Hi, I'm back. Thanks to JennaLynne1 for favouriting and following and MyFlutteringWings for favouriting.

But guys, why am I not getting any reviews? Only one review in the second last chapter, and none at all for the last! So, here's me begging, *whiny voice* "Please, please, please give me a little review, my lovelies! Pretty please? Virtual love to all."

Anyway, for those who might have found the last two chapters rather intense, here's a light one for your entertainment. And you might be disappointed at my reverting back to short chapters, but as I explained, large parts of this story were really written pretty much long ago, just waiting to be put together. You might even be able to spot the difference between the past writing and the current writing. I'm working on it to my best, promise.

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.

Furry Little Problem

27th January, 1974

The Sunday evening saw a packed Gryffindor common room, with all the students determined on keeping out of reach of the cold wind that blew around the castle. The common room was warm and cosy, the red-decked walls accentuating the warmth of the crackling fire in the hearth. There were groups of students scattered around with their respective pastimes, the whole room alive with the rumble of collective chatter.

Marlene and Lily sat near the fire, their feet stretched out towards the warmth of the flames. Lily was talking to her best friend animatedly with her hands moving in quick gestures, complementing her words.

"And then he asked me if I had been invited to the Slug Club party, and I said yes, and — Marlene, are you even listening?" Lily turned to see her best friend staring at the corner of the room where four boys were talking to each other in a huddle.

"What? Oh, er — yeah, of course I was," Marlene said, jumping slightly. Lily had been going on and on about how Edmund Powell, a handsome Hufflepuff fourth year, had asked her out to Slughorn's party, to which she had been invited anyway.

"I don't think so..." Lily said shrewdly. The truth was that Lily was, as usual, correct in her observation. Marlene's entire attention had been focused on James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. No, of course it wasn't with any romantic intent. She was trying to listen in to the Marauders' conversation. The boys weren't usually quiet, especially not on an evening like this. Commonly, James and Sirius would be seen cracking loud jokes or pulling random pranks or generally causing a ruckus which would cause Lily to dislike them even more, Remus would be giving them mildly disapproving looks or gently berating them, but with a fond, indulging light in his eyes, and Peter would be laughing or cheering or whatever would please the duo and take their ego to even greater heights. Yes, Marlene thought with a fond smile and a shake of her head, the Marauders were quite the package. So watching them mutter to each other, huddled in a group, was a really strange, and pretty rare occurrence. Marlene was by nature curious, and the strange way in which the four were behaving was taking her curiosity to the peak. What was it that the Marauders were discussing? What could be so serious that the boys couldn't bother to provide some entertainment to themselves and the others, unlike always? She had to know.

"If you don't mind, I will just go up to the dorm for a second," she said, and ignoring the narrow-eyed look Lily was giving her, rose from her armchair. She made a point to walk close to the spot where the Marauders were sitting, and slowed down her pace as she came near them, so that as she passed, she managed to catch snippets of their conversation. They were all engrossed in their conservation, and none of them noticed her.

"— two days later," Peter was saying.

"—such a trouble to you—" James said, and she saw Remus nod his head with a grimace.

"Don't worry — always with you —" Sirius said, giving Remus a pat on the back. The sandy-haired boy looked at him gratefully.

The next bits of their words were drowned in the noise of a bunch of girls giggling loudly. Straining to hear over the cacophony, Marlene managed to hear the final part of the conversation.

"Poor Remus," James said, "you and your furry little problem." The boys all laughed at this, presumably at the title he had used for whatever they were talking about.

"Why don't we go nick something from the kitchens now?" Sirius offered, and at the eager nods from his companions (a rather reluctant one from Remus), rose from his armchair, and the other three followed suit.

Some other time, Marlene would have wondered where on earth the entrance to the kitchens was and just how to get in there, but now, she quickly ran up the staircase before the boys could realise that she had been listening in. She came down the staircase seconds later, only to see Sirius' back disappearing behind the portrait hole. Her eavesdropping had done nothing to satiate her curiosity, only ignited it further. Deciding that Lily could wait a bit longer, she rushed after the Black heir.

"Sirius, hey, Sirius!"

It had been months since the Diagon Alley incident, and the painful memories had been almost completely removed from their minds, and certainly from the forefront of their thoughts. After that confrontation with her, Sirius had let go of his reservations, although he had apologised profusely to the other three boys, much to their discomfiture. Personally, everyone had decide that they preferred a cocky, cheerful Sirius to the downtrodden, withdrawn and guilty version. But anyway, everything was fine now, the year moving on as fast as ever.

