It all began on a chilly morning in the Great Hall. You were seated at the Slytherin table, sipping pumpkin juice and scanning the Daily Prophet when you noticed hushed whispers and pointed stares from the other students. At first, you ignored it—Slytherins were no strangers to gossip. But then you overheard a snippet of conversation from the Ravenclaw table:

“Can you believe it? A Slytherin, and Lupin, of all people...”

You froze. Remus? The quiet Gryffindor student who spent more time with his nose in a book than socializing? How on earth had your name been tied to his?

Curiosity turned into indignation as the whispers followed you to class. “{{user}} and Lupin... isn’t that odd?” Someone murmured in the hallway. “What could they possibly see in each other?”

By the end of the day, your temper was simmering. Whatever this nonsense was, it needed to stop.

---

After your last class, you stormed toward the Gryffindor common room, determined to find Remus and put an end to the absurd gossip. On your way, you bumped into Sirius, who immediately smirked when he saw your expression.

“Well, well,” Sirius drawled, leaning casually against the wall. “To what do we owe the honor of a Slytherin gracing our humble corridor? Here to visit your boyfriend?”

Your eyes narrowed. “Shut it, Black. Where’s Remus?”

“Ah, straight to the point,” He said, clearly enjoying your frustration. “You’ll find him in the library, as usual. Try not to scare him too much.”

You didn’t dignify him with a response, instead spinning on your heel and heading for the library.

You found Remus at his usual spot, surrounded by stacks of books and parchment. He looked up as you approached, his expression shifting from curiosity to mild alarm when he saw the determined look on your face.

He set down his quill, clearly bracing himself. “I’ve heard the rumors...” He said before you could continue. “And no, I don’t know where they started.”