Tonks made good on her threat, barging into the sanctuary of Severus's office before ten the next morning. Her potions kit was tucked under her arm, and she had a pair of takeaway mugs clutched in one hand. The door bounced off the wall as she entered, she'd kicked it so hard. She had to jump to keep from being hit by it as it swung back, as though it shared Severus's desire to sweep her out of the room.
"Wotcher, Snape," she said, plunking her kit on his desk, headless of the scrolls and parchments it crushed. "Brought you some tea."
A muscle in Severus's jaw started jumping at the sound of her crashing through the room. He hunched further over the cauldron he was stirring, wishing she would go to Hades and take this damned potion with her.
"You shouldn't have," he said through gritted teeth.
"It weren't any trouble," she replied, setting his tea on the edge of his workbench and sending two of his best stirring rods clattering to the floor in the process. "Whoops. Say, these are nice. Did you get these at Slug and Jiggers? I've never seen anything this nice there."
She was scooping up the stirring rods and attempting to return them to the workbench, the wide sweep of her arm endangering all the glassware. His hand shot out to catch her wrist before she brought all of last night's work to ruin.
"They're from Bois d'Ormonde," he replied tersely, plucking the stirring rods out of her hand and placing them safely out of harm's way.
"I haven't heart of that. Where is it?"
"Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche."
"That's the shopping district in Paris, right?"
"No. In Birmingham, just under the mills. Of course, it's in Paris." He was going to need tea to survive this morning after all.
"I always wanted to go to Paris. Guess that won't happen 'til this bloody war's over though. When were you there?"
He took a large drink from the takeaway mug, choking as the scalding, saccharine liquid seared his throat. "What did you do to this?"
"I didn't know how you took your tea, so I got it done up same as mine. Cream, four sugars, piping hot."
"Disgusting." He set the mug down on the workbench. So much for fortification.
"If it's good enough for Alastor, it's good enough for me." She scooped up his abandoned mug. "How do you drink it?"
"Milk. Just enough to lighten the color, not enough to drown it. No sugar, ever."
"Yes, your Majesty. I'll make a note."
Severus's lips twitched in spite of himself. "Your Highness will do."
Tonks laughed out loud, and Severus's shoulders relaxed a tick. Her laughter was the sort of thing that made even the heaviest hearts lighten. Severus had forgotten how much he'd managed to enjoy having her as a N.E.W.T. student—not that he'd ever admit it out loud. Tonks had a daring in her potion brewing that most other students lacked, even at the highest levels Hogwarts had to offer. She might have ruined as many potions as she'd perfected, but she'd never settled for "good enough"—and she'd never been dull.
"Tell me where we are this morning, your Highness," she said, peeking into the cauldron as she sipped his tea.
He grimaced as his tension returned. "I've made two batches of Belby's bothersome brew since last night. This one will be ready in an hour. Then we can start our experimentation."
"Want me to start pulling the first batch apart? We'll need to figure out that stupid pre-mixed component before we can do much of anything."
"I already know what's in the pre-mixed component."
She snorted. "You might have told me. I've been brewing Wolfsbane for Remus for years now. Do you know how expensive that shite is?"
"I do. I hope you've been charging Lupin for your services."
"He's a friend. You know—people who put up with your shit, so you put up with theirs, even if it means brewing the Wolfsbane once a month."
"How droll." He pointed to a scroll on a table far enough away from the work bench that he need not fear for his equipment. "You'll find the complete recipe on that parchment. Study it. I expect your proposal as to the next steps of this experiment in an hour."
She tossed off the rest of the tea and crumpled the takeaway mug into a ball. "I'm not a student anymore, Snape. I won't put up with you ordering me around like one."
He paused in his stirring long enough to give her a mocking bow. "My apologies. I had mistaken you for someone who had come here to help. What do you propose we do?"
