EIGHT: What's this feeling?

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     The sound of quills scratching parchment echoed through the classroom as Professor Merriweather waved his wand at the board. A challenging question appeared in shimmering golden text:

"What spell would effectively counter a simultaneous Blasting Curse and Disarming Charm?"

"Would anyone like to explain their reasoning on the board?" asked Professor Merriweather, his gaze sweeping across the room of uneasy students. Most avoided his eyes, suddenly enthralled by their notes or the grain of their desks, hoping to escape his notice.

But not Evelina Valentine.

Her hand shot into the air, her back straight as if a string had pulled her upright. She wore a confident smile, knowing full well she was the only one in the class willing—or able—to tackle the problem. The pride bubbled in her chest as she glanced around, delighted by her peers' reluctance.

That is until she saw him.

Out of the corner of her eye, Remus Lupin's hand rose in the air with a maddening lack of urgency, as if answering questions was second nature to him.

Evelina's smile faltered, her head snapping toward him in disbelief. She glared daggers, but he didn't even bother to look at her. Instead, he kept his expression calm, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward in the faintest trace of a grin.

"Perfect!" Professor Merriweather clapped his hands, visibly pleased. "Valentine and Mr. Lupin, please come up to the board and share your answers."

Evelina's heart sank. She knew this wouldn't end well.

Rising from her chair, she turned her head sharply toward Remus, her glare fixed firmly on him. He finally met her eyes, raising an eyebrow in mock curiosity. His grin widened.

Her stomach churned with irritation. She hated the way he made her feel—like every step she took was a reaction to his smug presence. It was unadulterated loathing, she thought bitterly, plain and simple.

As they approached the board, the tension between them crackled like static electricity.

"Ladies first," Remus said, gesturing toward the board with mock chivalry.

Evelina narrowed her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, Lupin. You'll need all the help you can get."

He chuckled softly, stepping up to the board beside her. "We'll see about that."

Evelina leaned forward, gripping the chalk tightly as if it were a wand in a duel. She scribbled furiously, her mind racing to organize her thoughts into clear, concise reasoning. The spell's counter was complex, requiring a layered response that balanced both defensive and offensive strategies. Years of meticulous Ravenclaw training had prepared her for this. Her knuckles were white as she pressed the chalk on the board, the rapid scratching filling the otherwise silent room.

But her concentration faltered when she glanced to her left.

Remus stood with infuriating calm, his posture relaxed and his movements deliberate. His handwriting was neat and precise, each word flowing onto the board as if he weren't even trying. There wasn't a single crease of worry on his face, just a quiet confidence that made Evelina's blood boil.

How could he look so unaffected?

She redoubled her efforts, her hand flying across the board as if speed alone would secure her victory. The harder she worked, the more she felt his composed energy beside her, like a mocking presence that made her fingers tighten around the chalk.

And then, like a cruel joke, she heard it.

The tap.

Remus Lupin had finished.

She froze mid-sentence, her chalk hovering over the board. Slowly, she turned to look at him, her lips parting in disbelief.

He leaned casually against the desk, arms crossed, holding the chalk in one hand like it was a trophy. His face betrayed nothing but calm satisfaction as he examined her unfinished work.

"What's the matter?" He asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Out of ideas?"

Her teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached. The feeling in her body grew stronger—fervid, like an uncontrollable flame licking at the edges of her composure. Evelina's fingers trembled slightly, and before she could stop herself, the chalk slipped from her grip and clattered onto the floor. She sighed dramatically, her head falling into the palms of her hands. "Why do you always act like you're better than everyone?" Her voice rang out, sharp and raised, slicing through the silence of the classroom.

The other students perked up, eager to see how this confrontation would unfold.

Remus paused mid-step, glancing back at her with a flicker of surprise in his amber eyes. Though he wasn't entirely shocked by her sudden outburst, her vehemence caught him off guard. The quiet tension that usually hung in the air between them had erupted into full-blown chaos, and the class was all too ready to watch.

