( 𝔳𝔬𝔩𝔲𝔪𝔢 𝔦𝔦𝔦, 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝖙𝖜𝖔 ) — three steps forward

There were a lot of things that went bump in the dark between the four walls of Number Tweve Grimmauld Place. Every night Evangeline would lay awake as Remus snored softly beside her, staring into the pitch black room around her.

Christmas Eve was a night that was no different to the brunette's midnights in the London townhouse.

After the rather awkward end to dinner, everyone had made their way to their respective rooms to lay down for the day, and the Rosier girl and Lupin were no exception as they headed back to their shared quarters.

The atmosphere was interesting, to say the least. Of course, the silence was loud, as it always was between two (almost) ex-lovers. But it was also heavy, like a thousands words had been left unspoken; they were screaming that this was only the first page, and not where their story ended.

But as much as she wanted to be a dreamer, deep down she was a realist. So, realistically, they wouldn't ever be together. Not unless he sorted himself out, which he seemed rather hesitant to do so — understandably, but still.

Love knows no bounds.

Therefore, Evangeline slipped out from underneath the warmth of the bed covers. The cool night air hit her bare legs, leaving goosebumps in their wake whilst she grabbed a spare blanket and made her way down to the Black family's living room.

She passed Kreacher on her way down the grand staircases, pointedly ignoring his muttering and mumbling of her ❛shameful betrayal❜.

''Merry Christmas, Kreacher,'' the pure-blood clipped, pursing her lips and watching as he whacked himself into the heavy blanket hanging from her arms.

The living room was even colder than the upstairs bedrooms. It was eerily dark, too, for all that was left from the candlelight was stubs of melted wax and burnt wicks.

''Lumos,'' she whispered into the darkness, before the tip of her wand illuminated cozily.

Evangeline fumbled with a Muggle lighter, re-lighting the candlesticks in an effort to bring some Christmas coziness back to the room. Soon enough, there were a few amber flames flickering on the coffee table, and she felt safe enough to settle into an armchair by the piano.

''Nox.''

The light on the end of her wand extinguished, allowing her to charm some a roaring fire in between the logs of wood in the elaborate fireplace.

''Incendio.''

Finally, it felt like no one was watching her. All that was left to do was halfheartedly cast a silencing charm and begin to lazily fiddle with the piano keys, hoping for boredom to melt into sleepiness. 

Her plan was working, until she felt a presence in the doorway. Praying for it to be an actual human and not the odd specter that seemed to stalk her, Evangeline slowly turned, meeting the tired eyes of Remus.

''Oh, I am sorry,'' she apologised, a gentle expression on her face as she nodded at the instrument before her. ''Did I wake you?''

''It didn't. I woke up and noticed you weren't in bed so I went looking for you,'' he admitted, smiling sheepishly. ''Is everything all right?''

Most things were alright. She had a safe place to stay, food, clothes, a steady income, and a few friends. Remus didn't know that everything else in her life — all to do with him — was far from ❛all right❜. 

Still, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

''Yes, I am fine.''

The Lupin man nodded, staring at the brunette as he was unsure of his next moves. He hadn't thought that far ahead, his main concern having been where she had disappeared off to in the middle of the night.

''Are you coming back to bed?''

Truth be told, Evangeline wasn't tired in the slightest. Still, she heaved herself up off the armchair with the blanket still wrapped around her, walking in the direction of the door at which Remus was stood.

Only she didn't get very far.

With Christmas came the mistletoe, and with the mistletoe and magic came Sticking Charms. He, too, made an attempt to move from the threshold and failed miserably. Evangeline continued to struggle for a good two minutes before sighing in defeat, looking everywhere but the man in front of her.

Even at her above average height of five foot eight, the older man's lanky figure of six foot four meant he towered over her, otherwise they would've been chest-to-chest due to the close proximity they found themselves stuck in.

''Sirius,'' he sighed, a murderous expression on his face. ''I'll be the one in Azkaban once I'm done with him.''

The Rosier girl gasped, swatting him in the arm as she laughed lightly. ''You can not say things like that, Remus.''

''After what he said at dinner it's deserved,'' he shrugged. ''Which I'm sorry for, by the way.''

''It is not your fault. No matter how much everyone likes to try, we can not control Sirius and his ways.''

''That's very true.''

A silence fell over the pair, but this time a comfortable one.

Evangeline couldn't help but find herself staring into the alluring comfort of his brown eyes. Remus found himself in a similar situation, allured by the tiny nebulas and stars he swore he could see between her irises.

