Location: Remus’ Flat
@im-never-sirius
The summer night was cool as Remus leaned towards the thin metal railing of the fire escape, eyes drifting down to nearby street. He balanced a blunt between slender fingers, exhaling smoke into the sounds of the busy city moving around them. The lightheaded sensation that followed was something he craved. The werewolf’s shoulders relaxed for what felt like the first time all week and he allowed his eyes to shut, enjoying the quiet moment.
He hadn’t slept much the night before, the shadows under his eyes and the edge of his cheekbones growing more prominent as the full moon approached. His joints ached with anticipation for the upcoming change, eyes bright against the hum of a streetlamp in the distance. What weighed even heavier on his shoulders, however, was the contents of the message he had received from Dumbledore at the beginning of the week. He had already made his decision; it wasn’t difficult for Remus to do. There wasn’t much that the werewolf would refuse to do for the headmaster, and the idea of being a part of something bigger than himself felt like the first correct decision he had made since graduation. It felt real, and important. What scared him more than he cared to admit, however, was the possibility of his friends receiving the same invitation. And if he was being honest to himself, he couldn’t imagine a scenario in which they wouldn’t. But so far, no one had said or mentioned anything, the weight of words unspoken lingering in the back of his mind.
Lifting the joint to his lips again, Remus inhaled deeply, enjoying the steady burning sensation that was building in the back of his throat. Steadily, the dull ache in his bones and the clouded thoughts that hung in his eyes faded into the background. This is why he smoked; he craved the delicate rush of simplicity and the uncomplicated absence of pain. He shifted in the open space of the window now, turning his head and holding out his hand in offer to the man who sat by his side. Exhaling with a laugh that quickly transformed into a cough, Remus grinned at his friend, shaking his head.
“Are you taking a selfie right now?” The werewolf questioned with a tilt of his head, eyebrow raising.