Authors' note: Thanks to you guys who have kept reading and reviewing. Again, we have no idea how long this story
is going to be. We're still working on it. In this chapter, you get Lupin's meeting with Harry/Hermione and you
get some insight into how Draco and Ginny came to be.
Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me
(Savin' Me, Nickelback)
Harry paced back and forth across the room. "He's taking a portkey around six our time," he told Hermione, who was perched nervously on the edge of the bed.
"Do you think he'll have anyone else with him?" she asked tentatively.
"Maybe just Tonks," Harry ploughed his hands through his hair.
"I think that things are finally looking up," Hermione said watching as Harry continued to pace. "Ron believes you now, Harry."
"Yeah..." Harry nodded. "I just wish I knew exactly what was going on over there."
"I'm sure Lupin will let us know," Hermione reassured him.
"I'm just telling him right away that I'm not going anywhere without you," Harry faced her.
Hermione smiled. "Me either."
He sat down next to her. "I just can't believe all this."
"Which part?" Hermione asked with a nervous laugh.
"Us on the run," Harry shook his head. "Hiding out from everyone we know."
"When this all gets cleared up, we should go back to New Orleans and explain things to our friends at the hotel," Hermione said. She still felt guilty for lying to them and then skipping out on them the way they had.
"I know," Harry reached for her hand. "I feel awful about that."
"I hope they'll understand," Hermione said softly.
"Me too," Harry looked at her a moment before leaning in to kiss her softly. "I love you Hermione Granger."
"I love you, too," she whispered back.
He kissed her again. "This has got to work out," he said softly. "For the first time, we can prove that I didn't do this to Arthur."
"Anyone who knows you knows you couldn't have done that," Hermione said. "And I knew Ron would come around."
"I just can't believe it about Ginny," Harry said after a moment, getting up to pace the room again. "With Malfoy..."
"I know," Hermione agreed.
"She's changed quite a bit over the past few years, but I never imagined she could do something like this," Hermione said shaking her head.
"No kidding," Harry replied. "She's sure not the girl we used to know."
"Do you ever think about---what might have happened if you hadn't broken things off with her to fight Voldemort?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "Not really."
"Could have one, big, happy Weasley family," Hermione said looking away.
"I'd rather have my family with you," Harry turned her face back to his.
"You mean with kids?" she asked softly.
"Someday," Harry said, a bit shyly.
Hermione smiled. "I never imagined being a Mum. I've always been focused on my career."
"If you don't want to have kids I understand--" Harry said quickly.
Hermione shook her head. "I didn't say that. I just never thought about it." She held up her left hand where the ring Harry bought still adorned her finger. "Not until you slipped this on my finger and I actually started to wonder what it would be like to be married and have a family..."
"I hope we can," Harry ran his finger over the band.
"I think you'd be a great father," Hermione said meeting his gaze.
"I think you'd be a great mum," Harry answered.
Hermione blushed. "I don't know. It's not something you can get from reading a book."
"It comes from experience," Harry said. "And we can learn it together."
"I think I said that to you once or twice when we were in school," Hermione said leaning against him.
Harry kissed the side of her head, hoping that this wasn't the last time he'd get to sit with her in peace and quiet.
Hermione smiled as she pictured a little girl or boy with green eyes and wild brown hair. A little girl or boy that would be made of the best parts of each of them. She could see her teaching their child to read and Harry taking them out for their first flying lesson.
Harry sighed as he pressed his nose into her hair. "I just want this all to be finished," he said. "I want to be with you in public looking like myself, and not worry about who sees us."
"It will be over soon," Hermione promised. "And we'll both be free."
"I really hope so," he said, unwilling to let her go.
"Professor Lupin will be here any minute," Hermione said softly.
"I know," Harry answered. "I'm a bit nervous."
"He's going to help us," Hermione said reassuringly.
Harry nodded as a loud pop sounded right outside their door.
"He's here," Hermione said as Harry stood up. "Check the peephole first just to make sure..."
"Right," Harry said. "Remus?" he asked quietly as he looked through the door.
"Yes," Lupin answered.
