They moved fast and quietly over the land. Greyback in his wolf form was just as ugly as he had been as a human. He was black and gray, but mangy. His fur looked dirty and matted. His eyes glowed a fearsome yellow color and his tail was a bit sad looking. Remus had caught a glimpse of his own wolf form and though he was not proud of it, at least he didn't mind the way it looked.

Greyback was a predatory creature. Remus doubted that he had ever been anything but. He could not imagine Fenrir as an innocent child. He vaguely remembered what it had been like, so many years ago at Hogwarts, running free with all of his friends and for once, not caring that he was a werewolf. With them, he was no more than a playful puppy. It had made him feel less infected.

The two wolves reached their destination in less than an hour, coming to a dead halt at the outskirts. Remus had no idea who Greyback had in store, and he hadn't quite figured out how he was going to find the courage to actually hurt someone else, but he would work that out later. One thing he did know, his time with the werewolves was either coming to an end for his own sanity, or he would be forced to stay with them forever once everyone else found out what he'd done tonight.

There.Greyback told him, lurching forward with little control. She will be in there. Remus stared blindly at the small cottage nestled just on the outskirts of the woods. He wondered who she was…how he'd chosen her. Greyback looked at him, his face twisted into a sneer.

Cautiously, Remus inched forward, trying to look as if he had not taken Wolfsbane. The ground beneath his paws crunched, brittle from the cold. He crouched down and tried to see through the window. The sound of arguing could be heard. Putting his nose close to the warm glass, he saw a man yelling at the girl inside, who could have been no more than eighteen. Remus closed his eyes, hanging his head. He couldn't do it. Greyback would kill him, but he couldn't do it. He huffed in defeat, moving away from the window.

I can't do this. He admitted to Greyback, looking back toward the black wolf. Greyback barked in his direction, baring his teeth.

You WILL do this, Lupin. Or I will go after her. Remus looked back at Greyback in horror. He practically grinned. Don't think I don't know who was in that photo. We may have made a mistake the first time, but we have since learned her real identity. The pink hair…we know EXACTLY who she is. If you don't complete this task, then she really will be dead. Bellatrix Lestrange told us to leave her for now, but I promise you, I will not keep my word on the matter.

Why? Remus asked. What has she done that makes her your target? Greyback made a sound of annoyance.

It has nothing to do with HER. Greyback growled. It has to do with power…that's the only thing that matters. Lestrange wants her dead to hurt her traitor sister, but I could give a damn about the girl. I don't care if she lives or dies. Make no mistakes though, Lupin, she will not be lucky enough to live a second time if I go after her. Remus sank down into the cold grass and tried to breathe. Greyback had found his weakness and was using it for terrible things. He had done the very thing he was trying to avoid, which was to bring her into this mess.

I'll do it. He told Greyback in defeat. Greyback made a noise of scorn.

I'll never understand why people fall in love. It makes people weak. Remus made to respond, when the door of the cottage flew open and someone came flying out. It was the girl, but something was off. She wasn't just coming outside, she was being chased. The man she had been arguing was behind her, throwing accusations at her.

"You've always been ungrateful!" He told her, grabbing her by the collar and making her cry out. Remus ducked behind the side of the house, watching from the corner. "I took you in…gave you a home when my sister died!"

"Let me go…" She begged, sobbing. Remus watched in horror as the man's gaze lingered too long on the girl's body. "Uncle, please."

"You're mine!" He cried, pushing her to the ground.

"Stop!" She wailed, though no one would hear her. It was a small village and the houses were very far apart.

"You want to open your legs for other men?" He challenged, putting his hand on her throat.

"Just Jack!" She cried. "We're getting married!"

"You're not doing anything." He told her, in her face. Remus watched him begin to tear at her close and held back no longer. He rounded the side of the house and pulled the man off of the girl by his collar, throwing him aside. The girl screamed and ran, but Remus let her go, keeping his attention on the disgusting lecher lying in front of him. For any man to take advantage of a woman was a sin, but for a man to molest his own niece was purely disgusting. The man swiped at him, reaching for his wand. Angry, Remus snapped forward and broke it with his teeth, rendering the man helpless.

He let out a menacing growl in the man's scruffy face. He could hear the girl's distant screams, but he was too distracted by his rage at this man, that he could hardly contain it. Surprising him, the man pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket and lurched forward, slicing him across the shoulder. Any thought of not biting him had gone as Remus easily knocked that too from his fat, sausage like fingers and sank his teeth into the man's side as easily as if he were made of butter. The man's cries of agony went unheard as the pain in Remus's shoulder burned on. He bit him once more, this time in the leg. It wasn't until the female's screams faded that he regained his train of thought. With a grunt of disgust, he pulled the man, who'd fallen unconscious onto his back and moved toward the woods.

