Chapter 5: The Report

It was just before noon when Remus met with Greyback to report his findings. "I see you brought no one with you. That is most disappointing," the older werewolf said. "Perhaps I shall send someone else next time. I wonder if Annabeth might have better luck. Yes, I suppose I'll send her." He looked thoughtful for a moment and then turned to Remus again. "Tell me, where did you look? We don't want Annabeth covering the same ground."

Think, Remus, think, he thought desperately. He had to lie, couldn't even mention London, couldn't let Greyback or Annabeth suspect he'd seen Tonks. "Scottish countryside." This was not going to go well. "I thought it might be a good place for werewolves to hide but either there aren't any or they've hidden themselves a bit too well."

Greyback smiled. "You've done well. Next time, I expect you to find someone. In the meantime, I think I'll send Annabeth to London next Saturday."

Remus's heart sank. Not London. If she finds Tonks…Merlin, this can't be good. But he couldn't let his fears show. "That sounds like a good idea. Although, I'm not sure it would be wise for a werewolf to hide in London."

"Why not?" Greyback mused. "Lots of human flesh nearby…"

Remus tried not to think about it. Greyback was planning on sending her over the full moon and Tonks all alone in her apartment…He had to warn her. He had no idea how; he knew only that he had to get her away from the city. It wasn't safe. She was a brilliant witch but with that Dawlish creeping around and Annabeth being so close on the full moon. He hated to think what would happen. Although, he thought with an inward smirk, I wouldn't mind if she attacked Dawlish.

"Now, Remus, there's someone who's been anxious to talk with you and now that you've given your report, I think you'd better find Sara."

"Yes, sir," Remus replied with a slight bow. He turned and walked off casually toward the clearing Sara spent most of her time in.

"Remus!" Sara cried as soon as she saw him coming. "What happened? How did it go?"

"It went…better than expected," he said with a smile.

"Tell me everything."

Remus sat down on the log beside her. "I visited Tonks," he said. Sara shot him a look and he cleared his throat nervously. He opened his mouth to continue but hesitated when he heard footsteps behind him.

"I heard you were back, Remus," Annabeth said, stepping into the clearing. "Greyback told me I could find you here."

"I didn't realize you were looking for me," Remus replied, hoping Annabeth hadn't overheard what he had said to Sara.

"I just wanted to ask you something." Annabeth sat down next to him.

"What?"

"Have you had any contact with the woman in your photograph? Tonks?" She looked suspicious.

"No," Remus lied. "Why?"

"I just wondered. I used to know her, you see. She was always too inquisitive, that one. Always sneaking around. And she's an Auror now, I've heard. We don't want Aurors finding us, do we?"

"No, not at all," Remus said quietly. "We certainly don't want that."

"I've heard she's in London…perhaps I'll pay her a little visit this week just to make sure you're telling the truth. You may have convinced Greyback, but I don't trust you, Lupin. I don't trust you at all."

"I understand," Remus replied. "These days, it's hard knowing who to trust."

"At least you understand," Annabeth said. "But don't get too comfortable. If I can confirm my suspicions, I will be telling Greyback. I don't think you have him so wrapped around your finger as to prevent him from seeing reason once I find out the truth."

"You'll soon find there's nothing to find, then," Remus said, though he regretted it the instant the words came out.

"We'll see about that, won't we?" Annabeth smirked and stood, then strode into the woods leaving Remus and Sara alone.

"How does she know?" Sara whispered once she was certain Annabeth was out of earshot.

"I'm not sure," Remus said. "Perhaps it was just the photograph and the fact that I used to live among regular wizards. I don't think she believes my story completely."

Sara smiled sympathetically. "She can't prove anything, though."

"Not yet, she can't," Remus said darkly. "I'm so worried about Tonks. First Dawlish and now this." He groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I wish I could warn her to get out of there."

"Dawlish?" Sara asked curiously.

"Another Auror. He works with Tonks and apparently she's the only girl in the office who hasn't dated him yet. He tried to get her to go out for a drink with him when I was there."

"Did he see you?" Sara asked, her eyes wide.

Remus nodded. "He did. He cornered Tonks and I had to do something, so I got him out of her apartment."

"Remus, you idiot, you let yourself be seen?" Sara demanded. "What if Dawlish says something? What if Annabeth finds out?" She gave him an angry shove.

"I didn't think about it, Sara. I was worried about Tonks. I couldn't stand seeing that git with his hands on her."

"I know, Remus, but Tonks is a witch. She can take care of herself. That was really dumb of you, you know."

"I know, I know," he grumbled. "I didn't think. I just…had to do something. I shouldn't have even gone. Now Annabeth is going to look for her and she might get hurt. If I had just stayed here, everything would be fine and I could just forget about her for a while. And now…I just can't stop thinking about her. I'm so worried now."

"She's a big girl, Remus. She can look out for herself. You need to start looking out for you at the moment otherwise your neck's going on the chopping block and there's not much I can do to stop Dad once he's angry. He might even kill me too for being your friend." She shuddered. Her voice was quieter and slightly shaky when she spoke again. "Then again, I've had it coming for a long time. And I'll get to see Mum again."

"What happened to your mother?" Remus asked.

"She died a few years ago. I'm not surprised, really. It was only a matter of time, really. It's just an occupational hazard of living around my father."

"I'm sorry," Remus said.

"Don't be. She doesn't have to suffer anymore," Sara said with tears in her eyes. Remus offered her a handkerchief. "Thanks." She blew her nose. "Sorry, I don't usually get this emotional. I just…miss her, that's all."

"Did the two of you live here with him, then?"

"No, not long after I was born, she took me away. I was a werewolf, but she kept me away from other people, including herself. Greyback found us when I was seven and brought us here."

Remus felt another rush of sympathy for the girl sitting next to him. Despite his better judgment, an equally strong pang of curiosity forced him to inquire further. "What happened between Greyback and your mother?"

Sara turned away. "I don't like to talk about it. It was one of the last things she told me before she died and it was so horrible…I just can't talk about it now, Remus, okay?"

"I'm sorry I asked. I should have realized it was too painful."

"I'll tell you someday, I promise," Sara said. "I want you to know, really I do. You deserve to know. It'll make you feel a lot better about your own relationship with Tonks, I can tell you that. And speaking of Tonks, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you spent the night at her place. How did that go?"

Remus had to admire her ability to change the subject, though he had to admit, she picked another uncomfortable topic. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been."

"I suppose that's good." She didn't inquire further, although Remus could tell she wanted to.

"I've been such an idiot, Sara. I want to see her again but I've already put her in so much danger and I need to warn her and I don't know how. I suppose I could send an owl, but what if it's intercepted?"

"No one's going to intercept your owl, Remus. Just take one and write her a letter."

"I will. I'll tell her to go to the Burrow. Annabeth might think to look at her parents' house and I bet Dawlish won't find her there either!" Remus pulled a quill, ink and parchment from inside his coat and began writing while Sara found an owl. Once Remus finished the letter, he tied it to the owl's leg and sent it off just as Annabeth walked back into the clearing.

"I came to tell you that lunch is ready," she said with a smirk. "But I think we have something more important to discuss. Who did you send that owl to, Lupin?" She pointed her wand at his chest. "And don't even think about lying to me."