Chapter 4

Dear Remus,

We'll meet you in the three broomsticks at half eleven.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville

Remus smiled and folded the letter back up. He looked at the clock, it was quarter to ten. He slung his cloak around his shoulders and waited patiently for Tonks.

"Coming Rem- oh, snidgets." She emerged from the bathroom looking wet. "Your toilet exploded."

"Exploded?"

"I dropped the back of my earring down it, tried to summon it back and-"

Remus grinned. "It would only happen to you."

"Hang on, I'll just dry myself." She pointed her wand at herself, but thought better of it. "Dry me, Remus."

Tonks headed down Hogsmeade's main street looking as if she was on a mission. "What time are we meeting Harry?"

"Half eleven."

"Good. That means we've got time to go to 'Grimmesham's garments'." Remus groaned - clothes shopping.

"Didn't think you were the girly-type, Tonks."

"I'm not. I just need some dress robes."

"I thought you had dress robes."

"I also had an accident."

"Ah."

They proceeded down the street until they reached a door that was squashed between two shops. It had a corroded sign on it, which probably used to say the name of the shop. Tonks opened the door and shoved Remus through. Inside the shop was a different matter. There were thousands, millions perhaps, of long isles with clothes racks that stretched all the way along. A grand set of staircases on his right led up to more storeys. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and candles levitated around the walls.

"Come on, Remus. Women's clothing, next floor up." She dragged him up the stairs and proceeded to eye several robes. Occasionally, she picked up a garment, held it against her, bit her lip and put it back again. Every so often, she appeared to like what she saw and thrust the robes at Remus with a 'hold that'. After what seemed like hours, Lupin was holding three garments. One was a lime green, one a reddish-pink and the other a deep blue. "Come on, dressing rooms." She tugged him all the way down the centre aisle, grabbed the green robe and charged into a stall, leaving Remus to stand there.

He whistled to himself for a while but was cut off by a soft bump. "Diable!" He turned around to see a woman lying on the floor.

"Can I help you?" He tugged her up. She brushed her robes down and picked up the ones she was carrying.

She smiled embarrassedly, "I am ver'y clumsy. Zank you Mr Lupin."

"R-Remus." He stuttered.

"Ezcuse me?"

"M-my name's Remus."

An awkward silence ensued.

"Ze pink one suits you better."

"Wha- oh!" He laughed shyly.

The dressing room curtain shot back and Tonks stepped out clad in the green robe. "So, Rem, whaddaya think?"

"Wh-um - yeah, great."

She nodded, "I thought so too. It's awful." She took the next robe he was carrying and shut the curtain.

"B-but I said-" He looked behind him. "Clarisse?" He hissed. "You there?"

Several items of clothes in the rack behind him parted and she stepped out. "Here I am."

He helped her step out. "There you go."

She kissed him on the cheek and he went scarlet. "Thanks for helping me up. Meet me in ze sree broomsticks at one o'clock? I'll buy you a butterbeer." She smiled and scurried up the aisle, leaving Remus to melt.

"Remus?" Tonks stepped out from behind the curtain. She was wearing the blue one. "What do you think? I quite like it."

Remus nodded. "It's beautiful."

She smiled and shut the curtain again. "I'll just change back into my normal robes." Five minutes later, she stepped out wearing her normal clothes again. "It's quarter to twelve look. You go and meet Harry; I have to be back at headquarters by noon anyway. See you."

---

"Sorry I'm late, Tonks was clothes shopping." Explained Remus as he took his seat at the table. The three boys nodded in understanding. Remus was pleased to see Harry looking, though still upset, a lot happier.

"So, Remus, how are-"

But Hermione cut him off. "You should have brought Harry straight back. I've already told him my thoughts concerning his visit the other night." Harry nodded pitiably. "Especially with V-Voldemort back and everything. Anything could have happened to him. And even-"

"Hermione!" Snapped Ron. "You're scaring him!"

Hermione looked slightly apologetic, "Still, I think-"

"Yes, and you'd be absolutely right Hermione. I should have brought Harry back."

