Alright, kiddos, I'm going to start this story off with several warnings. We're talking drug abuse, somewhat graphic sex, etc. If you are underage, I highly suggest you move on. I have other stories that don't have this type of content, and there is plenty out there from other authors, as well! Now, with that being said, if you came here BECAUSE of the M rating, then carry on!
Rain lashed at the windows as Remus Lupin sat comfortably in his armchair before the fire. He was studying a book that lay in his lap as the flames in the grate threw shadows against the walls of his modest cottage. It was late fall, and he was looking forward to the next day, when he would begin his weekend with a nice, long walk in the woods behind his home. The leaves were painted crimson and orange at this time of year, and he loved watching his breath turn to mist as he crunched his way along the narrow path. He glanced at the clock, thinking to himself that he would finish this chapter and then he would head to bed.
Knock, knock.
Remus looked up at the sound of someone tapping on his front door. Whoever could it be at this time of night? He rose, placing his book face-down on the chair to mark his place and weaving his way around many more piles of books scattered throughout his living room. He opened the door a crack, meaning to glance outside and identify who it was on his doorstep, but whoever it was pushed against the door as soon as he turned the latch, causing him to stumble backwards. Before he could open his mouth to yell, his eyes fell on the cloaked figure, and his heart began to race.
"Melanie?" The young woman looked up at him at the sound of her name, her eyes brimming with tears under the scarlet wool of her cloak. Silent sobs wracked her figure as Remus quickly closed the door and stepped towards her. "Melly, what's wrong? Where's Sirius?"
At the mention of her husband's name, Melanie's mouth twisted into an anguished grimace. "I hate him!"
Remus raised an eyebrow. Melanie and Sirius had always had a- well, tempestuous relationship, dating back to their years at Hogwarts. He was not a stranger to their passionate arguments, although they usually ended with the two making loud, rough love on the nearest available surface. Remus could count on one hand the number of times Melanie had stormed off in tears.
Concerned, he led her into the kitchen and took her cloak, hanging it above the fireplace so it would dry and putting the tea kettle on to boil. He sat down beside her at the kitchen table and met her eyes for the first time since she entered his home. "What happened?"
Melanie brushed a black curl behind her ear and sniffled. Her blue eyes were rimmed with red, and her mascara had smeared down her cheeks. "He's at it again, Remus." She swiped at her face with a fist as Remus digested her words. He knew exactly what she meant.
He sighed and shook his head. "Do we know this one?"
Melanie gave him a stony look. "I don't have to know her," she said furiously. "She's a cheating, conniving, slutty whore like the rest of them!"
Remus gathered her hands into his and squeezed them gently. "Melly, Sirius has always been like this. You knew, when you married him-"
"That he's a cheating, lying bastard?" she finished.
He frowned. "Melly-"
She pulled her hands out from his grasp and buried her tear-stained face in them. Dry sobs shook her shoulders as she resumed crying into her hands. When she spoke again, her voice was muffled. "When he asked me to marry him, I thought it was over. I thought he had changed, that he wanted to settle down." When Remus didn't answer, she looked up. "Why did he marry me if he wasn't ready to stop snogging random women? Why did he propose if he didn't want to be a proper husband?"
Remus sighed. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "I thought the same thing. Sirius loves you, Melly, I know he does."
She made a scoffing sound and looked away.
The tea kettle began to whistle, and Remus stood and filled two cups before handing her one and settling back into his chair with the other. He sighed. Melanie had been a part of the group since their fourth year at Hogwarts, and she and Sirius had an on-again, off-again relationship throughout the rest of their time there. It wasn't until after Sirius and Remus had both become active in the Order that Sirius saw the need to propose to Melanie. Remus hadn't been surprised- the War brought on a lot of last-minute marriages. But he had thought that of all people, Melanie and Sirius had the best chance of survival. While their relationship was certainly rocky at times, deep down the emotions were there.
Of course, Remus had never seen the need to tell Melanie of his own feelings. There was no point in asking a woman to love him- his status as a half-blood and a werewolf was enough to prevent anyone from taking his devotion seriously. Melanie deserved a better man than he was- and Sirius had stepped in. So he had loved her from a distance, all these years. It tore at his heart every time she came to him about Sirius' infidelities- this was not the first time, and he couldn't understand how his best friend could cheat on such a beautiful, intelligent, and loving woman. But he kept his opinions to himself and did what he could to keep their marriage from falling apart. Someone deserved happiness in this world.
"Remus." He looked up at the sound of his name and met blue eyes. "Am I a bad wife?" Melanie looked utterly broken and defeated.
He shook his head vehemently. "No, of course not."
"Then why does he do this?"
