A Midsummer's Journey

You do impeach your modesty too much,
To leave the city and commit yourself
Into the hands of one that loves you not?;
To trust the opportunity of night
And the ill counsel of a desert place
With the rich worth of your virginity.-A Midsummer Night's Dream

"I have business I must attend to today," he said, over their morning tea.

Looking at him startled, she said in disbelief, "I thought we couldn't leave here."

"I'm afraid you cannot," he told her, looking sympathetic. "It has been arranged that I report in every fifteen days. As we could not have owls leaving from here, there was a neutral place appointed," he explained.

She looked at him with apprehension, wanting to voice her concerns. He answered them for her. "Should I not return, you will stay here. In another fifteen days time, if the Order has not heard from me, someone will come for you. I am confident in your ability to take care of yourself, and I know you have the courage to face whatever may happen."

"How will I know the person?"

"He will be our Secret Keeper," he said without thinking.

"Oh, I don't suppose you can tell me who that is?"

Shaking his head, he smiled at her, wondering what she would think if she knew who the Secret Keeper was. Snape had offered to be their secret keeper without hesitation. Lupin was not surprised at this. Though the bane of many students, he knew Severus had a ferocious protective nature when it came to them. Even if he showed favouritism to his own house, what head of house did not, he thought of each child who passed through his classroom as his responsibility, for their safety as well as their lessons. He had bemoaned Hermione often enough to Lupin when he had last been teaching there to realize, though Snape would never have let her know, she was one of his favourite pupils. The only one that Lupin had doubts about was Harry. Though he knew that Snape would die to protect the boy, the animosity that he had felt for James had been transferred to Harry.

"Is it far, this place you must go to?" It had only been a few days since his time in the cellar. He still looked exhausted.

Warmed by her concern, he shook his head. "A couple hours journey. Just a nice walk," he assured her.

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By noon, the sky hung heavy with the scent of rain. The air was sharp and icy winds whipped his robes, though he was glad for the relief from the humidity. Quickening his pace, he hoped to complete his business and return to the cottage before the storm hit.

Within the hour, he saw his destination. A small house stood on a knoll, chickens scratched in the yard, and he heard the lowing of cattle from a small, gray barn. Stepping over an old dog, which had only lifted his head when he approached, apparently too lazy to move, Lupin rapped at the door. Opening a crack, an eye peered out at him.

"What you want?" said a low baritone voice.

"I am here to see Mr. C.R. Wisenbery. I was informed he had a cow to sell." He grinned as he thought of the ridiculous code.

"He might, what colour cow were ye looking for?"

"Any colour will do, but I do have a fondness to brown ones with pink spots."

The door opened wide. "Come in, come in." Remus found himself shaking hands with a burly, aged wizard with salt and pepper hair and beard. Chesire Wisenbery towered over him, with a girth that would have made Hagrid proud. "Remus Lupin, glad to meet ye."

"Likewise, sir," wondering if he would still have the use of his fingers after the crushing grip.

"Anna, love, company's here," Chesire roared. A white haired witch came scurrying into the room, wiping her hands on a tea towel. Barely five feet tall, she was every bit as wide as her husband, with a smile that beamed from ear to ear. "Welcome son, welcome. Chess dear, take the young man's cloak. I'll be right back with tea. Sit, sit." She bustled out of the room.

Sipping the strong tea, politely declining the delicious looking biscuits, he listened as Chesire regaled him with stories of his days when he and Dumbledore had been 'thick as thieves' as he put it.

The house grew dim as the storm approached, and they all jumped when the house shook as lighting struck nearby. "Oh my, that was a close one," Anna gasped.

Standing up, Lupin apologised. "I am afraid I really need to be going."

"We won't hear of it dear, will we Chess, you will be caught in the storm."

"It will be refreshing after the heat of the summer," he assured her, looking at Chesire for help, realizing that he had not told his wife of the situation.

"Anna, love, Mr. Lupin does have pressing business. Be a dear and get those packages I have in the pantry for him."

When she had left, he spoke to Lupin in a low voice. "Everything going alright? Any trouble?"

"Everything is excellent."

"Well, glad to hear that," he said, handing him the packages Anna had brought back in. Two thick envelopes lay on top, and he tucked them into his robes.

Opening the door, he and Chesire eyed the orange-gray sky. He doubted he could avoid getting caught in the storm. Turning back to them, he shook hands, thanking them for everything, and then his eye fell on the mantel above the fireplace. Thinking of Hermione, he posed a question.

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Hurrying through the wood, he heard it coming, beating on the leaves and ground. Hail. Wincing as it struck him, he stopped between the trees. Pointing his wand up, he murmured a few words. The limbs of the trees intertwined, making a canopy, giving him some relief from the pelting stones. Shivering, he hugged himself as the temperature dropped quickly. Soon, the hail stopped and he continued, slipping on the icy balls that littered the forest floor. Stopping dead still, he sniffed the air. He had caught the whiff of something, though he couldn't place it, that didn't belong in the forest. Lifting his head, he breathed deeply, trying to catch the odour once more, but with the whipping wind and the heady aroma of damp earth, he gave up. Maybe he had just imagined it.

Barely going a hundred yards, the sky opened up, dumping rain on him. Within moments, he was soaked. Barely able to see through the torrential downpour, he grew irritated. Bollocks, he would either have to find shelter, or drown.

