Ugh I Need Him Too!!! And Im Sending You So Many Kisses And Hugs Babe

ugh i need him too!!! and im sending you so many kisses and hugs babe 😭🫶

could I request an x reader with fem! X Fred Weasley (if you don’t want to write for him I’m more then fine with whoever else you choose x)

anyway reader is insecure in the relationship (mostly just anxious about physical touch because she’s worried he won’t like it? Idk how to describe but just basically early stages of a relationship)

thanks lovely xx I adore ur work

hi gorgeous! so i decided to do this with remus, i hope it’s okay. thank you for the request! :)

everything you need | r.l.

tw: hurt/comfort, fluff

remus lupin x reader

You couldn’t stop the ache from blooming in your chest even if you tried. There’s a strong feeling of absence as you stare helplessly at Remus, pressed against the other side of the couch with his eyes glued to the television.

It’s always been a desire, to be touched. To be held is to be loved, your mother used to say. You craved the simple feeling of having your hair brushed off your face, the fat of your hip being pinched teasingly, or being held in tight hugs which squeeze all the sad out of you. You can’t remember the last time you were touched like that.

Remus and you had started dating a few weeks ago, and he really was a sweetheart; and everything you ever needed. Always buying you little trinkets whenever he came over, cooking you dinner, and writing you lovely little notes — that was how he showed his love, and you adored him for it.

But you were fraught with the need to feel his touch — for those kisses to last a little longer, those hugs to be a smidge tighter, and soft cuddles to be more frequent.

You didn’t quite know if it was alright for you to ask, though. You had only just started dating, you weren’t even his girlfriend yet. And you knew Remus was the type to show his love in soft, subtle ways, not in overt means like openly touching and holding you. What if he felt like you were going too fast? You couldn’t risk driving him away.

Remus seems to pick up on the cogs turning in your head and the faraway look in your eyes as you ogle at him. He arches an eyebrow and his mouth twists in a frown as he turns his body towards you. “Sweetheart?”

You blink dazedly. “Hm?”

“Are you okay? You looked a little lost there for a second,” he asks, not unkind in the least.

“I’m fine,” you croak, though all you can think about at the moment is brushing that stray curl away from his face. “Was just thinking about work.”

You know he doesn’t buy it, taking a second too long to answer. But being the gentleman he is, he smiles softly and indulges you. “Okay, dove, if you say so. Don’t stress too much about it, yeah?”

He reaches for the television remote beside him and presses the pause button. “I’m gonna go serve us dinner. You want sauce with your fries?”

“Yeah, sure,” you mutter distractedly, not realising how transfixedly you were gazing at his body, resisting the temptation to crawl into his lap and ask for a hug.

Remus stands up, bending down to press a quick kiss to your forehead. You startle, fighting the urge to grab his wrist and pull him back towards you. You want it so badly, but you can’t let him. You can’t let yourself.

He gives you a bemused smile as he makes a beeline into the kitchen. As soon as he’s out of sight, you heave a sigh and slump backwards on the sofa, wrapping your arms tightly around your waist. You wished he were hugging you instead, with his gentle touches and saccharine words.

You let your eyes flutter closed, squeezing yourself as tight as one possibly can. It helps, a little. You rub your arms desperately, teeth roughly biting down on your bottom lip to stop yourself from bursting out in tears.

In a moment, you hear the clinking of cutlery against plates as Remus sets your dishes down on the table. Before you even open your eyes fully, he’s crouching in front of you and needling your arms apart to press his hands to your back. He pulls you towards him, your face pressing against the crook of his neck.

The feel of his skin on yours is almost painful, and you want to pull away. “Remus,” you choke out, desperately trying to keep your voice even.

“Yeah?” It’s nothing more than a soft murmur as he tucks his chin on your shoulder, pressing his palms into your shoulder blades.

You want to ask him why he was hugging you, tell him that everything was fine. But you know he’s already figured you out.

“You don’t have to,” you say instead.

“Why not?” he asks gently, the feel of his breath warm on your skin. “You want this.” It’s a statement, not a question.

“But…” you hate how you’re warbling. “You don’t have to do this, if it’s not what you want. We agreed to go slow.”

“Going slow means I can’t hug you?” he asks softly, but you hear the teasing in his voice.

“No,” you say quickly, feeling the ache in your chest start to worsen. “But I don’t know if you want to touch me, if you want to be touched. I — I know you have different ways of showing your love, and I’ll take any love you can give me —“

“Angel,” Remus breathes, making you stop short. “This isn’t a job offer. I’ll show you love however you want me to.” He tilts his head up to press a kiss to your hair, and the ache starts to soften. “You’re allowed to want this,” he murmurs, like he’s reading your mind.

That pulls a soft sob out of you, as you ball up the fabric of his T-shirt in your hands and cling to it. You wanted this so much, it feels almost ethereal now that you’re getting it.

Remus coos sympathetically, his joints cracking painfully as he kneels down fully. He doesn’t mind in the slightest. He starts to gently knead your scalp, his other hand coasting from one shoulder to the other on your back.

You feel like maybe he doesn’t deserve this, your tears and your demandingness. You feel like you have to explain yourself. “I just —“ you try, his heart squeezing at the unnaturally high pitch.

Remus pulls back slightly, making sure to continue to squeeze the fat at your shoulders kindly. He knows you need the touch. His eyebrows bunch up in worry because of how distraught you look. “I…” you mean to apologise. But all that comes out is a timid, “I just really like hugs.”

His expression softens, and you almost see his lips curve upwards. His heart feels like it’s swelling because of how adorable you look, even with your red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. “Yeah?” he breathes softly.

You nod meekly, sniffling as you train your eyes on the ground. Remus notes the pink starting to coat your cheeks, and resists the urge to beam and kiss you stupid.

He gently cups your cheek and begins to thumb it, relieved when you melt into his touch instead of pulling away. “I like hugs, too.”

“No, you don’t.”

Remus lets out a soft chuckle at your slightly accusatory tone. “If you want hugs, sweetheart, I’ll give them to you. I really don’t mind. In fact, I’d hold you 24/7 if you wanted.”

“You would?” your eyes light up a bit as you tilt your head up to look at him with a hopeful gaze.

Remus smiles sympathetically — he can’t believe you were so upset over something he would so easily give you. He wasn’t exactly used to physical touch, but for you, he was willing to try. “I would, dove.”

Remus can’t stop the lovesickness which drips into his voice like honey as he thumbs at your cheeks. He ducks his head to meet your eyes, grinning when you meet his gaze and give him a small smile. “Sweetheart, I wanna be with you for the long haul. So you have to tell me when something’s wrong, okay?”

“Okay,” you mumble, flustered with the attention. You felt yourself melting at the affection in his gaze.

This time, he can’t stop the wide smile from curving his lips as he cups your cheeks and presses a soft kiss to your nose. “I love you, sweet thing. Just say the word, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

hello maeee!! i hope youre well!!

ive been STRUGGLING with higher level classes recently and its absolutely killing me 😭

could you maybe write something about reader who struggles academically (whether it be on certain subjects, procrastination, overworking , etc. is completely up to you!) with poly!marauders/one of the marauders??

sorry if youve already written something like this, this request is a bit self indulgent 😭

-💡

Hi angel, I'm really sorry you've been going through it! Thank you for requesting though, all the best requests are a bit self indulgent ;)

cw: academic stress

poly!marauders x fem!reader ♡ 678 words

James is a patient teacher, and in an effort to repay his kindness you’re really trying to keep your tears from falling. 

You keep your eyes steadfastly on your potions textbook as you flip through it. You’re blinking rapidly, looking for the chapter that contains yet another bit of information you’ve failed to retain, when Remus’ warm hand closes over your shoulder. 

