A/N: Mysticah - there's got to be a few decent parents in the HP world... Besides, poor Harry's under enough other stress, I didn't want him to have to deal with that, too!

Chapter 18

I awoke by 6:00 and hearing no sounds from the guys' room, dressed and went downstairs. I put the water on to heat for tea and made some toast. A few minutes later, there was a tap on the door and I looked up to see Cassandra entering. I rushed over and flung my arms around her in greeting. "Welcome home, little sister," she exclaimed. "I saw you get up and hurried over." Our bedroom windows faced each other and we used to spend a lot of time communicating between windows. There was a clothesline on a pulley running between the houses that we used to send messages back and forth for most of my life.

She poured herself some tea and helped herself to some of my toast as she sat down at the table. "Okay, so spill. What's this I hear about you bringing home a werewolf?"

"Mum and Dad told you..."

"Of course they told me!" she interrupted. "Andy, for crying out loud, are you nuts? A werewolf!"

You have to remember that Cassandra is a witch and she's grown up in the wizarding world. On top of that, she's a Healer so she's probably had to treat some werewolf victims, who are facing lives as werewolves themselves. She's not really prejudiced or anything, but she knows enough to be scared of what a werewolf can do.

She was watching me closely, wondering how on earth I could justify this. So I took a deep breath and tried to make her understand, "Cass, before Remus I had never met a werewolf in human form. Like you, I would have been terrified at the thought of coming face to face with one. But knowing from Harry that Remus was okay, I could meet him and see him for what he is - one of the kindest, gentlest men I have ever known. A werewolf is what he becomes; it isn't who Remus Lupin is. Give him a chance, Cassie, and you'll see for yourself. I can say without hesitation that I absolutely adore this man."

Someone coughed in the living room and I looked up to see the man in question, coming toward the kitchen where we sat. I very much suspected he had overheard our conversation; I was well aware that he retained the more acute hearing of the wolf even when in human form. But he greeted us cheerfully and gave no indication he had heard a thing. Even so, when I introduced them, Cassie flushed pink.

"Pleased to meet you," she mumbled at his greeting. "Um, can I get you some tea?"

"That would be lovely," he smiled at her. I got up to make more toast.

"You want breakfast or do you want to wait for the others?" I asked him.

"I can wait," he replied, noting that we were only having toast.

Remus, ever one to put people at ease, said aloud, "So this is your good friend, Cassandra, who we hear so much about." He turned to her, "I understand you're a Healer."

She nodded, "I work at a wizard hospital in New York." She looked grateful that we seemed to be on safer ground conversationally.

"And do you have a specialty?" he inquired.

Before Cass knew what was happening, he had her telling him her life story. He kept her talking right up to the time Harry wandered in around 8:00. Mum and Dad weren't far behind him. I saw Cass give Remus an appraising look and I could tell he had won her over. As I had predicted, all her preconceived notions crumbled when faced with a man so intelligent, informed and completely un-werewolfish as they come.

To my very great pleasure, she and Harry hit it off well also. As far as I was concerned, the summer was a success with all my favorite people liking one another.

xxxxx

Two mornings later, Cass showed up early so only the two of us had yet made it to the kitchen, the usual gathering spot. Now that she had met Harry, she felt compelled to tease me and launched in immediately. "Well, you know, I just can't see how you fell for this Potter kid. I mean, he's not bad looking, but really!"

"Don't you start! Don't EVEN go there!" I glowered threateningly at her.

With glee she told me, "Oh, come on Andy, what's so great about him? Sure he's defeated Voldemort a few times, but really that was just luck!"

"Cass..." I warned.

But she ignored me and continued, while pouring herself some tea, "True, the green eyes are nice, but you've already admitted to adoring a certain older gentleman. I think you would do much better to chase those dreamy blue eyes and forget all about Mr. Potter. I'm only telling you this as a friend!"

