𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ six

SIRIUS BLACK WAS DETERMINED to break Maddilyn Snape out of her depression, as it was clear to the whole Hogwarts population that she was not on top of her game.

"Go out with me to Hogsmeade?" Sirius said, sitting next to Maddie, who was studying History of Magic. 

"Like where? Madam Puddifoot's? I don't think so," Maddie said snappily, without looking up. 

"Come on, Princess," Sirius begged. 

"Why?" Maddie challenged. "Because you want to make a fool of my brother? Or am I your new primary target?" 

Not in the way you think, Sirius thought. "No, I am simply asking you if you would like to come to Hogsmeade," Sirius said. 

"Well, I'm flattered," Maddie said dryly. "But I'm going to have to turn down your generous offer."

"Come on, Mads," Sirius begged. 

Maddie gave Sirius a glare promising death. "Nobody calls me 'Mads' without my permission," Maddie said, writing something down on parchment. 

"Please, Maddie?" Sirius said. 

"Fine, but you owe me a favor," Maddie relented. "And I can call it in whenever I want." 

"Done," Sirius said, without questioning what she wanted him to do. 

THE MARAUDERS, MINUS SIRIUS, stared in shock at the couple that had just walked into Three Broomsticks. 

"Tell me I'm seeing things," James Potter said, leaning over to Remus Lupin. 

"No, I am quite sure you're not," Remus replied. 

Three Broomsticks had gone quiet, with the occasional whispers of gossip and surprise. 

"It's like you've never seen two people walk in here," Maddie said, glaring. Immediately, there was chatter in the pub, while many were giving the two odd glances. 

Sirius brought Maddie to where the Marauders were sitting. "Hey, guys!" Sirius said. He sat down next to Remus and Peter, leaving the only seat next to James open. 

Maddie grumbled, but sat down. After a few moments of silence, Maddie decided to ask something. "How is your map going?" she asked. 

The three looked at Sirius suspiciously, but Sirius looked as confused as they were. "It's not that hard to figure out. Why do you randomly have a blank parchment paper?" Maddie said. 

"Have you told anybody else?" James asked. 

"Let me see it," Maddie said, holding her hand out. James sighed, and he passed the blank parchment. 

"Revelare," Maddie said, waving her wand over the parchment paper. Slowly, ink started creating a Map. 

Maddie glanced over the map. "You can't document this," Maddie said, holding her hand up to stop them from protesting. "Without a password. If this lands in the wrong hands, who knows what they'll do."

"How did we never think of that?" Peter Pettigrew asked. 

"Probably because you were to busy bothering my Housemates," Maddie said, rolling her eyes. 

The Marauders were trying to come up with a good password. 

Sirius's eyes lit up. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Sirius said. When there was no disagreements, apart from Maddie rolling her eyes, Maddie charmed the piece of parchment to only reveal itself when the password was said. 

"What about to lock it?" Maddie asked, getting bored. 

After many suggestions, Maddie was super bored that she said, "How 'bout Mischief Managed?"

"I actually like that," James said agreeably. 

"Now an opening sentence, when you guys unlock it, unless you guys want it to sound boring," Maddie said. 

The Marauders thought silently, until Peter broke the silence. "What about 'Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischeif-Makers are proud to present the Marauders Map'?"

Agreement was given. "Don't forget Miss Vixen," Maddie said, a gleam in her eye. "I want credit for helping you guys, and you aren't the only Animagi in town." 

At the Marauders stare, Maddie knew her work was done, and she got up, leaving the Marauders, with the exception of Remus, were varying states of shock. 

"See you later. That was a lovely date, Black."

JAMES POTTER NEEDED HELP, and urgently. He liked Lily Evans. Everybody seemed to know that. But Lily's best friend happened to be his enemy's sister. 

So James sent an owl, and hoped that Maddilyn Snape would agree to help him. 

"What do you have there?" Maddie asked Tiger, Maddie's orangeish striped owl. 

Maddie looked at the blank parchment. Why would anybody in their right minds send her a blank parchment. She wasn't a charity case, she didn't need anything. She was about to throw it away when she saw a letter. 

Hey, Vixen,

I need your help. Meet me on the Astronomy Tower at midnight. You know how to use the Map.

Prongs

Prongs. Which one had Remus said Prongs was? James Potter. What did James need from her? And why would Maddie help him? 

Why not see what he wants, Maddie thought. It wouldn't hurt.

"I SOLEMNLY SWEAR I am up to no good," Maddie said, glancing at the unfolding map. 

Miss Vixen and Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Purveyours of Aid to Magical Mischief-Makers, are proud to present THE MARAUDERS MAP. Maddie was surprised that they had actually added her name to the Map. 

With the aid of the Map, Maddie had successfully made it to the Astronomy Tower. 

"Of course, he doesn't show up to his own meeting," Maddie said, rolling her eyes, and was about to leave when a figure showed up from nowhere. Maddie was ready to scream, when she saw it was James Potter. 

"Give me a bloody heart attack, will you?" Maddie said, dusting herself off from where she jumped back. "You have a bloody Invisibility Cloak?" 

"Yup," James said proudly. 

"Explains why you can't be caught," Maddie said. "Anyways, why did you ask me for help?" 

James sighed. "Because you know what Lily Evans likes," James said. 

"Why the hell should I help you?" Maddie asked. "After everything you've done, do you really think that I can just forgive you." 

"I'm sorry," James said. 

"Sorry won't cut it, Potter," Maddie said, her voice bitingly cold. "And I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."