Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage, Chapter 4, "Tact".

He could feel the energy course through the wand. He dared not move. The wand pressed into Remus's neck harder. He moved away from the wand by just an inch or two. The moonlight caught his face and the fear in his eyes. All of a sudden, the wand was pulled away from his neck and an exasperated sigh was emitted.

"Remus! You scared me half to death!"

The speaker sat up and moved away from Remus, the moonlight illuminating their face.

"More like you scared me, Claire," Remus said, letting his shoulders relax. He watched as Claire climbed back into her bed.

"I'm so sorry, I was sleeping and then I heard the door open. I didn't know it was you." Claire brought her feet up close to her and brushed her hair off her face.

"Well, I hope not. If so, I'd think we have some problems," he laughed weakly. Claire's laugh matched his. A silence followed, and they both became painfully aware of their arrangement. Remus moved away from the bed, brushing against the maroon hangings.

"I'll go and find another room. I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

"Did you want me to help you look? You can always sleep on the chaise over there," Claire said, pointing to a dark coloured chaise on the other side of the room. "If you want to, that is. I just think it would be cruel to make you wander around the house trying to find another room. It's fine with me." Claire placed her wand on the table beside her and moved back underneath the covers.

Remus looked over at the chaise, it looked long enough, and the cushions looked comfortable enough for one night's stay. If it was anyone else, he would not have second thoughts, but now he could not help but feel like he was being an intruder.

"Claire, I don't want to invade you privacy."

"There's no need to be a gentleman," she said, muffled under her pillow. "You're tired, there is space in this giant bedroom, you're bound to be cold, and it's not like we are going to have relations." She got out of the bed, walked away from him to the modest sized armoire and brought some extra covers over to him.

Remus resigned himself to logic and laziness. "I guess I'll stay, but I promise that I'll find my own room tomorrow."

"That's fine," she replied

Claire gave him a tired smile and handed him the quilted blankets. Remus took them and brought them over to the chaise and made a crude bed. Remus looked at her and moved under the covers. He hated to admit that she was right; it was really like no one was else was in the room.

The sun rose early the next morning. When Remus awoke, it felt like his head just hit the pillow. He turned over and stretched out. Suddenly, he remembered why he lying on something smaller than a single bed. He threw off the covers and looked around the sunny bedroom. The bed was empty, and Claire's dark violet nightgown was draped over the cherry wood footboard. Remus got out of his "bed" and walked across the rug. He picked up his watch from his discarded cloak and saw that it was 6:00 a.m. After getting out of bed and dressing, he headed downstairs to the kitchen. There he was greeted with the sight of Mrs. Berkeley preparing breakfast for her brood. Four small children were settling down at the kitchen table and were eagerly awaiting their porridge. As Mrs. Berkley headed back to the oven, Remus caught sight of Claire. She had just finished dicing meticulously and was stirring the contents of a cauldron that was simmering over the fire.

"Good morning, dear," Mrs. Berkeley said.

"Good morning," Remus said as he went over to the cupboard to dig up something for breakfast. "Good morning, Claire."

Claire took no notice of him, as she was adjusting the heat level on her project. Her full concentration was on this task. She did not notice that her hair was falling out of the haphazard bun she had pulled it into. Remus sat down at the table with his toast and watched her curiously. He cleared his throat and Claire spun around to look at him.

"Remus! I didn't know you were there. Good morning," she said as she turned back to the cauldron.

"Morning. What are you brewing?" he asked, taking a bite of his toast.

"The Wolfsbane potion," she replied.

Remus's eyebrows shot up. "You can make that?"

"That's what I am trying to do. The full moon is ten days away, and you'll need your potion. He is coming by later to update us, and at the same time he's going to see if I made the potion correctly. You know it's very difficult."

"Oh, I know. Severus is the only person I know who can make it."

"Well, if I make it correctly, then you'll know two people who can make it," she retorted, sweetly, giving him a quick smile over her shoulder.

"Too true, too true. Where are Tonks and Alastor?" he asked Eleanor Berkeley, not wanting to disturb Claire anymore than he already has.

"Adjusting the wards by the front of the house, dear," Mrs. Berkeley answered, placing bowls of porridge in front of her children. "With Professor Snape coming later, they have to make the adjustments so he can Apparate here."

