Olivia managed to get into the passage, pausing outside the door.

The werewolf smelled the human and snarled, whirling towards the door.

Cat smelled the human as well, and recognized the scent as Olivia. She shot out from her corner, back into the entrance to try to turn her cousin around.

Sirius smelled the girl as well and jumped in front of the entrance, facing the werewolf and growling a warning. He refused to flinch, even when a black cat came out of bloody nowhere and ran behind him into the passage.

Lupin snarled and snapped at Sirius until James got in the way, bodily forcing Lupin away from the entrance. James managed to jerk his head at Sirius, telling him to go investigate.

"What the hell," Olivia muttered when she heard the snarling. Oh this wasn't going to end well. She took a couple steps back.

Cat changed back as soon as she saw Olive.

"Run," she breathed, pushing her cousin down the passage. "Go, now. Hurry, before it catches you in here."

Sirius waited to make sure James had Remus under control and then headed down the passage to get rid of the intruder.

Olivia frowned. "Before what catches me?" she asked, although she obediently started back down the passageway.

"Werewolf," Cat said, hurrying Olivia along faster. "Hurry, faster."

Olivia sped up at that and didn't bother asking any more questions. She wasted no time in scrambling back up the passage to the base of the Whomping Willow.

Sirius was not far behind them. He recognized the two of them, and made sure they got out of the passage. Once he was sure they were past the tree, he turned around and headed back to the other end to help James keep Remus under control.

Cat got them past the willow, and then turned around.

"Something was following us," she said to her cousin. "I don't see it, though."

"There's nothing out here but us and the tree," Olivia said, looking around carefully. "Come on, we better go back inside."

"Yeah, come on, it's past curfew," Cat said, pulling Olivia along. "And we do not want to be caught out here if that beast gets out."

"Right." Olivia hurried back up to the castle. "What's a werewolf even doing on the grounds, anyway?" she asked in a whisper as they approached.

"I don't know," Cat replied as she snuck them inside through a side passage. She knew of a lot of them leading in and out of the castle. "But I kind of want to find out who it is."

"Just be careful," Olivia murmured. "Werewolves are dangerous, and just because you're immune as a cat doesn't mean it still can't eat you."

"I'll be careful," Cat promised. "It's still better for me to investigate than for you to." She shook her head. "But not tonight. It's late, and my nerves are shot, and I just want to go crawl into my bed and listen to the sound of the lake for a while."

"Good plan," Olivia agreed. "Go to bed, try to rest. I'll stay in my dorm tonight, my nerves need the rest too."

Cat nodded and hugged her cousin, and then headed off in the direction of the Slytherin dorms.

She dragged herself to the great hall the next morning for breakfast, still half-asleep even as she sat down and waited for her tea.

Olivia was more awake, but she had also had about four cups of tea by the time Cat got up to the Great Hall. A couple other Hufflepuffs in her year were looking at her, contemplating cutting her off.

Cat didn't even bother to invade the Hufflepuff table. Instead, she just waited until a pot of double-strong tea went by and poured herself a cup. Once she was more awake, she looked around the Great Hall absently.

James was half-slumped against Sirius. They'd been up most of the night with Remus, who was fortunately finally passed out.

"Hey, budge up, mate," Sirius said, nudging James. "Don't forget, Quidditch match this afternoon, against Slytherin. Gotta be awake for it, mate, don't want those snakes winning the cup."

"'Course they won't," James yawned, grabbing for some tea. "I'll be awake by then."

"Better be," Sirius said.

Later that day, Sirius found himself sitting in Herbology, bored. James was skipping, to grab a nap before the game that afternoon, and Remus was still sleeping off the moon, so Sirius was by himself for once.

Olivia, of course, noticed that, and immediately headed to his table when it was time to work. She had circles under her eyes from the late night.

"You look like you could use a hand here."

Siruis paused at that, and then shrugged. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes, but didn't say anything about them.

"Sure," he said. "All by my lonesome today, anyways."

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, looks like. I know where Potter's gotten to, but what about Lupin?" Because those three were nigh on inseparable.