Harry moved to unlock the door but Hermione put her hand on his arm. "Ask him something that only Lupin would know. Just to make sure."
"You're right," Harry said. "Remus?"
"Yes?"
"What happens to you once a month?" Harry asked.
Harry and Hermione stood close as they waited for Lupin to answer. The response they got was Lupin making howling sounds.
"It's him," Harry said, unlocking the door quickly.
Lupin stared at Harry for a few moments, trying to get used to the lighter shade of hair and how darker his skin now was. After the initial shock wore off, Lupin stepped into the room and enveloped his surrogate godson in a large hug.
"I'm sorry Remus," Harry embraced him. "I am so sorry about everything."
"Your parents and Sirius would never have forgiven me if I let something happen to you," Lupin said. "You're the closest thing I've ever had to a son."
"Thanks," Harry's voice was strained, as if he was trying to hold back his emotions.
Hermione watched them both and help up her hand to wipe away the tears that had formed in her eyes. As she did so, Lupin caught sight of the ring on Hermione's finger.
"Harry---" Lupin said looking properly at him. "Did you and Hermione---"
"It's just a front," Harry answered quickly. "For now at least."
"For now---you mean you and Hermione are---"
"I helped him," Hermione moved forward and took Harry's hand.
"You did more than help him," Lupin said smiling at her. "I'm so glad he has you, Hermione."
"Thank you," Hermione whispered as tears filled her eyes.
"We have a lot to talk about," Lupin said.
Harry nodded. "I couldn't go to Azkaban," he said.
"I wouldn't let him," Hermione interjected. "Not for something he didn't do."
Lupin nodded and sat down at the table near the window. He didn't even know where to begin with all of this. Hermione offered to get him a soda, but he shook his head.
"So what do we do?" Harry asked, point blank.
"You can't come home yet," Lupin said.
"Why?" Harry asked.
Lupin had told Harry everything he'd learned from Ron and Luna about Ginny and Draco. "We still don't have proof, Harry. If you come home now, we'd be forced to arrest you and Hermione."
"I see," Harry nodded. "This is still such a damn mess..."
"Can we do anything to help?" Hermione asked.
"At this point... I don't know," Lupin replied. "We need a reason to bring in Malfoy."
Harry slammed his fist down hard on the table. "I can't even tell you the last time I thought about Malfoy and all this bloody time he's been under our noses!"
"I know," Lupin said grimly. "Tonks is trying to find anything we can bring Ginny in on. We know if we bring her in, he'll find some way to tag along."
"It's a good thing we can't go home," Harry said starting to pace again. "If I got within 10 feet of Malfoy, I'd kill him."
"You'd have to get behind Ron," Lupin replied.
"How's he doing?" Hermione asked. "And Luna?"
"She's really helped him out," Lupin said seriously.
"I'm glad she's been there for him," Hermione said sincerely. "She's good for him."
"Seems that way," Lupin nodded. "I'm glad I know the two of you are all right. I'm not sure what I'm going to say when I go back but I'll figure out something."
"Have you seen my parents?" Hermione asked. She hadn't spoken to them since that phone call weeks ago.
"I'm afraid not," Lupin replied. "But I'll pass a message to them in confidence for you."
"Thanks," Hermione said smiling at him before going over to the bedside table to retrieve a piece of paper.
"About time you woke up," Lupin said quietly to Harry so Hermione couldn't hear.
"Yeah," Harry looked over at Hermione. "She's amazing."
"Sirius thought so too," Lupin said with a grin. "Said we should knock some sense into you before Ron got to her first."
"I let her get away the first time," Harry replied. "That's not going to happen again."
"You two just need to stay out of sight for awhile," Lupin lectured. "Keep a low profile and..." he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "This should help..."
"We can't accept this," Harry said his eyes growing large as he opened the envelope to reveal American, Muggle money.
"Yes you can," Lupin replied. "I want you both keeping a low profile until we can figure everything out."
"I don't know what to say," Harry said putting the money back in the envelope. "Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it."
"I already told you," Lupin looked at him. "You're like a son to me Harry. I care very much about you and Hermione."
Harry grinned at him. "We'll pay you back."
"Nonsense," Lupin replied.