Greyback was waiting for him with what Remus assumed to be some sort of grin.

I underestimated you, Lupin. I like the way you think.

You do? He asked in surprise. Greyback stepped aside, revealing the bloody body of the girl.

Two werewolves are better than one.Remus felt his heart stop momentarily. He'd failed. Not only had he created one werewolf, but he had inadvertently created two. What would Dumbledore say? Worse, what would Dora say? He could only stare down at the girl's body.

This was his fault. How could he ever face the Order again? Greyback stooped to pick her up and swung her over his back as Remus had done with the uncle.

Best get back before they wake. He told Remus. Well done…we'll have an induction ceremony tonight. Remus followed without another thought, careful not to think anything that might give him away.

They settled the two people on the floor of the cave, over a dirty blanket. It was just dawn when they arrived. Remus waited until the sunlight touched the ground, watching the full moon gradually disappear. A moment later, he was shivering in the doorway with no clothing on. Luckily, his abandoned pile of clothes was still where he'd left it. The sounds of others returning filled the cave. Remus barely heard them, he went and sat beside the sleeping girl that had been brought here. He'd tried to save an innocent life and had failed. Her face was covered in dried blood and her arm looked broken. The uncle was not in such bad condition. Remus tore his eyes away from them, blinking rapidly.

He got up and stumbled back to his sad little corner and rummaged through his rucksack. Greyback, he knew, had gone straight to bed, so he would not be disturbed for at least a few hours. Praying it was still there, he sighed when he found his mirror, still intact, still lying in the bag. He pulled it out, holding it in his fingertips.

"Nymphadora Tonks." She was awake this time, staring into a mirror of her own on the wall. He watched as she scrunched her face up, as if she were in pain. Her hands were braced on either side of the bathroom sink and she seemed to be holding her breath. She stopped, gasping to catch her breath and looked determinedly back at her reflection, repeating the same thing. Remus was confused for a moment before it dawned on him what she was doing.

She was trying to change her appearance.

He could see with every attempt she was getting more upset, her gray eyes were sparkling with tears that spilled out from under the lids. Her cheeks were red from her efforts. Once again, she panted for air and bowed her head in defeat, bending over and burying her face into her arms. He watched as her shoulders shook from her sobs and felt even worse than he did already. Dora's head lifted again, her gray eyes angry now. Roughly, she reached back and began to braid her hair, which was now over an inch below her shoulders. She quickly splashed water over her face and dried it with a towel. Remus carefully replaced the mirror in his bag and looked over at the sleeping pair of newly infected people.

Quietly, he moved and eased the girl off the ground and brought her back to his area so that she did not have to wake beside the man who had been attacking her the night before. She stirred as he set her underneath the makeshift awning. A moan left her dry lips. Remus quickly produced a tin cup and conjured some water for her to drink.

"Drink." He told her calmly. "It will help with the fever." Her eyes, a warm brown opened and she looked up at him in fear.

"Who are you?" She whispered. Remus sighed.

"Remus Lupin." He answered. "You've been bitten by a werewolf." Her eyes widened and she let out a small shriek of horror, sitting up too fast and falling directly back down. "You mustn't sit up too fast." He made her drink more water. "What is your name?"

"Coraline." She rasped, staring at Remus with terror etched in her features.

"How old are you?" He asked, mostly to keep her talking.

"Twenty-three." She drank again. Remus sighed.

Dora's age.

"Does this mean that I'm…that I'll be…?" She began. His nod made her stop talking as she dissolved into tears.

"I'm sorry." He said, hanging his head in shame. She stared at him through her watery eyes.

"Was it you?" She asked, pulling away and scooting back toward the wall.

"I did not bite you." Remus informed her. He looked away. "But, I fear it's my fault you were bitten…I went after your…the man. Our leader wanted you…I was supposed to bite you, but I didn't…"

"Why?" She asked, pulling her knees up to her chest and holding herself. Remus looked down into his hands.

"Orders." He told her, feeling disgusting. "I'm so sorry…" She glared at him. "I've never done anything to anyone!"

"I know." Remus told her sadly. "He's been watching you for a couple of weeks now." He met her eyes. "He does that with all of his…prey."

"You're no better!" She told him, pointing an accusatory finger. "You didn't even try to stop him!" Remus could only stare at her, unable to argue because he knew she was right. He had become the monster he'd always strove to never be. James would have been disgusted with him.

