Remus woke up later that afternoon, his body still wracked with coughing and sneezing. The fit shook him, and as his eyes fluttered open, he immediately noticed something different. The bed, which had been crowded earlier, was empty except for him. He blinked in confusion, trying to clear the fogginess from his mind, and sat up slightly, still sniffling.

His heart raced with concern. Where had Dora gone? And Sirius for that matter. Had something happened while he slept? He rubbed at his chest, the weight of worry settling in as he tried to recall if anything had changed since he'd dozed off.

Just as the anxiety began to tighten in his chest, Sirius appeared in the doorway, casually leaning against the frame with a grin. "Oi, don't look so worried, Moony," he said lightly, though there was a warmth in his tone. "Tonks had to go to work. She's fine—don't worry."

Remus blinked, still breathing heavily from his coughing fit. "She… left? Why didn't she say anything?"

Sirius crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Auror business. She didn't want to wake you up. You were dead to the world, mate," he teased, though there was an undercurrent of reassurance in his tone. "Plus, you were snoring like a bloody troll."

Remus huffed, though he felt his muscles begin to relax. "I don't snore," he muttered with mock indignation, rubbing his nose as he stifled another sneeze. "Hh… huh'pTCHH!"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," Sirius replied with a chuckle, handing him a glass of water. "Feeling any better?"

Remus took the glass, grateful for the cool relief on his dry throat, but his nose twitched, and he had to set it down quickly to stifle another sneeze into his handkerchief.

"Hh'gnxxt!"

Sirius winced playfully, his voice filled with exaggerated sympathy. "Well, clearly, you're not ready to run marathons yet."

Remus sniffled, dabbing at his nose with a groan. "No, not quite," he rasped. "I just hope Dora doesn't relapse. She was just getting better."

"She'll be fine," Sirius reassured him with a grin. "She's tougher than she looks, and she knows how to handle herself. Besides, it's not her first cold, and definitely not her first time working through one."

Remus nodded weakly, finally settling back into the pillows, the weight of his worry easing with Sirius's words. "Right," he murmured, his voice softer. "I suppose I should just… rest."

"Exactly," Sirius said, giving him a light pat on the arm. "I'll be here to make sure you don't do anything reckless. You've already gotten enough of us sick."

Remus chuckled quietly, finally feeling some of the tension leave his body. Knowing Tonks was handling her Auror duties and that Sirius was still there to watch over him helped ease his mind. He let himself sink further into the blankets, grateful for the company and the care.

As Remus lay back in bed, his mind started drifting, despite the exhaustion that weighed on him. His thoughts quickly turned to Dora, as they had so often lately. He couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, what they were doing. She was vibrant, young—thirteen years younger than him, in fact. And him? He was a werewolf, a constant danger to those around him, especially someone as reckless as her.

He sighed heavily, the weight of his worries pressing down on his chest as he stared up at the ceiling. "What am I even doing, Sirius?" he muttered, barely above a whisper, though he knew Sirius would hear him. "She's... young, and I'm… me. A werewolf. She doesn't deserve to be dragged into that."

Sirius, sitting beside him, rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, Merlin's beard, here we go," he muttered with exasperation, leaning forward. "You're an idiot, Moony."

Remus blinked, taken aback by the bluntness. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Sirius replied, his eyes narrowing. "You're an idiot. Tonks isn't some fragile little thing you're going to break. And she certainly doesn't care about the age gap or the fact that you're a werewolf. If she did, do you think she'd be here, sneezing her head off next to you? You think she doesn't know what she's getting into?"

Remus opened his mouth to respond but found himself unable to argue. Sirius had a point.

"Remus, she's smart, she's tough, and most importantly—she's choosing to be here," Sirius continued, his voice softening slightly. "She knows exactly what she's doing. You're not dragging her into anything. She wants to be with you."

Remus sighed, rubbing his forehead. "But I don't—"

"You're thinking too much," Sirius interrupted, leaning back in his chair. "I get it, you've got this whole 'self-sacrificing noble wolf' thing going on, but it's rubbish. Stop worrying about all the reasons you think it won't work, and start focusing on the fact that maybe she just wants to be with you."

Remus didn't respond immediately, the truth in Sirius's words settling heavily in his mind. He had been worrying, overthinking everything, as usual.

"Now, stop being an idiot," Sirius added with a grin. "Tonks is a grown woman, she knows what she's doing, and if you ask me, you're bloody lucky to have her."

Remus couldn't help but smile faintly. "I suppose I am," he murmured, still feeling the weight of his doubts but also the warmth of Sirius's words.

"Exactly," Sirius said with a nod. "So quit worrying and focus on getting better, alright?"

Remus chuckled weakly, though his heart felt lighter. "Alright, alright."

