Author's Note: Remember that Author's Note I left in Strength (Formerly titled Shape of the Water) about writing Marauders Fanfics? Welp, today is that day. Also, I apologize beforehand if I fucked up Hagrid's accent. I tried, I promise I did.

There are two things Malinda Rumancek has learned in her fifteen years of life. One; Romani camps never stood still. Two; neither did life. Because of this, she learned at an early age how to fall asleep surrounded by noise.

Which is why it often took her mother Simza roughly shaking her to wake up.

"Up fiică! You have to meet Hagrid soon!"

The fifteen-year-old groaned and rolled over in her bedroll to escape her mother's hands. "I'm up Mama, I'm up."

She could hear her mother rolling her eyes. "Bah."

Malinda waited until she heard footsteps leaving the tent before opening her dark brown eyes, soaking up all the emotions of the camp.

Gypsies have always been viewed as mysterious. But Malinda Rumancek was on another level entirely. She was an empath; she could feel and if she chooses to, control them. But that was only half of it. Malinda was also in fact, a witch. And every year, she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in order to control her magic.

With a sigh, she rolled over before pushing herself up on her knees and pulled her small suitcase towards her and opening it. Inside was every single item of clothing she owned, including her school robes, and her wand; hawthorn wood with a unicorn hair core. She held her beloved wand in her hands and gently traced her fingers along the crescent moon engraving, remembering the warm feeling that ran through her veins when she held her wand for the first time.

She tightened her grip for a split second before carefully placing it back in her suitcase and closing it. Standing up, Malinda dusted herself off before turning and making her way out of the tent she shared with her mother. She stood at the entrance for a moment, taking in the camp that has taught her how to live and survive as well as channel her own emotions and ignore the ones that weren't.

"Off on your special trip?"

Mal turned and saw Dimitri, a boy whom she's known since childhood, walking towards her. Of course, just because she knew him, doesn't mean she particularly liked him.

She forced a polite smile on her face. "As I am every year."

Dimitri stopped a few feet away, almost far too close for the fifteen-year-old's comfort. "You know Malinda, people are starting to talk."

"Oh?"

He nodded. "Yes. The people are wondering what you do on these 'special trips'."

Malinda's polite smile melted into a frown. "I've said this more than once, my mother has said this more than once; I take this sabbath every year. I return every single year. And what happens during those sabbaths are no one's business but my own."

Dimitri smirked. "You may think that is true. But you are at that age now."

She narrowed her eyes. "What age?"

The Roma boy's smirk widened. "Marriage age of course."

He indicated behind her. "See? Nikolai is on his way to ask Selina's father for her hand."

Malinda looked behind her to see another she's known forever walking to one of the better caravans in the camp. When she turned back around, she swallowed her disgust. "And how is this relevant to me?"

Dimitri's smirk was now wide enough to be considered terrifying. "You know exactly how it's relevant to you."

The lust the young Romani felt from him wrapped around her neck like a noose. Thankfully, she was saved from responding when she felt her mother's anger hissing and spitting as said woman suddenly appeared at her shoulder, a hard glare on her face. "As if I'd marry her to the likes of you, Clopin."

Everyone in the camp knew better than cross the matriarch of the Rumancek Family, and Malinda smirked ever so slightly when she felt Dimitri's fear rise over his lust. She kept quiet when her mother spoke again. "Now get out of my sight, porc."

The boy didn't need to be told twice as he quickly turned and hightailed it back to the caravan he shared with his own family, but not before Simza spat at the boy's heels in distaste. "Terrible family."

Malinda smiled at her mother. "And I am grateful that he is the last person you would marry me too."

Simza smirked at her daughter. "One of the last, yes. I doubt your Gadje boy would like that very much."

The Roma girl's cheeks were lit aflame at her mother's words. The Gadje boy that her mother was referring to was one of Malinda's fellow student at Hogwarts, a quiet boy in Gryffindor house with scars decorating his face. Whenever she was near him, she always felt a twinge of fear from him lacing his other emotions.

It intrigued her to no end.