"I'd propose we lose the attitude, but I guess you'd die if you didn't get your hourly quota of insults in," she said, picking up the parchment of his notes and perching on the edge of the table to study it.
"You've discovered the secret to my powers. Whatever shall I do?"
"Be afraid. Be very afraid."
Severus rolled his eyes, and returned to his cauldron. Soon Tonks was so absorbed in the problem at hand that she left off teasing him. From time to time she bent over the parchment to scratch notes between his lines of cramped scrawl. The table she insisted on using as a chair creaked and groaned as she shifted her position every thirty seconds. Severus noted the time on his clock, calculating how long his table was going to survive her abuse of it.
An hour later his table was still intact, and he was bottling the latest batch of the Wolfsbane.
"We've got four batches of the Wolfsbane to start with, the two you made and the one I brought, and the one you're almost done with," Tonks began, hopping down from the table in favor of pacing his floor.
"Your skills of observation never cease to amaze. Did they teach you that in the Auror Academy?" he replied.
She shot him a look, but otherwise let it pass. "Since you've already done the hard work of figuring out that mixture, let's start ripping the most toxic parts out it. Then we run the results through the quartz test and see if its viable."
"Good. You do remember what you were taught."
"So much praise, I'm all aflutter. Miss Rose didn't think to get any werewolf blood for testing when she came up with this idea, did she?"
Neither Tonks nor Alastor were willing to refer to Miranda as an Auror, and Severus had noted the slight. He expected such distrust from Alastor, but it was strange coming from Tonks, who generally seemed to like everyone with the typical Hufflepuff liberality.
"No. I suppose someone should send word to Lupin about it."
"I'll do it. He's having Easter dinner at me Mum's house on Sunday."
"My condolences to your mother."
"You just wish you were invited too. Do you want the silver or the aconite?"
He could no longer contain his amused smile. "The aconite. It requires a subtlety I'm unconvinced you ever learned."
"Prat," she grumbled as she started setting up her half of the work bench.
"Watch your elbows, Tonks."
She looked up from her gesticulating to grin at him. "So you can remember to call me by my name."
"Of course. By your last name, just as I did when you were a student."
She rolled her eyes and began the arduous task of pulling the Wolfsbane potion apart, drop by frustrating drop. An hour or so passed in silence, broken only by muttered expletives by one or both of them. By the second hour of work, Tonks had produced a portable wireless from her box of potion supplies, and was fiddling with the dial while loud static played obnoxiously through the speaker.
"Ah, yes. The soothing power of static. How it does promote potion innovation," Severus drawled as he ladled the last of his batch into a bowl for syphoning.
"Anything's better than listening to the candles gutter and the rats scratch behind the walls," Tonks shot back. "Here we go."
"So please stop explainin'—don't tell me cause it hurts," the wireless screeched.
"Absolutely not. I will not listen to that caterwauling," he growled, stalking over to flick off the wireless.
Tonks was too quick for him. She held it over her head, climbing up on a stool to keep him from grabbing it.
"It's staying on, or I'll leave you to do this whole thing by yourself," she warned.
"Fine. I'd prefer not to do this foul experiment at all. Why don't you see yourself out."
Fuming, Severus went to his workbench, drawing his wand with every intention of vanishing the entire day's work. He had better things to do than chase after Miranda's foolish fancies or endure Tonks's unyielding good humor.
"Come on, don't be like that," Tonks said, hopping down off the stool. She set the wireless on the counter and lowered the volume to a somewhat tolerable level. "You won't even notice it after a bit, and it'll help me stay focused. I can't work when it's this quiet."
He blew out a breath, mustering the shreds of his patience. "I should think both our time would be better spent if we give up this nonsense."
This time she turned the wireless off completely. "Look, I know you and Remus aren't best mates or anything, but this is important. And not just for the war, or for him. If we can make this thing work, we'll be making a better life for all werewolves, everywhere. Isn't that worth our time?"
"Do mop up after your bleeding heart, will you?"
