Remus J Lupin had faced many things in his life—monsters, war, loss—but nothing terrified him quite as much as the idea of confessing his feelings to you.

For months, he had buried them, locking them away beneath layers of professionalism and restraint. But his students—bless them—had started to notice.

—"Professor, you should just tell them," one Gryffindor insisted, her eyes alight with mischief.

—"Yeah," a Hufflepuff added. "What’s the worst that could happen?"

Remus chuckled, shaking his head.

—"You lot are entirely too invested in my personal affairs."

—"But you’re always looking at them," a Ravenclaw pointed out. "And you get all quiet whenever they’re around."

A Slytherin smirked.

—"Scared of rejection, Professor?"

Remus sighed.

—"It’s not that simple."

Before anyone could push further, the door creaked open.

And there you were.

Every student turned to look between the two of you, barely suppressing their grins. Remus felt the heat creep up his neck.

—"Ah," he managed, forcing himself to breathe. "Perfect timing."