Resting on his back, Remus stared up at the night sky. There were a few constellations he knew well. Astronomy class had been something he’d taken some interest in. Particularly the moon. Once, when he was young and thought he was brilliant, he imagined he might be able to understand the connection between the moon’s influence and lycanthropy. Like many young enthusiasms, it did not branch out.
Still, he took some solace in the familiar stars above them--and the fact that it was only just after a new moon. A few weeks yet before he had to awkwardly plead Severus for another batch of Wolfsbane.
The company was quite enjoyable as well. Beside him rested Nymphadora Tonks. Easily, she was one of the most interesting young women he’d ever met. Totally unique. And quite the firecracker. There was little she did that didn’t end up brightening his day or causing him to laugh. In the current climate, that was quite a feat.
The two had been assigned to break up a scheduled exchange of a Polyjuice Potion shipment. The Order had received word that the Death Eaters were expecting a large shipment of it on this very date within the next few minutes. Since the thought of Death Eaters with Polyjuice was quite alarming, it was important the shipment that be seized. It wouldn’t be bad thing either to figure out who their supplier was.
Since Dumbledore and the others didn’t expect there to be much force in guarding the supply, Remus and Tonks had been assigned to the mission. It was a step above guard duty in the Department of Mysteries, so Remus was excited for it. They’d arrived at the supposed exchange area with plenty of time to spare. Hence his current position, laying on the grass on an overhang that overlooked the meeting spot, and staring at the stars.
“How do you feel about your family?” Remus asked her suddenly, the thought entering his mind as he observed the Orion Belt. “The Lestranges and Malfoys, I mean. I knew your mother briefly in the First Order. She’s a brilliant woman, but I can’t imagine she’s overly eager that her daughter has taken up arms against her sisters.”
Realizing that the question was more than a little personal, he flushed and quickly stammered, “I-I mean you don’t have to answer that. That was a blunt question, I’m sorry.”
