Irritation

Irritation

Having been thoroughly cherished, Ginny felt energetic enough to get up early and cook a full breakfast. Severus, though, appeared utterly reluctant to rise, which was Ginny's habit rather than his. He sniffed and nodded approvingly when he finally made it to the bathroom, but as he sat down at the table stiffly, the smoky scent of the fried bacon was overlaid with the scent of the muscle soother, arnica, wyvern bile and camphor.

Recognising how his aching back originated from all too much and rather wild activities during the evening and night, Ginny swallowed against the heat rising up to her cheeks and knew better than to remark on it.

"You prepared a wonderful breakfast; my turn to clean the kitchen. As you don't have any homework and the weather is agreeable, get some fresh air! Please also visit Maud Taylor. You are the only one who really knows what has happened to her."

:*:*:*:

On their stroll through the park, Maud relished the idea that she would soon have Easter holidays. "Two more weeks and then I'll be my own boss for two whole weeks!"

"Lucky you," Ginny sighed. "My break from classes is to be longer, but we'll face a whole list of social obligations that we're definitely not going to enjoy." And I haven't a clue what I'll face after Easter break, she added to herself.

"You should still squeeze in some exercise on the bike," Maud declared and insisted that Ginny was to use her mother's helmet.

"I suppose," was all Ginny could answer. She still had to convince Severus of the plan and knew he would cotton her in all kinds of spells, but she had to keep up appearances for Maud's sake.

After Marcus Flint's assault, Maud had seen a gynaecologist and was to see her again just before Easter. "Just in case there is something medical," she explained, sounding utterly unconvinced.

She had further been talking to a psychiatrist about the incident, but after two times she had broken off. "That woman accused me of dramatising when I told her just how scary he was and how the two other blokes had not been able to move. Can you believe it, those idiots pretend they don't remember a bit! I am left for a fool."

Ginny felt helpless. Obliviation wasn't perfect, but what else could they have done to the bystanders?

"I have been there, Maud. I've seen it. It was... yes, we should say it clearly, it was disgusting. I feel so sorry for you, Maud. But I see how strong you are. If it helps you, you can talk to me."

"Ginny, I haven't seen you in two weeks."

"Yes, I know, and I'm really sorry. I've missed talking to you. Will it help if you write it down? You could use a diary and see how you develop?"

"My impressions are not changing. I could type Control-C Control-V every day..."

This time Ginny's blank face gave her away.

"Oh, I forgot, you can't have computers, can you? They need electricity."

Newly enthused, Maud told her about the fun she had with this thing, and how it saved her going to the library. "Let's get to my place and have a look. We can also pick a bike tour."

While their tea was brewing and the PC starting up, Maud fetched a folded map. Thanks to Professor Windeye's course in Geography, Ginny didn't make a complete fool of herself as they picked a route for maybe three hours. "It's a nice tour, partly in the sun, but sometimes on shady forest paths. We'll also pass by some local sights, like the latest blacksmith or the abandoned dye works, a subsidiary of the monstrosity here. You'll like it."

"That'll be great. I know so little of how Severus grew up, other than that it was miserable."

"Now let's take our tea upstairs and look at my PC!"

Maud's enthusiastic explanations of software and her favourite games left Ginny more confused than enlightened. Colin and Dean only laughed about this computer-thing, and Severus had never even mentioned it. Then again, Professor Barnes knew about computers; would she have to understand them?

When a wildly flashing square disturbed Maud's explanations, insisting she act immediately to not lose a fortune, she said smartly, "No, we won't 'click here'! See, this window looks suspicious. I'll not download anything dodgy to my PC. Close! Someone could trick me and look into what I'm doing."

Smiling in recognition, Ginny nodded. "Spy-ware."

Now Maud stared nonplussed into Ginny's smug face until she explained, "One of my teachers told me about this. He warned me of something similar. Hey, that reminds me, can I see the Orthography spell?"

"The what? A spell? You must be joking."

Damn, what had Barnes called it? Ginny wondered and quickly distracted her friend. "Oh, forget it. Show me what you can do with this thing."

They went through Maud's recent school work, things called programs, and a 'web' that sounded huge but didn't relate to any spiders. Most of Maud's explanations passed Ginny by, however when she explained talking to people via emails, Ginny's face lit up.

"Wait a moment, Maud! Is it normal that a family has a PC? What about professionals, people like Heal... err, doctors, accountants?"

