"Homework," Professor McGonagall declared. "Three feet of parchment on Animagus transformation. Yes , three feet. Do not roll your eyes Potter. This is NEWT level transfiguration. If you cannot handle the workload I suggest you get out; I have no time for lallygagging." She stared severely out at the class. "You may all go."

"Three feet of parchment on Animagus transformation." Sirius said as they headed to Lunch, "I don't know. We might have to hit the library for this one."

"Definitely." James said in mock serious tones. "Pity we don't know any Animagi. This could take all night."

Peter just laughed, but Remus said nothing. He had received a letter from his mother that morning and was still preoccupied thinking about it. In the letter she had informed him that Hannah and Joseph Finley and their daughter Morgan had all been found dead in their home the day before. The dark mark had been over their house. The Finley's lived in the village that the Lupins lived just outside of and had been friends with his parents for years.

He did not want to have to think they were dead, imagine what it would have looked like. Their daughter had only been Ten. She had been so sweet, so friendly, always saying hello to him when others in the village shied away. He did not want to think that that sweet little girl had died for no other reason than her father wouldn't give into the Death Eaters and by extension Voldemort himself.

While his sadness over such waste of life was deep what worried him most was that his own family could be next. His mother was Muggle born, married to a pure blood wizard. His parents were both sided against Voldemort and his Death Eaters and that was known. His own aunt had been a death eater before Aurors killed her in a fight. John Lupin did not like to talk about his sister, but she had been deep in the circle of death eaters back in the very early days when Voldemort was just gaining power. By simply being what he was Remus also made his family more undesirable. They were definitely not the type of people wanted in this new world that Voldemort was trying to create.

He looked at his friends who seemed so light, so happy at that moment. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. Would he loose them before this war was over? Would they all become casualties in the fight for good?

He shook his head, as if to dislodge the thought. It was not something he wanted to dwell on. Better to focus on the lighter moments for now; he had a feeling that darker days would be coming soon enough.

The first few months of school passed quickly filled with endless homework, Quidditch practices, late night forays into the world outside and inside Hogwarts and full moons.

These had become somewhat easier for Remus since his friends had figured out how to join him. He was able to remember who he was more and his injuries had decreased significantly. But it also made it harder on the nights when they couldn't be with him for some reason. His wolf craved their company then. In November there was a blue moon, three full moons one after the other.

On the mornings after those transformations Remus felt so drained that all he could do was sleep. His body constantly ached and he could hardly stomach any food, resulting in frequent trips to the washroom to throw up. By the end of it when he was finally gaining his strength back he had lost a significant amount of weight and looked so pale that he could have passed for a vampire instead of a werewolf.

During those months Remus hardly saw Tonks except for brief glances at the Hufflepuff table in the great hall. Her absence in his everyday life left him feeling strangely empty after the closeness that had developed over the summer.

Tonks too was missing her friend. She would find herself thinking something and wondering what Remus would have to say in response. Most likely something very dry and witty if it was something funny or reasonable and calming if it was something that was upsetting her. The problem was she had started going out with Liam Semple a seventh year Hufflepuff in September. Despite the three-year age difference Liam didn't treat her like she was a child. He was funny, in many ways had the same sense of humor as she did and he was attentive. Best of all he didn't go on about how good he was at Quidditch like Michael had. Liam was the keeper on the Hufflepuff house team and was also the captain of the team. The only thing that bugged her about him was that he a little possessive.

Remus, she knew didn't like him. He had not said anything to her, they hadn't had a chance to speak in almost four months, but she knew. It surprised her because Remus was courteous and polite to everyone, yet the one and only time she had spoken to him that term in Liam's company she had thought she'd seen something pass in his eyes. A wolfish look that sent a chill down her spine. The look had been at Liam.

Now it was December and for the first time in what seemed like forever Tonks found herself able to seek out Remus. It was Saturday a week before the Christmas Holidays would begin. Liam had called one last practice so both he and Cally were outside in the winter cold.

