Remus was just waking up. The pain started in his back as it hunched up, cracking and twisting as each vertebrae shifted back into a human form. His shoulders twisted and contorted. The muscles up around his shoulders tensed and stretched, pulling at his arms. He groaned in pain, clenching his hands, which were much less than human. There was a dog whimpering nearby. Remus knew Sirius was nearby, but his brain couldn't figure out where. His elbows and knees popped out of and back into place. He could practically invision the tearing and pulling of his thigh and calf muscles as they retracted back into their human form. His feet curled painfully, the claws and hair retracting back. He grunted louder now. He wanted to scream in pain. He did.

"Hey, Moony..." Sirius sounded like he was bargaining with a child. "It's okay, just hang tight, it's almost over."

Remus was flat in his stomach, gripping at the cold concrete floor of the cellar. His nails made a nasty noise and he pawed away at it. His throat was closing in and he was struggling the breathe.

"Hang on! Let me... find my own damn clothes first..." Sirius was rushing around the cellar. Remus collapsed on his stomach, groaning. The cool stone felt good on his face especially, and the rest of his body as well. But he needed to get up and put clothes on.

Sirius had seen him naked before, and at one point, he had seen Sirius naked too. But now, Remus felt more vulnerable than ever as Sirius picked him up off the floor, propping him up against one of the cabinets. "Did I... Did I break anything?" Remus panted.

"Not at all." Sirius lied, but Remus couldn't see any damage, so he forgot about it. "How are feeling?"

"I could puke, but what's new?" Remus remarked. "Am I bleeding anywhere?"

"Ah... just a bit on your shoulder. Here, let me clean that up and bandage it. But I'll let you put your underwear on first."

Sirius wrapped up his shoulder and helped him put his pajamas on. Remus could already feel his sweater falling off of him as they made their way up the stone steps. He wasn't sure why Sirius had dressed him this much given that he was already sweating through his t-shirt. His head was swimming in heavy circles, and he couldn't quite gain his sense of balance. Sirius has a firm hand on the center of his back as they walked up the cellar steps together. "Here, hang on, and I'll grab the door." He nearly collapsed as he leaned back against the tightly-framed wall, gripping onto the banister. First Sirius was fighting with the doorknob, then he had dug out his wand and he blasted a spell against the wards. There was a loud female's scream as the door flew open. Sirius sighed. "Christ, Tonks, it's us."

"I'm sorry!" She shouted back at him. "I heard a loud bang without warning, I'm sorry! I thought this was supposed to be a safe house, excuse me for not expecting you to blow the fucking doorknob to pieces! I just want five fucking minutes without shit breaking!"

No one said anything, but Remus was convinced Sirius was pulling a face at her, and she was probably copying him. The kitchen was a lot brighter than the cellar, he realized. He couldn't say for certain though as no one made a move. "Excuse me, but I need to sit down." Was all Remus interjected with.

"Right." Sirius said. He grabbed him firmly and dragged Remus over to the kitchen table. The kitchen was eerily quiet with a faint commotion coming from upstairs. "Tonks, fix the doorknob."

"Tonks, fix the doorknob." Tonks mocked, crossing the room. The doorknob rattled and the door was making a squeaking noise. "At least we know the wards work. You look like shit, Remus, can I get you something?"

"It's too early to be drinking, so I suppose water'll have to do." He grumbled. "Is anyone else up and about?"

"Pretty much everyone's at work. Except Molly and the kids. They got up early and went to do some cleaning upstairs." Tonks told him. "There's still some breakfast scraps if you're hungry."

Remus shook his head. "I'm not exactly up for eating right now." He sighed. "Did the cellar stay soundproof last night?"

"Oh sure, I didn't hear a peep out of any of you 'til someone blew the fucking doorknob up."

"You really need to watch your language, young lady." Sirius scolded.

"Hear me out on this one. I know it's not firewhiskey, but it's a good comfort food." Tonks announced. She slammed a cabinet shut. "I know you said you don't really don't like coffee, but might I suggest something to cheer you up?"

Remus didn't want to argue. He didn't feel much of anything right now. "I'm game."

"You're not allergic to anything, are you? Milk?"

"No."

There was a clanking of ceramic dishes in the cabinet and Tonks's voice indicated that she was stretching or straining. "So when I was a kid, my dad would make hot chocolate from scratch, so I learned how to make it myself. It's pretty easy, and I know Molly's been baking so there has to be the proper materials somewhere. She made a chocolate cake last week, so I'm fairly certain I can make this work."

"That sounds... not convincing." He heard her snort with laughter.

"Let's see... Sirius, you're being extra quiet over there. Were you wanting a hot chocolate too?"

"No thank you."