Hermione joined them again and she handed Lupin the letter she'd written. "I tried to keep it short."
"I'll make sure they get this," Lupin nodded.
Hermione pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you for everything."
"Take care of yourselves," Lupin said. "I'll be in touch soon."
"We will," Harry promised. "Give Tonks our best."
"I will," Lupin looked at both her and Harry for a long moment before leaving.
"I wish we could do something instead of just sit here," Harry said sitting back down on the bed.
"I know," Hermione answered softly. "But at least we're still together."
"There's the silver lining," Harry said giving her a kiss. "I'm sorry we can't go home yet."
"I'm here with you," Hermione kissed him back. "I miss my parents but I can't bear being parted with you."
"I love you," he said touching her cheek.
"I love you too," Hermione closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against his.
"I've had you all to myself these past few weeks," he whispered.
"I guess I'm too used to it too," she admitted softly.
"So," he said brushing his lips against hers. "What do you want to do for dinner?"
"I don't care," Hermione kept her eyes closed.
"There aren't too many choices here," Harry said.
"I just want to be with you," Hermione leaned against him.
"Not bored with me yet?" he asked.
"Never," Hermione finally opened her eyes. "Never, never, never..."
"What are you doing?" he asked as she tugged on the hem of his t-shirt.
"What do you think?" she asked coyly.
"Taking advantage of me?" he asked as she tugged the shirt over his head.
"Do I need to?" she asked huskily.
He shook his head. "I'm easy."
Hermione laughed. "That goes without saying."
"Do with me what you will," he said leaning in.
"That's an invitation I like to hear," Hermione purred. She had no idea what was making her feel like this all of a sudden but she wanted to feel Harry against her right then and there.
This was a side to Hermione Granger that no one else got to see. He grinned lazily up at her as she pushed him down on the bed.
"This is the way it'll be when we're out of this," Hermione undid her ponytail and her straightened hair fell down past her shoulders.
"More reason to look forward to having this all behind us," he said as she straddled him. "You're teasing me..."
"If I was teasing you..." Hermione began. "You wouldn't be this excited."
"Mighty sure of ourselves, aren't we?" Harry asked with a wicked grin.
"You've given me reason to be," Hermione brushed her lips over his.
He had a feeling that it wouldn't be that difficult to stay here in Louisiana if their time together included things like this. "Let's get you out of that shirt," he said huskily.
"Right," she whispered, helping him pull it over her head.
"And I don't think you'll be needing this," he said reaching for the clasp of her bra.
"Definitely not," Hermione answered, pushing his trousers down.
"Do you remember that summer right after I came back?" he asked her. "We went swimming at that creek near the Burrow with Ron and his brothers...."
"What about it?" she asked as she smoothed his hair back.
"When I came back and you were with Ron, I just decided to put what had happened behind us and go on with my life," he said. "And I managed to do that until you came out of the creek in that pink bikini..."
Hermione turned red. "That was Ginny's- my swim costume had torn."
"Ginny never looked that good in that suit," Harry said his hand touching her arm. "I couldn't take my eyes off of you."
"Thanks Harry," she whispered.
He smiled. "I felt like such a heel. Lusting after my best friend's girl..."
Hermione looked away. "If we'd just sat down and talked about that kiss the night you left, I'd have always been your girl."
"We were both stupid," he said sitting up to look at her properly.
"Not anymore though," Hermione answered softly.
Harry again pulled her closer. "Not anymore."
Hermione pressed her lips to his again as they fell back onto the bed.
Hermione helped him ease of his boxer shorts without once breaking their kiss. They still didn't have any protection and Harry knew they were taking a big chance.
"I need you in me," Hermione hissed, her lips crashing back on his again.
Harry's green eyes darkened with desire as he looped his fingers in the waistband of her knickers.
"Yes..." she arched her back.
He peeled them off as quickly as possible. And then he was there, going deep inside her with an urgent thrust.
Hermione let out a sound that was a cross between a satisfied cry and an animal like purr. "Harry..." her voice shook.
He kissed her as they began to move together, her hands snaking around his waist.
"That's..." her voice trailed off as she clenched her teeth.
