"You're going to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

Madeline didn't move her face away from the crook of his neck, and let a few minutes pass before answering, "Yeah, I actually am... With the Marauders, y'know?"

Severus sighed, "I imagined so" he simply commented, as his right hand kept caressing her blonde hair.

They were laying on the sofa in the Room of Requirement, and the following day would be the Saturday in which she'd meet with Rathbone.

As much as she wanted to, Madeline knew she couldn't tell the boy about him. She felt she needed to protect the Professor, and also the secret organization he worked for.

And Severus was a Death Eater. She couldn't simply forget that.

Her grip around his torso tightened, so that she could hug him harder.

He giggled at that, "You're acting like a kitten today" he said with that deep voice of his, and she laughed against the pale skin of his neck. "A kitten, eh?" She repeated, finding the word incredibly sweet when being pronounced by him. "I may be one, but only with you" she stated, pecking his jaw.

"That I hope" he replied, threading his long, bony fingers through her hair, so that he could scratch her scalp.

She sighed contentedly as he did so, and listened to the relaxing crackling of the fireplace for a few minutes. His gentle touch, comforting warmth and familiar scent made her feel at peace.

They hadn't been together in quite some time, and organising that little encounter had been difficult. It had involved enchanted pieces of paper written quickly in Slughorn's class, and a bit of luck.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade?" She asked, then, realising she didn't know what his plans were.

"No, I don't think so. Maybe I'll go to the Library, read a book I saw the other day." He replied, distractedly, as if he hadn't put much thought into it.

"I'd stay with you, really, but-" she started saying.

"No, I get it. I know you love Hogsmeade." He interrupted her, "You should go, and have fun. Then you'll tell me all about it." He simply added.

She was struck by his words, and raised her head slightly to look him in the face. "Are you serious?"

He raised an eyebrow at that, and appeared bemused, "Of course I am."

She smiled, then, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, love" she told him, before hugging him again, and kissing his neck, also. His skin covered with goosebumps and she grinned, "You're a babe."

He let out a low laugh, "Yeah, you say so very often" he said.

They stood silent for some more time. She felt safe in his arms. His hug was all she thought about. He was breathing steadily, he too appearing completely relaxed.

"You're looking thoughtful today..." He commented after a bit, "What's on your mind?"

She took a breath, "Honestly?"

"Yeah"

"Well… You."

He snickered, "Come on, Madeline." He reprimanded her.

"What?" She asked, and rubbed her nose against his jugular before kissing it, "It's true. I miss you. We've been apart, lately... I just want to spend more time with you... To go to sleep and wake up next to you... And to make you tea, though you would probably despise it because you are the Tea Master, here-"

"I am" he affirmed, though his voice betrayed that what she was saying had startled him, "It takes some knowledge to brew a perfect cup of English tea." He continued, with an obvious tone.

She let her left hand slid from his hip to his chest, while giggling. Her fingers started playing with his Slytherin tie.

"And?" he asked.

"What?"

"Go on with your little speech." He stated.

She smiled, before saying, "Well… I also want to make you listen to the music I love, and dance with you-"

He snorted, "I don't dance"

She raised an eyebrow, "With me, you would."

He didn't deny that.

"And I want you to read to me one of my Shakespeare books-"

"Shakespeare?" He asked, sounding amused, "Why him?"

"Because I think you would make his words sound even more beautiful."

He giggled, "Mm" he replied, "Which book?"

"Hamlet, maybe? I love that one."

He nodded, "Alright then. What else do you want to do with me?" He curiously asked.

"I want to braid your hair."

"What?" He exclaimed, appearing surprised.

"Yeah, and someday I will..."

He raised a hand to stop hers, which was sliding from his chest to his lower abdomen. She giggled at that, as their fingers entwined. "What else?" He pushed.

"I want to show you London. And I want to go to dinner in a fancy restaurant with you, so we can pretend we're posh people."

"You are posh, Madeline."

She gaped at that, "No I am not!" She exclaimed, and that made him laugh again and shake his head.

"Sure, Gryffindor Princess. Not posh at all."

She watched their hands as he brought them up, in the air above them. She disentwined her fingers from his to compare their fingers' length. His were longer, and his hand broader.

"And I want to kiss you, and make love in a comfortable bed, with lots of candles around us, when there's a storm outside. And then I want to fall asleep in your arms and pretend we'll always be together. I want to grow old with you." She added, then, with a melancholic tone that slightly broke his heart.

