As far as the timing of the full moon, it had really been a lousy year. There had been a full moon the night before Harry's sixteenth birthday, and now Remus was facing the prospect of spending Christmas Eve as a werewolf. It was very little consolation that at least it was the last full moon of 1996.
Remus kept trying to accept the less enjoyable aspects of his life philosophically, but there were moments when this was more of a strain than others, and this was one of them. It wasn't that Christmas was normally a big holiday for him, but he did try to make things a little more festive then, if only to keep his own spirits up. Simply ignoring the holiday seemed rather – well – childish, a rejection of the spirit of the season because others had more to celebrate than he did.
Cassie's absence left an enormous hole in his life – much larger than it should have considering how short a time he had known her. He had to repeatedly stop himself from turning to speak to her, and the realization that she wasn't there caused him a small twinge of pain every time.
Even when he managed to remain conscious of her absence, he found himself mentally storing up things to tell her when he saw her next. For some reason, Remus couldn't bring himself to consider the possibility that he might not see her again. As Christmas approached, he tried not to get his hopes up too high, but it didn't seem too farfetched to think that she might send him a brief greeting in honor of the season.
Partly to distract himself, Remus made a concerted effort to devote more of his time to the Order of the Phoenix. It lifted his spirits a bit to be able to take an extra shift of guard duty for Hestia Jones, or one of the Weasleys, and they greatly appreciated the chance to spend a little more time on their holiday preparations or with their families. The string of bad luck the Order had suffered a short time previously seemed to have run its course, much to Remus' relief.
As the holiday season drew nearer, he received a visitor he did not expect. He was standing on the front porch, wand outstretched, clearing the remains of a recent snowfall from the walkway, when Albus Dumbledore suddenly appeared on the newly-cleared path. The Hogwarts Headmaster, with his silvery-gray robes, long white beard, and twinkling blue eyes, looked like a figure added to the snowscape by an artist with an excellent eye for color.
"Headmaster," Remus greeted him with genuine pleasure, "what a nice surprise!"
"Remus," Dumbledore strode forward to shake his hand. "It's delightful to see you again. I do hope you don't mind my dropping in like this?"
"Not at all. May I offer you some tea?"
"Thank you, that would be very nice." The Headmaster followed him inside through to the kitchen, exchanging a few pleasant words with Uncle Bertie as Remus prepared the tea. After the younger man poured, Dumbledore chatted inconsequentially until Remus decided to take matters into his own hands.
"So, how is Harry doing?" he inquired, misliking the way the Headmaster's eyes darkened with concern before he masked the expression.
"He seems to be making more of an effort to learn Occlumency from Severus, and has made some progress in that regard. In other respects," the Headmaster hesitated, "He seems a bit – quieter. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. There are a number of possibilities, of course, and – " Dumbledore broke off and adjusted his half-moon glasses slightly, a gesture that seemed somewhat out of character. "Harry always has kept to himself in many ways, but I have, in the past, had rather more insight than I have at present," he concluded.
Remus frowned. "Is there anything I can do?"
"About Harry? Nothing you're not already doing, Remus. Harry is not the reason for this visit." Remus felt his chest tighten.
"Is it Cassie?" he asked bluntly. "Has anything happened to her? I haven't heard a word since she left, more than two weeks ago."
There was a pause before Dumbledore answered slowly, "I wouldn't expect to hear from her at this point." Evidently he could see the questions forming in Remus' mind, for he held up his hand against them. "Please don't ask me anything else. I cannot tell you any more than I have already done."
Remus could hear the finality in the Headmaster's tone, and tried to discipline his wayward thoughts to the matter at hand. "Very well," he answered quietly. "You didn't come about Harry and I'm not allowed to ask about Cassie. Shall I continue to guess?"
The Headmaster sighed. "I suppose I have been delaying things a bit as I find the purpose of my visit somewhat – distasteful. I have been informed that Voldemort is trying to recruit werewolves to join him." Remus set his teacup down very carefully.
"Oh?" he asked in a deliberately neutral tone.
"I believe this is merely another step in his campaign to recruit supporters. He seeks followers among those who are considered 'dark creatures,' the ones who have reason to advocate a change in government. Given the treatment werewolves have received from the Ministry of Magic, I am not surprised he thinks their ranks will provide him with allies." The Headmaster spoke very levelly, as though this were a purely academic discussion. "We need to ascertain the extent to which his efforts are succeeding."
