Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Harry Potter belong to their respective authors/owners.

A/N: Profile: brief reason for absence and poll. Crashed, burned and am slowly recovering as the end of semester approaches...

Marked

Something was guiding them, to somewhere, to someone...

.mMm.

Mrs. Dursley nodded slowly and glanced over them again, "That isn't a very common name."

"You're right," Remus said, "I'm surprised that you didn't recognise me, although I admit I was just in the background." He leveled his gaze at her, "I was at your sister's wedding, Petunia."

Something clicked. "Get out!" She hissed, standing up furiously and pointing at the door.

Remus stood up too, "No! I'm here because James and Lily…"

"Don't you 'James and Lily' me…"

"Harry is their son…"

"That boy, that freak…"

"How dare you!"

"Stop this instant!" Kagome's voice was lower than theirs but her tone was deadly, she glared at them both, "I'm the pregnant one here. I'm the one with the raging hormones. The both of you are being childish. Now would you both please sit and discuss this like civilized people?"

They sat and Kagome slowly smiled. Her teaching experience was really helpful sometimes, that and she could be scary when she was angry. Oh, and she mention that she was pregnant?

"Breathe slowly…relax those shoulders…better?" The miko asked calmly, she didn't wait for a verbal response and continued, "Let's cut to the chase, for everyone's benefit. We just want to know about Harry, like why he has to stay with you when you seem to have a dislike towards the abnormal. Then perhaps arrange a schedule of when we can visit him?"

"Not like I had a choice, that old man forced him on us," Mrs. Dursley frowned, "Said that boy had to live here for some sort of protection, blood or something. Otherwise you could have him, keep him."

Remus clenched his teeth, obviously forcing back a remark. Kagome looked at the both of them and sighed, "Mrs. Dursley, how was your relationship with your sister?" The startled glance told her something, "Hmm, perhaps we can continue the discussion ourselves, as a mother to a mother, woman to woman, Muggle to Muggle?"

Her husband interjected, "What about me?"

"We'll get back to you. Perhaps you can talk to Harry in the meantime?" Kagome turned back to the host, "Where is he anyway?"

"Come out, Harry," Mrs. Dursley called out tiredly.

Remus walked out of the living room to exclaim, "Cupboard? A cupboard!"

The miko gave the aunt a disapproving look before calling out to her husband and Harry, "We'll discuss that, now you just enjoy yourselves for a while," she turned back, "Now Mrs. Dursley…"

…m…

Remus sat on the floor with his back against the wall opposite the cupboard and Harry, who had come out and was leaning against the wall of the staircase.

"How much did you hear, Harry?"

"All of it," the boy replied sheepishly, "I wanted to know."

"Well, Kagome is discussing with your aunt right now," Remus grinned encouragingly, "She can be very persuasive and stubborn."

"Yeah," the boy nodded absentmindedly.

There was a moment of silence for them. Neither could hear anything that was being said by the two women. Then Harry asked, "Would you keep me? I mean, if, you know…"

Remus reached out to ruffle the black hair, "Of course!" He pulled the boy into a hug, "I mean, I had my doubts," Harry glanced up at him, so the man quickly tried to explain, "not with you, me. There are some things you don't know about me, Harry, like how I couldn't hold a job for long because of my monthly condition. I was afraid that I would be a horrible guardian. Kagome was quick to straighten that out though. So if I was given that chance to take care of you, I'd jump at it."

"I agree with Kagome, I want you as my guardian," Harry confessed.

The older wizard smiled slowly, "Thank you, Harry, but you don't know about my condition yet."

"But I trust you and Kagome. She married you and you have a baby coming."

"Well, not everyone is as accepting as she is. You know how my nickname was Moony? Well…" He paused, trying to think of his next words.

Harry saved him the effort, "Are you a werewolf?"

"What, how did you…"

"It's not that hard to figure out. I still want you as my guardian, Moony."

Moony chuckled, ruffling the messy hair and hugging the boy closer, "Thank you, Harry, thank you."

