Alone.

One Less Testicle.

The rest of the week seemed uneventful to Cassie. She got acquainted with all her teachers, got used to divination on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and hung out with Remus and Sirius.

One week passed, then another, and another.

It felt like school was passing all too quickly.

Suddenly, it was the night before Halloween, and the Halloween ball was tomorrow night.

"What are you going as? For the Halloween ball?" Cassie asked Remus as she laid on his bed in the Gryffindor boys dormitory. The room was empty except for Cassie on the bed, and Remus on the floor, books spread all around him.

Cassie had somewhat come out of her shell in the few weeks they'd been at Hogwarts, but only to Remus and Sirius. James had been leaving Cassie alone, but he always seemed to be near her or looking at her.

"I'm um.. not.. going." Remus said nervously, not making eye contact with Cassie. "I'm not feeling too well."

Cassie raised her head and looked at Remus, "Oh."

"What about you, what are you going as Cass?"

"I'm also not going. Parties are lame excuses for people to get drunk and get pregnant."

Remus chuckled, "Fair point."

Cassie sat up and laid on her stomach, her head at the end of the bed so she could easily see Remus and his books.

"Lycanthropy books?" Cassie asked curiously.

"I... have an interest in it."

"Interesting." Cassie studied Remus closely. "Just an.. interest?"

"Yep." Remus said, trying to end the conversation, but Cassie had her suspicions.

"The full moons tomorrow night." Cassie stated, still closely studying Remus.

"Yep." He said again.

"Isn't it interesting how no one we know is a werewolf?" Cassie asked, causing Remus to tense, "I mean, with the high population at Hogwarts, it's only statistically possible that at least one person has to be a werewolf."

"Yep. Thats.. really interesting." Remus coughed nervously.

"I never asked, what are those scars on your face from?" Cassie asked, although it sounded like she already knew the answer. "And, isn't it interesting how you always get really sick once a month? Not around the same times, but.. around the same time as the full moons."

Remus coughed even more, standing up and going into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. He came out a few minutes later, no longer coughing.

"I- yes. That's.. very interesting."

"It's not a bad thing." Cassie said quietly.

"What isn't?" Remus asked, playing dumb. He hoped Cassie thought he was something else. Like a unicorn.

"Being a werewolf."

That was it. Cassie knew. How long had she known? Why hadn't she said anything sooner?

"My uncles a werewolf." Cassie said softly, still staring at Remus intently.

Remus looked over at Cassie, "He is?"

"Yeah. And he's a really nice person."

"Oh." Remus said quietly. Tension hung in the air, so thick it was like soup. "How long have you known?" He whispered.

Cassie shrugged, "I wasn't at all suspicious last month, but when it happened again, near the full moon, I had some thoughts. Now, on the third month, I kinda know. Besides, I did some research and you match up with symptoms when the full moon comes."