"You sure?"

"I'm positive."

"So how do you make it? Since I... can't exactly watch." Remus asked.

"That's his way of making sure you don't try and slip him something while trying to be polite."

"Oh that's fine." Tonks replied. "Basically, you just add cocoa powder and a bit of vanilla to milk, and then this is the point when you add the cinnamon and the rat poison-"

"Rat poison is an emetic, just for reference." Remus shot back. "So you're going to have to try a little bit harder if you want to kill me."

"Okay, first off, why do you know that?"

"We don't have enough time to get that story right now." Sirius remarked. There was a ruffling of newspaper.

"So... cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and chocolate." Tonks continued. "You can use the stove, I guess, but I think it's easier to use a warming charm. And my dad, you know he's real superstitious. He always said that if you stir it clockwise, you're inviting in good energy to be consumed, so to speak."

"What happens if I stir it the other way?" He challenged.

"It's supposed to ward off and banish all of the negative energy." Tonks informed him. There was a soft clinking as she stirred her concoction. "He used to tell me it was a happiness potion. I guess that's why it always worked."

"So what's next on the agenda? Tarot readings before lunch? Next, are you going to scry a mirror?" Sirius remarked sarcastically.

"Maybe I will scry a mirror and it'll tell me where to stick it." Tonks quipped. "You're already a big enough ass, I'm sure I could fit the entire hallway mirror up there."

Remus had never seen or felt the hallway mirror, and he didn't even know which hallway she was referencing, but he laughed anyways because it was probably true. The was a stiff silence and he was the only one laughing. Sirius shook the newspaper as he turned the page. Tonks tapped the spoon on the lip of a mug. Tonks seemed to be brewing up a thought while Sirius seemed to be pretending he hadn't heard her.

"Here you go. Please be careful and don't burn yourself." She carefully guided the drink into his hands. Her fingers were still resting on his shoulders.

"Thanks." Remus stirred the spoon around, clockwise just to be safe, and he took a sip of it. It was heavy and tasted strongly of the vanilla at first, then it tasted like sweet cocoa. It was almost too sweet and milky, but it was one of the nicest things someone had done for him in a while.

"Maybe you'll consider taking me up on my offer today?" Tonks asked.

"What offer?" Sirius asked.

"I... I don't know if that's the best idea right now, Tonks."

"What's not?"

"We're going out for the afternoon." She informed. "I'm making you."

"Out?"

"We could walk to the park down the road. It doesn't really matter where we go. I'm pretty sure both of you have a vitamin deficiency by now. But I'm also fairly certain Remus might want to get some rest before we head out."

"I don't need to rest, I'll be-"

"Um, Tonks?" Sirius pointed out. "You do realize... I can't leave, right? I feel like I shouldn't have to say that. You're more than well aware of the fact that I'm a wanted criminal."

"You can't." Tonks replied with. There was a moment pause. "I don't see why Remus and I can't go for a walk. Besides, it's great exercise for his new dog."

"No." Sirius said quickly.

Tonks sighed. "Why not? Do you want the chance to leave or not?"

"I would much rather get to leave if I'm myself, thank you very much!"

"Sirius, I know that this must be hard to come to terms with, but we don't know when or how you're going to be able to leave safely." Tonks told him. "You can't hold up here by yourself until this war is over!"

That was the first time Remus heard anyone refer to what was going on to as a war. Sirius was strangely quiet and he seemed to be thinking the same thing as Remus. He folded up his newspaper and his chair when sliding backwards across the floor.

"Sirius, wait a second," Tonks pleaded. "I'm sorry if this is sort of humiliating-"

"Sort of, Tonks?" He wasn't quite raising his voice at her, but he was irritated enough that he was getting mean.

"Sirius, it's not that bad." Remus cut in. Neither of them spoke for a moment. "At least you get to look out the windows. Not all of us get that."

He could hear Sirius swallow, inhaling a sharp breath. "So what now? Are we going to need to buy a dog collar or something"

"I... suppose so. Unless you've got one around." Tonks replied. "I don't know, aren't we supposed to get some kind of special vest so Remus can walk him?"

"We can just say that we're going to get one." Remus suggested. "We're our training our dog. That's what we'll say. But I don't think anyone will stop us or ask questions. I mean, we're just minding our business."

"Sure." Tonks agreed. "Okay, well, I'm going to take my coffee upstairs and put some real pants on and the two of you can get cleaned up."

Remus listened as her heavy footsteps trampled up the stairs. She tripped on her way up, apparently spilling some of her coffee. Remus was beginning to enjoy his hot chocolate. "Sirius?"

"Moony." Sirius replied in a dull voice.

"Can you tell me about her?" Remus asked.