…

The wizards stayed there recounting tales while they waited for his wife and Petunia to finish discussing. Remus forgot that women could talk for hours and was glad that Harry's uncle and cousin hadn't come home yet.

He caught Harry's glance toward the clock and joked, "Am I boring you?"

"Uh, no! I like hearing about magic. It's just that…usually I start cooking dinner around now," he mumbled the last part.

"You?"

"It's part of my chores, Remus."

"Chores," the man sighed, "Does your cousin have to do any of these chores?"

"No," the way Harry looked at him as if it was the most ridiculous question, which it might've been for the boy, bubbled his anger.

"Excuse me, Harry, I'm just going to check up on Kagome and your aunt."

…

Remus entered the living room to see both women crying with a growing pile of tissues beside them. Or rather, a teary Kagome and Petunia's shaking shoulders as she reached out for the tissues too. His anger deflated instantly and he stood there nervously. His wife noticed him first but refocused her attention on the woman in front of her.

"That will do for now, we better go. (sniff) Will you be alright, Petunia?" He heard Kagome say.

"I'll be fine. I'll just tell Vernon that I was watching a film." Remus was surprised at Petunia's calm voice.

"Okay then, so Harry will have dinner with us and we'll drop him off afterward. (sniff) You should have the rest of the night off and eat out with your family or something."

"It has been a while…and a chance for me to use my make-up."

"Thank you, Petunia." Then Kagome hugged the woman. Remus was too surprised to say anything and just remained standing there.

Petunia was rigid herself and only patted Kagome's arm awkwardly, "This doesn't change everything. I still don't like those things."

"It changes enough. Enjoy yourself, Petunia, we'll let ourselves out." The other woman just nodded and remained where she was, Remus couldn't get a look of her face.

Then Kagome walked out, still with a few tears but also a bright smile, "Come on, let's go back to our rented house and have dinner."

…m…

The Lupins and Harry arrived at the rented house by taxi. Remus silently thanked their luck that one was driving nearby so that he could flag it over. Most pregnant women asked for the most absurd things, like a weird combination of food but he thought that in Kagome's case, she wanted to walk. Not just a nice, short stroll but everywhere and at any hour. They only got the taxi because of the coincidence, Harry was with them and Kagome wanted to cook dinner.

"This is where we'll be staying for a while, Harry. Make yourself at home," Remus opened the door and smiled at the boy, getting one in return.

"Okay! So, what would you like for dinner, Harry? Any favourites? Think on it, I'll be right back," Kagome asked over her shoulder as she headed for the toilet.

Remus glanced at Harry, "Your choice, Prongslet."

He thought for a bit, "Um, maybe more of the food we had for lunch?"

"Alright, I'll just put on the rice-cooker. Have you had Japanese food before?"

The orphan shook his head.

"Well you're in luck, let's see…" Kagome reappeared and searched the fridge, "How about sushi tonight and tomorrow we'll have oden!" Her exclamation came with a happy sigh.

Harry glanced questioningly at Remus, who answered, "Kagome's favourite food."

…

After dinner was finished, Remus lazily cleaned the dishes with magic and Kagome brought out the chocolates.

"So, I was thinking," Kagome nudged another wrapped chocolate toward Harry, "We should find out more about Sirius Black."

That startled the man and the chocolate that popped out from his twisting fell unnoticed, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, there were things we didn't know about Harry and that led to a few misunderstandings, like how we thought that he'd have already known about magic. So, how did the trial go? Maybe everyone was just thinking of the worst, the evidence may have been dodgy…and Black got the brunt of it."

"There…was no trial, just thrown in a cell," Remus sighed.

"What? Why?" Kagome exclaimed. Harry was equally startled and silently asked the same question.

"He confessed. He said that it was his fault."

"And the evidence?" His wife demanded.

Remus glanced at Harry, who immediately said, "I want to know."

"There were a dozen witnesses, Muggles, who said that someone, Peter, was shouting that Black betrayed the Potters. Then the authorities come along and the only thing left of Peter was his finger."

