𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ seventeen

ANYONE WHO TRULY KNEW Maddilyn Snape would know she took shit from nobody. Especially not her own brother's excuses. 

"Merlin, Severus! I'm not a child, and I'm only ten months (nine months? i can't remember and can't do math) younger than you!" Maddie said. "I know you're a Death Eater." 

It was the summer of 1977, and Maddie and Severus Snape were about to head into their seventh and final year of Hogwarts. 

It was a particularly hot day at the Snape household, and the sun was just about to set. Severus had just entered the house, later than he had initially told the younger Snape. 

"I-," Severus started to say. 

"Don't bother," Maddie said, holding her hand up to stop Severus from making anymore excuses. "I know you're a Death Eater, and I don't want any explanations. All I want you to know is think about the consequences." 

"Mads," Severus began to say. 

"Sev, even if we're on different sides of the war, you are still my brother," Maddie said. "I want you to know that." 

"I'm sorry, Mads," Severus said. 

"I am too," Maddie replied. 

SIRIUS BLACK AND MADDILYN Snape kept contact over the summer, the letters being comments of the weather and such. 

Maddie had agreed to meet up with Sirius at Diagon Alley to get their supplies for the upcoming school year and she was impatiently waiting in front of Flourish and Blotts, looking for the older Black brother. 

Instead, she saw Regulus Black, frantically making his way over to Maddie. 

"Maddie," Regulus breathed out, eyes wide. "Lestrange sent word to Malfoy who sent word to myself to get Sapphire Selwyn out of Rosier Manor." 

"Then send word to the Rosier twins," Maddie said. "They'll help Selwyn." 

"Haven't you heard?" Regulus asked. 

"What?" Maddie replied in confusion. 

"Persephone and Rayne Rosier went missing a week ago and they were found dead today," Regulus asked. 

"Shit," Maddie replied. 

"That's not all," Regulus replied. "Sapphire saw Evan Rosier kill the Rosier twins." 

"Oh shit," Maddie said. "This is not good. You're telling me that Sapphire's living with a muderous Death Eater?" 

"Precisely," Regulus replied. "All our Death Eater contacts are undercover too deep for them to try to save Sapphire." 

"Get Yvonne Yaxley, Daisy Parkinson, and Fatima Fenwick on this. They are all purebloods so call it a luncheon or whatever," Maddie ordered. "Have them get her out." 

"Okay, I'll send word to Lestrange," Regulus replied, leaving Maddie to wait for his older brother. 

"TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH," Maddilyn Snape said, crossing her arms. 

"Sorry princess, got caught up with the Potters," Sirius said apologetically. 

"Whatever," Maddie said, pushing the door open to Flourish and Blotts. "I saw your brother, by the way." 

"Reg's a Death Eater, Maddie," Sirius said, eyes darkening at the mention of Regulus. 

"Not everything is as it seems," Maddie said, shrugging, grabbing two copies of a book, and handing one to Sirius. 

Sirius took the book and rolled his eyes. "Bellatrix wasn't always a sadistic murderer, but here we are," Sirius responded wittily. 

Maddie narrowed her eyes. Perhaps the most surprising ally Maddie had was said Bellatrix Black. Maddie had made sure Bellatrix's position wasn't compromised by anyone else, so the two had taken an Unbreakable Vow. She supposed being an undercover witch had it's downfalls, one of which Bellatrix had to kill in order to keep her rank in the Death Eaters safe. Though part of Maddie wouldn't be surprised if Bellatrix turned on the Rebellion, especially considering that there was a traitor among the Rebellion.

"Isn't your cousin getting married this summer?" Maddie asked. 

"Yeah, to Rodulphus Lestrange," Sirius responded. "They're both confirmed Death Eaters and no doubt Regulus and Lestrange's younger brother will follow in their footsteps." 

Maddie pretended to be interested, but instead she observed Lucius Malfoy, who looked ghastly pale compared to when Maddie had seen the Malfoy heir last. 

"Maddie!" Sirius said, snapping his hands in front of Maddie's face. 

"What?" Maddie said. 

"Were you even listening?" Sirius asked. 

"Possibly?" Maddie said guiltily. 

"I was saying all Prongs is talking about is Lily and it's impossible to live in the same house with him," Sirius said. 

"How did you keep your sanity when he first became obsessed with Lily?" Maddie asked pointedly. 

"That's when he wasn't actually dating Lily. Lily must've lost her mind when she agreed to date James," Sirius whined. 

"That's great, Sirius," Maddie said, grabbing another pair of books. 

Maddie listened absentmindedly as she recalls  Lucius's seemingly haunted eyes, a look that Maddie will remember for a long time. 

DAISY PARKINSON HAD FLOOED over to the Rosier Manor. Daisy's fellow Rebellion members, Yvonne Yaxley and Fatima Fenwick had already beat Daisy to the Rosiers. Evan Rosier had jovially greeted the three before Apparating out, leaving the four purebloods standing there in tense silence. 

"Sapphire, are you okay?" Yvonne asked, breaking the silence. 

"I've been better," Sapphire Rosier nee Selwyn said wryly. 

"Maddie told us that Evan killed Persephone and Rayne?" Fatima asked. "Is that true?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Sapphire said. "I'll need to go in hiding." 

"Of course," Daisy said. "There's a house in Yvonne's name that she's agreed to let you stay at." 

"Thank you," Sapphire said, her tired eyes shining with relief. 

And so, Sapphire Selwyn-Rosier left Rosier Manor, never to return to the daunting manor with stains of blood lingering in it's lonely halls.