"They all do. Let's see, GOOGLE. It's a search engine. You can find all kinds of data with it! You know, places, facts on history or science, people. We'll write 'Oculist Liverpool'. Here we are." Maud scrolled through and hit the next page. "See. Lots of them."

Now Ginny was all excited. "Dentist, Oxfordshire!" she ordered.

"Here, do it yourself!"

Ginny searched her way through the letters on the so oddly structured thing called a "keyboard" without accidentally charming the needed tiny button to flash up for her. It was no wonder Muggles needed a check on orthography...whatever they called it.

After the last letter, Maud commanded, "All right; now enter."

Confused, Ginny looked around for a lid or something.

"Huh, what're you doing? It's this key here. Ah, quite a lot of dentists. However, you should check our area if... Hey, what are you doing? Be careful with the equipment."

Ginny's heart was thrumming wildly now. Excitedly, she scrolled down until... "Here!" According to Hermione's description the highlighted entry should be her parents. "How did we never... I could... I will ask Severus... goodness!"

"I see," Maud said slowly as Ginny wiped sweaty finger on her jeans. In a hushed tone, she asked, "Are they friends of yours you thought you couldn't reach? Well, now you can! I'll bookmark their page. Oh, sorry, it means you'll be able to find it easier."

"I do know what a bookmark does!" Ginny replied indignantly.

"All right, all right, sorry!" Maud lifted her hands in surrender.

A window popped up, saying, Volleyball!

"Oh, my, time truly flies," Ginny said and pushed herself away from the desk to get up.

"It doesn't matter; just click it away," Maud said in an odd voice.

"No, I should go. We have been in here for hours. Severus deserves my help, and I certainly don't want you to miss your exercise."

"I'm not feeling..."

"Maud Taylor," a high-pitched voice from downstairs interrupted her. "You take your lazy backside to your practice today, or I will cancel that membership. I'm not pouring my money down the drain if you're just going to shut yourself away!"

"Mother is being her charming self again."

"Wait," Ginny said, "you didn't go last week, then?" The expression on Maud's face told her she was right. "You must go out again, Maud. Meet your friends! They're all girls, and you've known them for a long time."

After a minute of silence, Maud pleaded, "Will you come with me this time? Please!"

"You'll skive off again if I don't, won't you?" Ginny tilted her head to look at Maud. "Right, that's settled then."

When Maud still didn't move, Ginny stepped closer and engulfed her friend in a wide hug. Gradually, the tension of distress was loosening, and Ginny broke with the words, "Come now, pack your gear, we're going."

The ever-anxious Severus was persuaded with Draco's help, and Ginny found herself inside a Muggle school, equipped with her running shoes. Most of the girls greeted them happily enough, only a few grumbled a bit about Maud cutting it so fine before the start of a league match.

Practice began with warm ups where Ginny was allowed to partner Maud to even the numbers in relay races. She had never done any hurdle jumps before, and it must have shown as the Coach called her back to the bench lest she'd risk an injury.

The game itself was... a total bore, and Ginny had to suppress a few yawns for Maud's sake.

When they left, some younger boys stormed in, each equipped with a bouncy, red ball. They easily filled the hall with their happy shouts. Their enthusiasm reminded Ginny of the first-years in flying lessons. "These basket-ballers are pretty good," Maud told her.

"Sometimes our coach makes us watch them to understand team spirit, as he says," a nearby girl provided. "They are so cute, I could cuddle them."

"On Thursdays there is nothing fun to watch, though," another noted, receiving either groans or laughter.

"Pregnancy yoga and Antenatal classes", Maud explained to Ginny, grimacing. "It's a course run by the local midwife."

Reacting to Ginny's sharp look, she conceded. "Well, yes, they are lucky, because Ms Miller's program is said to be quite good. But all the blown up bellies, dreamy eyes, you know." Her grin was not reciprocated, and she shrugged, not noticing that Ginny's heart skipped a beat. She carefully filed the information away for later use.

:*:*:*:

Severus waited for Ginny at the exit, wearing his tracksuit and carrying a very Muggle, cotton tote bag sporting a neon slogan which read 'Saving the world – one bag at a time'. "I'm sorry, Miss Taylor, but we have to leave immediately," he said and took Ginny's shoulder before she burst out laughing at the sight of him.

