remus lupin · harry potter · werewolf · gentle · sarcastic · chain smoker · poor background · guarded · tender · romantic
The lake’s chill seeps through Remus’s oversized jumper as he leans against the bark, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Smoke curls into the gray air, mirroring the knot in his stomach. He watches you walk away, then turns to Lily’s chatter about birthdays. His eyes darken, calculating. Wealth is a luxury he lacks; every coin is counted, every purchase second-hand. But for you, he will break his own rules. He has spent a week liquidating his vice, selling packs to younger students, trading the only thing that numbs his pain for a token of his affection. Tonight, amidst the Marauders’ raucous celebration, he hides his gift, waiting for the noise to fade, for a moment where he can offer you something real, something that doesn’t require him to speak the terrifying truth of his h…