"You totally cheated!" Remus exclaims throwing his cards down and shaking his head disbelievingly.

The fire flickers with the movement of his arms. He sits crossed legged in front of the fireplace as the light dances around his frame. A gentle snow falls outside, bringing Hogwarts to a peaceful, silent night.

"I did not!" Abigail laughs, a hiccup rising from her stomach.

"Let me see your cards."

She hugs them to her body, sticking her tongue out at him, "No!"

"Abby." Remus rises on his knees, shuffling across the carpet with his arm extended. "Let me see!"

She grasps his hand with her own, tugging him closer until they're pressed against each other. He pins over her, red with laughter. Glossed lips press against his cheek and another giggle rings in his ears. Before he can attest, she flashes the cards in her hands. Remus reads them, rolling his eyes when she proudly says, "I told you I won."

Remus swats the cards away, leaning over to plant a kiss on her thin lips.

"Sticking a fork in my eye would be less painful than watching this," James comments as he strolls through the common room.

"You're just mad you're not in love," Abigail teases, staring at an upside down James walking away.

Recently, something was different about Remus. Abigail wasn't exactly sure what it was, but she isn't complaining. The past week or so he was being extra touchy and laughing more. Just overall happier. There was a playful manner to every action he did. Whether it be a surprise kiss or a taser to the hips. It was like they were fourteen all over again. It was puppy love.

"I have to go," Remus tells her, rolling off.

And just like that. It was over.

Abigail grabs the coffee table, hauling herself to sit up. "You're doing an awful lot of Prefect work," she says with pursed lips. "I don't think Lily Evans does as much."

Remus shrugs, offering her a hand. "Don't stress about it, love. I'll see you in the morning." He places a chaste kiss on her lips - the feeling distant.

Abigail watches Remus depart through the portrait, swinging his robe over his shoulder carefree. His stride is taller with an extra spring in his step. It wasn't like the Remus she knew. That Remus' posture was shrunken, submissive. Deciding to let it go, she gathers up the playing cards and walks up to her dorm.

The other girls are laughing over a picture of some hot quidditch player when she arrives. The four girls were inseparable since first year. But Abigail couldn't blame anybody but herself for letting that happen. Shoving the cards in her drawer, she grabs the brush resting on top and combs through her long blonde hair. In the mirror, Lily Evans catches her eye. "Lily," Abigail calls, suddenly twirling around.

"Yeah?" Lily responds.

"Can we talk for a second?"

"Sure..." Lily slides off the bed, swatting away the hand that reaches out to slap her bum. "Shove off Marls."

Marlene laughs, "We all know you wish it was Potter's hand."

Lily grabs a pillow off the nearest bed and chucks it at the group of girls - only causing an outburst of giggles. Abigail pushes open the dorm door, waiting for Lily to join her. The mood drops when they're alone. The laughter is muffled behind the closed door, and Lily's bubbly persona settles into a deadpan look.

Abigail's thumbs twiddle awkwardly. She doesn't hate Lily, per se, she just isn't fond of her. It may have started back when Remus admitted he thought Lily was pretty back in third year. The redhead was envied by many for her natural beauty and intelligence. It was easy to both love and hate her. Aside from herself, Lily was probably the closest female to Remus. It always kept her on edge.

"Um," Abigail stumbles, "I was just wondering if you had any Prefect work to do."

"Prefect work?" Lily repeats with a tone of bewilderment. Abigail nods, though uncertain with her own question. "Not at the moment, no."

"Do you know if Remus does?"

Lily catches onto Abigail's insecure disposition. She uncrosses her arms and eases the passive tension. "Look, I'm friends with Remus. Obviously I'm not as close with him as you are, but if you're worried about him cheating on you, that's ridiculous. Remus would never kiss another girl. I've never even seen him look at another girl."

"He's just been acting so differently."

"How so?"

Abigail twists the ends of her hair around her finger nervously. "Well, I suppose he's been rather touchy recently." Lily raises an eyebrow. "But sometimes it feels like he's not really there with me. You know?"

"Maybe it's you who's falling out of love," Lily suggests.

"I'm not! I love him, Lily. More than anyone. But things have changed. It's been this way since the beginning of the year."

"You two have been dating since the beginning of time, it's only natural to grow apart at times."

