June 1995
Grief is fresh in both of their minds, and they sit opposite each other at the long kitchen table in Grimmauld Place, each finding solace in the presence of other. It's sad, but she thinks it's also kind of beautiful, the way that two people can walk through such darkness together, bringing a little light with them as they go.
Maybe it's the extremity of her emotions, maybe it's the Firewhiskey, or maybe she just can't hold it in anymore, but when she opens her mouth to share this with him, what comes out instead is a very teary "I love you."
Remus' eyes meet hers across the table, filled with desolation, surprise and…fear? She mentally kicks herself for thinking without speaking and making an idiot of herself, as usual.
"Never mind," she backtracks quickly, "Clearly I've had too much to drink." Her weak smile is not returned. Remus' face has closed, his normal friendliness replaced by a coldness she has never seen before, and it frightens her.