New Chapter! Hope you enjoy. Disclaimer:I only have the right to anything and anyone that is not recognizable. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Twilight had fallen, painting the sky hues of pink and red. Soon the moon would rise and another long night would begin.

From the fortified cell Remus could not see the sky or the way the failing light painted the winter evening. All he could see was the wall of the cell. But he could feel the moons pull, the ever-creeping sensation that told him he would soon be changing.

It started with a tug in his stomach, an ache in the joints of his bones and a steady pressure building behind his eyes. Having felt these sensations for as far back as he could remember he ignored them. One would say that he was used to them, but he would disagree. To be used to the changes meant that he embraced what was happening and that was something he could never do.

Leaning against the cell wall Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The air of the cell was stale and as his senses began to border on wolfish he could smell old blood. His blood. How many times in the past sixteen years had someone opened the magically sealed door in the morning only to find that he had again turned on himself? Tomorrow it would be Sirius or Peter. He wasn't sure. Part of him hoped it would be Sirius; Peter never knew just how to handle the situation and he always had a look in his eyes as if he were afraid of Remus and what he could still be capable of doing. Sirius and James never acted like anything was different, simply helped him up, fixed him the best they could if he was injured and dragged him to his bed. Usually one of them locked him the room as well, if they weren't taking a rare chance to change with him.

Tonight though, for the first time, Dora had been the one to take his cloths as he handed them around the door and to cast the spell that would keep the door closed until the moon went down. If she had been horrified at how small the cell was or at the damage he had inflicted to it she had not shown it. By now she was probably at her parents eating dinner and fielding one hundred questions.

That morning, as they had discussed the night before, they had visited Ted and Andromeda and told them what Remus was. Despite his convictions Remus had felt a strong fear of what their reaction would be. Dora had assured him repeatedly that no matter what her parents thought or said that she didn't care. But he had known she was worried as well. Because it did matter if he was going to give her what she wanted. He would never take her away from her family; it would hurt her too much no matter what she said.

Earlier that day:

Remus and Tonks stood outside of her parents' house for about five minutes before she squeezed his hand in her small cold one and mounted the steps to knock on the door. Normally she would have just gone in but today something compelled her to knock. As if she was already mentally preparing herself for separation from her family. For she had no doubt who she would choose if it came down to it. She had always scoffed when she heard girls in the common room going on about how they would "Just die" without their boyfriend. Of course those had only been the boyfriends of the week, so maybe she had reason to scoff, but now she could see that this could be true. When faced with loosing Remus she knew she couldn't do it. She wouldn't die, that was ridiculous, but something in her would be gone and she wouldn't be the same.

"Are we just going to stand here love, or were you planning on knocking today?" Remus asked gently from behind her. She didn't know how he could seem so calm. It was his secret that they were about to tell. But still she stood there. Remus sighed and reached around her grasped the knocker and rapped the door quickly. After a moment they heard the locks clicking and then the door swung open to reveal Ted.

"Dora, Remus." He stood back so they could come in and closed the door against the winter chill. "Dromeda," he called, "It's Dora and Remus." He smiled and then noticed that his daughter was worrying frown lines into her forehead and Remus didn't look much better. "Something wrong kid?" he asked as he ushered them into the living room and Andromeda entered. "You're looking a little green there. Both of you."

Immediately Tonks glanced a look at her hair, but it wasn't flashing showing her worry. At least that's one thing to be thankful for she told herself as she perched on the edge of the love seat and Remus sat beside her.

"We weren't expecting you until this evening darling." Andromeda said as she sat beside her husband. "Have you eaten yet? We just finished breakfast but I can whip something up for you two if you'd like."

Remus and Tonks exchanged a look and both shook their heads.

"No thank you Andromeda." Remus said politely. "We've just left James and Lily's and Lily never lets anyone leave without making sure they are sufficiently fed."

Andromeda smiled slightly in approval and waited for them to voice why they were there so early after clearly not spending more then a few moments at their respective homes. Like her husband she noticed that they both looked worried.

"How are you feeling today?" she asked Remus when neither of them seemed inclined to begin. Again Remus and Tonks exchanged a look, one that was not missed by Ted and Andromeda. Finally Tonks took a breath, entwined her clammy fingers through Remus' and looked at her parents.

"Actually Mum, Dad that's what we wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?" Ted settled back into his seat sensing there was a bit of a story ahead.

"You've contracted a disease haven't you?" Andromeda asked worriedly. There were diseases that even wizard medicine couldn't cure.

Remus shook his head. "Not entirely. That is yes, but not one that is contagious, at least not as I am now."

Andromeda and Ted exchanged a look of their own. "Have you been to St. Mungos ?" Ted asked, "Seen if they can help you?"

It was Tonks who answered this time and both her parents noted that there was a slight hint of bitterness and not a little sadness in her tone. "They can't help. There is no cure, although some wizards are researching a way to help." Remus rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and looked at Ted and Andromeda who both looked confused.

"We hadn't wanted to just come right out with it, but I can see that there is no other way." He seemed to be stealing himself, his face and eyes not betraying any emotion he might be feeling.

"What Dora and I are trying to tell you, and failing miserably at, is that I have lycanthropcy."

Silence filled the room. Tonks didn't know where to look. She was afraid of what she might see if she looked at her parents but knew that she had to if only for her own peace of mind. Even if she didn't like what their reaction was. Slowly she gauged their reactions.

Ted looked as if he was thinking, his usual jovial air replaced by one of contemplativeness. Andromeda was staring into her tea and gave nothing away. She was always the harder to read.