And for the first time in a while, Remus allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, Sirius was right.


By the time Tonks returned the next day, Remus was practically free of his cold. He sat in the parlour, a book in hand, finally dressed properly for the first time since the ordeal had started. His hair was neatly combed, and the stuffiness in his nose was gone, leaving only the faintest trace of lingering fatigue.

When the door creaked open, he glanced up to see Tonks standing there with a wide grin on her face.

"Wotcher, Remus," she greeted, clearly pleased to see him up and about.

Remus returned her smile, closing the book and setting it aside. "Hello, Dora," he replied, his voice clear now, though still carrying a soft rasp. "Good to see you back. And, as you can see, I'm no longer a complete mess."

Tonks chuckled, stepping into the room. "I'll say! Finally seeing you dressed and not looking like death warmed over is a nice change."

Remus smirked. "I've been told it's an improvement."

Tonks chuckled softly as she sat down next to Remus, her hand coming to rest gently on his knee. The warmth of her touch lingered, and for a brief moment, they simply sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying the rare stillness in Grimmauld Place. But something in the air between them had shifted since their last interaction, and Tonks knew it was time to address it.

She glanced at him, her expression softening. "Remus," she began, her voice low but steady. "I think we need to talk. Properly, this time."

Remus looked at her, sensing the seriousness behind her words. He nodded slowly, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "About…?"

Tonks took a breath, her hand giving his knee a light, reassuring squeeze. "About us. That kiss wasn't just a one-off thing for me," she admitted, her eyes meeting his directly. "I'm in this for the long haul, Remus. I know what it means, and I'm not going anywhere."

Remus's heart skipped a beat at her words, the weight of what she was saying sinking in. He had spent so much time worrying about their differences—his condition, their age gap, all the reasons why he felt he shouldn't let her get close. But here she was, clear-eyed and determined, telling him that none of that mattered to her.

"Dora…" he began, his voice soft, uncertain how to respond.

She smiled, her thumb tracing small circles on his knee. "I know you've got your worries, Remus. But I'm not scared of them. I've thought about this, and I've chosen you. Werewolf or not. Age difference or not. I want to be with you, and I want you to know that I'm here for good. No running away, no second-guessing."

Remus swallowed thickly, feeling the depth of her words hit him squarely. He'd never imagined someone could see past all the reasons he had been sure were insurmountable, let alone willingly step into his complicated life. But here was Tonks, refusing to let him push her away.

He exhaled, his voice quieter now. "I… I don't deserve you. But if you're really sure about this…"

"I'm sure," she interrupted softly, her hand still resting warmly on his knee. "More sure than I've ever been."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Remus felt a sense of relief wash over him—a sense of hope. He reached over, his hand covering hers, and gave her a small but heartfelt smile. "Then I'll do my best to not let you down."

Tonks grinned back at him, the tension between them finally breaking, replaced with something much warmer, much steadier. "That's all I ask."

And just like that, the path ahead of them felt a little less daunting, a little more certain.

Tonks leaned in a little closer, a playful glint in her eyes as she asked, "So, do you want to do something the day after tomorrow? Assuming you're feeling up to it, of course. I'm not on shift that day."

Remus immediately cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Actually, the day after tomorrow is the full moon."

Her face fell for a moment as she realised her mistake. "Oh, I'm sorry, Remus. I should've known," she said quickly, feeling a bit foolish. "I'll memorise the moon calendar, I promise."

Remus chuckled softly at her eagerness, his tension easing slightly. "It's alright. Most people forget." He could see how much she was trying, and it warmed him to know she cared enough to want to learn.

Tonks, ever persistent, continued, "Do you want me to come by before or after? I know you're not going to let me stay during…" She trailed off, knowing full well that even with Wolfsbane Potion, Remus would never allow her to be there for the transformation itself. As a Metamorphmagus, becoming an Animagus wasn't possible for her, so she couldn't even join him in that way.

Remus sighed, leaning back slightly. "You don't need to worry about that. I should get back to the packs anyway," he said quietly, trying to downplay the significance.

"Don't be an idiot, Remus," Tonks interrupted, her voice firm but affectionate. "You're still recovering. Running off to the packs right now is a waste of time. You know it."

He shuffled uncomfortably, his hand absentmindedly rubbing the back of his neck. "Even then, Sirius will be here. We've got it covered. He'll keep me company in the cellar… you know, Padfoot and all."

Tonks wasn't having it. "I still want to come by afterward. To check on you. Is that alright?"

Remus hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of her concern pressing gently against the walls he'd built up. But, despite his usual reluctance, he found himself nodding. "Alright. You can come by afterward."

Tonks smiled warmly, relieved. "Good. I just want to make sure you're okay."

