It's bloody cold in this ruin of a shack. The roof has caved in and I sit underneath its remnants in the one corner that still offers shelter from the light rain which started about an hour ago. To find the shack was fairly easy after the detailed description that Remus gave me, on the same evening, after he had come after me and apologised. We ended up talking werewolf business properly for the first time. I still don't quite know what to make of it. Even after all this time, I might have underestimated the abyss that is his fear of hurting someone. Certainly while he was keeping his distance, after that watch together over a year ago, I accused him in my mind of using the whole 'I am dangerous' thing mainly as an excuse. I thought to myself that he was putting on an air of false nobility to the extent of actually believing it himself, inducing self-pity in turn. I might still not be entirely wrong, but I definitely had to realise that his fear, to him, is very much real.

It took him a lot of effort to allow me to come here this morning, only after he had acknowledged my fear in return. We still have a lot to work through and I guess how today goes will either help or interfere with future discussions, so I really don't want to mess it up.

With a sigh, I get up, stretch my legs and back and check my watch. Whatever fragile concession he has made, I'm determined not to put it at risk by letting him see me before the agreed hour. After ten minutes or so, the rain stops and I take it as a sign to grab my broom and get going. The bundle that Remus has left hidden is already in my backpack, no need to return to this place today. He had wrapped his wand in his cloak, together with an apple and a bar of chocolate, and my heart contracts at the idea of him sitting here, so many times already, nibbling and freezing until he felt better. No more of this.

I zoom around, not too high above the ground so I'm not visible against the sky, but hopefully high enough to spot Remus. Only I don't. After an hour of straining my eyes looking at half of Scotland, I return to the shack in case I've missed him – but he isn't there, either. Although I haven't seen anything or anyone else that looks potentially dangerous, I'm starting to get nervous. What if someone found him, lying helpless in the vegetation, and abducted him. Or hid his body in the ditch over there...no...no Remus. I know I'm being stupid as I fly across the wet countryside like a flustered mother hen, but as the minutes are ticking away, I can't help wondering if something in his safe plan hasn't gone terribly wrong. Should I contact the Order, ask for more people? If this is going to be my fate every month, I better get a grip on my-...there! Something is moving against the mountainside. I drop lower, wand at the ready, morphing my hair the colour of the treeline behind me. As I fly nearer, I distinguish a human shape, it could well be Remus, but there's something wrong with that person's gait. Cautiously, I approach the figure, making doubly sure I'm camouflaged against my background. Whoever it is is stumbling rather than walking, but this could also be a trap...Now the person is making a short pause, straightening himself, arms akimbo and I know it's Remus from the way he moves. Relief floods me and I want to burst with laughter. Instead, I quickly morph back to normal colours and fly over to where he is still standing. He notices me only as I gently land a few yards behind him. So much for safety. When I see how white his face is, I drop my broom and hurry towards him.

'Hello, Nymphadora.'

He smiles, but his face is sweaty and he's soaking wet.

'Are you ok?'

'Yes, under the circumstances.'

He is still smiling, obviously pleased to see me, and I smile back and kiss him.

'The shack is miles away! How long have you been walking already?'

'Not very long...I needed to rest a little.'

Sure enough, he looks dreadful. Pale face, dark shadows beneath his slightly bloodshot eyes that are blinking tiredly, and...

'You're shivering. There.' I wave my wand and dry his robes and the look he gives me is full of gratitude.

'Can we sit down for a moment?' he asks, and I quickly spread his cloak on the ground before he already drops down with a sigh. Sitting, Remus puts his arm around me while I rummage around in the backpack for his snacks. The sun is breaking through the clouds and we silently enjoy the beauty of a Highland morning. It's as if the majestic landscape existed only for us and everything else, the Order, Voldemort, the war, was swallowed by it. Only as I feel Remus getting heavier against me and realise he's about to doze off do I detach myself from the peaceful splendour.

'You need a bed, sweetheart. Will you manage Side-Along Apparition?'

Remus nods, I pull him up, hold tightly onto him and return us to London.

N /A: Only a short update this time. Thank you to everyone who has left me a review, I'm always happy to hear your thoughts!