The Marauders led Dawn far away from Remus, but they kept him close enough so that they could still see him.

Remus was sitting down, looking up at the sunset. He was fiddling with a penny in his hand. It was a Muggle use for money that was supposed to be good luck. Remus needed all the luck he could get right now.

Dawn watched Remus with worry. "Is he all right?" she asked.

"Fine. He just wants to show you something. But no matter what, you cannot run after him or make any noise, okay?" Sirius put his hands on her shoulders. "All right?"

Dawn bit her lip and glanced at Remus. "All right."

The moon showed itself and Dawn watched as Remus shed his clothes, and his bones formed into something completely different from a human. She watched him transform into the monster he was.

Dawn bit down in her lip harder to stop herself from screaming out his name. She drew blood, and the Marauders saw that, but they didn't stop her - though, they were worried Remus would be able to smell the blood.

If she couldn't feel the pain, she'd never forgive herself. She thought of the pain that Remus must have been going through. She wanted to go through it herself to understand what it means to be a werewolf. The four watched as Remus howled and ran away at a rapid pace.

Dawn drew in her teeth back into her mouth. "He's a werewolf?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"Yeah. Your boyfriend's a werewolf. Any complaints?" James asked, waiting for her response.

"Only that I can't imagine the pain he's going through. The feeling of his bones... Just, whatever he's going through."

James looked at Sirius and Peter with a smile. His face was saying, 'She's accepted him, boys.'

"Well, we've got to find him, now," commented Sirius as he walked out of the bushes, the three following in his lead.

"Does he ever go back to the same places?" Dawn asked.

Peter shook his head. "Different place every time."

"How long does it usually take you to find him?"

"Most was a day, but that was when he went too deep in the forest that he couldn't find his way back. Least was about two hours. He was pretty close," Sirius replied.

Three hours passed and they still hadn't found him. Dawn's feet were tired and she wanted to sleep, but she needed to know that Remus was unharmed and alive.

"Should we check the lake?" Dawn asked.

"He's never been there before. Good idea, Dawn," Sirius said.

The four walked in silence.

"Oh - hey, I found Moony!" James exclaimed and pointed at Remus, who was standing up. "Oh, Godric, he's actually mooning us. Everyone cover your eyes!"

Dawn didn't hear James's last comment, so she wasted no time and ran over to Remus, hugging him. Remus hugged back and cried into her shoulder. Dawn noticed the bloodstained in his flesh and cried into his chest.

Remus pecked her lips. "I love you," he whispered.

Dawn cried even harder. "I was so scared - the pain you went through."

He shushed her and hugged her tighter.

"Uh - Moony, you want some clothes with that hug?" Sirius asked, extending his hand that was holding a bundle of clothes.

Remus blushed and turned Dawn around, pushing her into James. He caught her and held her shoulders, not allowing her to look at Remus.

"Are you done yet?" Dawn asked.

"Uh - a minute, sweetheart. You went through my trunk and got me my knickers, but you couldn't bring shoes?" he whispered to Sirius.

Sirius shrugged. "I forgot."

"I'm done, Dawn."

James turned Dawn around to face Remus.

"How bad is it?" Dawn asked.

"Another scar to add, sweetheart."

"I've always wondered where they came from," she muttered as she traced her finger along a new scar that lined against his jawline. Remus shivered and wrapped his arms around her waist.

James coughed. "Before things happen, I'm going to go try to serenade Lily again."

"And I want to watch him fail," commented Sirius.

Peter followed the two, choosing to leave the couple alone.

"Does it still hurt?" Dawn asked.

"Bit, but you being here helps."

"I'm glad I can help." She kissed his cheek.

Remus gave her a cheeky grin. "You missed."

"You've been spending too much time with James."