Now normally, a Romani girl marrying a non-Romani boy was completely taboo. But because of her daughter's magic as well as her empathetic abilities, Simza would rather have her married to a Gadje from her other world than a boy from the camp so as not to suppress her abilities

Casting one last harsh glare at the Clopin Family tent, Simza looked at her daughter with the same expression she gave her every time she left. "You'll be alright getting into town?"

Malinda smiled at her mother. "I always am Mama, and Hagrid usually arrives shortly after I do. If not before."

Simza returned her smile before cupping her daughter's cheek. "Be safe, and write often."

The younger Roma squeezed her mother's hand before picking up her suitcase and began making her way out of the camp. And just like every year, when she left for Hogwarts, the eyes of the camp followed her with partial curiosity and partial scorn.

And just like every year, she ignored them all.

During the walk to town, Malinda let her mind wander to the ever-nearing school year. She thought of her four dearest friends; Oryena Zenwae, Lux Varris, Lily Evans, and Joy Bilacqua, and the adventures they would have this year.

She remembered feeling their emotions when she met them. Oryena and Lux were hiding a secret, Lily was sad about something, and Joy was angry... so angry. All on their own, they were strong and mystifying.

And Malinda wouldn't trade any of them for anything.

After some time, she came to the town and made her way to the pub where she was supposed to meet Hagrid, the Hogwarts groundskeeper who brought her to Kings Cross Station every year. Upon entering the pub, she immediately spotted the half-giant sitting in the corner.

Really, it was hard to miss him.

Hagrid stood up and greeted her with a large smile. "Hello Mal!"

The Romani girl grinned before giving the half-giant a hug. "Hello Hagrid!

He hugged her back before pulling away and rolling a trunk forward. "All yer school supplies and allowance for the year."

Because money was at times scarce and the camp Malinda lived in often traveled to places that make it impossible to buy school supplies, Hogwarts' headmaster Dumbledore had offered to fund the Roma girl's education. At first, both Malinda and her mother were hesitant to accept the offer. But because of the need to keep the former's magic a secret, they didn't have a choice.

Even though it would take a majority of the rest of her life, the Romani girl vowed to pay back the debt.

Nonetheless, Malinda smiled and accepted the trunk from the half-giant. "Thank you, my friend."

But the half-giant wasn't done. "And another thing from Dumbledore."

He handed her an envelope, which felt like it had something significantly heavier than paper. She opened the envelope to see a letter from the Headmaster himself.

Dear Miss Rumancek,

It is my honor to instate you as Ravenclaw's fifth-year prefect. I trust you to lead your fellow students and to set examples for the younger ones.

Sincerely,

Professor Dumbledore

The Roma girl opened the envelope and slid the prefect badge out.

Hagrid smiled cheerfully. "Well done Mal, ye deserve it."

Malinda grinned before slipping the badge back into the envelope and opening her suitcase just a crack before subtly dropping the envelope inside. Closing her suitcase, she smiled at the half-giant, and he smiled back. "Off we go then."

He leaned in closer so the muggles in the pub couldn't overhear. "There's a portkey not far from 'ere. That's 'ow we're gettin' to Kings Cross."

She smiled before following the half-giant out of the pub, dragging the trunk along with her. The two walked some ways out of town before coming to an old suitcase that looked similar to her own.

"Ready?"

Malinda nodded. And as soon as the two gripped the suitcase and in a split second were standing in an alleyway in London. During the walk to the train station, people gave the very large man and the oddly dressed girl strange sideways glances. Which were duly ignored.

After grabbing a trolley for her trunk and suitcase, the half-giant and the Romani made their way through the Kings Cross Station. Alarge smile crossed the latter's face when the familiar wall between platforms 9 and 10 came into sight. Pausing in front of it, Hagrid turned to look at her. "You'll be alright then Mal?"

She turned her smile to the half-giant. "I always am Hagrid, thank you."

Hagrid grinned and patted her shoulder. "See ye at the castle then."

