Tested In Fire

For Kelly Jo, who wanted a chapter dedicated to her. For all the memories, good and bad, and the ones we'll have in the future.

Chapter Twenty-Four: I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Remus and Anna sat together in Remus's private quarters, each one sipping a glass of wine. Remus's hands were shaking, and Anna's eyes were closed.

"Damn," she muttered. "I thought, well, I thought maybe we would have more time with Harry and Ginny before things got bad."

"It's odd," Remus mused, "that Voldemort would go after that particular house-elf."

"Well, we know that she used Butterbeer quite a lot. Perhaps she was easier to control."

Remus shook his head. "Still."

"I know. Remember the first time he started to takeover?"

Remus closed his eyes and swallowed. "I don't want the kids to have to go through what we went through."

"I don't either, but it looks like there's nothing we can do for the present."

Remus nodded. "Anna, I was thinking..."

"Always a dangerous enterprise. What were you thinking?"

Remus smiled. It felt good to do so. "How about we get married over the holidays?"

"What? Which holidays?"

"Christmas holidays."

"Remus. We simply don't have enough time, and security, and the flowers, and the guests, there's just so much to do that I don't..."

"Anna." Remus's voice was, as usual, soothing, and effectively cut off her rambling. "Who do you really want there, besides Sirius and Harry?"

Anna chewed on her lip. "Well, there are some people that I would like to see again..."

"But who do you really, truly, need to have at our wedding?"

"You, Sirius, and Harry."

Remus chuckled a little, knowing that he had won. "Why don't we ask Dumbledore if we can't borrow Harry for the holidays, and we'll get married quietly without any fuss?"

"What about Harry's safety? We don't want Voldemort attacking our wedding."

"We won't tell anyone that we're getting married, and no one will ever know where Harry is. The story we'll send around is that he's gone to The Burrow for the holidays. Voldemort wouldn't dare attack there with the wards that Dumbledore has set up for Harry's summer visits."

Anna nodded. "We can do that. How about we use your parents' old lodge? We could get married in the garden. I always loved the way it smelled."

Remus smiled. "Sounds good to me. I'll owl the caretaker and tell him that we're coming."

There was a silence.

"Remus, we're really getting married this time."

"The thought had occurred to me, believe it or not."

The two burst into laughter.

"Did we really think about that the first time?" Anna asked, seriously.

"I don't know. All I knew was that I wanted you forever, and that was the way to ensure it."

As Remus mulled over that for a while, Anna allowed herself to drift back into memories. "Remember James and Lily's wedding?"

"Yes, I do. I remember the beginning of the bachelor party. We got James so pissed he couldn't walk at all." Remus sighed.

"As I recall, none of you could walk at all after you were finished. Lily and I had to practically carry you and James up the stairs to your room."

"That's why I said I remembered the beginning of it."

Anna chuckled. "I miss them."

"Hmm."

"It's a shame they won't be able to see Harry grow up and get married himself."

"Oh, I think they'll be able to see it, it's just that they would have loved to be there."

Anna nodded in agreement. "Instead he got those awful Dursleys."

"Life isn't very often fair."

"Tell me about it."

"I just did."

"Okay, smart aleck. I'm going to have to punish you."

Remus lifted his eyebrows. "How is that?"

"I'm simply going to have to kiss you until you can't breathe. Now, there's no use arguing about it. The punishment has to fit the crime."

"Yes, Professor."

Anna bit her lip, considering. "You seem entirely to eager for the punishment, Mr. Lupin. Is there something you would like to tell the court?"

"I would like to state, in my own defense, that being kissed by a beautiful woman is hardly considered a punishment."

Tilting her head to the side, Anna took a moment. "Well, I guess the court will have to withdraw its earlier sentence."

"That isn't necessary. The defendant has no objection to the earlier suggestion."

"Well, then..."

The two kissed deeply and tenderly, until Remus truly couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, Anna stood up. "Let's go talk to Dumbledore. There's too much to get done, and not enough time."

Remus smiled, bemused. "Here we go."

**

"Harry, what's going on?"

Harry looked up from his Potions essay to find Ginny Weasley staring him straight in the face.

"I'm writing my Potions essay."

"No, that's not what I'm talking about. Please don't make this difficult."

"Okay, I'll try not to, but I don't understand what you're asking me."

"I'm talking about you and me."

Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Everyone seems to be."

Ginny let out an exasperated sigh and sat down next to him at the table that he was sitting at in the common room.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your brother and Hermione."

"Sweet Merlin."

Harry shrugged. "I thought it was kind of funny. They already act like a married couple. Basically, Hermione told Ron to deal with it."

"That's just the thing, Harry. Deal with what?"

"I don't know what. I'm not sure I want a relationship with Voldemort targeting everyone that I'm remotely connected to."

"Are you talking about Winky?"

His silence told her everything.

