potentiallyTHREATENED, open!

[Remus Lupin]

As usual, Remus walked down a corridor with a new book in his grasp. His nose was burried in it, and he was not looking where he was going. But he knew the usual route. If he happened to bump into a bench, no one would see. It was actually a rather nice day out for the month it was. No rain, but only sunshine with the occasional cloud. Remus had peered out the library's window, looking for people he would know out on the grounds. Would he had seen anyone he knew anyways? It wasn't likely. But he had to be one of the only one's inside today. He had to return his last book and get a new one though, so he could at least have something to read while Sirius and James taunted Snape. Moony actually felt bad for the Slytherin. He was the main target for his friends, and he was never given a break. If only his classmate didn't act like a twit every time someone spoke a word to him.

He kept his nose in his book for the time being. That was, until he came to the staircase. This was the place he wouldn't risk not looking where he was going. The fall would be much more embarrassing. After sticking his finger in between the pages, he made his way down the steps. Remus looked left and right. No one to be seen. If he had slipped, at least no one would have seen it. It didn't take long for Remus to stick his nose in the book's pages again. Already on chapter two and he'd barely made it two floors away from the library. Maybe he'd have to make it back to the library in the morning again. Not that Moony had a problem with that.

Remus smelled something strange on the next page. There was a small stain on the page as well. That must have been the smell. He wrinkled his nose and took out his wand. A quick cleaning spell would do the trick. It must have been a potion, or even sour milk. Didn't anyone respect books anymore? Remus shook his head before starting to walk again. It was almost lunch time, but he didn't feel very hungry. Instead Moony turned into a different room; the trophy room. It wasn't likely that many would pass through here.

[Benjamine Carter]

The only problem with Hogwarts was the fact it was that: Hogwarts. When class wasn't in session the hallways were usually filled with people, and more often than not people weren't exactly nice. Today was an exception to that, the sun was out and it was nice outside. Which meant that Ben had spent the day inside, one of her favorite books in front of her nose, brown gaze on the pages she could almost state from memory. Piers Anthony was her favorite author by far, with both wits and humor on his side, he made the books he wrote seem to play out perfectly in your mind. The Xanth novels, so wonderful and completely filled with puns, was perhaps her favorite books ever written. Fantasy was reality in its own way, especially seeing that most things that muggles considered fake was real. Things like her and her kind. And the Dragonriders of Pern series was just as wonderful, though completely fake.

The book ended far too soon for her to be satisfied, her lower lip pouting out, a sigh coming after a moment. With a quick glance at her watch, she hopped off the couch, her gaze fondly on the cover of the book. She knew the way to the library as well as Remus knew it, probably even better because she didn't have the Marauders to take her away. It was at that point that she saw movement just over the pages of the book. Curious, she lowered the book, catching sight of one of her friends, one of her good friends at that. Dear old Remus. Her sickly friend. A smile found its way onto her lips, her hands carefully placing the book in a pocket. She would return it later.

What was Remus doing without his friends? It seemed that he, like her, would prefer to stay inside rather than go outside and socialize. Ben chuckled to herself, watching him disappear into the Trophy Room. He acted like he had something to hide. Shaking her head to herself, she made her way to the Trophy Room, peering in for a moment. Remus' nose was firmly placed in the pages of the book he was reading, his pretty brown eyes concentrating. Ben smiled, knocking on the door before completely opening it. "Hey there, Remus! What are you doing hiding out in the shadows all day?"

[Remus Lupin]

He still had the lingering smell in his nostrils. It was fresh in his mind, but it didn't keep him from reading. Remus continued strolling along, eyes glued to the book. Then came a knock. He first looked up, right ahead of him. But no one was there. Moony then turned his body around and looked at the main door. There opened the door fully and stood there with a blossoming smile on her face. "Hey there, Remus! What are you doing hiding out in the shadows all day?" He gave a crooked smile and closed the book on his finger to hold his place. Benjamine must have known he would be in here too. No, she wasn't the only one missing todays beautiful rays. Moony would be paler than death in a few days time anyway. There was no worry of getting a little sun.

"Hiding in the shadows," he mused, still smiling. Remus shrugged for a moment, then ruffled his hair a bit in the back. "Well shouldn't I be asking you the same question?" After a moment, Moony grinned over at her. He liked Benji a lot. She was like his female twin. They could had been separated at birth! Actually, that was highly unlikely. The date of birth was different, along with a number of other things standing in the way. No need to be technical though.

He shrugged again. "This is actually the perfect time for me to find a quiet space away from my trouble-makers." It was true, and that was the reason he grinned. He couldn't even find much quiet when he was taking care of his prefect responsibilities, because even then the marauders were out and about causing mischief. They just took advantage of the time while they could. Remus could understand. He was the look-out in previous years, and they still needed him. Moony smiled and strolled a bit closer to her. "And your excuse?" he added with his smile.

[Benjamine Carter]

The fact that her being here made him smile was enough to lift her mood to a buoyancy it didn’t usually reach. But of course, wouldn’t anyone smile if a friend came by? It didn’t mean anything. That’s at least what she told herself, he probably didn’t like her like that. He was her friend. Like her twin. Well now, didn’t that mean liking him was another form of narcissism? Ben chuckled at his question, “You probably should, though I have plenty of excuses.” She pulled the paperback out of her pocket, showing him the cover. “Piers Anthony is a great excuse to stay inside. Ever read anything by him?” Of course she was going to suggest him and this particular series to Remus either way.

The perfect time away from his trouble-makers. That certainly made sense, she didn’t quite understand how he could stand being around the Marauders all of the time, and he couldn’t. He had some time left for himself to be away from them. That would be the time when she could spend some time with her friend, seeing that she wasn’t too fond of the other Marauders… At all. James and Sirius caused too much trouble and Peter… Peter just creeped her out.

“My excuse, other than Piers Anthony, is that me and sunlight understand and hold the same contempt for each other. I burn instead of tanning.” It was true, the last time she spent the day outside she ended up looking like a human lobster. “What’s yours? Anything other than reading a book?” It didn’t really matter what his excuse was, he was inside and that’s she what she was happy about. But she was curious about his reasons, too.