Hating the thought of leaving Hermione alone, the fear she might feel at his delayed return, he had one other option. He could Apparate to the spot where they had arrived that first night. It was less than a mile to the cottage from there, not the three or four he still had to travel.

Wary about using strong magic, the threat of detection, he debated with himself. Surely the storm would interfere with emanations tonight, he finally decided, Disapparating.

Opening the cottage door, he heard 'Remus, thank god' as she hurried over to him, relief clear on her face. Grinning, he was glad he had chosen to Apparate, her welcoming smile warming him, though his teeth were still chattering. Sitting the packages down on the table, he pulled out the envelopes, handing her one. She opened it, puzzled. A squeal of delight escaped her as she saw the many smaller envelopes inside, recognising the handwriting: her parents', Ron's, Harry's and Ginny's.

"Where, how?" she gasped.

"Our post is being sent to Hogwarts, where they are forwarding to the house I visited today," he explained, smiling at her delight. She threw her arms around him, giving him a swift hug.

"Oi, Remus, you are wet."

"Really?" he asked, looking at the puddles gathering at his feet.

"Go change, I'll put these away."

Waving his hand, he shooed her away. "Go enjoy your letters, it's late. I will deal with these after I dry out." Still beaming, she ran upstairs.

Dry now, in his pyjamas and bathrobe, he sat on the couch, sipping hot chocolate and turned his attention to his post. A short note from Dumbledore wished them well, and reminded him that he could use this opportunity to hone Hermione's skills. Movements with the Order were going smoothly, and he should not be concerned. He gave a small snort, surmising that Dumbledore was still trying to placate him.

Still cold, he pulled the small throw off the back of the couch over him before turning his attention to the post from Sirius.

Remus,

How are matters with you? Considering these damn circumstances, I am having the best summer with Harry. He's been holding up well, especially after what happened to that girl. I know he blames himself for all this, but he's becoming as stoic as you, my friend.

Stupid snivelling cowards if you ask me, putting bounties on children. I can see Pettigrew's hand in this, the slimy git. ' My Lord, if you want to get at Potter, go through his friends. I know how close they are, I lived with them for so long.' Should have killed the bastard that night.

Ron reached his safe place, finally. There was a bit of a panic when Bill Weasley didn't show up to collect Ron the night you came for Hermione. From what I gathered from Dumbledore, Bill was followed on his way to Hogwarts that night, and it took him awhile to lose them. Don't know all the details, but I heard it was quite an ordeal.

On that note, there is a rumour that someone knows the vicinity you are hiding in, which is damn disconcerting because I don't even know where you are. Dumbledore wrote and suggested I not mention this to you, as it is only a rumour, so as not to alarm you. If facts surface that lead to believe otherwise, you will be contacted immediately, he told me. Bloody hell, if it was me, I'd want to know, so there you have it.

Keep your eyes open, and let me know how things are. Hope to see you soon, old friend.

Sirius

Frowning, he wondered why Dumbledore would think it would alarm him? He never knew the man to be that worried about what may or may not alarm someone.

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She woke up shivering. How cold it was. Never had she felt it so cold for this time of year. She could still hear the rain beating against the roof, and she wondered what time it was. Pulling the cover up over her head, she tried to warm up, and found her teeth were starting to chatter. A hot cup of tea and a warm-up in front of the fire, she thought, that would be the ticket. Slipping her feet into her cold slippers, she wrapped the heavy quilt around her shoulders. As she stepped off the last step into the large room, she felt the warmth of the fire still burning brightly in the fireplace, giving the room a warm orange tinge. She halted when she saw that Lupin was still there. He had fallen asleep, half sitting up, on the small couch in front of the fire. Even in dim light, she could see him shivering under the thin throw he had taken from the couch.

Going over to him, she reached out to pull the coverlet up and tuck it in closer around him, and then she paused. He looks so tired, she thought, and why shouldn't he be? He's been taking care of me, trying to keep my spirits up. Studying his face, noticing how young he looked, though fine lines framed his eyes, a wave of emotion coursed through her. How tragic his life must have been when he was young, and still is, she mused. Noble, kind Remus, how lonely you must really be, her eyes growing moist. Though his tales of his childhood had always been kept light-hearted for her benefit, she could feel the loneliness of his isolation caused by his malady.

She pulled the coverlet up to his shoulders, then reached out to brush a lock of brown hair, still slightly damp from his trek through the rain, out of his face. Sweet soul, she thought, and bent down to gently kiss his forehead. As her lips touched his face lightly, she felt the feverish heat burn from him. Damn. He was burning up with a fever. Oh no, he can't be sick. She remembered the times she had been sick when she was little, before she knew of magic and pepper up potion, though she wished she had some now. Her mother had always given her aspirin and covered her up until she thought she would smother from the heat. 'The best way to get a fever down is to sweat it out'. Well, there was little chance of that, as cold as it was and with that thin cover. She swung the heavy quilt off her shoulders, shivering as the downy warmth was removed. Throwing it over Lupin, she started to tuck it in around him when he made a soft little noise like a whimper.

Again, she was overcome with emotion, and knew she could not leave him down here alone. Lifting the covers, she gently crawled onto the sofa next to him. She could still feel him shivering, though heat radiated from his body. Laying her head carefully on his shoulder so not to wake him, she pulled the covers up over them. Hoping her added body heat would help break his fever, she snuggled close, and listened to his soft breathing until she too fell asleep.