"That's a very apt description," Remus said with a warm laugh, though he sobered when Alex continued. "Unfortunately, for a lot of grown-ups, those inter-house scuffles get carried over into the rest of their lives and there are no professors or prefects to take points away when they do something dangerous."
Seeing the young man grow quiet again, the handkerchief silently being tortured between nervous fingers, Remus smiled sympathetically. He could understand what Alex was feeling. And, he didn't want to understand what George Weasley must be feeling. Ever. "Have you written to your father? It might help both of you to keep in touch much more regularly than you might otherwise."
"I know," Remus said simply. If Alex had been seriously going to drink, he would have hidden that thought from Remus rather than speaking it aloud. "It's okay to admit you want it. It the nature of the beast, if you'll pardon the pun. I'd be more surprised if you said you didn't want a drink right now. If it makes you feel any better, my first thought when I was in your place was very similar."