𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ thirty-one

MADDILYN SNAPE ARRIVED AT the Greenhouse, noticably alone, dressed in billowing black robes.

"Welcome, Miss Snape," Dumbledore said cordially.

Once everyone had settled, Peter Pettigrew had asked the question they were all wondering.

"Where's Regulus, Maddie?" Peter asked curiously.

Sirius glared. "Probably betrayed the Order," Sirius said bitterly.

"He's dead," Maddie said, her voice wobbling. "Asshole, Slytherins are loyal, and Regulus was nothing if not loyal."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Molly Weasley née Prewett said softly, earning a small smile from the onyx-eyed woman. Many others expressed their condolences. Sirius stayed silent.

"Now that he's dead, we don't have a spy," Lily Potter née Evans stated.

"I have several contacts," Maddie said. "I know the Death Eater lineup like the back of my hand, and I know people who are sympathetic to our cause. Slytherins are quite resourceful."

Peter whimpered quietly when Maddie stared at him unflinchingly.

"Alright, Albus, what intel do we have?" Lady Augusta Longbottom asked.

"There's an attack going to happen at Diagon Alley in three days time. Mr Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Miss Maddie Snape, Mr James Potter, Mr Sirius Black, Mr Peter Pettigrew, Alastor Moody, Lady Yelena Belsky, Lady Anastasia Petrova-Belsky will be the team placed there, with Kingsley Shacklebolt as the lead Order member and Lily Potter and Edgar Bones the Medics on site," Dumbledore said. "Miss Snape?"

"My contact within the Werewolf Packs has stated they are mobbilizing for the full moon in a weeks time to attack a city. Further intel has yet to be shared. Remus Lupin is safely undercover and has not been discovered," Maddie informed. "One of my contacts with the Death Eaters has confirmed the attack at Diagon."

Peter sighed. Clearly whatever contact Maddie had wasn't high enough to know he was also a Death Eater.

Maddie smirked. Perhaps Peter Pettigrew could be some use to her plans.

THE SELWYN HOUSEHOLD IS located at 56 Kingswood Drive. Maddilyn Snape read, before handing the paper to Lucius Malfoy. The paper burst into flames moments later.

"Let's go," Lucius said, offering his arm. Maddie took it, and they disappeared in a swirl of black.

Maddie knocked on the door, the Fidelius revealing the hidden manor.

The door was answered by Rabastan Lestrange, holding a baby girl. He looked strangely domestic for a Death Eater.

"Why have you called us here?" Maddie said coldly to Rabastan. "I don't take kindly to deserters."

"I'm sorry, Maddie. Don't be mad at Rab, though. I asked him to keep it quiet," Sapphire Rosier, or Selwyn, said from behind Rabastan.

"Hello, Sapphire," Lucius said respectfully. Sapphire inclined her head.

"Are those your children with 'Rab'?" Maddie asked flatly.

Sapphire's smile was pure joy as she nodded. "We are married now. It was a quiet affair, Daisy Parkinson witnessed the marriage. Meet Saiorse and Scarlett Selwyn-Lestrange," Sapphire said.

"Congratulations," Maddie said. "Why are we here? You guys seem to be living the life. I think you should know Milla and Reg are dead."

Sapphire gasped, and Rabastan look startled. "We didn't know," Sapphire said quietly.