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

A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters so far (together with the next one)

Chapter 8

October 1994

On a dreary Monday in October, Malika was home early. She had finished the paperwork of her last case and didn't have anything else to do that day, so she had just gone home. She was reading a book on the couch when Remus came home.

As she looked up to greet him, Malika immediately noticed something was bothering him, although he did his best to mask it for her. Malika decided to ignore it for now, instead she said: "You had to go to the Werewolf Registry today, didn't you?"

He slumped down next to her on the couch, staring to the empty space in front of him.

"Yeah."

It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it, yet, Malika pressed on.

"How did it go?"

He frowned, but didn't answer right away.

"Remus?" Malika softly touched his arm, as she called his name.

He jerked his arm away from her and she started to feel sick as she took in this reaction. What did those idiots of the Ministry do now?

Finally he spoke in a frustrated tone.

"Do you know what the Ministry is up to at the moment?"

He faced her now, and she shook her head. He stared ahead of him again before continuing.

"After what happened at the World Cup, people are getting worried, and the ministry has to find someone to blame, they have to do something to prove they are looking out for the safety of the people." He put an emphasis on the word safety.

"And who are easier to blame than Dark Creatures like us. They have installed a new law that says werewolves aren't allowed to find a job in the Muggle world anymore, for the safety of the Muggles, and another law states that every magical employer has the right to refuse us a job, simply because of what we are. I won't be able to find a job anymore, Malika." He whispered the last part.

Malika knew this was hard for him, he didn't really need to work, she earned enough to supportboth of them, but he felt like a burden to her and he hated it. She didn't really know how to comfort him, but when she heard his next words, she knew she had to do something.

"That's not everything, you know. I heard they are working on yet another law. A landlord will be able to turn us into the street whenever he wants, and they want to try to deny all werewolves the ownership of private property. It seems like they want to make us go live in the forest, like the vicious animals they think we are. I don't know why you still put up with me, Malika, you definitely deserve better, in the eyes of most people, I'm nothing but a monster."

"Stop it!" Malika interrupted him and he jumped at the angry sound of her voice.

"I don't want to hear you say or even think such things, Remus, you know that. Please, look at me."

When he didn't look at her, she put her hand on his cheek and turned his head to face her. He took a shuddering breath at her touch, and as she looked in his eyes she saw the pain in them.

Malika whispered her next words. "There are many reasons why I 'put up with you' as you call it, so I will name a few of them, you are kind, handsome, smart, gallant, funny, considerate, caring and loving and a whole lot of other things, but most important, I love you. I love you more than anything in this world. You are an amazing man, Remus Lupin, don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise." As an afterthought, she added, "And don't think you can get rid of me this easy, you're stuck with me."

He smiled faintly now and the pain in his eyes was replaced by gratitude and love.

"Thank you, I love you too," he whispered back to her.

The next moment, Malika pressed her lips against his, and Remus responded eagerly, with a passion that was fired by the negative thoughts he had earlier and his need to get rid of them.

Later that night, Malika was lying in their bed with Remus's arms tightly around her while he slept, as if he feared she might disappear if he didn't hold her tight. She was wondering if there was anything she could do to help, knowing Remus was one of the lucky ones who had someone to rely on, while many werewolves were completely alone, abandoned by everyone under the pressure of society.

Before she finally drifted off to sleep, another thought struck her. It was a good thing the apartment was registered on her name.

October 1976 (Marauders 7th year)

It had been a few weeks since Malika had broken up with Sirius, and in that time she had tried to go on with her life as normal as possible.

Except that it wasn't that easy.

The girls still hang out with the Marauders, but it seemed like the world had turned upside down, because now it was Lily who was draggingMalika over to the boys.

Sirius seemed to do everything to get Malika's attention, to make her see she had made a mistake, and to get her back. The problem was, however, that this was getting well on Malika's nerves, while at the same time the girl was hopelessly confused about her feelings.

At last, she had decided to try a new way to sort her feelings out.

In order to find out who she might really like, she had recently started flirting and dating with other guys.

She had been seen flirting with some Ravenclaws, had dated actually one of them, two weeks later she was dating a Huffelpuff, but that didn't last very long either.

Finally, for some reason, she had been flirting with Severus Snape, and that proved to be not one of her smarter moves.

She had agreed to meet Snape in an empty classroom. She had no idea why she did it, or why he seemed suddenly interested in her, but she ignored the voice in her head that kept telling her this was a very bad idea anyway.

They had been talking a bit, just making small talk, when they heard footsteps coming. On the exact moment the door to the room opened, Snape pulled her towards him and started kissing her.

Malika was so shocked she didn't react immediately, but soon her common sense kicked in. She pushed Snape away and turned around, to find the Marauders standing in the doorway, all staring at her with shock, anger and disgust on their faces.