He turned and walked back the way they came. Turning to face the wall again, Malinda took a deep breath before running towards the wall. And just like every year, the 9 3/4 sign greeted her on the other side, as well as the other people sending their children off.

Many of these families happened to be pureblood wizarding families. Which, like the muggles, gave Malinda sideways glances. But this time, they were full of venom. As she made her farther along the train, a fellow student of hers even hissed at her with disdain. "Gypsy trash!"

"Well that's very rude, isn't it?"

Followed by the age-wizened voice, a sudden body appearing over her shoulder glared at their fellow student. "At least she's not a prick produced from incest."

Joy Bilacqua had a talent of having the aura of a lioness. Messed with her or her loved ones, she would find a way to return the favor.

Usually with her fists.

This reputation was well known around Hogwarts, so it was no surprise when the pureblood boy who had mocked Malinda quickly looked away and hurried along... Even though she hasn't actually beat anyone up since First Year.

The Gryffindor kept her eyes on her would-be victim, once again very much like a lioness, before turning to one out of four of her best friends. "I hate everyone here."

Mrs. Hudson, the kindly old woman who helped Joy's father raised her smiled before patting the girl's cheek. "You only think you do dearie."

Malinda smirked. "She's right, you don't hate me or Lily do you?"

Joy rolled her eyes, but a found/tired smile spread across her face. "Of course not. You and Lily are the people here I can actually stand."

"Well thank Merlin for that."

The two witches and the elderly woman turned to see a familiar head of red hair walking towards them with a large smile on her face, her own family close behind. Lily Evans was the type of person who aimed to change to the world. Their potions professor had often called her the brightest witch of her age.

Make no mistake, she would always be there for her friends.

The three girls embraced each other while Mrs. Hudson and Lily's parents talked. Seeing this, Malinda couldn't help but think of her own mother. Would she converse with them too? Or would she stand strong and silent, but still listening?

Mrs. Hudson looked at her watch before balking. "Goodness! You young ladies better be on the train then, it's 10:58!"

Malinda, Lily, and Joy grabbed their respective trollies before nearly sprinting to the train. After the red head's father helped them load their trunks onto the train, they were thankfully able to find an empty carriage for them. The Roma went with her two practical sisters to wave out the window to Lily's family and Mrs. Hudson. Both the former and the latter were always kind to her whenever she occupied either one of them home for Christmas since going back to camp wasn't entirely possible.

The moment Lily waved goodbye to her sister and called out a goodbye, Petunia Evans' white-hot anger burned through Malinda. The red head's cold sadness dampened the heat but replaced it instead of getting rid of it.

Joy noticed her friend's sadness before gently grasping her elbow and leading them all back to their carriage as the train began to make it's annual trip to Hogwarts. "I take it things are still bad between you and your sister?"

Lily slumped against the chair. "Really bad. She still thinks that I'm- that we're freaks."

Sitting next to each other on the opposite side of the carriage, both Malinda and Joy thought back to what happened between the two Evans sisters. The former had felt the anger, frustration, and betrayal between the two while the latter had a front row seat to the confrontation.

Needless to say, neither had the desire to see their sister in all but blood torn up about it.

The redhead ran a hand through her hair before turning to joy with a slightly strained smile. "How was your summer Joy?"

Their friend proceeded to tell them about the all of the odd jobs she had taken over the summer. This wasn't exactly a choice. Joy's father had been diagnosed with cancer a little while before her eleventh birthday, and ever since, she took jobs to help pay the bills.

And based on the bags under her eyes, it was really starting to take a toll.

"You need to slow down Joy."

She shook her head. "I can't Mal. Dad's not... I can't stop now. I talked to Oryena over the summer, and her mum was able to get me a job at her daycare."

Malinda stared at the Gryffindor girl in shock. "You... Working in a daycare."

"With children?!"

Joy gave the redhead a dry glare. "That's generally what a daycare's for Lily."

Malinda eased her friend's irritation. "We're just saying, a building full of kids seems like the last place you of all people would want be."