"Excuse me?"

"About Tonks?"

"Sorry, I might be misunderstanding, but what exactly are you wanting?" Sirius asked.

"Well, could you try and describe her to me?"

"Why?"

"Because she's my friend and I want to know what she looks like." Remus insisted.

"Do you need a written essay on what everyone else in the house looks like?" Sirius persisted.

"Sirius, I didn't forget what you look like. I don't think I could if I tried, honestly."

"So what is it... exactly that you're wanting me to describe to you?"

"Um... I guess... the kind of clothes that she wears? No, wait, that sounds weird, that's not what I meant-"

"No, I... I think I understand." Sirius cleared his throat, sitting up straight. "She's... she's a very interesting woman, I would say. She's kind of... how do I explain her... grungy? She wears a lot of black... flannel, leather, boots, the dark eyeliner. She's got a bunch of... junk on her ears too. A... thing on her nose. It's quite the look." Remus could tell he was making dramatic gestures with his hands.

"You're literally describing yourself from fifteen years ago." Remus laughed.

"She shows a bit too much skin for me, personally."

"She's your cousin?"

"I'm just saying, she dresses a bit inappropriate for an auror." Sirius told him. Remus felt his face flush pink. "Like what sort of person wears shirts that don't even go all the way down?"

"You. Fifteen years ago." Remus rolled his eyes, but it was more of him rolling his head, since his eyelids and what was left of his eyes didn't have much give. "Does she have tattoos as well?"

"Maybe I was like that when I was nineteen. But I'm not nineteen and neither is she! She should dress more like an adult."

"How old is she?"

"I think she's... twenty-one? Twenty-two?" Sirius replied. "Why does it matter?"

"That's not too far from nineteen, you know." Remus shook his head. "It sounds just like you, I don't know what to say."

"I just think she should dress more like an adult. Why? Do you plan on flirting with her?"

"Now wait a second, where did that come from? I ask you to describe someone to me and you start acting up like it's some big deal?"

"Maybe just step off her? You've been spending a lot of time around her and it's getting weird." Sirius scoffed.

"Sirius, we can't leave! Do you realize how bloody lonely I get? Maybe I just want someone to talk to! When she gets off work!" It dawned on Remus that maybe this was weird. He was actually getting excited to see her on her days off and talk to her after she came back on long nights. She was one of the most interesting people he knew. She could laugh, talk about politics, and she had even taught him how to play checkers again (though he always suspected that she cheated).

"And how do you think I feel! I'm stuck here too! You even get to keep your identity and live a halfway normal life on your own. You get to do whatever the hell you want."

"What's gotten into you?" Remus asked calmly. "You act like you've lost your mind."

"Well maybe some of us have more important things to think about right now than you do. Believe me, I've seen how you act around her!" Sirius snapped.

"Excuse me, but I almost never see her! I don't even know what you're talking about! Flirting? Are you being serious right now? When have I ever flirted with her?"

"You always want to hang around her! You spend more time with her than me?"

"And where have you been the last month?" Remus demanded. "That's what I thought. You know, maybe if you were considerate for once, you'd realize that I'm just as stuck here as you are, and I'm just as lonely."

Sirius fumed, getting up and walking out of the kitchen.

Remus went up to his own room. He too put on some pants that were at least more appropriate than pajama bottoms and he changed out of his sweaty t-shirt (Remus would have showered if Sirius wasn't hogging it). He buttoned up his shirt, but he knew the buttons had to be crooked, so he rebuttoned it, and it still wasn't right. Remus also tried to wash his face and brush his hair, but it still bothered him that he thought he must look completely ragged.

Tonks was waiting at the bottom of the steps. "There you are, sunshine." She remarked. "Can I fix your shirt for you?"

"I-" She was already rebuttoning his shirt for him. He felt his face grow hot. She could likely see how scrawny he was, alongside all his ugly scars and the bandage from that morning, which was actually just beginning to ache. "Thank you."

"I don't mind." She said politely. "Are you... okay? I heard you and Sirius had a bit of a scuffle."

"I don't know what his problem is." Remus sighed. "He's... making wild accusations, I think he's just jealous that we've been spending some time together the past couple of weeks."

"He's probably stressed. We're going to get Harry tonight, you know."

There was that sinking feeling of uselessness in Remus's chest. "Where's Sirius?"

"Right behind you, mate." Sirius remarked, patting him on the shoulder. He was definitely acting weird this morning.

The was some metal clanking. "I was one step ahead of you and I went and got a dog leash from that store down the road, since some of you like long showers." Tonks pointing out.

Sirius pushed his way past Remus and walked downstairs. "I'll go change in the bathroom." He sighed.