"You're amazing," he whispered against her neck.
"So are you," Hermione breathed, incapable of thinking about anything else but the man with her right at that moment.
She met him thrust for thrust and he whispered over and over again that he loved her. She was the only person he'd ever said that to.
They collapsed under the sheets together, both sweating and trying to catch their breath.
"If I could move," he said hoarsely. "I'd get us a glass of water."
"Don't you dare leave," She murmured.
He pulled her closer and gave her a lingering kiss. "We're all sweaty," he said grinning lazily at her.
"Yeah but I don't care," Hermione said with a sated smile.
He laughed and nuzzled her neck.
"I guess I can't help but be hopeful," Hermione said as he ran his hand up and down her bare arm. "That this will actually all work out somehow. That you and me can actually have a life together."
"We will," he promised. He smiled shyly at her which was ironic giving what they'd just done. "When we do go back home...would you...."
"What?" she asked softly.
"Would you want to move in together?" he asked. "Not your flat or mine, a place that's ours...."
"Well," Hermione propped herself up on an elbow. "I suppose if we're to be married, like you said, that we'd need a place to live in together..."
"You, me and Crookshanks," he said grinning at her.
"I'm so glad Neville's taking care of him," Hermione answered.
"I miss that old cat," he said.
"He's always liked you," Hermione answered, lying her head down on his shoulder. "My cat has good taste."
"What's not to like?" he joked running his hand through her hair.
"Exactly," she said, leaning over to kiss him again.
*** *** ***
Ron hated feeling the way he currently felt- torn between family loyalties and doing what was right. Despite everything he'd found out, Ginny was still his sister and he couldn't help but care about what was going on with her. Yet she seemed to have a part in Arthur's death and he couldn't let Harry stay framed for it.
That was how he found himself in his sister's old bedroom looking around to see if he could find photographs or anything she might have hidden away that could prove she was living with Malfoy.
In her closet, he found an old shoebox full of photographs of family members and old friends. He saw a few cards and letters that Ginny had received from Dean Thomas when they went out during Ginny's fourth year. If the situation was different, he would use these to rib Dean. He had no idea his old friend was so sappy. There were even a few old photos of him with Hermione and Harry. It seemed like such a lifetime ago.
He paused for a moment to look one particular photo taken of them right after the first task in the Triwizard tournament. Harry was standing in the middle, a huge grin on his face while Hermione leaned against him on one side and Ron was standing on the other. Harry had his arms slung around both of them.
He could still remember how Hermione had cried when he and Harry had finally made up after that stupid row they'd had.
With a sigh, Ron set the picture aside and resumed his search through his sister's closet.
He saw a box on the top shelf and reached up to get it, but knocked over a stack of books as he did so. One of them hit him square on the head causing him to curse and wince in pain.
"Damn it!" he cursed, kicking the door. Still rubbing his head, he knelt down and saw that one of the books had opened up.
He recognised his sister's familiar, neat script and picked it up. "...I miss him so much it hurts. I can't believe how he's just tossed me aside to go off and fight You-Know-Who. He thinks he's being noble. What I don't understand is how he has no problem letting Hermione and Ron fight by his side...."
She was talking about Harry, Ron realised. He flipped through a few pages, not wanting to read about any of that.
His eyes grew wide when he came to a particular entry. "I honestly don't know what possessed me to help him. I must be out of my mind. If my parents ever found out about any of this, they'd kill me. But, when I found him in the forest, he looked so...broken and helpless and alone. For once, that familiar sneer and smirk was gone from his face and he looked...human..."
"This is disgusting," he muttered after reading a few more entries on his sister finding Malfoy.
"He actually called my by my name today," Ron read aloud. "It felt so strange to hear my name on his lips. He'd said some particularly hurtful things to me about how Harry never cared about me and how he was just using me to get what he really wanted. He said that for all I knew, Harry was shagging Hermione behind my back. And for some reason, I found myself telling him about that kiss I'd witnessed at Grimmauld Place...."
"What kiss...?" Ron asked himself, thinking he'd find out later.
