Disclaimer: I only own Malika, Jane and Cynthia, everything else belongs to J.K.Rowling.

A/N: Sorry for the very long wait for this update, but I haven't been home much these last weeks and I'm going to be quite busy during the next weeks, so I can't promise as much updates as I used to do.

Another thing: it's impossible for me to follow HBP in this story, for obvious reasons, (although I might use some things from the book, I won't change my storyline), so now I'm wondering if my readers want me to continue this story.

Also I got my first flame ever last chapter, and I have to admit (shamefully) that I stopped writing this for a little while. I know this isn't the best story, but at the start of this story I was all new to writing in English, and I do hope my writing has improved since then, but I'm still pretty new and developing my writing. So, please don't flame me. Constructive criticism is of course welcome.

Now, on to the story.

Chapter 13

December 1994

A week had passed since Malika had resigned at the Ministry, she had been looking for a new job since then but hadn't found one yet.

It was lunchtime and Malika and Remus were just eating when there was a knock on the door. Remus went to open it and returned a few moments later with Jane, Malika was very surprised to see her ex-colleague there.

"Jane, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Jane took a deep breath before answering. "I need you to come to the Ministry with me."

Malika frowned. "I told you I don't want to work for them anymore."

"It's not to work, Malika, although I don't deny we need you there, you're one of our best Aurors, but that's not why I'm here. I need you to make a speech for a group of people we assembled."

Malika stared blankly at her friend. "What are you talking about?" She glanced towards Remus, who shrugged in response. Jane sat down in front of Malika before continuing.

"Hear me out alright. After you left I started thinking about what you said and you were totally right, we can't let them do this, we should do something. But the point is, you can't do anything when you don't work there, your resign won't solve anything, they will just continue without you." Malika frowned again and opened her mouth to protest, but Jane quickly cut her off. "I understand why you did it and I don't say it was wrong, I'm just saying it won't change a thing."

Malika sighed. "How do you suppose the two of us can make a change?"

"Not the two of us, but if we were with a lot of people thinking the same way, we might."

"And where do you want to find those people?" Malika looked highly sceptical.

"Let me finish. After you left, I went to talk to Kingsley, I explained what happened and asked his help. Together we could assemble some people who disagree with how the Ministry is handling things or who are at least open to listen to other solutions. We are assembling this evening and I want you to speak to them, to explain your point of view. I was hoping we could offer them another way than the Ministry."

A silence fell around the table. Malika was stunned and after a glance towards Remus, she saw he was too. A thought struck her and she turned back to Jane.

"What you are doing can be dangerous, Jane, you could lose your job or even worse if Umbridge comes upon this."

Jane shook her head. "I don't think so. They can't fire all of us, don't underestimate this, Malika, a fairly large group has agreed to listen to you. I believe we really have a chance and so does Kingsley. Now, will you come with me?"

Another silence fell, this time Malika and Remus were both staring in awe at the woman sitting in front of them, as if they saw her for the first time. Jane had accepted Remus' lycanthropy a long time ago, but they had never expected to get so much help from her.

Suddenly, Malika got up from the table and hugged her friend closely. "Thank you," she whispered in a choked up voice. Then she disappeared to the bedroom to get ready.

Jane turned towards Remus, who was gazing back at her with a pensive look in his eyes, she smiled. "Did someone ever tell you that you think too much, Remus?"

He smiled back, "Many times." Then he got up and hugged Jane too, she was surprised but returned the hug none-the-less.

After they let go of each other he said, "There are no words to thank you enough, Jane, you are a true friend."

Jane blushed a bit. "This might not really change a lot, Remus."

"I know, but you are trying. That already means a lot. Thank you, for caring this much."

She smiled. "I can't help but care, you two are great friends."

Malika re-entered the kitchen. "Are you trying to steal my love away from me, Jane?"

Jane laughed. "I wouldn't dare. Are you ready to go?"

Malika nodded, kissed Remus goodbye and both women left for the Ministry.

000

Jane led Malika to one of the unused courtrooms, it was a safe place to gather because almost no-one had used this place for years, they wouldn't be disturbed here.

Malika was very surprised upon seeing the crowd that had gathered there, but before she could take a better look to see if she knew anyone, Kingsley Shacklebolt approached her with a smile.

"Ready for the show, Malika?"

She smiled at her friend. "Yes, I think I am. Thank you for this Kingsley."

"That's alright. I only wished you trusted me enough to tell me about your loverboy. That's what friends are for, Malika, I can't help you if I don't know what's bothering you."

"I know, I'm sorry. I would have in time."

"Don't worry about it. I know you've had a lot to deal with. I just hope you'll trust me in the future."

Malika nodded and Kingsley took her by the arm and led her to the front of the room, where she could speak to the crowd. She let her eyes wander around for a moment and recognised some faces, like Arthur Weasley and Nymphadora Tonks.

Suddenly she saw a face she hadn't seen in many years and she felt her blood run cold. The same blond hair, the same light green eyes and even the same style of clothing, it was impossible to not recognise her. A wave of hatred coursed through Malika upon seeing Cynthia Robertson again.

