Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Only Maddy.

A/N: Alright, so I disappointed myself. I went back to school for a couple days, and meant to grab my Harry Potter books so I could start on 5th year, but I failed epicly and forgot them. So I had to come up with a scene before the end of the summer. I'm not entirely thrilled with it, because it's definitely more drama, but well, it gives way to more of the upcoming plot. So it works. I hope you all enjoy it anyway!

Chapter 35: Black and White

The rest of the summer went by much too slow for any of their likings. Most of the house had completely forgotten about Harry's trial, especially Maddy, but as soon as it came, it was over. Harry was let off, as many of them had been expecting, but she would not be a part of any of the celebrating. She wasn't the only one, however, as it was clear Sirius was a bit disappointed Harry would not be staying with him. She understood. She didn't want him to be alone either.

It was strange to her, the sudden realization that to the rest of the world, she no longer existed. She still didn't understand her history - who her Mother really was, who her Father really was, and why they were killed.

Being nonexistent, and breaking up with the most famous wizard of all time, were not to only eventful moments of her summer, however.

It happened shortly after Harry's trial. She awoke, determined to make it downstairs early enough to join Sirius for breakfast. He knew she was no longer welcome to eat breakfast with the rest of the family, so he woke up early at least once a week to be able to eat with her. It was the only time they really got to talk. Sad, honestly, in their own house.

Looking at her reflection that morning, something wasn't right. Her hair, once as dark as Harry's - if possible, even darker - had a brilliant white streak right in the front. She didn't understand how it got there, and being underage, she couldn't magic her way out of it. The number of spells she was allowed to perform under her circumstances was very limited, and hair coloring was not among them.

Maddy thought, perhaps, Ginny had done it to spite her. As a practical joke or something. Maybe even Fred and George had helped. They didn't like the fact she didn't spend time with anyone anymore, and she wouldn't have put it past them to do something about it. It was something very much up their alley. Ron had woken up to blue hair once before. Maddy had witnessed that one personally.

But no one took credit for it. Sirius believed her when she said it wasn't her, but Molly was convinced she'd done it herself, in order to be a "rebel". It was clear Aunt Molly had grown increasingly less fond of Maddy as the days went by, and she didn't know quite what it would take to gain back her trust.

So she just kept out of the way.

The beginning of the school year rolled around, and the streak had not yet gone away. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse as another streak appeared in the exact spot on the other side of her face. Maddy had not seemed to notice the time passing. Locked away in her room, she's lost all track of it. In fact, she'd wondered for a while if everyone else had already gone back to school and left her behind without word. It wasn't until a sharp knock came at her door that she snapped from it, even momentarily.

"Can I come in?" Harry's voice seeped through the wood of the door.

"Yeah," she called out to him, hastily cleaning up her cluttered mess. Harry never seemed to mind it, however.

He held a small envelope in his hand. Shutting the door behind him, he held it out to her.

"School letters came today. Just reminders and such…" he said quietly. "Had to sneak this one away from Mrs. Weasley. Don't think she really thought you should know about it…"

Maddy took the envelope from him and glanced down at it warily. She wasn't at all surprised by her Aunt's behavior. "Anything of importance?" she asked, raising a dark eyebrow.

Harry shook his head. "Not really…" he leaned against her small desk as she tossed the letter aside without another look. The sudden silence between them was smothering. Maddy awkwardly tucked a falling strand of white hair beneath her large knitted hat. She'd grown incredibly self-conscious of her fading hair color, she hardly went without wearing one. "Ron and Hermione were made Prefects," he said suddenly, his focus on the floor more so than on anything else.

Maddy raised her eyebrows in surprise - though she really wasn't at all. "Really?" she said. "Well, that's a bit…er…unexpected."

"Is it really?" Harry asked, his voice mocking and bitter. "I was starting to think I was the only one who thought so."

Maddy knew why he was angry. Dumbledore had been avoiding him all summer - avoiding his questions. Maddy understood. He'd been avoiding her questions as well, and the list was slowly growing longer.

And then, to go and give Ron a title that they all knew he, Harry, deserved - well that just crossed another line.

"He's got his reasons, y'know," Maddy said hesitantly. "Dumbledore. He probably didn't want everyone to think he was picking favorites. You already have enough attention as it is. Thing are already bound to be stressful, what with Voldemort -"

"Don't talk about that," Harry moved back toward the door. His brush with the Dark Lord and Cedric Diggory's death was still much too sensitive a topic to discuss, even with Maddy. After a few brief awkward moments, he dared to speak again. "But why Ron? I mean, why not Dean or Seamus? Or even Neville, for Merlin's sake?"

"I think it'll do him some good," Maddy said, trying to stay positive. "Having a little responsibility. It'll force him to grow up a bit."

Harry scoffed. Even he knew Ron was bound to abuse his power. He only hoped Hermione would help keep him in line somehow. Brushing the thought aside, Harry looked back up at his quiet friend.

"You're not at all upset you weren't made Prefect?" he asked.

Maddy laughed. "No! I didn't want to be Prefect. Takes all the fun out of life." she smiled, but it faded quickly as she sat down. She had removed her hat and was now fiddling with it in her lap. "Besides, there's really no competing with Hermione. I mean, there was really no chance for anyone else. At least you have a reason to be upset. I would have been stupid to think I'd get it."

Harry nodded. This was very true. Had Hermione not gotten it, he would have thought it even more shocking than Ron actually getting it. His attention, however, suddenly changed direction.