Remus nodded, put the last bit of toast in his mouth and dusted the crumbs off his hands. He then took leave of Mrs. Berkeley, the children, and Claire and headed up to the attic to check the wards. He was up there for some time before he saw a set of familiar black robes heading up the laneway. He made his way down the narrow, twisting, attic stairwell, and then down the grand staircase. He met Severus in the hallway outside the kitchen, with Severus eyeing him suspiciously.

"Lupin, nice of you to be awake for once."

"I thought it would be interesting to surprise you, Severus."

"I think it's safe to say that nothing you ever do surprises me."

"Really Severus? You've pegged me as a boring individual. Now I mean, being a werewolf isn't the same as being a Death Eater, but in the end, we are both animals and I am sure that leads to some pretty exciting times."

Snape stiffened and replied icily, "Well, then I guess if you want to lead an exciting life, I will just get rid of the Wolfsbane I brought. However, despite your obvious desire to run amuck, I could not allow you to endanger more people then you already choose. So I will not rid myself of the potion just yet."

Remus cocked his head. "What about Claire's batch?"

Severus sighed, "Miss Desjardins potion stands a good chance of being worthless. In case you have not noticed, few people can get it right."

"I've noticed, and I think we should have a little faith."

"Then trust your heart away Lupin, but when it comes down to it, I am the one who will decided if Miss Desjardins will be administering your monthly potion."

By this time, they had entered the kitchen and everyone had gathered around to hear the news that Severus brought with him.

"The Death Eaters are still searching for you; however, with the Fidelius charm still intact, they have obviously come up empty. As time goes on, the search for you will become more in-depth and more fevered. I advise you to take care when outside your house, as it is the property that the Fidelius charm applies to. That is all."

Those at the table paused for a moment and then they began discussing the bits of information. The crowd in the kitchen started to scatter and spread around the house. It was at this time when Severus made his way over to Claire's cauldron to inspect the potion. Remus made his way over to it with him, curious to know the result. Claire stood near the cauldron, looking up at Severus. Remus thought he caught a glimmer of nervousness in her eyes.

Looking back at the potion, he saw that it was a pale blue and that it was emitting its famous steam; it looked like she had managed to procure the potion - until Severus passed his judgment.

All he said was, "Well, this is insufficient; a total waste of ingredients if you ask me. The colour is completely off. This is no more potent then coloured water."

He then turned away from the cauldron and spoke to Remus. "Here is your potion, as always, be sure to drink it all. There should be enough there to last you until the -"

Severus and Remus turned towards the noise that had startled both of them. They caught sight of Claire directing with her wand the now empty cauldron into the cupboard much more violently than what was necessary. She would not look at either of them as she stalked out of the room.

"Really, now, that was quite dramatic," Snape commented, dryly.

"So was your 'assessment'. You could have had a little more tact," Remus responded, with his arms crossed in front of him.

Snape's eyes narrowed. "Tact is reserved for the situations that merit it. Brewing a near-impossible potion by a witch of mediocre talents in that realm is not worthy of such tact. You may have a soft spot for feelings, Lupin, but I only care when needed." Snape stalked his way out of the kitchen, and into the entrance.

"Yes, Severus, because you've been known for your caring heart," Remus bit back.

"At least it is better then wearing my heart on my sleeve. And with that, I must depart. This chat has been going on far too long. I suggest you check where you potions protégé has disappeared too. Given her temperament, I wouldn't be surprised if she is crying into her pillow or is about to throw herself off the Widow's Walk. Good day."

With those final words, Severus Snape strode out of the house and into the laneway, where he Disapparated.

Remus walked back to the staircase where Claire was sitting on the third step, her head resting on the banister and her hands collapsed in her lap.

"Thank you for trying, it's too bad it didn't work," Remus told her earnestly.

"Thank you, Remus," Claire sighed. "I was really hoping that I made it correctly. I don't like to get things wrong, and I wanted to help you and help our situation."

Remus looked at her curiously; "Our situation?"

"Well, yes, if I could make it then Severus wouldn't have to take the time to. Not that this is a burden, it would just make things easier." She ran one of her hands through her hair and looked up at Remus. He noticed that she had dark circles under her eyes.

"What time did you get up this morning to finish making it?"

"Four-thirty."

"Why don't you go upstairs and rest?"

"Because I promised Lesley Berkeley that I would go for a walk with her outside. The children haven't been able to go outside for any amount of time in weeks, so Alastor and I figured that if a member of the Guard was with her then it would be all right, and I volunteered to take her. Care to join us? I am sure two Guard members would make it even safer," Claire asked, looking at Remus with a pleasant, yet tired smile.

"It would be a pleasure," replied Remus.