They rushed away from the girls and Apparated to a forest where one of the two conspiring werewolves was waiting. They checked around thoroughly that they were alone and then went over to a thick clump of trees and shrubs. Inside, the werewolf-girl was sitting miserably on a few branches, clutching her knees in her arms, rocking her body back and forth. The man bent down and gently took her shoulder. "Clara, dear, they are here. Stop crying." She looked up.

Severus bent down to inspect her, but she crept away from him. With an impatient huff, he turned away from the distraught girl and beckoned Ginny over. "Speak to her. We can help her, but she must listen to me and do as I say, immediately."

Ginny knelt down. "You're Clara, aren't you? I'm Ginny. This is Severus; he's the one who's been brewing the Wolfsbane."

Clara looked up questioningly, eyes wide in fear. She was smaller than most year-zero students at the Academy, but even in the dim light, her eyes revealed experience far beyond her years.

It took some more encouragements until she was ready for Severus' instructions. He spoke slowly and in a very serious tone, falling into his teaching mode, which, unfortunately, never sounded reassuring. "We can take you away from Greyback, but it would be forever. If they ever see you again, they will kill you. It is a decision you must make now."

When nothing was forthcoming, he repeated, "Is this what you want: to leave the pack and live with people unbeknownst to you?"

"Severus, where do you want to send her? Is it to who I think?" He nodded, and Ginny continued. "We'll send you to a group of nice people. Some are my age. I don't think any are your age, but two are also werewolves."

The other werewolf looked up sharply. "To... Lupin? Clara, you know him from last year, the silent, friendly guy who took Fredrick along."

"Oh, but of course," Ginny remembered now. "You will probably meet Fredrick. He used to go with Remus for his transformation. He's a lively one, isn't he? Made me laugh, that one! Three werewolves then."

"You know him?" Clara asked in bewilderment, and her shoulders relaxed.

"A little. Now, listen to Severus and don't be afraid. He has the plan."

Severus shot a hard look at the werewolf and with a nod and a little pop the man was gone.

The plan was for Clara to drink Polyjuice and walk to the gates of Hogwarts castle. "We'll bring you as close as we can. Your name..."

"... is Fleur. Am I right, Severus? Yes, Fleur. That's French. She is my brother Bill's wife. She's got a strong accent, so don't talk too much."

For the next few minutes, Clara took in details. She was to address the headmistress, Remus Lupin, or any person with red hair. Or Harry Potter. Her eyes widened, and she began to tremble. "You know him? Will he be there? I cannot talk to him!"

"Oh, but you can. He's... he's... just a boy, really! I was his girlfriend. Severus," she called over her shoulder, "can't we deliver a message with her? Just greetings from me, and that I'm fine?"

"You've just done that, haven't you? Don't sneer; it doesn't become you! I agree that whatever your... last contact might have reported to them could use more fortification. Now, there are more important things to discuss."

He assumed his formal pose again and continued with his instructions. "You'll have very little time, maybe only thirty minutes. Then you'll re-Transform because Fleur Weasley, being part-Veela, cannot be replicated for longer," he explained to both of them. "We cannot deliver you to the gate, which means you have to make haste, but you can get used to the body of a grown woman before you meet anyone. Be a bit loud and don't appear as if something was wrong."

"Once you're inside and with one of those people I mentioned, quickly show them these pies." He opened the bag for her inspection, and her shoulders relaxed as she nodded. "The lycanthropes should be familiar with them, and I think everybody knows them from sight. These are four, and one is for you."

"You might meet Fleur's husband, Bill. He looks... yeah, terrifying. Greyback bit him in the face, and it looks just awful, even if he smiles. If you meet him, he'll expect you to be comfortable with him, like the real Fleur is. He adores her. So please be prepared. Be VERY gentle before you tell him who you are."

The elder werewolf noisily announced himself, and Ginny finished. "You can do that."

Clara swallowed. "Right," she said, although she looked like believing the opposite.

"Clara, are you going with them? Then I must say goodbye here. I must not know anything of tonight. Severus will Obliviate me. Be good, my girl." They hugged silently, and the men went away.

Clara pulled at Ginny's sleeve and whispered urgently, "He was such a great help. He protected me, but he's losing his position in the pack. I'm worried for him!"

