Disclaimer: only Malika belongs to me.
Chapter 1
End of June, 1994
Malika woke up early the next morning. She had to get ready for work soon, but for now she had a little time left to relax and enjoy the feeling of Remus's arms around her. She was really glad he was home again; it had been a long year, without being able to see each other on a daily basis. And it had been equally long nights, having to sleep alone in a bed that was too big for just one person. She snuggled closer to Remus, who, even in his sleep, closed his arms tighter around her. Yes, she was definitely happy he was back home.
And yet, something was bothering her. Reflecting on the last evening, she wondered what it was. After he had told her what had happened before and during the night of the full moon, Remus had been rather downcast. She knew he was feeling guilty about Peter escaping and she knew he needed more time to cope with it before she could try and talk away his feelings of guilt. So instead, they had spent their evening making up for the time they had missed last year, while he was at Hogwarts. Of course they had seen each other often, she had often gone to her old school to visit him, and he had come home sometimes too. But it just wasn't the same.
While at Hogwarts, Malika had once seen Harry Potter, the son of her dead friends. It had been hard, she hadn't seen him since he was only a year old and he looked so much like James. That was what hurt the most, he reminded her of James, and of the fact that he was still mad at her the last time she had seen him, a few days before they had been killed by Voldemort. That was one of the reasons she didn't want Harry to know about her, not yet at least.
Logically, her thoughts went to Sirius. Remus hadn't told her much, only that he was innocent and on the run again, and she hadn't asked more questions. She understood why Remus didn't tell her much, but the idea he might not completely trust her hurt nonetheless. And yet she wanted to know more. She cared about Sirius, no matter what.
The idea popped up then to write a letter to Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts would surely be able to help her contact Sirius. As long as Remus didn't find out…
Malika's alarm clock rang.
She tried to get up, but Remus pulled her to him again. 'Do you really have to', he whispered.
Malika smiled. 'Yes, I have to go to work, but I'll save some time for you tonight, alright?'
Before he could reply, she gave him a swift kiss on the lips, and disappeared in the bathroom to shower.
November 1970 (Marauders 1st year)
The first months of their first year at Hogwarts had gone by very fast. Malika Andrews and Lily Evans could always be found together, making homework in the library or hanging around in the common room. They found that they enjoyed magical education very much, and studied hard, even on the more boring parts. But they studied together and even the most boring stuff could become less boring when you had someone to share them with.
One cold day in November, however, Malika found herself alone in the library. Lily had forgotten something in their dormitory when they had reached the library, and had returned to retrieve it.
Malika had already started on her homework, while waiting for Lily, when a voice spoke up to her.
'Hi.' a pause and Malika looked up, 'I saw your friend isn't here, and I wondered…', another pause, 'I wondered if maybe I could sit with you, and we could make our homework together.', the boy before her finished, looking a bit uncertain. Malika eyed the boy a bit warily; he had sandy-brown hair and soft amber eyes and he shifted a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.
Malika recognised him as one of what she and Lily, just likemost of school in fact, called 'Potter and his gang of troublemakers'. It was almost unbelievable how a bunch first years could become so notorious in such a short time, but it was true. James Potter and his friend Sirius Black had apparently met on the train, and promptly decided to make name as troublemakers together. And that was what they did; pulling pranks and making enough noise to be sure everyone knew they existed. They had become quite popular, but neither Malika nor Lily liked that sort of attention seekers, so they tried to ignore the gang of boys as much as possible, although it wasn't that easy, especially because they too were gryffindors.
Malika didn't really know how to react now and wished Lily was here, she would certainly know what to say, but Lily wasn't back yet. So Malika bit on her lip, and said finally, almost accusingly: 'you are one of Potters friends, aren't you?'
The boy before her frowned. 'Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm just like them, if that is what you think.'
Malika blushed. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.'
An uncomfortable silence fell between the two eleven year olds. Then Malika spoke again. 'You can sit down if you want, I was just starting on my homework for DADA. Oh, and I'm Malika Andrews by the way.'
This time, the boy smiled. 'I know, and I'm Remus Lupin.'
Malika smiled too, 'I know.'
A silence fell again while Remus sat next to Malika, but this time it was a comfortable silence, and Malika turned towards her homework again.
The next moment, she heard Remus' voice near her ear, 'I've done this essay already, I can help you if you want.'
Malika looked up at him incredulously. 'You've done this already? I thought you guys didn't make your homework until the very last minute.'
Remus grinned at her, 'That's James and Sirius for you, but I told you already, I'm not exactly like them.' Malika blushed again. 'I'm sorry,' she whispered, 'I'm normally not one to judge people before I know them, but your friends are really getting on my nerves, and you're always with them, so I thought…' She smiled, 'Well, obviously, I thought wrong. I would be very glad if you could help me, I'm not very good at DADA actually, I'm still pretty new to this magical stuff.' She blushed again.
Remus smiled at her. 'Oh, you're Muggleborn then?' Malika nodded a little nervous, she and Lily had learned soon that not everyone welcomed Muggleborns with open arms. 'What about you?', she asked.
'I'm a halfblood, my father is a wizard, but my mother is a Muggle.', he answered, and followed 'If you have trouble with DADA you can always ask me if you want, I'm pretty good at it.'
Malika smiled gratefully, 'Thank you. You can ask me too if there's something I could help you with.'
'Well, maybe you could help me with potions.'
'Sure.'
They smiled at each other.
'Malika, I'm back…' Lily's voice could be heard near their table, trailing away as she saw Remus sitting there.
Both looked towards Lily, who was eyeing Remus warily, pretty much in the same way Malika had looked at him at first.
Malika spoke up first. 'Lily, I hope you don't mind if Remus joins us…', she hesitated a moment, and then followed with a grin, 'He's nothing like his friends.'
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Remus grinning at her and then smiling at Lily. After a moment, Lily smiled too, and sat down at their table.
Since that day, the three friends could often be found studying together in the library. While Malika's and Lily's annoyance towards James Potter and Sirius Black grew, a close friendship developed between the girls and Remus Lupin. This was something that in the boys dormitory was often used to tease him, and in later years, when James had decided to make Lily his, it was used to get information about the girls, although Remus kept silent, at least, most of the time.
Thanks to Jamie Love and LunasStar for your reviews.
Jamie Love: Remus and Malika are just living together and are definitely in love, reasons will be explained, but they aren't married (yet), who knows what will happen in the future? (I do, lol)
Please review and tell me what you think.