The atmosphere at Hogwarts had become tense, the air thick with whispers of dark forces growing beyond the castle walls. Y/N Potter, a Hufflepuff known for her loyalty and kindness, found herself standing at the heart of it all. She had grown up surrounded by love, but her friendships had always straddled both light and dark. On one hand, she had the Marauders—James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter—and on the other, the Slytherin Skittles—Regulus Black, Barty Crouch Jr., Evan Rosier, and Pandora Rosier.
Her brother, James, had always kept his distance from her Slytherin friends. Though he never openly condemned them, Y/N could feel his discomfort every time he caught sight of her laughing with Regulus or sharing whispered jokes with Pandora. He didn't understand how she could care for them, especially when so many believed they would eventually follow the Dark Lord.
But Y/N knew better. Behind the smirks and cold exteriors of the Slytherins, she saw the conflict. They were trapped, caught between the expectations of their families and the fear of defying a man as powerful and dangerous as Voldemort. And she was determined to save them.
It was early evening when Y/N gathered them all in the Room of Requirement, a place that had become their sanctuary. The Slytherins sat scattered around the room, their faces drawn with exhaustion. Regulus was the last to arrive, his sharp eyes scanning the room, taking in the tense expressions of his friends.
"We can't keep doing this," Y/N said quietly, breaking the silence. She stood at the center, facing them with a determined look. "We can't keep pretending that everything is fine, that you don't need help."
Evan leaned back against a sofa, crossing his arms. "We've been over this, Y/N. What do you expect us to do? Walk away? It's not that simple."
"It is that simple," Y/N insisted, her voice steady. "You don't have to stay on this path. There are people who would help you. You don't have to follow your families. You don't have to follow him."
Barty scoffed, though there was less conviction in his voice than usual. "And who's going to help us? Dumbledore? The Order? They barely trust their own."
Pandora, who had been quiet, gave Y/N a soft, sad smile. "We appreciate that you care, Y/N. But this isn't a fairy tale. We can't just run away and expect everything to be fine."
Y/N's eyes flashed with determination. "You're not alone. There are people who would stand with you if you gave them a chance. I've already spoken to them."
Barty's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Y/N hesitated, knowing that what she was about to say could either bring them together or tear them apart. "The Marauders."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Evan sat up straighter, his face a mask of disbelief. "You're joking, right?"
"I'm serious," Y/N said, her heart racing. "James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They want to help. They're part of the Order, and they know how dangerous this is. They can help you escape from Voldemort before it's too late."
Barty's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "Sirius? The same Sirius who ran off and left Regulus to rot in that house? The same Marauders who have made our lives hell since the first year?"
Pandora reached out, resting a hand on Barty's arm, trying to calm him. "Barty, listen to her."
Y/N took a deep breath, stepping closer to Regulus, who had remained eerily quiet throughout the conversation. "I know it's hard to trust them. I know they've hurt you. But I also know that they're good people. They're fighting the same fight, against the same darkness. And they want to help. Not just because of me, but because they believe it's the right thing to do."
Pandora glanced at her friends before saying "okay y/n, we trust you, but I really don't think its gonna work"
~~~~~~~~~~~~ time skip ~~~~~~~~~~~~
