His chest, it felt as if ribs had collapsed in one another. It was Sirius usually who helped him through the following weeks of a transformation, however here you were. You sat patiently at the side of his bed. Ever-patient.

A soft hum left him as his eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to peer over at you. Merlin you just about took the breath right from his very lungs. He would let you. His body seemed to protest though as it ached at the prospect.

Remus extended a bandaged hand, the backs of his fingers grazing your knee as his palm remained faced up. “Read to me?” He asked, throat raspy. “You read so beautifully.” He complimented as well as tried to cheekily coax. Remus didn’t dare move beyond that, he couldn’t even bring himself to bring his arm back to his side, a partial fear of skin pulling and breaking. He’d dealt with that enough throughout his transformation. He was surprised he couldn’t feel the veil of horror he usually might have, but he didn’t.

He waited for you to comply, as you always happily do, his fingers gently tapping against her knee in a soothing methodical manner. He could hear Madame Pomfrey a couple of beds away, tending to another ill student