"Wow, your hair's getting pretty white, huh?" he peered at her curiously. He hadn't really been able to see it before then.

Maddy squashed the hat back on her head and turned a dark shade of red. "I don't want to talk about it," she said, avoiding his gaze.

"Have you asked Dumbledore about it?" he pressed on.

Maddy didn't answer. Harry already knew the answer to that one. Laughing bitterly to himself, he shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Hasn't been talking to you either?" he asked. "Not surprised. Seems to me he's avoiding everyone."

"No," Maddy said absently. "Just us."

Harry stared at her for a moment, his eyes wandering along her white hair. She looked so old, like she'd aged a good twenty or thirty years in a matter of a few weeks. He wondered if it was merely the gloominess of the shadows surrounding them, or a trick on his eyes - but she appeared quite sick.

"Are you feeling alright?" he moved toward her, sitting down next to her on the bed.

Maddy continued to avoid his gaze. "Considering my entire family thinks I'm a complete psychopath, my boyfriend broke up with me and the world no longer thinks I exist…I'm doing fantastic." Her sarcastic tone was less than inconspicuous.

"Mad, don't -" Harry felt something twist in the pit of his stomach.

She raised a hand to quiet him. "It's fine, Harry," she said. "It's not your fault. You're right. It's for the best. It's not like we were really dating anyway…"

"That's not why -" he tried to reason with her.

"Harry, please…"

They stopped, each facing the other, their eyes locked. Maddy didn't look so old close up, not anymore, but she didn't look any less broken. The thing, still twisting in Harry's stomach, made a sudden lurch, nearly causing him to be sick. He had the strangest feeling that all this, her hair and everything, had something to do with him.

But this theory was ridiculous, of course, and he pushed it aside hastily. People had been reported to die from a broken heart, but it had never truly been proven. Maddy had been sick for much longer than they'd been together - even Harry knew that. He was jumping to conclusions.

"I'll be fine, Harry…" she told him, her eyes still focused on his. "Things are going to start changing, between all of us. It's not going to be easy. But, I…" she fell quiet, unsure entirely of what she wanted to say to him. She bit her lip uncomfortably and placed her hand on his. "I'm the last person you need to be worrying about, okay? I can fend for myself. You have enough to be worrying about."

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him.

"I mean it, Harry…" she said. "I don't know what's going to happen to me, and I - I don't know what kind of monster I'm about to become -"

"Monster?" Harry looked confused.

"Harry, shut up for a second," she said, growing frustrated with his inability to stay quiet. "Yes, monster. You know what I'm talking about. At least a little bit. I feel it already - I'm bitter and old, and I'm afraid I know why. I can't promise you we'll stay friends -"

"Maddy, what the hell -" he pulled away from her suddenly, rising to his feet. "What's wrong with you?"

"Harry, just listen to me!" Maddy pleaded. "I didn't say we weren't going to stay friends, I was just saying I can't make any promises."

"No," Harry shook his head, pointing an accusing finger in her direction. "You promised me before! You promised me you'd always be there! How dare you - at a time like this - how dare you -"

Maddy captured his hand in her own, clutching it to her. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him go. She stepped closer to him, pressing his hand against her heart, her eyes once again focused on his.

"You feel that?" she asked, aware of how fast her heart was beating. There was no way he couldn't feel it through her chest. "It beats for you, and only you. And I know that sounds really cheesy, but you've got to listen to me. No one in the world could do that to me. No one. You know I love you -"

Harry took a deep breath, his hand suddenly shaking against her skin. He could feel the harsh pounding beneath his palm.

"And I know you don't love me, so don't bother saying different," she said calmly, though the words stung her throat as they came up. "And I'll always be there for you, right here…" she took her own hand and placed it over his heart. "But I can't promise you anything more than that."

Harry still didn't understand. It sounded like she was dying or something, which was completely absurd. He didn't want to listen to any of it. He wanted to be anywhere but there, pretending this conversation wasn't happening.

"The Dark Lord is back, and friends will be turned against each other," she said, her voice suddenly dark and serious. She let her hand fall to her side. "They'll be after me next…"

She suddenly caught his attention. He hadn't thought about that at all. Of course, with her lineage, the DeathEaters being alerted of her existence and her attachment to Harry, they would find her incredibly helpful.

"I love you, Harry," she repeated, this time her eyes showed signs of fighting any and all emotion behind her words. "And it's because of that, I have to do what I have to do the next couple of years to keep you safe. Whatever that means."

Harry nodded, stepping away from her. He shoved one hand in his pocket and held the other over his face as he contemplated what to say next. Realizing he really had nothing to say, he turned toward the door.

"Harry…" Maddy reached for him.

Harry avoided her. "Not right now, Mad…" he said. "Not right now." He turned to leave, stopping just before he closed the door, turning just enough to look at her. "You're wrong, by the way…"

And with that, he shut the door tightly behind him.

A/N: So there it is. Like I said, not exactly happy, but well…things aren't very good between them right now. Things will be up and down though so it'll definitely be interesting. And it's not the end of the line for Maddy's love life - oh no. It's about to get very interesting. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right? I'm excited for it. And hey, like I said, maybe things aren't entirely over for Harry and Maddy. You'll see. There's more to come! And as soon as I get back to school I'll have the next chapter up! Maddy meets Umbridge and things definitely get interesting.