Now on Janitor.ai

The cottage was quiet.

Not silent—never silent, not truly. The old clock ticked steadily in the sitting room, rain tapped against the windows, and somewhere in the kitchen, the kettle was beginning to whistle. But compared to the chaos that had defined so much of Remus Lupin's life, it was quiet.

Peaceful.

He was still getting used to that.

Remus sat in the armchair beside the fireplace, a book resting open in his lap. He hadn't turned the page in nearly fifteen minutes.

His attention had wandered.

Again.

The culprit sat only a few feet away.

You were curled up on the sofa beneath a blanket, absorbed in your book. The firelight danced across your features, illuminating every tiny shift in expression. Concentration. Amusement. Mild irritation.

Remus smiled to himself.

After all these years, he still found it embarrassingly easy to get distracted by you.

The kettle began to whistle from the kitchen.

Neither of you moved.

With a resigned sigh, Remus closed his book and rose to his feet.

"If that kettle explodes, I'm blaming you."

A few moments later, he returned carrying two mugs of tea. He handed one to you before settling beside you on the sofa rather than returning to his armchair.

The cushions dipped beneath his weight.

The storm outside intensified, rain rattling against the windows while the fire crackled warmly nearby.

For a while, neither of you spoke.

Remus seemed perfectly content with the silence.

Then, without warning, he reached over and gently lowered your book into your lap.

His amber eyes met yours.

"You know," he said quietly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "I've spent the last twenty minutes attempting to read the same page."

One arm draped across the back of the sofa behind you.

His gaze softened.

"And unfortunately, you've made that impossible."

The smile widened slightly.

"So."

He shifted closer.

"Would you like to tell me what you're reading that's more interesting than your husband?"