If you would have just married her instead of pushing her away, this would have never happened…Remus's conscience toyed with him, taunting.

"You're right." He told her, exhausted. "I didn't think he would attack you. I should have known better…"

"You're not like most of them, are you?" Coraline said, eyeing him suspiciously.

"I'm exactly like all of them." Remus told her, full of self loathing.

"How did you become one?" She asked, sniffling. Remus sighed.

"I was five. It just…happened that I was outside…in the wrong place at the wrong time." He lied, but he did not want her to feel sorry for him. He didn't deserve it. "Listen, Coraline…you need to get out of here before your uncle wakes up…before Greyback gets to you."

"Is that his name?" She whispered, peering up at him. Remus nodded, rising and noticing that her wounds were still bloody and pulsing. She was radiating with the lycanthropic fever.

"Come on." He told her, helping her to her feet. "I've got to get you to St. Mungo's…no one can see." Pulling his wand out of his coat pocket, he pointed it. "Expecto Patronum." The huge silver wolf looked back at him as if for guidance before gliding away in a few bounds. Putting his arm around Coraline, he quickly side-along apparated with her to what appeared to be a broken down, abandoned department store. She swayed slightly, the fever was obviously worsening, taking control of her small body fast. She was not as small as Dora, and was at least three to four inches taller, but she was rail thin. Remus quickly scooped her wavering body into his arms and stepped inside with her.

"First floor." He said ruefully, eyeing the signs on the way to the lift. "Creature Induced Injuries."

"You know it well…" Coraline observed through chattering teeth. Remus gave her a small, curt nod.

"I spent much of my childhood here." He told her. They arrived with a lurch, Remus quickly exited the lift and called out to the first Healer he could see.

"Excuse me!" He called. "This girl has been bitten by a werewolf!" The man's eyes widened, but he handed his clipboard to a witch in white robes and walked over to them.

"How long has it been since the attack?" The Mediwizard asked, gently examining the bite mark on her arm.

"About four hours." Remus told him. The Healer stared at him, narrowing his eyes.

"And how do you know this?"

"I was there." He told the Healer. "I'm a werewolf…" The man backed away instinctively and Remus sighed. "I'm not the one who did it." He gestured down at Coraline, who was trembling through her full body now. "She needs help!" The Healer gingerly took Coraline out of his arms and looked Remus up and down, noting that he had fresh cuts of his own.

"Go to the outpatient ward and get some salve on those wounds." The Healer instructed. "I will send someone to tell you when she has been settled in." Remus nodded, looking toward the section of the floor, where people came for minor treatments. "Coraline, I am going to stay here!" He called after her, but did not get a chance to say anything else because he was pulled into the outpatient area by a blonde Mediwitch.

"Let's see those cuts…" She said, smiling up at him. "Good to see you, Remus." Focusing on her, he realized it was Ellie Brown. Remembering the night she and her daughter had almost been attacked, he stiffened, but managed to return her smile.

"I forgot you worked here." He said, allowing her to settle him into a chair and scoop out the black goo that he'd had applied to his body so many times in his life.

"Who is she?" He met her eyes carefully and thought of Sirius, who used to rave about how they were the exact color of the ocean.

"Just a girl…I…I saw her get bitten…" He told her. It wasn't a complete lie, but he couldn't tell her that he was spying on the werewolves…namely, Greyback.

"Merlin…" Ellie muttered. "They're getting out of control. Lavender and I were nearly attacked back in August." She told Remus, who of course, already knew this.

"Where are you staying?" He asked her, genuinely worried. Ellie's eyes grew dark.

"Girard's left and gone to America. I've gone to my Mum's house in Hampshire."

"Good." He said, wincing as she opened his shirt and gently used a brush to apply the salve to his open cuts. It stung horribly.

"Is there a Remus Lupin here?" A Mediwizard appeared in the doorway. Tiredly, Remus raised his hand. The man nodded, adjusting his glasses on his nose and leaned back out the door.

"In here, Miss!" A small figure appeared in the doorway and sighed, adjusting her dirty red robes before stepping inside.

"Remus." Dora said, looking very pale and tired. He stared at her in utter confusion, though he could not deny that his heart leapt at the sight of her. "I got the Patronus." She explained, sitting beside him. "Dumbledore's nowhere to be found today. He went on an errand, though to where I don't know."

"Oh." He said, feeling like an idiot. Tonks looked awkwardly down at her fingernails. He remembered watching her trying to morph her appearance this morning, sending another wave of guilt rushing through him.