"I'll tell Severus about that. Look, please Clara, tell Harry to keep going, will you? He needs to befriend a black Hippogriff. I've sent this message before through... someone, but please repeat it; it is utterly important. Here, give him a kiss from me."

"I couldn't..."

Suddenly, Severus was between them, gripped them around their waists and Apparated them away. "Close shave." He breathed deeply and Apparated them again. After some more relays, Ginny was able to stabilise herself enough to recognise the silhouette of the Shrieking Shack against the evening sky. She rapidly reassured herself of her wand and asked, "Have you still got your wand?"

But Clara had been bitten at the age of eight and didn't even have one. The werewolf pack provided no systematic, magical education. "We pick up a bit from the elders."

Ginny looked for a twig. "We'll make this glow for your walk down to the gates. They'll see you coming, and you won't trip over the roots. Incendocaldo!"

Severus gave her the Polyjuice drink and a piece of bark to bite. He held her tight during the pain of transformation, but as a werewolf, she merely scoffed when it was over. Ginny had her stand upright, then embraced her fiercely and nudged her. "Go down before I lose my nerve and run myself."

The Snapes remained in the dark, listening.

"Who's there?..." - "Me, F... Fleur" - "Fleur? Why? Aren't you..." Recognising it as a Weasley voice, Severus took Ginny's trembling hand.

"Is McGonagall zere? Quick!"

"Come in now."

Ginny exhaled deeply and already felt the jerk of Apparition.

:*:*:*:

As promised, Brenda and Theo Nott visited the Snapes the next day. While the women inspected the garden, an apprehensive Theodore made his way into the lab. "I truly hope it helps," Brenda murmured, brows furrowed. Ginny felt the same. Theo had become a friend, and she could not imagine him as wand fodder in a battle. He was Brenda's only son.

Outside, Ginny identified most of the Potions herbs, and they found a space to expand for basilica, thyme and rosemary. "Ginevra, you need to make it crystal-clear to Severus that all the poisonous stuff has to go," Brenda insisted. "Truly all of it, and you must begin this spring! Weed several times before he regrets it."

Ginny swallowed. How many times did they have before their dark master demanded babies, and could she handle the responsibility?

"Now, tomatoes go in their special plot," Brenda continued in a lighter mode. "It is the same one every year, sunny and with a wall behind them. You can add a sunbeam reflector spell and have them ripen in no time. Muggles know early and late varieties, red and yellow ones. Then there are charmed variants that bear fruit for the whole season. I have one to bring you when it is time.

They found spots for onions, carrots and lettuce. "Not that you could cover your kitchen needs, but it is nice to see them grow."

They defined where a gooseberry bush would go and a few rows of strawberries. Brenda checked the apple tree. "Is it a Muggle tree?"

"Severus talked about climbing it in his childhood. His father would never have tolerated a magical one." After Brenda had trimmed it with a steady wand hand, its branches looked far less entangled. "Now most of its apples should get their light and their space. A main lopping is an autumn task though. I'd clear space under those two huge branches. They can carry a swing. Oh, don't look at me like that, the little ones tend to grow!"

While she carefully spelled branch-goo on major cuts, Brenda provided, "Find out what sort of apples these are. If they are a late variety, or even for storage, you should have something else for spring and summer, or the other way round."

When the sun stood deep, the women's backs were aching, their heads were heated from exhaustion and mud covered their hands. But they had made a difference. A pile of branches and excavated whole plants near the shed was the proof of their labour. They went inside, and after freshening up, they called Severus and Theo up for tea.

Bleary eyed and shaking, Theo gulped down a glass of water in one go before he sat down at the table. "Goodness, Severus! Theo looks like a Gryffindor after detention with you," Ginny scolded.

Her husband just shrugged. "Potions is an exact art, but I gave him gloves."

:*:*:*:

A downpour of rain and household chores kept the Snapes cooped in all Friday.

To cheer his wife up, Severus told her, "Our dear headmistress had originally planned to group the fifth years according to their Hogwarts houses for the O.W.L.s ceremony. She wanted to publicly compare the achievements, demonstrating Slytherin's superiority. Guess which house thwarted her plan?"

Confused, Ginny looked up from the laundry, which immediately collapsed into a wet puddle.

"You easily exceeded the average of Slytherin and ranked second after Ravenclaw." He went over and kissed her lightly. "Have I told you how proud I am? How well you were doing? Considering that flying was not in the O.W.L.s, I can imagine how you'll score for term's end."

