Artifice
"You coming, Pads?" Remus stopped at the foot of the boys' stairs.
Marlene didn't look up, forcing her eyes to remain on the essay she was editing.
"Nah, I'm not ready. Might as well let you lads sleep."
Remus was silent for a long moment before Dorcas stood from the table she was sharing with Marlene.
"Good luck Marlene," she stretched. "I'm done for tonight." Then she turned to Remus. "Can you believe how many inches of parchment Binns assigned us?"
Remus smiled at Doe, seemingly losing interest in Sirius' sleeping patterns.
"It's not so bad," he shrugged.
"We should study together," Doe stopped at the girls' stairs. "You're loads better at remembering all those dates than I am."
Remus shuffled his feet, "Sure, just er, let me know what works for you."
"Great," Doe beamed at him and Marlene looked back at her essay to hide her smile. Remus didn't manage to remember Sirius as Doe wished him a goodnight.
But as the two disappeared up their respective stairs, Marlene felt gentle fingers slide up her arm, and warm breath waft down her neck.
"Well hello, McKinnon, fancy meeting you here, all alone."
"I'm working, Black," she protested even as she set down her quill.
Sirius seemed pleased that the quill was no longer in her hand, at least that's what Marlene assumed as his fingers gently pushed her hair over her shoulder and pressed his lips against the curve of her neck.
"By all means continue," he whispered behind her ear before kissing her neck again, pulling a soft sigh from her. "Or you know, don't."
Marlene leant into his touch, "You're going to work for this."
Sirius smirked against her skin. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Marls."