Disclaimer: Only Malika (and Jane) belongs to me...

Chapter 7

August 1994

The next day, Remus had sent a letter to Dumbledore, like he had promised, but Dumbledore's answer hadn't been very consoling.

Dumbledore, too, thought something was going on, he had already heard what happened at the World Cup and was now looking into it.

Whatever was going on, he apparently thought it was serious, because he had mentioned in his letter that the recently retired auror Alastor Moody would take upon him the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher the coming school year.

When Malika had arrived at auror headquarters that day, everything was quite a mess, and a lot of interrogations, investigation and paperwork had to be done with what happened the night before.

Her superiors didn't mention anything about her leaving early that night, maybe they didn't even know she had left. Yet even if they had said something, she knew they wouldn't exactly do much about it, because she was one of the best aurors at the moment. She was one of the few aurors left who had actually fought in the last war and was still working as an auror.

As the days went on however, most of the people seemed to forget about the incident at the World Cup, or they pretended to forget it. It was dismissed by the Ministry, and consequently by the Daily prophet too, as unimportant. Soon, the incident wasn't mentioned anymore and forgotten by the greater public.

Malika, however, wasn't so careless. She made sure to remember it and keep an eye open for further occurrences that could refer to Voldemort or Death Eaters, all with the intention to mention it to Dumbledore if she found something.

It occurred to her that, even years after the first war, she still saw the Headmaster of Hogwarts as the leader of the long dispersed Order of the Phoenix.

Summer ended and turned into fall.

In October things happened at the Ministry that proved to Malika people weren't as carefree as she had thought.

Apparently, many wizards and witches were scared after what had happened, and asked the Ministry to do something. The reaction of the Ministry, however, was discriminating, narrow-minded and completely wrong, in Malika's eyes.

It was through Remus that Malika heard what was going on at first.

September 1976 (Marauders 7th year)

A week had passed by since the start of term, and Malika still hadn't reached a decision.

She had been thinking things over and over in her head, she knew she had to be honest with Sirius, but she didn't want to hurt him.

Buther mind kept arguing that breaking up with him was what she had to do.

She had been quiet and pensive the whole week, and her friends had been asking her what was wrong on many occasions, but she had kept silent.

It was Lily who was the first to understand what was going on and had confronted her one evening when they were getting ready for bed.

"Malika, tell me what's going on?"

"Nothing," was her absentminded answer.

"I know something has been bothering you the whole week, why do you keep it locked inside?" Lily had insisted.

Malika sighed. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You don't want to hurt anyone? Or, you don't want to hurt Sirius?"

At this, Malika looked up sharply.

"I thought so." Lily said then.

"What should I do, Lily?" Malika looked close to tears now, so Lily came to sit next to her friend and laid a gentle arm around her shoulders.

"You should be honest with him, you know it has to happen sometime, there's no use in waiting for the right time and that sort of crap." Malika started sobbing now.

Lily continued. "Malika, promise me you will tell him tomorrow. Promise me."

Malika took a deep breath and answered at last. "I promise, I will."

Lily smiled reassuringly to her friend. "Everything will be alright, you'll see. Now, let's get some sleep."

Malika nodded, and crawled under her blankets, but she couldn't help but doubt her friend's words. How could everything be alright if she had to break someone's heart?

000

The next day was a warm and sunny day.

Malika had told Sirius she wanted to talk to him, and they went outside towards the lake, where no-one would disturb them, she didn't want anyone else around.

As they reached the lake, they sat down on a spot of grass under a tree.

Sirius decided to start and get over with whatever was going on.

"So, what's up? I know something's been bothering you whole this week."

Malika risked a glance at him, but quickly diverted her gaze when she saw the concerned look in his eyes.

Merlin, why does it have to be this hard?

"Malika?"

She sighed. She had to go through with it now, no use in delaying it further.

"I can't do this anymore, Sirius." She glanced up at him. A confused look took over his eyes.

Malika quickly rushed on, again not looking at him. "I enjoyed everything we had, but I realised recently that there was something missing. I really like you, Sirius, but only as a friend, actually more like a brother, but not in a romantic sort of way. I…I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you." At the last words, her voice wavered.

Sirius sat stunned for a few moments. He had dated many girls the last few years, but he was always the one to break things off and for a moment he was amazed at how much it bothered him and how much it actually did hurt.

It took some time before the truth really sunk in.

At last he spoke, softly and unbelieving.

"You're breaking up with me?"

Malika nodded meekly, but still didn't look at him.

"Please look at me?" He whispered.

Tears started streaming down Malika's face as she saw the heartbroken look on his face.

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

Sirius slowly shook his head.

"If you are really sorry, then why are you doing this?"

Malika took a deep breath before answering. "I told you, I don't think I like you that way."

Sirius frowned. "You don't think? You don't know for sure then."

Malika only sighed frustrated at this, not knowing what to say.

"If you are not sure, Malika, then please think about it." He put his hand under her chin, and lifted her face to make her look him in the eye. "Because I think I'm in love with you."

Malika inhaled sharply, eyes wide.

The next moment, she averted her eyes again, her mind running in all directions at once, unable to process this information.

"Malika?"

She looked up again at him, finally able to formulate a whispered answer.

"I'll need some time to think about this."

"I'll give you all the time you need."

And with that, he stood up and returned to the castle, leaving Malika to her jumbled thoughts.

000

A little later, Sirius entered the boys' dormitory. The other Marauders looked up as he came in, immediately sensing something was wrong. James was the first to speak.

"What did she want, Padfoot?"

Sirius plopped down on his bed, before answering in a confused voice.

"I can't believe it, she broke up with me."

A heavy silence fell in the room, before it was broken by James' "What?", while the other boys were just staring at Sirius.

"Why would she do that?" Peter asked after another silence.

"I wish I knew," came Sirius' reply.

"I'm sorry mate." It was the first thing Remus had said, and he wasn't even sure he meant it.

On the one hand, he felt sorry for his friend. But on the other hand, Remus couldn't help the sense of glee that overtook him at the same time. For some reason, the knowledge that Malika was single again, made his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He had tried hard to store away his feelings for Malika, but it was no use. A part of him now began to hope for a chance with her, but he tried to ignore it. Why would she ever want to be with him, if she could get Sirius? A nagging voice in his mind reminded him that she apparently didn't want Sirius, but, again, he tried to ignore it. Remus shook his head to clear it, feeling guilty towards Sirius for sporting these thoughts now.

000

In the girls' dormitory, Lily too wanted to know how Malika's conversation with Sirius went.

"He didn't take it well." Malika bit her lip nervously.

"What happened? What did he say?" Lily looked at her inquisitively.

"He asked me to think about it again and…" She stopped abruptly, shaking her head sadly.

"And what?" Lily frowned.

"He told me he loved me." Malika whispered this, looking thoroughly confused.

Lily put her arms around her friend comfortingly.

"Don't let this confuse your feelings, Malika. If you don't feel the same, then he will have to live with that."

Malika nodded meekly, still more confused then she had ever been before in her life.

000

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