**Sor for the loooong wait. I just got a new job in a salon (YAY!) and i've been super busy. but this story has been on my mind for a long time, so i will not give it up, i promise. updates will probably be a bit slow, but i will finish this story. anyway, here's chapter ten. Lots of changes (especially in relationships) coming up. PLEASE tell me what you think especially concerning said relationships! I'm always looking for guidance! Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting and following!**

That's So You

ten

"I need to get back to Gryffindor Tower," Remus sighed, though he made no move to leave.

He continued to run his fingers through Maddi's blonde hair, stroking her cheek every now and then. She snuggled closer to him, nuzzling her nose into his warm neck as her arm tightened over his stomach. She draped one of her long legs over his hips, the hem of her dress sliding further up her thigh as she did so. Remus' fingers wrapped around her thigh, brushing against the exposed skin until goose-bumps rose on the silky flesh.

"Yeah," Maddi sighed.

"I can come back early in the morning to walk you down to breakfast if you'd like," Remus offered sweetly.

"No," Maddi said firmly. "We have to keep our relationship secret still, Remus. After everything I've done…I just…I don't want them to target you because of me."

"So you think they'll be coming after you?" Remus tensed beneath Maddi's body.

"Clearly you're unfamiliar with the ways of the Slytherins," Maddi scoffed. "In their eyes, I have just committed the most ghastly of betrayals. Not only have I disowned my family, but I've turned my back on, and ultimately defied, their master. Of course they'll be coming after me. And they'll be out for blood."

"Even more reason for me to escort you to breakfast, and classes for that matter," Remus argued.

"I won't have you hurt because of me, Remus. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you on my behalf," Maddi pried herself off his chest to stare down at him. "This must stay a secret."

"Don't you think the others will expect you to have befriended some of us already? Surely they know you've been spending time with Lily, no?" Remus pointed out.

"No, they have no idea about Lily or any of you. Lily is well aware of the dangers that lie with befriending me, which is why she's not opposed to keeping her lips sealed. Just because I've rebelled doesn't mean I have new allies. I'm sure they'll assume I do, but I will not give them proof by parading around with you lot to Hogsmeade. I won't put you all in danger," Maddi said with conviction.

"But what about you? How will I know you're safe?" Remus asked, propping himself up on his elbows.

"We'll meet somewhere every night," Maddi suggested. "Even if it's just to catch a glimpse of each other in passing to make sure we're both alright."

"The library?" Remus asked.

"Yes, that should be fine," Maddi agreed with a nod of her head.

"Are you sure you don't want me or the others to walk you?" Remus asked, slowly climbing off her new bed.

"I'll be fine. We're in Hogwarts; what's the worst they could do to me here?" Maddi shrugged her shoulders and smiled as Remus pressed his lips to hers.

The following day passed by uneventfully as students arrived back from their homes from Easter holiday. Classes went smoothly, and Maddi was admittedly surprised at the lack of attention she received from her housemates. With dinner swiftly approaching, Maddi was hurrying from the dungeons after her Potions lesson to bring her books back to her new bedroom before the meal began. Little did she know, she would not be attending the feast that night.

"There you are," she heard a soft voice from behind her.

"Ah, the little bloodtraitor has decided to grace us with her presence after all," Maddi recognized Bellatrix's bitter voice, though she could not see the dark-haired beauty.

"You've got some nerve, Turner. Wandering around the dungeons all alone after that stunt you pulled," Loxus was the first to emerge from the shadows.

He pulled his shoulders back and towered over Maddi menacingly as he cracked his thick knuckles. He fingers slipped into the pocket of his robes and withdrew his long black wand. Loxus twisted the stick between his fingers, a cold smirk plastered across his lips as he stepped slowly closer.

"Yes, she seems to have acquired some of that blasted Gryffindor courage, hasn't she?" Bellatrix mocked, stepping from behind a stone statue.

Her wand was already drawn, her arm extended lazily as she pointed it at Maddi's beautiful face. Her long dark curls fell wildly passed her shoulders and her high heels clicked against the floor as she moved to flank Loxus' right side. The twisted smile on Bellatrix's blood red lips seemed manic when mixed with the fiery anger burning in her dark eyes. Maddi knew it was weak to admit, but she couldn't deny that Bellatrix truly terrified her in that moment.

