𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ twenty-one

SACRIFICES HAD TO BE made, Maddilyn Snape told herself. It just so happened Sirius Black's heart was the casualty of her sacrifice. 

Maddie had observed the former Black heir from afar, and had deducted that he was inconsolable. Maddie scoffed, even Peeves could tell the boy was heartbroken, it wasn't very hard to see. 

Even with the pranks the other Marauders pulled on the school, Maddie never once saw Sirius smile, despite the Marauder's best efforts. 

Maddie was cornered by Remus Lupin one day, while she was walking to Charms class. Maddie sighed, and crossed her arms, putting on the facade of a Slytherin that wasn't truly her, but one she wore so well. 

"Explain," was all Remus said. 

And she explained what she could. 

SINCE SHE HAD LEFT Hogwarts during her seventh year, Clover Parkinson had to retake a year at Ilvermorny. It  had surprised Clover that Celestria Nightshade, the same girl who had allowed her to stay in the USA, was still going to school. A person with that much power at Celestria's age was impressive. 

Celestria was a Wampus, the House of Warriors, while Clover had been accepted into Pukwudgie, otherwise known as the House of Healers. 

Clover immediately saw, while there was House competition, there was no House rivalry, which was one of the major things that differentiated Ilvermorny from Hogwarts. 

Clover had heard the stories as well. The descendants of Salazar Slytherin had immigrated to the US, and that Isolt Sayre's was one of those descendant. Isolt was also the cousin to Voldemort and his sister. This meant that Slytherin blood ran in Ilvermorny, and Clover couldn't Celestria quite yet, since Celestria was the direct descendant of said Isolt Sayre. 

Clover wondered if Celestria knew that she was related to the most dangerous Dark Lord in British History. She hoped that Celestria wouldn't follow his path.

REMUS LUPIN REALIZED THAT Maddilyn Snape had lost much more than he and the other Marauders realized. 

There are sacrifices that must be made, she had said. This is a war, and it will spare no-one.

Maddie was forced to give up her personal life for a cause much greater than themselves. She was doing much more in this war than Remus could. 

Maddie gave Remus a slight smile. "Gryffindor bothering you, Mads?" the drawl of Regulus Black called out. 

"No bother here," Maddie replied, brushing past Remus to greet her boyfriend. "See you around Lupin."

There are battles that must be won. And there are casualties in those battles, Maddie said.

Remus watched Maddie leave. The message had finally sunk in for Remus. Nobody could escape this war unscathed, even if the war hadn't officially started yet.

"SIRIUS BLACK! GET YOUR sorry ass up!" James Potter said. "This has been going on for weeks!" James said. 

"Yeah, c'mon Sirius," Peter Pettigrew said timidly. "We have pranks to execute."

Remus Lupin stayed quiet as Sirius Black stared blankly at the ceiling. 

"Moony, talk some sense into him," James said pleadingly. 

However, before Remus could say anything, a rapid knock was heard.