Still, he recovered quickly, shrugging nonchalantly as a smug grin tugged at the corner of his lips; "Cuz' I am better."

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

Evelina's scowl deepened, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists at her sides. Ugh! How Evelina Valentine loathed Remus Lupin. From the moment she laid eyes on him, she loathed it all—every infuriating trait, no matter how small. Every smirk, every calculated move. His very existence made her flesh crawl.

Professor Merriweather cleared his throat loudly, stepping between them before the argument could escalate further. "Valentine, Lupin. That's enough. Take your seats—now."

Reluctantly, Evelina turned on her heel and marched back to her desk, her head held high despite her simmering anger. Remus followed at a more leisurely pace, the smirk still lingering on his face as he caught the curious glances from their classmates.

Once they were both seated, Professor Merriweather addressed the class. "As I was saying, I have important news. Your upcoming exam will be next week. The material will include everything we've covered thus far, so I suggest you begin preparing immediately."

At this, Remus leaned over slightly, just enough for Evelina to hear him.

"You should take the professor's advice," he whispered, his tone dripping with faux concern. "Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself again."

Evelina shot him a murderous look. "Oh, don't worry, Lupin. If today's any indication, I'll wipe the floor with you."

His grin widened. "We'll see about that."

And from that day forward, it was war.

Day One: by the crack of dawn

             Evelina arrived at the library at 6:00 A.M., Her boots clicked sharply against the stone floor, with only one goal in her mind: determined to claim the best spot near the Restricted Section for her study session. She felt triumphant—until she spotted Remus Lupin, sitting at her favorite table, surrounded by a small fortress of books and parchment. He didn't even look up as he flipped a page in Advanced Defensive Strategies.

"You're up early," he said without looking up.

She clenched her jaw and stormed over, dropping her books onto the table with a loud thud. "Not early enough, apparently."

He smirked. "Nope."

Day Two: a place to call mine

            Evelina swept into the classroom just as the bell rang, her bag swinging wildly as she made a beeline for the desk she'd had her eye on since yesterday.

But, to her horror, Remus was approaching it from the other direction. Their eyes locked, and for a brief, tense moment, neither of them moved.

Then, they both lunged.

"Mine," she snapped, yanking the chair toward her.

"I don't think so," he shot back, gripping the other side.

The classroom fell silent as they struggled over the chair, their faces inches apart, locked in a ridiculous tug-of-war.

"You don't even need this desk!" Evelina hissed.

"And you do?" he retorted. "Because last I checked, you're not the only one in this class who cares about grades."

"Miss Valentine! Mr. Lupin!" Merriweather's voice boomed from the front of the room. "Sit down now, or you'll both lose participation points."

Reluctantly, Evelina let go of the chair with a dramatic huff and stomped to the desk behind him, muttering under her breath about "arrogant know-it-all."

Day Three: unwanted advice

In the bustling Charms classroom, Evelina aimed her wand at the practice dummy, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Impedimenta!" she snapped, the spell sending the dummy skidding a few feet back. She smiled smugly, pleased with her precision.

"Decent," came a familiar, smug voice from behind. "But your wand angle was too high."

Evelina spun around, glaring daggers at Remus Lupin, who leaned lazily against the nearest desk.

"Why don't you mind your own business, Lupin?" she hissed, her grip on her wand tightening.

"Just trying to help," he said, his tone annoyingly casual. "Though I suppose not everyone can master the basics."

Her wand hand twitched, and for a moment, she genuinely considered hexing him into next week. "You're insufferable," she muttered through clenched teeth.

"And you're predictable," he shot back, his smirk widening.

Their exchange grew louder, drawing the attention of nearby students. Before Evelina could deliver a retort sharp enough to leave a mark, Professor Flitwick intervened.

"Miss Valentine, Mr. Lupin! Unless you're practicing synchronized spellwork, I suggest you focus on your own dummies." He cried.