As Remus digested this statement, he was unable to fully conceal the flare of anger that surged through him. "So you came here to see if I am still loyal?" he inquired. "To determine whether all that the Ministry has done to me is enough to push me to the other side?"
The Headmaster looked genuinely horrified, "Remus, no, you can't think that I – "
"Please feel free to reassure the appropriate representatives at the Ministry that I'm well aware that they're still better than Voldemort." Remus continued with an unusual edge to his voice. "You might point out that all the oppressive and discriminatory laws they've passed haven't actually killed me yet, much less my closest friends, so Voldemort remains safely ahead of them if they feel they're in danger of winning the competition for cruelty!"
Dumbledore was obviously deeply distressed. "Remus, I did not come here to see if you had joined Voldemort. I can honestly tell you that the thought did not occur to me. I rather wish it had occurred to me now, as I could have handled this better and avoided upsetting you on this point without cause."
Remus, his earlier anger fading away into resignation, met Albus Dumbledore's eyes. "It would not be the first time I've been wrongly suspected of betraying the Order and joining Voldemort. I did not imagine it would never happen again," he said simply.
"Remus – "
"All right," Remus said quietly, "then why are you here?"
There was a long pause. "The purpose of my visit is now even more distasteful than it was before," the Headmaster said softly, "I am of two minds as to whether I should even ask you to consider this."
"Ask. I can still make up my own mind."
Dumbledore hesitated briefly, and then sighed. "Very well. We are – I am – looking for someone to try to ascertain the extent to which Voldemort is succeeding in recruiting werewolves to his cause." Remus Lupin absorbed this in silence.
"I see. So I correctly understood the scenario; I merely misunderstood my role in it."
"I should not have asked. I apologize, Remus. I do hope you'll forgive me."
"What for? I'll do it."
"I assure you that you don't have to – "
Remus sighed. "I believe I've already pointed out that Voldemort is a bigger problem than the Ministry. And, if I do this, it will be another signal to the Ministry that werewolves can be useful members of society, and that's something we need rather desperately in the current climate of fear created by the acknowledgment that Voldemort has returned. My status as a werewolf is already relatively well known, which translates into the benefit of sending someone with at least a chance of being trusted by other werewolves without asking someone else to risk exposure. When you consider the alternatives, it's really not a difficult choice."
Dumbledore was regarding him with sad gravity. "Remus, I want you to know that I am trying to get the Ministry to change its policies with respect to werewolves."
"I know; you didn't need to say that. And I – I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for," the Headmaster assured him. "Remus, before you make any decision – " he held up a hand to forestall the former teacher, " – Yes, I know, but please allow me to finish. There are some risks you need to be aware of. It appears that Voldemort is aware of the plan to – evaluate – the current situation, or else he soon will be. I have given some thought to how to better ensure your safety, and I believe that a variant of the Obtrusion Charm may be of some assistance."
Remus was startled. "I thought that was only good for protecting fixed locations."
"That is the variation. I hope it may give you enough of an advantage, when combined with your own skills, to give you a reasonable chance of success. I'm afraid that the measures used by Hagrid and Madame Maxime to block traceable communications are no longer secure."
Remus absorbed this. "All right. Am I allowed to accept the assignment yet?"
After a brief hesitation, the Headmaster pulled two rolls of parchment out of his robes and hand them to Remus.
"One of these lists werewolves who are already enrolled on the official registry. The second list is a personal one. It includes werewolves who are not listed on the official registry, as well as contacts who can provide Wolfsbane Potion during your travels."
Remus scanned quickly through the lists. There were more names than he anticipated, and he felt a pang of sympathy for all those people who endured the same terrible transformation thirteen times a year.
"What may I tell Harry?" he asked.
"That you have accepted a short term assignment working for the Ministry of Magic – which will be true by the way, although you will report to me – and will unfortunately be unreachable for some time, although I may be able to arrange to forward some of Harry's letters to the contacts I've noted. You may, however, tell him in person if you like. If you are still willing to proceed – " Remus nodded and the Headmaster continued " – then I will need to cast the spell we discussed. If you would come to Hogwarts when you are ready to begin your journey, I will cast it on you there." Dumbledore rose to leave, but paused.