"I'm serious! And if that's not motivation enough, think about the write up you'll get to do in the Journal."
He arched an eyebrow at her. "Appealing to my sense of vanity? You assume I have any."
"Come on. Between your cape and your black nail polish? You've got vanity I can appeal to."
He closed his eyes briefly, considering. All of his instincts told him this was a complete waste of time and resources. But he was well aware that without the support of the werewolves, the Order of the Phoenix would quickly find itself in dire circumstances.
"Turn it back on," he said at last. "I'd rather not spend all afternoon cleaning up explosions due to your lack of concentration."
"Much obliged, your Highness," she said, flicking the dial, but keeping the volume tolerably low.
They worked straight through the afternoon, not bothering to stop for a proper lunch. At some point, Tonks plunked a ham sandwich and a large glass of water in front of him, which he ate and drank mechanically. It was well past dinnertime before they had their first batches ready.
Severus's stomach rumbled loudly as he fetched the box of testing quartz from the supply closet.
"You want to wait on that and run up to the Hall for dinner first?" Tonks asked hopefully.
"No. I want to get this finished with as quickly as possible," he replied.
Tonks rolled her eyes, but took some of the crystals to her own workstation. Severus added the first drop of his experiment to the tip of one of the crystals, and was unsurprised to see it turn immediately black. He noted it on the scroll floating next to him, and continued onto the next. Ruined crystal after ruined crystal was swept into the dustbin, until the entire day's work had been consigned to the void.
"So much waste," he muttered.
Tonks clapped him on the back, saying, "This from the man who taught me not to count the cost of potions experiments because knowledge is always worth the price, however dear."
He hid his amusement beneath a frown. "I don't need you to quote me to myself."
"I thought you'd enjoy it. Remus does, even if he gets all cute and flustered when I do it."
"I would rather not hear about the details of your…entanglement with Lupin if you don't mind."
"Entanglement? Yeah, I guess that's what he'd call it." She dripped more of her potion onto a crystal that hissed as it turned black. "What is it with men anyway? One minute they say they can't be with you, and the next minute they're telling you all their darkest secrets, and the minute after that they're fucking you up against the wall."
Merlin's Balls, that was more than enough. He stalked to her side of the work bench, put out the fire under her cauldron, and swept her mess of ruined crystals into the dust bin under the counter.
"You've done enough today. Go home and rest. Come back tomorrow and leave your mooning over Lupin at the door when you do," he said sternly.
"I can't leave you with all the cleaning up. And what about brewing more of the Wolfsbane to work with? I used up my stock of aconite and silver to make the one I brought today," she protested, even as he shooed her towards the door.
"I will see to it. Go. You're of no use to me in this condition. You're distracted. Your hands are shaking because you're hungry and exhausted. You've dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep."
She flashed him a smile. "See, I knew you cared. See you tomorrow, Snape."
He did not dignify that accusation with an answer.
The village priest was in the middle of his Easter homily, preaching about the empty tomb in a soft voice that Miranda could barely hear from her seat in the back of the humble church. Her stomach was beginning to rumble, and she was completely worn out from a weekend of little food, double shifts, and whatever churching she could squeeze in between them. The priest was nice enough, a spry old man who knew everyone in his congregation by first name, no matter how spotty their attendance. However, as a homilist, he left something to be desired.
She leaned against the pillar next to her pew, letting her eyes drift closed. Surely God would understand if she rested for a few minutes. Her thoughts drifted into a lucid dream where she and Severus were joining her family for dinner. Columba smiled at her across the table while Papa said grace, and Severus looked perfectly at ease. They'd just started on the ham and popovers when the Sanctus bell startled her awake. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring up into Severus's face.
"Why bother coming to church if you're going to sleep through it?" he murmured, his voice and his eyes teasing her.
"As long as I'm in the building it counts," she replied under her breath. "I thought you were busy with the potion problem."