Tonks made her way to the library. Somehow she knew that that was where Remus would be found. She couldn't help smiling when she saw him at his usual table engrossed in a book. As he read he absently scratched notes onto a piece of parchment and leaned forward as if to absorb the words in the text. As she watched him she was struck with a feeling that swept her breath away. Ignoring it she sauntered over to his table making sure she came from behind him. She then placed her hands over his eyes. "Guess who."

Under her hands she could feel his eyes crinkle as he smiled. "Hm. Well only one person would give me a greeting like this. It must be Professor McGonagall."

Tonks whipped her hands off of him and sunk into the chair beside him. "She better not greet you like that. She better not greet anyone like that. Unless she has a beau." She fluttered her eyelashes and made her eyes look bigger. "That's just to much to think about really."

Remus tried not to laugh out loud; he knew Madam Pince would kick them out. "That's an image I could have really done without. Thank you Dora."

Tonks nodded gravely, while her insides squirmed happily. No one had called her Dora in months. Not even Liam called her anything but Tonks. "Your very welcome. It was my pleasure. So what have you been up too these past months? Not getting into trouble I hope." She asked in tones of mock concern.

"Well I have managed to avoid detention with James and Sirius. Mostly I've been planning their escapades and studying. And recovering from the moon." He added more quietly.

She nodded. " I read up on that. Blue moon right? That must have been awful. Are you alright?" there was no pity in her voice nor in her eyes when he looked at her and he was grateful for that. He hated pity.

"I'll live. It was bad yes, but only after wards. I couldn't eat for days. Thankfully it only happens every few years."

He turned so he could see her better. She looked different, her hair, which usually reached to just below her ears, was long, although it was still pink. He knew she got in trouble for having her hair outrageous colours yet she persisted. It was who she was and she refused to conform. It had always secretly impressed him.

"What have you been up to?"

She shrugged. "Homework, detention, watching the Quidditch games and the occasional practice. Hanging out with Cally and Liam."

He kept an expression of interest on his face and tried not to frown when Liam was mentioned.

"Do you not like him?" she asked curiously studying his face for a reaction.

"Who?" he asked pretending he didn't know who she was speaking of. It would just lead to an argument.

"You know who."

He couldn't resist. "Well I was under the impression that no one liked him except for the death eaters. In fact the general consensus is that he's deranged."

"Remus!" she hissed hitting him lightly on the arm although grinning and trying not to laugh. "I meant Liam. So let me rephrase. You don't like him."

Remus sighed and looked into her large grey eyes. "Yes."

She nodded. "Why?"

He shook his head.

She frowned. "Remus, you have to tell me. I don't like my best friend disapproving of my boyfriend and I want to know why you do." She said determinedly.

"I've known Liam Semple for a few years Dora," he said. She wanted the truth and he was going to give it her. "His father works with mine, has since they both started at the ministry. His father is cold, possessive, ruthless and hard to please. I know you shouldn't judge a person on their family, but in this case the apple doesn't really fall far from the tree. Liam is, I know, possessive, hard to please and honestly a little conceited. He hides it well, but it's there."

Tonks felt floured. It wasn't really what Remus said, it was the way he said it as if it was a simple fact and he was just stating it. "So," she said slowly. "Basically my boyfriend is a prat, is what your saying."

Remus was looking down at his book again his fringe falling forward to cover his eyes. He made no move to push it away. "If you want to put it like that, then yes, I believe that is what I am saying."

Tonks took a breath. "Right. Well your wrong, you know. Liam is very sweet, not at all like you've said."

Remus didn't look up. "I don't want to argue with you Nymphadora." He said. "You're going to see him how you wish to see him. Nothing I or anyone else says will change that."

Tonks stood feeling an angry frustration come over her. "Fine. We won't argue. In fact we won't even talk." She stormed off then, but not before yelling back. "And don't call me Nymphadora!"