“Careful,” he warns, bringing a steaming mug of coffee around you to set it on one of your closed books. 

“Thank you.” Your relief is immense. You’re the sort of tired that makes your eyes hurt and your brain feel dead, thoroughly worn out by hours of studying. You pick it up and take a sip. Look at your boyfriend in betrayal. “Decaf?” 

Remus gives you a look. “It’s evening, dove. You won’t be able to sleep.” 

“I’ve got some sleeping draught for later.” 

“Ah, substance abuse.” Sirius tosses you a grin from where he’s lounging on his bed, his own homework long since finished. “Must be very dark times.” 

Your face feels suddenly very hot. You turn it down towards your book again, but the quiet splat of a tear dripping off your nose and onto the pages gives you away. 

“Hey, hey.” Sirius sounds immediately panicked. “I’m joking, abuse whatever substances you like.” 

“Angel, what’s wrong?” James’ voice is surprised, but his hand finds your back anyway, rubbing between your shoulders firm and sure. “It’s okay. We’re nearly done.” 

You suck in a breath, hoping to collect yourself but horrified when it only triggers another hiccup of sobs. You put your hands at your hairline, hiding yourself. 

“I’m going to have to sucker punch Slughorn,” Sirius says, sounding mildly horrified at this realization. 

“Dove.” Remus steps in front of you, lifting your chin. “What’s going on? Are you tired, is that it?” 

You nod pathetically, tears carving hot paths down both cheeks. “I just feel s—so stupid,” you whimper. 

Remus’ brows hook in the middle, but it’s James who says, “Hey, why?” 

He thumbs away the wetness from the cheek closest to him, encouraging you to look at him with his hand on your face. His eyes are big and warm behind his glasses. 

“Because you’re having trouble with your homework? That happens to everyone sometimes.” 

You shake your head. “It used to be sometimes. I don’t know what it is, this year—” you stifle another sob “—I feel like I can’t understand anything anymore.” 

Remus sighs. “I think you’re just overworking yourself, sweetheart.” 

You almost want to laugh. “You think this is the result of working too much?” 

“I think that schoolwork is all you’ve been doing lately,” he says patiently. “I understand that you might be having a difficult time with the upper levels this year, but you’re not going to absorb anything new if you don’t take some breaks.” 

“True,” Sirius pitches in. “That invigoration draught you keep under your bed is making you twitchy, babe. You can hardly expect to pay proper attention in class when you’re nearly bouncing out of your seat.” 

Remus’ eyes narrow. “What?” 

“Bollocks.” Sirius makes a face. Sorry, he mouths to you. 

“Let’s go to dinner,” James saves you, closing your textbook and vanishing your coffee with a flick of his wand. “It’ll be good for you to think about other things for a bit, and we’ll finish up when we get back.” 

The prospect of a break relaxes you enough for your tears to abate. James swipes the remainders from your cheeks and pushes at the corner of your lips until you smile halfheartedly. 

Remus hums his approval. “You need to eat something proper,” he says, pinching you sternly under the chin, “and stop trying to usurp your circadian rhythm with potions.” 

“Substance abuse,” Sirius quips, hopping down from his bed to lead the way to the great hall, “best kept for the weekends, as I always say.” 

“Do you always say that?” James wonders aloud. “Seems rather impromptu.” 

“Well, that’s the mark of a good line, Jamesie. It always sounds off the cuff.”

LILYYYY OH MY GOD THIS IS HEARTBREAKING 😭😭😭 I love how wonderfully you described her emotions omg and sadie 🥹🫶 remus ruined things so bad ☹️ but the way it ended gaaaaah I really thought I was gonna get a happy ending!!! you have me sobbing but I love it <3

Death By A Thousand Cuts

wc- 5k

tw: bad break up; drinking; hangover; dickish remus;

a/n; my angels... i am so sorry for how depressive this one is. i kinda let my emotions take over. this isn't by any means a happy fic it is a heartbreaking one. read with caution my angels!!

˚☽˚.˚.˚☽˚.

You hadn’t expected this. It was like a punch to the gut having gone through with this. Yet here you were. Feeling the worst that you’ve ever felt in ages. How was this supposed to be fair? How was this what you and Remus came out to? How did six years together turn into this? None of it made any sense anymore. It was as if the plug had been pulled and the lights were turned off. This was the worst feeling ever. You think this is the worst you’d ever feel. Turns out it unfortunately wasn’t.

˚☽˚.˚.˚☽˚.

You were driving back from your Remus’ apartment. Instead of taking the way that normally took you fifteen minutes you took the other way, the long way. A lot had happened when you went to go see your boyfriend. A lot of which you wished never occurred. The sinking feeling in your stomach didn’t go away. Tears in your eyes made it hard to focus on the cars around you. But you knew that you were approaching a stop light. When you arrived you looked up at them almost as if you were asking them if you’d be okay. And in a weird way it was as if they were responding. The normal circles that were there were now replaced with broken hearts. It shocked you, and you took that as a sign. Once the broken heart turns green you speed off. Crying the whole way you tried your hardest to process what just happened. 

You and Remus had agreed to a date night at his apartment. So you had driven up to his place. You were staying the night at your sister's, which just meant you were actually living in your apartment. She had wanted to have a girls weekend with you. So instead of residing with your boyfriend like you normally did you were with your sister. Which accounted for the extra time that you weren’t with Remus, and why you had to go and drive to a Remus’. You were expecting something sweet like always, a baking date or coffee and reading. Possibly, even a movie. But there was absolutely nothing that could have ever happened that would prepare you for what actually went down. What was the point of it? Why did you have to go through with that? It also wasn’t like there was much of a choice. Remus made his choice. You guys were done. There was nothing else you could do but dreadfully agree. 

“Y/n?” Your sister asks as you enter the kitchen. There she stood clad in her apron as she turned around, shock graced her features. Sadie had known that you were going out with your boyfriend. So she didn’t expect you to be back until midnight. Seeing you in her kitchen at 9:30 making it no more than an hour that you had left made her feel something she didn’t want to feel. Dropping the spoon back into the batter she flocked to you, concern is evident throughout her entire being. 

“What happened? Y/n?” Her words sounded far despite being right next to you. You look up at her tears welling in your eyes not wanting to fully come to peace with this. But there you stood. Having to accept the fact that you and Remus weren’t a thing anymore. It hurts your heart thinking about it and not wanting to accept it. But your sister stood in front of you, concern lacing her entire being. She didn’t know what happened and it was terrifying to her.

“Remus,” You managed, “He,” another breath before you could say it. The pressure not leaving your chest as you tried to say the final bit. You doubted you needed to. Sadie was smart much like yourself. She had to have pieced it together. You’d be concerned if she hadn’t. 

“He broke up with me.” The moment the words left your mouth you had begun sobbing. It was terrible. It made you feel sick. Sadie engulfed you into a tight embrace. She let you cry in her arms in the same way Remus would. You hated that you were comparing them right now but you couldn’t help it. You had been with Remus for six years. You have known him for a little more than half your life. You thought you were going to get married. Remus was your forever. So why was he leaving you? Sadie had noticed your tears had slowed down and she gently pulled away from you being as cautious as ever,

“Y/n? I’m making some brownies, if I send Aaron to go get us some Ben and Jerry’s we could eat some yeah?” Sniffling, you nod and she smiles. She proceeds to instruct you to change into some pyjamas and to go take a shower to help your nerves calm down. While you were doing this she called Aaron, her boyfriend, asking him to bring home wine, champagne, orange juice, ice cream and plenty of ice. Aaron, the loving boy he was, went straight to the market to collect the things his girlfriend and practical sister in law needed. You stood in the shower with the water hitting your back. Your tears had stopped long before you had gotten into the shower. You were now just staring at the wall. Motionless, everything around you was too much. The usual music you played was gone. You turned off the water and just stared at the wall.The smile that graced your face thinking about seeing Remus and him being able to identify which body scrub you had used? No longer a thing. It pained you to think about all the things you had lost. It was truly a terrible feeling. Your mind ran through all the memories of Remus and it made your heart clench. The worst of it was the fight playing in your head.