He tugged at the sleeve of his No-Maj suit jacket. "Ah, yes. I'd forgotten you merely keep me around for my brilliant mind."
She took his hand, lacing her fingers through his. "That and your sunny disposition."
"The potion problem is at a stand still until tomorrow when more supplies can be acquired."
"Good. I'll bet both you and Auror Tonks could use a day's rest."
"If the fates will allow such a thing."
She shifted so that her shoulder rested lightly against his instead of the pillar. Though his posture was so upright as to be severe, his hands were relaxed. Whatever frustration he felt towards her seemed to have passed. It was good to sit with him like this. As the service proceeded in its quiet way, she could almost pretend that they were normal, every day people, with normal, every day concerns, and not a pair of magical warriors involved in a war with the forces of darkness.
They slipped out as the final hymn was still sounding through the church. The midday sun was shining weakly through the grey clouds, and Miranda turned her face up to catch what warmth she could. As they followed the cobblestone path that wound up the chalk cliff, Severus tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.
"Thank you for coming all the way out here," she said as they climbed the path towards her cabin. "I know you don't like leaving the school alone these days."
"A calculated risk. The students will not return until this evening. I should hope the staff can mind themselves until then," he replied. "And seeing you in your Sunday dress is its own reward. With that charming hat, you look almost virginal."
"I don't know that I looked virginal even when I was a virgin."
"No, I daresay you did not. Your eyes likely gave you away, didn't they?"
"I'm afraid so. It took me forever to learn to control them. You have no idea how many times Mama caught me and my brothers making some kind of trouble because I had absolutely no poker face."
As they reached the top of the cliff, the cabin came into view ahead of them. The smell of lamb roasting greeted them when Severus opened the door. The kitchen counter was filled with fresh bread, arugula salad, cold ham, and a wheel of brie cheese. A giant strawberry tart perched on a shelf in the cupboard overhead.
"Mercy," he murmured, heading to the tiny kitchen to inspect the feast. "Perhaps I shall forgive you for the potions problem after all."
"You'd better," she laughed. "Or I'll find someone else to share all this with."
She took a slice of ham from the tray and peeked into the oven to check the lamb. As she was calculating how much longer it needed, the mirror in her pocket started to vibrate.
"Fuck. What now?" she grumbled as she fished the mirror out.
"Miranda?" Remus's face filled the glass. "Good, you are paying attention."
"Good morning, Remus. What can I do for you?" she asked, forcing her voice to be pleasant, even as Severus glowered at her over top of the mirror.
"Remember that wolf Cadfael mentioned?"
There was a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Yes. What about him?"
"He said he'd talk to us. I need you to meet me at the forest café."
"As in, today?"
"As in, right now. Are you working? Can you get here?"
"No, it's fine. Give me five minutes." The mirror went dark and she shoved it back into her pocket. "I'm sorry, Severus. Supposedly this mystery wolf is our last hope."
"Experimental potions and temperamental wolves. The war is going well indeed," Severus muttered. "I ought to go back to the castle in any case. There is much to be done."
She put her hands on his shoulders, touched by the disappointment he was trying to hide from her.
"There's no need for that. Stay. Enjoy the food. Save me a plate. I'll be back as soon as I can."
The corner of his lip twitched. "Perhaps."
"Finn sent a few more videos over as an Easter present. Murnau dramas and Marx Brothers' comedies. You'll have the whole sofa to yourself while you watch them."
He kissed her forehead. "Go. You'll be late."
"And?"
"And you'll find me here when you come back. Your sofa is more comfortable than mine."
She gave him a chaste kiss on the mouth. "You'd better save me some of that tart."
Mischief sparked in his dark eyes. "I will do my humble best. Now, go."
Her stomach rumbled uncomfortably as she headed back out the door. She gathered her magic, drawing up the image of the cheery forest café. The pulling sensation behind her navel was all the more distasteful due to her empty stomach. The birds chattered angrily at her when she appeared amid a thatch of trees, startled by the crack of Apparition.
