I was challenged to write a drabble about Remus and an OC Slytherin girl. This is what came out of it.

Remus sat down in his usual place, under the beech tree near the lake. The other three had gone off to Quidditch practice; Sirius and Peter took much more pleasure in watching James' early morning practices than he did. Not that he didn't enjoy them, but the quiet time that came in their absence was something that he didn't get often and welcomed dearly when it was available. It was certainly nice whether for spending time outside, no matter the activity.

"Hello, Remus."

He looked up from his book, quite surprised that anyone was even awake at this hour; even so, most people knew how focused he could get when reading and knew not to disturb him, except for maybe Lily when he was in danger of missing his next class. It wasn't Lily, however, but a Slytherin girl in his year which he vaguely recognized.

"Hi..." He couldn't think of her name.

"Mal. I was your Potions partner the other day; I thought you might want this back."

She held out his worn and tattered Potions textbook. He knew he'd been forgetting something when he left class that day, but he couldn't quite tell what it had been. His mind was known to wander the week before a full moon; after all, there were more important things to worry about than whether all his textbooks were with him. He had been forced to partner with her since his usual partner, Peter, had ended up in the Hospital Wing for the day after one of their more clever pranks didn't go as planned.

"Oh, uh, thanks." He gave her an awkward sort of smile.

"Are..." he could tell she was reluctant, "are you alright? You look sort of... sick."

He looked away, blushing just a little. As many times as people would tell him so, he doubted he would ever get used to it.

"Oi, Moony!"

He could see James, Sirius and Peter emerging, tired looking but ecstatic.

"I should..." He pointed in their direction. She nodded.

"Got yourself a girlfriend?" James elbowed him in the arm, looking back toward Mal.

Remus just rolled his eyes.