𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜

𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚞𝚜 𝚕 - 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐

It had taken months. Months after months of waiting, pining to finally grow the courage to even stand before Remus's door. Today was supposed to be the day where you confessed to him, poured out your heart and admitted how you had harboured the most all-consuming crush on your friend for the past three years. But like most things, it most definitely did not go to plan.

The tell-tale sign should have been how grumpy Remus had been at breakfast. He'd gotten in a habit of buttering your toast for you since he was worried you would forget to eat. However, this morning he did no such thing. He could hardly look at anyone, his eyes firmly glued to the pages of his book.

He always made an effort to start a conversation with at least you, yet today there was nothing. Why did you think seeking him out would warrant a mood change?

Despite all the signs of a negative response to your confession, you still stood with your hand readied in a fist to knock on the door to Remus's chambers. With a couple of whispers of self-motivation, you allowed your knuckles to connect to the hardwood before you. After a tense thirty seconds, you were about to knock again when a gruff enter was called out into the chilled autumn air.

The door opened with a flick of Remus's weak wrist, and the first thing you noticed when your eyes finally strayed to your crush was his current condition. To put it bluntly, he looked awful. His hair was slick with sweat, his eyes sported deep purple bags and his skin was a ghostly beige.

"Christ Remus are you okay?"

Before even one finger could reach him he waved you off rather aggressively, his arm striking out in a motion to signal you don't take another step. You were frozen.

"What do you want?" His voice startled you. It was ever so cold like you were a mere stranger. Not the girl who had been there for Remus through every bump in the road.

"I came to tell you something... but I'm more concerned about your health... Remus are you quite sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine... really y/n can you just tell me whatever is you want to tell me I want... I want to be alone"

Well, you assumed that made sense right? Everyone had off days, everyone had those days where they just want to bury themselves under a thousand blankets and not speak to a soul. And now the more you thought about it, Remus did have his moods more than anyone else you knew. Allowing his shoddy reasons to add up in your brain, you replied with a nod before taking a tentative step towards him. Now it was your turn to sweat. This moment had been playing on your mind for three years.

Today could be the day you ruin one of your highest-valued friendships. Every time that thought slithered to the forefront of your mind; you were reminded of the guy that Remus was. Kind, nurturing and most importantly, understanding. Maybe if he did let you know that those romantic feelings were one-sided you could finally move on and allow your affections to rest elsewhere. At least you knew he would do it kindly... right?

Clearing your throat and finally looking up at the adorable boy before you, all buried in knit jumpers and chocolate wrappers, you abandoned to little prompt you'd written with the help of James. You'd let this one just come from the heart.

"so there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while I... well I..." with a humourless laugh you shook off your nerves "I really like you Remus... not just as a friend... as more than that... and I have for a while now... I just can't go another day pretending that"-

"Shut up"

What?

At first, you were convinced maybe you were hearing things. Surely he hadn't stopped your love confession with shut up. Not your Remus.