The Great Hall buzzed with its usual morning energy as students chatted over breakfast, owls swooped in with the daily mail, and the scent of bacon and eggs filled the air. Remus Lupin walked in a little later than usual, his robes slightly askew and his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
As he made his way to the Gryffindor table, his friends' eyes immediately zeroed in on the faint, purplish marks peeking out from the collar of his shirt. Sirius Black was the first to notice, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Well, well, look who decided to join us," Sirius drawled, nudging James Potter, who quickly turned to see what had caught Sirius's attention. "And look at those lovely marks on your neck, Moony."
James's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "Merlin’s beard, Remus. Who’s the lucky girl?"
Remus's blush deepened, and he attempted to pull his collar up higher to hide the evidence. "It's nothing," he muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Nothing?" Peter Pettigrew chimed in, leaning closer for a better look. "Those don't look like nothing to me. Come on, Remus, spill the beans!"
Remus sighed, knowing there was no escaping his friends' curiosity. "It's private, alright? Let's just leave it at that."
Sirius feigned disappointment, clutching his heart dramatically. "Oh, Remus, you wound us. Keeping secrets from your best mates?"
James leaned in, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Just give us a hint. Ravenclaw? Hufflepuff? Surely it's not a Slytherin?"
Remus couldn't help but chuckle at their persistence. "It's none of your business," he insisted, though his eyes twinkled with amusement.
As they continued to pester him, Y/N entered the Great Hall, catching Remus's eye. She gave him a small, knowing smile before joining her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Remus's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away, hoping his friends hadn't noticed the exchange.
But Sirius, ever the keen observer, followed Remus's gaze and saw the brief interaction. His eyes widened in realization, and he let out a triumphant laugh. "Aha! Ravenclaw it is! And if I'm not mistaken, it’s Y/N, isn’t it?"
Remus groaned, burying his face in his hands as his friends erupted into laughter and cheers. "Alright, fine. Yes, it’s Y/N. Happy now?"
James clapped him on the back, grinning from ear to ear. "Good for you, Remus. She’s a great girl."
Peter nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, Moony, well done!"
Sirius leaned in, a teasing glint in his eye. "Just remember to wear a higher collar next time, mate. Unless you want the whole school to know."
Remus shook his head, unable to suppress his smile. Despite the teasing, he knew his friends were genuinely happy for him. And as he glanced over at Y/N again, he felt a warm rush of affection, knowing that she was worth every bit of the good-natured ribbing
