He landed unsteadily on his feet upon arrival. That's what he got for apparating across a sea with an empty stomach. Looking around him he nodded in satisfaction. He was right where he was supposed to be. North of Scotland. Very North in Scotland actually. He'd apparated over from Rathlin Island, tourist season finishing up there made it a perfect place to apparate across the Irish Sea.

It was time to scope out packs that might be swayed to Albus' side. Or, at the very least, away from Voldemort's. Packs on the mainland would be more affected by the politics of such things. So, Remus had decided to start up here with the hope that Greyback's influence hadn't made it here. Voldemort's base was way down South, in England. Maybe the werewolf had kept himself around there as well. It would be much easier if that beast hadn't tempted them. Scottish werewolves tended to be more stubborn and less easily persuaded of anything. Not that that meant something, they kept to themselves in clannish alliances with scuffles breaking out now and they. They didn't really busy themselves with human affairs.

It was worth a try anyway just to say to Albus that he'd tried his best. Then he could get moving further South where he knew of a few Packs and loners that would at least listen. Hopefully.

Remus brushed his hair out of his eyes, it was starting to get long, and strode away from where he had apparated from. It wasn't a well-used area but there was no use taking chances. Constant vigilance and all that.

He looked longingly at the mountains, knowing Hogwarts (and Hogsmeade) was somewhere beyond them. He knew she was there; she had reported it at the last Order Meeting he had attended after all. The Order Meeting where he had stared at her all evening like a complete stalker as Charlie Weasley had oh so helpfully pointed out.

The previous Order Meeting

Remus tried to shuffle his way through the crowd, not wanting Molly to corner him. She would either try and ply him with food or, even worse, try and get him to talk to her. The first, though tempting, wouldn't do him any good. He loved Molly's food (who didn't?) but he was just getting used to going a bit hungry. The Pack never really had enough food to go around unless they had a particularly good hunt so the adults went hungry more often than not so the children didn't have rumbling stomachs. The hunger pangs had finally gone, he couldn't spoil himself with rich food. The second, talking to Molly, almost frightened him. She'd be talking at him not with him. Nothing good would come of it.

Thankfully, she was distracted by Elphias and the door was right there. Only three more steps… Why did people loiter in doorways? He was just about to squirm around Bill and Kingsley when a broad hand grabbed his shoulder. Remus couldn't help but tense and try to tamper down the urge to swing round and shove the person who did so. Thankfully, he only got as far as the swinging around bit. Wolfish urges had been running high the past few weeks.

"Charlie Weasley!" Remus greeted, meeting the brown eyes of the stocky Weasley boy.

"Remus," the man returned giving a half sort of smile.

It was always an odd feeling talking with the older two Weasley boys. He'd never taught them, never even met them until a few months ago but he'd always known them. He supposed it didn't hurt that he taught all their younger siblings.

"Look, Charlie, I really have to go-" he tried to make his excuses.

"Avoid Tonks?" Charlie finished with a raised eyebrow.

That made Remus' mouth clamp shut. Charlie folded his arms and leaned against the nearest wall. Remus scanned the room, looking for her. It was a lot harder now that she wasn't wearing her typical bright colours anymore.

"She's already gone," Charlie told him, staring intently at his face. "One of the first to leave, actually."

Remus' face snapped back to the younger man.

"Oh," he said weakly.

The two of them stood in silence, Remus feeling more uncomfortable by the second. Charlie obviously wanted to talk about something so he didn't feel like he should leave. The red-headed man was taking his sweet time about it though, just staring at him intimidatingly. It took a lot to make Remus feel uncomfortable by a stare. Though he supposed working with dragons gave you that sort authority in your personality. Just as Remus was about to dismiss himself Charlie decided to speak up.

"You know, Remus, I'm not much good with reading people. Better with animals," Charlie stated quite matter-of-factly with a slight smirk before frowning again. "But I do know when my best friend is hurting."

"I didn't hurt her," Remus said automatically.

That was true. He was helping her. He was.

"Bullshit," came the blunt reply. Remus gaped at him, making him shrug unapologetically. "It's true."

"I don't know what you've heard-" Remus said stiffly.

"Heard enough."

"Oh really?"

Remus could bet that all the man had heard was gossip. Gossip spread around in a piecemeal fashion around the Order several times over with more fantasy twisted in than reality. Charlie had bee out of the country, what did he know?

"Why are you two not together?" Charlie asked bluntly, no beating around the bush.

"That's none of your business," Remus replied sharply.

A red eyebrow went up. "Seems to be everyone's business."

Reus made a scoffing noise at that. What did he say? Gossip!

"We didn't work," Remus said shortly.

"Didn't look like that to me. You two always got along real well."

"Not anymore."

"No," Charlie sad sarcastically. "You just split up to avoid each other and stare at the back of each other's heads following every movement she makes."

He did that? She did as well?

"It's creepy," Charlie added.

The two pressed against both walls as more people shuffled past them, finally finished talking.

"It's none of your business."

"Do you want to stalk her or be with her?" Charlie demanded. "'Cause you're not doing a very good job of either."

"I am doing neither. There is nothing to do."

Charlie gave him a disbelieving look that Remus avoided. He needed to leave. Now. He turned to do just that only for Charlie to stop him again.

"Fix it," Charlie said quite simply.

Remus was about to argue with him when Molly's voice came from the kitchen.

"Charlie? Would you help find Elphias' coat? He's seemed to have lost it!"

"Coming Ma!" he replied and gave Remus a point before abruptly leaving.

With a sigh, Remus did as well.

Charlie was right. He had to fix this. There would be no more lingering around, no more watching her. She wasn't his. Not anymore. And was never going to be again. He had no right whatsoever to her wellbeing or her presence. He had to get better at avoiding her until everything died down a bit. Until no attachment was there.

Remus took one last, lingering look at the mountains. It would be just one quick visit. It might even be a Hogsmeade weekend and he could see Harry…

No. No. He was not allowed to think like that. He had to focus. Keep his mind on the mission. Head in the game and heart out of the way. Well out of the way. That's how he had to do this. That was how he was going to survive this. Maybe not entirely whole but still get through it.

He hefted his rucksack onto his back and turned away from the mountains. No use in thinking of thinking of them anymore. He had to get going and head south of the Highlands. Hopefully Greyback hadn't reached the Pack there.

One crack later and he was gone.