That night those members of the Order that didn't have to immediately run off crowded around the table binging on another miraculous creation of Molly's.
"How long is it until the full moon?" Molly asked into a lull in the conversation.
"Five days," Remus said immediately. Dora rolled her eyes.
"Dora, what are you planning to do?"
"Well, I could go to one of the packs and hang out, but if he was all right with it I thought I'd stay with Remus." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing sadder than a lone wolf."
"Is that true?" Kingsley asked.
She nodded. "Drives us bonkers being alone. Why do you think the guy had me kidnapped? He was that desperate for a companion on the full moons."
They were all quiet for a moment while they digested that. "Where do you usually go?" she asked Remus.
"There's a cellar..."
She groaned. "Why don't you just come run with me?"
"I won't risk it."
"Is that really a concern with the wolfsbane?" Tonks asked.
Remus sighed. "Apparently Umbridge put something in the batch trying to figure out what it was. Snape doesn't trust it so I'm going without this month."
"I could stop you biting anyone," Dora said.
"I said I won't risk it."
She sighed and rolled her eyes again.
"How would you stop him biting anyone?" Moody asked.
"I can get control of her when I need to."
There was silence. "You can?" She nodded. "So you've never bitten anyone?"
"Eh." She raised her hand and waved it. "Almost no one."
"Who have you bitten?" Remus demanded.
"Hunters," she answered. "She was wounded. They were trying to kill her. If you're stupid enough to go after a werewolf on a full moon you deserve to get torn apart."
"Why were they after you?" he asked.
"Because there are stupid bastards that think this sort of thing is fun. And in some places there are people that want us dead so badly they'll pay for werewolf pelts."
"You're kidding!" Tonks looked outraged. "That's murder!"
She shook her head. "Not according to them. Got out of there in a hurry I'll tell you."
"They get that you're actually human?"
"That's apparently up for debate," she said with a shrug.
"We could have Snape get you some potion too," Molly suggested.
"No way. Poor thing only gets out one day a month anyway. I'd be tempted if it would counteract the transformation but if I have to go through that anyway she should have her day." She looked up at Remus. "So you're really going to lock me in a cellar?"
"Yup."
"You're mean to me."
"I can live with that."
"You should be thanking me. Would you look what you've done to yourself?"
She reached up toward one of the scars but he turned and bit at her. In response she flicked his nose.
"It's like watching three-year-olds in a pen," Moody said. "I'm off to the ministry. Tonks?"
"Right behind you. Just a moment. I need to ask Dora something."
They all stood. Tonks drew Dora off to a corner. Remus gave her a curious look to which she shrugged.
"I...this may be none of my business...and you can say that..."
"Tonks, please just spit it out." She crossed her arms and looked at her.
Tonks' eyes were drawn behind her toward Remus. "Do you have any way to know if you'll...I mean I know it isn't you but the wolves..." She looked up at her with raised eyebrows.
Dora shook her head. "The wolves will?"
She lowered her voice until it was little more than a breath. "Mate."
"Oh." She looked at her, then burst out laughing. "Oh, you...yeah, you'd think...come up to my room," she said more loudly than was strictly necessary. "I want to show you this dress..."
Tonks followed her up to her room, watching as she locked the door and spelled it against eavesdroppers. Then she turned and pointed seriously at Tonks. "You do not tell Remus about this."
"O...kay."
She pulled back the high collar of her shirt. Down on her shoulder white marks stood out in sharp relief. Tonks stepped close. "Bites?" Dora nodded. "I thought your bite was on your wrist."
"It is. This is a mate mark."
"A what?"
She sighed. "When a male, usually the lead of the pack, will mark a female, so the others don't touch her. He won't take another female either. Makes her sort of the beta of the pack."
"You seem the sort," she chuckled. "So Remus' wolf won't touch you."
"Wouldn't dare." Tonks smiled. "I'm sorry, I should have told you."
"Why don't you want me to tell Remus?"
"He'd try to send me back. My pack is there, my mate is there, this isn't my fight, blah blah blah."
"Would he be right?"
"I'm British. And I've grown sort of fond of a few of you." She put her arm fondly around Tonks' shoulders. "Besides, the werewolves would never follow him."
Dora chuckled as they went back into the kitchen and sat down. Remus caught her eye. "What did she want?"
"Shopping stuff that would bore you. Color charts, all that. Love her hair."
Remus rolled his eyes. "You would."