𝐍𝐎 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒- Marlene McKinnon

𝐗.

𝐍𝐎 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑: 𝐗.

March 17th, 1978

"Have you tried going to Dumbledore?"

It's a Friday, just after classes have finished, and Mathilda has found herself in the Gryffindor common room once again, sitting beside Sirius on one of the couches. It's Saint Patrick's Day, which, for James and Sirius, is just an excuse to drink on a Friday. Mathilda supposes she can understand. They have less than three months left of school, then it's out into the world, a world where the Dark Lord is gaining more to his ranks, a world where they'll have to decide just where their loyalties lie.

"What's Dumbledore going to be able to do about it?" Mathilda asks. Her fingertips absently graze along her sleeve, tracing the pattern of the mark underneath.

"He might know something we don't," Sirius says. "A way to get to get rid of it, or even..."

"Even what?"

"A way for you to... escape."

A part of her wants to laugh at how silly it sounds. Another part of her wants to hug him for even caring about her.

"Escape?" she asks. "How do you mean?"

"I mean, be like me. Get out, find someone to help you if you have to. Do whatever you want."

"My parents would kill me."

"I thought the same thing."

He's braver than her. That's all this is. Sirius Black did what Mathilda Yaxley can't. He got away.

"Say Dumbledore can help me get away," Mathilda says. "What happens after that? I still have the mark. I'll have... Rabastan looking for me, my parents looking for me. Fuck, I'll have the Dark Lord looking for me because he can summon me at will- -"

Sirius shakes his head. "I don't know, Mathilda. I'm just trying to help."

She shrugs, rising to her feet. "Maybe it's best for me to consider the fact that I might not have any options."

If she's doomed to this life, marrying Rabastan, giving him an heir, serving the Dark Lord, then so be it. She can at least try to enjoy herself while she still can.