Cat’s eyes widened when she recognized him.

“Black?” she asked. “Fuck my life, it’s you.” Then she narrowed her eyes as some important pieces connected and she glanced back towards the tree. “Potter? No, Lupin?”

Sirius watched her for a moment, eyes narrowed. "You can't tell anyone," he said, in lieu of answering.

“Can’t tell anyone?” Cat repeated. “Are you insane? You’re out here with a werewolf, who is apparently either Potter or Lupin, and you’re apparently an Animagus?” She paused as something occurred to her. “You’re unregistered.”

Sirius bristled. "Doesn't matter," he told her briskly. "Do you know what would happen if people found out he's a werewolf?"

“Tell me who it is,” Cat said, not lowering her wand yet. She wasn’t even sure if she was going to go to the headmaster; somehow, she got the feeling that he already knew, if the passage started on school grounds.

"No." Sirius shook his head, also refused to lower his wand. "I can't."

“Can’t, or won’t?” Cat challenged. Her grip on her wand tightened. If Potter or Lupin were a werewolf— She stopped when she abruptly put the pieces together. Lupin was shy, reclusive, scruffy, and so regularly ill... she put her wand away. “I won’t say anything for now. But don’t think I won’t if I feel it would be best.”

"He's never hurt anyone," Sirius told her quietly, taking his cue from her and lowering his wand. "And he won't, not while we can keep an eye on him."

“He’s a werewolf,” Cat said. “And you’re unregistered.” She gave him one last look, and then shifted back into her animagus form and darted back towards the castle. She needed to think about things.

Sirius watched her go before he shifted back and headed back into the Shrieking Shack. He wasn't at all reassured by her silence.

A couple of days later, Cat met up with Lupin for one of their planned project sessions. She’d had a chance to consider what had happened the night of the full moon, and now she wanted to talk to Lupin in person.

Remus still looked a bit pale but he was in good enough spirits. "Evening," he greeted her quietly.

“Evening,” Cat replied. She glanced at him. “You look a little rough. Everything alright?”

"Everything's fine," Remus assured her. "Just had a rough few days, nothing to worry about."

Cat was quiet for a moment, weighing her words.

“I’d imagine the full moon is always rough,” she commented quietly, watching his reactions carefully.

Remus went very, very still. "Why would you think that?" he asked quietly.

His reaction was everything Cat had been looking for.

“You should really thank Black sometime,” she said. “He’s very protective of you.”

Remus eyed her carefully, evaluating. "I am lucky," he agreed. "Or I have been so far."

Cat nodded a bit.

“So much about Black makes so much more sense knowing he’s a dog,” she said. She looked at him. “And a lot of things about you make more sense now as well.”

That really wasn't helping Remus's peace of mind.

"And how do you know about any of that?" he asked quietly.

Cat hesitated.

“I found the secret passage under the Whomping Willow,” she admitted. “I went in.”

"I don't remember seeing you," Remus said slowly. His memories of the full moons were spotty and blurry, but he would have remembered seeing a person.

“I mean, you did,” Cat hedged. She glanced around, making sure they were alone, and then shifted form into a cat.

Remus blinked once, and that was as much surprise as he showed.

"Well, I didn't see that coming," he admitted mildly.

---------- Post added 10-31-2017 at 11:46 AM ----------

Remus blinked once, and that was as much surprise as he showed.

"Well, I didn't see that coming," he admitted mildly.

“I don’t see why not, considering Potter and Black,” Cat replied when she shifted back. “Though I’m properly registered.”