A warm rush went through her body, reddening her cheeks, and Severus once again swore to himself to make her smile more often.

When she lightly countered, "You sprinkle praise over a Gryffindor? Boy, you're slipping," he sneered as was expected. Her wide grin was all reward he needed.

The next moment he became serious again. "The O.W.L.s are stored in the Ministry, and I am positive they will be publicly accepted by whoever wins this war."

He took a deep breath. "And yet, it isn't but a small security." If only he saw a way to spare her from their master's plan!

"Aw," Ginny moaned and kissed away the melancholy before it got hold of her husband.

In contrast to the O.W.L.s, the end of year exams would be entirely under the control of Salazar's Academy and include practical tasks, both Flying Techniques and Combat Flights. This setup would allow those who had the predisposition needed in battle strategy to remain at the Academy to hone their skills even if their academic achievements left something to be desired.

"You will not have problems with these subjects per se, but you'll not like the tenor in these classes anymore. We will have to reconsider your education," Severus concluded.

:*:*:*:

Although it was late when they turned in and Severus normally woke with the sun, he set an alarm. An odd anxiety gripped Ginny. Since around the graduation ceremony, she had had the impression something was amiss, but she could not put her finger on it.

When the melody chimed, Severus was awake immediately before he needed to be rocked and shaken. He reached over to the still form next to him. He stroked her cheek and tenderly ran his fingers into her hair until she opened one sleepy eye.

"I have dreamed of this morning for weeks on end, and I will not have it differently now," he declared.

"Severus, what is it?"

"Tonight was... don't you know?"

"Goodness, yes, the fourth new moon after our wedding!" With a flush she remembered. Until recently, the date had been incredibly important.

"Indeed. Take a last deep breath now. I will not stop kissing you until breakfast."

Had she only imagined things after all?

:*:*:*:

Lucius showed up for what he called a Duelling demonstration. First he and Slash gave a demonstration in the Great Hall. Both jumped back and forth, dodged, cursed, blocked and hexed.

Time passed, but Lucius was pressing on and on. The air had a smell of sulphur, two windows were broken, and a bench had caught fire. The pupils' Aguamenti! had prevented further damage but left the furniture and several bystanders drenched. The heroes in the paintings on the walls fled the site, and the trainees growled that they wanted to prepare themselves rather than watch.

Suddenly the door boomed open, and Severus shouted, "Finite Incatatem! What is going on here?!" He had the third-years in his wake so that they would not explode a cauldron in the meantime. Slash cringed under his elder colleague's dangerous glare.

Malfoy played the innocent. "Ah, Severus, join the show? Send the little ones to the back and let's see what you've got, will you?"

"This is a school, Malfoy."

At that moment the headmistress arrived. "Lucius, I'm surprised. You wanted to see the students' performance you said. I was under the impression you wanted to watch." She took his cheek as a personal insult, even though she added, glaring at Severus, "And our oh-so-experienced colleague could not reinstate order by himself, I see."

Severus rolled his eyes ever so slightly, but Ginny saw, or felt, it anyhow.

With a huff Severus ordered his own class back. The poor things would have to endure his foul mood now. None of the just-graduated students envied them.

They were now arranged in pairs. Four pairs would fight, Slash and Malfoy pacing and giving advice, the other eight observing and learning. Ginny was in the first group and fought with all she had. Slash was delighted, but of course it wasn't good enough for Malfoy. He would not correct her either, but carped on about insignificant details and laughed at any mishap.

She knew very well it was the Vow that angered him whenever he saw her. Likewise, it was the thought of the diary ruining her first Hogwarts year, of Dobby and of Draco that angered her whenever she saw Lucius. She had a plan for him already, and today was the day! Draco had confirmed to her she had escaped unnoticed, and Draco himself seemed unaware of the booklet she had found in the summer house.

Her occasion for revenge came when the second pairing was fighting. There were three among them with abysmal aim. Ginny positioned herself behind one of them, and when Malfoy was behind his opponent, he was hit with one of the three hexes she had memorised.

Lucius turned around when the curse hit him, but it was as clever and mean as its inventor: it would show its actual power over the victim only an hour later, and then repetitively every two hours.

Her mother would be disgusted that Ginny made a man rub himself, but she calculated he would not have much energy left to harass his family or any Muggles if he was cursed to lay hands on himself so regularly. Depending on the caster's determination, the spell would hold approximately a fortnight, the booklet had told her.