James was the first to recover.

"What's going on here?" Malika had never heard him sound this angry.

To everyone's surprise, it was Sirius who answered in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

"It's quite obvious what's going on here I think." He threw a quick look at Malika and left the room.

"Tell me what the hell isgoing on, before I hex both of you." James repeated.

Malika was just too shocked to reply, but Snape seemedto know exactly what to say.

"What do you think it is, Potter, of course you don't believe I really would want anything to do with a mudblood like her. This was such an easy way to get to Black that I just couldn't let the chance pass me, and it obviously worked."

With that, Snape hurried out of the room, trying to get away without being hexed to oblivion. James and Peter immediately went after him, but Remus stayed with Malika.

Malika couldn't really proceed what had just happened. She knew he hated the Marauders to no extent, but she had never expected him to use her this way. However, she hadn't much time to think about this now, as Remus took her by the arm and pulled her with him, back to their common room. He kept silent the whole way back, but by the look on his face she could see he was furious.

As they entered the common room, he forced her in an armchair.

"Why the hell did you do that for." He all but yelled. Malika cringed visibly.

"You should have known he only wanted to use you against Sirius. What were you thinking. It's worse enough you've been dating around with everyone who might be interested, but I never thought you would lower yourself like that," he ranted, "Don't ever do such a thing again, Malika. Tomorrow, the whole school will probably talk about it, and who knows what more they will say about you. I want you to stop with this right now."

Now, Malika was getting angry too. How dare he tell her what to do and what not.

She got up out of her chair and stood straight before him. He was still glaring at her, but now she was glaring back with just as much fury.

"How dare you, Remus Lupin, tell me what to do. This is my life, and I am fully capable of making my own decisions. It is not up to you to look out for me and you have certainly no right to tell me how to live my life. If I want to 'date around' as you call it, then I can do so, and you cannot stop me. My lovelife is none of your business. And if you don't like the way I live my life, then I don't think I need you to be a part of it."

Remus stared at her for a few moments, looking as if she had slapped him in the face. Then, he turned around and left the common room, without saying another word.

Malika stared after him, not really comprehending what this was all about, but too angry to care anyway. A voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"That wasn't really fair, Malika."

Malika turned around sharply, to find Lily sitting on the couch near the fire. Apparently, the girl had been there all along.

"I don't know what exactly happened, to make Remus go off like that, but I do know that you shouldn't have said those things."

Malika frowned, but before she could get angry again, Lily continued quickly.

"You are right when you say he can't make your decisions, but I think he has a point about you dating all those boys. You are doing that because you are confused, but it won't get you anywhere, it can only confuse you more." Malika sighed, knowing Lily was probably right. She wanted to say something, but Lily wasn't finished yet.

"And you shouldn't have told Remus your lovelife is none of his business, because I believe it is."

Now, Malika was genuinely confused.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Lily sighed now in an almost exasperated sort of way.

"Are you telling me you don't know?"

When Malika kept staring blankly at her friend, Lily explained. "Have you really never noticed the way Remus looks at you? Like you are the most perfect creature that walks this Earth. Have you never noticed how he is always willing to help you out, no matter what, even if it meant covering up for you and Sirius to sneak away? He would do anything for you, Malika. I know he tried his hardest to push away his feelings for you while you were with Sirius, but it has always been obvious, even for the other boys, and that says something." Lily rolled her eyes at this. "Anyway, he loves you, Malika. You shouldn't push him away like that."

To say Malika was shocked, is an understatement. Never had the thought occurred to her that Remus felt that way about her. But now she thought about it, she felt stupid. He showed it in so many ways that it had been plain obvious, but at the same time, she was so used to him acting that way that she had never thought about it or the reason why. Now, however, she did think about it. It was in the way he always offered to carry her things for her, how he opened the door for her, handed her her favourite foods during meals without her asking, saving her a seat when she was late, buying the presents she liked the most, saying the right words to comfort her when she was sad, and the way he softly kissed her cheek. He didn't do those things for any other girl, not even Lily, while they were close friends too. At that point, Malika realised something else, Remus had never dated anyone, although she knew there were many girls who liked him, he just wasn't interested in them, but Malika had never asked herself for what reason. Now she knew, and she had never felt more stupid in her entire life. On top of it, she felt guilty, she knew she had deeply hurt him by what she said.

Malika stared into the fire for some time, before coming to a decision and rising from her seat.

Lily looked up to her expectantly with a questioning gaze.

"Do you know where Sirius is?"

"I saw him go to his dormitory before you and Remus entered, why?"

"I'm going to apologize to Sirius first, and then I'm going to find Remus, and talk to him."

Lily smiled. "Good luck."

As Malika climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitory, she figured she would need a whole lot of good luck to clear out the mess she had made.

000

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