Remus Lupin sighed as he shovelled some more dung out of the dragon enclosure. He had turned up in Romania a few months ago looking for work, but instead of the bookkeeping position he’d hoped for, they’d offered him this. I’m an ‘all-purpose- shit-shoveller’, he thought, smiling ruefully. He was grateful, really, for any work, and although this did not pay well, his accommodation was provided and so were three meals a day. He helped himself to a ladle of ice-cold water from the pail nearby. He drank half and then threw the rest over his head in an attempt to cool down from the fierce heat of the midday sun. The water ran in rivulets down his bare chest and back. Despite the heat and his aching limbs, it felt great to be alive.

***

When he’d first begun working here, Remus kept himself fully covered up. He was ashamed of the scars that criss-crossed his back, but on his second day, whilst his back was turned, a Ridgeback had let fly a jet of flame that had caught the sleeve of his shirt. He’d fumbled in an attempt to put it out and could feel the flames searing into him when a handler had leapt into the enclosure and ripped his shirt off.

“That’s why we never wear loose clothing,� the young man standing before him had exclaimed. “I did try to warn you, Lupin.�

Embarrassed that he’d been exposed to the other workers, Remus had snatched his shirt back, but then noticed that no one had paid him any attention. As he'd looked around, he could see that all the workers were covered in bites and burns and he had not looked out of place. “Thank you. I was stupid to turn my back on her, wasn’t I?� he’d said.

“When you’re living and working with dragons, Lupin, you should always keep them uppermost in your mind. They will kill – especially the females.� There’d been a pause as Remus had helped himself to more water and offered some to the younger man who’d been studying him.

“What’s that?� his companion had asked suddenly, pointing not to the werewolf scars, but a small tattoo on his arm. It was barely discernible because of a recent claw mark, but Remus had smiled.

“It’s a phoenix. A long time ago, when I was eighteen, three friends and I went to a Muggle tattoo parlour. We were part of a ... gang ... if you like, and we wanted to show our solidarity to the group. For reasons that I’ve long since forgotten, a tattoo seemed the best way of doing this.�

“Were you in the Order of the Phoenix?� the young man had asked in awed interest. When Remus had nodded in surprise, he’d continued, “so were my uncles. I don’t know if you knew them. Gideon and Fabian Prewett.� He’d held out his hand. “My name’s Charlie Weasley.�

***

Remus walked towards Charlie now as they took a break for lunch. They had struck up a friendship over the past months, enjoying each other’s company as the only two Englishmen at the reserve. Though backbreaking, this was good honest work and Remus relished it. His shoulder ached and as he massaged it his hand came in contact with the tattoo.

He smothered a grin as he remembered the rest of the story. It had been Prongs’ idea, but Padfoot had made all the arrangements. Then the two of them had cajoled Wormtail and him with taunts of cowardice -- and a great deal of Firewhisky -- until they’d all arrived back at Order Headquarters sporting the tattoos. Lily had been furious.

“You think this is a game?� she’d yelled at the four of them. “You need a picture on your arm to prove your loyalty. Merlin, James, you’re even more stupid than I thought!�

If he closed his eyes he could still see Padfoot smirking at Lily’s rage, Wormtail looking firmly at his feet and himself unable to stop the snorts of drunken laughter escaping from his mouth.

They’d been four swaggeringly reckless Gryffindors. Now, two were dead, one was locked up for murder and Moony was alone.

They sat inside for lunch, enjoying the chance to escape the scorching July sunshine. Remus helped himself to potatoes and meatballs, cooked in a thick tomato sauce. When he’d first arrived, he’d been thin; thinner than he’d ever been as an adult, and unable to stomach the richness of the Romanian food. But now, as he helped himself to seconds, he savoured the strong flavours and grinned.

“What’s the joke, Remus?� asked Charlie.

“No joke,� he replied. “I’m just thinking about how good life is, that’s all.�

Charlie broke off a hunk of bread and began mopping up the sauce. “You know, I still don’t understand why you’re here. I mean, you’re not obsessed with dragons, unlike me. You seem more comfortable with books, yet you’re here in Romania – shovelling shit – instead of being tucked away in some safe Ministry job.

Remus thought back to his last conversation with his old Headmaster, shortly after Voldemort’s downfall. “Get some life experience, Remus,� he’d said, “and then one day, perhaps, I may be able to find you some work at Hogwarts. But for now, you need to stretch your wings and forget all the horrors of this war.�

“I don’t like being tied down,� Remus replied non-committally.