"Listen, that wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't?" Harry's voice was dangerously quiet, which was worse than if he had screamed at her.

"No, it wasn't," Ginny said, defiantly. Harry Potter didn't scare her. Besides, she'd waited long enough to have this conversation with him. Maybe it would pull him out of this funk he seemed to be in.

"Voldemort was most likely using her to try to kill me, and she didn't follow through and he killed her. You see, if she hadn't known me..."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! You know what, if you're determined to pile everyone else's personal decisions on your shoulders, fine. From this moment on, I don't care."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's not your fault. Did you catch that?" Her voice was rising in pitch and volume. "Not your fault. Nope. Not even the tiniest bit Harry Potter's fault. There wasn't anything you could have done. Nothing. I'm sorry if that hurts your ego in a twisted way, or something, but that's just not the way the world works."

Most of the Gryffindor common room was staring at them now, and Ginny blushed becomingly, and lowered her voice.

"You see, Harry, we have this thing called personal choice, and Winky made her own decision. In fact, she may not have even been thinking about you when she did."

Harry worked his mouth around, trying to find words, but that was unnecessary, as it didn't seem like Ginny was going to let him speech anyway.

"Every time something happens, I watch you beat yourself up over it, and it hurts, Harry, to see you see you in pain like that. Some people might think it's an act, but I know that you're really doing this to yourself. It's one thing to grieve, but Harry, all these people are dead, and you are alive. So live. I know that sounds cruel, but somebody had to say it."

She spun on her heel and began to walk towards her dorm, leaving Harry speechless. Then he had an idea.

"Ginny!"

"What?"

"Come for a walk with me?" He held out his hand for her to take.

"All right."

They headed out of the common room hand in hand and waved good-bye to the Fat Lady.

"Now, would you look at that," the old portrait muttered to herself. "Well, it's about time."

They walked in silence for a time, six inches apart, each carefully breathing so as to make the least amount of noise. Both of their brains were whirling fast in a confused jumble so that neither one was entirely sure about what they were thinking or feeling.

"Harry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

Harry smiled. "No, actually, you should have. You know, you're the only other person in the world besides Ron and Hermione who would do that to me?"

Ginny blushed. "I'm not sure that's a compliment, but all right."

"That's a good thing. It shows you think of me as just Harry. I rather like that."

"So all I had to do was lose my temper and scream at you for you to hold my hand?"

Harry chuckled. "I guess, if you want to put it that way."

"Well, then. I wonder what took me so long."

"Ginny, I think we should talk."

"Me too. I've just been so confused since you, well, you know, in the Ivy Room..."

Harry's smile turned mischievous. "No, I don't know."

Ginny looked shocked, then saw his grin. "Since you kissed me."

"Me too."

They looked at each other and collapsed into laughter.

"You mean to tell me that we've been walking around wondering and worrying about the same thing for a month and half?" Ginny gasped.

"I guess so. Ginny, listen, I'd really like it if you would, um, be my girlfriend."

Ginny's eyes widened, but she decided to pay him back. "I don't know. I can't remember if you were a good kisser. I don't want to date anyone who isn't a good kisser."

Harry was speechless for a moment, and then went along with the game. "Well, then. Allow me to demonstrate."

With a swift movement, he tilted her head back and pressed his lips against hers. Ginny was fairly sure that she heard bells, or singing, and that her hair was standing on end.

When they finally broke apart, Ginny grinned. "That was... nice."

"Nice? I don't even want to know about what you think is good."

"Well, to be honest with you, that was more than nice. That was amazing."

"I thought so, too. So, will you?"

"What?"

"Be my girlfriend."

"Yes."

Harry's smile was so wide it hurt. He bent down and kissed her again.

"You're kind of short."

Ginny laughed out loud. "Yes I am."

"That's okay. Short is good."

"I'm glad you think so."

They broke away for a minute and stood facing each other.

"Well, this is different," Ginny mumbled. "Harry's girlfriend. I like that."

"Ginny's boyfriend," Harry mused aloud with a an amused smile.

"I think we should tell Ron and Hermione."

"Now?"

"At supper tonight."

"All right."

They walked off down the corridor, hand in hand.

**

Later, at supper, Harry tore open the envelope Hedwig had given him.

Mr. Harry Potter,

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Ms. Anna Black and Mr. Remus Lupin, during Christmas holidays. Your lodging, food and other necessities for the entire break will be taken care of. Do not mention this to anyone. Please RSVP by Monday during Divination. We crave your presence.

Sincerely,

Anna Black and Remus Lupin

"Well, I'll be..." Harry muttered.

"What is it, Harry?" Ron asked, his mouth full of potatoes.

"Nothing," he said, turning the paper over and over in his hand, then stuck it in his pocket.

"You know," Hermione said, "it's about time you two made it official."

"What?" Ron was shocked.

"They've decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend. Isn't that marvelous?"

Ron winced at the kick he received under the table. "Wonderful."