In the Present

A HariPo fanfic

by mew-tsubaki

Note: I haven't finished To the Future and already I'm starting its second companion story. AGH! However, J.K. Rowling's characters are in good hands by now, so I hope everyone enjoys this Rena story. But to reach the present, one must glance at the past, where our story begins… READ & REVIEW!!!

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The Third Wax

Two days later and one school day gone, Remus felt… Well, not exhausted. Not quite excited, either. The feeling was kind of in between the two emotions.

The first day of the school year had been fine. Remus got to know his first, second, and third years, and he hadn't had to pass out any detentions –yet. He was smart, and he knew that there was almost always a bunch of rowdy kids whose behavior was not unlike the Marauders back in his day.

Even Sirius appeared to be doing a decent job. Remus thought so simply because no one had been rushed to the Hospital Wing on day one of the term. Of course, Remus kept that observation to himself. He wasn't sure Sirius would appreciate any 'constructive criticism'.

It was at suppertime of day one, though, that Remus and Sirius received a peculiar invitation. Arthur and Molly Weasley were celebrating Ginny returning to Hogwarts for her seventh and final year, and they wanted to invite the two teachers.

"It's a disaster waiting to happen," Sirius told Remus while they were in Sirius's office and thought about going. "Ginny doesn't hate me. She despises me; she wants me dead. All because Ron sacrificed himself during the Second Great War to drag my sorry arse out of the veil, leaving her another brother short and single." Sirius looked at Remus with fretful gray eyes. "You know Harry. When he and Ginny were an item, it was looking like they were on Bridal Road. I thought they were going to get married and live happily ever after –kind of like James and Lily."

Remus sighed at the mention of their best friends. "Sirius, Harry is not James. You can't look at him and think everything's going to be all right. Just like we shouldn't have when James and Lily married," he added in a smaller voice.

Sirius seemed to ignore the last comment. "I just don't see the point in going when that girl probably hates me more than Snivellus ever will."

"First of all, there's no 'Snivellus', Padfoot," the werewolf corrected. "And second, Molly and Arthur don't blame you at all. My suggestion is that you go because they invited you. If you see Ginny, play it cool and try not to kill yourself."

"Fine." The black-haired wizard shook his head. "I don't get why I listen to you…," he grumbled as they headed to Dumbledore's to let the headmaster know they'd be stepping out for a bit.

"You listen because you know I'm right," Remus retorted as the spiral staircase ended at Dumbledore's door. Before he could knock, the door swung open.

"Ah, Remus, Sirius, you're the first to know," Albus stated as he stood. He waved his arm to motion them in.

The two teachers glanced at each other, and entered –and were speechless.

"Though he missed the first day," Albus continued, "I would like to introduce you to Charles Weasley, our new Care for Magical Creatures professor."

The man to Albus's right grinned and shook both of their hands. He was a Weasley all right, with those freckles, that red hair, and the ocean blue eyes. But there was one problem: Charlie Weasley had been thought dead for nearly two years.

And I doubt Molly and Arthur know he's here, Remus thought as Dumbledore told Charlie to rest up tonight. So tonight's little extravaganza should be quite the explosion.

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As per usual, Remus and Sirius were greeted with bear hugs at the door.

"There's always a reason to celebrate, I say!" Molly said with a cheery grin as she took their jackets. "I'm glad you two came!"

"Well, we could make it," Remus stated.

"Oh, Remus," Arthur said, coming up to them, "Tonks is already here. And from what I hear –well, congratulations!!" the Weasley father stated, and he patted Remus hard on the back.

"'Congrats'?" Sirius echoed. "Mooney, when you came to see me a while back, did you-"

"Remus! Sirius!" Tonks ran up to them then, interrupting her cousin. She hugged and kissed her husband, and then hugged Sirius and kissed his cheek. "Remus told me you both took the job," she said to Sirius.

"Yes, well…" Sirius paused. "I hear congratulations are in order?"

"Oh, thank you!!" The Metamorphagus exclaimed. "I'm so happy that I'm pregnant. I mean, it's been a few years now-"

Remus got a shocked look from his best mate, but before he could remark, a scream tore through the house. The guests quieted, and Arthur and Molly exchanged a worried glance.

"Um, I'll be right back," Arthur mumbled, and he clambered upstairs.

Molly looked after her husband. "Ginny…," she breathed.

Remus looked at Sirius, who looked equally concerned. The Weasley daughter screaming like that? What had happened?

The werewolf grabbed himself a drink, also grabbing some much needed alone time. He saw that Fred and George were home, along with their fiancés, Verity and Angelina. Other than them, the only other partygoers were Molly, Arthur, Tonks, Sirius, and himself. Well, Ginny, too.

As if his thoughts had summoned her, he saw Arthur come back downstairs, and Ginny followed soon after. Tonks practically jumped on her, and the two women conversed for a bit. Then Verity and Angelina met Ginny, and Tonks backed off. Remus guessed Tonks hadn't said anything yet to Ginny, for Tonks' hair turned a muted, mousey brown. Then he blinked. Ginny had bumped into him.

"Did Tonks tell you the news?" he asked Ginny, and he mentally kicked himself. Though he didn't know what to chat about, the only thing his mind could come up with was the one thing he was trying to get off his mind. I need to get out more.

Ginny smiled. "She didn't have a chance to-"

"What Remus meant to ask," his wife cut in, coming up beside him, "was 'Did Tonks tell you the good news'?"

"What? His 'furry little problem's' gone?"

Remus forced a smile. "Uh –not exactly-"

"I'm pregnant!!" Dora happily cried. "Oh, I do hope the baby has your eyes, dear…"

Remus had to wonder how Nymphadora could act so natural after what she had pulled on him over a week ago. But he supposed it was easier to break the big news to friends rather than to your own spouse.

Ginny lifted an eyebrow and caught his eye, so he pulled her aside in hopes of clearing something up for the night. "I'd thought you might appreciate a heads-up: He's here," he said about Sirius, and he frowned when her jaw clenched. "Be kind, though, Ginny. He's not an evil man."

The redhead frowned herself. "I wish you people would stop treating me like I'm the bad one here. You know damn well that I don't want to see his face."

Ever the stubborn one… "If Molly and Arthur can stand him," Remus pointed out, "and even manage to show him some kindness, I think you would be an even better person for forgiving him, as well."

"What's there to forgive?" she muttered, but he saw her lose the angry fire she had just possessed. She picked up a biscuit, but didn't eat it. He knew she had lost her appetite.

The rest of the evening was polite, and dinner was delicious. Remus saw that Ginny had spoken with Sirius, but the arrival of supper interrupted him, and Mooney wondered what he had been about to say. Of course, only after the meal when he and Sirius returned to Hogwarts did Remus recall Charlie's sudden appearance…and the fact that he hadn't said anything to Molly and Arthur.

Suddenly, Remus's good feeling was plenty gone.

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And onto chappie four!! This story's going a lot smoother now, and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do. It's fun writing Remus! But who knows who else I'll write for…heh.

READ AND REVIEW!!!

-mew-tsubaki