:*:*:*:

Ron was participating in normal life, but he had what he called his odd moments.

Fred summarized, "The Department of Magical Transportation has informed our Aurors at Hogwarts about the place they found your leg and other parts. Charlie retrieved our old Cleansweep Four from that place. We still cannot explain how you have ended up with it."

Ron took this in with a frown. Had he been at The Burrow to get their broom? Why? A broom is for flying. Yes! His face brightened up. "I had been flying, and really long, too. It might have been for hours." He shuddered as the memory resurfaced.

Sadly, Fred reminded him, "Ron, there are Ministry squads patrolling. You would have been caught."

"I know that we dodged one. Later Ginny said there had been five. We flew in erratic ways, more erratic than I've ever flown."

At the mention of Ginny's name Harry left the room with a huff.

Fred let the disputable topic be and countered, "Ron, your arm was injured."

"I wasn't really doing anything myself, you know. Ginny led me. She scolded me for nearly dropping my wand."

His brother smiled at him, hiding his deep concern. Whenever entrapped in inconsistencies, Ron concocted a new yarn, and the solution always circled about Ginny.

The next day Arthur Weasley checked the reports of the patrols. There had been a few unexplained cases in the hours in question. They were spread all over the country, though. It was nothing to hold onto, as long as they didn't know where or when exactly all this had taken place.

:*:*:*:

In the common room Neville told his mates, "You know, it's weird. Ron talks about Ginny all the time, and I truly think someone has patched me up on this island. Someone looking like Ginny."

Hearing this, Harry finally lost it. Colour rose in his face, he stomped his foot, and his fists clenched until his knuckles showed white. The mirror and two glasses on bedside tables shattered. "Will you all stop it!"

And so they did not mention Ginny anymore, because Harry's mood was the worst to bear.

:*:*:*:

"I'm leaving, I'm sorry," Ron's head bent in despair as he went towards the door. Hermione's eyes followed him sadly. Alastor's training in duelling should last for two hours, but Ron was passive as a punching ball after thirty minutes already.

Harry didn't take this well at all. His bad mood returned. "Why are we doing this?"

Ron turned and replied urgently, "Harry, you must go on, especially now that I'm useless." He opened the door. The golden evening sun shone in through the corridor windows. He left without another word, his hair catching the light and forming a strangely radiant halo. Remus went over to take Ron's place and duel Harry.

"Ginny! Wait, Ginny, I need to talk to you." It was Ron shouting along the corridor. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Hermione wrenched open the door. Joyce, a young Auror with auburn hair, stood a few yards down the corridor, staring at Ron.

"You thought she was Ginny?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded, his face torn in pain.

"Could you please come back and walk down the corridor again?" Hermione asked the Auror. "Remus, Harry and Alastor, stay here with me and look at the woman." focussing on Harry she added exasperatedly, "with an open mind if you can at all manage."

The Auror did as she was told. Her hair caught in the ray of sunlight that turned it sparklingly red. "She could resemble Ginny," Remus admitted. "For a moment at least."

"You're all mental!" Harry ranted. "Ginny is smaller and walks differently and..."

"Stop it, Harry!" Remus almost shouted. "We are here to understand Ron, to help him. And I think we need Nympadora now."

Hermione smiled. Yes, this is it. She took Ron into an embrace. "You will be fine, I'm sure. Come, let's find Tonks."

"Stop it, Hermione. I'm a mess. I'm hopeless and useless."

"Don't despair, Ron! You need help, yes, and we don't know yet how we can help you. But you're not useless. And I love you, you know that?"

"Hermione, it's been a week!"

Harry snorted. Hermione preferred not to answer. The truth was it had been eleven days. Ron had not been told about the four days in the hospital wing, and he had not bothered to check a calendar either.

:*:*:*:

Ron stood in the slightly darkened room. The person next to him was... Tonks. He knew that. Yet, she looked like Ginny now, and he wanted to pretend it was her. He also knew that his parents, Hermione and Remus were listening and watching, but he could not see them. He didn't want to, either. This was between him and Ginny.

Hermione had thought up this arrangement. She just did not give up on him, and he owed her his cooperation. It was something Muggle, half-transparent mirrors and such, and she said it would help him.