"Sorry about that," she said. "And Happy Easter."
She hurried through the underbrush and onto the beaten path. Intrepid hikers dressed in sturdy shoes, and carrying their jackets over their arms, passed her as she walked towards the meeting place. Remus was waiting for her in front of the empty café, pacing with his hands shoved in his pockets.
"It's about time you got here," he said, turning to follow the path out of the forest without breaking stride.
"I came as soon as I got your message," she protested, falling in next to him.
He glanced at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry I interrupted your Easter plans."
"You must have interrupted your own, too."
"As if I had any plans."
It was dangerous to poke a wolf—but Miranda couldn't help herself. "What? Tonks doesn't want you to meet her parents?"
"She does, in fact, want me to meet her parents," he replied, the hint of a growl coloring his voice. "That's the problem."
"You never know, they might be nice."
"Drop it, Animagus."
"It's dropped, Werewolf."
They walked in silence for a quarter of a mile while Remus got his temper back under control. Not that Miranda minded. The lack of food and lack of sleep was fraying her own temper, and she was nearly running to keep up with his hard pace.
"Were you with Severus when I called you?" he asked in a suspiciously neutral tone when they reached the edge of town.
"I don't know why you think I'm going to tell you about my love life if you're not dishing about yours," she shrugged.
"Because it'll take my mind off the fact that we're about to come face to face with our last lupine hope. Do it for the Cause."
"Things didn't go well with Hector?"
Remus grimaced. "He was all politeness. He won't lift a finger to help us, and neither will his pack."
"And since he's the First Wolf, he must be influential."
"Very."
She decided to take pity on him. "I can see why you need a distraction. Yes, I was with Severus."
"Tell me about it." A look of horror crossed his face and he added quickly, "Unless you were doing something I'd rather not know about."
She laughed. "It was disgustingly wholesome. He met me a church. Then we were going to eat the Easter dinner I made. After that we were going to watch movies until we both fell asleep on the sofa."
He shook his head incredulously. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked. The idea of Severus Snape in a normal relationship gives me vertigo."
"Do you want me to comment on that, or are you speaking rhetorically?"
"What do you think?"
"Rhetorically it is."
The town at the edge of the woods walked the line between quaint and shabby. The streets were cobblestone, but in disrepair. The buildings were made of sturdy materials, but looked tired and worn. No-Majs, dressed in their threadbare Easter best, thronged the streets. Remus cut through them, merciless in pursuit of his destination. Miranda offered apologies and charming smiles to everyone they knocked into, while Remus hurried on, his face darkening by the moment.
At the end of the main thoroughfare (if such a humble street could be called such), Remus turned down a alley, which ran dead into a stone wall. Music and laughter bounced through the tight space, coming from the busy pub crowded into the alley. Miranda's stomach rumbled again at the smell of the lambs stew, but Remus pulled her around the back of the building without stopping. There they found a doorway so short Miranda had to duck to enter it, leading to a set of rickety stairs.
"I wonder if I'm overdressed," Miranda muttered as they climbed. "I thought I shouldn't take the time to change."
Remus cast an appraising eye over her. "You look lovely. Maybe it'll soften him up."
"I wouldn't assume that. He might not even like girls."
Remus did not bother to answer this, though he finally slowed down his pace as they reached the top of the stairs. His shoulders rose and fell as he stood facing the dark red door waiting for them. Then he ran his hand through his greying hair and knocked firmly. He fidgeted with the fraying hem of his jacket until the door opened to reveal Mary Macdonald. She was dressed in ripped jeans and a plaid jumper, and her hair was piled in a sloppy bun on top of her head. She did not look pleased to see them.
"Mary!" Remus said, taken aback. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here, genius," she replied.
"Oh. Are you…I mean—"
"I'm going out. The wolf you want's in the living room."