"But no one saw Black actually killing Peter, did they?" Kagome pressed on.

"No, but they were Muggles and may not have recognized the magic."

"What did Black say?"

"He said that Lily and James's deaths were his fault."

"That doesn't immediately mean that Black was the murderer," the miko said softly, "Sometimes people blame themselves for things that weren't their doing. Just locking him away like that…straight after Lily and James's deaths, maybe it was too much for him to make much of an effort to protest…Remus, do you believe that Sirius Black would do such a horrible thing?"

"I…I…" he sighed, "No."

"Then we still have hope," Kagome turned to Harry, "Harry, the reason why we need to clear this up is because Sirius Black was your godfather. He'd have the full rights to become your guardian. We could apply and be successful here but there'll be problems in the Wizarding World."

"Harry, you already know that I'm a werewolf," Remus glanced at his wife's surprised but encouraging face and continued, "That limits me in a lot of ways, like adoption, especially adopting the Boy-Who-Lived."

The boy frowned, "That's not fair and what if I want to live with you?"

Kagome shook her head, "It's not the issue about the welfare of those involved any more, but an issue about politics. Another option, perhaps even a better choice…"

"…Is to free Sirius Black!" Remus exclaimed after it clicked, "You'll get your godfather and us. If he's cleared, he'll be able to take guardianship in the Wizarding World easily."

They all smiled at that idea and then Harry commented, "The Wizarding World is weird."

…m…

Harry went back to the Dursleys to an actual bedroom. He was confused at the change and Aunt Petunia didn't explain why. His uncle and cousin didn't pay him any attention either. Then the next morning he only helped to make breakfast and was allowed a healthy portion of pancakes. Dudley's complaints were immediately drowned out and his uncle's frown was wiped off when Aunt Petunia hinted at taking away the maple syrup. It was odd.

Then when his aunt started packing away the rest of his belongings, Harry had to ask, "Aunt Petunia, um, why are you doing all of this?"

She didn't pause in her work and replied neutrally, "I'm doing my part as your aunt. You'll be taken care of, happy and in a more suitable environment for your…you-ness. I'll send over the adoption papers and all that within a few days."

"I'm getting adopted?"

She nodded, still not looking at him, "When you come back from school today, you'll be staying with the Lupins from now on. But until the adoption is finalized, Harry," she finally faced him and the boy thought the expression was strange on her face, "it's important that you say that you're only having a sleep-over."

"I understand, Aunt Petunia."

"Go to school, they'll pick up your things in the meantime and that's that," she sighed, "I may not have liked you but there was also never…hmm, it won't be something either of us has to worry about anymore." Aunt Petunia didn't wait for a response and only directed Harry to the door.

"Enjoy the sleep-over," she called out to him and then closed the door.

…m…

"Home is where the heart is, Petunia."

"…the boy must stay with you."

"Petunia, you'll always be my sister…"

"I understand, Aunt Petunia."

"I may not have liked you but…I'm still your aunt and you're still my nephew."

.mMm.

A/N: Extremely sorry for the delay. On the bright side, the semester will officially finish by the end of next week.

.

This was actually written before my absence, but the ending and my circumstances back then made me feel that this story could plausibly conclude here. I didn't end up including various points that were originally the spark for Marked but I'm not sure how else this could conclude (at the moment). Then I read over the bits meant for later chapters and it made me curious for a 'full' story, which I don't think I'd be able to write. Any future RemusKagome stories will be uploaded to 'Over the Moon' though.

So, this is my round-about way of saying that I'm sorry and I'm going to try and be productive on the other neglected stories when there's less work.

Absolutely grateful for everyone's ongoing support,

Airily

P.S. The poll results will be revealed by the end of next week, so if you haven't voted but would like to, please do! If you don't have an account, feel free to place your vote in an anonymous review.

Should I finish a full story before posting or would you prefer to read each chapter as I finish them? (Excluding the current ongoing stories)

(i) At least finish half, then post (ii) By chapter (iii) Finish then post