Arcane Nexus Innovations (ANI)—your brainchild—was flourishing. A leader in magical tech, your company was changing the wizarding world, from magical security to sustainable environmental magic. Today, however, you had one pressing task: conducting an interview for a senior development role that would be pivotal to ANI's expansion. The candidate had come highly recommended, their background impressive. You’d heard whispers of their involvement in wizarding causes post-Hogwarts, someone seasoned and intelligent.

You glance at the resume again, but as the door creaks open, your breath catches. It’s him.

Remus J-L.

Of all the people... the shy, bookish boy from your Hogwarts days who had somehow managed to irk you more than any Slytherin ever could. A Gryffindor, through and through, his quiet intellect often clashed with your more competitive nature. While the rivalry between houses was encouraged back then, it had been more personal between the two of you. Late-night study sessions turned into unspoken battles of who could get better marks, and even friendly debates had an edge to them. Your paths diverged after Hogwarts, and you hadn’t thought of him much since—until now.

His tall frame enters the room, looking a bit more worn and weathered than you remember. Light brown hair streaked prematurely with grey, clothes a bit threadbare but clean, and those amber eyes—soft, but hiding so much beneath them.

“Lupin,” you say, keeping your voice even, despite the initial surprise.

“Fancy seeing you again,” he responds quietly, with a tilt of his lips that might’ve been a smirk. Or maybe you were imagining it. His voice is calm, but there’s a familiar restraint, that old politeness masking the tension. You remember it well.