"Where's Nymphadora?" Mrs. Weasley asked, eyeing Lupin strangely.

"Outside," muttered Lupin as he sat down at the Burrow's dining table, trying not to look at Molly. She peered through the window above the kitchen sink.

"I don't see her," she said. Lupin looked up, his eyebrows raised in slight surprise.

"Maybe she left," he suggested, his voice dull and low.

"Oh, that's very unlike Nymphadora," chirped Mrs. Weasley, "to leave without saying goodbye." Molly opened her mouth as if wanting to say something more, but then suddenly decided against it and closed her mouth shut. Lupin said nothing and stared into his lap. Silence, again. When will I escape from these awkward silences? he thought.

"Molly, would it be much trouble if I could use your shed for my, er – transformation?" Lupin asked, happy to finally break the stillness. Molly's warm and round face broke out into a smile.

"Of course, dear," she replied happily. Suddenly, her smile started to fade a little. "Are you still taking the Wolfsbane Potion?" Lupin opened his mouth, and then closed it. He had completely forgotten about that. He didn't know if he would take the potion, knowing who had made it for him.

"I don't know," sighed Lupin, "The person who made it, well, how could I-"

"Nonsense!" Molly interrupted, "Don't let that bother you. You deserve to keep your mind, no matter what happens." She strode over to Lupin and held his face in her hand. "You can stay in our extra bedroom until the time comes. In fact, stay as long as you need to." Lupin smiled as Molly. He admired her. Her uncanny way to make anyone feel better at any situation, her immense caring for others, her tendency to act motherly to anyone she met. "Your things are already upstairs in Bill's old bedroom," she added. She let go of Lupin's face and flicked her wand at the dishes as they began to clean themselves. Bill. Lupin had forgotten to ask about him.

"How is he?" Lupin asked. Molly's face was impassive, but her voice seemed fragile when she spoke.

"Oh, he's getting alone fine," she breathed, "We still don't know if he's a…well…a-"

"A werewolf?" finished Lupin. Molly nodded solemnly as Lupin looked down at his lap again. Suddenly, Molly gave into a sob.

"Remus! How can you live with that horrible man? You can't go back!" she cried. Lupin looked back up at Molly and got up from his chair as he walked toward her.

"I made a promise," he said gently, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking into Molly's teary eyes. "I'll be fine…and so will Bill. Everything will be alright." Lupin tried to sound as convincing as possible, though he didn't believe his own words. Molly smiled a little bit and sniffed as she wiped at her eyes.

"Oh, silly me. Of course," she said with a small laugh. Lupin nodded as he let go of Molly, deciding to go see his new room. He walked upstairs and strolled towards Bill's old bedroom. As he stepped in, he noticed it was quite bare. It had a small bed on which his suitcase was on, blank walls, and one window. Lupin strode over to the window and looked outside to watch the moon. Tomorrow it would be full. Lupin went to the bed and opened his suitcase, taking out an old bottle with the Wolfbane Potion inside. He ran his hands along the bottle as he contemplated what he should do.

If I don't take it, I can't stay here. I don't know where I'd go to.

But, Snape made this. How can I use it?

Lupin paced the floor of the small bedroom and bit his lip as the debate went on in his head. Coming to a decision, he stepped out of the room and called out to Molly.

"Molly, can I use one of your owls?" he shouted, "I need to send a message."

"Of course, dear," he heard her call back, "You can use Ron's. It's in his room." Lupin nodded and walked briskly toward Ron's bedroom. He stepped inside, seeing four heads of red hair, a head of unkempt black hair, and one of brown frizzy hair.

"Hello, Ron," smiled Lupin, "I need to use your owl. Is that alright?"

"'Course," replied Ron. Harry looked up at Lupin and grinned.

"Are you staying here for a couple of days, Professor?" he asked. Lupin's eyes softened as he sighed.

"Only for tonight," he muttered, "Only for tonight…"

"Here you go," Ron grunted as he handed Lupin the cage, "Now, mind you, he can be fussy at times. Just pluck a feather out of him and he'll do what you want."

"Ron!" scolded Hermione, her eyes wide with sympathy for his owl.

"What? I'm only telling the truth!" Lupin chuckled to himself as he gripped the cage in his hands.

"Thanks Ron," he said as he walked back to Bill's old bedroom. He grabbed a spare sheet of parchment and a pen from his suitcase a scribbled a small note. He opened the cage to let the owl out and he bent low to speak to it.

"Take this to Minerva McGonagall," he breathed, placing the note under the owl's beak. It clutched onto the note and in a moment sailed off out of the window. Lupin sighed deeply as he watched the owl become fainter and smaller until he could see it no longer. He shoved the cage off of the bed and pulled at the covers as he slid off his shoes. He got into the bed and closed his eyes, knowing that this sleep would have to be a fine one to prepare him for what would be in store tomorrow.