On the shore of the Black Lake, inside the brightly lit Marauders Power forward command tent, the atmosphere was utterly different from the wind and snow outside.
Outside the tent, freezing gales swept up snowflakes and battered the magically reinforced canvas like wild beasts.
Inside, however, an efficiently running Alchemical Furnace kept it as warm as spring. The air held a distinctive blend of machine oil, hot metal, and parchment, lending the place a tense yet orderly industrial feel.
Remus Lupin was bent over an enormous engineering drawing that took up almost half the tent, its complex Ancient Runes structures outlined in different colors of ink.
Holding a specially made quill, he was putting the finishing touches on the runes at a crucial junction.
At that moment, he was completely immersed in his own world, radiating a powerful confidence he never displayed in everyday life-the confidence of someone in command.
The tent flap suddenly opened a crack, and a figure with short, bubblegum-pink hair poked her head inside, breaking his concentration.
The newcomer wore a well-tailored Auror uniform that gave her a smart, dashing air, but her lively hair color betrayed her refusal to be dull.
She deliberately cleared her throat and addressed Lupin's back in an extremely solemn, punctilious official tone:
"Excuse me... is Chief Engineer Remus Lupin here?"
Lupin paused and turned around. When he saw that it was Tonks, an almost imperceptible trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.
But he immediately played along, suppressing that amusement and adopting a serious, businesslike expression.
He put down his quill, stood straight, and gave a slight nod.
"I am Lupin. And you are?"
Seeing him play along so readily, Tonks laughed inwardly and walked inside with textbook-perfect steps.
She took a rolled parchment appointment letter from inside her clothes