I took a swipe at her but she scooted to the far side of the table, laughing and taunting me more, "I mean that wild, unruly black hair is just awful. Why not turn your attention to Remus with his distinguished salt-and-pepper hair?" She squealed and circled the table more as I tried to reach her. "And that awful, unsightly scar on his forehead!" she exclaimed, carefully sprinting out of my reach.

"Cass, you are so going to pay for this! You leave Harry alone!" I laughed, while trying to look offended and intimidating. As I got near the refrigerator in our little 'kitchen table dance', I reached in and pulled out a bottled water, unscrewing the cap with purposeful intent.

She immediately read my meaning, "Don't you dare throw that at me! You know I'm only telling you these things because I love and care about you. Wouldn't you prefer someone mature and experienced over a callow youth?" She shrieked as the cold water clipped her. "Oh, you asked for it, little girl!" she said, dashing to the sink for ammunition of her own.

I got a few good licks in while she was filling a glass with water, but then she fired back, catching me right in the face with the entire glassful. I let out a shriek, returning fire as best I could.

Suddenly, Moony dashed into the kitchen, his wand drawn. Apparently our shrieks had been louder than we intended, and hearing them from a distance it had sounded as if someone was in trouble. Once he saw the situation, he stopped and watched us ruefully. "My mistake. I heard a scream and thought someone needed help."

"Don't be silly, Remus! You can't save anyone from the Big Bad Wolf - you ARE the Big Bad Wolf," Cassandra laughed, not taking her eyes off me and barely managing to keep the table between us.

"Oh yes, of course," he said quietly and left the room.

I promptly stopped our game and watched him leave, my smile fading, while Cass looked mortified. I followed in the direction Moony had gone and found him sitting on the living room couch, pretending to read the Muggle newspaper. For a moment, I just stood in the doorway staring at him, and then I walked up behind him, reached over the couch back and wrapped my arms around him. "Oh, Moony, I'm so sorry if we hurt your feelings," I whispered.

With a slight hesitation, he reached up and patted my arm, "Don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong, just my silly..." He didn't finish the thought and I climbed over the couch back to sit beside him, reaching over to pull him close.

"It was really only meant to be a joke." I assured him. "Cass would never intentionally be mean to anyone. It's breaking her heart to think she hurt or offended you."

He shuddered and a tear slipped down his cheek. "Tell her it's all right. It just hit me wrong; it reminded me of what I am and what I'm not..."

"No! I won't accept that. I said it to her and I'll say it to you - a werewolf isn't who you are, it's what you become. You are a wise, compassionate, kind and gentle human being, NOT a creature! And I refuse to tolerate anyone saying differently, even you!"

He smiled weakly and put his arm around me, taking my hand in his free one. "One thing is certain, Deandra. No one has ever made me feel so loved as you do." We sat in silence for a minute and then I giggled.

He looked down at me questioningly and I explained, "Pretty ironic, actually."

"What is?"

"That whole thing in the kitchen - Cass was teasing me about Harry and pretending to try and convince me I would do better falling for you and dumping Harry. And here I sit snuggled up on the couch with you, holding hands!"

He laughed appreciatively and when I looked into his face, I was pleased to see the twinkle back in his eyes. Harry wandered sleepily into the room just then and looked at the two of us. A moment later he plunked down beside me on the couch and grumped, "So, Moony, trying to steal my girl?"

Moony laughed, "Harry, if I were twenty years younger and thought I stood ANY chance of getting her away from you, I think I'd certainly have to give it a go!" We all laughed comfortably and then I led the way to the kitchen for breakfast. Cass was not to be found and Moony asked about it.

"She's probably embarrassed and gone home," I told him. "I'll go talk to her."

"No, perhaps I should. She lives next door, right?" He pointed in the direction of one of the houses adjacent to ours. When I nodded, he headed out the back door as I explained to Harry what had happened. A short time later, he returned with Cass. I could tell she had been crying, but he had managed to put a smile back on her face with whatever he had said. She told me later that she had tried to apologize, but that he insisted it wasn't anything she had done - he told her the Big Bad Wolf was just overly sensitive sometimes.