Two months later, Maribel and Sirius were still the talk of the school; they also still had detention.
"McGee, I've told you before, it's not our fault that the plate fell off of the table."
"And it sure as hell isn't our fault that they attacked me!" Maribel said as she cast a dark look in the direction of Tina and Claudia.
"Ms. Stein, Mr. Black, you have one hour left. This is your last detention. Please sit down and stop talking or I will add another week."
Maribel and Sirius sighed and returned to their seats. Sirius pulled out a piece of parchment, scribbled something down upon it and passed it to Maribel.
'This is all your fault!'
'No Black, it was your fault!'
'I hate you!'
'I hate you more!'
'It was Tina and Claudia's fault.'
'I hate them.'
'I hate them too. Wanna snog when this is over?'
'Sure.'
"Now you are passing notes in my detention?"
"Erm-"
"Just leave, all of you. Mr. Black, Ms. Stein, no more public displays of mass physical affection. Ms. Laurence, Ms. Conner, if Mr. Black and Ms. Stein with to be with each other, that is their decision. Attacking Ms. Stein will not change that. Do you all understand?"
"Yes," the four teens murmured.
"Good, you may go and don't you dare embarrass our house again."
The four walked out of the room and Professor McGonagall shut the door behind them. Once the lock clicked shut Maribel panted a kiss on Sirius's lips and stuck her tongue out at Tina and Claudia. She then sauntered down the corridor with Sirius in tow.
"Wait," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the Marauder's Map, "The fourth floor corridor is clear. Want to go there?"
"Sure."
They were halfway to the fourth floor when Sirius grabbed Maribel's arm and pulled her into the shadows.
"What's wrong Black, can't wait for me?"
"Snape's coming."
Maribel nodded as she and Sirius pulled out their wands. Snape rounded a corner and looked around carefully before continuing down the corridor. Sirius waited until Snape had passed them before coming out of hiding.
"Well hello Severus, where are you headed on this lovely evening? Surely you are not sneaking off to wash your hair somewhere?"
Snape turned and reached for his wand. Before he could lift it, Maribel stepped out of the shadows and disarmed him.
"Don't be hexing my boyfriend, Snivellus," she warned.
"Where are you headed Snape?" Sirius asked as he twirled Snape's wand between his fingers.
"None of your business, Black," he spat back.
Sirius aimed his wand at Snape's chest and passed the Marauder's Map to Maribel, "Check to see if there is an unusual gathering of Slytherins anywhere on here."
"No, but Peter is," she began as Peter stumbled around the corner, "here."
"Oi, Wormtail, where are you off to?"
"What? You think that just because James is head boy that you can question people who are out of bounds?"
"Relax Pete, just asking."
"Oh, sorry," Peter murmured as his face turned red, "Well I- uh- I got locked out and then I saw Severus out of bed and decided to-"
"WHAT?" Maribel and Sirius cried.
"What?" Peter repeated a dumbfounded look on his face.
"You just called him Severus, idiot," Sirius responded.
"Oh, did I?" Peter asked, releasing a nervous giggle.
Sirius opened his mouth to respond when Remus entered the corridor. He appeared to have been deep in throught and looked surprised to see the group. He took one glance at the two wands in Sirius's hands and sighed.
"Pads, give Snape his wand. Snape, go to bed. Sirius, Bel, Pete, same thing."
Sirius grimaced and chucked Snape's wand down the hallway. Snape glowered at Sirius then strolled off after his wand. The remaining Gryffindors turned to face each other.
"I just know that he was up to no good."
"Pads, you think that all Slytherins are up to no good."
"No Remus, he is right. Snape came around that corner like he had something to hide."
"What were you doing out here anyways Moony?"
"I have prefect duty tonight," Remus responded quickly.
"Where's Anne?"
"She said that she was tired, and I eh- let her stay behind."
"Aw, what a sweet boyfriend you are Sir. Moony."
"Layoff Black," Maribel said as she grabbed his arm, "Come on that broom closet won't wait forever."
Once his friends were gone, Remus walked in the direction of the Head's Room. Hen he got to the portrait hole, he whispered for Nemwick.
"Yes, yes Mr. Lupin, I'm here, as is Ms. Evans. She's waiting inside for you," he said as the portrait swung open. He entered the room and took a seat on the sofa across from where Lily was sitting.
"That's for helping me Lily."
"Really I don't mind Remus, but what is so secretive that this had to be done while everyone else was asleep?"
"Well, I'm note sure that it's really secretive, I just don't want anyone else knowing that we talked."
"Ooookay, what's wrong then?"
"Have you noticed anything different about Anne lately?"
"I don't think so, why? Is something wrong?"
"Well, she's been sort of –erm, distant the past few days."
"Distant? She's seemed pretty okay around me and Bel."
"Not uh, not distant in the way that she would act and around you and Bel," Remus forced himself to say, his face turning red.
"Not distant-" Lily pondered, a confused look etched into her face.
"Yeah, erm, distant like a girlfriend and uh-"
"Oh!" Lily's eyes widened with realization as she caught on to what Remus was trying to say, "Look, you should talk to James about this, Sirius maybe even. In fact, I'll got get James for you right now."
"Lily, no," Remus stopped her, "I- its fine that- that nothing's happening. I- I'm just worried that something might be wrong. I thought that if I had done something wrong then maybe she would tell you about it."
"Oh, no Remus, I'm sorry. Anne hasn't mentioned anything to me."
"Look, can you just keep an eye out for her and just make sure that she's okay?"
"I will Remus, I promise."
For the next few days, Lily kept a close watch over Anne, but her friend seemed perfectly fine to her. Lily had just begun to pass off Remus's concerns as guy stuff, when Maribel asked her about a change in Anne's personality as well.
"Lils, have you noticed anything wrong with our Anne darling?"
"No! Have you? Remus was asking me the same thing about a week ago."
"She just seems different," Bel shrugged, "Like she wakes up before everyone else and goes to bed early."
"Well Bel, I wouldn't notice things like that would I? And even so, who is that a bad thing?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Maybe she's just worried about finals?"
"She's not eating the same either."
"It's probably just stress Bel."