Remus sighed softly, but there was a quiet sense of comfort in knowing she would be there. Even if he didn't always want to admit it, having Tonks around made things a little easier to bear.


Remus decided that if he wasn't going to head out to the packs this month, he might as well reach out to Snape about the Wolfsbane Potion. He knew Severus prepared a batch every month on Dumbledore's orders, just in case, but Remus often made his decision to use it based on what the Order needed at the time. There was absolutely no chance of making any headway with the packs if he was on it. But it was best to take it now if he was staying, while he was recovering, and minimise any risk to Sirius or himself.

He penned a quick note and sent it off with Sirius's owl, then settled back into his chair with a book, enjoying the rare peace in Grimmauld Place.

It wasn't long before Severus arrived that afternoon, his black robes billowing behind him as he entered. He took one look at Remus, eyeing his still slightly chapped nose, and immediately launched into a sneering tone.

"Please tell me you weren't foolish enough to take any potions for that cold, Lupin," he drawled, eyebrow raising.

Remus shook his head. "No, just Muggle medicine. You know, the usual—wizarding cold potions tend to make me throw up… because of the aconite content."

Snape gave a curt nod, his expression one of mild approval. "Good," he muttered. Wolfsbane Potion had aconite in it as well, but the other ingredients tempered the poisonous effects. Had Remus consumed any aconite in the week leading up to the full moon, combined with the Wolfsbane Potion, it could have made the levels in his bloodstream toxic.

"I'll be back tomorrow and the day after with your doses," Snape said, his tone as curt as always.

Remus smiled, though it was a small, tired gesture. "Thank you, Severus. Truly."

Snape merely grunted, waving off the gratitude as he turned to leave, his robes billowing dramatically as usual.

Just as Snape disappeared through the door, Sirius appeared from upstairs, his expression curious and hopeful.

"Was that Snivelly?" he asked, though there was a faint note of relief in his voice. "Does that mean you're staying?"

Remus raised an eyebrow at him, sensing more behind the question than just casual interest. "Yes, it does," he replied, his tone soft. "Why do you ask?"

Sirius's shoulders relaxed slightly, though he tried to keep his usual casual front. "Because that means I don't have to be in this damned house alone," he admitted with a grin, "and it also means you'll be safe for the full moon. I wouldn't mind both of those things."

Remus couldn't help but smile at Sirius's admission, feeling a sense of comfort in knowing he wasn't the only one relieved. "Well then, you're stuck with me for a bit longer," he said warmly.

Sirius grinned wider, clearly pleased with the arrangement. "Good. Now, what do you say to some tea?"

"Sure. No sugar," Remus reminded, his tone light but firm. He knew all too well the consequences—consuming sugar within four hours before or after taking the Wolfsbane Potion would render it completely ineffective.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill," Sirius waved him off with a playful smirk, though his eyes held an understanding that went deeper than the joke. "I'll make it proper, don't worry."

Remus smiled, watching as Sirius headed toward the kitchen, and though he felt the weight of the upcoming full moon, there was something reassuring in knowing he wouldn't face it alone.


Poisonous or not, the aconite in the Wolfsbane Potion always had one particularly annoying side effect for Remus—it made him itchy. Usually nothing more than a slight nuisance, a subtle prickle over every inch of his skin, but with his nose still sensitive from the tail end of his cold, it had become unbearable in that particular area. The discomfort started in his sinuses and spread, leaving him pawing at his nose all evening, trying desperately to scratch the itch that refused to leave.

He grumbled under his breath, rubbing his nose with his knuckles for what felt like the hundredth time. His skin on his nostrils was practically raw by now, his nose an irritated mess, and yet the itching persisted. It hadn't amounted to any sneezing yet, but Remus was thoroughly uncomfortable, shifting restlessly in his chair.

Sirius, ever observant, noticed Remus's constant fidgeting. "Moony, you alright there?" he asked, his tone a mix of concern and teasing. "You've been at your nose all evening."

Remus sighed, letting out a huff of frustration. "It's the bloody Wolfsbane," he muttered, rubbing his nose again. "It makes everything itch. Especially my nose."

Sirius gave a sympathetic nod, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, you do look a bit… raw," he quipped. "Need me to conjure up some anti-itch cream or something?"

Remus shot him a look, though he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Just remind me why I take this stuff again?"

"To not maul anyone during the full moon," Sirius replied dryly. "You'll survive, Moony. Maybe."

Remus chuckled softly despite his discomfort, but the itching was relentless. He braced himself for a long evening, hoping it wouldn't get worse before the night was through.


That evening, Remus decided to take a long, warm shower, hoping the steam might soothe the relentless itchiness caused by the Wolfsbane Potion. But it had the opposite effect. The heat and steam only aggravated the sensation, and soon his nose was assaulted by a series of rapid, uncontrollable sneezes.