"I…thank you." Remus clearly wanted to keep talking, was was restraining himself with some difficulty.
"Don't thank me. Thank him."
"We will, I promise."
Mary stood in the doorway for so long, Miranda wondered if she was going to throw them out. Finally she stepped back enough for them to squeeze by her, though she continued to glare at them.
"Remus," she said on her way out the door.
"Yes, Mary?" he replied hopefully.
"If you hurt him, I'll kill you."
With this dire warning, Mary descended the stairs, leaving Remus and Miranda to their fate. Miranda forced herself to shut the door quietly after the other witch, though she dearly wanted to slam it.
"She wasn't like that when I knew her," Remus said apologetically.
"It's not your fault she's like that now," Miranda replied.
Remus shook his head and led the way through a narrow hall into a bright, but extremely untidy kitchen. Dirty dishes were piled in the sink, along with a small army of empty take-out boxes of various shapes and sizes. A halfway unpacked canvas bag sat on the counter amid the rubbish, its cabbages, radishes, and apples peering forlornly from the top. Books and parchment littered the table and chairs. Baskets of laundry, shoes, boots, and more stacks of books created a maze on the floor for them to wind through on their way up another hallway. A pair of bicycles were stacked in the middle of the path, and Miranda bit her lip to muffle a curse as she banged her shin on the pedal of one.
The living room was in better order. The fading carpet was at least visible, rather than being covered with more plies of odds and ends. The mismatched pair of arm chairs and the leather covered sofa were in decent shape. A small television was perched on top of a stack of magical textbooks, where it blared the theme song to The Pink Panther. A small coffee table sat in front of the sofa, crammed with sweating bottles of ale, only half of which were full. A gray-haired man was sprawled out on the sofa with his back to them. Cadfael, dressed in a dapper tweed suit, rose from one of the armchairs to grasp their arms in greeting.
"Pryderi, here they are," Cadfael said with a friendly smile. "Remus Lupin and Miranda Rose. Remus, Miranda, I'd like you to meet Pryderi ap Tegid—my father-in-law, and the best wolf I know."
"Cheers," Pryderi said without taking his eyes of the television.
Remus shot a wary look at Cadfael, who shrugged.
"Thank you for having us, sir," Remus said. "You must be a busy man—"
Pryderi snorted. "I look busy?"
Remus cleared his throat uncomfortably, and for a moment his mouth worked without his saying anything. Cadfael did nothing to help matters as he sat back down in his chair to watch Remus flounder. The television droned on, and Miranda's cheeks heated up in a blush more of frustration than embarrassment. To make matters worse, her stomach gave a long rumble, loud enough to be heard even over the music on the television. All three men turned to look at her: Cadfael with amusement, Remus with consternation, and Pryderi with curiosity.
"You hungry?" Pryderi asked.
"I…" The absurdity of the situation struck her and she began to giggle. "Yes, I am."
Pryderi was a lanky fellow, and he wore his skin like a wrinkled suit that was a size too large. His face was full of lines and wrinkles, and his eyes were deep-set and heavy-lidded. But they were intelligent eyes and, now that they were looking at her, they were kind. He swung his legs off the sofa and rose to meet her, his hand outstretched.
"Miranda Rose. My wife used to wear hats like that," he said, grasping her arm gently. "You didn't have to dress up to meet this old sack of bones."
Something told her to be completely frank with him. "I dressed up for church."
"Good girl. And I dragged you away from your dinner, didn't I?"
"I don't mind. I was curious to meet you after Cadfael spoke so highly of you."
Pryderi held her gaze for a long moment, then turned to his son-in-law. "Cadfael, go down and tell Beca we need some dinner up here."
"That's not necessary, sir," Remus began, but Cadfael was already halfway down the hall.
"I say it is, so it is," Pryderi said. "You look like a meal wouldn't hurt you neither. Come and sit with me."