He looked away, unable to come up with a decent explanation. He knew Sirius loved Melanie- but sex had always been an addiction for him. He was able to separate his love from his sexual adventures- something Remus would never be able to understand. Sirius needed the chase, needed the thrill of making a girl fall for him, and he needed the satisfaction of taking her to bed afterwards, if only to prove that he could. Nothing had changed since their days at Hogwarts. Remus sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair. "You know how he is, Melly," he sighed. "It doesn't mean he doesn't care about you-"
She shook her head. "I envy the woman you marry, Remus," she confessed softly, avoiding his gaze. "She will never have to feel like this."
He reached out and gently brushed an ebony curl behind her ear. "No, I couldn't treat someone that way." Especially her.
Another knock sounded at the door, and the friends' eyes met. "Sirius," Melanie whispered, but Remus was already on his feet and moving towards the door. Before he could reach it, Sirius let himself in. He stood in the doorway and frowned at his best friend. "Where's Melanie?" he asked gruffly. His black hair was dripping with rainwater, and he was flushed. Remus felt his nostrils twitch as the scent of alcohol and sex reached his nose.
"In the kitchen," he told him, and Sirius brushed past him brusquely, striding through the house as if it was his. Remus followed.
When they entered the room, Melanie was on her feet. "Go home, Sirius," she said coldly. "I have nothing to say to you."
Sirius smirked. "Good, because I have plenty to say to you, and you can stay quiet and listen."
Melanie scowled at him. "Unless you are here to apologize for the blonde whore that I'm sure just left my house, I don't want to hear a word you have to say."
Sirius waved his hand vaguely in the air, as if the blonde woman was just a minor irritation. "She's gone, don't fuss about it. The house is all yours."
Melanie stomped her foot, infuriated that Sirius didn't seem to understand what she was upset about or to be taking her seriously. "No, actually, it's not. That house is not mine. It's yours, it's mine, and it's whatever slut you bring home's."
Sirius shrugged. "I don't see why you're so upset about this."
Melanie was furious. "I'm tired of it, Sirius! I can't take it anymore! You disrespect me by running around behind my back, and that's bad enough- but it is completely disgusting that you are willing to bring these women home! Can't you just fuck them in a hotel and at least pretend you're an honest husband?"
Sirius frowned. "I think you forget, darling, that as your husband, I have rights."
Remus flinched as Melanie began screaming. "Those laws were written hundreds of years ago! They don't apply anymore, Sirius! I am your wife, and I deserve some goddamn respect!"
Sirius took a step towards her and stopped. "What about the respect I'm due?" he snarled. "All you do all day is sit around and mope over the baby- what the hell am I supposed to do with a wife who ignores me? I have needs, Melly, and if you won't satisfy them, I will find someone who will."
Tears began streaming down Melanie's face at the mention of the child she had lost two years ago. Not long after their graduation from Hogwarts, she had found out that she was pregnant- and Remus was sure this had something to do with Sirius' hasty proposal. But after twenty weeks, something went wrong, and Melanie lost the child she had been carrying. She had taken it very badly, and still cried at the drop of a hat. Rather than feel sympathy for his young wife, however, Sirius had resented her depression as she withdrew into herself. If he had wanted to hurt her, he had found the best way.
"Sirius-" Remus began, attempting to warn his friend before all hell broke loose.
He was too late. "How am I supposed to feel inclined to fulfill my wifely duties when I spend my days scrubbing other women's lipstick off of your shirts?" she snarled. "You come home one night a week- if that- reeking of alcohol and cigarettes and other women's perfume! Do you honestly think I want your hands on me after that?"
Sirius shrugged. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"I'm leaving you." Melanie's words were cold, and full of a dreadful certainty.
Remus opened his mouth to interfere, but Sirius beat him to it. "You can't." He gave his wife a haughty look. "You know that wizarding law doesn't recognize divorces, and if you shack up with another man- I swear to God I will drag you home by your hair if I have to."
Melanie didn't reply; she just stood there with angry tears flowing down her cheeks. "Why are you so hateful, Sirius?" she whispered. "I love you. I've always loved you. Why do you treat me like this?"
"Because you let me," Sirius said honestly.
Silence ensued as the couple regarded each other. Finally, Sirius stepped forward and pulled his wife into his arms. Burying his face in her black curls, he said, "I'm sorry, Melly. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just- Life's so short, you know?"
Melanie nodded her agreement and sniffled into Sirius' robes. Sirius turned to Remus. "I'm taking her home," he announced in a tone of finality. "Sorry to bother you, Moony."
Remus just stood in his kitchen, his ears still ringing from the heated argument in his kitchen, as Sirius led his wife to the door. If this was how they acted in front of him, how much worse was it when they fought at home?