"Are you alright?" Jane's voice spoke in her ear, "We can start if you're ready."

Malika shook her head to clear it and forget about the hated woman, she turned towards her friend to let her know she was ready to speak to the gathered crowd.

Jane shortly thanked them for coming and introduced Malika and then it was her turn. She cleared her throat nervously, she had never talked before so much people at once. Malika took a deep breath and started speaking.

"Jane here has told me you aren't happy with the way the Ministry is handling certain things and you might be open to listen to another option. I may have that option, although some of you won't be satisfied with my way either. I just want to ask from you to listen to what I have to say, whether you agree with me in the end or not will be up to you, but I ask you to not judge before you have at least tried to see the way I see things. Many things are dealt with in a wrong way these days, but what I want to talk about tonight is the way werewolves are treated, not only by the Ministry, but by our society."

A murmur passed through the assembled crowd and Malika saw some people frowning, she took another deep breath before bracing herself and continuing, promising herself to ignore any noise her public might make.

"Until a few days ago, I was an Auror, but I resigned because the Ministry gave us the order to hunt down every werewolf who had attacked someone during the last full moon. I resigned because the Ministry's orders were unfair and inhuman." More and more murmurs and sounds of protest spread to the crowd, but Malika glared down at them and continued. "There have been more werewolf-attacks during the last full moon than there have been during the last two years and the only blame we can place is by the Ministry." Malika almost shouted this over the crowd and a stunned silence fell after her last words.

"These last months, the Ministry has installed many new laws that stand against everyone they could consider not entirely human. Those laws mean for most werewolves that they can't find a job anywhere and often even no place to live. Tell me, how can they secure themselves during a full moon if they don't even have a home? They certainly don't have any money to provide themselves in Wolfsbane potion. The ways of the Ministry are wrong on so many levels, but they are supported by society as well. I know most people look down on werewolves, people like to think they aren't entirely human, but that's a lie, they are just like you and me, they only suffer from a very painful illness. It's a hard life, you know, lycanthropy is not easy to handle, it's not only the pain from the transformations, but also the fear of hurting the people you love. They never asked to be cursed like that and yet they are condemned for something that isn't their fault."

Again a silence fell in the courtroom, everyone was watching Malika in shock. None of them had ever thought about werewolves that way and no one had ever asked them to either. Malika collected her thoughts and continued. "I'm not asking of you that we call back every law, I know that's not possible, I only hope you think about what I said. I also hope to set up some sort of support service, the main purpose would be to provide werewolves in Wolfsbane potion and a safe place to transform when they can't provide themselves. Those who want to help us can contact me, Jane or Kingsley."

After Malika had finished talking, some questions were asked and a few people already offered their help. People were leaving the courtroom which emptied slowly and Malika was preparing to return home when someone approached her. For the first time in thirteen years and to Malika's dismay, she found herself standing face to face with Cynthia Robertson.

December 1976 (Marauders 7th year)

Malika was reading on her favourite couch in the common room, she had no idea where her friends were, but it didn't bother her, she finally had some time alone again and that was something that didn't happen often lately.

Her quiet time alone was interrupted however when the portrait hole opened and two boys climbed trough it. Remus and Sirius immediately spotted the girl on the couch by the fire and headed her way, they stopped right before her and she looked up with a questioning look in her eyes. It was a constant in her life these days that when one of the boys found her alone, he would always come to talk with her, but both of them together coming to her like today had however never happened before.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

The boys glanced at each other before Sirius answered. "We have to talk to you, let's go to our dorm." Malika frowned but followed anyway.

Luckily, the dorm was empty, the boys sat down on their own beds while Malika went to sit on James' bed, she glanced expectantly towards the others. Finally, Sirius spoke first, asking the question she had been dreading for a week now.

"Do you have any plans for the Yule Ball, Malika?"

Malika sighed heavily. "I should have seen this coming. If you want me to chose one of you…" She was interrupted by Remus.

"No, we don't want you to chose, we know you won't do that anyway."

"We came up with a solution actually," continued Sirius.

Malika looked a bit sceptical, but decided to listen anyway. The boys glanced at each other for a moment, before Remus nodded, Sirius started speaking again.

"We both want to go with you and because you don't want to chose, I figured we could ask you to go with both of us. We could pick you up together and take turns dancing."

Malika raised her eyebrows. "Going with both of you? Is that even possible? What will everyone say?"

"There is no rule that says you can't have two dates, as long as everyone involved agrees," answered Remus.

"And as for what everyone is going to say, we're Marauders, they will probably think it's sort of a prank anyway," Sirius continued.

Malika bit the inside of her check for a moment. She wanted to go with both of them, but now they were asking her, it seemed kind of strange but she had to agree it was a good plan. She glanced up and found both boys watching her hopefully.

"Are you both sure you want to do it that way?" They nodded. She pondered it over for another moment, before deciding. "Alright then, I'll go with the both of you."