“What, by a woman?� asked Charlie curiously.

Remus grimaced. “By life.�

He could see Charlie ached to ask him more questions but, just as he opened his mouth,something landed on the table. Both men jumped back in surprise as a small dragon hatchling opened its eyes and began to hiss.

“Merlin!� exclaimed Charlie. “How did that one escape? Don’t make any sudden movements, Remus. They may not be able to breathe fire yet but that’s a Vipertooth, and the venom in those fangs is powerful. Now, I don’t want to use my wand on one this young, so I’m going to reach out very slowly and get some gloves.�

Remus froze. Charlie inched off his seat and stretched out his hand to the next table. The workers around them held their breath. There was a sudden sound as a young worker burst into the hut laughing with her friend. The hatchling reared and spread its wings. It turned its head and looked directly at Remus who, unsure what to do, stared back. He noticed that the young dragon’s eyes were the colour of fire and as dazzling as the sun. They locked looks; the hatchling faltered. It pulled its wings around like a cloak and cowered on the table. Remus began to breathe again. It wouldn’t harm him, he was sure of that. Very slowly, he picked up the tiny creature and held it close. He heard gasps behind him, but he smiled.

“It’s okay,� he said in a low but calm voice. “He won’t bite.�

“Ce esti tu?�he heard a man behind him ask.

“Diavol!� exclaimed another in a hushed voice.

Behind him, Remus could hear the sound of chairs scraping back. He looked up at Charlie who had donned the gloves and was holding a small cage. He took the hatchling from Remus’ hands and placed it in the cage. Charlie was not smiling.

“Is there a problem?� asked Remus.

“They want to know what you are, and how you could bring the hatchling under control so quickly without your wand,� Charlie muttered. “They’re calling you diavol, Remus – the Devil.�

Remus left shortly after that. The Romanians here were superstitious and he knew they were watching him closely, so he decided against spending the rest of his break inside. Instead, he took a walk around the compound, stopping every now and then to gaze at the Hebridean Blacks, so beautiful in appearance but so very deadly. Hagrid, he remembered, had tried to tell him and the other three that they were a harmless type of dragon, and the restrictions on keeping one were just plain daft .

“If I could jus’ get me hands on an egg, then I could show yer what I mean,� he’d said and stared at Padfoot, seemingly under the impression that because the teenager was able to get hold of Firewhisky and Muggle cigarettes that he’d be able to pick up a dragon’s egg very easily.

Remus had seen Padfoot bite back a sarcastic retort (because he genuinely liked the groundsman) and reply sincerely that he’d try his best.

Diavol! the dragon handlers had called Remus. He kicked at the stones on the path. He wasn’t sure why the hatchling had pulled away when it was so close to biting him, but he’d seen something in its eyes – an understanding laced with fear – and he wondered if the dragon had seen the wolf inside.

Walking uphill now, Remus didn’t stop until he came to a river. The sparkling water looked cool and inviting, so he stripped off his shirt and trousers and began to swim upstream.

It has always been this way, he thought. Since I was six years old, I have had to swim against the tide of public opinion that says I’m evil and I should be ostracised.

It had been easy here in Romania. He’d found an old underground bunker built into the hillside, and he’d managed to roster his days off to coincide with his transformations. Remus could work beside the others with no fear of his scars being a talking point; it kept him occupied – physically at least. And when his mind wandered-- as it often did-- the sight of a dragon breathing fire, or the shout of a handler as one got too close would remind him that he had to keep his wits about him. At night, even after all these months, he would collapse exhausted into bed and dream not of death and a former friend in Azkaban, but of a girl with red hair dancing with the boy she loved, and Messrs Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot proudly toasting them at their wedding.

Perhaps now was the time to stop swimming. Perhaps now he could let the current decide. Maybe it would drop him safely back on the river bank... or maybe it would dash him on the rocks.

Remus wasn’t sure he cared any more.

“That looks like fun,� said a voice from the edge of the river.

Remus stopped drifting and put his feet on the river bed. Sitting on the bank wearing a purple bathing suit was a young woman with blonde curls. She slowly edged herself into the river, gasping as the icy water touched her bare skin. She smiled at him, and in spite of the gloom he was feeling, he smiled back.

“Are you English?� she asked simply.