You had entered Remus’ apartment and he was telling you for weeks that you two needed to have a stay in date. You agreed knowing how long it  had been since you and Remus had one of those dates. It was long and few times when you and Remus could both stay in. He was almost always busy with work and you were too. So those moments were more meaningful to the two of you when you had them. Slowly you entered the apartment assuming Remus was sleeping or doing something in his bedroom. He had given you a copy of his key four years ago. He had told you that you could come and go as you pleased and that there were drawers for you. You hadn’t moved in fully with him since you and your sister had both finished the process of leasing. Seeing as you and your sister lived together there weren’t reasons to find an apartment. You began taking your coat, shoes and scarf off. As you were hanging the items up you heard the familiar squeaking of the bedroom door. Smiling to yourself you turn around beaming at your boyfriend. 

“Baby!” You smile getting on your toes beckoning him for a kiss. He gives you a quick peck and immediately pulls away. Hurt briefly washed over your features but subsided slightly when he grabbed your hand pulling you both to the couch, the air was tight and you were getting a sinking feeling. There weren’t cups waiting for you, no movie and definitely no surprise gift. This wasn’t what you thought it was but you’re beginning to think you know what it really is. 

“Y/n, we need to talk.” Those four words left Remus’ mouth and just like that your world stopped. The happiness you had felt driving up was gone. The anticipation as to what you would be doing with Remus was gone. You were left with a terrible feeling of hurt. 

“What about!” You try to sound excited but Remus’ flat expression makes you feel sick. You could feel the tears begging to be released. But you wouldn’t not until he said what he needed to talk to you about. Remus didn’t know how to put this, he had loved you for twelve years. He had dated you for six. And now he was facing the reality that he couldn’t be with you any longer. Not because you weren’t worth it. No, far from it. It’s because he felt that he wasn’t worth it for you. It had been a battle that he had faced for years. Especially when dating you. He thought the world of you and based on his lycanthrope he didn’t understand why you would want to date him. Much less why you had stayed with him this long.

“I think we should break up.” Remus stared at you and you felt your brain stop. Nothing made sense. You wanted to throw up, actually you think you may.

“I’m going to be sick,” No other words left your mouth as you ran to the restroom effectively getting all the sick out. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. No, you refuse to accept it. 

“Y/n? Are you okay?” Remus calls from the door. A groan escapes your lips as you flush the toilet and make your way to the sink. You take in your appearance. The perfectly done makeup, smeared. Your hair was still okay. The cute red sundress you bought for Remus now made you feel so stupid. You exit the bathroom, your face looking blank. It effectively matched your current emotional state. You felt like utter shite. 

“Y/n please talk to me,” You turn to him wanting to scream at him. He just told you he wanted to break up with you and he expects you to want to talk it out? You gave him six fucking years of your life. And he wants you to talk about him wanting to call quits?

“About what Remus?” Your voice was flat. It was now Remus’ turn to feel sick. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy to break up with you. He knew he’d eventually be okay but he hadn’t thought about how you’d handle it initially. He didn’t think about how you would have reacted to the actual notion of him saying he wants to break up. The two of you talked which translated to he told you why he wanted to break up and you sat there waiting for him to be done. It wasn’t until then that you felt a familiar furry feeling on your lap. You look down and see Willow. She was yours and Remus’ baby lab. She was barely a year old. Looking down at her your tears began to well again. Remus needed her more than you, you knew that. So you said your last good bye to her. Tearfully and absolutely heartbroken you look at Remus,

“Bye Rem. I love you.” Was the last thing you told him as you closed the door completely breaking down in tears. 

You mindlessly put on your comfiest pyjamas. Which was an old baggy t-shirt and baggy pyjama pants that had little bears on them. Your hair was now damp from the time you had spent staring at the wall. Inhaling you look at your appearance. Your eyes look terrible. Opening a cabinet you take out eye drops, put them on in hopes it cuts down the redness of your bloodshot eyes. It was a sad sight to see. Opening the door you see your  sister had managed to rearrange your living room to have an impromptu movie night, you give her a tired smile and walk to the sofa. 

“Sadie, you are a literal angel.” She laughs and hands you a blanket. 

“Y/n need I remind you that you did this same exact thing for me when Tommy broke up with me?” You give her an apologetic smile. You did remember. It was her fifth year and she had come home to you telling you she had broken up with Tommy. You managed to set up your dorm to look very similar to how your current living room was, minus the alcohol. You got a projector and you had some films that you could use and the two of you watched shitty movies together and laughed. It was something that was your way of knowing you’d always be there even if you fought and hated each other sometimes you were still sisters.

“I know.” You offer up a water smile. She rubs her hand on your knee and hands you a glass of wine. You accept it with a smile and sip it as she hands you a pint of Ben & Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough. She smiles at you and proceeds to scroll through Hulu trying to find the perfect movie. Finally she landed on, 

As the movie played the two of you drank from the two bottles of alcohol in attempts to aid the underlying heartache. You sister had about two cups of each. You ended up finishing the rest. You fell asleep absolutely hammered. Tomorrow should be fun. 

˚☽˚.˚.˚☽˚.

You woke up your head was aching and the urge to want to take your head off completely became more and more compelling. You look at your phone waiting to see if Remus had texted you good morning. Right, he isn’t going to. You were over. Getting up from your previously laid down position your head proceeds to pound. On your night stand your sister had placed Advil and a glass of water for you. She knew how much you drank and she knew that you’d need it; But all the bottles in the world couldn’t fix the pain that was in your heart. Remus wasn’t your baby anymore and no wine bottles or Advil would help soothe that. You track your way to the bathroom internally cursing yourself for having drank that much. 

“How are you feeling?” Sadie asked as she too found her way to the bathroom. You shoot her a glare, deciding her volume was much too loud. She bit back a smile at your reaction and repeated her question in a softer tone. 

“Like I need a hammer to my head.” You respond and she has to fling her hand over her mouth. She saw how much you had drunk and well, assumed youd be in a pissed mood in the morning but she was okay with that. She knew that you needed this. Once you had freshened up you two both migrated to the living room. Sadie had cleaned up last night, putting the blankets back, cleaning the empty bottles and the ice cream pints. You glance around the apartment and a sinking feeling begins to set in. Almost as if sensing your sister appears from behind you. She doesn’t say anything and pulls you into a hug. You tighten your grip and squeeze her. She was your support. 

“Want taco bell?” You laugh knowing she wasn’t serious, but pull away and give her a sly smirk. 

“Spicy noodles?” She smiles and walks with you to the kitchen. When you and Sadie celebrated her 18th she wanted to go drinking. As her older sister you went with her and a group of your friends. Your boyfriend was there of course and he had told the story so many times you knew it by memory. Story goes you and Sadie were piss drunk and the only thing you two wanted were spicy noodles. So now when you are hungover you both want your spicy noodles. Which sounded amazing. 

“So, what happened last night?” Sadie asked cautiously as she began cooking the noodles. You leaned on the counter not sure if you wanted to talk about it yet. 

“Remus broke up with me,” you answer. 

“No shit. Why?” You roll your eyes. Thinking back you weren’t even sure why he was breaking up with you. 

“He said that we were too different now and that we need different people to grow into better people. He said that I needed to do better.” You say staring off at anything else. 

“Bullshit!” Sadie shouts. You glare at her for her volume but she doesn’t apologise. 