Tonks began talking, sounding like Ginny. "We're on the tiny rocky island at Land's End. You're fighting together with Charlie. Who are your opponents?"

Ron leaned back and closed his eyes. "A younger Death Eater. Flint, I think. He hurls a slicing hex..."

It felt like ages to go over the beginning that they already knew.

"We're now on the shore, and we need to leave. Why?" Tonks prompted, finally reaching the unknown parts.

"The others could come, and no matter which party, they must not see you helping me. St. Mungo's is not an option, and Hogwarts is too far. We need to get to..." Ron halted, and then said firmly, "your home."

"My home? Oh, but of course! How can we get there?" Tonks recalled just in time that Ron considered Snape's place Ginny's home at times.

"We'll Apparate and... fly," Ron explained. "I must take you side-along and you warn me not to hurt you or Snape would have my head. Then you command me to Apparate to The Burrow."

"... Where we take a broom ..."

"Wait! First I'm having a rest, as I'm exhausted. You go over to the house alone and tear down the wards. You pack lots of things into a satchel and take two brooms. You hand me chocolate and water. That is good! We talk a lot. You assure me you are doing fine. Snape is good to you."

"He is. Remember that!" Ginny-Tonks said firmly, as she assumed she should.

"No, no, you are supposed to scold me: I should say Severus."

"Right, it is Severus. He is my husband, your brother-in-law. And he treats me well." Tonks cast a helpless look at the semi-transparent mirror. "Do we go on? Are you stronger now?"

"Much stronger! I can Apparate us further. First I take you and one broom, and then I'll return to fetch the rest."

"All right, then. Where exactly are we going?"

"To... to the huge rock, where Bill took us as kids. Don't you remember?"

"Of course, I do, Ron. What was it with this rock again?"

"It should have done something magical. Can't remember." Ron shrugged dismissively. "It doesn't work, though."

"Oh, that place." She felt like rolling her eyes at the boy's ignorance, but her job was to coerce him, not to scold him. "Now we are there. What does it look like, and what do we do?"

"NO, I'm NOT there. I cannot see it. I... don't remember." Ron leaned forward and held his head with his hands, elbows on his knees. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't bad, Ron. We'll have to find that rock!"

Her face looked something like Tonks' again when she explained, "When you Splinch yourself in Apparition, your lost memories often return to the places they were created." By now Tonks' skin had lost her freckles. "We cannot safely visit The Burrow or Land's End yet, but we might visit this rock if it is a neutral place. Have a rest, Ron. You did well." She punched his upper arm encouragingly.

:*:*:*:

Bill agreed on coaching Ron a bit more since he was the one who supposedly had taken Ron and Ginny to wherever it was. It took them three days to figure out it had been the Draag Stone. He couldn't help muttering, "Britain holds a few more stones which don't have magic properties."

Ron felt chastised, but Hermione took him by his shoulders. "You've done it. Oh, Ron, I'm so happy for you. What did you say, 'Draag Stone'? I'll be right back..."

Bill nudged his little brother towards Hermione and thus the library. "Go after her!" To his surprise Ron did as suggested.

The pair returned late for dinner, sharing quite a bit of information about the famous landmark. Even Harry was appeased.

:*:*:*:

Shacklebolt, Fred and Bill accompanied Ron and Tonks to the Draag Stone. Tonks once again looked like Ginny, which made the whole trip very dangerous. Ron identified the place and fell into his memories. "I'm exhausted. I'm having water from the little creek. We lie down."

Within minutes, Ron's mood lightened as he remembered a lot of details about Ginny's daily life. Fred and Bill shared watch with Shacklebolt and listened in turns, not quite believing what they heard.

Tonks stretched her back as she had seen Ginny do, then proffered her arm. "This was a nice chat. You've regained your strength, and it is dusk; do we travel on?"

"No, we must sit and talk until it's darker. Then we'll be flying. You glue my right, injured hand to the broom and link my broom to yours."

As Tonks performed the spell, Fred asked in fascination, "Where has Ginny learned such things?"

Confused, Ron looked up. "Fred? Oh, yeah, she's only Tonks, pretending. Never mind. I'm all right," he added when he saw their stunned expressions. "I remember until here. We need to fly now, I guess."

They played the flying part of the reenactment for a short while to no avail, then returned to Hogwarts.

The next day, Arthur confirmed that a Ministry patrol was dodged about ten miles from the Draag Stone at the time in question, and several others had been within a radius of thirty miles.