"I thought for sure he'd laugh in my face when I told him about it, but instead he got all serious and said that Harry didn't realise what he'd lost when he gave me up."
Ron turned the page. "And he touched my hand and called me---Ginny. It kind of freaked me out, to tell you the truth. I told myself that he was just playing me and that he was using me until he was better...."
Ron flipped another few pages ahead. "Today was so strange- it was a Hogsmeade weekend and I took Draco some food that I'd collected at breakfast that morning. He already looks so much better than he did when I first found him."
"And he was actually smiling at me," Ron read aloud his face contorting in disgust. "And he's actually funny, when he's not putting other people down."
"But the most amazing thing came when I was about to leave," Ron continued. "He came very close, I wasn't sure at first what was going on, but then he kissed me."
"Every instinct I had told me to run; to get away as fast as I could, but I found myself kissing him back..."
Ron slammed the book shut, unable to read anymore. He was so incensed that he felt like kicking or punching something.
"Ronald!"
"Mum!" Ron jumped.
"What are you doing in Ginny's room?" Molly asked from the doorway.
"I um..." Ron was clutching his sister's diary in his hand. "I was looking for uh..."
"You used to get on your little sister for snooping," Molly said shaking her head as she reached for the diary.
"No Mum you don't want to read that," Ron said quickly but Molly had already opened it up.
"What is this?" Molly asked.
"I'm not sure," Ron lied.
Molly felt her knees buckle when she started to read. "Ginevra...."
"Mum," Ron rushed to her side. "Mum maybe it's just something she made up..." he said lamely.
"Draco Malfoy?" Molly choked out.
"Please don't cry Mum," Ron pleaded. "There's got to be an explanation for this okay?"
Ron helped Molly over to the bed and tried to take the diary from her, but Molly held on to it. "I want to know..."
Ron wished there was some way he could spare his mother from this- she had already been through so much lately he was worried that this could push her over the edge.
"I never knew she was doing this," Molly said a few moments later when she'd had enough. "Did you?"
Ron shook his head silently. "Lupin... he thinks Dad might have known," he said hesitantly.
"What?" Molly asked looking at her son. "Ronald, tell me, please. What is going on with your sister?"
"I just..." Ron sighed. "She's living with Malfoy. I went over to her flat like you wanted me to and I heard him in there with her."
Molly paled. "No..."
"I think he's really the father of her baby," Ron couldn't meet his mother's eyes.
"I-I n-need some water," Molly said starting to hyperventilate.
"Mum, please calm down," Ron took her hand, wishing desperately that Luna was there. "I'll go get you some water but please, please keep calm."
Molly nodded and put her hand on her heart as she watched her son rush from the room. Her sweet little girl couldn't have done this, could she? She was the apple of Arthur's eye and he loved her so much. How could she have betrayed the family in such a horrible way?
Ron grabbed a piece of parchment and jotted off a quick note to Luna and sent it out with an owl. He wasn't sure if he could handle telling his mother any more of this by himself without breaking down as well.
Molly was somehow managing to hold it together until Ron came back into the room. He handed her the glass of water and she gratefully took it.
"Mum we'll get through this all right?" Ron said, taking her hand. "I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere okay?"
Molly nodded and squeezed her son's hand. "You'll tell me everything, won't you? Everything you know?"
"Sure," Ron nodded. "I don't know a whole lot though..."
"It all makes sense now," Molly said quietly. "We thought she was worried about Harry and that was why her marks suffered. And she was so distant, Ronald."
Ron nodded. "I don't know what's going to happen to her if Lupin can prove it true that she and Malfoy had something to do with Dad's um... with Dad."
Molly's eyes grew wide as saucers. "NO!"
"Mum," Ron pleaded. "Please don't get hysterical..."
"She wouldn't have done this, Ronald," Molly said firmly, getting to her feet. "She couldn't."
"I just don't know anymore," Ron said. "I really don't know about anything."
"I knew in my heart that Harry couldn't have done this," Molly said quietly. "Just like I know Ginny couldn't have done this, Ronald. Malfoy---he must have done it because he was afraid Arthur would break them up..."
Ron nodded. "I hope we find out soon," he answered.