Maddi's feet were planted into the stone beneath her shoes and her arms felt like sandbags hanging heavily at her sides. Her silver eyes darted between the two before scanning the rest of the seemingly empty corridor. From what she could tell, the pair had come alone to corner her. But Maddi knew better than to breathe her relief just yet.

"You're lacking a bit in numbers yourself, don't you think?" Maddi forced her voice to remain even.

"You don't think we're that thick, do you?" Loxus rolled his eyes at his ex-girlfriend. "I'm insulted!"

"Of course not," Bellatrix rolled her eyes, as well. "Boys, don't be rude. Come greet the guest of honor while she's still conscious to hear you."

Slowly, figures began appearing right before Maddi's eyes as though they had traveled with the shadows. They came on all sides, surrounding her in a sphere of darkness. She could only see their silhouettes; tall, lean bodies with extended arms and raised weapons.

Two…three…four…five…nine

Nine in total, Maddi counted quickly. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself not to let it show. The worst thing she could have done was show them how frightened she was. Not only would it satisfy them, but it would also boost their confidence in their attacks. Instead of shaking or crying like she wanted to, Maddi smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I didn't realize I required an entire army to take me down. I must say, I am quite flattered," she laid a hand over her thumping heart as a cocky smile pulled at the corners of her lips.

"Oh, don't be silly," Bellatrix laughed psychotically. "It'll only take one of us to take you down, but that certainly doesn't mean the rest of us can't enjoy the show and maybe get in a few hits."

"Enough with the pleasantries, Bella. I want her to suffer for what she's done to us," Maddi cocked her head slightly to her right.

Regulus was glaring at her with complete hate. Maddi had only seen that intense loathing in his eyes once before, and Sirius was on the receiving end of it. The sixth year was gripping his wand so tightly in his fist that his knuckled burned white at his hip. His straight teeth were gritted; his jaw clenched so tightly that Maddi thought his teeth may shatter. His handsome face was contorted grossly by his rage as his entire body seemed to tremble.

"Awe, see what you've done, Bloodtraitor?" Bellatrix crooned. "You've upset little Regulus. To tell you the truth, I never thought I'd see the day he'd come to see you for what you really are. A filthy, mudblood-loving, bloodtraitor."

"Enough!" Regulus roared. "I swear, Bellatrix, if you don't do something, I will!"

"I say we let him do the honors," Bellatrix smiled proudly at her cousin. "What say you, Avery?"

"Yes, get on with it, Black," Loxus crossed his arms over his muscular chest and sneered down at Maddi.

Before she could slip her hand into her bag to retrieve her wand, a powerful curse hit her. The force of the spell knocked her off her feet and Maddi tumbled across the floor. Her bag split open, its contents scattering across the corridor. Luckily, her wand remained within her reach and she wrapped her figners around the cool handle. As she spun around to throw up a shield, she was blinded by a bright yellow light.

"Crucio!" she heard his bellow echoing as the light collided with her chest.

The white hot pain of a thousand daggers piercing every inch of her skin caused her to cry out. She felt like she was engulfed in blazing flames, and drowning at the bottom of an iced over sea all at once. The oxygen was forced from her lungs by her wails as the curse continued to hold her beneath its wrath; Regulus' wrath. Finally, when she didn't think she'd live to scream another cry, the spell was lifted and Maddi could breathe again, though her breath was ragged and shaky.

"Very good, little cousin," Maddi heard Bellatrix coo. "But let the rest of us have a go, now."

Just as she opened her eyes, Maddi felt hard knuckles collide with the side of her face. A pointed shoe (she knew belonged to Bellatrix) embedded itself in her stomach until a sickening crack resonated through the dark corridor. Someone's fingers tangled in her hair, tugging the yellow strands from her scalp while she was dragged across the floor. Bellatrix's insane laughter rang in her ears as she found herself being hoisted into the air by the front of her robes. Her back was forced against the jagged stone wall, her head rearing backwards to be pierced by one of the sharper rocks. She grunted in response, a hot mixture of tears and blood slipping down her face as she clenched her teeth together. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look into Loxus' hungry eyes as he held her off the ground with a cruel grin etched upon his face.

