Note: If you got emails saying there were several new chapters, sorry. I was trying to fix some typos in the earlier chapters and I had to re-upload and add them to the story. Anyway, the next few updates should be fast. I've been in a writing frenzy.

Chapter 9: A New Mission

December brought more snow than Remus had seen in his life, and during the nights, it often froze over, leaving a layer of frost and ice between his bedding and the dirt. It was almost impossible to get warm and he hadn't been able to communicate with Tonks since October. He had considered sending her a Patronus, but he knew that could be even more dangerous than sending an owl, especially if she chose to answer in the same way. The two months without even being able to write to her had all but driven him crazy and he had to fight the urge to pack up and leave. The good news was that Annabeth hadn't left camp and thus hadn't had any opportunity to use the polyjuice potion.

Shortly after she arrived from her previous mission, he had recognized the man she'd brought back with her as the newly bitten werewolf from Arthur Weasley's ward at St. Mungo's. His name was Lawrence Terry and he was adjusting well to his new life in Greyback's camp. It was a shame, in Remus's opinion. He had seemed like a decent fellow in the hospital. But once society has labeled a person as an outcast, it becomes easier to corrupt him, and Lawrence probably didn't have anywhere else to go.

Remus found himself feeling grateful for the friends who had kept him on the right side. He was terrified to think that he might have ended up like Terry. His thoughts strayed instead to Tonks; she was the only person who could make him feel human. Even Sirius reminded him too much of the nights spent in the Shrieking Shack and running around the Hogwarts grounds. Sirius reminded him of the recklessness with which he had endangered his fellow students and, almost worse, he regretted not being able to save his friend's life. If he had taken Bellatrix at the beginning of the battle in the Department of Mysteries, he could have saved Sirius and protected Tonks from the injuries that had sent her to St. Mungo's. He should've gone for her first. He knew she had a vendetta against those in her family who, in her eyes, brought shame to the Noble and Ancient House of Black. In retrospect, it was obvious that she would go for Remus's two best friends: the daughter of her disowned sister and her oddball Gryffindor cousin.

Remus still woke up in the morning seeing Sirius fall through the curtain or Tonks lying motionless on the stone steps or in the bed at St. Mungo's, unconscious, the agony of losing them both as fresh as it had been as events unfolded at the Ministry. It was good for Tonks, though, that she had gotten hurt. As Remus held her cold, nearly dead hand in the hospital and looked at her pale face, he saw that she could again be in this same place if she married him and he forgot his potion. He knew then and there that he would never be able to live with himself for putting her here. It was then he realized that he couldn't continue the relationship. As soon as she was well again, he had ended it. He could still see the tears welling up in her eyes and feel the urge to wipe them away.

These were the images in Remus's mind as he huddled beside the fire with Lawrence, Annabeth, Greyback, and Sara. He thought of the cozy fire that was most likely burning in the Burrow and the wonderful breakfast being eaten there. Whatever it was certainly had to be better than this raw meat that was the werewolves' breakfast.

Sara's face was more hollow than Remus had ever seen it and he guessed he didn't look any better nourished. He smiled to himself as he pictured Molly fussing over Sara like her own daughter. She certainly looked as if she needed a decent meal. Greyback didn't seem concerned in the slightest about his daughter's well being. Remus realized that maybe this was precisely why Sara considered him her father. He treated her more like his daughter than Greyback did. His major concern at the moment, however, was Tonks. She had been nearly as gaunt as Sara the last time he had seen her. She obviously wasn't eating as much as she should. He knew how quickly a person could start to waste away when food was scarce. He'd already seen one werewolf die this month from lack of food.

Ever since he had seen the dead man, he had slipped Sara extra food off his plate, since she was so small and the cold and hunger were obviously starting to take their toll. She had refused the food at first—she was used to cold weather and lack of food—but she eventually gave in. It was something her mother had done for her long ago and her father never had, even though she had asked him to. He said everyone was given what they needed to survive, no more, no less. Sara had been shocked the first time Remus had given her extra food and told him this. Every meal since then, he had made sure to give some to her.

After the rather subdued breakfast, Greyback made an announcement: "Remus, I'm going to give you another recruit. Annabeth, you may go, too. Over the Christmas holidays, I want you, Remus to search the countryside and you, Annabeth, to return to London."

Remus merely nodded. Perhaps he could spend Christmas at the Burrow after all. But Tonks and Sara…Sara would have to stay here. Greyback wasn't going to let her go on a dangerous journey during the holidays. And beside that, he would be too tempted to leave her at the Burrow, which wouldn't go over well with Greyback. He might kill Remus for losing his daughter. And Sara would never let him do that.

Even worse was Annabeth, whose reaction upon receiving her mission was so enthusiastic that it made Greyback smile. Only Remus and Sara knew the real reason behind her excitement and they exchanged a brief, worried glance. Every time Remus thought about Annabeth using the potion to get information out of Dawlish, it made him feel sick. In fact, if he were to be completely honest with himself, the thought of Tonks, even an imposter Tonks, with any man but himself made him sick.

"Remus, are you all right?" Sara asked him, putting a hand on his arm.

"I'm fine," he said. "Just thinking about the mission."

She sighed and Remus could tell she knew what he meant. "Do you want to go for a walk? It might help warm you up," she suggested.

"That sounds like a great idea," he said, walking toward the forest.

"I could always steal the potion from Annabeth," Sara said, her eyes glistening in a way that reminded Remus of Sirius, James, and the Weasley twins. It was a shame she never got to go to Hogwarts; they would have been the best of friends.

"That wouldn't work. She'd know something was up."

"But to do so she would have to explain what she was missing and how she got it." She was practically bouncing with excitement.

"She's smarter than that, Sara. She'd just say she found out I visited Tonks when I was supposed to be in Scotland," Remus explained.

Sara frowned. "So I guess there's no way out of this now but waiting."

"And hoping Tonks was able to modify Dawlish's memory," he added. "If not, then we're both in trouble. I just wish you were right. I don't like the thought of Dawlish being with Tonks, even if it's not really her."

"I don't blame you. That's why I was hoping to take her potion away." She sighed. "Just try not to think about it."

"Sometimes, I can't help it."

Sara rolled her eyes. "It's a good thing she's stubborn. If she gave up on you, you'd be downright miserable."

"That's not true. I want her to find someone else, someone her age," Remus protested.

Sara laughed. "You're a terrible liar. You may want her to be happy, but face it, you don't like thinking about her being with anyone but you."

"Would you?" he snapped.

"Then stop being such a coward and marry her yourself if it bothers you that much!" Sara retorted. "I know you want to. I've seen the way you look when you talk about her."

"You know I can't do that!"

"Men," she huffed, "are idiots."

"Why do you think that? You don't know anyone outside this camp!"

"My dad is the world's biggest jerk and you are the world's biggest prat!"

"That's only two people, Sara," he pointed out.

Sara gave a loud "Hmph!" Then, she turned on her heel and stormed off back to the camp muttering to herself and leaving Remus alone in the snow.