"Ron! Molly!" came a familiar voice from the foot of the stairs. Ron breathed a sigh of relief.
"Upstairs in Ginny's room, Luna!" Ron called back.
Luna bounded up the stairs. "I came as soon as I got your owl," she said breathlessly.
"I'm so glad you did," Ron said giving her a hug. "I-I found Ginny's old diary."
"Her old diary?" Luna asked curiously. "What was in it?"
Ron walked over to the bed to retrieve the diary. "Take a look..."
Molly wiped at her eyes as Luna looked through some of the pages. "I can't believe my baby girl could do this..." she said quietly.
As Luna read through some of the entries, Ginny's odd behaviour during their last two years at Hogwarts suddenly started to make more and more sense. She couldn't even imagine what this was like for Molly or Ron, for that matter.
"I wish I had known before," she said, shaking her head. "I mean, in time to have maybe helped her."
"Ginny's always been very headstrong," Molly said wiping at her eyes. "Once she wanted to do something, there's no way we could talk her round."
"How could she do this to us?" Ron burst out angrily. "How could Ginny do this to Dad?"
"Ron..." Luna said softly as Molly began to sob.
Ron stopped in his tracks and felt horrible when he saw the look on his mother's face. "Mum..."
"Why don't I take you down and get you a cup of tea?" Luna suggested, reaching for Molly's hand.
Molly nodded and with Luna's help stood up.
"I'll be down in a minute," Ron said, still fuming but wanting to calm down in front of his mother.
When he was alone, he grabbed the diary and flipped to the last entry.
"...They found Harry today just outside the gates to the castle. He was in pretty bad shape and according to Madam Pomfrey it's touch-and-go as to whether he'll wake up. Ron and Hermione are refusing to leave his side and Hermione hasn't said a word since we found him. I know how she feels. If something ever happened to Draco, I don't know what I'd do."
"It's so obvious to me now that Hermione is completely head over heels for Harry but for some reason is dating Ron- something happened between them while Harry was gone to fight You Know Who and I really don't want to know what it is- it almost makes me happy to not be part of their little group like I so wanted to be at one point."
"While everyone was fussing over Harry, I was in the greenhouse with Draco wishing that we could have a place of our own. He told me to ask my father to help me buy a little flat where we could be together."
Ron slammed the book shut and threw it against the wall.
"DAMN IT!" he roared angrily.
There wasn't anything that their father wouldn't have done for Ginny. Ron could still remember Ginny asking him about helping set her up in a flat. Arthur hadn't even hesitated.
He sat down limply on the bed, his breath coming raggedly as he tried to control his anger. Hot tears filled his eyes as Luna reappeared in the doorway.
"Your mum wanted to lie down," Luna said closing the door behind her. "I gave her a sleeping draught."
"Thanks," Ron muttered, running his hands through his hair repeatedly.
"How are you doing?" she asked sitting down beside him.
"I don't know," he answered hoarsely.
"Almost feels like we didn't really know her at all, doesn't it?" Luna asked softly.
"I always thought my sister would make something of herself," Ron said. "And I never thought she could be capable of doing something like this."
"I know how close you two were growing up," Luna said putting her hand on his arm.
Ron didn't answer as he put his head in his hands.
"I know you're beating yourself up over this," Luna said gently. "But you had no control over this, Ronald. There's nothing any of us could have done. We were all so caught up with what was going on during the war."
"If I had been there for her though she wouldn't have been off walking around by herself," Ron said miserably. "And she wouldn't have found that bastard Malfoy."
"You can't be there for her every second of the day," Luna reminded him. "And you were trying to hold it all together for Hermione, too."
Ron felt like a fool for crying in front of Luna yet again but she didn't seem to care.
"Come here," Luna said wrapping her arms around him.
He couldn't hold it together anymore and he began to sob hard like his mother had.
Luna's heart broke as she tried her best to comfort him. She wish there was something she could do or say to make him see that this wasn't his fault.
"We should probably give the diary to Lupin," she finally said. "Maybe he'll know something he can do with it... proof or whatnot."
