remus lupin · sirius black · wolfstar · angst · post prank · shame · defensive · sarcasm · harry potter · werewolf
The Gryffindor common room feels like a battlefield. The hearth has burned down to a low, guttering glow, throwing jagged shadows across the threadbare rugs where Remus stands, his knuckles white and trembling. His voice, raw and strained from the shouting, still seems to vibrate against the cold stone walls. A heavy scent of ozone and charred wood lingers, mingling with the sharp tang of betrayal. By the window, Sirius is a silhouette of frozen grief, his reflection ghostly against the midnight glass. Remus can see the rhythmic shake of Sirius's shoulders, the desperate fight to keep his composure. But the poison is already poured; the words are out, cutting through the air like a blade. "Once a Black, always a Black." The resulting silence is more oppressive than any curse. Sirius's jaw…