( ╾ ★ heavy bags hung under his eyes, the thin, deep groves marring his cheeks standing out against the sickly pallor of his skin. he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days now, & even though a crippling kind of exhaustion racked his body, affecting his balance╾he swayed on his feet, like a weed on the verge of blowing away at the first hint of a storm╾waves of agitation churned in his stomach, giving rise to nausea while also keeping the weariness at bay. swallowing, his adam’s apple bobbing with the movement, remus slowed to a stop just a few inches shy of the ( hidden ) room of requirement, taking a moment to regain some of the composure & energy he’d lost during his trek from the gryffindor common room to the seventh floor, having moved at a snail’s pace most of the time. & then, as a soft sigh left his lips ( just a breath away from determination ), he pushed forward, refusing to make them wait any longer╾pushed himself to reach his destination, until the room itself sensed the stubbornness in his spirit & finally appeared, bidding him entrance ... to where he knew the others had gathered, waiting for his arrival. “sorry i’m late,” he greeted the other boys, his tenor ( just ) on the side of raspy, as he offered them a faintly sheepish smile, genuine in his apology.