“No bullshit! Remus fucking Lupin? The man who bought you a case, a case of black tea because you said you had run low during the first year and gave it to you the next week? That Remus Lupin thinks that he isn’t better for you? The same one who came running, like literally ran to our house in the snow may I add, when he found out that you had measles? The same one who got down on his knees to ask you to the Yule ball? The one who got down on one knee after graduation-” You cut her off knowing all the incredibly sweet things that Remus had done for the past twelve years.

“Sades I know! I know all the stupidly sweet things he’s done. But that’s what he said. He said that he wanted to call it quits.” You shrug as you move to help her with the sauce.

“I don’t buy it. It’s fucking weird that all of a sudden he thinks that you can do better and that he isn’t enough? What fucking gives?” You glance at her and see how pissed she looks. If you didn’t know her any better you would assume she would drive to his flat and kick his arse. In the midst of the whole fiasco, your phone buzzed. You check it and your mood furthers to another depressive low. 

“Sadie?” Sadie could hear the change in your tone. She recognised the sound of tears. Turning to look at you, you hand her your phone. She sees it. It was a message from Remus telling you he put all of your things in boxes that were ready for you to pick up. Reading that made you feel sick again, you blamed it on the alcohol. Sadie felt like she could kill him, and scarily enough you felt like she would. So she took your phone and responded. 

“What did you say?”

“That we’ll be there in thirty. Go change. I’ll wait for you in the car.” She didn’t even give you a chance to argue instead pushing you to go and get ready to not look like you were stuck in a depressive episode. Instead you looked like you had been calm and collected before you had left. You change into a pair of jeans and a red long sleeved shirt. Deciding it was okay enough you exit your room and begin locating your shoes. Slipping them on you then meet your sister who surely was in the car awaiting your arrival. The drive to Remus’ was dreadful. Your heart had been tightening and you weren’t in the slightest prepared for what was set to come. When you had arrived Sadie parked the car, locked you in her car and went straight to the door. She wouldn’t let you go face Remus. There were also many words she wanted to say to him. 

While you remained in the car Remus was having his arse chewed out by your younger sister. 

“What the actual fuck is wrong with you?” Were the first words that Remus heard as he opened the door. He would be lying if he said he wished it was you at the door. When he saw Sadie another level of guilt hit him. Sadie and Remus had gotten awfully close while you and him dated. He took Sadie in like your guys’ child. He took care of her as such. Seeing her here in front of him and seething, was a punch in the stomach for him. 

“Sades-”

“It’s Sarah to you.”  Remus swallowed hard. It wasn’t common for Sadie to ever make anyone call her Sarah. If she did she didn’t ever speak to that person on regular terms. Having Remus call her Sarah was a terrible feeling for Remus. 

“Sorry. Sarah Please let me explain.” Sadie shook her head and pushed past him. She was familiar with the layout of his apartment. You had only been living there for four years. She knew it just as well as she knew yours. Walking into the living room she looked at Remus expectantly. Waiting for him to give her your boxes. 

“They’re in my bedroom. I’ll go get them.” Sadie nods and looks around the familiar apartment. The pictures of you and Remus were taken down and it made her heart hurt a little. There was one that caught her eye though. This one looks like it was bolted into the wall. It was a picture of you and Remus, it was taken during your last year of Hogwarts. When you both had graduated. The picture showed Remus on his knee and your hands on your mouth. Sadie had gone closer to the picture and she recognised what Remus was holding. It was your pearl ring. You had gotten that ring when you graduated. Sadie assumed you bought it. She didn’t know how. And by the image of the photo, it looked like a promise ring. At least she hoped it was a promise ring. That would make this hurt less if it was. Remus came back to the living room and saw Sadie staring at the picture. 

“It was a promise ring.” He said, and she now wished he hadn’t. She thought it would have been better if it was a promise ring but considering that she knew that he had to have promised something to her and you two breaking up sort of ruined that promise.

“Some promise.” Sadie spoke as she took the four boxes Remus had. She could only take two and she wasn’t going to have him help and take them out. She wouldn’t do that to you.  

“You stay here. I’m taking these then I’ll come back for those.” Remus nods and watches Sadie go to your car. He could see you in the passenger seat. You looked good, well from a distance. He couldn’t see your tear-stained face, or the sunken in eyes. He could see the sad look on your face. Sitting in the car you felt like there were thousands of little cuts all around your heart. It was a sinking feeling if you were honest. It wasn’t anything like you could have imagined. It felt like the thousands of cuts were slowly making their way to kill you. Is this what dying felt like? The thousand tiny cuts? It couldn't? Sadie had gone back to the door while you were contemplating your symptoms. 

“Remus?” Sadie asked the man. 

“Hm?” He couldn’t look at her.

“Why did you do it?” She asked, there was now hurt in her voice and that made Remus break.

“She needs someone who won’t bring her down, she needs someone who won’t give their children a life that could be ruined with the chance of being a lycanthrope. She needs a partner not a child. She’s been with me since she was 18. Sad- Sarah I think it's time I let her go and let her be happy.” Sadie laughed. It wasn’t a humorous laugh, it was a sad dry laugh. Almost like it was on impulse that she laughed. 

“Remus. My sister loves you. She loved you so much when she found out about your lycanthropy, she began doing hours of research. She would go to bed when the sun would come out because she was learning everything there was to know about it. She wanted to make sure she knew how to help you. When she learned it was hereditary? She began researching how to help little kids with lycanthropy. She would never, ever dare dream of leaving you because of that. So if that’s why you were breaking up with her. I truly hope you find someone who is either lycanthrope themselves or has put as many tears, blood and sweat into the research like my sister did. I loved you Remus I really did and I was excited to have you as my brother in law. I’m going to miss you but if that's how low you thought of my sister I think it's for the better. See you around Mr. Lupin.” And with that Sadie put the last two boxes into the car and got in with you. 

Remus stood at the door shocked about what he had found out. He didn’t know that you had put so much thought into lycanthropy. He didn’t even know there were books on how to help kids navigate being a lycanthrope. He felt like a major dick. He just broke your heart because he didn’t think you could handle life with his lycanthropy. Maybe he was being selfish, maybe it was him who wasn’t ready.

˚☽˚.˚.˚☽˚.

It had been two months of you trying to get drunk and forget Remus but no amount of drinking could do that. Nor did countless dress ups help. You knew that it would take time. But apart from missing Remus you also missed Willow. You missed her jumping into your lap and just comforting you. You missed having her with you. So around three weeks after the breakup you convinced your sister to bring a dog into the apartment. You adopted a border collie. She was brown and white. She was your life, her name wasPoppyy. She was the cutest dog ever. She wasn’t Willow but she was your Poppy. She was your baby. Sadie had been gone at work for the past hour. She had been called in to work an evening shift. So she had to leave you and Poppy. She was normally in charge of walkingPoppyy around the park. 

“Poppy, my love ready?”Poppy ran into the living room excitedly,  she was wagging her tail. She loved her walks, but she loved it even more when you were the one who took her. She loved Sadie of course, but she loved you a little more. You let her sleep with you and let her curl up into your side when you were sitting.Poppy was in every sense of the word your baby. When she had gotten closer to you she let you attach her leash to her collar. She looked up at you happily and couldn’t wait for you to take her out. Opening your door you walk out with Poppy. She did her normal routine of sniffing every single flower that she found on the way to the park. You didn’t mind since these were as much help toPoppyy as they were to you. Arriving at the dog park you let Poppy off her leash and let her interact with all the other dogs. You had to admit it did hurt a little that you weren’t here with Willow or Remus, but you had Poppy now. Watching Poppy run around and play with some other dogs you notice a flash of dark fur flash by you. You saw the same flash but this time running straight at you. Fear coursed through your body as you watched the figure get closer. As the figure got close you realised that it was Willow. Fear returned but this time it was because you knew if she was here Remus wouldn’t be far behind. Sure enough Remus had showed up. You were sitting there looking at him. He looked like a stranger now. His once cleaned shaved face had stubble, his warm eyes looked distant. The usual bagged eyes seemed to be sunken in more than usual, and he looked even slimmer than when you had seen him last. Glancing around  you tried to locate Poppy before Remus could approach you. But Willow wasn’t letting you. Willow was stuck to you much like Poppy. Since she wouldn't move, Remus quickly approached.

