𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ twenty-seven

THE GREENHOUSE, A SAFEHOUSE of the Order of the Phoenix owned by the formidable Augusta Longbottom, was filled with newly inducted members.

The Marauders were talking animatedly with Gideon and Fabian Prewett, the legendary pranksters who ruled the school before their time. James Potter had been reunited with his godsister, Celestria Nightshade.

The two Floos flared green, announcing  new arrivals to the Headquarters. The members were equally astounded by both arrivals, one Floo containing the ever dangerous Maddilyn Snape, the other Regulus Black. The chatter quickly died down.

Wands were drawn, and spells cast as the two put up the Shielding Charm. The Marauders, minus James were the least hesitant in casting their spells at Regulus, but his shield was powerful.

"You guys are bloody daft," Maddie said above the curses that were being thrown at them. "Either there's a traitor among you or we were actually invited here because this house is Unplottable and is under the Fidelius, with the Dowager Lady Longbottom as the Secret Keeper."

This caused the curses to slow down, realizing the witch was right.

"Loved the warm welcome," Regulus drawled, his hand gripped tightly on his wand, though he made the show of lowering his wand.

"Wonderful, we're all here," Albus Dumbledore said jovially. "I've called you here today for an organization I call the Order of the Phoenix, an organization dedicated to fighting the Dark, namely Lord Voldemort and his followers."

"How do we know they can be trusted?" Halsey Jordan, a former Quidditch commentator at Hogwarts, asked, eyeing the Slytherins at the table.

"Yeah! Doesn't Black have the Mark?" A former Hufflepuff named Zeke Smith shouted out.

"They're Slytherins, they cannot be trusted!" Amala Abbot cried out.

"They can be trusted," James said. "Like it or not, Slytherins are still humans with morals."

"Bloody morons, the lot of you," Maddie said. "Being evil is not something you inherit, it's something one chooses. Reg has the Mark to protect his family, like plenty of Slytherins do, which is something braver than even the bravest Gryffindors can claim to do. So if you have actual evidence that we are traitors to your cause, other than the fact of the House we were sorted into, bugger off."

It was silent after that, the crowd stunned by both Maddie's speech and James' support, even though the two were known to hate each other.

"Maddie Snape is one of the most trustworthy witches I've ever met," Lily Evans spoke up, giving her childhood friend a warm smile.

"I trust her, and if she trusts Black, then so do I," Remus Lupin backed up Lily.

"Snape and Black saved me from their own House, who was bullying me for my blood status," Emelie Shay said, a Hufflepuff from their year. "I think we should at least give them a chance to show their loyalty."

Zeke Smith looked unhappy, but conceded to Emelie's words.

"Now that we have that figured out, let's get into business."

"THAT WAS INVIGORATING," MADDILYN Snape commented after she and Regulus Black had Apparated to the private Headquarters of the Rebellion, the Planetarium, a Black household bequeathed to Regulus after his Great Uncle Arcturus died.

The Planetarium's wards had been redone to only allow Regulus, Maddie, Milla Parkinson, Lucius Malfoy, Silver Gray, Leo Reese, and Theodore Nott. It was the top secret Headquarters only the higher ups knew about, which had expanded to include the Fawley's, Daisy Parkinson and Chase Ramirez.