Chapter 31: Tea

"Tonks!" Hermione gasped.

"Hermione! And Harry! Hello," she grinned , brushing a few curls of pale pink fringe form her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"We saw you from the window up there."

"Saw my hair you mean?" she joked.

"Yes – and we cameo see what had happened," Hermione added.

"Oh nothing much has happened," Tonks shrugged. "Snape keeps coming in and out of consciousness, so it's hard to cover much ground with him. Been trying to keep to the trees to, hoping not to be spotted."

Harry nodded; too astounded to think of anything else to say.

"Um, are you all right?" Hermione asked, uncertainly.

"All right? Yes, yes. Bit battered but all right," she answered quickly, "Look, would one of you mind going to get Dumbledore

 "I'll run to Hagrid's it's closer and he can walk faster and plus he knows the password for Dumbledore's office," Hermione gabbled, "I'll be back in a second," she called before darting off to the left.

"Well Harry," Tonks smiled, standing up straight and revealing a few gashes and bruises along her shoulders and collar bone. "It's fabulous to see you, and what a surprise."

"You too," he replied stunned. "Er – is Professor Snape ok?"

She shook her head and lowered her voice, "He's in an awful state. Straight to Dumbledore then Madame Pomfrey, I say. Cursed the living daylights out of him. And of course those Dementors," she said darkly, "played with his mind and you know what I mean."

"I can hear you," drawled an unsteady voice form the ground. Tonks' eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, hello again Severus," she said conversationally, as she sat down on a tree root. "I don't know if you heard, but Hermione's gone to get Hagrid to get Dumbledore, so help should be here soon," she said cheerfully. Snape made no reply.

The next few minutes passed with snippets of conversation passing between Harry and Tonks until Hermione returned, followed minutes later by Hagrid and Dumbledore. The headmaster looked down at Snape very seriously and immediately conjured a stretcher and levitated him onto it. Hermione held back a gasp when Snape was rolled on his back, exposing his battered and bloody face, but she could not stop her jaw falling open silently as her eyes trailed down to his chest, disfigured with burns, cuts and curse marks.

"Are you alright to walk?" Albus asked Tonks peering at her over his glasses.

"Fine," she replied nodded quickly. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Alright. Well I'll take Severus up to Poppy, you should come too, you need to get those injuries cleaned up. We can talk once you're both fit to. Hagrid, thank you very much for fetching me but I believe you have a class to prepare for, now?"

"Yes I do sir," he nodded, "I'll be off to me house, call if you need anythin' though," he said, before walking away.

"Now," Albus smiled, turning to Harry and Hermione. "Might I ask how you two fortunately stumbled across Tonks and Severus, here?"

"Oh well you see we were on our way to Transfiguration," Hermione explained, speaking quickly, "And then Harry remembered he'd left his quill and ink down here by the lake, because we'd just had Care of Magical Creatures here, so we went to a window to summon them and he saw Tonks by the trees. Well he thought it was Tonks because of her hair and he could make out someone else in on the ground too. And of course, we immediately thought who they were and what was going on so we ran down here to see  if they were ok."

"I see," he nodded. "Well it's very fortunate you accidentally left your belongings here then isn't it?" he stepped closer to the teenagers and lowered his voice. "I doubt Tonks could have carried him much further, she's not in as good health as she pretends," he said, frowning. "Now, I do believe you said you were on your way to Transfiguration? Please tell Professor McGonagall you were with me, unless of course you wish to return to your common room and catch your breath?"

"We should be fine, thanks," Hermione smiled.

"Very well. I might talk to you again later tonight when these two have been serviced. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the Hospital Wing right away," he smiled. Hermione nodded and tugged at Harry's hand, silently telling him to follow her as she strode back up the lawns.

It wasn't until the end of the day, when they had double Potions, that Harry and Hermione got any more news. Professor Mysticus had handed out all the homework and was writing a few points up on the board when Hermione tapped Harry's side.

"Look," she hissed. "She gave us a note with my homework." Harry leant closer and read over her shoulder.

Dumbledore is having a meeting with Tonks, Snape and a few others once the school day has ended. He invites you both to come at quarter to five if you wish. He also requests you do not arrive earlier as some of the information discussed may be confidential. He assures you both that he does trust you and explains that the secrecy is an Order policy.

That afternoon, the pair had completed most of their homework and Hermione was mid-way through a letter to Ron when Harry pointed out that it was just gone 4:45. Telling Dean and Seamus that they were going to see Hagrid, they left the common room and headed directly to the headmaster's office. They went through the usual procedure and knocked on the door when the staircase delivered them to it.