“Y/n hi.” You look up at him unsure of how to respond to him. 

“Hi.” Your voice was so small that you didn’t even think you sounded like yourself. 

“How are you doing? How have you been?” The casualness in his voice didn’t make you feel good. It made you feel like he was pushing, pushing to know how you were getting over him. You weren’t fond of it. 

“I’m fine. Poppy?” You say averting your glance and trying to find Poppy. 

“Um, that’s great. I’ve been fine. Oh, your ring-” You glance down at your hand and you stare at the golden band. When Remus broke up with you, you kept it as a reminder that he was your first love. Now you wore it because it was a present, a present because you had finished all your wizarding school.

“My ring. Yes I still wear my ring.” You began to get up and continued to shout for Poppy. 

“Look Y/n I want to apologise-” once again you cut him off.

“Remus. We cut things off two months ago. You said you didn’t want to be with me anymore and thought that I would  be able to, move on and find someone better. But you fail to understand that I would have given anything for you. I gave everything for you. It didn’t matter because you think I don’t deserve you. You never gave me that chance, Remus. You made that choice for me. Now I get to look back at the window of our love even if I have it boarded up. You were my world. Now you're my friend again.” Remus stood staring at you shock ridden in his features. He couldn’t come to terms with the fact that you weren’t his baby anymore. And he was all to blame. 

“Y/n I am so sorry that I caused this pain to you. I am so sorry angel. I still love you. I didn’t want to break up with you but I thought you could do better. Y/n please forgive me.” You suck in a breath as Poppy has made her way back to  you. She was nuzzling onto your side trying to comfort you. 

“Remus, I forgive you. But I can’t trust you. Take care of yourself Lupin. Take care of her too.” Turning around you leave. Tears streamed down your face. And that familiar pain was back. The pain of a thousand cuts against your paper thin glands. You would be alright if it was just a thousand cuts. 

aaaagh i agree our baby deserves the world!! 😭😭 thank you so much brooke i love you! 🫶

heaven | r.l.

i don’t know what this is… not a fic, more like a word vomit about remus loving you HAHA enjoy <3

Remus Lupin wasn’t religious in one way or another. But even he knew you were godsent. 

Passed out, lying with twisted limbs and a drool-filled mouth; you looked nothing short of an angel.

He touches you, you don’t stir. That’s good, he thinks. It means he has more time to love you without having to accept undeserved affection in return. 

He’d asked the question a thousand times, thought about it even more. Why me? And you’d smile at him like he wasn’t a monster, like he wasn’t born to kill. Who else? you’d say. And that’s when Remus realised that it doesn’t take kindness to love somebody; all it takes is that ache in your heart and burn in your fingertips. He wasn’t kind; yet he loved you.

The tips of his fingers dance across your cheek, feeling the soft skin on which his lips had made their home. He has unordinary courage tonight; he dares to bring his other hand to rest on the bend in your hip.

He brushes his thumb, featherlike, underneath your shirt. His shirt. You make a soft sound, and it’s all he needs to hear to know what heaven sounds like.

Remus had never felt like yours was more than a title until he met you. He was yours, yours to love, yours to break, yours to throw away. He belonged to you, and that was the greatest badge of honour any man could wear. He wanted you to touch him, make your mark upon him until it burnt, and he’d thank you for branding him with the etch of your thumbprint.

You were perfect; in every sense of the word. He’d learn every tongue till he was fluent in showing you how utterly divine you were. The dark lines on your thighs didn’t bother him nearly as much as they did you, and neither did the scars. He cursed himself reverently for his own; but never yours. Every mark on your being was a part of you, every inch of your skin a holy grail he’d read without complaint.

He’d worship you if you’d let him. Let his hands find their haven in every nook and crevice of your perfect body, whisper feverish words of cadence and cruelty till you screamed his name. You allowed him to touch you; and that was enough for now.

As he feels you now, mindlessly splaying his hands on your bare back, your eyes flutter open. Remus doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to the jerk of his heart stopping when you look at him like that. You reach for him with a smile even in half-lidded consciousness; he goes without protest because it’s you.

He knew forever wasn’t a word meant for lovers. But for now, he can hold you in his arms and hear your heartbeat when you pull him in. You'll let him tell you he loves you till the grave, and that is compensation enough.

ummm that's actually me looking at you gorgeous 🤭🤭 love you sosososo much lily you're an angel and more 🫶🫶🫶 sending you the biggest hug rn <333

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS OMG r and pansy's friendship is the cutest thing ever!!! also mattheo..... such a bitch........ please fuck off 🤬 and i adore how theo didnt have a hookup for months because he loves her aghhhh im in love with his softness towards her 😭🫶

Peonies ; part three

Pairing: Theo Nott x Fem!Reader

Summary: Theo and reader get even closer, and Mattheo is not a fan.

Word Count: 5280

Warnings: Unrequited love & Mattheo and Reader get into it. Let me know if there’s more!

A/N 💌 God, this took me forever to write. I struggled with writers block so badly on this, so if it’s not my best work, I apologize. As always, thank you to @moonpascal for reading, helping me with ideas, and just providing support and comfort. I love you!

SERIES MASTERLIST <3

“Y’good?” Theo looks up from the fire, his gaze shifting to Blaise, who’s now standing beside the couch. The flames had been the only company he’d had for hours. It was late—he couldn’t say exactly how late—just that the common room had emptied long ago, and he’d been sitting there long after everyone else had gone to bed.

“Yeah,” Theo sighs, his eyes drifting back to the flickering flames. “I’m good.” His words are hollow, almost as if he’s trying to convince himself. Blaise watches him for a moment, studying the tension in his posture, before quietly sitting down in the empty space beside him. Neither of them speaks, both of them watching as the flames dance.

Blaise leans back, glancing at Theo before breaking the silence. “You don’t look it,” he says, his voice calm but direct.

“Just thinking.” Theo just shrugs, his shoulders barely lifting, the gesture heavy with indifference. Blaise watches him for a moment, waiting, giving him the space to say something more—but the silence stretches.

“About her?”

Theo’s reaction is answer enough. He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair with a tired frustration. For a brief moment, he pauses, elbows resting on his knees, his head cradled in his hands.

He drops his hands slowly, lifting his head to glance over at Blaise, his eyes tired, “When am I not?”

Blaise smiles slightly at his words. He’s known for years that Theo liked you—it was impossible to miss. From the moment Mattheo introduced you, Blaise vividly remembers the way Theo looked at you, as if his breath had been knocked from his lungs.

He was completely undone in a single glance.

And if that hadn’t been enough of a giveaway, the little things Theo did for you over the years certainly were—grabbing your favorite sweets from Hogsmeade when you couldn’t make the trip, offering help before you even had to ask, his gaze always seeking you out no matter how crowded the room. It was undeniable, even if Theo never spoke it aloud.

“Listen, mate,” Blaise begins, casting a quick glance at Theo, gauging his expression before continuing. “Do you think this is a good idea?”

“What?”

“Helping her get over Mattheo while you’re in love with her yourself.” Blaise's words hang in the air, and Theo's jaw tightens instinctively, a storm of emotions flickering across his face.