She stopped Sirius a few paces from the Fat Lady on the corridor outside. He turned around, surprised.

"Marlene! What is it?"

"I — need to ask you — something," she panted. He waited till she had reached him, and looked at her questioningly. She didn't waste any time beating around the bush.

"What's Remus' furry little problem?"

He paled slightly.

"You were listening in on our conversation." She nodded sheepishly.

"So, what is this problem?"

He shrugged, turning away from her. "Can't tell you about it, Marls. It's not my secret to tell. You have to figure it out on your own, if you can." He gave her a backward glance. "And I suppose I should advise you not to eavesdrop upon private conversations from now on," he added with a slight twitch to his lips.

She gave an undignified snort. Sirius Black, telling her to keep her nose out of other people's business? What about him, sneaking up on her and Lily when they were talking, trying to get information for James? Disregarding his words completely, she fell into step with him.

"What is it, Sirius?" she persisted. "Surely it can't be that serious? — No don't even try it," she added threateningly as she saw him opening his mouth with a smirk on his face. "I don't want to hear anything that involves your name. I'm tired of your silly puns."

"Aw, what's the fun in that?" Sirius pouted. "Can't I even say my name?"

Marlene didn't reply to that but went on with the deflected conversation.

"So what is it? Come on, Sirius, I'm your friend. You can tell me." She have him her best pleading look. He sighed, a trifle annoyed.

"I told you, Marlene. I can't tell you what we were talking about." He waggled his eyebrows annoyingly. "Marauders' secret."

Marlene huffed. That 'Marauders' secret', she hated that phrase. It always was the end of all arguments. Even though Marlene was so close to them, the boys would not let her into their closest secrets. It was a rather irritating thought, but Marlene had accepted it long ago — she was not a Marauder, never would be. And to be honest, she didn't really want to be. Except when secrets like this came in the way. The Marauders' secrets usually involved tricks to their pranks, so Marlene wasn't really interested in them, bit now, this was different. Now, she really, really wanted to find this was all about.

But Sirius was being terribly unhelpful. Marlene huffed angrily. He wouldn't tell him about what Remus' problem was? Very well, she'd find it out on her own.

Trying with some effort to keep up with his now increased pace, Marlene frowned, thinking furiously as she walked. She searched for the possible answers in her head. Furry little problem. Furry — little —problem. Her brain worked liked cogwheels as they walked side by side in silence. Finally, she got it. Yes, of course, that had to be the answer.

"A rabbit!"

Sirius whipped around, his eyes darting towards the floor. "What? Where is it?"

"No, Remus' problem! It's a rabbit!"

He stopped suddenly, and blinked, his lips parted slightly. "Sorry?"

"That's what the furry little problem is!" Marlene's face was flushed in triumph. "A rabbit! Remus must have a pet rabbit, which is ill or badly behaved. It fits that way. A rabbit is furry and little, and if it is naughty, then it is a problem." She turned to Sirius. "It's very nice of you lot to help him with his pet. I understand that it must be embarrassing for him, and perhaps he even has to go through all kinds of trouble because rabbits aren't conventionally allowed as pets at Hogwarts. But you didn't need to keep it a secret, you know, at least not from me. My aunt once had a bunny which was just as troublesome, and the poor thing once almost fell into a well while scampering away. I understand."

Sirius stood staring at at her in silence, and an array of emotions flitted through his face, too fast for Marlene to catch. Then the right corner of his lips began twitching uncontrollably. His face, for some odd reason, was turning redder by the second.

"You are a genius, Marlene," he gasped out. "I'd never thought you'd figure it out so soon. Took us ages." He was shaking slightly now, as if suppressing a violent urge to laugh. "Excuse me a moment, I will go and tell Remus." And with that, he fled down the corridor, leaving a choking sound in his wake.

It was a minute after he left that Marlene realised that she had been played. Of course it was all wrong. Sirius' behaviour was enough to tell that. Now she had made a fool of herself in front of him. She groaned. Why do I so severely lack in brains?

Defeated, she turned away, beginning her return journey to the common room. It would have been so much better if she hadn't tried at all. She had exhausted both her physical and mental capacity, all for nothing. But there will be one day, she thought, making a silent promise to herself, when I will get to know the truth. And it won't be too far away. With that, she went back to Lily to hear the rest of her narrative out. At least there she wouldn't look like an idiot.

So how was it? A tiny little review please, kind soul?