"What happened?" She asked. Ellie quickly excused herself, disappearing around the corner of the ward. Remus stared ahead, unable to look her in the eye.

"I fucked up." He said quietly. A small gasp left her lips at his use of the curse word. If it had been a better circumstance, he would have chuckled.

"What d'you mean?" She asked. Remus glanced sideways at her. Her gray eyes were huge. Even though he'd spent many a night watching her sleep earlier in the year, he'd never noticed how long her eyelashes were. Of course, her eyes were generally different colored when she had control over it. He quite preferred the natural appearance though. There was no questioning her Black heritage in her features. She looked very much like Andromeda…and consequently, Bellatrix.

"Greyback…he made me…I had to—" He couldn't bring himself to say it, and with a low feeling of shame, he put his head into his hands and tried to breathe. "I can't." He told her…he couldn't bear for her to know. A small, hesitant hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"You know, nothing you tell me could ever make me hate you." She promised. He wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. She was so blinded by her love for him, that she wasn't willing to see him for what he truly was…a monster. He met her eyes, boring into them with his and put his hands on either side of her face.

"Listen to me, Nymphadora." He said in a very serious tone. "I am no good for you. Do you really want to know what I did last night? I went on a mission with Greyback to Woodlands Mill. I bit a man. I created a werewolf…and worse, I allowed an innocent girl to be contaminated. A girl who is the same age as you!" Her eyes widened, frightened. It relieved him to a point. She would finally see what he'd been telling her all along.

"Why did he make you do it?" She asked, eyeing him cautiously. "Who did he threaten?" Remus's jaw dropped. She knew him too well…she could read him as easily as Sirius had been able to.

"Dora, he knows about you…" Remus heard himself tell her in a heavy whisper. "He knows…"

"He used me to make you do his bidding?" Tonks asked in a hushed voice. "He's blackmailing you with me?"

"Yes."

"You've got to get away from him, Remus!" She cried, gripping his open shirt in her small fists. "He's going to kill you! You've got to come with me! I can protect you! Dumbledore can help—"

"No. That's what he wants me to do, Dora." Remus replied, toying with a loose tendril of dark hair that was hanging out of her braid. "That's what he's waiting for…Bellatrix told him to leave you alone for now, but he wants an excuse to come after you…he wants you—" Remus's voice broke, remembering what Greyback had said about wanting to taste her. "Don't you see? The only way to keep you safe is for me to stay away?"

"I told you not to do this!" She railed at him, teary. "I begged you not to go! Dumbledore would have understood."

"That's not right, Dora. This is the least I can do…"

"Remus," Ellie's voice interrupted them. "The girl is asking for you." He sighed, rising and offering his hand to Dora. She did not take it, but got up and followed him into the room that Coraline had been set up in. She was awake, though it was evident that the medical spells being performed on her were barely keeping her awake. She was at the very least sweating, which meant the fever was breaking. Tonks gasped.

"Corrie Kirwan?" She said, looking at the girl in recognition. Coraline squinted, unseeing.

"Who is there?"

"It's Nymphadora Tonks…from Hufflepuff." Dora answered, moving closer.

"Oh…I remember." The girl agreed before her head lolled to the left.

"It's going to be fine, Coraline." Remus told her soothingly. "They're going to take care of you."

"Mmm." Coraline responded. Tonks looked back at Remus, glaring at him as she returned to his side.

"This changes nothing." She hissed at him. "I can see the wheels of self hate turning in your head, Remus Lupin, and I'm not going to stand for it. You love me…apparently quite a bit. You won't be able to stay away forever. When you're ready to stop being a stubborn arse, I'll be waiting."

"You really should marry Charlie Weasley." He said, though the words sounded all wrong coming out of his mouth. Dora rolled her eyes at him.

"Believe me, if it were just that simple, I would. Merlin knows, he'd be a wonderful husband." Remus had to suck in a breath against the sting of her biting words. "Problem is, I don't love Charlie…could never love Charlie. All the love in my heart has been stuck on this bloody git who won't see reason." She gave him a wry look. "Charlie deserves better than someone who only settled on him so she doesn't have to be alone. He deserves someone that loves him back…unconditionally." She shrugged. "That's another subject you need to brush up on." Turning to face him squarely, she squeezed his shoulder with her gloved hand. "Do not stay with him for my sake. Do you hear me? Obliviate him and come home. I'll be waiting." Dora rose up on her toes and brushed her lips across his cheek before turning on the spot and disapparating. Remus sighed, taking a seat beside the bed.

I really hope this isn't becoming redundant and corny! :)