Summer, 1996.

"You're nervous," says Tonks, rifling through the day's food basket.

Remus looks at her with a bemused expression. "I...what?"

"Nervous. I was just wondering why, really." Hand at the bottom of the basket, Tonks finally finds what she's looking for. "Aha!" she says, triumphantly. "Biscuit?"

Remus declines. "I'm not nervous."

His young friend raises one arched eyebrow. "You've been getting more and more nervous for days. I can tell. I mean, the full moon's tonight, but you don't get nervous just for any old full moon -"

"How do you know?"

"If I told you," said Tonks with a wink, munching on her biscuit, "I'd have to kill you. But I reckon it must be something about this particular full moon...I've narrowed it down to a) it's the first full moon without Sirius and you don't like going through it without him, and b) you promised Dumbledore you'd talk about the whole spying thing once the full moon was over. One or the other. Am I close?"

Remus looks away.

"Both?" asks Tonks. "I was thinking about it, and I thought it was more likely to be the Dumbledore thing. I mean, I know Sirius was your friend, but you managed loads of full moons without him when you were a kid, and 12 years of it when he was in prison. It was only the last year or so when he could join you -"

"Sirius was an easy person to get used to having around," puts in Remus.

Tonks grins. "You've got that right. Predictable only in the sense that you knew he was going to be unpredictable, eh?"

Her reward is a small smile from Remus.

"Well, I can't help you with either of those things - neither stopping time nor bringing people back from the dead are really in my repertoire - but I can help you with the full moon." She slips her hand into her bag and pulls out a small container. "Wolfsbane," she says. "I knew you wouldn't have any."

Remus takes the bottle from her outstretched hand. "Did you make it?" he asks.

She slaps his arm gently. "There's no need to act so surprised. I'm pretty good at Potions, you know. Although, actually, I thought it was best to get something so difficult from a professional, so..." she shrugs, and smiles.

"Tonks, tell me it was a respectable apothecary. Some of the cheaper places just put any old thing in bottles and sell it as complicated, expensive potions."

"I know. That's why I got it from Snape."

"What?" Remus is surprised. He's never known anyone but Dumbledore persuade Severus Snape to help him. "How on earth did you manage that?"

Tonks's eyes twinkle. "Well, I was very persuasive. Kind, you know, and polite." She smiles, seeing Remus's raised eyebrow. "But he didn't seem very impressed, so I threatened him, a bit. Then he went and got the potion. Had it ready-made and everything, I think you've got a fan."

Remus gives a short laugh. "Unlikely. Dumbledore probably told him in advance."

"Well, whatever the reason, it's yours." Tonks surveys him. "It helps, doesn't it?"

"Yes." Remus's voice is quiet, controlled. "I mean, obviously the transition still hurts, and being a werewolf is never fun, but at least when I take the potion I know I'm not dangerous, know I'm not going to hurt anyone."

Tonks sips her tea slowly, gazing into the unlit fireplace. "I could stay with you. Tonight."

Remus is surprised. "I don't think so, Tonks."

"But if you're not dangerous -"

"I don't like being seen like that. And whilst the potion does stop me from being dangerous, there's never any real guarantee, is there?"

"But I don't like the thought of you being alone." Tonks' cheeks are slightly pink, and this time it's Remus who's looking at her curiously.

"I'm used to being alone," he tells her. "I've had plenty of practice."

Silence follows - a little awkward, a little thoughtful, but mostly sad. Remus sighs. "Thank you, though," he says.

She shrugs. "I just want to help you."

"I know," he says. "I understand." But he doesn't, really. He doesn't understand that she wants to help him, but that he doesn't see pity in her eyes. HE doesn't understand why she's doing what she's doing, and not understanding makes him uncomfortable. "Tonks, you don't have to keep visiting me like this. What about work?"

Tonks smiles. "Kingsley's my immediate superior, and he knows what I'm doing, and approves, so he's letting me be pretty flexible with my work - mornings, evenings, some nights. And he's important and respected enough to stop other people asking questions."

"But what about your own life? Your family, your friends? Aren't you missing out on time with them?"

"It's just me and my parents at home, and I see them all the time," she replies. "Dad's parents are dead and he doesn't have any brothers or sisters, and he's not close to his extended family because none of them even know he's a wizard. And as for Mum's people, well - you know all about them I bet."

Remus laughs softly. "I may have heard a story or two. And your friends?"

"I'm not really that close to anyone. I mean, at school I was kind of friends with everybody, but not really close to anyone, and I haven't really kept in touch with them. And at work, and in the Order, there are plenty of people I get on with. But there's no-one I feel I should spend more time with, no-one I'm being stopped from seeing by seeing you. Seriously, Remus, don't worry about it."

"You didn't have best friends or anything?"

Tonks grins. "I know that's hard for you to believe - we've all heard all about your little coterie - but I've always been happy with having lots of people I get on with, rather than a few I know really well."

Remus regards her once more, with curiosity. "Really, Tonks. You don't have to be here. I can't imagine it's fun for you: we've only been outside a few times, and we spend most of our time in this house, doing nothing."

She places one hand lightly on his. "Don't worry. The minute I get bored by coming to see you, I'll let you know and I'll stop coming. But I'm not bored yet."

An hour or two later, Tonks leaves - reluctantly. But Remus insists that it simply isn't a good idea for her to stay, to be in the house whilst he's a werewolf, even a subdued one. And when she's gone, he wanders the house for a while, dreading what is to come. At the right time, he takes his potion, and then waits yet again for the moon to arrive. He's done this, been through this, every month for most of his life, but the dread never lessens, it never goes away. He goes upstairs, paces, and waits.