did," she told him. "We shouldn't interfere though."

After lowering his glass from his lips, Albus' blue eyes met hers in all seriousness. "Wife, I was a foolish man for too many years," he confessed, squeezing her hand in his. "I couldn't stand by and watch two other people who love each other dearly make the same mistake we did. I only wish we'd had someone to interfere with us."

Minerva's eyes filled with tears at his words, knowing they were a harsh truth. She wouldn't argue with him and leaned forward where they stood together to rest her forehead against his. "Just another reason why I love you so," she whispered.

In my story, the Wolfsbane Potion prevents the transformation from human to werewolf. I've read this: If the affected individual drinks the potion prior to the full moon, they will transform only into a normal wolf and retain control over their actions, rather than making the full transformation into a werewolf. I changed it just a bit incase you were wondering.