One of my favourite chapters. I don't own it.

Remus explains his reasons. Dora listens and replies with reasons of her own.

Remus meandered slowly along the corridor. His wand was out, but he wasn't really paying much attention to where he was walking. He was too deep in thought for that.

Dumbledore was dead. They had been betrayed by one who Remus at least had been sure they could trust. To make it worse, it was almost a year since he'd seen Snape's Patronus. Was he really such a good actor? Or was that form some sort of twisted longing? He'd always been hung up over Lily. Remus sighed. And I thought Dumbledore trusted him! I thought…I gave him the benefit of the doubt for Dumbledore's sake… And he throws that back in our faces tonight.

Remus stopped, finding he was shaking with anger. He took note of his surroundings, trying to calm Moony down. Rather difficult when his true self wanted to be angry also. He realised he was standing in front of a wooden door opposite a tapestry of some fool – whose name he couldn't remember – attempting to teach trolls of all creatures how to dance. There were marks on the floor indicating that he'd been pacing up and down this length of corridor in his anger.

Remus looked at the door again. Hadn't Harry said something once about a secret room on the seventh floor? He'd used it for the DA, if Remus recalled correctly. He reached out and pulled the door open.

The room looked like a cross between the Gryffindor common room and the lounge room at Willowwood. Remus sank heavily onto a lounge and stared across the room to the window opposite. Now, freed of his anger, his thoughts turned to the other 'problem'. Dora.

What am I going to do? He thought. She just won't give up. But I can't risk her safety. I…I love her too much. Remus swallowed. For it was true; for almost a year and a half now, he'd been smitten with Dora. She was clever, brave and funny; she deserved the best in the world. Yet she said she chose him. How? How was that even possible? She had everything to offer, whereas he had nothing.

Quietly the door swung open beside him. Remus turned. Dora stood, framed in the doorway. She stared at him for a few moments, then cautiously walked forwards, seating herself on the other end of the couch.

"Remus…" she began softly. And Remus knew. He had to explain to her.
"Dora," he said hoarsely, "I know I've been a fool, but…please. Listen. Just once. Then you can… I don't know …shoot down my arguments or something."
She smiled wanly. Remus' heart twisted. He was the reason she'd become a mere shell of herself. And now, he realised, he was the only one who could restore her to her former self. The question was, could he do it?

He began.

"I didn't want to hurt you." Remus murmured, "But, selfishly, I didn't want to get hurt."
From her position on the two-seater couch conveniently provided by the Room of Requirement, Dora stared at him. "Because of...of what happened to the others?" she whispered.

Remus nodded. "Most of my life has been characterised by rejection after rejection, in one form or another, because of what I am." He explained in that same soft tone. "And...those who did accept me were lost to me not very long after they did. That's what it felt like anyway."

Dora' eyes widened slightly. Remus continued, "The worst thing was regaining one to lose him again two years later. It felt like I'd been tempting fate or something." he sighed. "I didn't want it to happen again. Whether by death or by…you moving on."

Dora made an indignant noise. Remus waved a hand impatiently, quelling her, and continued. He needed to say this, and he wouldn't be able to if he was interrupted. "So I just...lost it, basically and shut everything – everyone – out. It would be easier that way, I thought." he shook his head. "Dora, I just don't understand what you see in me. You're so…so full of life. I'm just a broken old fool. What…what do you see in me that I don't?"

He turned to stare into her dark eyes. Oh, how he'd missed this...missed her. But he was genuinely puzzled. Dora smiled gently at him. "Remus, I don't know how many times I've said this to you, but I really don't care about your 'furry issue', as someone used to call it." she said, "What I do care about is the you
inside. You talk yourself down too much. Just because many people see you as unworthy, or unclean, doesn't mean I do. I'm not an idiot, for one thing." she sighed. "You have a great sense of humour. You're very compassionate. You're clever, too. And you're so strong in spirit…" her voice trailed away. "I'm not going to leave you… if I can help it. I really do love you, you know."