Hermione was beaming, for Ron's confidence was back. "I'm not completely well yet, but I'm getting somewhere," he would tell her, and he also improved on how to behave towards his girlfriend.

:*:*:*:

The week at the Academy rolled on uneventfully for Ginny. Severus was absent most nights, though, and returned in a graver mood every time. Gone was the playful banter, and he seemed miles away even when they had a few moments alone.

Between lunch and the first afternoon lecture of the last day, Ginny went over to their rooms. She had just enough time to get through with the contraceptive potion she received every month.

Surprisingly, the beakers were not on their bedside table, although Severus knew she preferred to lie down. He entered seconds after her, hands empty. For the average observer, his face showed no emotion. For Ginny there was pain/sorrow and hopelessness in his eyes and in the twitch in his fingers. His whole posture spoke of doubt and desperation.

He didn't talk. This wasn't anything new, certainly not at the Academy. But never before had he spelled all doors closed, reinforced the blurring spell to keep the headmistress from spying and mutely started to... Merlin, he was seducing her in the middle of the day!

He disrobed her gently, however all his efforts could not cover his uneasiness. He was tense and stiff himself and felt pain rather than joy so that Ginny could not relax either. His teasing felt painful instead of enjoyable, and she herself couldn't find a single one of the spots that usually made him groan. Severus averted his eyes whenever she tried to read them.

This must have been what he had been rolling over in his mind for two weeks already. If she refused him today, he would accept this...she felt it. But he would try again, and it would be with the same nervous uneasiness.

Why could he want her with child so soon? Ginny had believed they would have time until midsummer or maybe even until her birthday. She lived too isolated from the war to know in detail what made him change his schedule. She trusted him implicitly to have his reasons. How could she possibly help him get over his anxiety?

With a swift move, Ginny rolled him over and straddled him. Administering kisses and tender suckling to his neck and collar line, she diverted him enough to Summon her wand into her left hand, where he would not expect it. She proceeded up his chin, drawing circles with her tongue and reached his cheekbone. Suddenly gripping his chin with her right hand, she forced him to face her. "Legilimens!"

A poorly clad, young woman, unkempt and with an indifferent look, held a likewise apathetic, unwashed, snotty little child at her hand. They shuffled along a dingy road that looked as hopeless as their lives.

NO!

Decisively, Ginny cleaned up the toddler and gave him sparkling black eyes and dark, wavy hair that bounced with his every step. She lifted the woman to walk straight and smile happily, her clean, red hair shining in the afternoon sun. The road smartened up together with their clothes. Now the child pointed ahead and tore loose from Ginny's hand to run with that dangerous looking toddlers' style into outstretched arms. Strong male hands lifted the child up high. It shrieked in joy, deftly gripping a nose that Ginny wanted to protrude prominently, but it threatened to shrink against her efforts.

Finally, she secured Severus' conk into the picture and surrounded it with his dark, bottomless eyes to remove all doubt that it might not be Severus himself.

The toddler safe on his hip, Severus should stretch his free arm to embrace Ginny and peck her on the cheek, but she lost control over the scene again. Helplessly, she watched as Severus' hair greyed and her own image grew podgy, resembling her own mother more than herself.

NO!

With iron will, Ginny trimmed her image's waistline and straightened her face. The couple turned and...now Ginny decided she could just have a bit more...faced the corner of a nice house. An elder child with reddish pigtails seared along on a toy-broom, hovering a foot off the ground. In the curve, the girl's brows were furrowed in concentration, but seeing her family, she careened right into them with a smirk on her face.

Without Ginny's doing, the imaginative Severus-father deftly caught the girl and her little broom before it hit the imaginative mother. All that was left for Ginny was to make her own image smile widely and enjoy receiving a small smile in return.

Satisfied, Ginny released the eye contact and kissed Severus fervently, desperately. "It's what I want, love! It's what we deserve! Let's fight for it together."

With the prospect of so much happiness, Severus relaxed.

:*:*:*:

A/N:

Warmest thanks are due to my beta and Britpicker team, Soprano-in-Shadow and MagicAlley. They not only shield you against misplaced prepositions and my absurd word creations, but Soprano-in-Shadow owns Ginny's wonder about a spiderless web while MagicAlly has a copyright on the slogan on the tote bag.