Remus Lupin sat in his small, dimly lit kitchen, the glow of the nearly full moon creeping through the window. He gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. The days leading up to the full moon were always difficult, but this time, something felt different. Stronger. More uncontrollable.
Y/n, his girlfriend, bustled about, making tea. She glanced at him with concern etched on her face. "Remus, are you okay?" she asked softly, setting a steaming mug in front of him.
He forced a smile. "Just feeling the usual pre-moon jitters," he said, trying to sound casual. But inside, the urge was growing. It wasn't just the transformation. It was a deep, primal desire to bite, to mark. And the worst part was, it was directed at Y/n.
She reached across the table and took his hand, her touch warm and comforting. "You can talk to me, you know. About anything."
Remus looked into her eyes, filled with trust and love. He hated keeping things from her, but how could he explain this? "It's hard to put into words," he admitted. "I feel... different this month. Stronger urges."
Y/n squeezed his hand. "We'll get through it together, like we always do," she reassured him. "Maybe we should talk to Dumbledore or someone at the Order. They might have advice."
Remus nodded, though he knew advice could only do so much. The moon's pull was powerful, and his fear of hurting Y/n was even stronger. He loved her too much to risk it.
As the days passed, the urge grew more intense. He found himself constantly distracted, his thoughts consumed by the need to bite. One evening, as they sat together reading, he couldn't take it anymore. He abruptly stood, pacing the room.
"Remus, what's wrong?" Y/n asked, standing as well, her worry deepening.
He stopped and faced her, his eyes filled with torment. "I need to tell you something. It's... hard to say, but you need to know."
Y/n stepped closer, her hand gently touching his arm. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Together."
He took a deep breath. "I have this... urge. Not just to transform, but to bite. And it's directed at you. I don't know why, but it's getting harder to control."
She looked at him, her eyes wide but not afraid. "Thank you for telling me," she said softly. "We need to find a way to manage this. Maybe there are potions or spells that can help."
He nodded, relief washing over him at her calm response. "I'll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow. I just don't want to hurt you."
Y/n cupped his face in her hands. "We'll find a way, Remus. We'll get through this. I trust you."
That night, they slept close, Remus drawing strength from her unwavering support. The next day, he met with Dumbledore, who listened intently and offered a potion to help suppress the urge.
As the full moon approached, the potion helped, but it was Y/n's love and trust that truly grounded him. She stayed by his side, her presence a constant reminder that he was more than his affliction.
On the night of the full moon, as the transformation took hold, Remus felt the urge rise one last time. But as he looked into Y/n's eyes, filled with love and determination, he found the strength to resist.
In the end, it was their bond that kept the darkness at bay. And though the struggle was far from over, Remus knew that with Y/n by his side, he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
