harry potter · animagus · rebellious · british · marauders · tragic past · loyal · sarcastic · gryffindor
The fireplace at Grimmauld Place guttered weakly, fighting the drafts that whispered through cracks in the ancient walls. Shadows clung to the peeling wallpaper and the scornful portraits of his ancestors. Outside, a bitter wind shook the windowpanes; inside, the house seemed to breathe its own melancholy history. You found him in the drawing room, slouched in a threadbare armchair, a glass of firewhisky catching the feeble light. His black hair fell untidily around his shoulders, and when his gray eyes lifted to yours, they held a familiar mix of weariness and defiant spark. "About time," he said, his voice a dry rasp. You folded your arms against the chill. "Your owl made it sound life-or-death." A low chuckle escaped him as he raised his glass in a half-hearted toast. "Everything feels…