"Would you drop it, Padfoot?! Its over and done with so why are you still going on about it?" Remus asked irritably, lowering the book he held to glower at his friend. Sirius and him sat out by the lake under the willow, basking in the last summers warmth, enjoying the sound of the birds before they disappeared completely.

Sirius ran a hand over his thick raven hair before turning a crooked grin at him. Nearby a gaggle of first through fifth year girls sat on the lawn, pretending to ignore them but sneaking glances at the notorious Black and his quiet friend. More or less at the latter but Remus preferred it that way.

"I can't drop it because…" Sirius motioned for him to lean closer as he sat up, as if he wanted to include him in on a secret. "It was so damn funny!"

With that he collapsed into hearty laughter despite Remus's annoyed, disdainful look. Closing the heavy volume titled Serendipitous Spells he sighed and sank back against the woody trunk of the willow, his hazel eyes staring off at the shining lake.

"I didn't think it was so funny. I feel rather bad about it."

"Oh, come on. It was hilarious! Amelia Rockburn asking you out? That bearded toad?"

"Don't call her that. She's just…"

"Ugly as a grub? Honestly, you should get a girlfriend soon or else these trolls will never leave you alone," Sirius advised solemnly, as if doing so would save his life. Remus brushed a lock of golden chestnut hair from his pale eyes, glaring at him.

"Well, sorry I'm not some sex idol girls fawn over such as yourself. If you have so many devoted toys then why are you still single?" he fired back venomously. Sirius feigned an insulted and hurt look. Clasping a hand to his chest he gasped.

"Moony! You're breaking my heart with your jealousy. Come now, that's no way to win my affection," he admonished in mock severity. "I mean, really, where's the flowers and candy?"

"Oh, shove it, Padfoot."

Gathering up his bag and his book Remus got up, ignoring Sirius who whined like a beat puppy. Walking off in a brisk pace, he let slip a smirk as his friend followed on his knees playfully.

"No, come back to me, my love!" Sirius shrieked in fake hysteria. The girls stared in amusement, giggling, as the tall, handsome youth collapsed in outrageous tears.

"I won't forgive you, Moony!"

"Oh well!" Remus laughed, trotting up the slope, turning around to smirk at the group of love struck females. "Ladies, you can have him. Be careful though; he's ticklish."

"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed in shock, looking over at the girls who appeared to seriously consider attacking him with prods and dancing fingers. Remus ignored him, snickering as he went up the stone steps into Hogwarts, practically invisible to everyone else.

He wasn't as well known as Sirius or James but honestly he liked not being in the spotlight. In that position, rumors are more likely to run rampant and that was not something the Marauders needed. By nature, he was never one to enjoy being on the spot or the one whispered about. He didn't want a fan club or groupies or any of those things Sirius seemed to enjoy so much.

The inside of the castle was surprisingly cooler, a little chill clinging to the stones and statues. As he went up the corridors he glanced out the windows at the October sky with its few fluffy clouds and sweet heat. Pictures snoozed contentedly in their frames, unbothered by the low murmur of students and teachers in the halls. Most were heading down to dinner where Halloween decorations were already hung. Once and a while a large bat would swoop above, chattering away what sounded like the Trick-Or-Treat rhyme. Orange and black garland slunk about the suits of armor and along the rafters in the ceiling.

As Remus reached the Gryffindor common room, he realized that there was no one in this part of the school. Walking into the room, he looked about the red and gold furnished area, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Nope, just completely abandoned of life. After dropping off his bag he was about to head down to dinner before something caught his eye.

A hardback, worn novel lay on a table near the dead fireplace, the golden faded words glittering in the warm light that streamed in from the setting sun. Picking it up Remus read the title, raising a thick but elegant eyebrow in question.

"The Love Of Burning Letters?"

"Oh, you found it," a voice rang out from upstairs. Startled, Remus turned to find a girl coming down from her dormitory. "I thought I'd really lost it this time. I'm so forgetful sometimes."

She had long sable hair, dancing in tight ringlet spirals down her back and along her shoulders, over her clean uniform. Her face was heart shaped, pert and smooth with laugh lines about her mouth which seemed like a partially bloomed rose.

Remus handed her the novel, looking down at her long fingers and soft palms in comparison to his thinner and heavily scarred ones. She clutched it to her chest, lovingly holding it like a treasure, her honeyed chocolate eyes shining in admiration ringed by long dark lashes.

"I really love this book. Thanks for finding it."

Remus shook his head, repelling the temporary fog. For the moment he had contented himself in listening to her voice, listening to the lilting tune it carried like a passionate wind.

"No problem. My names Remus," he replied finally, feeling rather stupid for not answering sooner. Almost timidly he stuck out his hand for lack of anything else to say. She shook it firmly, a smile widening on her face. Her skin was warm compared to his generally cold flesh.

"Babette, my names Babette. I already knew yours; I had to grade Professor Slughorn's papers and I'm in your Potions class," she commented, stowing her book into her bag.

"Are you heading down to dinner?" Remus asked suddenly, not sure why he asked. She looked up at him before nodding lightly.

"Yeah, unless its already over. You?"

"Um, yeah. Want to walk with me down?" he blurted quickly. She frowned a little amusedly, her thoughtful eyebrows arching before she smiled again.

"Sure."

As they walked silently, Babette twiddling her fingers on the strap of her bag and Remus pointedly fixated on the stairs ahead, the sun finally disappeared behind the mountains in a bloody end. Babette gave an awkward cough.

"So…Halloween's coming up."

"Yep, next weekend."

"What're you going as?"

"A suicide victim, maybe."

"Wow," Babette breathed, not really impressed but sounding a little horrified. Remus glanced at her from the corner of his eyes to find her looking a bit sad. "Nice choice. It'll give people a laugh."

"You know I was joking, right?" he asked consolingly, trying to lighten her sudden malady. Babette smiled at him slightly, hiding her emotions easily. "So what're you going to be?"

"A possessed clown doll. I find that it suits me," she replied in a comfortable tone but unable to hide the ironic stoniness in her statement. Remus looked at her curiously, giving her a hand over a trick step.

"How? How does it suit you?" he asked. Babette stopped to study him, her brown eyes examining his seriously, as though looking for some sort of sinister underlying motive. After a moment she smiled as if the answer didn't matter and continued walking.

"I often find that I am someone's loving fool more often than not. Possessed by some crazy idea that makes me believe that they mean the best. I'm more of an idiot than a clown but…oh well," she shrugged simply, shifting her bag as they reached the Great Hall. The noise of the students clamoring and laughing drifted to their ears along with the aroma of food.

"So I'll see you later?" Remus said slowly, rather hoping she said yes. With a shy but bright nod she left, waving to him. The young werewolf stood there, trying to correlate his thoughts. Someone's loving fool…