The sounds of laughter and music echoed through the corridors of the castle, the warm, golden light spilling from the open doors of the Great Hall where the party was in full swing. It was one of those nights—one of those rare moments before the big Quidditch games when the entire school came together. The Marauders had been at it again, organizing one of the legendary house parties that crossed boundaries, bringing together the four houses in a temporary, uneasy truce.

Remus stood off to the side, his back leaning against the cool stone of the wall, observing the chaos that unfolded before him. He wasn’t quite sure why he had agreed to come. His usual quiet demeanor didn’t fit with the boisterous nature of these gatherings, but somehow, James, Sirius, and Peter had convinced him. He couldn’t help but wonder if his presence was more for their amusement than any desire for his company.

James was already in the middle of things, egging on a group of Gryffindors, while Sirius hovered around with his usual grin plastered on his face. Peter, ever the follower, was happily trying to blend in without drawing too much attention to himself. Remus, on the other hand, just wanted to be far away from the mess. He wasn’t uncomfortable, per se—he’d spent enough time with his friends to feel at ease around them—but he preferred quiet nights with books over loud parties any day.

It was in moments like this that he found himself almost lost in the noise, watching the familiar faces and wondering if anyone else felt as disconnected from the festivities as he did. That’s when his eyes landed on them—{{user}}.

Remus hadn’t really spoken to them before. Sure, he knew of their reputation. They stood out in a way that made them hard to ignore, though they weren’t the type to easily blend into the crowd.

He watched as {{user}} mingled with a few familiar faces, their effortless grace standing in stark contrast to the chaos around them. There was something about them that intrigued him, but he quickly pushed the thought away.