She shrugged. "Normally, you'd be right. But I took a class and babysat over the summer. So I don't think I'll be completely terrible... Plus Ryena will be there since she volunteers."

The Romani girl assessed her best friend with anger management issues. She could feel Joy's resolve in the matter, and from past experiences, knew that she wasn't changing her mind in the matter.

"Well, I guess that means I'm volunteering with you."

Joy raised an eyebrow. "Ouch?"

The Ravenclaw rolled her eyes. "That is not what I meant. What I am saying is you could use the extra money."

And frankly, so could she.

"Besides, you are one of my best friends, practically my sister. Neither Lily or I would let you do this on your own."

Joy smiled before pressing her forehead against the Roma's shoulder. "Thank you, sister."

Lily smiled at her best friends before standing up and stretching. "Fancy anything from the trolley before we have to go to the prefect meeting?"

The Romani smiled. "Yes, I'm starving!"

Joy lifted her head and grinned before yawning. "Count me in. Just give me a second I'm... I'm tired."

Malinda smiled in sympathy. Because of all the odd jobs she took, the poor girl was often dead on her feet a majority of her time at home and on the train ride back to Hogwarts.

After Lily and Malinda changed into their school robes and pinned their badges to their chests, Joy yawned again and moved to get up. "Okay let's go."

The Roma girl placed a hand on her friend's shoulder before pushing her back down to the seat. "You are tired. Rest."

She shook her head before trying to stand up again. "I'm fine. Walking around will wake me up."

Malinda smiled gently before calming her friend's emotions, causing Joy's eyes to droop and for her to slump against the seat, fast asleep.

She smiled before turning and seeing Lily watching with surprise. "How do you do it? In our First Year, Joy's anger was uncontrollable... Now she's able to talk herself down from attacking people."

The Ravenclaw smirked. "She still needs our help to talk herself down though."

Lily shook her head. "But it's easier now. For us and for her."

Malinda shrugged. "Maybe I just have the magic touch."

The Gryffindor rolled her eyes before letting her friend out into the corridor. "Oh ha ha."

The two laughed with each other as they made their way to the trolley. After browsing, the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw bought their choices. The Romani noticed that her redhead friend was paying extra to the pumpkin pasties.

Which was a favorite of one of the two friends that were missing from the train.

"I wish they were here with us."

Malinda smirked. "Missing Lux Lily?"

The Roma chuckled when Lily blushed. "I'm just saying, the train seems quiet without them. Not that it's quiet on the train at all, it just seems so without Lux and Oryena."

Oryena and Lux lived in Hogsmede with Oryena's mother and therefore didn't need to take the traditional train every year. But on a more brighter side, they were there at the train station every year to greet their friends. And to the Romani girl, it was obvious that Lily had feelings for Lux and that those feelings were returned wholeheartedly.

"My heart breaks along with you Evans."

The Ravenclaw and the Gryffindor turned and saw James Potter coming to a stop on the other side of the trolley along with his best friend, Sirius Black.

Although Malinda has been around the two long enough to see and feel that their bond was more brotherly than it was friendly.

"Oh yes, my heart weeps that the woman of my heart doesn't travel along with us on the train."

The red-haired Gryffindor narrowing her eyes at the sight of the two infamous tricksters. "What are the two of you up to?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Relax Evans, James just heard Zenwae's name and jumped at the chance to sing her praises."

The glasses wearing boy turned and looked at his best friend with a mock-affronted look. "I'll have you know that I am perfectly serious in my feelings for my dearest Oryena Zenwae."

The funny thing about that was that James was indeed serious when it came to his feelings for her third Gryffindor friend. Malinda has felt them since their first year.

Meanwhile, Sirius smirked at his best friend. "No, I'm perfectly Sirius. You, on the other hand, are a lovesick fawn."

Lily furrowed her eyebrows while Mal's head tilted to the side. Usually, the phrase was 'lovesick puppy'. Must be yet another inside joke between the Marauders.

"That joke wasn't funny the first time Sirius, and it's not funny this now uncountable time."