"Remus, are you quite sure you want to do this?"
Remus responded levelly. "Yes."
The Headmaster studied him with concern, but he spoke again only briefly before he took his leave. "In that case, please be careful."
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
It was late enough into spring to herald the arrival of summer when Remus finally returned to Hogwarts. Dumbledore spent several hours hearing his final report, supplementing Remus' own coded notes on the two scrolls with his own shorthand. They worked through lunch munching on sandwiches as they proceeded through the lists. Finally, late in the afternoon, they finished, although Remus' voice was rough from talking.
"Excellent work," the Headmaster told him, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his pumpkin juice. "I didn't think you would finish until about the end of the school year."
Remus smiled tiredly, "I wanted to get this done," he said simply. Dumbledore eyed him with some concern.
"I do hope you haven't worn yourself out. There is no reason to risk your health over this." The Headmaster smiled slightly at him, although he still looked concerned. "It is quite selfish of me, I know, but I really do want you around for many other things far into the future," Dumbledore told Remus gently.
"I'll be fine," Remus assured him automatically. "Although I wouldn't mind being free of the Obtrusion Charm again, just in case I have any post, and getting a chance to see Harry."
"Thank you for reminding me." Dumbledore withdrew a small stack of letters from his desk and passed them to Remus. "You can look them over while I take care of this charm."
Remus glanced through his post absently. Dumbledore had forwarded some letters from Harry to him in care of the contacts for Wolfsbane Potion, but he still had what looked like holiday greetings from Arthur and Molly Weasley, Hermione Granger, and the young man he had met at St. Mungo's sharing a room with Arthur, as well as some from other members of the Order. He set them aside to enjoy later and continued sorting.
Somewhat to his surprise, he had three letters addressed to him from an unknown sender, apparently the same one if he could judge by the handwriting. He opened the first and skimmed quickly through it as Dumbledore finished removing the charm and returned to sit behind the desk. It was only a short note, but a line at the end of it was very painful to read, "I haven't heard from Padfoot for a while – not that he's a terribly regular correspondent – but I'd appreciate it if you would mention me if you happen to see him."
Remus stared at the signature, 'Catherine Clare' penned gracefully in deep blue ink. He didn't know anyone named Catherine Clare. He hadn't known that Sirius had known anyone be that name either, but she obviously knew him well enough to use his Marauder name, which was not something lightly shared – unless this was some sort of trap set by Voldemort with information provided by Wormtail.
Remus quickly read through the other two notes, but they said very little. One asked him to contact her at an American address if for any reason he was unable to reach their "mutual friend." The other again asked him to contact her and provided information about her plans to travel to London. She never openly referred to Padfoot again.
"Headmaster, have you ever heard of Catherine Clare?" he asked, still wondering what to make of these notes.
"Oh, yes," Dumbledore told him calmly. Remus looked up.
"Who is she?"
"Among other things, she is the newest member of the Order of the Phoenix," the Headmaster told him, glancing at the letters Remus was still holding. "She came to see me when she was unable to reach you." He hesitated, then added, "I have informed her that Sirius is dead."
Remus concentrated on refolding the parchment and arranging the letters neatly on his lap. "Sirius never mentioned her," he said.
"She is looking forward to meeting you. The next meeting of the Order is on Saturday morning at Stone House. If you feel up to attending, you may meet her then."
"Of course I'm up to attending – although I will need directions," Remus told him. Dumbledore scribbled swiftly on a small scrap of parchment, handed it to Remus, and rose to his feet, prompting Remus to stand as well.
"I believe Harry and his friends are in the library if you wish to stop by." The Headmaster's eyes twinkled as he added, "Miss Granger has been helping him revise."
Remus smiled in understanding, but hesitated.
"Are you certain that – "
"I am certain that Miss Clare is not working for Voldemort, and I am confident that her desire to be of service to the Order is genuine," Dumbledore said. "But, of course, you shall form your own opinion when you meet her on Saturday." The finality of his tone was unmistakable, and Remus excused himself without further delay.
Remus put the matter out of his mind as he sought Harry in the library. He found him sharing a table with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny in a quiet corner. Harry and Ginny were reading, while Hermione was explaining something in a low voice to Ron. Hermione was the first to see him, but she kindly went on with her explanation with only the briefest of pauses, not drawing attention to his presence, and he smiled gratefully at her. Because of this, Remus was able to slip quietly into place behind Harry.