Evelina turned away with a huff, cheeks burning as Remus chuckled behind her. "Better luck next time, Valentine," he called softly, and her grip on her wand tightened further.

Oh, how she loathed him.

Day Four: tug of war in the stacks

                In the library once again, which basically became a battlefield for them. Evelina (who was already up at the crack of dawn) reached for the only remaining copy of Defensive Magic for the Modern Wizard. Just as her fingers brushed the spine, another hand grabbed it.

"Let go," she said through gritted teeth, pulling the book toward her.

"You let go," Remus countered, tugging it back. "Finders keepers, Valentine!"

"Oh, grow up!" she hissed, grabbing the opposite corner of the book and tugging hard. "I need it more than you do!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you? Because I'm pretty sure I'm the one who'll actually use it properly."

Her glare could have melted steel. "Are you calling me incompetent?"

"I'm just saying—"

"Mr. Lupin! Miss Valentine!" Madam Pince's sharp voice cut through the argument. She loomed over them, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you don't stop bickering, I'll ban both of you from the library."

Both froze, still clutching the book. After a tense moment, Evelina yanked it free with a winning smirk.

"Better luck next time, Lupin."

Day Five: bitter bites and cold stares

The Great Hall was buzzing with the usual lunchtime chatter, but Remus's attention wasn't on his friends or the plate of food in front of him. His gaze was fixed across the room, narrowed in a pointed glare at Evelina Valentine.

There she was, seated at the Ravenclaw table, her chin held high as she gestured animatedly to her friends. Her perfect posture, her perfect hair, and—worst of all—that smirk she wore whenever she was right, which was far too often.

"You've been staring at her for five whole minutes," James Potter's voice broke through his thoughts. He leaned casually against the table, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Planning her demise or just trying to figure out how to copy her notes?"

Remus scowled. "Neither. I'm studying, something you might want to try." He quickly glanced down at his book.

But Sirius was quick to notice; he chimed in, leaning forward with an all-too-mischievous grin. "You were glaring at Valentine, weren't you?"

Remus didn't respond, but the way his jaw tightened was answer enough.

"Oh, this is rich," Sirius continued, clearly delighted. "Tell me, Moony, does the mere sight of her make your blood boil? Does her voice send shivers down your spine?"

"Shivers of rage," Remus replied dryly, stabbing a forkful of potato with unnecessary force.

"She's insufferable," Mary Macdonald interjected, shaking her head. "Always acting like she knows everything. Honestly, I don't know how you haven't hexed her yet, Remus."

"She's not worth the trouble," Remus said evenly, though the memory of their earlier argument in class flashed through his mind. The way she'd tossed her chalk aside, thrown up her hands, and dared to accuse him of acting superior—it made his blood simmer just thinking about it.

"She's terrifying," Peter mumbled, glancing nervously at the Ravenclaw table. "I'd probably just start crying if she ever looked at me the way she looks at Remus." Peter squeaked, his face pale.

Mary nodded in agreement "I don't know how you put up with her, Remus. If it were me, I'd drop out of the debate team just to avoid her." She crossed her arms.

"She's like a—a Tartar with a wand! One wrong move, and you're dead." Hollered, Peter.

"She does have a way of making you feel about two inches tall," Lily added thoughtfully, though there was a glint of amusement in her green eyes. "But she's determined. That's not a bad thing. And she's right most of the time." Lily shrugged, her eyes retorting back to her book; "You're just intimidated because she's smarter than you, Peter."

Peter flushed and mumbled something unintelligible as Sirius cackled.

"Determined to drive me mad," Remus muttered under his breath, earning another snicker from Sirius.

"Maybe you drive her mad," Marlene suggested, smirking as she twirled her fork. "You ever think about that? She probably spends just as much time loathing you as you do loathing her."

"Good," Remus said, his lips curving into a tight smile. "The feeling's mutual."

"Ah, so it's a proper rivalry, then," James declared with a grin, leaning back in his seat. "The Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw, locked in eternal combat. It's almost romantic." He teased.

