~Hello again! Just a small placement here, I'm sorry the chapters are short but I feel that with what's going on its best to make them short for now but they may lengthen out soon I hope. Please enjoy and review.~

Chapter 8, New Beginning.

*Lumos*

When Remus opened his eyes they felt heavier than led as did his chest as the world came slowly into focus, he found himself laying in a bed the room around him was dark save the soft and warm glow of a fire in a fire place, the air that he drew in was strong with the smell of damp wood and rain, the room was dead silent but there was a sound hitting his ears, a low thudding sound a sound that reminded him of a watch wrapped in a sheet and after a moment he realized it was a heart beat, his own as it thudded in his ears.

He forced himself to move but no sooner had he did a soft hand push him back down by his shoulder.

"Stay down, your hurt rather badly."

He looked around for the owner of the voice and after a moment he seen Lilly, her cheek now dawned a paling scar across it and her hand on his shoulder was wrapped in a bandage, behind her James was rubbing his arm where a red mark was healing.

"I-I have to...Nymphadora..."

He tried sitting up again but Lilly sighed and helped him.

"She's here, she's alive but she's rough."

She looked beside them and as he fallowed her eyes his stomach lurched horribly to the point he tasted bile at what he seen, Dora lie still as ever on the bed her skin white as snow, her pink hair seemed lank, her lips were drained of color but that wasn't what made him sick what did were the bruises and cuts that covered every inch of her skin that didn't seem to be healing, he felt his heart shatter at the sight as he realized what that meant, her body didn't have enough blood to heal her, beside Dora's still form was Andromeda who dawned her own battle scars that had healed but she was crying as she held her daughter's hand.

"After Bellatrix left you two in that room and you killed that man Andy managed to get rid of her sister once and for all but not long after did we find you passed out in the hall in a pool of blood with Dora in your arms, we moved you here to make healing easier but you've got some bad injuries, your arms broken and it's healing slowly, 4 of your ribs broke then healed, your bruised bad but their fading-"

"Not to sound nasty Lil but I don't care about me what about Dora?! What happened to her why isn't she healing?"

Lilly opened her mouth to speak but before she could Andromeda looked over her shoulder at them her eyes while tinged red with tears were cold as black ice.

"She's as close to death as our kind can get without dying, it's a state only a werewolf can put us in, to attack but not kill."

Remus flinched and the feeling of dropping off a high place into the depths of a black sea over came him, the look in Andromeda's eyes left the feeling that she believed he'd inflicted the damage to her daughter and his heart raced with panic though his face stayed calm as it was before.

"Will she..."

Andromeda looked back at her daughter a new wave of tears flowed down her cheeks and James got to his feet but was beat to her side by Sirius who rubbed her back trying to calm her.

"There's a chance she'll be okay but it's a purely mental decision, if her body decided it doesn't want to fight any more there's nothing we can do, a-as it sits her chances of staying alive are slim because a majority of her damage was inside her that's why her external injuries aren't healing her body is healing the internal damage first."

Remus glanced at Lilly and seen she was trying not to cry but failed as James took her in his arms, he was more than a little surprised because he'd had no idea Lilly cared so much for Dora, he looked around the room and seen Maggie asleep on the floor on a pile of blankets and his heart felt as though it were being ripped out, maybe it was his fault he had let Dora get ahead and he knew she hadn't been thinking clearly the moment she entered the house why had he let her out of his sight, clenching his jaw he got out of the bed ignoring the screaming pain from his arm and ankle as he headed for the door reaching for the handle but a hand beat him to it, he looked at the owner and flinched back from Lilly who growled lowly but at once she stopped and looked back at Dora's bed as the pink haired girl began to cough wildly the white sheet spotting with blood, once the coughs ended she forced her eyes open slightly but she wasn't seeing as she whispered a single word.

"R-Remus..."

She tried to say more but she relapsed into the motionless state making Remus hesitate for a moment before going to her other side placing a shaky hand to her cheek his words trapped in his throat as his lower lip trembled. It wasn't until much later Lilly and James left and Sirius managed to convince Andromeda to go home and rest before dawn saying that Dora was in good hands with Remus. Once they were gone Remus looked at Dora's pale face and felt a hot tear roll down his cheek and he brought the back of her hand to his lips for a moment before he just held it between both his watching her.

"I don't know if you can hear me Dora but if you can I want you to know that no matter how hard it is keep fighting, you can't die you have so many people here that want you alive and everyone of them would be so crushed at your loss but not one of them would feel as guilty as I do. I don't want you to keep fighting on my behalf but on theirs, I've told you before that I love you and that hasn't changed, your my whole world...no more than that your my whole reason for existing but to say I want you to wake up just for me is more selfish than I can think of but I have to do one selfish thing it's to beg you to please be okay, I couldn't live without you I just couldn't."

