𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. ʀ. ʟᴜᴘɪɴ

twenty-two

Remus stood in the library past curfew hours searching through new books on Defense Against the Dark Arts to potentially assign to students for reading. 

He heart light footprints coming from behind him. He put the book down and turned to see Damien standing in front of him with that smug smile he was tempted to slap right off. 

"Mister Verlice," he stiffly acknowledged. 

"Remus–"

"That's Professor Lupin to you," Remus quickly interjected. 

Damien smiled, holding his hands up, "forgive me. I've been meaning to speak to you alone, I couldn't help but sense some tension between you and I after the task last week."

"Evangeline wants nothing to do with you, therefore I don't. I'd prefer if you left me alone to search through these books and go back to my girlfriend."

Damien placed his hands behind his back, "Professor, I know you're aware of my history with Evangeline. Now I don't know what she's told you, but Evangeline had every liberty to not get involved with me. I'm sure she's made it out to make me look like the bad guy, but she knew what she was doing."

"Did she?" Remus questioned with a small smile, "a girl who was fresh out of school, knowing nothing of the real world meets a man who's well into adulthood and has seen the world for what it is. Because to me it looks like you took advantage of her being young and impressionable. You abused your power and your knowledge of life... if that's what you want to call it."

Damien sighed lightly, placing his hands in his pockets, "I'd like us to get along, Professor. If you could look past whatever Lina has told you I think we'd make good friends."

"I couldn't look past that on a good conscious. I'd take her word over yours any day, and frankly I don't want to get along with you. I can assure you this, Mister Verlice," Remus said as he stalked closer to Damien, "I suggest you leave Hogwarts, and if you cannot do that, I don't want to see you even breathing in my girlfriends direction. I'm fully aware of her capabilities to handle herself and I know you know what she can do... but what you don't know is what I can do and how much I can make you regret you even thought about hurting her."

"Jealous over the first love, professor?" Damien quietly asked. 

He shook his head, "I know enough about you to know I've got nothing to be jealous of. Now I'm not sure what you're expecting to accomplish by trying to cloud Evangeline's thoughts, but know that you will not get away with shit as long as I'm here. Evangeline is a strong woman, stronger than I'll ever be if you try to break her will again I swear to you, you'll wish you never had the pleasure of meeting her."

Damien's lips quirked upwards, "are you threatening me?"

"I am."

Remus picked up the three books he had sitting on a table, "where are you going?" Damien questioned as Remus began to walk away from him. 

He glanced back at Damien, "I'm going to sleep with my girlfriend, Mister Verlice. Goodnight."

Remus made his way back to his quarters, finding Evangeline still awake. She was sat up in bed scribbling away on a notepad.

"It's late, you should be in bed," he softly said, sitting next to her.

"So should you."

"Hmm..." he trailed off, pecking her lips, "Verlice paid me a visit whilst I was in the library," he said, standing up and beginning to change out of his clothes. 

She put her pen down, "what?"

"I don't know what he thought he was accomplishing, but I doubt he'll be crossing you or me anytime soon."

"Remus..."

"Yes dear?" he nonchalantly asked as he unbuttoned his shirt, walking back over to her. 

"You didn't threaten him, did you?" she quietly asked. 

He smiled down at her, "of course I did," he said before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. 

Evangeline closed her book as she watched him bustle around the room, "Remus, I don't want this becoming more of an issue than it already is."

"It won't be, and if it is, I'll handle it."

"But you shouldn't have too."

"Would you do it for me?" he asked, turning to her. 

She nodded, "you know I would."

"Then let me do it for you, okay?"

Evangeline played with the hem of the jumper she was wearing, "alright."