Remus shot him a withering look, his tone sharp and indignant. "There's nothing romantic about it," he cried, his voice pitching slightly higher than he intended.

Sirius smirked, clearly not buying it. "That was awfully quick, Moony," he drawled, nudging Marlene, who sat beside him. "What do you think, McKinnon? A bit of unresolved tension, maybe?"

"Oh, definitely," Marlene replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You should have seen them in Charms last time. I thought she was going to hex him when he corrected her technique."

"I was right," Remus interjected defensively, his ears turning slightly pink at the memory. "She wasn't holding her wand properly!"

"And you just had to tell her in front of everyone, didn't you?" Marlene teased, grinning.

"She was wrong," Remus insisted, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "If she can't handle being corrected—"

"—then she'll probably hex you," Sirius finished with a laugh. "Honestly, I don't know why you even bother, mate. You could just let her win once in a while."

"Because she's insufferable," Remus muttered, glaring at the Ravenclaw table again. Evelina was laughing at something Emmeline Vance had said, her head tilted back slightly, her confidence radiating even from across the hall. "Every time I see her, there's just... this feeling. Ever since the first day I laid eyes on her, it's been there."

Sirius's eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward eagerly. "Oh? And what exactly does this feeling feel like, Moony? Butterflies? A little flutter in your chest?"

Remus groaned, running a hand down his face. "It's not butterflies, Sirius. It's—it's hard to describe. It's like—"

"Love," Sirius declared dramatically, cutting him off.

"Loathing," Remus corrected firmly, glaring at his friend. "It's loathing. Pure, unadulterated loathing. For her smugness, her arrogance, her insufferable need to be right about everything—"

"So basically all the things you do," James said, grinning wickedly.

Remus shot him a glare. "Don't even start."

"I mean," Marlene said with a sly smile, "you've got to admit there's a certain... spark between you two. It's like watching fireworks every time you're in the same room."

"Fireworks that burn everything around them," Lily chimed in, shaking her head. "Honestly, you're both impossible."

"You're wrong," Remus grumbled, stabbing at his food again. "There's no spark, no fireworks, and certainly no love. Just a mutual and deeply rooted hatred."

"Sure," Sirius said with a wink. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Moony"

Remus groaned again, but he couldn't stop his eyes from drifting back to Evelina. She was still laughing, her confidence filling the room like an irritating glow. Loathing, he reminded himself. It was just loathing. And he would loath her for his entire life.

On the Ravenclaw table across the hall, Evelina's friends weren't much nicer.

Evelina could feel his eyes on her, sharp and unrelenting like the tip of a knife. She didn't need to look to know it was Remus Lupin glaring at her from across the Great Hall.

"Don't look now, but your favorite Gryffindor is staring again," Emmeline said, her voice laced with mockery.

Evelina let out an exasperated sigh, shoving a bite of shepherd's pie into her mouth. "He's not my favorite anything."

"Really? Because he seems awfully fixated on you," Emmeline teased, glancing over her shoulder at the Gryffindor table.

"I'm fixated on not letting him win," Evelina snapped, stabbing her pie with unnecessary force. "He thinks he's so clever, so untouchable. Someone needs to knock him off that pedestal of his."

Caradoc chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, you do talk about him an awful lot."

"I do not!" Evelina shot back, her quill snapping under the pressure of her grip.

"Right," Benjy drawled "And yet, here we are, listening to yet another monologue about how much you loathe him." He grinned; "You know, most people wouldn't bother getting this worked up over one person."

"Most people don't have to deal with Remus Lupin," Evelina said through gritted teeth. "He's arrogant, condescending, and—and—"

"Brilliant?" Emmeline suggested with a smirk.

"Insufferable," Evelina corrected, glaring at her friend. "There's a difference."

"Come on, Eve," Emmeline said, leaning her chin on her hand. "You have to admit, he's good. I mean, he beat you on the board and managed to keep his cool while you were fuming. That's impressive." She truthfully added.