Pryderi guided Miranda to join him on the sofa, and Remus took the chair opposite the one Cadfael had vacated.
"Tell me about yourself, Miranda Rose," Pryderi said, fetching a bottle of ale for both of them. "Cadfael tells me you're quick on your feet and you promise impossible things. Help yourself, Mr Lupin."
"No, thank you, sir," Remus replied.
"Suit yourself. Go on, Miranda."
"Let's see." She took a sip from the bottle, letting the strong, sour brew linger on her tongue before continuing. "I grew up in the middle of nowhere. I like riding horses and sleeping late. I drink too much whiskey and I'd rather play baseball than Quidditch."
"Baseball, huh?" Pryderi replied. "There's a sport."
"You know it?"
"Yeah. I lived in Chicago once upon a time and developed a liking for it."
"Really? Cubs or Sox?"
"Neither. Used to scoot up to Milwaukee to watch the Brewers with my mates. More room to run up that way."
"I can see that. Chicago's awfully crowded."
"You from around there?"
"No. Kansas. It's on the other side of Missouri. The Royals are my team."
"You don't say. I never cared much for that Designated Hitter rule myself, but to each their own. You ever see Brett Saberhagen pitch?"
Once Pyrderi started talking, the conversation flowed easily, at least between the two of them. He took a friendly curiosity in her family, their farm, and, of course, the sacred sport of baseball. But, while he was easy to like, Miranda did not miss the fact that he refused to allow the conversation to touch on the point of their visit. Remus remained withdrawn, sinking back in his armchair like he was trying to make himself invisible.
It was a relief when Cadfael returned with the food. Pryderi even flipped off the television in deference to the meal, though they ate it out of the takeaway containers in the living room. Even Remus ate with gusto. The hearty, simple pub dinner made Miranda feel more human by the end of it.
"Now we've had the small talk and the food," Pryderi said as he set mostly untouched takeaway dish on the coffee table. "Time to get down to business. Mr Lupin, you've come here to talk to me about something. So talk."
Remus dropped his fork and cleared his throat. "I don't know how much Cadfael and Mary have told you. Forgive me if I repeat something you already know."
"You don't have to repeat anything," Pryderi replied. "Albus sent you down here to get some muscle to fight your battles for you."
"I suppose that's an accurate way to put it," Remus said stiffly.
"The answer is no."
Remus's eyes narrowed. "May I ask why?"
"Sure," Pryderi grinned. "No harm in asking why."
"Then why?"
"Like Hector already told you, it's not our fight."
Remus ran a hand through his hair. When he spoke again, his voice was low and edgy.
"Forgive me, Mr ap Tegid, but it is your fight. Or it soon will be. If the resistance against Voldemort fails, who will stop him from coming after you?"
Pryderi shrugged. "What makes you think life under Voldemort would be that much different for us than it is now?"
"After he's killed or enslaved anyone who opposes him? It'll be different alright, and in no way an improvement."
"We live like dogs. We can't work in the world that belongs to us because wizards hate us. We can't live in the Muggle world because ditto, ditto, ditto. Our families exile us. Our lands shrink by the day, destroyed by humans. What's Voldemort to us but one more problematic human?"
"You talk about them like they're a different species."
"Aren't they?"
"No!" Remus growled. "We are human!"
Pryderi began to laugh. "I can see why you aren't getting anywhere with the packs. We're something more than human."
Remus opened his mouth, but no words came out. He snapped it shut and looked away, staring out the window at the brick face of the building behind them.
"Don't look so downcast," Pryderi continued in a gentler tone. "Cadfael is going to defy my wishes and help you."
"It's true," Cadfael said. "Sorry, Tad."
"You get that potion together and Beatrix'll probably help you too. She hates being out of control. You bring the potion to the Circle and you might convince one or two more to join you. But beyond that." Pryderi shrugged and took a swig of ale.