Finally Ted cleared his throat. "You're a werewolf then." It wasn't a question, but Remus nodded anyway. Ted rubbed a hand through his hair and sighed. He seemed to be about to say something more, but Andromeda spoke first.

"How long?"

"How long has he been, or how long have I known?" Tonks asked knowing that it could be a double-ended question. Truth be told the only parent's reaction she was really worried about was her mothers. Ted had been raised as a muggle and so the stigma that followed werewolves wouldn't be as much of an issue in his eyes. He would be more worried about safety she knew. But Andromeda was a Black, raised to see werewolves as Dark creatures and not for the people they really were. Some prejudices no matter how hard you tried to dispel them didn't just go away.

"Both I suppose." She said taking a sip of tea, still not giving anything away.

"I was bitten when I was five." Remus said without preamble. "By Fenrir Greyback. My father had…offended him. And so he came after me in revenge."

Something in Andromeda's eye softened but still she gave no sign to her thoughts.

"As to how long I've known," Tonks said slowly, "I figured it out quite a few years ago."

Ted and Andromeda exchanged a look. Ted's said that he was willing to accept this, but he could see from Andromeda's that she was surprised that Dora had known for so long and never said anything.

Ted turned away and smiled at his daughter and her boyfriend, glad to see some relief go through them at his reaction. "Well I can't say that it doesn't bother me. And not because I don't think that a werewolf is good enough for my Dora. As far as I'm concerned you're a good person Remus. What concerns me is safety and the stigma somewhat. If you and Dora continue down the path Dromeda and I hope you will she could be in danger just by being with you. Also our society isn't very accepting of Werewolves. That could reflect back on Dora."

Remus nodded, he knew that this would come up.

"Remus has a room he locks himself in every full moon. It' magically sealed and can only be opened once the moon is well down and the sun is up. And like I said, they are doing research and testing for a potion that will help Werewolves retain awareness during the full moon." She glanced at Remus and he smiled slightly reassuringly. Seeing he wanted her to explain the other part of Ted's statement she pushed forward.

"As to the stigma, I'm well aware of the prejudice that is out there, and I know that if people found out that I was in a relationship with a werewolf it could reflect back on me. But I don't care. I know it won't be easy, but I refuse to give in." she smiled at Remus. "Remus has been trying to convince me for years that I'm better off without him, it's why we broke up. But ultimately it's my decision if I want to risk it. And I do. I know Remus would never hurt me or anyone else. He's too careful."

Ted seemed appeased, at least to the fact that Nymphadora knew what she was getting into and had made that decision knowing for some time. Andromeda on the other hand still seemed to be processing.

"Mum?" she asked hesitatingly.

Andromeda looked up at her daughter and saw the pleading in her eyes. The need for her to understand to accept so that she could be happy. But could she accept this? Despite how hard she tried to be different from her family some of the old mentality remained. Werewolves were dark creatures. Malicious and vile with only the intent to cause harm. Yet did Remus really fit the picture that had been painted for her growing up? She had always thought he was a good young man, always liked him. And he balanced Nymphadora perfectly. She chanced a glance at Remus and saw in his eyes that he would understand if she didn't accept what he was, that even if it would hurt him and by extension Dora, he wouldn't hold it against her. Suddenly Andromeda found herself thinking of the morning when he had broken down and cried at her table. It had been raw and very human. She had seen vulnerability and it had made her heart ache. She knew then what her answer was.

"You were really bitten when you were five?"

She watched as Dora let out a sigh of relief and Remus seemed to relax as well.

"Yes."

She shook her head sadly. "Your poor mother, I can't imagine…I trust you Remus. I know that you would never hurt Dora, at least not intentionally. If My husband and daughter can accept you then so can I."

Andromeda was rewarded with a bright smile from her daughter. She returned it, trying not to show the worry she still felt. Yes, she would accept what Remus was; accept that Dora understood what she had gotten herself into. But she would always worry. Because no matter how careful they were, there could always be that one time when they weren't. And one second was all it could take.

That night:

Remus could feel patches of skin behind his knees and on his elbows begin to burn. The change was fast approaching; he had only a few minutes. Summoning his last bit of strength he cast a wandless spell to make sure that Dora had locked the room properly. Then he moved away from the wall. He could feel the burning sensation in his stomach now, and his breath began to come in quick gasps. Then his skin began to stretch as his bones and joints popped realigning them selves. It was agony and it was all he can do not to cry out. Not that anyone would here him. Fur began to sprout on his changing form and his face elongated. As his spine curved he fell to all fours, back arched as the final convulsions racked through him.

Then it was done. And the long night unfolded before him. Raising his head the wolf howled and sniffed. Finding himself again confined in the suffocating room he threw himself against the door in a bone jarring fashion. And so the night went.

"Up you go mate."

Remus felt himself being pulled up ward and struggled to get his feet under him. His head was pounding and his body felt like someone had kicked him repeatedly with hob nailed boots.

Sirius whistled. "That's one hell of a bruise you've got there. Not that I'm checking you out or anything."

Remus found himself laughing softly but even that made his side hurt. The world seemed to pass in a daze and before he knew it Sirius was pushing him into his bed.

"Anything feel like it's broken?" he asked as Remus pulled the covers over himself.

"No. It only hurts when I breathe."

Sirius laughed and shook his hair back. "Get some rest, there's a meeting tonight."

Remus nodded and before he knew it he was out again.