He felt his cheeks now soaked with tears as he watched them fall onto the sheets covering the bed as he closed his eyes holding her hand silently wishing that he could take her place in the bed. He wasn't sure when exactly he fell asleep but at some point his closed eyes were filled with images he'd never seen before. He was at the manor like house he and Maggie shared with Dora but the only other person he could see was Maggie standing by the large tree in a black dress holding an old looking black umbrella, her brown hair was tied back with a white ribbon and her shoulders seemed to be shaking with sobs. Remus suddenly felt himself speak as he stepped from the back porch into the rain toward Maggie.

"Come on Maggie, we need to go."

Maggie looked up at him her eyes red from crying and she shook her head.

"NO! I'm not going!"

He felt himself sigh as he reached her side and knelt beside her a hand on her shoulder.

"I know you don't want to Maggie but we have to, there's nothing here for us and it's what she would want, she wouldn't want you growing up smothered by memories that make you sad."

There was a pit in his stomach as he heard the words leave his mouth but he struggled to understand them, who was this She? His mind wouldn't pull the pieces together no matter that deep down he knew the answer. Maggie sniffled and closed the umbrella and wrapped her arms around his neck sobbing again as he stood holding her close walking back into the house and to the front door where two bags were packed and waiting. What was he seeing?! Was this some kind of grief induced scenario his mind was making up to prepare him to cope with what might happen or was he some how being allowed to see what waited in the future? Suddenly he felt it, a soft and warm touch on his cheek and he heard the sweet angelic whisper though it was weak it was clear as a bell.

"Remus...Remus wake up."

He opened his eyes letting them focus on his hand still wrapped around Dora's, his heart thudded loudly in his ears as he slowly looked up and to his relief and amazement Dora's soft grey eyes were open and she was smiling softly as her thumb brushed over his cheek making him turn and kiss her palm as every fear he'd had since waking up himself vanished like it never existed as he looked back at her sitting up.

"Your awake, you're really awake."

He lifted a hand her cheek softly making her laugh rolling her eyes.

"Of Corse I am, did you really think I'd leave that easily? I'm tougher than I look this body just isn't good at taking damage."

She looked on her other side and smiled making him fallow her eyes to where Maggie was curled up beside Dora contently sleeping before Dora looked back at him.

"You were talking in your sleep...if I hadn't made it would you really be able to move on that easily? Even for her sake?"

Remus glanced at Maggie and his heart sank deep into his torso as he looked at their intertwined hands.

"If I had to I'd be able to act like I was okay but in truth I would never be able to cope with it, never fully able to move on."

He didn't look up until she removed her hand from his and gently cupped his face making him look up her eyes searching his face for any flicker of a lie but there wasn't even a doubt he was lying making her freeze for a second before she pulled him gently into a kiss, it took him a second to catch up but as he did he kissed back savoring the feeling of her lips on his own before she pulled away looking past his eyes into his soul.

"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon I swear."

He smiled nodding before looking at Maggie as she began to wake. Maggie blinked a couple times before looking up at Dora and smiling brightly.

"Sissy's awake!"

She laughed jumping up and hugging Dora's neck making her wince but smile holding her close kissing her head.

"Well good morning to you too."

Maggie smiled moving to Remus laughing as he pulled her into his lap.

"Where'd the others go? Is everyone alright?"

Remus nodded looking at the door.

"Yeah everyone's just fine, Lil and James just got a few scrapes and bruises, your mother seemed to have gotten through unscathed and Sirius well he's around here somewhere."

Dora looked relived as she relaxed back onto the pillows closing her eyes before bringing her hand to her mouth acting as though she were suffocating. Remus quickly sat Maggie on the floor and helped Dora sit up as she coughed splattering bits of blood into the blanket. When the coughs stopped she sighed closing her eyes.

"Urg I hate the healing bit about this I can't move around a lot."

She looked around the room her eyes falling on a rope by the door and pointed to it.

"Can you do me a favor love and pull that rope twice?"

Remus opened his mouth to ask why but before he could Maggie had already tugged the role twice but there was no sound.

"What was that meant to do?"

Dora smiled at him.

"Give it a moment."

No sooner had she finished speaking did the door open enough for a young man to look inside.

"You call Princess?"

Dora rolled her eyes at the tittle and motioned him in with her finger, as she did Remus seen for the first time how long and glassy her nails were. The young man came into the room but stayed by the door.

"Bring two trays for Remus and his sister."

The man nodded then looked her in the eye.

"And for you?"

Dora shook her head waving him off. Without a word he bowed and left the room making Remus look at her.

"They listen rather well to you here."

Dora rolled her eyes shaking her head.

