Hope in Tomorrow

"Hope In Tomorrow"

A silent figure slunk among the shadows of a darkened Number 12 Grimuald Place, bare feet padding on faded carpet, light breaths echoing through the hall. A flash of copper illuminated by the pale light of the half moon, its silver rays managing to slip between the heavy curtains. Swiftly, and with the grace of one who had made this trip before, the night phantom entered the kitchen, lit in eerie amber light from the nearly extinguished fire in the corner. The sound of flying cutlery caught the woman's attention and she looked up to see the twins with identical mischievous grins charming silverware to set itself on the table. She heard a squeal and saw Hermoine as she dove away, giggling like mad, and she turned when she heard her mother's bellow as she berated the scheming pair. Then, as suddenly as they appeared, they vanished, leaving a cold and silent kitchen suffocating her.

Exhausted, her grief-stricken, paper-thin body collapsed on the floor, wracked with sobs.

Dead.

All of them.

Dead.

Voldemort's Death Eaters killed them all in a matter of seconds before themselves slain by other Order members. Hermoine died fighting for vengeance of Ron, her lifeless body fell still clinging to her lover's. The Second War had left her as the only surviving member of the Weasley family, and she missed them so, she hated only seeing them in her nightmares.

And Harry...

The thought of him caused her to sob harder, his smiling face and glittering emerald eyes hovering behind her lids. His messy jet-black hair matted with sweat and blood, his face contorted in agony and concentration as he battled with Voldemort. They fought for ages, fatigue overtaking them in the end.

Then he fell.

Green light obscured Ginny's vision, she saw his wand fall from a lifeless grip; the spirit she loved and the deep pools of jade she could get lost in both vanished. Now only dull green eyes stared into the sky. She screamed. She could hear nothing but the beating of her own heart. Her throat felt raw as she tried to run to him. Bodies tripped her feet and a pair of strong hands restrained her from holding his body while it retained warmth.

Remus held his grip on her as they watched Dumbledore defeat Voldemort. The prophecy was fulfilled as Harry's blood stained the grass around his lifeless body. Remus stayed with her as she searched for the bodies of her family, her friends, as she held Harry in her arms and wept.

Now he was all she had left. His calm demeanor and soothing voice kept her, during the first few months together at the old Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, from leaving this world.

Remus had lost all of those he loved as well; a bitter taste in his mouth every time another name added itself to the list he kept, James and Lily at the top. When Ginny moved in with him, he decided that his own grief was better kept for the dead of night. She needed another to care after her, for he still found her sometimes in the middle of a dark kitchen, memories rising unbidden and tearing her apart.

She didn't hear him come in, and barely felt his strong arms around her as he carried her to her room. He placed her under the faded covers, and left a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her tears finally subsided and she stopped him at the door, her voice hoarse with tears.

"Harry wasn't the only one who passed out when the Dementors came."

"What are you talking about, Ginny?" He asked as de shot her a quizzical look from the doorway. She attempted to sit up, but her head swam and she lay back onto her pillow as Remus strode across the room and sat at her side, softly stroking the hand she placed in his.

"When you first came to Hogwarts, the Dementors boarded the Express searching for Siruis. Everyone heard about Harry's fit, but made little mention of my fainting spell." She paused, barely able to go on, Remus's warm hand her only anchor to the present. "When it came to our compartment, I....heard...I heard Tom's voice in my head." She shivered at the memory, and Remus tucked the covers tighter around her.

"It was horrible. I felt the chill of the chamber around my body, and his cold breath as he whispered into my ear to lay still as he raped me of my virginity, my innocence, and my childhood." The hollowness in her voice made Remus want to envelop her in his arms and tell her it was all alright now, but she continued and he resisted.

"Hermoine took the clue from you and proceeded to shove a Chocolate Frog down my throat after Neville came and fetched her." A smile flitted across Remus' sunken features at the image of the busy-haired genius forcing food into Ginny's mouth.

"Harry also told me of what you said to him, before the holidays, about a traumatic experience that none of his classmates could understand. I did. I still do. Perhaps that is why he and I managed to stay together for so long. We both knew what it was like to have Voldemort haunt your sleep." The thought of their time together brought fresh tears to her eyes and she buried her head in Remus' strong chest. He stroked her disheveled hair and kissed the top of her head as he berated himself for not realizing she too would be affected. Why hadn't he checked on her that night? He wanted to apologize, wanted to....do something, but words seemed to die on his tongue, his regrets in no doubt fumbled apologizes deemed themselves usless. He sighed as he told himself that dwelling on the mistakes of the past blinded you to mistakes in the present. He spoke, not really knowing what to say, but let the words flow from his barely-mended heart.

"I loved him too, Ginny. He was the son I never had, and I miss him terribly. Don't start withdrawing from me now, or ever. Understand? I need you here." He took her face still wet with tears in his hands and stared into her eyes. "You're all I have left and if you ever leave me, I'll never forgive myself." Ginny nodded, knowing she could never abandon Remus, for he also knew what it was like to have another voice inside your head.

"Now, get some sleep." He stood to leave, but she clung to his hand, not wanting to let go.

"Stay with me tonight, Remus. I don't want to be alone." He stared at her for a moment, looking so vulnerable and tiny tangled in the blankets. Nodding, he slipped in beside her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, the position comfortable from those first nights, the fear and grief subsiding in his warm embrace. S he heaved a contented sigh and snuggled close, her eyes fluttering close, her breathing soon deep and steady with sleep.

Remus watched her in the pale moonlight, his heart aching at her pain and beauty. He wanted to make her happy again, to let her know that his heart had longed for her for many years. Yet, she still clung to the past, to Harry, and he could not in good conscience bare his love for her while her heart still beat for the dead.

He forced his eyes shut, his mind taking him to a place where everything made sense agan, where those lost were alive again, and she loved him with all her heart. Perhaps, he thought before succumbing to a black sleep, perhaps tomorrow she would finally be able to bury Harry and allow herself to love again. To love him.

Always leave hope in tomorrow.