Her Single Rose (Remus Lupin)

One-Hundred & Seventeen

When Remus managed to persuade Peter to watch Estella while they were gone, Aries had gone with him to visit Hope.

It was hard at first, seeing what was once a vibrant, surprising and beautiful Hope, to a bedridden woman.

They had spent two days there with Lyall and Hope, promising next time to bring Estella for a week, which they had managed only a few days before the woman, herself, had passed away.

There was a funeral for both Hope and the Potters a month before Lily and James wedding took place. It wasn't easy coming back from a place so dark as death. But it was also death that brought everyone closer than ever.

Everyone had piled inside the Potters house the night before the wedding with Lily's parents coming in support. Petunia had decided to stay home with Vernon, but that felt more like a gift from them to the Potters from James perspective.

After a quite exciting weekend of parties and the wedding day, everyone seemed to feel more relaxed than depressed. As it seemed, the wedding was something good for everyone.

Even Remus was able to let loose after Hope's passing.

It wasn't until a couple weeks after the wedding that Aries pulled Dumbledore aside.

"I want to go undercover." Aries got straight to the point, "I've waited, it's been nearly two years and Estella has people to watch after her. Put me back in the field."

Her words didn't surprise the man, but her ask was more than a simple 'yes' or 'no', "Regulus Black has intel that is vital towards this war. He would like to meet. I think it would be best for you to meet him."

Aries eyes widened in surprise, she thought it would've taken him more convincing that that.

"You're surprised?" Aries could see the quirk of his lip, impressed by himself, "I pulled you from mission work so that you could become stronger within the healing point of you genes. You are extremely gifted, Aries. Trained and experienced more than Mr. Crawford.

I was planning on placing you back on missions earlier if it was not for your daughter. I am aware becoming a mother during times such as these is more difficult than most, so I prepared to wait until you were ready.

I do not wish to place you under our enemies hand so easily, however. Meeting Mr. Black will be a good start. I need you focused for this. You must remember your training, use your gift everyday and prove your loyalty towards Voldemort.

It will be under no circumstance easy and will be deemed the highest risk of all of our missions. We will need to have a meeting place to collect what you find. It will start with meeting your brother."

Aries took a deep breath, nodding her head. She knew this was serious and knew this was big. Talking to Remus about it was far from successful, he had thought she was joking at first. Then the argument came and with persuasion, he agreed. Not without a proper negotiation first.

She had promised she would send him notes. They would be vague, only her initials telling him it was her who sent it.

She promised she would be careful, but careful was how she would get hurt. She knew she would need to be reckless, heartless even. She would need to be sly and cunning and quick.

Everything she had tried her best to abandon when she left Walburga and Orion.

"Where will I meet him?" Aries asked, preparing herself.

"Outside." Dumbledore spoke simply.

Aries heart lurched. How could he be here? Why would they meet here? Wasn't that dangerous for the Order? Dangerous for Regulus? What if Voldemort found them and tore the place apart? What if they found Estella?