𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ eleven

"READING HERE INSTEAD OF being outside on a perfectly sunny day?" Sirius Black asked, sitting next to Maddilyn Snape, the latter flipping a page in her book.

"I'm reading about potions," Maddie responded. "Much more interesting than spending time outdoors." 

"Why did you write all over it?" Sirius asked, taking a peek over her shoulder. 

"My brother and I did. We were bored," Maddie said shrugging. 

"Thank you for pairing Reg and I up," Sirius said. "I feel like I understand him on a whole new level. I feel like we can repair the relationship we once had as children." 

"I'm glad that one siblingship (we're gonna pretend that's a word) is working out," Maddie muttered, looking up from the worn down book she held.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, concerned. 

"Nothing," Maddie said. "Ignore me." 

"That's a hard thing to do." Sirius said, giving Maddie a devilish smirk. 

Maddie rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here, Sirius?" Maddie asked. 

"What? I can't want to spend time with you?" Sirius asked. 

"Not without an ulterior motive, no," Maddie replied. 

"I'm wounded," Sirius said dramatically. 

"Go to the Hospital wing," Maddie said dryly. 

"I was wondering if you'd want to go to Hogsmeade with me," Sirius asked, his demeanour nervous.

"Sure," Maddie said absentmindedly.

"Really?" Sirius asked in surprise. 

"If it gets you to stop bothering me right now, sure," Maddie said, opening her book again. 

"Great! See you at Hogsmeade then!" Sirius said, running off before Maddie realized what exactly she agreed to. 

"Hogsmeade?" Maddie said, looking up from her book. "SIRIUS!" 

"YOU'RE GOING TO HOGSMEADE with Sirius Black?" Silver Gray asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Stupid bastard," Maddilyn Snape growled. "I was distracted."

"Maddilyn Snape distracted? What has the world come to?" Leo Reese said teasingly.

"Shut up Leo," Maddie said, glaring at the smug Sirius Black. Sirius merely gave her a wide grin in response.

Maddie turned away, and saw her brother enter the Great Hall. All Maddie saw of Severus Snape these days was a brooding figure, only a shell of his former self. 

Maddie sighed. She may be able to lead a rebellion and save a bunch of people from getting the Dark Mark, but all she did couldn't save her brother. 

"Earth to Maddie," Silver said, snapping her fingers in Maddie's face. 

Maddie blinked back into reality and scowled, pushing Silver's hand away from her face. "What?" Maddie said, clearly annoyed.

"Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention," Silver said, grinning."Good luck with Black." 

Maddie slouched, crossing her arms and stabbing at her food grumpily. 

"SIRIUS BLACK, THE LADIES man, nervous to go on a date with a girl," James Potter announced in the Marauder's dorm room. "That's something you don't get to see every day." 

Sirius scowled, making sure every hair was in place for his date. He was nervous. Sirius realized. None of the other girls he went out with he wasn't nervous because his heart wasn't in it. But now? He was putting his heart on the line.

He was drawn to the mysterious, powerful Maddilyn Snape. And he wasn't afraid to admit it. So it was either his heart was in it or he'd loose the chance to prove himself. 

MADDILYN SNAPE CROSSED HER arms, waiting for Sirius Black to come down to the Great Hall so they could get this stupid date over with. And then she spotted her brother.

Severus Snape barely acknowledged his younger sister as he was talking to Lucius Malfoy and Regulus Black, whom both spotted Maddie. 

Maddie sighed. Severus was just digging a deeper hole that he wouldn't be able to climb out of. 

"Maddie," the familiar drawl of Sirius Black said. "Just the person I was looking for." 

"I've been waiting here for five minutes," Maddie said, unamused. "I don't know why I even agreed to this." 

"Because Slytherins are people of their words," Sirius replied sarcastically. 

"Nah, we just do things that benefit us," Maddie said, smirking slightly, and walking to one of the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade. 

SILVER GRAY AND LEO Reese watched their best friend laugh with Sirius Black. They smiled, happy for her. Maddilyn Snape had experienced more pain in her life than one should face at their age. 

And apparently they weren't the only ones spying on the two. 

James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were not being very quiet underneath their Cloak of Invisibility. 

Silver rolled her eyes, and yanked off the Cloak. "You guys are horrible at staying silent," Silver said, crossing her arms. 

"I told you, James," Remus said, rolling his eyes. 

"Where have they gone now?" Leo asked, binoculars in hand. 

"What's that thing?" James asked curiously. 

"Binoculars," Leo said. "A Muggle thing."

"What do they do?" James asked. 

"They let you see things better. Kinda like glasses," Leo explained. 

The five watched their friends, who looked at peace for once. Who were slowly falling for each other. Slowly letting down their walls. Slowly healing. And the five knew that Maddie Snape and Sirius Black, two broken souls, deserved to have this comfort more than anyone.