"You haven't gotten a turn, Snape," he said, misting Maddi's face with his spit. "You can finish her off…for tonight."

"Oh yes, use one of your fancy spells!" Bellatrix bounced on her toes in glee.

Loxus, then, released his hold on her robes, and Maddi crumbled to the cold floor in a heap. She pushed her sticky hair off her dirtied face and pushed herself to her hands and knees. Her bloodied fingers clawed at the floor beneath her as she lifted her gaze slowly up the long pair of thin legs. His wand was held loosely at his side as he crept closer. His thin pink lips formed a straight line beneath his hooked nose. His pale face was void of emotion while his black eyes watched her closely as she quivered on her knees before him. Her silver eyes were pleading, showing him how weak she was then; how weak she always had been. Without even a sneer, he raised his wand at her swollen and bruised face.

"Sectumsempra," he droned emotionlessly.

This time, Maddi actually felt her skin being split open. She felt it in her face first, a slice cutting into the soft flesh beneath her left eye. She raised her hand reflexively to nurse the gash, only to feel the sting in several other places on her body. Her body tingled as her blood steadily seeped from the countless wounds. With a final punt to the face from Bellatrix, Maddi collapsed to floor while the Slytherins left her there to bleed, their laughter following her while she faded into blackness.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been lying on the damp floor of the dungeons when she began to stir. She heard the clinking of glass on stone before she felt hands running over her body. She grumbled at the touch of soft fingers roaming along her skin, but she was unable to move to fight them off. After much struggle, she managed to force her eyelids apart. She blinked a few times before her vision came barely into focus and she could see a black figure kneeling beside her. Her company gently lifted her head to lie on his lap while he dripped some sort of liquid down on her face. Maddi hissed through her teeth and closed her eyes tightly as her cuts burned before a cool sensation quelled the sting. She opened her eyes again, her vision finally clear, and she looked up at her healer.

"Severus," she breathed in surprise and confusion. "What are you doing? Don't touch me!"

She cried weakly as she tried to pull herself away from her. Her body felt heavy, far too heavy to move, as though an invisible force was pinning her to the floor. Her head lolled to the side to look away from him while he worked on her wounds. She raised her hand and swatted at his, but her limbs moved as if they were fighting against a current. Severus caught her wrist easily and held it away with one hand while his other continued to drip little droplets over her gashes.

"Why are you doing this? You did this to me, remember? Just leave me," Maddi growled, but her voice was far from intimidating.

"Don't be stupid, Maddison. I realize that must be extremely difficult for you, but do try just this once," Severus muttered, his fingers still wrapped around her thin wrist.

"What are you doing?" she croaked.

"I'm applying dittany to try and prevent any scarring," he replied quietly.

"Isn't that a bit counterproductive?" she asked bitterly.

"For them, I suppose," Severus spoke barely above a whisper.

Maddi felt Severus release his grip on her wrist, laying her hand over her stomach. His fingertips brushed the side of her face, turning her head back towards him. He did not gaze down at her as she had expected, but kept his eyes focused on the wide wound winding across the left side of her face. She watched him coat the mark in dittany, a grimace ghosting his pale face as he watched it seal up ever so slowly.

"Why are you doing this? Taking care of me, I mean," Maddi's voice brought his gaze to hers.

"I've told you already; I care about you, whether I wish to or not," he frowned. "I warned you this would happen."

"I know," Maddi frowned shamefully. "But I couldn't keep it up any longer. It wasn't safe for me anymore. I never planned on taking the mark and joining His ranks."

"You seem to think this is news to me," Severus rolled his eyes and began applying the remedy to her neck.

"You knew? All this time?" Maddi asked, thoroughly surprised.

"Of course I knew," Severus sneered. "Why do you think I'd been trying to make you see reason these last few months? I've always had my doubts about your loyalties, but when you began seeing Lupin, it was all very clear."

