Chapter Twelve. 600 words.

Theme 099. Solitude.

Remus came into the kitchen at six o'clock the next morning, but Harry was already gone. The kitchen was not, however, deserted.

"Good morning," Remus nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed at his flannel pajama pants and t-shirt, although his companion did not even seem to notice.

"Good morning," Maddox Brows greeted, promptly removing herself from the small, square kitchen table and getting a mug to pour some coffee for Remus in. "Sorry there's no tea. Harry doesn't keep any in the house, except when the kids are home."

"That's fine. Thank you," Remus answered the younger woman, accepting the mug and sipping. He grimaced.

"Should have warned you, I suppose," Maddox smiled apologetically. "Auror's brew. About ninety times stronger than would be necessary to burn your taste buds off."

"I suppose he needs it, as busy as he is."

"That, and he hardly eats most of the day. Since Mrs Potter passed, he hasn't taken very good care of himself." Maddox confided. "I do what I can, but he keeps himself locked up so much..."

Remus nodded, but privately, was beginning to wonder if Harry was not quite as well-adjusted as he had been led to believe. Not that Remus would have blamed him, considering everything the man had been through, but it worried him to think that he was just another thing Harry would have to adjust to in his already chaotic life.

"Harry wanted me to tell you to make yourself at home, considering, I quote 'that's where you are'. He won't be back until pretty late this evening, probably, but he wanted you to let you know that Hermione Granger would be over later to ask you a few questions concerning your... situation."

Remus frowned. "How so?"

"Well, I don't know the specifics, but I can guess that as happy as everyone is to have you back, no one exactly knows what caused it. The hospital has so far honoured their agreements to not talk to the press, which is good, because Harry gave them an absolute order not to violate confidentiality, or he would launch a full-scale investigation that would be sure to turn up every single minor infraction of the law for the last decade, and see that the hospital made amends for anything he uncovered. He's quite scary, when he wants to be."

So this was what twenty years had done to Harry. His reluctant assumption of the hero title had given way to a sense of real authority, which Remus guessed was probably more an adaption of necessity than any particular leadership qualities. Still, it was interesting, and in a way Remus envied his self-confidence, as well as his ability to stand up for Remus's sake without being questioned.

"So it's just you and I, then?" Remus asked as he tentatively sipped his coffee again, and anxiously wondered if it would be asking too much of Harry to acquire some Earl Grey.

"Ah, I wish," Maddox laughed good-naturedly. "I've got several floo calls to make, letters to write on Mr Potter's behalf, that sort of thing. I'll be leaving shortly."

"Oh," Remus said, dismayed despite himself. It wasn't as though he and Maddoz were bosom friends, or anything, but he hadn't anticipated being alone quite so soon.

"Or, I could probably stay and get work done around here," Maddox suggested, and Remus was embarrassed by how transparent he had been.

"No, that's alright, Ms Brown," he said nonchalantly. "I'll probably just spend most of the day reading, anyway."

"Are you sure?" Maddox looked uncertain, but Remus waved her off.

And then, he was alone.