He wants to deny that he’s in love with you, but deep down, he knows it’s pointless. The truth is unquestionable; he’s been drawn to you for years, but these last few months have sent him falling even deeper.

How was he ever supposed to get over you when every moment only pulled him deeper? The way your fingers slipped so easily into his, like they belonged there, the soft curve of your lips as his thumb traced gentle circles over your skin. How sleeping over in your dorm had somehow become routine—he was sure Pansy was staying with Blaise on purpose to give him space with you. And those long walks around the castle, meant to distract you from Mattheo and Veronica, had turned into something else entirely—talks that lasted for hours, about everything and nothing, but always feeling like more.

It’s why he hasn’t left this couch in hours, struggling with the weight of his feelings. The realization hits him hard: he’s completely fallen for you, and he’s trapped. Because in your eyes, he’s just a friend, and that thought feels like a punch to the gut.

“She asked me to, and I can’t say no to her,” Theo replies, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and resignation. “I’ve never been able to.”

“You’re going to get yourself hurt if you’re not careful.” Blaise warns, his tone serious.

“We’ve long passed that point.” Theo sighs.

.·。.·゜✭·.·✫·゜·。.

“Where in Hogsmeade do you get the flowers?” You glance over at Theo, sitting next to you on the common room couch, your question pulling him from his thoughts. Whatever everyone else was talking about had long since lost your interest, and if Theo were honest, he’d admit he wasn’t listening either. How could he be, with you so close? The heat of your body nearly pressed into his side, making it impossible for him to think straight.

“What?” He replies, but the pause lingers just a little too long. He's stalling, clearly hesitant to admit the truth—that the flowers aren't from Hogsmeade.

“The peonies.” You murmur, shifting until you're turned toward him, tucking yourself into his side. His arm rests casually on the back of the couch, and the sudden closeness feels intimate.

“What shop do you get them from?” You ask, your voice so soft it nearly melts him.

His mind goes blank the moment he sees you nestled against his side, looking up at him through your lashes. The way your gaze lingers on him, so close, steals any coherent thought he might have had.

“Why?” He asks, feigning casualness.

“I wanted to get some for myself,” you shrug, “I’ve never seen peonies so beautiful before.”

“No,” Theo responds so quickly that it catches you off guard, an amused eyebrow arching as you glance at him in surprise. The truth is, he hates the idea of you picking your own flowers—he wants to be the one to give them to you. “I’ll just take you with me next time I go, yeah?”

“Yeah.” You nod in agreement, a soft smile tugging at your lips, clearly content with his answer. As you turn back to the conversation, that smile still lingers, and Theo can’t help but admire you for a moment, a quiet satisfaction settling in knowing he was the reason for it. But when he glances back up, his gaze meets Mattheo’s.

Mattheo’s brow furrows as he shifts his gaze between you and Theo, a flicker of suspicion darkening his eyes. Without thinking, Theo drops his arm, casually wrapping it around your shoulders in a possessive gesture—one he knows he shouldn’t make. Your body instinctively leans into him, sending a warmth coursing through Theo; it feels so natural to have you this close. Mattheo’s expression tightens just slightly, his gaze lingering a heartbeat too long before he finally looks away.

You barely have time to enjoy being cuddled into Theo’s side, before Pansy turns to you. Both of you exchange annoyed glances at something particularly ridiculous Draco just said, rolling your eyes in unison. But then her expression shifts from irritation to excited disbelief as she catches sight of you nestled against Theo, his fingers absentmindedly tracing gentle patterns on your skin.

Pansy can’t help but raise her eyebrows, a grin spreading across her face as she processes the scene before her. Before you can send her a warning look, she’s on her feet, leaving Blaise protesting. “It’s time for bed,” She declares, pointedly looking at you. “And you’re coming with me.”

You sigh, knowing all too well that Pansy would make a scene if you didn’t follow her lead. Reluctantly, you lean forward, easing yourself out of Theo’s grasp, but before fully pulling away, you pause. Gently, you press a soft kiss to his cheek, your lips lingering for just a moment longer than usual. “Goodnight,” you murmur quietly, the words almost lost in the space between you before you finally stand.

Pansy, giddy and practically buzzing with excitement, grabs your hand and tugs you toward your dorm, both of you tossing casual goodnights over your shoulders to the boys. Blaise grumbles loudly about not getting a proper goodnight from his girlfriend, while Theo remains silent, a soft pink flush creeping across his cheeks as he watches you walk away, still feeling the warmth of your kiss lingering on his skin.

You catch the sound of the boys teasing Theo the moment they assume you're out of earshot, their playful jabs and laughter unmistakable as they seize the opportunity to rib him. Even from a distance, you can imagine Theo's flushed face as he tries—and likely fails—to brush off their teasing.

“Is there something going on between the two of you?” Pansy blurts out the second you step into your dorm, her excitement practically radiating off her as she nearly slams the door shut behind her.

“No, why would you even think that?” You ask, genuinely surprised, but Pansy just stares at you incredulously, like you’ve completely missed the obvious.

“You’re kidding, right?” She says, crossing her arms. “The sleepovers? The hand holding? The fact that you two are practically inseparable?”

“He’s helping me get over Mattheo.” You insist, feeling the need to defend yourself, though even as the words leave your mouth, they sound weaker than you’d like.

After a couple of months of coming to terms with the reality of Mattheo and Veronica, you’ve found that the idea of them together doesn’t sting nearly as much as it once did. Sure, you still dislike seeing them together, but the ache has softened into something more manageable. If anything, what bothers you most now is your lingering dislike for Veronica herself; there’s just something about her that grates on your nerves.

“Babes,” Pansy says, her tone full of disbelief, like you’re the only one who can’t see what’s right in front of you.

“You know I’d tell you if there was something going on.” You say, but even as the words leave your mouth, there's a flicker of doubt in your chest, as if the truth isn’t quite as simple as you want it to be.

“I guess so,” Pansy replies, still eyeing you with clear skepticism, her gaze sharp as if she's waiting for you to admit what you’re not even sure of yet. “Just so you know, I think he’d give you everything if you let him.”

.·。.·゜✭·.·✫·゜·。.

Your conversation with Pansy hasn’t left your mind in days, and quite honestly, it’s driving you a little mad.

I think he’d give you everything if you let him.

You can’t quite tell if Pansy is subtly suggesting that Theo has feelings for you or if she simply likes the idea of the two of you together. Either way, her words have been playing on a loop in your mind, so much so that you’ve started to feel nervous around him.

Every time he looks at you or takes your hand, your thoughts scatter, leaving you utterly flustered. You’re trying your best to hide just how distracted you are around him, but Theo’s definitely noticed. This morning, when he leaned in to whisper something, your mind went completely blank, every thought consumed by him.

Him, him, him.

The warmth of his voice, the way his hand rested on the small of your back as he spoke—it was all you could focus on. The way his attention never wavered, how it was solely on you, made your heart race like it was the only thing that mattered in the room.

And when you failed to respond, he paused, concern flashing in his eyes as his brows furrowed. “You okay?” His voice was soft, genuine, and somehow that only made things worse. You had nodded quickly, plastering on what you hoped was a convincing smile, but inside, your mind was a chaotic mess.

Had he always looked at you that way? Like he was genuinely checking in, always quietly noticing when something was off? It made you wonder if you’d been blind to it all this time or if this was something new, something you’d only just started paying attention to.

You’re so lost in your thoughts that you barely register when Mattheo bumps into you in the hallway. You cast a quick glance his way, ready to keep walking, but he reaches out, gently grabbing your wrist and pulling you back.

“Wait, hold on,” Mattheo says, his grip on your wrist warm yet insistent, his voice edged with irritation and disbelief. “Were you really just going to walk past me?”