"I know he can be a little odd," Abigail admits. "But I swear there's something else going on. He wouldn't just 'grow apart' like this. It's like someone is pulling him away."

"I'm sure he'll come around if you just talk to him. Trust and communication are two of the most important things in a relationship." Lily's hand hovers over the doorknob, turning back with a pitiful look. "You know everything about Remus, right?" Abigail nods. Before Lily can ask the suspicion lingering in her head, guilt washes over her and she dismisses the question. She lets out a sigh, putting a supportive hand on Abigail's shoulder. "Just talk to him, Abigail. I promise that being straight forward is the only way to fix things."

*

*

*

Sirius holds Remus' hand within his own, tugging him down the corridor into McGonagall's office. The door glides open at the faintest touch, a smirk plastered across Sirius' face.

"Sirius," Remus whispers cautiously. "We shouldn't be in here."

"Relax, Remus," Sirius says, closing the door behind them. "Haven't you ever wondered what Professor's do when they're not teaching?"

"I'd rather not think about it to be honest."

Sirius' laugh echoes in the vacant room. Books are stacked to the ceiling and a potted plant of catnip rests untouched on the desk. Sirius toys with the plant, rubbing the leaves between his thumb and forefinger. "You reckon she's friends with Filch's cat?"

Remus snickers at the thought. He crosses the room over to Sirius, inspecting the picture of the Professors and Dumbledore in front of the Great Hall. "I think Flitwick grew a bit since last year," Remus comments, pointing to the small Professor standing in front of Hagrid.

"I think you just earned yourselves two weeks of detention."

Remus' hands tremble, dropping the photo. His feet are frozen to the ground and is unable to face the doom that awaits.

McGonagall strides into her office and the lights turn on instantly. Remus pivots on his heels, staring intently at the floor with blossomed cheeks. "Mr. Lupin, I'm very disappointed in you," she says.

"You're not disappointed in me?" Sirius questions.

"Shut up Sirius," Remus mutters under his breath.

"You and Mr. Potter have proven yourselves to be quite the mischief makers. I'm not surprised to see you back in here, Mr. Black."

"Back?" Remus whispers harshly.

"Long story," Sirius replies.

"My statement stands," Professor McGonagall repeats sternly. "Two weeks detention for both of you. Now get to back to the tower before I make it three."

Remus fumbles to stand the photograph he dropped upright before shamefully shying past her. Sirius smiles, tipping an imaginary hat at her as he passes through the door. "Evening Professor," he calls cheerily down the corridor.

The walk back is agonizing with every step to Remus. He sulks with his head hung with the burden of all his thoughts. Beside him, Sirius hums a cheerful tune, continuing the night as it was before. The faint high pitched whistle blows through Sirius' puckered lips, ringing repeatedly in Remus' ears.

Remus frantically rubs his temples, "I've just gotten detention...How can you be so happy?"

"It's just a few hours in a classroom," Sirius states nonchalantly. "I've gotten detention plenty of times."

"I've never gotten detention before, Sirius! God what will I tell Abigail? I never do anything to get in trouble!"

"Calm down, Ponyboy," Sirius chuckles.

"This isn't time for jokes. I'm serious." Remus lifts a finger warningly before Sirius can make another joke. "I can't believe this. I'm in so much trouble."

"Just think, we'll probably have to spend an hour every night together. Alone."

The idea seems to ease Remus' mind, for he remains silent the rest of the way back to the common room. Sirius jogs up the staircase to change, Remus following in suit. But when his foot hits the first step, a voice stops him.

"Remus?"

"Abigail?" Remus steps down, peering around the corner to see the blonde standing across the room. Her striped pajama set is lose over her petite frame, and her hair is pulled into a ponytail. When they meet in the middle, he instinctively flicks her ponytail. "What's up?"

Abigail grasps his hand, pulling it away from her hair. She holds them in her own, staring up with doe eyes. Remus stands tall next to her, almost bored at the interaction. It doesn't go unnoticed. "Nothing," she says pulling away bashfully. "I just wanted to say goodnight, that's all."

"Goodnight." He leans down and kisses her cheek. The action is simple. Effective. But his lips feel empty. Emotionless.

Abigail presses her lips together, ending the conversation at that. Her ponytail flails as she turns to go to bed, casting one last look at Remus. Whatever it is, she was going to find out.