"You're right about everything you've said, Mr ap Tegid," Miranda said.
"Oh, call me Pryderi. It thought we'd bonded over baseball," he teased.
"Pryderi. The thing is, this is war. Nothing is fair. We have to ask horrible things of people. Isn't there anything we can do to convince you?"
Pryderi's face was flushed from the ale, and held her gaze until his eyes grew misty. "You're honest. I like that. Reminds me of my wife, God rest her soul. You got a sweetheart at home?"
"Yes, but I don't see how that's relevant."
The older werewolf took her hand in his. "With war in the air? It's relevant. You never know how much time you've got left, do you Cadfael?"
"No, you don't," Cadfael agreed quietly, staring down into his glass.
The sorrow on both men's faces broke her heart. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Point is, don't waste whatever time you've got left." Pryderi squeezed her hand and let it go. "You're a good girl, Miranda. Mr Lupin, best I can tell you is to keep running with the packs. Get to know them. Let them know you. I don't think it'll work, but maybe you'll be lucky."
"Then they have your permission to attend the Circle?" Cadfael prompted.
"Mr Lupin's a wolf whether he wants to be or not. He's got as much right to be there as anybody. And Miranda can come because I like the smell of her."
"Thank you," Miranda said. It wasn't much, but it was better than an outright dismissal would have been.
Remus turned back to them, finally composed. "Yes, thank you, Mr ap Tegid. I appreciate your hearing us, and I apologize for taking up so much of your time."
"You're welcome. Now get lost."
Pryderi turned the television back on, and raised the volume to the point that conversation would be unpleasant, even if they'd remained. Cadfael ushered them out of the room, through the maze of clutter, back to the front door.
"I know you're frustrated," he said, "but that actually went as well as it could have gone. If he hadn't wanted to consider your request, he wouldn't have brought it up at all."
"Unfortunately we're still in the same place we were when we came here." Remus growled.
Cadfael shrugged. "These things take time. Why don't you go back to the den. I should stay here until Mary gets back. Pryderi can be…unpredictable when he's like this. We can talk more tonight."
"Alright." Remus forced a smile. "Thank you for arranging this. It may seem otherwise, but I do appreciate all you've done for us."
"I was happy to do it. See you soon."
All of the anxiety Remus had been carrying went out of him as he slumped down the stairs. When they reached the street, he paused for a time to lean on the stone wall, watching people go in and out of the pub. Miranda pulled out a pair of cigarettes, offering one to him. He took it absently, letting it dangle between his fingers unlit while she started her own smoke.
"Sorry I wasted your time," he said, raising the cigarette to his lips and lighting it with a sharp finger snap.
"Don't worry about it. We have to pursue any lead we can get." She glanced up at the windows of Pryderi's flat. "At least we have official permission to attend the Circle now."
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. "And when we show up empty handed, that'll be a waste of time too."
"Come on, have some faith. Severus and Tonks are the best potioneers on this island. If anyone can do it, they can."
"I was supposed to meet Dora's parents today."
"I'm sorry. You must be disappointed this came up to prevent it."
He smiled bitterly. "No. I canceled before this came up."
She wasn't sure why he was confiding all this in her now, and she did her best to remain neutral. "I see."
"Really? What do you see?"
She tilted her head, studying his tired face. "I see a brave man who would rather throw himself out of a place before someone else does the throwing."
He opened his eyes, staring candidly into hers. "I'm not brave."
"Tonks thinks you are."
"You should go home. Enjoy the rest of your day. I'll see you when I see you."
He pushed off the wall and walked away from her, his eyes downcast as he disappeared around the corner. She finished the rest of her cigarette while she stared after him. Her gut was telling her that Pryderi was right about why all Remus's efforts had produced so little pay off. It was ridiculous to expect the werewolves to join a fight just because some outsider said they should.
Especially when that outsider believed that he-and they-were monsters.
End Note:
Quoted text by No Doubt