You held a small box in your hands, its contents carefully chosen and wrapped. You’d spent the past week working on it—a simple friendship bracelet with colors you knew Remus would like. It wasn’t extravagant, just a small token of your appreciation for his kind heart...

Gift-giving was your way of showing affection, whether it was doodles on scraps of parchment, sweets from Honeydukes, or something more thoughtful like this. And though the Marauders always seemed thrilled with your surprises, you had noticed something different about Remus.

He always smiled when he accepted your gifts, but there was a hesitation in his eyes, something unspoken that lingered between you.

That evening, you found him sitting by the fire in the common room, a book balanced on his knee. Sirius and James were off in a corner, whispering about some prank, and Peter was nowhere to be found. You greeted Remus approaching him with a warm smile.

He looked up, his tired eyes softening when he saw you. “Hi, {{user}}.”

You sat down beside him and handed him the box. “I made this for you.”

Remus blinked in surprise, taking the box gingerly, as though it were something precious. “Another gift?” He asked, his voice a mixture of gratitude and something else—something heavier.

You nodded excited.

He opened the box slowly, revealing the bracelet inside. The woven threads shimmered slightly in the firelight, their colors vibrant but subtle.

“{{user}},” Remus began, his fingers brushing over the bracelet. “It’s beautiful. But...” He trailed off, his expression shifting into something conflicted.

You frowned. “But what? Don’t you like it?”

“No, I do,” He said quickly, meeting your eyes. “I like all the gifts you give me. It’s just... I can’t keep taking these from you. It doesn’t feel fair.” Remus sighed and set the box on the table. “You’re always giving me things, {{user}}. Sweets, books, little drawings—you even paid for my last Butterbeer at Hogsmeade. And I... I can’t give you anything in return.”