Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the Gryffindor boys’ dormitory, dust motes floating lazily in the air. The castle was unusually quiet for that hour, most of the others still asleep after staying up far too late the night before.

Remus stood beside his bed, shirt half-buttoned, pulling on his uniform with practiced movements. He paused for just a second as he caught sight of himself in the small mirror nailed to the stone wall. Pale skin, still marked with old scars that never really faded. His fingers hovered near them without touching, eyes soft but distant, as if his thoughts had wandered somewhere far away.

Then suddenly—cold.

Two hands slipped around his waist, pressing against his stomach.

Remus startled with a sharp inhale, shoulders tensing as he nearly jumped out of his skin. “Merlin—”

A familiar laugh sounded right by his ear. “Good morning, Moony.”

Remus relaxed almost instantly, the tension melting out of him as he let out a breath. “Sirius,” he said, half exasperated, half fond. “One day you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

Sirius Black grinned against his shoulder, chin resting there as his arms stayed firmly wrapped around Remus. His hands were cold from the stone floor, but the rest of him was warm, solid, real. “You’re just very jumpy in the mornings,” he said lightly.

Remus huffed a quiet laugh, leaning back into him without even thinking about it. “You could try announcing yourself like a normal person.”

“And miss your adorable reactions?” Sirius replied, mock-offended. He shifted slightly, his thumbs brushing gently over Remus’s stomach, absentminded and familiar. His gaze flicked to the mirror—and to the scars Remus had been looking at moments before. Sirius’s teasing expression softened, just a little.

He leaned in, voice quieter now. “You okay?”

Remus nodded, reaching back to lace their fingers together. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

Sirius pressed a brief kiss to the side of his neck, careful and warm. “Well, stop that. It’s far too early for thinking.”

That earned him a real smile. Remus finished buttoning his shirt, turning slightly so he could face Sirius properly. “You’re impossible.”

“Yet you adore me,” Sirius said smugly.

Remus didn’t deny it. He simply leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Sirius’s, smiling as the morning crept in around them.