With bated breath, she rose on the tips of his toes, reaching up to plant a kiss on the soft skin of his cheek. It was as light as a feather, but still enough to make his heart swell with indescribable emotions.

The brunette lowered herself back down, finally able to move her feet from the floor. Her own heart was racing what felt like hundreds of miles per hour whilst she glanced around the room bashfully.

''On second thought, I think I will stay here.''

''So will I,'' he swallowed harshly, his usual deep voice cracking with emotion. ''If that's okay with you?''

The pure-blood nodded. Instead of reclaiming her spot on the armchair, she approached the stiff sofa, settling between the classy cushions.

The werewolf trundled along behind her, plopping himself on the other end of the same sofa. Unlike her, he was dressed appropriately for the wintry weather, clad in a tartan-striped set of fleecy pyjamas Molly had made for him.

''I want to show you something,'' he started, walking over to a bookshelf in the far corner of the room.

It was lined with ancient leather spines depicting roman numerals. Remus rustled around for a moment, before a crumpled piece of paper slipped out.

He brought it back, offering it to Evangeline who accepted it into a delicate grip. At closer look it was a photograph, and whilst some of the people looked familiar, she couldn't quite place her finger as to who was who.

''It's the original Order of the Phoenix,'' he explained. ''During the First Wizarding War.''

The brunette nodded, her brown eyes pouring over the members. ''Who is who?'' She wondered, shuffling closer to Remus.

Their knees and thighs were touching, sending sparks straight up their spines. He shook his head, urging his mind to behave as he pointed at the faces.

''Marlene McKinnon,'' he introduced, pointing at a pretty blonde in the back row. ''She was killed two weeks after this was taken. You-Know-Who wiped out her entire family.''

''They must have posed a real threat, then.''

''They did. Powerful pure-blood witches and wizards, all of them, but disgraced due to mingling with Muggle-borns.''

''Who are they?'' The pure-blood inquired, pointing at a couple.

They both had brown hair and bright smiles; the man wore a knitted sweater vest with an argyle pattern, whilst the woman sported a short pixie cut and sunglasses.

''Frank and Alice Longbottom.''

''Neville's parents?''

''Yep. They suffered a fate worse than death, if you ask me.''

Evangeline nodded, her heart breaking for the young boy. Whilst his parents weren't dead, they were as good as dead, it seemed.

''Those are Harry's mum and dad, are they not?'' She asked, her manicured finger tracing over a ginger woman and almost black-haired man.

Remus hummed, the ghost of a smile etched upon his face. ''Even after fourteen years, not a day goes by where I don't miss them.''

The brunette hummed sadly, resting her head onto his shoulder. He accepted the gesture as his body stilled momentarily, before he relaxed slowly and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

''Do you really think there is going to be a war, Remus?''

''It seems like it did before. Is that why you've been having trouble sleeping? I hear you during the night, you know.''

''Hear me? What do you mean you ❛hear me❜?''

''Whimpering,'' he informed her; he quickly realised how wrong the statement sounded, clearing his throat whilst stammering. ''Not in— uh, not— not in that way. In a . . . fearful way.''

''There is a reason for that,'' she admitted. ''When I first got here, I saw this . . . man. At first, it was behind me in the mirror. But as time went on, I could see him everywhere. Like that one time in the pantry when I hit my back on the doorknob. That is why I can not sleep — I feel as though someone is always watching me.''

''Does this happen at Hogwarts, too? Or only here?''

''Whenever I stay at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. It is not just seeing . . . him, either. Ever since the last few days of summer holiday, I keep on having nightmares. Oddly enough, also never at Hogwarts.''

''It's probably this place,'' he shuddered, peering about the living room. ''Sirius always joked it was haunted — maybe they weren't entirely jokes.''

''Maybe,'' she shrugged. ''Either way, this place is scary enough. It reminds me much of my own home.''

''Do you ever miss it? Not just your home, but your family, too.''

''Sometimes,'' the brunette sighed. ''But then I remember how despite everything, I am much happier now. Free to live the way I please, instead of being married off to the highest bidder and bearing babies.''

The pair continued conversating among themselves for the rest of the night. It was only until the crack of dawn that they fell asleep in each other's arms, undisturbed by the streaks of sunlight penetrating the lace curtains.

Maybe it was the change of scenery, or the time she fell asleep. It also could've been that she fell asleep holding Remus' hand. Either way, Evangeline couldn't help but dwell on the fact that for the first time in months, her dreams weren't plagued by nightmarish entities like they usually were.