James' son was absorbed in comparing his notes to the sixth year texts. Running a hand through his untidy hair, he muttered under his breath, "Why did I write 'locator spell' here? I was sure you used a Patronus against a Lethifold."
"You do," Remus assured him. Harry started in surprise, his face lighting up as he turned and realized who was behind him.
"Professor Lupin!" he exclaimed loudly, standing up quickly and grasping his former teacher's hand. "You're back!"
Remus noted with a sort of wistful surprise that Harry was now at least as tall as he was himself, although not yet quite as tall as James had been when fully grown. The boy – young man, he corrected mentally – must have had another growth spurt while he was away.
"Yes, I'm finished now, and I thought I'd stop by while I had a chance – if I'm not disrupting your preparations for finals," he added, surveying the pile of books on the table.
"Of course not," Harry assured him quickly. "Hermione has us well in hand." Remus watched as Hermione made a face at Harry, who merely smiled at her. "How long can you stay?"
"I have a little time now," Remus told him, observing Irma Pince approach, frowning at the disturbance of the peace in her sanctum, "but we probably shouldn't be making noise in the library. Do you have time to step out for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Harry agreed instantly, glancing at Ron.
"We'll bring your stuff back for you," the redhead promised. "It was nice to see you again, Professor," he added, Hermione and Ginny nodding their agreement.
As he and Harry walked out of the library, Remus wondered why so many people persisted in addressing him as 'Professor' when nearly three years had passed since he actually taught at Hogwarts.
"So, Harry, how have you been?" They had walked out the main entrance and were heading toward the lake. Remus noted that Harry shot him a somewhat anxious look before he responded.
"Better. I think." Harry rushed on before Remus could reply. "I've been working very hard on my studies this year – Hermione's been helping me – and I'm getting my marks up. Even Potions," he added, grimacing slightly. "And I – I think I'm making progress in the Occlumency. I'm still taking lessons, but I haven't had any more visions since – since that one before. I'm doing the exercises Snape gave me every night."
"That's good to hear, Harry," Lupin told him. His mind was busy processing what Harry had told him; Remus had a feeling he was missing something. Harry darted another look at him, then looked down at the ground instead, kicking a small rock along absently as they walked.
"I haven't – " Harry broke off and started again. "Gryffindor's in the lead for the House Cup," he told his father's friend. "We're also in the lead for the Quidditch Cup going into the last match."
"Your house mates must be very pleased." Harry shrugged, which seemed a somewhat strange reaction. "How do you feel about it?" Lupin probed cautiously.
"Well, it – " Harry seemed to be concentrating on the rock he was still scuffing along, "it isn't very much."
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Harry," Remus told him slowly. He saw Harry cast another quick look in his direction, this one slightly surprised.
"To make up for what I did," he said, with the air of someone stating the obvious. Remus abruptly stopped walking.
"You've been doing all this to try to make up for – "
"For attacking her," Harry confirmed shamefacedly. Then he added, "The woman in the Headmaster's office," as though he needed to distinguish her from all the other women he had attacked.
Remus was momentarily speechless, and his lack of response seemed to add to Harry's unease.
"I know it doesn't really, but I couldn't do anything for her – even apologize properly – since I don't know who she is – I didn't think I was even supposed to know she was here."
"Harry – " Harry didn't seem to be listening to him and rushed on.
"But I did want you to know I was sorry. And to show you that I – well, I'm trying to change. To make you proud of me again. And I – " Remus reached out and caught hold of Harry's shoulder, gripping it hard for moment.
"Harry, listen to me. I am proud of you," Lupin assured him, and Harry finally met his eyes, albeit somewhat uncertainly. "I would still be proud of you even if you hadn't studied quite as much. So would James and Sirius." Remus released Harry and smiled slightly, remembering the Marauders' school days. "Although I suspect they would have told you to relax about your marks and make sure you have some fun while you're here." He saw the beginning of an answering smile, but Harry's eyes were still troubled.
"I know I disappointed you," Harry told him hesitantly. Remus struggled with what to say.
"Yes, Harry, you did," he admitted honestly, "but that doesn't mean I stopped caring about you. You're allowed to make some mistakes, you know. I'm not perfect myself, and neither were James or Sirius. Both of them did things they regretted, just as I have, and just as you have." Lupin waited patiently as Harry absorbed this.
