No Control // Wolfstar

Nineteen

Remus collapses on the bed, his limbs sore and worn out from the night's adventures. James must've eaten some strange mushrooms - because he was completely out of control tonight. He and the black dog were running all over the place, leaping over boulders, and prancing around in the lake all while Peter clung desperately to James' antlers.

The full moon was hiding behind wispy cotton candy clouds, fading into the brightening sky. The shrieking shack was a right mess now. The mirror was completely shattered across the floor; the shards remaining in the wooden frame gave off a kaleidoscope effect to anyone who looked at their reflection. Remus heaves on the bed, dragging his claws across the splintered headboard. His nails drag until they begin to revert back into human hands.

James trots up the staircase, his antlers just barely passing under the chandelier. Ahead of him, the black dog bounds through the door, barking loudly, trapped. Remus, now fully himself, eyes the dog. Something was eerily familiar. James appears in the doorway, blocking it completely.

Peter jumps from James' antlers with a small splat, and transforms back into himself. "Look how cute!" he exclaims rushing over to the dog.

The dog snarls, backing away towards the bed.

"I wouldn't," James says, ruffling his hair thoroughly. "Maybe it bites."

"We should name it!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Pete."

"Snuffles."

James raises his eyebrows. "Snuffles?" Peter nods eagerly. "Fine. Snuffles it is."

Remus reaches out with a fatigued arm, gently petting the dog's tail. Its ears perk up, whipping around viciously. Remus' hand falls limply against the bed, his eyes drooping heavily.

"I'm tired," James whines, leaning against the doorway. "Can we go to bed now?"

"Yeah, just wanted to see the dog," Peter says walking towards the door. He waves at the dog on his way out, following James down the stairs.

The dog stares intensely at Remus, a softness to the tough exterior. Through heavy eyelids Remus can see the various shades of grey within the dog's eyes. Shiny pools of aluminum, swirling storms of smoke. His vision grows blurry with every blink until darkness consumes him.

In a second he opens his eyes again, but finds himself alone in the bedroom.

*

*

*

Abigail crouches beneath the potted tree in the common room stealthily. As expected, Remus exits through the portrait midday after putting away his Transfiguration book. She follows silently, weaving around students as he makes his way towards the Grand Staircase. In the sea of students, he becomes lost. Abigail pushes past a few Ravenclaws when she spots his sandy blonde hair on a moving staircase leading up to the seventh floor.

"Move," she grunts, slipping through another crowd to reach the next stairs.

She jogs up the steps just as Remus takes off down a corridor. His figure is minuscule by the time she reaches the floor. It takes a few minutes of dodging behind pillars and tapestries until she's close enough to trail him. He strolls leisurely, whistling an unfamiliar tune, with his camera tucked safely under his arm along with a book.

Abigail rounds the corner hastily after a moment only to run into a small person.

"Watch it blondie," Frances scolds.

"Sorry -" Abigail utters, peering around to catch a glimpse of Remus.

Frances doesn't budge, giving Abigail a once over with judgmental eyes. "You're that girl dating Remus Lupin!" she exclaims suddenly. "Why are you following him?" Her dark hair is pulled into two identical plaits, and she drums her sparkly gold nails scrutinizingly against her crossed arms.

"I-I'm not." When Abigail looks over again, Remus is gone. And any chance of finding him now has vanished too. She groans, rubbing her head in frustration.

"Are you two even really dating?" Frances asks.

"Don't you have some dolls to be dressing?"

"I'm not the one stalking my boyfriend."

"Whatever."

"I don't have a boyfriend, but I'm pretty sure if I did I wouldn't be following him. In fact, I'm pretty sure we'd be walking together. But what would I know."

Abigail pushes past Frances angrily, storming down the corridor where Remus was last seen. The statue of Barnabas the Barmy is the only thing standing in the corridor alongside herself. "Bugger," she grits, kicking the wall.

Frances appears beside her, shaking her head pitifully. "So why are you following Remus around?"

"Why are you following me around?"

"Only people who have something to hide answer a question with a question."

Abigail lets out a frustrated screech, taking off down the corridor and leaving Frances standing with a satisfied smirk.

Everything was so perfect. The summer she spent with Remus showed her parents what a good boyfriend he was, and she made a lasting impression on his. His parents were convinced that the two would end up together forever. And right now, Abigail was seriously doubting that. Her mind reflects over the events that could have possibly changed their relationship. They still hadn't had sex together- so that clearly hadn't affected their relationship like her mother had warned her about. Maybe it was time and Lily was right. Were they growing apart? Abigail balls a fist tightly, glaring at anybody who crosses her path. Impossible.

Remus wouldn't just lose interest like that. The Remus she knew was afraid; he was a follower who wore ironed socks and walked far from the edge. He listened to the rules and was never seen without a book pressed to his nose. This Remus was...confident. He wore mismatched socks from time to time, claiming it to be 'spontaneous', and could rarely be seen in the library nowadays. Instead, he was out and about with his friends doing adventurous things rather than reading about it. She begged him to stray away from the fictitious nonsense he was always divulging himself into - and now he was. Except it wasn't her doing. Remus was unapologetically himself, growing into the person she knew was hidden behind the fragile broken exterior. And she hated it.

It was selfish, she knew, but it gave her confidence that he was always the insecure one. He would lean on her to be a rock for anything and everything in his life. It gave her purpose in their relationship.

Abigail freezes in the middle of the fifth floor corridor aghast. Everything was perfect.

Until Sirius Black.