"Minerva!"

"Remus, how are you?" Minerva allowed him to kiss her cheek as they met in the back of a dingy pub.

"I'm okay," he shrugged. "How are you?"

"I am not okay," she said honestly. "I miss him in every moment and detest what I must do."

"He would not have asked you if he did not think you strong enough," Remus said quietly.

Their relationship had changed somewhat over the course of the last year. While Albus had been off doing whatever it was that he had been doing, sometimes with Harry in tow, Remus and Minerva had taken to meeting every now and then and conferring with each other about Order business. Albus had pulled away as leader since his battle with Voldemort at the Ministry. He had told Minerva there was something he needed to do beyond what anyone else in the Order could, that must be done. She had simply rolled her eyes and continued to do as she was told.

"I am not sure I can ever forgive him for dying," she murmured. "I had expected him to live forever."

"Death is just the next great adventure," Remus said poignantly. Minerva looked at him sideways and he smiled. "It's something Harry told me Albus said to him. I'm sure he's off doing whatever it was that he did when he wasn't saving the world."

"Buying socks," Minerva chuckled.

"He was a strange man," Remus sighed wistfully. "I could never work out what he was thinking."

"He thought too much."

Remus hummed and offered his glass in toast.

"I hear you have put away your sensible nature and are now running around willy nilly trying to take down the Death Eaters en masse." She said it offhand, but he paused mid sip and looked at her. He growled.

"You've been talking to Dora."

"I have," Minerva smiled. "And I would like to say two things, if I may. One is something I shall repeat from the night of Albus' death: Albus would have been happy to know there was a little more love in the world, even in such dark times. And two, you are no good to anyone dead, Remus. That girl loves you and if I am not mistaken I think you might love her too."

"I do love her," he said angrily. He got up and paced back and forth in front of her. Had she not known him as well, she would have been startled by his actions. "But she is stupid to love me."

"Why?"

"Why?" he yelled, remembering afterwards where they were and he dropped his voice. "You know why, Minerva."

"I know that you are an incredibly intelligent man with a heart of gold."

"I turn into a fucking monster."

"And you manage it in the best way you can. Nymphadora knows all this and loves you anyway."

The wind seemed to go from his sails and he sank back into his seat.

"If you love her, why wouldn't you do what you both want?"

"Because I am terrified."

She had finally got to the heart of the matter, and she couldn't blame him.

"Remus. You have never been defined by that. You have never let it control your life. You have always made a point of that, in fact. Do not start now, when you have a chance at the happiness people only ever dream of! I, for one, know how short-lived that can be."

"You're right, of course," he scoffed, looking at his clenched hands. "They would be so disappointed in me."

"No," Minerva said quietly, knowing of whom he was referring to and placing her hand on his shoulder. "James and Sirius would understand, and stand by you. And then would tell you the truth, as I have tried to do."

"Thank you," he managed to choke out. "Thank you, Minerva."

"You are most welcome," she smiled, getting up now that she had finished her drink. "I must return to the castle. Be safe, dear boy."

He laughed but accepted the small kiss she placed on his forehead.

"You too," he said grimly as she walked away.