"I guess that makes sense," he said, and Remus knew instinctively that Harry was thinking about what he'd seen in Severus' Pensieve.
"Harry, we all have moments when we behave in a way that doesn't reflect all of who we are – a partial truth instead of the whole truth. I haven't forgotten everything else about you – your continuing loyalty to your friends, your determination to produce a Patronus in your third year, your courage in facing not only Voldemort, but everyone else in the world who doubted that he had returned – just because of that moment."
Harry drew a deep breath, and then let it out slowly.
"Does that mean you still care about Wormtail?" he asked, catching Remus off guard.
Remus ran a hand through his hair and sighed, wondering how the conversation got so complicated so quickly.
"Yes, Harry, I do," he confessed. "Peter was my friend for a long time, and I haven't forgotten that. That doesn't mean I would excuse him from the consequences of what he's done, or that I don't view the situations a little differently. Your mistake was a momentary lapse of judgment in a – " Lupin looked at Harry apologetically, " – a childish fit of pique. You realized it and regretted it almost immediately, and I don't think you've repeated it since." Harry shook his head vigorously in denial. "Peter chose, as an adult, to enter the service of Voldemort. He had betrayed the Order repeatedly before he ever betrayed your parents. What Peter has done is more deliberate than a momentary lapse in judgment and much more serious – but I do still care about him."
Remus was now watching Harry, although he was experienced enough to do a much better job than Harry had of concealing his anxiety as he waited for a reaction to his words.
"I think I understand," Harry said finally, and Remus smiled slightly in relief.
"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" he asked, wondering silently whether he'd be ready for Harry's next question.
"Not really." Harry let out a deep breath, and some of the tension seemed to leave him. Then he smiled, and Remus thought it was a more genuine smile than Harry had worn since they left the library. "I could tell you about Ron and Hermione's latest squabbles, but I doubt you've got that much time."
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*
If Sirius or James had been alive to ask Remus how he spent the remainder of the week, he would probably have said he spent it indulging himself. He took some time off from working on the house, sensible enough to allow himself a short break after his long and arduous assignment which had required so many months on the road. He tried to get caught up on his sleep, going to bed early and sleeping until he woke up in the morning.
He spent a delightful morning browsing through the bookstore in Hogsmeade, treating himself to an armload of new reading material and refusing to feel guilty about it. Money had not been among his reasons for deciding to take the assignment, but it turned out that "short-term assignments" for the Ministry paid fairly decently. He suspected that this was largely due to Dumbledore's influence - he doubted Cornelius Fudge had recovered enough from the shock of discovering his mistakes a year ago to argue with the venerable Headmaster of Hogwarts about a minor matter - but it was welcome nonetheless.
He did feel a bit guilty about another purchase he made later, so much so that he found himself wondering whether he should try and sneak it past Uncle Bertie, which was really ridiculous. He had been walking down the street, savoring the prospect of spending a few days enjoying his new books and wondering what to get Harry for his birthday in the summer when a flash of color caught his eye. It wasn't a bright color, but the soft blue-gray fabric displayed in the window happened to be very close to the color of Cassie's eyes and drew his attention immediately.
On impulse, he had stepped into the shop. When he left, he was wearing a new set of robes and had ordered two more.
He found himself trying to rationalize this all the way home. He hadn't had any new robes in literally years, and this last assignment had really finished off the ones he'd been wearing. It shouldn't be really wrong to use just a bit of the money he earned replacing them. He hadn't chosen anything extravagant - just plain, hard-wearing fabric in neutral colors, styled quite simply.
Nevertheless, he was plagued by the feeling that he had been unconscionably reckless in wasting money on anything as insignificant as his appearance when there were so many other more pressing claims on his limited funds. He could spend a little bit on books without guilt, but frittering it away on clothing was positively profligate to his mind.
He actually squared his shoulders before walking into the kitchen to face his uncle.
"You're back!" Uncle Bertie beamed at him. "Find that book by that Fortiff fellow you were wanting?"
"Yes, and the new Magus treatise has just been published as well." Remus deposited the pile of books on the kitchen table. "Also, I sort of - um - "
"You bought new robes!" Uncle Bertie exclaimed.
