→ and i will hold on hope

[hexuality]

When; 05 October, early Friday morning.
Rating; PG-13?
Characters; Ginny Weasley [hexuality] and Remus Lupin [mapmaker].
Summary; Nightmares and bad feelings about mysterious cottages in the wilderness.

Log;

[Ginny Weasley dreams of war. It isn't new and it isn't a surprise, she's been plagued by it since before there was even a war on, except the diaries and the dying roosters are mingled with the castle blasting apart, with friends and family being struck down. No, it isn't new. But it's been worse since the month began and she knows by now that it must be a curse that's heightening it all, making them daily instead of simply frequently. Enough to lose sleep and some peace of mind, enough to wish she wasn't so alone.

Tonight, she's bolted awake in a cold sweat and a stillborn cry on her lips and she's on her feet and moving before she's even realised it. She goes to Remus' bedroom, eases his door open a crack, just enough to see him, to reassure herself that he is still alive and breathing and safe. She almost wants to cry, knowing what she does, knowing that he won't always be that way and for her, the worst has already happened. But not here.

She lingers for a long while, standing there in shadow and watching the rise and fall of his breath as her own steadies. Then she moves off, grabbing a glass of water in the kitchen, pushing open the huge window that leads to the little metal terrace of their flat. There, on the grate and in the corner, she settles, trying to breathe.]

Comments

[mapmaker]

[ He wraps his arms around her back, his palm covering the back of her head and it's gentle and kind. ]

We'll be all right, both of us.

[hexuality]

[She lets him hug her for a few long seconds, then her arms lift to return it, exhaling softly against him and letting everything clattering around in her come to a rest just for a few moments. Her eyes close, shoulders relaxing a little and she just breathes.]

You're so sure.

[mapmaker]

Yes.

[ He thinks that she's been through enough. The world owes her a little bit of peace. ]

[hexuality]

[What would he think if he knew her full story? She can't bear to tell him, to cause more grief, to say the world doesn't stop being horrible for years and years.]

You're a good bloke, Remus Lupin. [She lifts her head so she can rest her chin on his shoulder, looking out over the empty apartment, arms still around him.] I hope you know that.

[She never told him before it was too late.]

[mapmaker]

Well, it has been said.

[ It's not ego. No, Remus tries to be a good person, to make up for the monster that creeps under his skin. ]

If you ever need anything, Ginny, you can ask me.

[hexuality]

You've done so much.

[She genuinely means that. She leans away from him, hands on his shoulders, studying him for a moment.]

Thank you.

[mapmaker]

[ He watches her, concern evident but then again, he's already fond enough to feel naturally protective. ]

I mean it.

[hexuality]

I know you do.

[She squeezes his shoulders once, gently, then looks away and takes a breath, reassuring herself and him both. She picks up the cup of tea he made her and lets the warmth of the ceramic seep through her palms and she takes an obliging sip under his watchful gaze.

And then she flashes him a quiet smile.]

It's delicious, Remus. Doing your mam proud, I see.

[mapmaker]

[ His own returning smile is fond. ]

She swears by it. Dad is more of a hot toddy kind of bloke but it's not like I can get my hands on good Firewhiskey here.

[hexuality]

[Her brows raise at that and she grins, shuffling down the counter so she can pull open a cupboard. And in there, she unearths her single bottle of Firewhiskey.]

You mean like this?

[mapmaker]

[ He looks at the bottle, then at her, then laughs. ]

Well, all right, had I known that I would have made you something stronger.

[hexuality]

[She looks a little sheepish and puts it back.]

I've been saving it. It was payment from Anonymous for fixing up the Hall.

[mapmaker]

It's funny how they can bring stuff from home and yet there's no way out.

[hexuality]

Things from home always manage to turn up. If it isn't a curse, it's a trade.

[mapmaker]

I imagine if I ever needed to trade anything they'd probably look at me funny for the chocolate frogs request.

[hexuality]

We could try and make them.

[That would be an incredible distraction for her.]

[mapmaker]

We could. I wouldn't know where to start though.

[hexuality]

With chocolate, of course. The charm can come later. You made the Marauder's Map, didn't you? Aren't you a brilliant wizard?

[mapmaker]

[ He laughs, ducking his head. ]

Well, I wouldn't say that. But I'm more than capable.

[hexuality]

Exceptionally capable.

[She feels more settled now, a little less like shattering apart. Her hand reaches out to squeeze his.]

We'll be just fine, as you said.

[mapmaker]

[ He returns the gesture with a small modicum of concern. ] Of course we would. Hogwarts wouldn't have prepared us for any less.