How on earth did we end up here? That's all I can think as we continue to patrol the dark corridors of Hogwarts, in complete and utter silence. I know Dumbledore wanted extra protection tonight, though I'm not entirely sure why, but was this really necessary? We've been here forty-five minutes and forty-four of those minutes have been filled by the most irritatingly painful silence I have ever experienced - a silence which, is occupied by so many unsaid things that it is quite frankly painful for me to be here. For I have a thousand and one things I would love more than anything to tell you, but I know that now is not the time or the place. I vowed to myself to give you the space you need and so be it. If in staying away from you I can help you return to your former, post-mission-self then it is the least I can do.

But this is a lot harder to put into practice than it would seem. We walk along quite quickly and every now and then I sneak a glance at you and I can sense that you are doing the same. You no longer appear to be painfully thin, and while your face is still covered by a somewhat figurative shadow of gloom. There seems to be more life than the last time I saw you and I find myself breathing that little bit easier as you are seeming to be recovering.

"Remus.."

"Not now Nymphadora"

I want to yell at you for using the name that noone but you dare to speak, but the words don't form on my tongue and I know that it is useless. For there is something about the way you say it, the way your voice softens, that makes a shiver run through me every time. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but when you speak my name – the name I have loathed for as long as I can remember – it feels different.

We come to a staircase and you speak the first proper sentence you have said to me since our somewhat awkward and strained greeting one hour earlier.

"Why don't you stick to this corridor and patrol round by the classrooms and I'll check the upper corridors?" You phrase it as a question but I know it is not. It is another of your ridiculous attempts to protect me and I have had enough. If you wish to continue to deny your love for me then you have no right to safeguard me.

"I'm more than capable of doing the upper corridors myself. How about you stay down here and I will check upstairs?"And with that I turn away from you and, being careful not to trip, make my way swiftly up the staircase. I do not turn to see the expression on your face but I know you well enough to know that my words will have burned you ever so slightly and I'm glad. However, your next move is not one I would have predicted. I had expected you to obey my instructions and take the opportunity I had given you to put some space between us, but that is not what you do. Instead I hear the quiet patter of your feet on the ground as you follow me upstairs.

When we reach the top you quickly catch me up and once again we are walking side by side in utter silence. However this time it feels different and I realise I don't want to spend this evening in silence. I want to talk to you, to find out how you really are, to find out why Dumbledore sent you of all people to the castle tonight, to just chat to you like we used to before all of this happened. But before I get the chance we are disturbed by the sound of running feet coming towards us from around the corner. We both instantly halt and I grasp my wand tightly in my hand, noticing out of the corner of my eye that you have done the same. However, it seems our panic premature - it's Hermione and Luna shouting something about death eaters and the Room of Requirement. I take one quick glance at you and meet your eye. Your gaze is strong and what it conveys is stronger. I see panic, fear, excitement and anticipation. But beneath all that I see a tiny glimmer of fear and I understand why. This is it. This is why Dumbledore wanted us here. Probably why he paired Remus and I together on this night. The war has really hit and lives are at stake. People will fall and friends of both mine and yours will be lost. So as we dash after the girls I can only hope that you are not one of those who we are to lose, and that you will remain whole.