A grin spread across Harry's face. "Surely you don't mean that Remus? After all, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have met-"

"Butterbeer anyone?" Enquired Lupin, his voice suddenly very high- pitched and squeaky. Without waiting for an answer he got up and strolled over to Madame Rosmerta. He ordered the drinks then went to great pains to deliver them all without spilling them. "There you go, Harry." He said, cheerfully giving him the last one.

"Do I get a kiss too Remus?"

"Oh, shut up."

They drank the remainder of their butterbeers in silence. Remus, who hadn't had one himself, surveyed Harry through his tired eyes. He was definitely a lot less miserable than before, though he was clearly still touchy when it came to Sirius.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Asked Neville suddenly.

"Oh, I was just thinking about Sirius." Informed Remus.

Harry snorted into his butterbeer spilling it everywhere.

"Not like that." He sighed. "First I couldn't mention him without angering you, now I can't mention him without sending you into hysterics."

"Why?" Asked Hermione, Ron and Neville all at once.

"Oh nothing." Said Harry wiping his eyes. "Sirius just had a bit of mouth on him."

"Shut up."

"VICIOUS tongue."

"Shut up."

"Abusive towards poor Remus."

"Shut up."

Realisation suddenly spread on Ron's face. "Oy, Harry, don't insult Sirius' mouth in front of Remus. It has sentimental value."

Remus looked thunderstruck. "You told him? You have such a big gob."

"That'll be something I have in common with Sirius then."

"WHAT?" Cried Hermione and Neville as Harry and Ron both collapsed in laughter.

"Nothing." Muttered Remus. "Anyway Ron, the other day you had a bit of mouth on you." His eyes flickered towards Hermione.

Ron stopped laughing immediately. "H-Harry, we should go now its umm - time for - umm - to go."

The four teenagers looking embarrassed, confused and humoured respectively left Remus at the table. He smiled at Madame Rosmerta as she cleaned the glasses away and watched the clock, which appeared to have no proper rhythm whatsoever. Bang on one o'clock though the door to the three broomsticks opened and Clarisse walked in. Her eyes scanned the pub and eventually landed on Remus. She smiled and headed towards him.

"Hello." But she wasn't looking where she was going and tripped over the table leg.

Good Sir Remus immediately sprang to attention. "Are you alright?" He leaned over, as she lay sprawled on the floor.

"Yes, ouch." She put a hand out her hand and heaved herself up on Remus' shoulder and collapsed in a chair. Remus however clutched his shoulder, a look of pain on his face. "What is wrong viz your shoulder? 'Ave I 'urt it?"

"Oh. OH - no, no, of course not. It's just a little tender, I hurt it the other night."

"Ah but of course. Full moon wasn't it?"

"Y- wait, you know?"

Clarisse nodded. "Professor Dumbledore told me."

"Oh." Remus looked a little discouraged.

"I-I didn't mean to upset you or anything."

"It's ok - you didn't."

"Oh but I did. Dark creatures are immensely misunderstood in ze world we live in. You are, of course, nervous zat I will either run away screaming or hex you to oblivion! My grand-muzzer was a were'wolf. And - I- I know from - from past experience." A single tear rolled down her almost perfect face. "I know - what some people do to zem."

Remus' hand slid across the table voluntarily and entwined with hers. The result was almost electric. The two wizards' eyes met and locked there for what seemed like eternity.

"Butterbeer?" Squeaked Remus for the second time that day.

Clarisse nodded nervously. Remus headed over to the bar. "So, who's your friend?" Asked Rosmerta as she passed the drink to Remus. He shrugged shyly and headed back to Clarisse.

She thanked him and took her butterbeer. "So - you'd be part- werewolf wouldn't you?"

She nodded, "Yes, but eet has no great effect. So - I wouldn't know anyzing about what eet feels like or anyzing like zat."

"So - what does the moon do to you?"

She smiled. "It makes me sneeze." She reached forward for her drink, but instead managed to knock the glass flying, spilling the remainder of her butterbeer on Remus' lap. "Oh!" She gasped, mortified

Seeing her distraught face, Remus grinned. "It's ok, honestly. There wasn't much left and most of it landed on the floor. It'll dry."

