𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ twenty-six

SEVEN WILD YEARS OF Hogwarts, and Maddilyn Snape was finally graduating. She stood outside the doors of the Great Hall. At that moment, Maddie was joined by her fellow Snake Bite Rebellion leaders. 

"I can't believe we're leaving soon," Milla Parkinson stated, tears streaking down her face. 

"It's not fair," Regulus Black said. "We're leaving the safety of the only place we can call safe." 

"Life is rarely fair," Lucius Malfoy added on. 

"We've been sheltered long enough," Maddie said, her faces features hardened into a look of determination. "It's time to fight back, from the inside, the outside, from anywhere and everywhere we can." 

"Let's do this," Lucius said, grinning wickedly, leading the four into the Great Hall. 

"I've gotta go speak to Daisy," Milla said, breaking off from them as she approached her younger sister. 

"How many of us do you think will survive this?" Maddie asked her companions quietly. Looking around the Great Hall, all you could feel was joy with a tint of sadness of leaving the school, if you looked deeper, you could feel the fear lingering. 

"You can survive, but that's the thing, surviving and living are very different things," Lucius replied. 

Maddie sighed. "Lucius, Reg, when you're working with the Death Eaters, don't lose yourselves to the darkness," Maddie said softly. "No matter how bad it seems, there will always be light at the end of the tunnel."

"Don't worry," Regulus replied. 

Regulus made his way to the Slytherin table, Lucius about to follow before Maddie pulled him back. 

"Lucius, I need to ask a favor," Maddie said. 

"What do you need?" Lucius inquired. 

"I mean, I would ask Reg, but he has a lot to worry about with the Horcrux problem," Maddie rambled. "But look after my brother, make sure he doesn't do something that he can never return from."

Lucius's gray eyes softened, "Of course, Maddie," Lucius said, leaving the onyx haired girl to her thoughts. 

SIRIUS BLACK COULDN'T BELIEVE he was graduating from the school he had called home for seven years. 

It was surrreal, scary even. Sirius Black and the Marauders were about to be released in a world of war.

Sirius didn't know exactly how he felt about it. He would be leaving only place he could actually call home.

Sirius was excited. He was finally ready to face the world. In just a few hours, he'd be a Hogwarts graduate with flying colors on NEWTs, able to take on just about any job he could imagine. And though he was the disgraced son of House Black, there was no denying his blood, like all those before him, were exceptional wizards, just like he was.

He boarded the Hogwart's Express with his friends, the very last time the Marauders would ever do so. A quiet, somber mood was in the air, several graduating students looking wistfully back to the castle.

Sirius met his brother's eyes, Regulus Black the epitome of the perfect pureblood child. His eyes looked haunted, as did many Slytherin's eyes did these days.

Maddilyn Snape followed Regulus, the two seeming to have patched up whatever problems they had after their break up.

Maddie smiled slightly, saying something to Regulus before making her way over to Sirius.

"Hey, Sirius," she said softly.

"Mads," he greeted in the same tone, half expecting to get jinxed.

"It's sad, you know," Maddie said. "We've been at Hogwarts for seven years. It's the only home I've ever had."

"Hogwarts is our home, always," Sirius said, meeting the shorter witch's eyes.

"Hogwarts is our home," she echoed. "I'm going to do something probably very stupid." She whispered, tugging at his tie to bring them to the same height.

"I've been known to do stupid things," Sirius whispered back, bringing his lips onto hers, and savoring the moment of peace.

A few moments later, Maddie pulled away, breathless as she gave him a smile.

"You know, in another universe, I think we could be each other's homes," Maddie said, eyes brimming with tears.

"How bout in this one?" He asked.

"I would certainly like to try in this one," she said, giving him another smile as she made her way to the apartment with her friends. She left Sirius with a lopsided grin, standing on the scarlet train as it sped away from Hogwarts, and towards the possibilities of the future.