He nodded and looked past her, his attention caught by something she’d placed on the bank. She followed his gaze and smiled brightly. “Yes, I’m a witch,� she said as they both looked at her wand. “And you’re a wizard, because I watched you walk up from the reservation, so I know you work there.�

“I’ve not seen you around before,� he replied. “Are you a new worker?�

She laughed loudly. “Merlin, no! I wouldn’t last five minutes in a dragon enclosure. I’m here visiting a friend.�

Suddenly she slipped on one of the slimy stones underneath. She lurched forward and fell into his arms. “Oops,� she said, giggling as she disentangled herself. “That’s why Charlie won’t let me near the dragons; I am incredibly clumsy.�

“Oh!� Remus exclaimed. “You must be Nymphadora. He mentioned you were coming, but you weren’t expected until the end of next week.� He paused as he noticed a frown creasing her forehead. “Sorry, did I say something wrong?�

She smiled slightly and then let herself float on the surface of the water, drifting further downstream as the current carried her away. Remus followed, his powerful strokes keeping pace with the river. On her back, she could not see where she was going, but Remus, now alongside, stretched out his arm and pulled her wrist just before her head connected with a jagged rock that lay just under the surface of the water.

“Ow!� she said rubbing her wrist. “What was that for?�

“There are rocks under the surface, Nymphadora. You nearly had your brains dashed out and I don’t think Charlie would have thanked me for bringing him a dead girlfriend.�

“I’m not his girlfriend,� she spluttered. “And don’t call me Nymphadora. It’s a ridiculous name that was dreamt up by my fool of a mother.�

“Is that why you’re angry?� he asked in amazement. “Because I called you by your name?�

They were wading upstream now, and as the water pushed against them, Remus moved slightly in front to protect her from the brunt of the current. “I wasn’t angry,� she said, sighing. “You just reminded me that the reason I’m here early is because I needed time away from work to think.�

They reached the side of the bank where her clothes and wand were and she got out. After a while, Remus sat beside her.

“I’m a trainee Auror,� she said finally. “But, as you can see, I’m quite inept and clumsy. Top marks in everything except Stealth and Tracking, so my boss wants me to rethink my career choice.�

“And what do you want to do?�

She smiled at him. “I want to show Rufus Scrimgeour that a witch is every bit as capable of being an Auror as those half-witted wizards he has working for him.� She sighed. “But he does have a point about my clumsiness.�

“So, how do you plan to show him that he’s wrong about you?� Remus asked.

She shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. Something will come to mind. I may be clumsy but, metaphorically at least, I always land on my feet.�

There was a sound above them and both looked up to see a pair of dragons flying high in the sky. As they twisted and turned in the air, Remus could see the larger of the two bearing its fangs as if to strike. The smaller dragon flexed its claws but made no attempt to evade the attack.

“It’ll be torn apart,� she cried in horror. “Shouldn’t we stop this?�

Remus chuckled. “They’re not fighting, Nymph...� – he stopped before she glared at him – “they’re mating. What you are witnessing is the courtship ritual of the Australian Opaleye.�

Her eyes widened as she took in the violent, yet strangely graceful, display between the breeding pair. “They’re beautiful,� she breathed.

“And completely flat-footed on the ground,� he replied. “But in the air ...� He left his sentence unfinished and turned to look at her.

She laughed and then, reaching for a towel, began to dry herself off. “I was a Chaser at Hogwarts, did Charlie mention that? Perhaps I should show Scrimgeour the Tonks flying machine.�

“The what?� Remus said, unsure if he had heard her right.

She turned full face to him and laughed. “I told you I hate my first name, so everyone calls me by my surname – Tonks.�

“Andromeda Tonks’ daughter?� he asked, and held his breath as he waited for her reply.

“Yeah, that’s right. Do you know her?�

“No,� he sighed, “but I was once friends with someone who did.�

He closed his eyes as he remembered Padfoot bursting into the common room, his face the very picture of pride and joy as he told everyone that his cousin had given birth.

“And she’s a Metamorphmagus,� he’d yelled to them all. “Do you know how rare that is?�

“So this is where you got to?� Remus heard Charlie shout behind them. “Dmitri has been looking for you. You were expected back at work ages ....� He stopped as he caught sight of Remus’ companion. “Tonks! What on earth are you doing here?�

Remus watched as Charlie’s face was split in two by a smile. He strode over to her and, as she stood up, hugged her tight.

“Wotcher, Weasley!� she said and grinned at him. “Sorry, I decided to land on you early. Is that okay?�

He held her at arm’s length and just beamed at her. “That is abso-bloody-lutely brilliant, Tonks.�

Remus stood up. He had no wish to intrude upon their reunion. Whatever the girl said, it was clear that Charlie thought of her as more than a friend. “I should get back,� he said as he walked away towards his pile of clothes.