They grinned at her, stood from their beds and walked up to Malika, who stood up from James' bed. Both boys wanted to hug Malika but thought it a bit awkward with the other also standing there. Malika laughed, before saying 'group-hug' and the three of them hugged, laughing at the same time.

At that moment, James and Peter entered the dormitory, both newcomers raised their eyebrows at the scene before them and Malika excused herself quickly and left. They kept staring at Remus and Sirius, who only laughed harder and when James tried to find out what was going on, he was only answered with a smiles and laughter. The only answer he got after numerous times of asking was Sirius' 'you'll find out in a week Prongs.'

000

The next Saturday was finally the day of the long-awaited Yule Ball.

The Ball started at eight o'clock, Malika and Lily would meet the boys at seven thirty, now it was six thirty and the girls were getting ready, putting on their robes and make-up and doing each others hair.

"For someone who doesn't have a date you're being rather self-conscious about your looks, Malika." Lily was saying.

Malika smiled mysteriously. "Who says I don't have a date?"

Lily gasped. "But in Hogsmeade you said…"

"That's a week ago, Lily, I could have been asked after that day."

"I would have thought, being your best friend, you would have told me if someone had." Lily's tone was mock-hurt. Malika didn't answer.

"Come on, Malika, who is it?"

The other girl shook her head, still wearing the mysterious smile. "You'll see soon Lily."

"That's not fair, you know, I told you I was going with James."

But whatever Lily tried, Malika's lips stayed sealed.

000

Meanwhile, the Marauders were having a similar conversation.

James had been trying all week to figure out what was going on the day he had found Remus and Sirius both hugging Malika, but whatever he tried, they didn't answer any of his questions. James knew he probably wouldn't get much out of Remus, but he had at least hoped Sirius would tell him. What perplexed him even more, was the fact both his friends seemed to be overly cheerful the whole past week. Now it was the day of the Yule Ball, and James still had no idea what was going on, and it was frustrating him to no end.

"Is one of you finally going to explain to me what is going on with the both of you?"

"No." The word was emitted by two voices simultaneously.

"Then why are you two so damn cheerful? The Yule Ball is about to start and you have no dates, I hope you realise this is kind of freaky."

"Who ever told you we have no date, Prongs," came Sirius' indignant answer.

"You have?" This time the words were spoken by James and Peter together.

"Both of you?"

"With whom?"

"We're not going to tell you anything else," came Remus' resolute answer. A short silence fell among the Marauders, until Peter asked "You two aren't going together are you?"

Everyone stared at him for a moment, before Remus and Sirius burst out into almost hysterical laughter, James and Peter stared at them in bewilderment.

"It may have been a stupid question but what is so damn funny about it?" James was getting more bewildered by the moment and consequently more frustrated. No answer came, because those to whom the question was directed were still laughing too hard to talk.

"Prongs, they are freaking me out." Peter stated quietly, James nodded.

Remus was the first to recover, but he ignored the questioning gaze of his two friends, instead he started pulling on his robes for the Ball. "We should all get a move on, or we'll be too late, you don't want Lily to wait, do you Prongs?"

James quickly started to get ready for the Ball and the conversation was over.

000

At seven thirty, the boys were sitting in the common room, waiting for the girls to come downstairs while James was again pestering his friends for the identity of their date. A few minutes later, Malika and Lily finally came down the stairs.

As James approached Lily and offered her his arm, he didn't see how Remus and Sirius both approached Malika, who was wearing a long yellow dress that shimmered and reflected the light in the room. The girl smiled at them and gave both boys a kiss on the cheek, earning grins from both and a slight blush from Remus in return. Then, the three of them hooked arms, right at the moment when James and Lily turned towards them. A shocked silence fell in the common room. James, Lily and Peter were staring at the other three, eyes wide and mouths hanging open, the sight was so funny that first Sirius and then Remus and Malika too cracked up laughing.

Lily was the first to recover her shock. "Umm, could one of you explain what's going on?"

James blinked once and asked loudly, almost on top of the second part of Lily's question, "Are you three going together?"

No answer followed, because those involved were still laughing, but after a moment, Remus managed to recover enough to speak. "Yeah, since we knew Malika didn't want to chose, we decided to share her, it was Sirius' idea."

Still staring, Peter asked, "You're going to, umm, well, I mean, are the three of you together or something?"

Everyone stared at Peter now. Sirius shook his head exasperatedly, "No, you dolt, we're going to the ball together."

"Oh."

A new wave of laughter filled the common room, this time, James and Lily joined, Peter looked embarrassed.

When the laughter had calmed down, they decided to head down to the Great Hall. As they left the common room, Lily whispered to James, "I hope this won't cause more problems between them." James nodded and whispered back, "At least, now we know why they were acting strange this week and we don't have to worry anymore about mysterious unknown dates who might cause even more problems." Lily laughed and slapped him playfully on the arm. James smiled, silently thinking to himself this might be the night he had been dreaming of for years.

000

Please review…(and let me know if you want this story to be continued)

Thanks for your reviews: Yasmine Lupin, 'BlondieInLove', Remusgrl01 and S.c.ou.s.er.4.li.f.e.