From within the room they heard a faint, 'come in' and pushed the door open. Remus, Talia and Professor McGonagall were sitting on soft, extremely comfortable looking chairs facing Tonks, who was sitting in something that resembled a bean bag, and Snape who was lying on the couch. Dumbledore was on a rather fun looking bubble chair placed at the head of the circle and in front of his desk. "Do join us," he invited, nodding towards two soft seats he had just conjured.

"Briefly," he told them. "We have no further news on Voldemort's plans to recapture Professor Snape, or in fact, Tonks. You will be delighted to know that your Potions professor should be able to return to his regular teaching post within a few weeks. Tonks will be staying here until Madame Pomfrey is satisfied that she can return to work." At this comment Tonks rolled her eyes in good humour and flashed a quick wink at Harry.

"Do either of you have anything you'd like to ask?" Hermione nodded and Albus waved his hand to indicate she should go right ahead.

"When Professor Snape starts teaching Potions again, what will happen to Professor Mysticus?"

This thought had completely slipped his mind, but when Hermione mentioned it, Harry's eyes darted over to look at Talia. She looked entirely relaxed and not in the least bit worried or embarrassed.

"We're unsure," Dumbledore answered. "But at the moment we think she will return to temporary retirement and work for the Order outside of Hogwarts." Harry's eyes drifted back to Dumbledore. "She may alternatively remain here as a teaching assistant within a specialised subject area. It is yet, undecided."

The meeting continued, though both Harry and Hermione noticed everyone was careful to steer clear of any 'confidential' Order business. The silver clock on Dumbledore's windowsill chimed delicately, announcing to the room that it was 5:30 and time for dinner. Before he left, Remus called Harry aside.

"Have you had any time to work on the Map?" he asked.

Harry shook his head guiltily. "I'm so sorry, I've been trying to find time, I'll do it tomorrow we don't usually get much homework on Tuesdays."

"Harry, don't feel pressured to do this. If you don't have time, or you don't want to do it just say so and give it back to me," he said sounding concerned.

"No it's fine," Harry insisted. "I really want to do it. I'll do it tomorrow, I promise."

Remus smiled the tired smile of a man who was battling his way through too much trouble, and nodded. "Ok, thank you, Harry."

Harry shrugged and grinned. "It's fine, you're welcome."

A short paused followed. "I think Hermione's waiting," Lupin said, looking towards the doorway.

"Oh, ok. Bye then," Harry smiled. "Goodnight."

"You too. Oh, and, Harry – if you ever need someone to talk to… the Map'll show you the way to my quarters. Just don't pop by tomorrow night."

Harry grinned, "Thanks."

"Goodnight."

"'Night, Moony," he beamed.

*

Remus did not go to dinner with the rest of the staff, since he was feeling too unwell to eat anything as heavy as the house elves' cooking, and instead returned directly to his rooms. He had barely sat down in front of the fire when there was a knock at his door. He opened it to find Talia, and his flask of Wolfsbane.

"Thanks," he said taking it from her hands. "Why aren't you at dinner?"

"I knew you wouldn't be going – and I thought you might want some company, and if not, then perhaps someone to re-fill your mug of tea at least." Remus smiled and opened the door wider for her to walk in. "I'm assuming you have made some of that gorgeous tea?"

"You're in luck. It only just finished boiling."

"You sit down then, I'll go and fetch it," she said cheerfully, walking towards the kitchen.

"It's alright, I can do it myself. I couldn't call myself a good host if I let my guests wait on me."

"Nonsense, Remus," she argued softly. "Sit down, you're exhausted."

"I can't let you run around after me like I'm an invalid."

"Of course you're not. I'm only fetching the tea. You'd do the same for me if I was feeling under the weather, now sit down, I'll be back in a second."

Defeated, Remus lowered himself onto the couch wearily, leant his head back and closed his eyes. The smell of the tea announced Talia's return and he blinked his eyes open again. She placed a mug in front of him and another to his left before sitting down beside him.

Meanwhile, 4 floors down, in the large Great Hall, Dumbledore was standing up and clapping for attention. Students put their goblets down, let go of their cutlery, swallowed their mouthfuls and stopped their conversations. "I have a something very important to tell you all," he said, pronouncing each word slowly until not a single student was left talking.

"Today myself and the staff received a tremendous surprise, when two unexpected visitors turned up on our grounds. One was the Auror, Nymphadora Tonks and with her, she brought our own Potions Professor." He waited for the collective gasps and muttering to dwindle and continued. "Professor Snape will be unable to teach for several weeks yet, since he is under the intensive care of Madame Pomfrey. I request of you all, that when he does return to his teaching position, you do not question him about his experience in Azkaban."