“Hold on,� Charlie called to him. “I need to talk to you about one of the dragons. We’ll walk back together, Remus, and then I’ll take Tonks to her room.�

Remus saw Tonks suddenly jerk her head in his direction. “Are you Remus Lupin?� she asked.

“Yes,� he replied. “Sorry, do you know me?�

Tonks smiled, slightly forlorn “I’ve heard of you,� she replied, but did not elaborate.

Charlie looked from one to the other and then bent down to pick up her rucksack. “What have you two been talking about?� he asked lightly.

“Dragons and flying,� Tonks replied as she pulled a baggy t-shirt over her head and slipped her feet into a pair of flip-flops. “We saw the Opaleyes mating. You never told me it was so spectacular, Charlie.�

He grinned. “It’s difficult to put into words, Tonks. Besides, you always complain that I talk about dragons too much.�

Remus watched as the pair of them linked arms and began to walk down the hill. He followed behind, feeling rather like an unwelcome guest at a party. Then Charlie turned to him. “Dmitri wants you to take care of something for him,� he said. “One of the older dragons is ill, and he knows you’re adept with salves and herbs, so he was hoping you’d help him.�

“No problem,� Remus replied. “It’ll make a change from mucking out the enclosures. He’s not worried about working with a diavol then?�He tried to sound light-hearted as he said it, but he could hear the edge in his voice and so, apparently, did Tonks, because she turned her head also and looked at him.

“What’s a diavol?� she asked.

“A devil!� replied Charlie melodramatically. “Remus here is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to dragons. A hatchling landed on the table this lunchtime – a Vipertooth no less – but after one look from Remus it quailed.�

“Isn’t it a good thing that it didn’t bite someone?� Tonks questioned in a puzzled tone.

“Yeah, sure,� Charlie said. “It was just unexpected, that’s all, and some of the workers are a bit superstitious.� He paused and addressed a question to Remus. “Was that why you left this lunchtime?�

Remus nodded. “I thought it wise and I needed some time alone.�

Charlie laughed. “You should have stayed. They all want to buy you drinks now. You’re not a diavol anymore; you’re a viteaz.� Remus looked blank. “A hero.�

“What changed their minds?� asked Remus curiously. He could feel the knots in his stomach untangling.

“Dmitri,� replied Charlie simply. “He told them that we must have a dragon tamer in our midst and we should treat you well.�

“Is Dmitri in charge?� asked Tonks suddenly.

“Not really,� replied Charlie as he adjusted her rucksack on his back. “Merlin, what have you got in here?�

“Books, mainly. I need to keep studying, Weasley. Not all of us landed a job where we don’t have to think,� she said teasingly. She continued more seriously. “Who’s Dmitri then?�

“He’s the oldest worker here,� Charlie informed her. “He can’t read or write much -- although his English is good -- and has an instinct around the dragons that you can’t learn. I guess he thinks Remus here has the same instinct.�

***

It was nightfall and Remus sat beside the old dragon-handler, Dmitri, inside one of the enclosures. A Swedish Shortsnout lay in front of them, and Dmitri tried to tempt her with horse steak. He sighed as he laid the large chunks of meat to one side and gestured for Remus to pass the jug of Butterbeer.

“Sometimes, we have to whet their appetites this way, you see,� he said to Remus as he carefully trickled some liquid in her mouth. “This one may be old, but I’m not ready to give up on her yet.�

The dragon flicked out a long tongue and half-heartedly licked her lips. Dmitri held some steak near her nose, but she looked at him reproachfully and then closed her eyes again. For one moment, Remus thought she’d died, but was heartened to see her breathing had remained steady.

“Do you think she’ll make it through the night?� he asked quietly.

Dmitri gazed at him through piercing blue eyes. “I do not know. Perhaps it is her time.� He paused and began to stroke her very gently along her snout. The dragon flicked her tongue across his hand. Remus was shocked to see tears appearing in the old man’s eyes. “I do not want to let her go, I admit that, Remus. But, after all, even dragons have to die.�

There was a long, heavy silence, and all they could hear was the laboured breathing of the dragon as she inched her way towards death. Dmitri knows, Remus thought, that she will not last for much longer, but still he won’t give up.

After a whilewhile, there was no sound at all from her. Remus felt his heart grow heavy at the finality of it, but Dmitri seemed oddly at peace. They both sat there watching as the moon cast its beams across the scene.