Malinda's dark brown eyes shot up to see Remus Lupin, the Gadje boy her mother was referring to early. She couldn't place the exact time or moment when she gave him her heart, but it belonged to the Gryffindor boy nonetheless.

Said boy's chocolate brown eyes met hers before smiling. "Hello, Malinda."

The Roma girl blushed when she felt the warm emotions coming from Remus wrap around her like a blanket as a smile of her own spread across her red lips. "Remus."

Lily, James, and Sirius looked between the two as the continued to talk.

"You're a prefect this year."

Mal looked at the badge pinned to her robes. "Yes, Hagrid gave it to me just this morning. You are one too?"

Remus looked at his own badge. "Yes, I am. I think Dumbledore's hoping I'll keep James and the others in line a bit better."

Said Gryffindor piped up. "You can certainly try Moony."

James was promptly ignored. "Although I don't know if I'm really confident in that line of thinking."

The Romani girl shrugged. "You never know, maybe Dumbledore's right. And maybe we'll have some patrols together."

She felt a splurge of victory at the blush that stole across Remus's cheeks. "Yes, maybe."

The pair fell into an awkward silence, which their respective friends couldn't help but roll their eyes/smile amusedly at. The awkward silence was eventually broken when Sirius sighed. "And so begins another year of the awkwardness of one Malinda Rumancek and one Remus Lupin."

Both the Ravenclaw and the Gryffindor turned and pinned the boy with identical glares, but it was Remus who spoke. "I know where you sleep at night Black."

The two turned back to each other as Sirius grumbled 'if I had a sickle for every time I've heard that threat'. "Are you heading to the prefect carriage?"

Malinda smiled before lifting the burden of snacks in her arms a little higher. "In a moment, Lily and I have to drop these off with Joy and then we'll be over."

With a conniving grin on his face, James turned to look at prefect one-fourth of his group of friends. "You know Remus, you should go with Rumancek and help her."

With an identical grin, Sirius joined his brother in all but blood. "Yeah Moony, where are your manners?"

Remus glared at his friends before looking at the Roma girl with a significantly softer look. "Do you need help getting back to your carriage?"

Mal began to shake her head. "If you are busy-"

James cut in. "He's not."

Sirius followed close behind. "Don't be silly Rumancek, Remus would love to help you!"

The two shoved Remus closer to Malinda while speaking in sync. "Go on then Moony, help her."

After awkwardly transferring half of the treats that were in her arms to Remus's arms, the two Gryffindors and the Ravenclaw made their way back to the girls' carriage before depositing the snacks with the still sleeping Joy. After which, the three made their way to the prefect carriage.

"How was your summer Mal?"

The Roma instantly thought to Dimitri and the implied marriage proposal before smiling tensely. "It was fine."

It really was. It was just the thought of marriage and what it was to her culture that dampened her mood.

And apparently, both Remus and Lily noticed, and the latter turned and looked at her friend. "What happened?"

Malinda tried to make her smile more natural. "Nothing, just some people that didn't understand that Gypsies live their lives differently from them."

Once again, true. Discrimination was something that Malinda and her people faced all the time. But like the curiosity and scorn she faced from the people in her camp, she learned to ignore it.

Lily's hand clenched to a fist. "You shouldn't have to go through that!"

The Romani shook her head. "It's nothing I haven't dealt with before."

The redhead pursed her lips. "Still-"

Malinda took her friend's hand. "Lily, I adore your need to stand up for others, but something I've long since learned how to ignore is the hate from others."

Remus frowned. "I'm sorry Malinda. You don't deserve any of that."

The Roma girl smiled in thanks but said nothing. At this point, they arrived at the prefect's carriage. Ever the gentleman, Remus opened the door for them. "After you."

Malinda and Lily shared a look of reassurance before walking in.

For them, the school year has officially begun.

Author's Note: Expect a chapter from my James Potter fanfic How to Train Your Dragon next.

Romanian words used:

-fiică: daughter

-porc: pig

-Gadje: outsider

Thank you for reading and tell me what you think!

-Wolfy