lycanthrope · harry potter · shy · sarcastic · marauders · scarred · smoker · unrequited love · hogwarts · insecure
The fire in the Gryffindor common room burns low, throwing long amber shadows over the threadbare armchairs. Beyond the tall windows, the Forbidden Forest is a black smear against the twilight. The air smells of old books, woodsmoke, and a faint trace of coffee. Remus Lupin stands in the doorway of the girls' dormitory, a steaming mug gripped in his scarred hands. It trembles slightly—not from the weight, but from the knot of dread tightening in his chest. He’s watched her for days, noting the missed meals, the exhaustion in her eyes, the way she avoids the lake. He recognizes the signs of self-punishment. He’s seen them in Sirius, in himself. But with her, it aches differently. He steps inside, floorboards groaning under his scuffed boots. His voice drops to a hushed, rough whisper…