“I’m not doing this right now.” You huff, pulling your wrist free from his grasp, trying to mask the frustration that’s been simmering for weeks.

“Doing what?” His voice hardens, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

“Talking to you.” You snap.

“Why the hell not?”

You feel a surge of irritation, meeting his gaze with a fiery glare. “Because you’ve ignored me for the past few months, Mattheo. Why should I care to talk to you now?”

“That’s not fair,” he mutters, his jaw tightening as frustration creeps into his tone. “It’s not that I’ve been ignoring you.”

“The last time we properly talked,” you snap, “you asked for your jersey back—the one you gave me.” The memory of it still stings, and you can’t help but throw it back at him. “So yeah, Mattheo, it’s more than fair.”

He frowns, clearly caught off guard by your words, his eyes flickering with something between guilt and disbelief. “Listen, I know we haven’t hung out much—”

“Are you being serious?” You scoff, folding your arms as if that could somehow shield you from the frustration bubbling inside. “You’ve practically disappeared, Mattheo. You’ve been too busy with your girlfriend to even notice anyone else.” You want to roll your eyes at the way he looks genuinely confused, like he's completely unaware of how he's hurt you.

He opens his mouth to argue, but you don’t give him the chance.

“You don’t get to be annoyed with me for not talking to you,” you bite out, your voice sharp with frustration. “Not when you’ve been doing the exact same thing for months.”

“I’m sorry, okay? I know I’ve spent a lot of time with her, but it’s the same for you and Theo.” His voice shifts, annoyance replacing the guilt. “You’re always with him. Holding hands, spending the night together-what the fuck is that by the way?”

You take a step back, the heat of his words catching you off guard. “We’re just friends, Mattheo. We’re allowed to hang out.” You keep your voice steady, even as your heart races at the accusation in his gaze.

“Friends? Is that really what you’re calling it?” He crosses his arms, the tension in his posture unmistakable. “Because it looks like more to me. You’re always with him.”

You shake your head, a bitter laugh escaping your lips. “And whose fault is that? You pushed me away, Mattheo. What did you expect me to do—just wait around?”

“I just don’t get why you’re always with him. You and Theo—" He cuts himself off, the words hanging between you.

You raise an eyebrow, challenging him to finish, but he stays silent, “Theo and I what?”

He takes a moment, his gaze hardening slightly, as if weighing his words carefully. “You know what? Forget it,” he says, shrugging dismissively. “I really don’t care what you two are up to.”

You scoff, crossing your arms tightly and shooting him a piercing glare. “Oh, come off it, Mattheo. You clearly care. And honestly, what does it matter to you if I spend time with Theo? You’ve been wrapped up in Veronica this whole time.” Your voice drips with sarcasm, each word punctuating the frustration bubbling inside you.

He falters, his frustration twisting into something more vulnerable for a split second before he shakes his head. Hearing her name seems to snap something in him. His jaw clenches, and he takes a slow, measured breath before looking back at you, his expression hardening.

Mattheo meets your eyes, his expression unreadable for a moment before he rolls his shoulders, dismissing the tension. “Honestly? I’ve got enough on my plate with Veronica. I don’t need to waste my time worrying about you and Theo.”

The words sting more than you expect, and for a moment, the air between you thickens with unspoken feelings and unresolved tension. “Right,” you say, trying to keep your voice steady. “Because you’re so busy.”

He turns away, shaking his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the conversation. “Whatever, just... do what you want.”

You watch as he steps back, the distance between you suddenly feeling too large, and you can’t help but wonder how badly damaged your friendship is—or what’s left of it. You’re so angry that you want to cry, and you’re grateful that the halls are empty as Mattheo walks away, leaving you to stand alone in the deserted corridor.

.·。.·゜✭·.·✫·゜·。.

You had promised Pansy you’d be ready in just a few minutes, but half an hour had slipped by while she was in the bathroom and you remained sat on your bed, lost in thought. Your gaze drifted to the pictures of you and Mattheo that adorned the wall, memories captured in each frame. The urge to rip them down clawed at you, but the thought of erasing those moments felt unbearable. Each smile, each laugh shared now felt tainted, leaving you uncertain of what to do with them.

The argument with Mattheo this morning replayed in your mind like a stubborn song on repeat, and the idea of facing him at the party made your stomach twist with anxiety. In all the years of your friendship, you’d rarely fought—occasional bickering was one thing, but this felt different, more profound. The sharpness of his words lingered, and a nagging fear took root: what if this was it? What if this marked the beginning of the end for a friendship you considered so strong?

“You said you’d be ready.” Pansy sighs, casting a disapproving look at the sweatpants you’re wearing. You hadn’t even heard her leave the bathroom.

You glance way from the pictures and send her a half shrug, “I don’t think I’m going to go.”

“Oh, you absolutely are,” Pansy’s heels click against the floor as she heads to her trunk. “If you stay here you won’t stop thinking about earlier.”

You don’t bother responding—you know she’s right. Pansy continues rummaging through her trunk, the sound of fabric rustling filling the room. After a moment, she straightens up, triumphantly holding a sleek dress in hand, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

She shoves the black, silky dress into your hands before pointing at the bathroom, “Go. I’ll find heels for you to wear.”

There’s no point in arguing. Instead, you make your way to the bathroom a slip into the dress, feeling the smooth fabric wrap around you. For a moment, you admire the way it hugs you in the mirror, the cut flattering your body type well. Stepping out, you give a little spin for Pansy, her approving smirk already forming before you even say a word.

“Merlin, that dress was made for you.” Pansy grins as she steps forward, handing you a pair of heels. You take them, slipping them on effortlessly, the added height giving you an extra boost of confidence. Before you can even react, she’s already fussing with your hair, smoothing out stray strands and perfecting every detail. With a quick swipe of lip gloss after making you pout, she steps back, giving you an approving nod.

You can officially call yourself ready.

Pansy laces her fingers through yours as you walk down to the common room. As soon as you step out of your dorm, the noise rushes in, chaotic and overwhelming. You hesitate for a moment, knowing Mattheo is probably at the center of it all. The last thing you want is to run into him after earlier, especially with Veronica around.

You’re relieved when you reach the bottom of the stairs that Pansy has already spotted Blaise, which means the rest of the boys are near. And you’re proven right the moment Pansy pulls you through the crowd. Your eyes land on the boys—everyone except Mattheo—gathered together in their usual spot, laughing and talking like they own the room.

Before you even realize it, your eyes instinctively search for Theo, and it doesn't take long to spot him. He’s leaning casually against the wall with a drink in his hand.

Your breath hitches as your gaze lands on the dark shirt rolled up to his elbows, highlighting his toned arms. The veins tracing down to his hands catch your eye, drawing you in deeper. And those hands—Gods, those hands. An unexpected longing surges within you, a sudden urge to lean into his side, to feel him wrap his arm around your waist, resting his hand on the small of your back, just as he often did.

Ever since his match a couple of weeks ago, it’s as if something has switched within you. No matter how hard you try, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to Theo Nott. It doesn’t help that he’s so attentive, always making sure to check in with you and holding your hand whenever you needed it. In the past couple of months, he has become the one person you feel safest with, the one you can share your thoughts and worries with without hesitation.

Your stomach drops the moment you notice he isn’t alone. A bitter taste creeps into your mouth as you take in the girl standing in front of him—she’s stunning, effortlessly leaning into his space, clearly flirting. A few months ago, you wouldn’t have cared, wouldn’t have given her a second thought, but now it’s all you can focus on. The way she laughs, the way she seems to command his attention—it stings in a way you’re not prepared for.

Without a second thought, you drop Pansy’s hand and head straight toward them. The closer you get, the more her light, flirtatious giggle grates on your nerves, each sound making your stomach twist with irritation. Every step tightens the knot of annoyance building inside you, your focus narrowing in on them, unable to shake the discomfort settling in your chest.