Clarisse grinned nervously. For a while, neither spoke, but then she tried to re-instate conversation, awkwardly. "So - so - do you 'ave a wife, or - par'tner or anyzing?"
Remus had to admit, he was slightly shocked, there was only one reason he had ever asked a girl about her love life and for a few seconds he thought that maybe she was the same. But as it drifted slowly across his mind, he immediately shook it out. Of course not. He shouldn't give himself false hopes. She was a gorgeous, exotic woman. He was an unemployed middle- aged werewolf. "No." He answered, quietly. "No one."

"Oh." Conversation stopped again.

"S-so what about you?"

"No one either."

"No one?" He sounded as though it was ludicrous. "B-but, you're, look at you!" He realised that he was blushing like mad, but for some reason didn't care.

"You 'aven't seen." She answered.

"Seen what?"

She shrugged. "Ne'ver mind. Eef you really want to know, most of ze men I know run away when zey see."

"I didn't run away."

"You 'aven't seen."

"Seen what?"

"Never mind."

The door to the three broomsticks burst open suddenly and in strode Malfoy and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. He was talking to them in an undertone, as they passed their table he caught a part of their conversation. "-Father's out, he-"

Clarisse cut him off. "Mr Malfoy. I 'ope you and your friends aren't discussing anyzing zat could possibly be - illegal?"

Malfoy spun round. "P-p-professor Tonks." Remus was taken aback, he hadn't expected him to take any notice. "D-didn't see you there." Malfoy - stammering? And - Remus nearly had a heart attack - was he - blushing? "W- we weren't . umm . w-we were talking a-about quidditch." Crabbe and Goyle immediately nodded in agreement. "A-and-" He pulled something out from behind his back. "L-like my new broom? I-it's a Nimbus 3000." He looked slightly hopeful.

"Great," Answered Clarisse. "Now - why don't you sree go back to ze castle or somezing?"

"B-brilliant idea P-professor! I'll go - n-now!" He practically ran out of the shop. Remus was thunderstruck, he had just witnesses Malfoy being nice to someone.

"Brat." Muttered Clarisse. "I zink he likes me though."

"You think?"

She smiled.

"So - you like quidditch?"

Clarisse leaned forward and beckoned with her finger. He leaned in. "Actually, I 'ate quidditch."

Remus leaned in closer, and then shot his eyes this way and that as if someone would leap out at him if overheard. "Actually," He hissed and scanned the room again. He lowered his voice even more, "So do I." Clarisse burst out laughing. "But maybe that's just me being a bitter old man, I was always useless at it. Plus," He leaned in again and whispered. "I'm slightly afraid of heights!" Clarisse laughed even harder. "What? I fell off a broom when I was little." He was laughing too. "I'm traumatised. You shouldn't mock the afflicted."

The two talked for hours. It turned out the two had quite a lot in common. Remus pitied Tonks for being so wrong about her sister and made a mental note to try and sort things out between them.

"Last orders over. Closing time."

"Oh my goodness!" Exclaimed Clarisse, "Have we really been talking zis long?" She put on her cloak and slung her bag around her shoulder. She walked over to Remus and by some impulse he put his arm around her waist as they stepped outside. "So - Mr Lupin," She smiled. "Would you like me to walk you home?" She indicated Zonko's, directly opposite the three broomsticks.

"I'd love you to."

They proceeded quietly, through the shop door and up the stairs to Remus' flat where they stood on the landing while he fiddled about in his pocket for his keys. "Ah." He said, pulling them out. "Here they-" He locked eyes with her for the second time that day. Their faces drew closer together until they were inches apart. Clarisse's hands travelled around his waist and he leaned back onto the door as her lips drew towards him. They could feel each other's breath as their mouths closed in, and Remus fell through his own front door for the second time in less than a month. He landed flat on his back with Clarisse on top of him, killing the moment slightly.

"Sorry Cl-"

"Oh sorry Remus!" Came a voice from within the kitchen. "I've done it again. It was too hot so I left the door open. I hope you don't mind me staying for a while. I had another - accident."

"Oh no." Hissed Clarisse, fumbling around for her bag.

"Tonks," whispered back Remus. "Go, quick, she'll kill us!" He helped her up and opened the door for her again. "When will I -"

But she was gone.

Tonks emerged from the kitchen. "I hope I'm not a burden you know, intruding or anything."

"Of course not." He closed his eyes, sighed, and then banged his head on the wall several times.