"Olive knows there IS a werewolf," Cat warned. "I just haven't told her that I figured out who it is. I don't know if she found out on her own somehow."

"That's fair," Remus agreed. "If she figures it out on her own, so be it." He was really rather resigned to it at this point.

"If you want, I can tell her so she doesn't jump to any conclusions," Cat offered cautiously. "So that she doesn't try to immediately run to the headmaster or anything. I don't think she would anyways, but I can talk to her for you if you like."

"We'll see how things go with her and Sirius first," Remus decided after a moment. "Unless she is also an Animagus that I don't know about, I don't think I have much to worry about from her."

"She's not," Cat replied. "She tried, but she just doesn't have the aptitude for it." She nodded. "She and Black have their date in a few days so we'll see then. I understand now why he pushed it off until after the moon." She looked at him. "He really does seem to be a good friend. I suppose I'm not as apprehensive about him dating Olive now."

"High praise, from you," Remus agreed, gently teasing. "Sirius is many things, and he has his flaws. But once he's attached to someone, he's very hard to get rid of."

"Someone has to look after her," Cat replied. "Nobody messes with my Hufflepuff." She grinned a bit. "You'd be surprised at how many Slytherins have Hufflepuff friends."

"Oh I've seen," Remus agreed. "Your two Houses get along very well. And everyone now knows not to mess with Olivia."

"Good, that means I've done my job," Cat replied with a self-satisfied grin.

Remus snorted quietly but didn't disagree. Instead he changed the topic back to school.

"So, what do we need to do tonight for these potions?"

Cat checked her timeline and list.

"I need to go out tonight around midnight and collect some lakeweed," she said. "You?"

"I have a couple ingredients that should be arriving soon," Remus murmured, looking at his own list. "Closer to time, I have an ingredient that needs to be picked on the full moon, which I can bully one of them into doing for me."

"I can do it," Cat offered. "I mean, it's half of my project grade anyways to make sure your potion comes out right. And if I do it, Potter and Black don't need to change their routine."

Remus blinked. He wasn't used to having other people to help him. "I... suppose you could," he agreed cautiously. "It won't be for a few months yet, but. That will work too."

"Just let me know," Cat replied. "I can gather whatever it is, and maybe even have enough time to slip past the tree as well." She grinned a bit.

Remus sighed at that. "I would prefer if you didn't," he told her. "I worry enough about the other two as it is."

"I can take care of myself around them," Cat replied primly. "And I won't start anything."

"That's not what worries me," Remus said dryly. "I know you'll be fine around the two of them. I'm worried about you around me." He made a face.

"Don't worry about me," Cat replied. "I'm a cat. You wouldn't be able to get me if anything happened. And I'm an animagus, I'm immune to the bite."

"Even so." Remus shook his head a bit. "Just... if you come around on the full moon, promise me you'll be careful. Please."

Cat studied him for a moment.

"Fine," she said. "I'll be careful if I show up on a moon."

Remus nodded. That was about as good as he could expect. "Thank you," he muttered.

A few days later, Sirius was waiting in the main hall for Olivia to show up.

Olivia came out after breakfast, dressed warmly enough for the day and ready to go. She spotted Sirius and smiled, heading over to him.

"Hey."

"Hey," Sirius replied, grinning. "Ready to go?"