“You do not like the night, I think, Remus,� said Dmitri finally. “I see you looking up at the moon, but there is nothing to worry about tonight, is there?�

Remus was about to splutter a denial but something in the old man’s eyes made him hesitate.

“Next week I think, pricolici,� asserted Dmitri.

“Prico – what?� asked Remus, although he was sure he knew what was being said.

“Werewolf,� replied Dmitri simply. “I know what you are, Remus. I have known since that first day, when you were so unwilling to take off your shirt. Those scars are not dragon bites or burns.�

There was an achingly long pause and then Remus nodded. “Why haven’t you told anyone?� he asked quietly. “Aren’t you scared of what I could do?�

Dmitri shrugged. “A pricolici intent on causing death would not live amongst dragons. He would not shut himself away every month like you do.�

Remus goggled. “You know a lot about me,� he said finally.

Dmitri gave the dragon a last pat on the snout and stood up slowly, almost reverently. He held out his hand to Remus who accepted it. “I had a brother like you, but he was not so lucky. When the people in the village found out what he was, they killed him. He had never harmed anyone and we used many enchantments to keep him and the villagers safe, but they would not listen, and so Josef was executed.�

Remus was silent. He’d faced prejudice all his life, but execution was not something the Ministry sanctioned, although he knew there were some who thought it the only solution.

“So take care of your life, Remus Lupin, for you only have the one. You should not listen to the whispers of fools.�

Remus thought back to the river that afternoon and how he’d wanted everything to end. Would I have gone through with it? he asked himself. If that extraordinary girl had not appeared, would I have drifted until my head had smashed against the rocks?

“Thank you,� he said to Dmitri and then set off out of the reserve to his bed.

***

He slept soundly, waking at noon. Dmitri had said he would square it with the manager so that he had the day off, and he decided to walk down to the village to enjoy a drink in the local pub. He smiled as he caught sight of the girl from yesterday. She was carrying a broom in her hand and looked flushed but happy.

“Wotcher!� Tonks greeted him.

“You’ve been practising, I see,� Remus said, indicating her broom.

“Mmm,� she agreed, nodding her head. “If only I could translate my flying skills to my feet, I’d be the best damn Auror in the department.�

Remus sat at a table outside and gestured to the waitress. Tonks sat opposite him and they placed their order. “I’m sure you’ll prove them wrong, Nym – sorry – Tonks.�

The waitress appeared with a tray carrying a glass of foaming, ice-cold lager for Remus and a small bottle of Butterbeer for Tonks. He savoured the taste and watched as she hesitated over her drink.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?� he said.

“You’re very perceptive, Remus Lupin,� she replied ruefully. She sighed. “You wanted to know yesterday how I knew your name.� She paused and gnawed at her bottom lip before continuing, “You were a friend of Sirius Black’s, weren’t you? He, as I’m sure you realised as soon as you found out my surname, is my cousin.�

“Yes,� he said. “I knew Black at school. What does this have to do with you at the Auror department, though?�

“Ah, well,� she said, sighing. “Some people in the department think that someone of my background shouldn’t really be an Auror. I, after all, have an aunt, as well as a cousin, in Azkaban... Or rather I did have.�

“Did?� questioned Remus suddenly. His stomach swooped. “Is Sirius dead?�

“Merlin, no! Haven’t you heard?� she said, gaping at him. “Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban three days ago. That’s why Scrimgeour thought it advisable for me to keep away from the department, in case the Daily Prophet started asking awkward questions.�

“He’s escaped!� Remus exclaimed in horror. “How the hell did that happen?�

“No one knows,� Tonks replied. She looked around her and then bent her head closer to Remus. “The only thing anyone remembers is that he was muttering about Hogwarts in the nights before he escaped. They think he’s headed there.�

Hogwarts! thought Remus. But that’s where Harry is. He took a gulp of his lager; his mind working overtime as he tried to think what he should do.

“Get some life experience, Remus, and then one day, perhaps, I may be able to find you some work at Hogwarts. But for now, you need to stretch your wings and forget all the horrors of this war.� Dumbledore had said. But there was no way he could forget, not now Sirius Black had escaped and was on the way to murder James’ son.

Remus stood up suddenly. “I need to go back,� he muttered more to himself than her.

“Back where? To the reserve?� she asked.

“No,� he replied. He looked towards the reserve. He’d been happy working there, but he had something more important to do now. For just as snow extinguished fire, he knew his free and easy life here was over as the cold reality of Sirius’ escape pulled him back to Britain.

“I need to go home.