Remus sat, taken aback by the conviction in her voice. Face it, Moony, a voice that sounded like James said inside his head, she sees the best in you, and loves you for it.
Remus swallowed. She sees only the best of me, as I've tried to hide the worst. If she asked others, they wouldn't be so glowing… But then he paused. Then again, Snape betrayed us, didn't he.

Remus sighed. "I really wish I'd realised your conviction sooner. But also... I held back because of... because of him."
Dora' eyes widened. "Greyback." she murmured. It was not a question. Merlin, she hated that...beast (the only werewolf she would ever, could ever call that; but he deserved it).

Remus nodded. "I'd had experience with him and his packs before this year."
Dora nodded, remembering previous conversations when Sirius was alive. "He was the one who bit you."
"So you remember." Remus sighed. "But that's not all. I did similar work for A-Albus during the first war as I did this year."

Dora blinked. "But why?" she asked.
Remus smiled slightly. "Same reasons both times. He needed a spy and there I was... ready-made." Remus' voice trailed away as he remembered saying that to someone else, not that long ago.
Dora was frowning. "Why you though? It's always you." then her eyes watered unexpectedly. "He had his reasons... I just can't believe he's gone." she whispered.

Remus sighed. "A-Albus was the first person, besides my parents, to treat me like I was... worth it. He gave me a place in his school...on his staff...in his Order. I can't believe it either." His voice cracked.
Dora placed her hand on his shoulder, making their arms touch. He thrilled at the touch, then did the same to her.

He then sighed. "Dora, what I said about Greyback..." she tried to interrupt but he persisted. "He... I... I've been forcing myself to stay away from you because, if I hadn't... He would have hurt you. That's what he does. He targets the people around his 'cubs' — that's what he calls us — so they're in constant danger whenever their...friend...is nearby. I couldn't...couldn't stand losing you like I had the others, so..." he finished.
Dora sighed. "That's the real reason the split between the Marauders happened isn't it? You pulled away from them because of Greyback. Goodness, Remus, I would've thought that experience would've taught you something." she frowned at him. "You're letting him – and the prejudiced idiots – win, you know."

Remus blinked. "Err... Repeat that?"
Dora sighed. "All your life you've had this... presence hanging over you. Controlling what you do. Whether that presence is from Greyback, or from society's idiocies, it's always there. Now, you've got a chance to be free of him yet you don't take it. Isn't... Isn't love supposed to, you know, release you from that a little? I really don't care. We can face this together Remus."

Remus sighed. "Do you really know what you're getting yourself into?" he asked. But he knew it was a pointless question.
Dora sighed. "Yes! I'll go through them, shall I? Okay. Too old? No. Love doesn't factor age, I don't think. Besides, it's only ten years. Too poor? I know you have pride issues on that front, but, I... I want to share with you. Too dangerous? Remus, I haven't seen a man take more precautions than you ever. As for the outcast issue... People already look at me strangely because I'm a Metamorphagus."

She snorted and tugged her hair, which was currently the same colour as his and had been that way all year. "Or I used to be, anyway. My mum is a pureblood Black who looks like her bitch of a sister and my dad's a Muggleborn. Anyone who has a problem with you and me can get stuffed."

Remus gave a shaky sort of laugh. Oh, Dora… "I wish I'd seen this before. But I realised something this year." he whispered, "I can never, as hard as I might try, shut things — like my feelings — out indefinitely...and, even after so many years, being alone does become tiring after a while." he hesitated, then continued, "Especially when you tug at my heart the way you do. Dora, will you help me remember?"

She nodded. Slowly, they leant into the space between them and kissed. After a long moment, they broke apart and Remus smiled. "Look." He took a lock of her hair in his hands and showed it to her. It was her natural colour — blonde and curly. Dora gasped then screwed up her face; to their delight, her hair turned bright, bubblegum pink.

Finally!

This recaps a bit because it was the first scene I thought of, before anything else.

What do you think?