Remus sat at the table rubbing his temples as the room buzzed with half a dozen side conversations. The full Order had been in attendance at this evening's meeting to discuss the best way to retrieve Harry Potter. It had been a long and tense meeting filled with a long debate and ending with, what Remus felt was, a ridiculous number of volunteers set to pick Harry up in two days time and deliver him safely to Grimmauld Place.
He felt the chair next to him scrape across the floor and stood up to intercept Sirius before he retreated upstairs to brood. Sirius didn't stop to speak with Remus, instead he pressed through the crowded room to the hall. Remus followed catching up with him at the stairs. "Sirius," he said putting a hand on Sirius' shoulder.
Sirius paused for a second but then silently shrugged off Remus' hand. He rushed up the stairs leaving Remus alone at the foot of the stairs.
Remus sighed heavily. He knew Sirius would be upset after what had just happened but he had hoped that he would at least be willing to talk about it. Sirius had already been frustrated that he wouldn't be able to join the guard going to rescue Harry, but he had had an altercation with Molly during the meeting that had turned frustration into rancor.
Once Mad Eye had explained the plan and had started asking for volunteers, Sirius had started to make a suggestion which was interrupted by Molly hastily reminding Sirius that he could not be on the guard. Remus had cringed the second she had opened her mouth, knowing whatever she was going to say was not going to go over well with Sirius. Sure enough Sirius had roared back at her that he was just going to suggest that Remus be on the guard, as he was one of the only Order members Harry actually knew but that he was quite thankful that Molly had kindly reminded him that he wasn't able to go himself. His voice had been like acid and Molly had seemed to shrink in her seat. He hadn't said a word since the exchange, but Remus had felt him shaking with suppressed rage in the seat next to him for the remainder of the meeting.
Remus stood in the hall weighing his options. Would it be better to track him down and force him to talk about it or should he leave him to sulk? Remus felt it would probably be better to get him talking to diffuse some of his anger, but he was tired and not in the best of moods himself. He was annoyed with Molly who had jumped in to chastise Sirius prematurely and at Sirius as well for his inability to control his temper. It had been a long week navigating Sirius' moodiness.
Remus was saved from making a decision by a tug on the back of his shirt. He turned to find Tonks greeting him. "Remus! Do you, er do you want to get a drink with me? I wanted to talk to you about Harry. You know since I'm on the guard…" she trailed off looking hopeful. Remus noticed that her cheeks were a bit pink.
"Sure," he replied. Getting out of the house for a while would help him relax. He could deal with Sirius when he got back. Though he did feel a bit guilty going out when he knew Sirius could not. "Yeah, that sounds great actually."
"Really?" Tonks replied excitedly. She seemed almost surprised. "Great! Well there is a Muggle pub just a couple streets over if you don't mind."
"Lead the way," Remus replied.
The pub was dark and dingy but comfortable and crowded without being cramped. Muggles filled up the bar at the back of the room. A pool table and dart board took up most of the left side of the space. The right side was filled with small tables and chairs, few of which were currently occupied. Tonks moved to an empty table on the far edge of the room where there wasn't anyone close enough to overhear.
"You okay Remus?" she asked as they sat down. "You look a bit tense."
Remus smiled weakly. "I suppose I am a bit tense."
"Yeah that meeting was, well it wasn't pretty." Tonks whistled to emphasize her point. "I thought Sirius was going to hex Molly right there in the middle of meeting."
"Molly could have picked a better time to start in on Sirius again," Remus said with a hint of bitterness.
"Yeah. I think we were all just worked up. I mean dementors attacking Harry? That's the real stuff. Up until now it's just been waiting for something to happen. Still she was a bit cold." Remus didn't reply.
"Well I'll get us some drinks? What's your poison?" Tonks asked lightly.
Remus looked up at her. "Surprise me. I don't know much about Muggle drinks."
"Prepare to be surprised," Tonks replied in a playfully devious tone. She headed over to the bar to order.
Remus leaned back in his seat. He had a brief moment of guilt while he thought of Sirius. He imagined him back at the house searching room from room for him. But the moment passed when he reminded himself that it would probably be hours before Sirius would even think to look for him.
"You are looking quite glum my friend!" Tonks said as she placed a glass of vivid green liquid in front of him. It smelled vaguely of apples. "Drink up and tell Tonks what ails you." She sat down, placing her own glass on the table. "Are you having girl troubles?" she asked in a curious voice.
Remus lifted his glass and took a few gulps. "I'd rather not think about it right now," he replied.
Tonks scrunched up her face. She took a breath then replied, "Alright. Well let's talk about Harry then."
"What do you want to know?" Remus asked. He had to admit he was curious. Despite the large number of people volunteering to be on his guard, Tonks was the only one who seemed to be making an effort to prepare.
"Well, I'm not sure if you've noticed but Mad Eye, as great as he is at keeping people alive, he's not great with their emotional well being." She smirked. "I usually handle that part of the work. It's what makes us such a good team."
Remus sat back contemplating Tonks for a moment. "I see. So you are concerned about Harry's emotional well being?"
"Yes. Well I imagine he's probably not in the best state. Been cooped up all on his own all summer with no news. I'm sure he's upset. But I don't know him so I'm not sure if it will be an angry upset or an anxious upset."
Remus gave Tonks an impressed sort of smile. "You've put a lot of thought into this. We had the whole Order there volunteering to rescue him and not one of them gave a moment to consider how he's feeling."
Tonks blushed, "Well I just want to make sure he's comfortable. This is a lot for someone his age."
"Still that's very thoughtful. Well Harry is good kid. He's been through a lot for someone his age and he's very capable. Mostly you want to avoid treating him like he is a little boy in need of protection. Even though that is the reason we are there."
Tonks nodded. "That makes sense. I'm sure he's use to taking care of himself." She took a sip of her drink. "I just want to be approachable. Make sure he feels like he can talk to someone."
"I'm sure he'll like you Tonks. You have a way of making people feel comfortable," Remus replied. It was the truth. When he was around Tonks, he felt normal. She had a way of making him feel less self conscious about his affliction and she never displayed that weary air he observed in other Order members he worked with.
She laughed nervously, "Oh I'm sure it's just because I'm such a klutz. Knock enough things over and nobody notices how awkward anyone else is."
"No it's more than that," Remus said, considering Tonks over the rim of his glass. Her face was nearly the color of her hair but she was looking at him earnestly. "You seem to bring out the best in people. You have a very kind heart Tonks."
She was still looking at him. She seemed to be holding her breath. Remus peered back at her, transfixed. He wondered if anyone else had ever told her this before. Normally he wouldn't have spoken so frankly to someone he hadn't known for very long, but she truly did have a comforting quality. He was finding it very easy to talk with her.
She put her hand on the table, almost as if she were reaching out to him but then pulled back, looking away. "Thank you," she whispered and then she picked up her glass and quickly drank the remaining half.
Remus shook himself out of his introspective mood. "I should probably head back," he said, remembering Sirius sitting alone upstairs and fuming.
"Yeah. I should probably go home too," she said looking down at the table.
"Well I'll see you in a couple of days. Thanks for the drink," Remus said cheerily.
She met his eyes. She was smiling. Though it was not her usual cocky smile. This was more sincere, Remus thought. Open and warm. "Thanks for coming out with me, Remus."
He felt himself smiling too. "Any time," he replied.