"You won't tell them, will you? About him?" Maddi asked nervously.

"Who you choose to endanger is not my business, Maddison," Severus shook his head.

"I suppose I should tell you…I'm friends with Lily, too," Maddi felt his hands freeze over her forearm.

"What?" Severus hissed through his teeth.

"We've gotten quite close ever since Remus and I…I see why you like her so much; she's a wonderful girl," Maddi tried to ignored his tightening grip on her wrist.

"You must protect her. Once we leave school, I won't be able to anymore. Can I trust you to do that?" Severus' eyes were wide and frantic.

"Yes," Maddi nodded slowly. "Yes, of course."

"No one can know she is close to you," Severus warned.

"I'm not an idiot, Sev," Maddi rolled her eyes and quickly bit her bottom lip.

He did not yell at her for using the nickname like she expected him to. Instead, he pushed himself to his feet and extended his hands to her. Delicately, Maddi laid her fingers inside his palms and let him pull her carefully to her feet. She wobbled and swayed until she fell into his chest, and Severus wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"I think I like when you call me that," Severus surprised her by saying, and his hand snaked around her waist.

Together, they limped towards the Hospital Wing where Maddi would spend the night.

"Am I clear, Miss Turner?" Professor Dumbledore asked, gazing at her over his half-moon spectacles.

"Yes, sir," she nodded with a frown on her chapped lips.

"Good. I will leave you to rest, then. I am certain you will have a few visitors in a short while," he smiled and patted her sheet-covered knee before whisking out of the Hospital Wing.

The Headmaster wasn't gone for even a full five minutes before the large doors burst open and a flurry of red and gold clouded her vision. Long, strong arms embraced her upper-half immediately, and lips attacked her freshly washed hair. A small hand grasped the slender fingers of her left hand, and finally she was released from the chokehold.

"You look bloody awful, Turner," Sirius remarked.

"Still look better than you," she replied instantly.

"We came as soon as we heard," Lily pulled a chair closer to Maddi's bedside and re-grasped the girl's pale fingertips.

"Does the whole school know what's happened?" Maddi asked, glancing at each of their faces.

Lily was frowning and staring at Maddi with sad, sympathetic emerald eyes. James was ruffling his already messy black hair while his hazel eyes danced around the room. Peter was visibly trembling, though he stuffed his hands into the pockets of her black trousers in an attempt to hide it. Sirius' lips were pulled into a tight line while he glared at the foot of the bed as though it had personally offended him. Remus grimaced and stroked Maddi's soft straight hair lovingly while his navy eyes surveyed the damage.

"Unfortunately," Lily sighed.

"The snakes have been gloating," Sirius spat, locking his strong arms over his chest.

"I don't know why," James shook his head. "It was a completely unfair fight. Nine against one? That's hardly something to be proud of."

"They think they're serving justice. I'm sure Remus has told you all by now," Maddi glanced up at him and he nodded his head in confirmation. "I'm lower than dirt to them, now."

"Even lower than me?" Lily tried to joke.

"Yes," Maddi nodded solemnly. "I'm the worst kind of bloodtraitor there is, in their eyes."

"This is mad. We're in Hogwarts; we're supposed to be safe here," Sirius said loudly.

"We can never be safe with Death Eaters and Junior Death Eaters roaming the halls," Lily shook her head.

"We may as well get used to it. This is child's play. It's much worse out there," Maddi said morbidly.

"Touché," James sighed dejectedly as he fell into a seat beside Lily.

"Dumbledore should have seen this coming," Sirius grumbled, inviting himself to a seat at the foot of Maddi's bed.

"He did. That's why he moved me into a private room," Maddi groaned.

"He should have taken further precautions. I knew I shouldn't have let you go around the castle alone," Remus pushed his fingers through his disheveled hair.

"Well, Dumbledore seems to feel the same way," Maddi frowned. "He wants me to have an escort everywhere I go from now on."

"That sounds like a job for us," James grinned at the blonde.

"We'll do it, Maddi," Lily assured her.

"No!" Maddi cried, pulling her hand away from Lily. "Not you. You four, fine. Not you, Lily."