When you draw close to Theo, you reach out and lightly touch his forearm, your fingers trailing down his skin before intertwining with his. It’s a blend of flirtation and possessiveness, and you watch with satisfaction as the girl’s gaze follows your touch.

Theo glances at you, instantly recognizing your touch, but his breath catches in his throat as his eyes travel down your body. Taking in the way the tight black dress hugs your curves, he feels as if his breath has been caught in his throat. The way you’re staring at the girl—your expression unmistakably conveying ‘back off’—stirs something deep within him. He fights the urge to pull you close, his hand finding the back of your neck as he kisses you fiercely, wanting to make it clear that him flirting with another girl is not a possibility.

But he can’t do that.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt—” though you’re not at all. “But I’ve been looking all over for you.” Your gaze flickers up to meet Theo’s, and you catch him watching you with an amused, quirked brow, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“Oh,” she says, straightening up, her expression shifting from surprise to something more calculating. “So the rumors are true? You two are together?”

“If you’ve heard we’re together, then why even bother flirting with him?” You challenge, your voice steady and laced with confidence.

Her lips part in disbelief, and her eyes flicker between you and Theo, who stands beside you, bringing his cup to his lips to stifle the amused smile threatening to break free. The corners of his mouth twitch, betraying his enjoyment, while you stand firm, radiating confidence in the face of her surprise.

She scoffs and turns to leave, causing your confidence to begin slipping away.

Now that it’s just you and Theo, the reality of what you’ve done is sinking in. There’s no way your little display of jealousy didn’t just fuel the rumors that the two of you are together. But not only that, you didn’t deny it when she asked. You keep your eyes on the girl walking away and sigh when you realize she’s gone straight to her friends, no doubt to tell them about how you acted.

“You’re going to have the whole school thinking we’re together.” His voice is soft but teasing, a hint of amusement lacing his words as he holds you close.

He releases your hand, sliding his arm around your waist as he pulls you into him. The move is bolder than usual, more daring than the subtle touches you’re used to from him, and you can't help but blame it on the drink he's holding. His grip is firm, warm, and it sends a rush of heat through you that lingers far longer than it should.

“I’m sorry,” you wince, biting your lip as you glance up at Theo. “I probably just ruined your chances of finding a hookup for tonight.”

In all honesty, you feel more relieved than sorry.

His brow arches slightly, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes. “Who said I was looking for a hookup?”

You scoff lightly, shifting in his hold, though his arm remains firmly wrapped around your waist. “You do remember we’ve been friends for years, right?” Your voice is teasing as you smile up at him.

Theo shrugs like he’s hardly bothered, his expression softening just a bit. “I haven’t hooked up with anyone in months,” he admits quietly, his voice sincere. The closeness between you feels more intimate than ever, the warmth of his body against yours making your heart race.

Suddenly your mind is jumping to the fact that the both of you have been hanging out for months. But there’s no way you’re going to point that out, so instead you smile at him softly before pulling away.

“I’m gonna get a drink. Do you want to come with me?” You extend your hand, and without hesitation, Theo clasps it in his, his grip warm and comforting.

It didn’t take long for you to feel tipsy; with the number of drinks you’ve had, it’s hardly a shock. Theo wasn’t drinking as much as you were, and he certainly wasn’t going to admit it was because he wanted to keep an eye on you.

Typically, he observed from a distance, leaning against the wall with a drink in hand, as you danced and laughed with Pansy and occasionally Enzo. But he realized he liked being the one that was next to you the whole night, and he’d enjoy the parties way more if this is how they all are.

You let out a sigh, and Theo’s brows knit together in curiosity as he looks down at you. You glance into your cup with a hint of disdain, contemplating whether to refill it. But just as you make a move to get more, Theo gently reaches out, stopping you in your tracks.

Earlier you had convinced him to dance with you, and it took plenty of ‘please’s’ on your end to persuade him. Really, the first time you said it had been enough, but he just liked how pretty it sounded falling from your lips. And once he grew tired of dancing, Enzo stepped in while Theo kept an eye on you as he chatted with Draco and Blaise. If he was tired, he couldn’t imagine how you were feeling.

You offer him a grateful smile as you settle back against the wall. Unfortunately, all the couches and chairs are taken, so you find yourself keeping watch, hoping a spot will open up while you take a breather from dancing with Pansy.

“That didn’t take you long.” You comment as someone leans against the wall next to you, but you’re surprised when you see Mattheo in Theo’s place. The sight of him immediately sobers you, and you find yourself standing up straighter, instinctively avoiding his gaze.

“I lied to you earlier,” He exhales slowly, and the tone of his voice reveals that he’s been drinking. He’s not drunk, but you can tell that the alcohol has certainly taken effect, adding a warm haze to his words. “I do care. I care a whole fucking lot actually.”

“No, I’m not doing this with you.” You cross your arms, glancing over at him and Mattheo shifts so he’s fully facing you with one shoulder against the wall.

“Do you know how hard it is to see you with Theo?” He asks, and you scoff, deliberately turning your gaze away from him. “You’ve got no idea how much it hurts.”

“I cannot believe you just said that to me.” Your head snaps to the side, disbelief flooding your voice as you look at Mattheo. “You have a girlfriend.”

“I know,” he replies, frustration creeping into his tone. “But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

“How you feel about me?” Your voice rises, the sarcasm unmistakable.

“I’ve liked you. For years.”

You let out a laugh, disbelief and shock coursing through you. “That’s not funny.”

His expression softens, and he steps closer, desperation flickering in his eyes. “I’m not joking. It’s the truth.”

“Really? You think this is how you show someone you care?” You shake your head, trying to grasp the absurdity of the moment. “You’re with someone else, Mattheo. You can’t just decide to have feelings for me while you’re with her.”

“But I didn’t just decide that while I was with her,” he insists, his voice low and earnest. “I’ve always had them. I tried to push it down, to ignore it, but I can’t anymore. Seeing you with Theo…” His voice trails off, frustration giving way to vulnerability.

“I don’t know what you want me to say.” You sigh, trying to swallow down all your emotions. This is the last place you want to be having this conversation. In fact, you don’t even want to be having it at all.

“I want you to say you have feelings for me too.” Mattheo says and you stare at him in surprise.

Theo stood frozen a short distance away, gripping the fresh drink he had just gotten for you. He knew he shouldn’t be listening in, but when Mattheo confessed his feelings for you, he felt compelled to stay put, unable to move. A knot of dread twisted in his stomach as he braces himself for your response. He knew better than anyone about your feelings for Mattheo, and the possibility that they hadn’t completely faded hadn’t escaped him.

It’s over before he even gets a chance. Your feelings for Mattheo have always been there, and maybe it was delusional of him to think that you getting jealous over him and flirting all night meant he had a chance. But he really believed that your feelings might have changed.

“I can’t say that.” You nearly whisper, and Mattheo looks like you’ve just slapped him.

“Because you have feelings for him?”

His question hangs there, thick with emotion, and you can see the way his eyes search yours for an answer.

Theo doesn’t get to hear your answer because, as you move to get past Mattheo, you catch sight of him, and your face crumples with the weight of emotion, the glimmer of unshed tears evident in your eyes. A wave of concern washes over him, and before he can fully process it, you push past Mattheo, urgency guiding you forward. When you reach Theo, you wrap your arms around his neck, burying your face against his shoulder, and he instinctively pulls you closer, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“Can we leave? I don’t want to be here anymore.” Theo agrees without any hesitation. He glances up at Mattheo, who scoffs in clear irritation, their eyes locking for a brief, tense moment. Theo gently grasps your hand before guiding you through the crowd and to your dorm.

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