Upstairs, Remus drank from his flask and immediately took a long gulp of tea, in attempt to mask the flavour of Wolfsbane. Talia was clinking her nails on the handle of the mug and letting her eyes drift around the room. His rug matched the red sheet he'd thrown over his couch, the fire place was crackling contentedly, a small Gryffindor banner was hung behind the door and there was a very expensive looking, varnished, wooden box sitting on the glass coffee table, surrounded by stacks of notes and books. The books evidently had come from the bookshelf to the left of the doorway, considering there were a few gaps between the organised volumes. Not a single one was dusty, giving her the impression that Lupin spent a lot of his time, sitting, legs crossed on the couch, pouring over them.

The thought conjured up a memory from her years at Hogwarts. The four Marauders at 'their' tree – the large Oak directly opposite the Whomping Willow. James playing with the snitch and Peter cheering him on. Sirius leaning cockily against the trunk and Remus sitting, his back pressed up against it too, nose in a book.

"Great conversation we're having," Remus teased, bringing Talia out of her musings.

She laughed. "Sorry! I was far away – land of my own."

"Thinking about anything in particular?"

"Mmmmm," she crooned.

"What?"

"What you were like in school."

"Me?"

"Yes. You and your 3 best friends."

"James, Sirius and Peter," he said slowly, his eyes falling on the large picture above the mantelpiece. "It's a shame none of them are still around."

"What about Peter?"

"Oh he's long gone – nothing's left of Peter in that disgusting rat – Wormtail, maybe, no Peter."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't you be sorry," he said softly, "It's not your fault."

"No, but I shouldn't have brought it up."

He shook his head, "Silence won't cure anything."

She sighed, "I know – but still, I'm sorry you're the one left, all alone."

"I wouldn't say I was alone. I have Harry after all."

"Only Harry?"

"And Molly and Arthur Weasley. Oh and Tonks, dear Tonks," he smiled.

There was a brief pause. "Am allowed a place on the list?" she asked, her lips twitching slightly with cheek..

He laughed. "Absolutely! I didn't think you'd want to be list, that's all."

"What?" she exclaimed, frowning. "Remus! Don't you dare think that," she scolded, resisting the urge to glare at him. "Of course I'd want to. Why do you think I spend so much time with you?"

"Pity?" he suggested.

"No, not pity. I do feel sorry for you, yes, but only because I understand what you go through – or at least I think I understand more than most people. I spend time with you because I like to."

Remus sighed. "Sorry. I'm just not used to people wanting to befriend me once they know what I am."

"Not what you are. You're not a thing, Remus, you're a person, and a wonderful person at that. I really wish you'd have more confidence in yourself. And more faith in me too, because I don't care in the slightest that you're a werewolf. And I know so many other people do, but it's only because they don't know you. They don't understand what a werewolf really is. They're caught up in the myths and rumours and they just don't know the truth. They're all scared out of their wits because they're uneducated and they don't understand. But I do, alright?"

Remus nodded and wrapped his fingers around his empty flask.

"Good," she said, leaning back into the cushions and clasping her hands together. There was a silence, where both of them waited for the heat to settle until Talia sat forward and smiled at him. "Sorry," she apologised, wrinkling her nose. "I have a tendency to overact, and I don't have time to stop and think about what I'm saying."

"But you were absolutely right. You're completely right. I shouldn't keep pushing you away, it's just I-" Remus caught himself suddenly.
"Just…" Talia urged curiously.

Remus shook his head. "Nothing."

"Tell me!"

"I'm just – it's new, that's all."

"What's new?"

"Nothing important, would you like some more tea?"

"No. I would like to know what you're talking about."

Remus sighed and pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes. "I was just trying to say … it's nice to have a friend. That's all."

"Oh," she smiled. "Good. Same here." Remus nodded. "You know," she said standing up suddenly, "I'm hungry, do you mind if I raid your kitchen?"

"Oh! No, Talia I'll do it. You sit down," he protested, standing up also.

"Come on Remus, I'm perfectly capable of making us a meal," she objected.

"Fine," Remus agreed. "I'll just lie here." He had barely lain down along the sofa, when a long moan escaped his mouth, as the muscles in his back and legs relaxed

"See? You're in no state to be pottering about making a nuisance of yourself in the kitchen-"

"A nuisance?" he smiled.

"Well maybe not. Judging by your tea you're probably excellent in there but that's not the case. You must rest, and I'll visit you whenever the food doesn't need my supervision," she announced.

"All right." He murmured, closing his eyes. "Thank you."