"She's my sister," Ron said letting go of Luna. "No matter what she's done, she's still my sister. I don't know if I can---"
"Of course," Luna nodded. "But if she knows what really happened to your father then she has to tell someone. She can't let everyone go on thinking that Harry did this."
"She's already done it for this long," Ron said, the anger rising up in him again. "And you should have heard that arse Malfoy, Luna! He thinks they're going to get away with this."
"Then we should come forward with this," Luna said softly.
Ron nodded. "There are a couple more journals up there too. I suppose we should turn those in, too.
"I'll get them," Luna offered.
"Thanks," Ron said. "Thank you for coming over like you did. I don't think I could have done this without you."
"I'll always be here for you Ron," Luna wove their fingers together.
Ron leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. "I-I--"
"I love you too," Luna said, touching his cheek with her fingers.
With Luna's help, he boxed up the rest of the journals and he told her they should probably wait until Charlie or one of the twins came home. He didn't want to leave his mother alone.
"Of course," Luna nodded. "Perhaps I can help you put something together for dinner."
"That'd be nice," Ron said setting the box in his old room. They heard voice downstairs and Ron paled.
"Where is everyone?" Fred asked.
Ginny shrugged. "I really appreciate you going with me to the healer's, Fred. But it wasn't necessary."
"Nonsense Gin," Fred replied. "You need someone there with you."
She wanted to tell her brother that there was someone there for her; someone who meant the world to her.
"That's what families do," Ron said icily from the foot of the stairs. "Right, Gin?"
"Ron what happened to you?" Ginny asked. "You just up and disappeared from my flat."
"He forgot that we had plans," Luna replied before Ron could. "He felt really horrible for dashing out like he did."
"Oh," Ginny looked at her strangely for a moment. "Well... whatever then." she was relieved that Ron appeared to have not overheard her argument with Draco.
"Ginny and the baby are healthy," Fred said smiling at his sister. "Healer says she should stay away from stressful situations though."
"Too bad we're all right in the middle of one," Ron said bitterly.
"Where's Mum?" Ginny asked. "I wanted to show her this picture the healer took of the baby. She said it was sort of like a Muggle sonogram. You can actually see her toes and fingers..."
"Sleeping," Ron said shortly. "She had a bad day."
Fred frowned. "I thought she was doing better."
"She is," Luna said sharing a look with Ron. "But things sort of caught up with her today. I gave her a sleeping draught and hopefully that will help."
Fred nodded. "Thanks Luna."
"Did you want to see the picture?" Ginny asked Ron. "Of your niece?"
Despite his anger at his sister, Ron nodded. "Sure."
Ginny smiled and handed him the black and white, grainy photograph. "There's her hand....and that little thing there is a foot...isn't she adorable?"
"Yeah..." Ron answered quietly. "Can't wait to meet her Gin."
"Have you chosen any names yet?" Fred asked his sister.
"No," Ginny said. "I have to discuss them with... well I have to talk about names with Mum..." she covered quickly.
"You know dad would have spoiled that little girl rotten," Fred said wistfully. "Just like he did with you, Gin."
Ginny shifted her eyes guiltily away. "I don't want to talk about Dad."
"Luna," Ron said trying very hard to keep his emotions in check. "How about we get started on dinner?"
"Of course," Luna took his hand.
When he and Luna were alone in the kitchen, Ron took out his wand and set a silencing charm on the room. "I can't do this," he said angrily. "I don't know how in the hell I'm supposed to just sit here and act like everything's fine and dandy while she's----"
"I know," Luna soothed him. "You did a very good job of holding it all in back there."
"And if I'm ever in the same room with Malfoy---" Ron said his voice trailing off as he thought of all he'd do to that bastard for tearing his family apart.
"Shhhh..." Luna tried to calm him down. "I know it's hard but we have to keep a level head right now. If Ginny even suspects that we know about Malfoy, she'll tell him and he'll run off."
"I'm trying," Ron said exhaling. "I really, really am, Luna."
"I'm really proud of you," Luna said softly.
"For what?" he asked in disbelief. "Crying in front of you?"
"For holding it together like this," Luna said. "For your mum and the rest of your family."
"It's because of you," Ron said looking at her. "You're like this angel on my shoulder telling me to do the right thing..."
