𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ twenty-two

"ORDER OF THE PHOENIX?" Milla Parkinson asked. "How did we not know about this?" 

"It's exclusive to Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs," Regulus said, laughing bitterly. "Because who can trust a snake?"

Lucius Malfoy sighed. "This changes all our plans, you realize that?" he asked. 

"The Order will get in our way if they cannot tell friend from foe," Leo Reese said, coughing. He looked worse by the day, and Silver's absence had certainly not helped the sickly boy at all. 

Maddilyn Snape rubbed her temples, more stressed than she had been in several years. This Order of the Phoenix messed up all her plans. "The Hufflepuff. What's her name. Eleanor? Elly? You know, Ollivander's daughter?" 

"Elodie Ollivander?" Lucius asked. "What about her?" 

"Nobody suspects a Hufflepuff, which is why she's secure in the ranks of the Death Eaters," Maddie said. "Because we're Slytherins, if we join this turkey order, we won't be part of the plan, and won't be trusted. We'll need Elodie to be our eyes and ears." 

"Is Ollivander the only non-Slytherin part of the Snake Bite Rebellion?" Milla asks in disbelief. 

The four took a second to think. 

"I believe so," Lucius said, glancing at Maddie for confirmation. Maddie was the one who ran everything, that even they didn't know about. 

"Our organization is constructed from traumatized purebloods. If they're not purebloods, they're Slytherins," Maddie said defensively. "Elodie's most likely our only non-Slytherin member, yes, if I remember correctly."

"Wait! You know my cousin?" Milla asked to the three. 

"Clover, yeah we know her," Maddie said. 

"What about her?" Lucius asked

"My cousin, Clover, wrote me. She's dating Celestria Nightshade," Milla said. 

"Congrats!" Maddie said cheerfully. Her eyes narrowed. "How does that help us?" Maddie gave her a 'who the fuck is this person and why do we care about her' look. 

"She's is the Youth Representative of Magic in America. She has access to things we don't," Milla explained.  

"And she's Potter's god-sister," Regulus said in realization. "If we get Nightshade in on the Rebellion, and she joins the Order on our behalf, as well as Maddie and I joining, then she can relay information to us. After all, Potter'll trust her completely, and stand up for her if any problems arise." 

"Exactly," Milla said. 

"Let's do it, Milla, you write Clover, Regulus, you inform Dumbledore of our decision," Maddie ordered. "Meeting adjourned." 

WINTER BREAK HAD SNUCK up on the students of Hogwarts this year, especially for the seventh year students. Perhaps it was the fact that after winter break, it would be a few more months until they graduated, and left the place they had called home for the past seven years. 

Or in Regulus Black's case, it was the fact that he and Maddilyn Snape would be searching for hints of a Horcrux. 

They had been fake dating for several weeks now, and the two were slowly getting used to each other. But then they had remembered the real objective. Search every inch of Grimmauld Place to see if Orion and Walburga Black knew anything of a Horcrux or possibly even be safeguarding the Horcrux for the Dark Lord. 

Regulus sighed. Like many of the other purebloods attending Hogwarts, and other students in general, Hogwarts was a place that everyone felt safe. Leaving the safety net that Hogwarts provided scared Regulus, because no matter what excuses he made up for his parents, he lived in an abusive household. 

Before Hogwarts, Regulus's future was set up before him. Marry a respectable pureblood girl, study at Hogwarts, graduate, and become just another one of the Dark Lord's mindless lackey's.

But now, Regulus actually had a chance to change that future, all thanks to this cause they had created. That was, if they survived this war, or their rebellion just got crushed, due to a potential traitor in their ranks. 

The moment they left the Hogwarts, war would take over their lives, and they would have to choose sides carefully. 

IT HAD TAKEN A while for Clover Parkinson to trust Celestria Nightshade, but after a while, Clover accepted that Celestria wasn't like her Slytherin blooded ancestors, and she didn't have the blood lust Voldemort had. 

Ilvermorny, she learned, graduated earlier than Hogwarts did, and the two had already graduated from Ilvermorny, Celestria taking on a higher government role and Clover becoming an apprentice Healer. 

Celestria had moved out of her parents house, and she had bought an expensive but cozy apartment, and offered to let Clover stay, since the former Parkinson heiress had gotten shut out of her bank account. 

It had taken a while for Clover to accept she had feelings for Celestria, but Celestria was willing to wait for her to come to terms. If her parents had ever found out she was dating a girl back at Hogwarts, the result would not be pretty. 

"There's something in the mail for you," Celestria said, handing a letter to Clover, before flopping on the couch and looking through the rest of the mail. "The owl seemed exhausted, poor thing."

Clover flung the letter across the room, her breathing uneven. 

"What's wrong?" Celestria asked. 

"The seal on the letter? It's the Parkinson family crest," Clover said in horror. "Did they find me?" 

Celestria retrieved the letter, and opened it cautiously, half expecting it to be a Howler. 

"Do you know anyone named Milla?" Celestria asked. 

"Milla?" Clover asked, her head perking up. 

Celestria nodded. "She's saying something about a rebellion?" Celestria asked, glancing at the letter. 

"Can I see that?" Clover asked, and Celestria passed the note over to her. 

Clover's lip curled into a sly smile. "Well, Celestria, you always complain about how England always has all the action. Now you get your chance."

"MADELEINE PRINCE," WALBURGA BLACK said in slight disdain. "Your mother ran off and married a muggle man. A disgrace to the previously untainted Prince name." 

"I'm ashamed of my mother," Maddilyn Snape said agreeably. 

"And you hope to rise from the disgrace and shame on your family and use my son?" Walburga asked in anger. 

"Of course not, mother," Regulus Black said. "I love and cherish Maddie's company very much."

Maddie smirked, looking up at Regulus with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. 

"Excuse us for a minute, mother, father," Regulus said. "Maddie and I would like to say our goodbyes to the Parkinson heiress and Malfoy heir." 

Walburga gave a nod of approval, though not looking like she really liked Maddie. 

"I hate this," Maddie said once the two had reached Milla Parkinson and Lucius Malfoy. "Madeleine, seriously?"

"Maddilyn sounds more muggle than a respectable pureblood name, and then Lady Black would've scented you out right away," Milla said. 

"What is it with pureblood names anyways," Maddie said. "I quite honestly feel bad for you guys." 

Lucius rolled his eyes. "My name is pretty common for the Wizarding World," Lucius said defensively. 

"Yes, because nothing screams normal like being named after a star," Maddie replied with a snarky tone.

"Let's go, Maddie," Regulus said. "Mother is giving us a suspicious look." 

Maddie groaned. "Wish me luck," Maddie said, allowing Regulus to lead her to his family. What a winter break this would be.