A/N: This is a short update. I've had this written for months, and I have more written, but I'm making little progress on it so I figured I'd give you something to chew on for a while. It's pretty much a filler, because it was becoming difficult to have Julia disappearing, Teddy wolfing out and Winnie being angry with Teddy at the same time. Progress = difficult.

The next chapter has some character development on Winnie. I'm really into writing original fiction right now -- hence my neglected account here -- but I still like what I'm working on, and won't abandon it. Thanks for your patience, gentle readers. :)

Teddy didn't see much of Winnie and Oliver for a full week. They were forced to work together in classes, but Winnie kept a straight composure and spoke only if necessary, opting to work mostly through Julia and Oliver. Oliver, on the other hand, maintained civil relations with Teddy, though he seemed to watch him intently and make friendly and definitively fake smiles a lot. Outside of class, Oliver would wave; Winnie opted to pretend like Teddy wasn't there, and often sat at the other end of the Gryffindor table.

"I don't even know what I've done wrong," Teddy said frustratedly, kicking a rock as he and Julia walked around the grounds.

Julia glance at him sadly. "She isn't angry, Teddy, she's just scared. She doesn't know what to make of… whatever it was she saw."

Teddy glanced over at Julia. "Do you talk to her at all?"

Julia nodded pensively. "Once Karen falls asleep, we usually talk for a while. Usually about small things, and usually only for a few minutes. We're not that close, really." Julia shrugged. "Lately she's been asking questions like, have I noticed anything weird about you, or have you told me anything about this secret she's convinced you're keeping…" Julia shook her head. "I usually maintain that I don't know what she means and that I've never noticed anything off about you, but she seems to see through that."

"She's good at that," Teddy muttered. He reached an arm around Julia's shoulder and squeezed. "Thanks for keeping my secret, anyway." He paused. "And you know I'll return the favour anytime," he said pointedly.

Julia paled and stared at her feet as they walked. She opened her mouth several times, but the rest of the walk was made in silence.

--

Teddy heard the door open and close. "Hey," said Winnie quietly, leaning against the wall.

Teddy's eyes widened. "You know the girl's loo is right around the corner," he said pointedly, making himself decent before turning around.

She crossed her arms. "We need to talk," she said.

"Uh… do we need to talk in here?"

Winnie merely stared. "Are you a werewolf, Teddy?" she asked evenly, looking him straight in the eyes for the first time in weeks.

Teddy's eyes widened. Frantically he ducked down to check that the stalls were empty. Standing erect, he fought to keep his hair and face a neutral colour as he attempted to regain his composure. "What makes you think that?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said airily, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Only the fact that you mysteriously disappear on the full moon, the fact that you crave raw steaks every so often, and, oh yeah, on Hallowe'en your eyes dilated and completely changed colour, your hair stood straight out on end in a way that humans can't manage, you emitted a subhuman growl…" Winnie's voice cracked, and she lost her composure. "Teddy, are you or are you not a werewolf!?" she yelled, half-angered, half-pleading.

Her voice echoed throughout the bathroom. Teddy was terrified that someone outside would hear them; he waited and watched the door expectantly, but no one came in. "I am not a werewolf," he finally said quietly.

"Are you sure?" she asked dully, clearly disbelieving.

Teddy frowned. "I am the son of a werewolf," he said softly. "My biological father was a werewolf from childhood."

Whatever Winnie was expecting, that wasn't it. Although her expression remained harsh, her eyes softened. "Is… does that…" she cleared her throat. "What does that mean for you?"

Teddy shrugged one shoulder, making sure to maintain eye contact despite the overwhelming desire to stare at his feet. "I don't know," he whispered. "I honestly don't. That's what I'm trying to figure out, that's… that's why I had to talk to Dumbledore. He was the only person who knew about dad's, ah, 'furry little problem' when he was at Hogwarts, and I had to figure out if I could have somehow… inherited some of his traits." Teddy shrugged again, finally allowing his gaze to drop to the floor. "I guess I did."

Silence hung in the room. "So, what, then, you're like part wolf? Already got your credentials for Hunting 101 and Advanced Smelling?"

Teddy scowled at Winnie's poor reception of his secret. "Something like that," he spat back.

Winnie paused. "Can you control it?" she asked after a while.

Teddy looked up. "Did it look like I could control it?"

Winnie and Teddy held eye contact for a few moments, letting the echoes settle around them. Winnie swallowed hard and let her guard down; Teddy noticed tears glistening in her eyes. "Teddy, I was scared to hell that day," she whispered.

Teddy swallowed despite the lump in his throat. "I know," he whispered back. "I'm sorry."

Winnie bit her lower lip. "Well, it doesn't appear to be your fault, so I suppose I can't be angry with you anymore now can I?"

Teddy hazarded a shy smile. Winnie laughed thickly and strode quickly across the tiled floor, throwing her arms around Teddy's neck. "It was horrible not talking to you," she said into his shoulder.

"You too, Wins," Teddy said happily. The pair broke apart. "But… you're not scared, or going to shun me for life, or…"

Winnie looked at him pityingly. "I'm scared, Teddy, but I think you are too. You're obviously not dangerous on purpose, so I can hardly shun you for life and still be rational, and we both know I'm only the most rational person in the whole world…"

Teddy laughed as the friends walked out of the washroom together. "Ah, I think you're confusing yourself for me, actually."

Winnie grinned. "Po-tay-to, po-tah-to. Although I daresay I'm going to miss the mystery that is Teddy Lupin," she admitted as she held the door open for a fourth-year, who looked severely confused at the tiny girl leaving the men's room.

"It's hardly solved," Teddy said, shrugging. "Besides, what set me off was the Julia mystery. I find that much more interesting than my own mystery." Teddy raised his eyebrows. "Say… do you guys talk at all?"

Winnie smiled. "Nice try, mister. Julia already told me you talked about me, I know what you're getting at. But no, the most I get out of her is that she's scared and doesn't want to talk about it, so I let it go."

"Oh, sure," Teddy said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "You'll let her alone…"

"Please. Sneaky-girl, or wolf-boy? Which would you choose to pursue?"

Teddy flinched. "Keep your voice down, will you?" he hissed, then changed the subject away from himself. "I don't think she's being sneaky, Winnie. I think something else is going on here."

Winnie shrugged. "Like what? It's not like people just disappear."

Teddy opened his mouth to object, but couldn't think of a rational objection, and so changed his mind. "I suppose," he admitted.

"Unless, of course, you're me, and the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw is tomorrow. Then you might just disappear."

Teddy slapped his forehead. "I completely forgot! I'll absolutely be there," he added hastily. Winnie smiled.

"I would hope so," she said happily, ruffling up his hair. "Couldn't play properly without my Metamorphmagus cheering me on now could I?"

"Winnie for pity's sake, keep your voice down," Teddy hissed.

Winnie flinched. "Sorry. I'll be good."

Teddy pursed his lips. Perhaps telling Winnie his secrets wasn't the best plan.