"Impressively obnoxious," Evelina shot back, crossing her arms.

"Don't you think you're a bit obsessed?" Benjy asked cautiously, earning a sharp look from Evelina.

"I am not obsessed," she said firmly. "I just... I can't stand him. He's everything I hate—smug, self-righteous, and always so perfect. It's like he doesn't even have to try, and he still—"

"Drives you mad?" Emmeline interrupted, grinning.

Evelina groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"You two are going to kill each other before the year's out," Caradoc said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Good," Evelina muttered under her breath. "At least I won't have to see his stupid smug face anymore."

But even as she said it, she couldn't ignore the way her pulse quickened at the thought of their next encounter. That feeling—so pure, so strong—was impossible to shake.

Exam Day: the ultimate test

                  The morning of the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam was tense. Evelina Valentine strode into the classroom with her usual confidence, her wand clutched tightly in her hand and her gaze sharp. The moment she stepped inside, her eyes locked on Remus Lupin, already seated near the front, his posture relaxed and infuriatingly self-assured.

She felt a spark of irritation flare in her chest, matched only by the way his smirk deepened as he noticed her.

He tilted his head slightly as if daring her to say something. Instead, Evelina squared her shoulders and marched to a seat on the opposite side of the room.

He's insufferable, she thought bitterly, laying her parchment on the desk with a sharp snap.

Remus, meanwhile, couldn't help but glance her way as she settled in, her movements brisk and efficient, practically vibrating with determination. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. She's going to make this into a competition, isn't she?

The professor called the class to order, and the exam began.

Evelina dove into the parchment with the same ferocity she approached every challenge, her quill flying across the page. Every question seemed designed to test her wit and knowledge, and she relished the opportunity to prove herself. Yet, out of the corner of her eye, she could see Remus, calm and methodical, as though he weren't feeling the pressure at all.

Her jaw clenched. How does he always manage to act so smug?

For his part, Remus could sense Evelina's tension without even looking. He smirked faintly, knowing how much it would rile her up if she thought he was unfazed. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely immune to the stress, but he wouldn't let her see that. Not now.

Quills scratching and the occasional groan from a disgruntled student were the only sounds to break the silence as the exam continued. With a relentless emphasis on surpassing each other, Evelina and Remus worked frantically.

By the time the professor announced the end of the exam, Evelina felt a mix of relief and exhaustion. She glanced toward Remus, who was leaning back slightly in his chair, his quill set down neatly. He met her gaze with an infuriatingly neutral expression as if daring her to ask how he'd done.

              The next morning, the scores were posted on the classroom noticeboard. Evelina arrived early, as did Remus—both clearly eager to see who had triumphed.

Their eyes landed on the results at the same time.

Evelina Valentine: 97%
Remus Lupin: 97%

The silence between them was deafening as the realization hit.

All that effort, all that work, just to tie? Evelina's nails dug into her palm, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Remus ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. Of course, he thought bitterly. Of course, she'd manage to match me.

Their gazes met once more, and this time, there was no pretense of civility.

"I suppose you think this means something," Evelina muttered, her tone cutting.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "It means I'm still better," he replied, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

Her eyes narrowed. "In your dreams, Lupin."

As they turned away, each more determined than ever to outdo the other in the next challenge, one thing became clear:

They would loathe each other for the rest of their lives. And neither of them would have it any other way.

But somewhere, deep down, in the corners of their minds, they refused to explore, both wondered this strange feeling: Was it really loathing? Or something else entirely?

For now, they wouldn't ask the question aloud. It was easier—safer—to cling to the idea that this fire between them was nothing but animosity. But the fire burned too brightly, too persistently, to be so simple as just loathing.

HEYYY HAVENT SPOKEN ON HERE FOR A WHILE!!

just really wanted to say tysm for reading this fic, it really means alot, I'm enjoying writing even tho this is more of a filler chapter it was still very enjoyable to write so hopefully more chapters to come soon!! <33