Y/N closed the door to her flat with a quiet sigh, her broom slung over her shoulder and her muscles aching from the grueling doubleheader she had just played. She'd taken more bludgers to the chest today than she could count, and the thrill of winning hadn't entirely drowned out the soreness in her body. But there was one thought that kept her moving forward: Remus.
She'd left him bundled up in bed that morning, pale and worn from the full moon the night before. He'd tried to convince her to stay home, to rest after her back-to-back matches, but she had made him promise he'd stay put and rest himself.Dropping her gear by the door, Y/N made her way to the bedroom. The door was ajar, and she peeked inside to find him exactly where she'd left him. Well, almost. He wasn't lying down; instead, he was curled up awkwardly against the headboard, wrapped in a quilt that was too big for him and holding a book in trembling hands. His face was still pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes."Remus," she called softly, stepping inside.He looked up, his face lighting up briefly at the sight of her, but it was quickly replaced by a guilty expression. "You're back," he said hoarsely, closing the book and trying to sit up straighter. "How was the match? You must be exhausted."She crossed the room in a few strides and sat on the edge of the bed, her hand immediately going to his forehead. It was warm, though not feverishly so, and she sighed. "I'm fine," she said, brushing his hair back gently. "You, on the other hand, look like you're about to keel over. Why aren't you lying down?"Remus shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I was waiting for you," he admitted quietly. "I didn't want to fall asleep before I saw you. And I thought I might feel better sitting up.""Moony," she said, her voice soft with affection but firm with concern. "You should have been resting. You look awful."He chuckled weakly, the sound rough and thin. "Always so blunt, love. You sure know how to make a man feel special."Y/N shook her head with a small smile, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead. "You're special to me no matter what," she murmured. "But right now, you're also stubborn. Come on, lie back down."Before he could protest, she gently pushed him back against the pillows and tucked the quilt more securely around him. He made a half-hearted attempt to resist but quickly gave up, his body too drained to put up much of a fight."You're supposed to be the one resting," he mumbled as she adjusted the covers."I'll rest later," she replied. "Right now, you need someone to take care of you.""But you've just come back from—""Remus," she interrupted, fixing him with a look that brooked no argument. "You've had a full moon and you're still recovering. Let me take care of you. Please."He sighed, his resistance crumbling under the weight of her concern. "Fine," he relented, though his voice was laced with guilt. "But only if you promise to rest after.""I promise," she said, her lips quirking up in a small smile as she leaned down to kiss his temple. "Now, let me spoil you for a bit."---She started with the little things, fetching him water and some of his favorite biscuits, though she had to practically force him to eat. He tried to insist he wasn't hungry, but the way his face softened after the first bite told her he appreciated the gesture.Afterward, she settled beside him on the bed, coaxing him to lean against her as she rubbed soothing circles on his back. He relaxed slowly, the tension in his shoulders melting away under her touch."This feels unfair," he murmured after a while, his voice heavy with exhaustion but tinged with guilt. "You've been out there beating bludgers into oblivion, and here I am, letting you do all this.""Don't be silly," she replied, her tone light but firm. "You're my Moony. I'd do this for you a thousand times over."He didn't respond right away, but she felt him lean into her touch, his head resting against her shoulder. For a moment, there was silence, save for the sound of their breathing and the faint rustle of the quilt as she continued to rub his back."I hate this," he admitted quietly, breaking the silence. "I hate feeling like this after every full moon. Like I'm useless.""Don't say that," she said immediately, her hand stilling as she turned to look at him. "You're not useless, Remus. You're one of the strongest people I know. What you go through every month... it's unimaginable. And yet, you still manage to be kind and loving and brilliant."He looked up at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You deserve someone who can give you everything, not someone who spends half their time recovering."Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice, and she reached out to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing away a stray tear that had escaped. "Remus John Lupin," she said softly but firmly, "don't you ever think for a second that you don't deserve me. I love you for who you are, all of you. And if that means carrying you on your bad days, then so be it. You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?""Of course," he said immediately, his voice thick with emotion."Then let me do this for you," she said, her own voice softening. "Let me take care of you."He nodded, his resistance finally giving way to the love and comfort she offered.---As the day wore on, Y/N made it her mission to pamper him. When he grew restless, she carried him to the living room, cradling him as though he weighed nothing, despite her aching muscles protesting. He tried to argue that he could walk, but she silenced him with a stern look and a playful comment about how it was nice to finally use her beater strength for something other than Quidditch.They spent the afternoon on the couch, Remus lying with his head in her lap while she stroked his hair and read aloud from his favorite book. His eyes fluttered shut at some point, and she smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.By evening, he was looking a bit better, though still pale and tired. She coaxed him to eat a light dinner, and afterward, she carried him back to bed, ignoring his half-hearted protests."You're impossible," he muttered as she tucked him in once more."And you're adorable," she replied with a grin, leaning down to kiss his nose.He chuckled softly, the sound warm and genuine this time. "Thank you," he said after a moment, his voice sincere. "For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you.""You'll never have to find out," she said, settling beside him and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm here, Moony. Always."As he drifted off to sleep, his head resting against her chest, Y/N felt her own exhaustion start to catch up with her. But she didn't mind. She'd gladly endure a thousand aches and sleepless nights if it meant being there for him.Because he was her Moony, and she loved him more than words could ever express.