"An angel?" Luna brightened. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"You are," Ron said leaning in.
Luna closed her eyes as he kissed her. "Thank you," she said sincerely.
Ron shook his head. "Thank you."
"When did this happen?" Fred had walked into the room and was looking at his brother.
Ron turned red. "I'm not sure."
"About time you got over Hermione," Fred replied bluntly.
"Fred!" Ron exclaimed.
Fred grinned at Luna. "Hope you know what you're getting into.
Luna giggled. "I do."
"I'm going to go check on Mum," Fred told them.
"Luna and I actually have an errand to run," Ron said.
"I bet you do," Fred said with a grin and a wink.
"Sod off," Ron replied. "It's not what you think." he felt guilty for not saying where exactly they were going but he knew Luna was right- if Ginny suspected anything she'd take off.
"Sure, little brother," Fred said, laughing as he left the kitchen.
"Sorry," Ron shook his head. "It Fred and George's mission in life to torture me in every way possible."
"It means that they care about you," Luna said smiling at him. "And if I'm going to be a part of your life, I'll have to get used to it, right?"
"Guess so," Ron replied, squeezing her hand. "We should get that box over to Lupin."
"You go upstairs and get it and I'll tell Ginny that we're going to bring something back for dinner," Luna said.
"Thanks," Ron took the silencing charm off the room before heading upstairs.
Ginny was sitting on the sofa admiring the photograph of her baby. She didn't even notice Luna coming back into the room.
"Ron and I were going to get some takeout for dinner," Luna said. "Are you going to be sticking around?"
"I told Fred I would," Ginny said looking up. "And I wanted to show Mum this. I think she'll be pleased, don't you?"
"Of course," Luna nodded. "It's her first grandchild."
"Fleur will probably beat me to it," Ginny said with a laugh. "She's due before me."
"Oh right," Luna said. "Perhaps you should think about moving in here in case you need anything for the baby. It can't be good for you to live alone right now." she chose her words carefully.
"I'm okay," Ginny insisted. "Sometimes, it's really hard to be here. There are so many memories."
"Of course there are," Luna sat down. "But you can share them with everyone."
"I can't give up my flat," Ginny said firmly.
"I see," Luna nodded as Ron came back into the room.
"What have you got there, Big Brother?" Ginny asked.
"Just some stuff," Ron said evasively.
"Oh," Ginny said with a shrug. "Well, I'm going to take a kip. I'm kind of sleepy."
"Sure," Ron said. "We'll wake you up when we're back with dinner."
Ginny stood up and gave her brother a hug. "You've been really great to me, Ron. I'm sorry that I haven't always appreciated it. Thank you."
Ron stiffened and patted his sister's back awkwardly.
"My little girl is going to be so lucky to have you for an uncle," Ginny said her voice breaking.
"Since she won't have a father around," Ron said, trying not to sound too cold.
"Right," Ginny said quietly. "Harry."
Ron clenched his fist. "Right." he echoed.
"We'll let you get some sleep," Luna said gently. "Come on, Ron."
"I can't put up with it for much longer," Ron said when they were outside the house. "She's lying through her teeth and I can't stand it."
"It will be over soon," Luna promised. "And you'll have to think about what will happen with Ginny's baby."
Ron sighed. "I didn't even think of that."
"Chances are, she and Malfoy will both go to Azkaban for this, Ron," Luna said. "Someone's going to have to raise their daughter."
"You're right," Ron wondered if he could possibly do something about it.
"You don't have to think about it now," Luna said. "But eventually..."
"I hope it's soon," Ron said quietly. "I don't know how longer I'll be able to sit by and watch Ginny act as if everything is just fine."
"I know," Luna touched his hand. "You're doing great so far."
"Thanks to you," he said giving her a slight smile.
"Anytime you need to let off steam you know I'll be here for you," Luna promised.
"Let's get out of here," Ron said. "We need to get these journals over to Lupin."
"Of course," Luna replied, taking his hand.
Ron couldn't help thinking about his niece. She didn't choose her parents and she certainly didn't deserve not to grow up in a loving, caring home.