"I'm perfectly capable of protecting you, Maddison," Lily's cheeks burned angrily as she narrowed her green eyes.

"I know you are, I don't doubt that for a second," Maddi shook her head and held her hands up in defense. "I don't want them to target you more than they already do. No one can know that you and I are friends. If we see each other in passing, we must act like we hate each other."

"I'm not afraid of them," Lily said defiantly.

"Lily, please. I feel bad enough asking the boys to do this for me. I won't put you in that sort of danger, as well," Maddi pleaded.

"Lily can take my spot," Peter offered weakly.

"Come on, Wormtail. Man up," Sirius teased the round boy.

"Maddi needs us, Wormy," James clapped him on the back.

"Right…Right, I'll do my best, Maddi. But it won't be much…I'm sorry in advance," Peter blushed and shuffled his feet.

"I'm sure you'll be the best knight in shining armor there ever was, Peter. Thank you," Maddi smiled, "all of you."

"I still think I could help," Lily grumbled.

"Stop being so stubborn, love. Maddi's looking out for you," James wrapped an arm around the redhead's shoulders.

"Yeah, consider yourself lucky. She's throwing us to the wolves," Sirius rolled his grey eyes, tossing a playful wink towards Maddi, who smiled and shook her head in return.

"Fine," Lily rolled her eyes and glanced at a very somber Remus. "We'll leave you two alone, then. See you later."

"Bye," Maddi called after the quartet while Remus merely nodded in their direction.

She glanced up at him apprehensively. He pushed his fingers through his brown hair and huffed before sinking into a nearby seat. Maddi held her hand out to him and Remus instinctively laced their fingers together. He held her scraped knuckles to his lips and kissed them tenderly while keeping their eyes locked.

"Before you go blaming yourself, I'd like to remind you that I had been fine all day. It was just the evening that I ran into some trouble," Maddi frowned when Remus rolled his eyes.

"Some trouble?" Remus scoffed. "Is that all this is? Maddi, your eyes are blackened, you have a gash running across your face, cuts and bruises all over the rest of you, and three broken ribs."

"It could have been worse," Maddi mentally thanked Severus for caring for her after the attack. "But I'm fine. Everything will heal up in no time, and I'll be back to normal."

"I should have been there. I should have been with you," Remus covered his face with their hands.

"I told you not to be," Maddi shook her head.

"I should have ignored you," Remus peeked up at her and smirked.

"That only would have landed you in the bed beside me," Maddi smirked back.

"You don't think I could have taken them?" Remus joked, puffing out his chest.

"It would have been a close fight, I'll admit," Maddi smiled. "But really, Remus, look at me. They weren't messing around. I've never seen Reg so angry before."

"Sirius' brother did this to you?" Remus asked surprised.

"He was among them, yes. He was the first to attack. He used the Cruciatus Curse on me," Maddi's eyes stung with a fresh flood of tears.

"He did what?" Remus seethed.

"I deserved it…from him, at least. He must feel so betrayed. I was all he had left. I swore I'd be there for him and take care of him when Sirius ran away and abandoned him. Now, I've done the same. The look on his face when he cursed me…I'll never forget it," Maddi pulled her hand free of Remus' grip and cradled her head.

"That doesn't justify using an Unforgivable, Maddi," Remus moved to sit beside her on the cot.

"I've hurt him because I ran away like a coward," Maddi sobbed. "I should have just stuck it out for him; done what Rory does. At least I'd have been able to protect Reg and be there to support him. He's so scared, Remus."

"He got himself into this mess, Maddi. You can't blame yourself for his choices. He's made his, and you've made yours. There's nothing wrong with doing something for yourself," Remus soothed her by draping his arm around her and pulling her to his chest.

"But I've left him. I've practically handed him to Voldemort giftwrapped," Maddi moaned, burying her face against his chest.

"I think his parents had already done that, love," Remus said sympathetically. "There's nothing more you can do for him, darling."

"That's s-such a hard potion to s-swallow," Maddi stuttered and hiccupped.

"I know," Remus combed his figners through her hair. "I know."