Remus's POV

I washed my face, and stared at my reflection. I looked at myself, a werewolf. I sighed and sat down, angry. I had told myself that it would be okay to date Dora, and then, eventually marry her. I always take my wolfsbane potion, and make sure she is safe. But I never thought what would happen if she got pregnant. Now a little unborn baby could inherit my lycanthrope. I feel so ashamed. I had put two innocent people in danger, just because I was being selfish. I didn't stop to think about my actions. I made a whole mess because of it.

I stood up. I felt awful, but I knew I couldn't face Dora. I couldn't pretend to not be worried about our child. I kept endangering her and her family. It would be better if I just left, before I was ridiculed and jeered at, before the knowledge got out about what I did. A werewolf shouldn't marry, and shouldn't have a child. I was pushing it by dating, but I never thought it would get this far.

Later that night, when everyone was asleep, I got up. I threw on my cloak and grabbed my wand. I sighed, looking down at my wife, who was sleeping peaceful. I kissed her forehead goodbye and left.

I had a feeling that Harry would be hiding out at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. I wasn't the only one in thinking that, however. Death Eaters were there, watching for some sign. I had to hide out for three days until I finally decided to Apparate right outside of Number 12.

I tapped on the front door, and the locks unlocked, and I stepped inside. I closed the door behind me and Moody's voice echoed throughout the hall, "Severus Snape?" It asked. Then a dust figure came up,

"It was not I who killed you, Albus," I said, quietly.

"Don't move!" someone shouted. I recognized Harry's voice. The portrait of Mrs. Black opened and started screeching. Two more figures ran in, probably Ron and Hermione.

I raised my hands, "Hold your fire, it's me, Remus!"

"Oh, thank goodness," said Hermione.

Harry was cautious, though. "Show yourself!"

I stepped into the lamplight, still holding my hands high. "I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married to Nymphadora, usually known as Tonks, and I taught you how to produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."

"Oh, all right, but I had to check," said Harry.

I nodded. "Speaking as your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I quite agree that you had to check. Ron, Hermione, you shouldn't be quite so quick to lower your defenses."

We all sat down at a table, and I brought out some butterbeers. I learned where Harry, Ron, and Hermione went after the wedding. I was alarmed to here that the Death Eaters had found them on a muggle street right away. Something was up. I told them what happened at the wedding after they left. I also said how the Ministry is determined to find Harry. We talked about Hogwarts and Severus taking over.

And then we got to the point of me coming to them.

"I'll understand if you can't confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission," I said slowly.

Harry nodded, "He did, and Ron and Hermione are in on it and they're coming with me."

"Can you confide in me what the mission is?" I asked.

Harry looked uncomfortable, "I can't, Remus, I'm sorry. If Dumbledore didn't tell you I don't think I can."

I was disappointed that they rejected me, "I thought you'd say that. But I might still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to."

Harry seemed to be agreeing with me. Hermione, on the other hand, frowned. "But what about Tonks?"

"What about her?" I asked, nonchalantly.

"Well," Hermione said, "you're married! How does she feel about you going away with us?"

"Tonks will be perfectly safe. She'll be at her parents' house," I said, indifferent.

"Remus," Hermione said, "is everything all right…you know…between you and—"

"Everything is fine, thank you," I said sharply, wanting to avoid this conversation. I had to explain myself though. "Tonks is going to have a baby."

Hermione smiled, "Oh, how wonderful!"

Ron grinned, "Excellent!"

Harry smiled, "Congratulations."

I tried to smile, but failed. "So…do you accept my offer? Will three become four? I cannot believe that Dumbledore would have disapproved, he appointed me your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all. And I must tell you that I believe that we are facing magic many of us have never encountered or imagined."

The trio exchanged looks. Harry spoke up, "Just—just to be clear. You want to leave Tonks at her parents' house and come away with us?"

"She'll be perfectly safe there, they'll look after her," I said, ending the issue (at least, for me), "Harry, I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you."

Harry's response came slowly, "Well, I'm not. I'm pretty sure my father would have wanted to know why you aren't sticking with your own kid, actually."

I paled. "You don't understand."

"Explain, then," Harry said defensive.

I swallowed. "I—I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment and I have regretted it very much ever since."

"I see," Harry said, "so you're just going to dump her and the kid and run off with us?"

I sprang up, furious, and overturned a chair. "Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and my unborn child? I should never have married her, I've made her an outcast!" I kicked the overturned chair, "You have only ever seen me amongst the Order, or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the Wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've done? Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage, what parents want their only daughter to marry a werewolf? And the child—the child—" I seized fistfuls of my hair, lost in my nightmares. "My kind don't usually breed! It will be like me, I am convince of it—how can I forgive myself, when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it will be better off, a hundred times so, without a father of whom it must always be ashamed!"

Hermione looked like she was about to cry, "Don't say that—how could any child be ashamed of you?"

"Oh I don't know, Hermione," cut in Harry, "I'd be pretty ashamed of him." That remark startled me, and surprised me. It was like he had hit me. Harry continued, "If the new regime thinks Muggle-borns are bad, what will they do to a half-werewolf whose father's in the Order? My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you reckon he'd tell you to abandon your kid to go on an adventure with us?"

I narrowed my eyes, "How—how day you? This is not about a desire for—for danger or personal glory—how dare you suggest such a—"

Harry was not finished, "I think you're feeling a bit of a daredevil. You fancy stepping into Sirius's shoes—"

Hermione could see my livid face, and she tried to warn Harry with a "Harry, no!" but Harry won't stop. "I'd never have believed this. The man who taught me to fight dementors—a coward."

In a rage, I drew my wand and cast a spell at Harry, making him fly backwards. I left the house, slamming the door behind me. I Disapparated, and found myself in a park.

I stayed there, sitting on a bench, until my anger drained away. I had been a coward, running away from my problem, instead of facing it. Now, I doubt if Dora wanted me back. But I was going to go back, anyway, and be a good dad, like James.