"Yes," Remus admitted.
"Well, turn around and let me see 'em," his uncle ordered. Feeling rather silly, Remus rotated obediently in place.
"I like 'em," Uncle Bertie announced. "Not too fussy, like in my day. Always having to adjust things."
"You don't think it was a waste of money? With the roof and - "
"Nonsense," was the booming reply. "Covering you is a lot more important than covering this old barracks! Even if the price of a set of robes was going to make any difference to the roof, which it won't."
"I got three altogether," Remus confessed. "The other two needed to be hemmed. They're coming by owl post." Much to his relief, Uncle Bertie laughed.
"Good for you, it's about time," the portrait told him. Remus relaxed slightly, and Uncle Bertie shot him a very shrewd look. "You've been fretting yourself to flinders all the way home, haven't you?"
"Well, I was a little worried about whether this was a sensible purchase just now."
"By Merlin's beard, lad, unless the other two are made of Demiguise pelts and Graphorn hide, it was a very sensible purchase indeed," Uncle Bertie assured him with gruff good humor, and Remus was sufficiently relieved to enjoy the rest of his self-declared holiday without too many pangs of guilt.
On Saturday morning, Remus set out for the site of the next meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, using the directions Dumbledore had given him. Stone House proved to be a very large and elegant house, saved from being called a castle only by its more modern design. There were huge expanses of glass set in perfectly maintained coffee-and-cream stone. There was no sign of the dust, gloom, or decay he always associated with Grimmauld place, nor was there any of the genteel shabbiness of his own home. As he drew closer to the front door, he saw that even the mortar between the stones sparkled like new, and the large stone cats that encircled the roof in place of the more typical gargoyles positively shone.
He was somewhat relieved when Dumbledore himself opened the door in response to his ring.
"Remus, I'm so glad you came," the Headmaster told him, ushering him inside and directing him toward the broom closet. "I do hope you're quite well?" he inquired, searching Lupin's face as Remus stored his broom on one of the conveniently placed hooks.
"Very well."
"I'm glad to hear it," Dumbledore smiled, then his smile faltered as he hesitated.
"Remus, there is something I have not shared with you which may prove to be, well, a bit of a surprise."
"Oh?"
"The problem is that I still cannot give you very much information – probably only enough to generate questions I cannot answer," he admitted. "I can only tell you two things." Dumbledore's expression was as serious as Remus had seen it.
"Firstly, 'Catherine Clare' is the real name of the woman to whom you will shortly be introduced. Secondly, she has absolutely no memory of ever having met you before."
Remus was puzzled. "Why would she – " he began.
"That is all I can tell you," the Headmaster cut him off firmly. "I must ask you to refrain from any further inquiry – of me or of anyone else." Dumbledore regarded him gravely. "I would not ask this of you if it were not a matter of importance. I can only ask you to trust me on this point."
"Of course I trust you," he replied immediately, still rather confused.
"Thank you," Dumbledore responded quietly. "Shall we go in?"
Remus Lupin's preoccupation with this bizarre conversation kept him from being overawed by his surroundings as Dumbledore led him into the meeting. Most of the other members of the Order were already there. He saw Severus and Minerva conversing in one corner in rather serious tones, while Tonks and Kingsley Shaklebolt appeared to be having a more light-hearted conversation. Moody was talking to a woman that Remus did not recognize from the back. Dumbledore, his hand firmly under Remus' elbow, steered him over to them.
"Catherine, I wanted to present Remus Lupin to you before the start of the meeting," the Headmaster said. The woman, wearing coffee-colored robes, turned to greet him with a smile in her blue-gray eyes. Through the numbness of his shock, Remus could feel the Headmaster's hand tightening hard under his elbow in a combined gesture of support and warning unseen by anyone else. "Remus, this is Catherine Clare."
She extended her hand and smiled warmly at him. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."
"The pleasure is mine," he replied, accepting her hand automatically.
"I believe it is time for us to get started," Dumbledore interjected smoothly. "Shall we begin?" Still grasping his elbow firmly, the Headmaster unobtrusively steered Remus to a seat and deposited him safely in it before taking his own place at the head of the table.
His mind whirling, Remus concentrated on at least appearing attentive to the proceedings and indifferent to the presence of the woman now seated at the same table – the woman he had known as Cassie Celarevos.