"They have to I'm the princess remember? They don't listen to me they face mom and trust me that never ends well."

She looked at the door as it opened and two women brought in trays of food setting them on the table in the corner of the room. Dora smiled kindly at them beckoning one, a blonde who couldn't have been more than 15, to her other side and whispered to her something Remus couldn't hear before she sent her away.

"What was that about?"

Dora looked at Remus smiling.

"Nothing just making plans for you and Maggie this is your first time here and I'm sure Maggie will enjoy seeing the mountains just past the woods."

He looked at her worried but didn't say any thing as Maggie drew his attention to the food that was left. After they were finished eating the two girls came back and escorted Maggie and Remus from the room though it wasn't without reassurance from both Dora and Sirius who had come with the young man from before.

Remus let himself be led away but paused glancing back as the man and Sirius entered Dora's room closing the door behind them. The door however didn't shut completely as Remus turned to fallow his escorts and when Dora's silky voice begging the young man to her side reach him he couldn't help but stop. He turned back to the door and felt his feet lead him back to it, he looked in through the gap that was left in the door and felt his stomach lurch as he seen the young man was now on Dora's bedside his lips trailing down her neck and she tilted her head back eyes closed.

He felt his body start shaking and his fists clench as he watched the young man's lips move to the collar of her shirt where she stopped him making him look at her as she shook her head.

"Don't be so eager pet, all in do time."

She smiled softly and kissed the man's lips long enough that he welcomed her lips as they pressed against his neck. In a flash everything changed as the man let out an ear splitting wail and the sheets around Dora's legs were dyed crimson as her fangs sank into his neck. They were longer than Remus remembered and when she had bitten him it had only hurt enough to make him scream not give off the agonizing sound the young man was making, a sound that became gargled and meek as she dropped the body to the floor where the last bit of blood pooled. Remus' stomach lurched again at the sight of the young man on the floor but as he eyes moved back to Dora he felt it ease slightly as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand in a vain attempt to rid her lips of blood.

"You made a bit more of a mess than normal Nymphie, how are we going to clean it without them knowing?"

Remus's eyes fallowed Sirius as he moved to the bed side stepping over the lifeless body handing Dora a handkerchief which she used to clean the blood from her face with a sigh.

"It's not like I meant to if I didn't feed I was going to hurt them and these..."

She paused opening her mouth and brushing her finger tip over her fangs that now that Remus looked were longer than before but not by much.

"Go through so much easier I don't realize I don't need to bite so hard."

She looked at the blanket over her legs and sighed as Sirius sat beside her.

"It's all part of maturing you get used to them."

Dora looked at him her eyebrows knitting together.

"Maturing? I'm only 16 I shouldn't start all that until next year."

Sirius put a hand to her shoulder.

"Which is in November, 5 months away but your mother started maturing yearly too, the sign of a royal, she matured sooner than both her sisters which is why your aunt wanted the thorn so badly she was the oldest but your mother matured first. We can expect great things from you Nymphie when you become queen."

Dora rolled her eyes then looked at the blood soaked blanket.

"I have a long time before that and I'd like to leave it that way for as long as I can."

Sirius nodded and finally looked at the door making Remus move away from the gap as Sirius stood.

"Hiding won't do you any good Remus."

Remus took a deep breath and figured it was no use acting like he wasn't there and pushed open the door enough to look in. Dora's eyes widened looking at Sirius panicked.

"You knew he was there?! Why didn't you stop me?!"

Sirius looked at her unwavered.

"You said it yourself if you didn't feed you'd do something you'd regret."

Dora looked at Remus her eyes scared as she brought her hand to her mouth covering it.

"You think I'm a monster now don't you?!"

Remus shook her head going to her side gently prying her hand from her mouth looking her in the eyes.

"No I don't, if anything I'm relived that you did what you did other wise I'm afraid of what would have happened...I thought you were seducing him."

Dora laughed darkly shaking her head.

"No, never no, it is fun some times fun to play with them first get the blood moving..."

She stopped talking as he pressed his lips to hers. She kissed back for a moment then pulled away looking into his eyes.

"Not now, I may hurt you, for the time being go be with Maggie I don't want to hurt you."

Remus hesitated but kissed her again before leaving closing the door behind him.

"Well now, I thought for sure he wouldn't be able to stomach that...he's a keeper Nymphie...Nymph?"

Sirius looked at Dora who growled and threw a pillow at him.

"No I'm mad at you for not telling me he was out there now go away!"

Sirius caught the pillow and tossed it back making her smile and stick her tongue out at him making both laugh, but in the back of her mind Dora was worrying about Remus her thoughts going over scenarios of how she must have looked to him...a monster that he wouldn't admit to seeing out of fear.