The minute Remus entered the crowded pub he wondered if he should turn around and leave. The only seat open at the bar was next to someone he didn't want to be near if he could help it. Thinking it would be obvious if he turned around and left, he decided he'd just do his best to avoid talking the man.

Even as he approached the bar, he could feel Kingsley Shakebolt's eyes on him and wondered if he had been waiting for him to arrive. It wasn't long ago that an auror in disguise had stealthily questioned him about Sirius Black. Remus had a feeling he Shakebolt, the head of the Black investigation, was there for a similar purpose.

He reached the bar and Shakebolt turned toward him. "Remus Lupin I presume," the he said.

"That's right."

"Kingsley Shaklebolt, auror. I recognized you from your file when we reviewed the Hogwarts staff last year. Albus Dumbledore spoke very highly of you."

"Shaklebolt. Aren't you the head of the Black investigation," Remus said, already knowing the answer.

"That's right. Any idea where he might be?"

"No," Remus said almost too quickly.

"Me neither. You look like you could use a drink. Allow me," Kingsley said raising hand and signaling to the bar man.

"Cheers," Remus said. Kingsley was being suspiciously friendly.

"Any friend of Dumbledore is a friend of mine," Kingsley said.

They made casual conversation until their drinks arrived. After raising their glasses, they each took a drink. Remus was sure some questions about Sirius were coming. And as he set his drink down he began to panic. He wondered if Kingsley had spiked the drink with a truth potion. How could he have been so stupid to accept the drink?

"What brings you to the pub tonight," Kingsley said casually.

It was a question. Remus decided to try a lie. What could he say? A few tables away, a couple looked like they were having an argument.

"I'm trying to not think about my ex," Remus said, and then felt relieved the words came out successfully. He'd really come to the pub to relax after a long day searching for work but not finding any. Maybe there wasn't a truth potion in his drink… or maybe it hadn't kicked in yet.

"Ah," Kingsley said knowingly. "I've been there. Did you just break up?"

Another question. Remus decided to try lying again.

"We broke up in the fall," he said. The lies were still working… for now.

"And have you seen her since?"

"We ran into each other around the holidays."

Shit. Was that the truth potion or had he accidently told the truth? The last time he'd seen Liv, who was his ex, was on Christmas. He added, "I hooked up with her on New Year, and we haven't talked since." Of course, they hadn't hooked up, but Remus finally felt sure there was no truth serum in his drink. He sighed in relief.

"I can see why you're having trouble forgetting her," Kingsley said. "Do you want her back?"

"I don't know," Remus said, although he knew he was lying still.

"I don't usually give relationship advice - I don't like to get involved. But, if you're still thinking about her, maybe there's a reason for it," Kingsley said.

Remus nodded, thinking about Liv. "What brings you here tonight," he said, changing the subject.

"I'm meeting a woman," Kingsley said. "A colleague," he said with a wink. "In fact, I believe you two have met." Kingsley signaled to someone over Remus' shoulder. Remus turned to see Liv approaching. She looked surprised to see them together. "Liv, I believe you've met Remus Lupin."

"Yes, we have. How are you, professor," Liv said formally, shaking hands with Remus. Despite them both trying to appear casual, something about their hands touching was anything but casual.

"I see you've returned for the school year. When I read about the tournament in the paper I thought they might need extra security."

"You can never be too careful," Liv said, trying to act natural.

"I've got to be going," Kingsley said, passing Liv a file stealthily. "I don't know why you need this but I hope you find what you're looking for."

As Kingsley turned away to pay, Remus gestured to the file, wondering what it was. Liv mouthed "Mad-Eye" with her back to Kingsley. He was surprised she was still suspicious of him.

Kingsley said goodbye to Liv and turned to Remus and added, "it was nice to finally meet you, Lupin. Good luck with that woman."

Liv looked curiously at Remus, who was about to explain about the truth potion, but before he could he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around expecting to see Kingsley again, but instead saw a good-looking woman.

"There you are," she said excitedly and before he knew what was happened, she kissed him. In shock, he let it happen, trying to remember if it he'd ever met this woman before. She broke the kiss and continued, "I was wondering when I'd see you again."

Remus was completely confused. "Oh, hi," Remus said. He wasn't sure what else to say.

Remus realized that Liv was no longer beside him but heading for the door.

"I thought you said you wouldn't be back for months! Did you capture many dragons in Romania?"

That's when it hit him. This must be one of the women Sirius had picked up in the pub while using Polyjuice potion, sometimes using hairs of other people, but most often using hairs from Remus. Sirius would tell lie about his name and profession, and Remus assumed that's how this woman knew him.

"You promised to show me any new scars when you came back," she said with a wink.

"Right, I did say that… would you excuse me for a minute," he said trying to pry himself away from the lady to chase after Liv.

He caught up with her in the dark street as the snow was beginning to fall. "Liv, wait."

She stopped and turned around.

"I don't know who that-" he began, but Liv interrupted.

"It's none of my business," Liv said, and he detected coldness in her tone. It was instantly familiar to Remus because he recognized that tone in himself. Liv was jealous. "I've got to get back to the school. I only came down to get this file."

"You still think he might be trying to harm Harry?"

"Yes," she said defensively. "I didn't want him to know I was looking into him, that's why I asked Kingsley to meet me here. Anyway, I'd better go before he realizes I'm gone."

Remus tried to think of something else he could say to Liv, but nothing came except "goodnight".

He didn't go back into the pub, but went back to the shack instead. He wished he could have explained to Liv that the woman who kissed him had nothing to do with Kingsley's comment. He was too shocked to see Liv was jealous. Did she still have some feelings for him? After their kiss at Christmas, maybe it should have been obvious. But the fight that had at his dad's house still echoed in his head… Lost in his thoughts, he didn't take as much care as he usually did to make sure no one saw him entering the shack. But someone did see.