"Hh'TCHHH! Hh… hh'NGTCHH! Hh… hih'TCHHH!"

It started with a few sharp sneezes, but quickly escalated. The itch grew unbearable, and his body jerked forward with each new sneeze, leaving him increasingly lightheaded.

"Hh… hh'TCHHH! Hh… Hh'TSHHHH! Hh… hih… Hh'ESSHHH!"

The sneezes were relentless. He tried to brace himself, gripping the slick shower wall as the fit continued. Each sneeze felt more forceful than the last, the steam making everything worse.

"Hh… hh'TCHH! Hh… Hh'TSHHH! Hh… hh'tshh… hh'NGTCHH!"

He was beyond counting now, his body sagging under the effort of each sneeze. His breath kept hitching, dragging him into another fit before he could catch even a moment of relief.

"Hh… hih'TCHH! Hh'TCHHH! Hh… hh'nngtshh… hh'tshh… hihh'CHT!"

The sneezes were starting to become softer, more tired, but he couldn't stop. His nose felt raw, his head spinning, and his legs trembled as he leaned against the wall for support.

"Hh… hh'nxgtchh… Hh'tshh… hh'Tchh! Hh… hih… hih'Tchuhh!"

By the time Sirius heard the commotion and rushed into the bathroom, Remus was barely holding himself up. His face flushed from the heat and the sneezing fit, and he swayed dangerously, his body no longer able to fight the relentless itch.

"Alright, that's enough. You're done," Sirius said firmly, stepping into the bathroom without a second thought. He moved quickly, shutting off the tap and helping Remus out of the shower, water still dripping from his body.

"Hh'tshhh… hihh'TCHHH!" Remus couldn't stop sneezing, even as Sirius cast a quick drying charm, efficiently drying him off before guiding him into his pyjamas.

"Hh… h'tsh… Hh'TSHH! Hh… hh'tshhh!"

Sirius remained calm, helping him slip into his clothes as Remus continued with exhausted, muffled sneezes, each one wearing him down further.

"Honestly, Moony, I leave you alone for five minutes and this is what happens?" Sirius teased gently, though his concern was clear.

"Hh… hh… Hh'TCHH! Hh… hihh'TCHUHH!"

Remus barely managed to shoot him an apologetic look through the tired sneezes, his voice rough and congested. "I… hh'TCHHH… didn't expect… hh'tshhh… the steam to make it worse," he muttered between sneezes, utterly drained.

Sirius sighed, guiding him to sit on the bed as the fit finally began to subside. "Well, now we know. No more steamy showers for you before a full moon."

Remus nodded weakly, sniffling and trying to catch his breath, grateful for Sirius's steady presence, even if it meant enduring a little teasing.

Sirius carefully helped Remus to bed, guiding him under the covers and then slipping in beside him. Remus, still sniffling and sneezing, was too exhausted to protest and instinctively nestled against Sirius, seeking warmth and comfort.

"Hh… hh'tshhh… h'frRSCHgh!" Another sneeze, wetter this time, muffled into Sirius's chest as Remus leaned into him, his breath hitching slightly as he tried to regain control.

Sirius didn't care one bit, not about the sneezes or the congestion. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Remus, pulling him closer and running his fingers gently through his damp hair. His other hand rubbed soothing circles into Remus's temple, a grounding, comforting motion as Remus struggled to breathe through the lingering congestion.

"Hh… Hih'kKTSHh!" Another sneeze, leaving Remus sniffling as he pressed his face more into Sirius's chest, his body sagging with exhaustion.

"It's alright," Sirius murmured, his voice low and soft. "Just breathe, Moony. I've got you."

The steady rhythm of Sirius's touch, the warmth of his body—it all helped Remus relax, even as his body continued to react to the aftermath of the Wolfsbane Potion. He felt his eyes droop, despite the discomfort, the soothing presence of Sirius lulling him into a sense of security he hadn't realised he needed.

And though the sneezes didn't fully stop, they came less frequently now, with Sirius still holding him close, never once showing anything but care for his friend.

Eventually, the combination of exhaustion and Sirius's soothing touch took over, and Remus drifted off, his body finally giving in to much-needed rest. His breathing became shallow, the stuffiness in his nose too much for him to breathe through it properly. He resorted to breathing through his mouth, soft and uneven, as his nose remained completely blocked up.

Sirius watched him for a moment, his arm still wrapped protectively around Remus, running his fingers through his hair now and then. Even though Remus was clearly struggling with the congestion, he seemed to find some peace in sleep, his body relaxed against Sirius's.

Sirius sighed softly, feeling the weight of his friend resting against him. "Sleep well, Moony," he whispered, his hand still rubbing small circles into Remus's temple, keeping the quiet, soothing rhythm until sleep claimed him too.