"There's no guaranteed way to keep her from talking," Remus pointed out. "There's nothing to be done about that."

"I still don't like it," Sirius grumbled. "And I don't know how you're so calm about it, you're the one most threatened by all this."

"Well, it's not like I was going to keep my secret forever, was I?" Remus asked, quiet and resigned.

"That was the plan," Sirius pointed out. He made a face. "And she's a cat. An actual cat."

Remus snorted at that. "Yes, she is," he agreed. "That is one thing you can't say about Olivia." He paused for a moment. "Although from what I hear she collects other kinds of creatures."

Sirius snickered.

"Yeah, like that niffler," he said. "I have no idea why she likes the thing so much."

"Haven't the foggiest." Remus shrugged. "Ask her that, see what kind of reaction you get."

Sirius snorted.

"No thanks," he said. "She might hex me for that one."

Remus grinned. "She might," he agreed. "It might be entertaining."

"For you, maybe," Sirius retorted. He stretched a bit. "Bet you anything Cat will show up on the next moon. Want me to chase her out?"

"If you think she's in danger, or will endanger us," Remus said after a moment of deliberation. "Otherwise it's not worth the bother. She would likely just come back."

Sirius didn't like that Remus was leaving an option for her to stay just open like that, but he didn't say anything.

"Alright," he finally responded.

Remus huffed at him. "It's not like she can see anything she doesn't already know," he pointed out reasonably. "And if she's determined, she'll find a way in whether we let her or not. At least this way I know you'll be keeping an eye on her."

"Damn right I will be," Sirius said. "She's a threat, and she will be as long as she can hold this over us all."

Remus smiled rather wryly but didn't protest. After all, he had days he was still not convinced he should be in school. But he didn't say anything.

Sirius knew that look, and gave Remus one of his own.

"Don't even," he said. "You belong here as much as anybody."

Remus just shook his head a bit, unwilling to argue the point.

"Regardless, no one's caused trouble yet and I'd rather keep it that way."

Sirius snorted.

"You mean no one but us," he said, smirking.

Remus sighed. "Indeed." He shook his head a bit. "I've long given up on trying to keep you from causing trouble."

"I don't know who you think you're fooling," Sirius said, grinning. "You're usually right there with us. Usually with the best ideas."

"Nonsense," Remus said calmly. "I always object to your stunts." But his lips were twitching.

Sirius snorted.

"Right," he said disbelievingly. "Anyways I'll keep an eye on things during the next moon. Always do."

Remus nodded, knowing by now there was no talking him out of it. Sirius was too stubborn about that.

The next couple of weeks passed pretty uneventfully. All too quickly, the next full moon was imminent. Cat was already planning out her day, making sure she had the time set aside to collect the potions ingredients she would need for the project and still make it to the Whomping Willow. She did want to try to get in and see what was going on with Remus.

Remus was out of classes all day, too anxious to be if much use. As soon as night fell, he went out to the Shrieking Shack to change before Sirius and James could arrive.