Their hands rested again on his chest, as he sighed. He waited an entire minute before saying something. "I want the same" he admitted, then.

They both knew that there was no sense in dwelling in dreams: and yet again, they were kids.

And kids have nothing more than dreams.

So they hugged again, and enjoyed each other's presence, while trying to impress in their minds forever that moment of truth and peace.


"Read it again" asked James, while playing with his Golden Snitch. He let it fly a bit before catching it again.

Remus rolled his eyes, but cleared his voice, and obliged him.

Dear Madeline,

Mail is not safe.

I'll be at the Hog's Head on Saturday for a cup of tea, if you're interested in meeting me.

Sincerely yours,

A.

Madeline sighed deeply as she eyed the piece of paper in his fingers. It was a short message, and it seemed that Rathbone had written it in a hurry. The writing was shaky and not nearly as precise as usual.

She knitted her brows as Moony read the Professor's words once again.

James sighed when Remus stopped talking. "It reminds me of my parents' letters. Something must have happened..." He commented, appearing lost in thoughts.

Sirius nodded, "Yeah, probably... He didn't even sign his name..."

Madeline felt really concerned about Alastair's condition, then. "Merlin, guys... I hope he's fine."

Moony gave her a reassuring smile, then. The orange light projected by the fireplace highlighted the warmness in his amber eyes.

"He's surely fine, Mads. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to meet you... Do you really want us to come, by the way?"

Madeline firmly nodded, "Yeah, absolutely. He knows a lot about wars... And he's an active participant in this one, after all. Plus, last year, he seemed disposed to help me get involved in it. We have bonded over my desire to fight, and... I see him as... An ally, you know? I want you to know him as well. He can really direct us in the right way... Or so I think."

The Marauders only nodded at her words.

After a while, James talked, "Yeah, you're right... Aurors work for the Ministry, after all. They won't tell us much. But if Rathbone is involved in a different way... Yeah, I think he will help us."

They all agreed with him. Only Peter seemed very worried about that whole situation, and Madeline noticed that he was being quite silent. There was a hint of anxiety in his pale, blue eyes.

"Hey, Pete, you alright, mate?" Gently asked Remus, noticing that, too.

Wormtail snapped out of his thoughts, and threw him a surprised glance. "Uhm, wh-Yeah, yeah..."

Moony raised an eyebrow at his shaky response, but said nothing.

"So, this afternoon… at the Hog's Head. He certainly wants to be secretive." Said Sirius.

Madeline nodded, "I don't think a former Professor would want to be seen confabulating with students... Certainly not with students like us, in particular."

Prongs laughed at that, "Yeah, we're not exactly little angels."

Sirius snorted, "Talk for yourself, mate. I am definitely an angel."

Remus raised an eyebrow at that, "Yeah, a fallen angel, perhaps. Lucifer, am I right?"

Sirius took a pillow from the Common Room's sofa and threw him at him. It hit Moony square in the face, and everybody giggled as he tossed it back at the dark-haired boy, who effortlessly avoided it.

Right then, the portrait of the Fat Lady opened, and Lily Evans entered the Room. She had some books in her hands, signalling that she had probably just come back from the Library. Even if it was Saturday morning, she was still the perfect student.

Her long, auburn hair were a bit dishevelled, and her Gryffindor tie a little loose. She looked beautiful.

The girl immediately spotted them talking in low voices by the fireplace, and was quick in taking a chair and joining them. "What are you all plotting?" she asked, green eyes flickering on each of their faces. "It's not a prank, is it, James?" she asked, looking at Prongs and crossing her arms.

Madeline noticed that her calling the boy with his given name hadn't shaken Prongs. Maybe they had started addressing each other that way during their night patrols after curfew, while doing their duties as Head Boy and Girl. She grinned.

"It is not, Lily" he replied, as his friends looked at him with a certain surprise. "I swear."

Lily moved her eyes to Remus, as if looking for a confirmation. "Oh, yeah! He's telling the truth," said the boy, before giggling.

Madeline remembered then what Lily had told her the previous Summer. She had been very clear, after all: she wanted to fight, just like the rest of them.

She also knew that the Marauders wouldn't tell the redhead about Rathbone; it was Madeline who had started that thing with him, and she knew they wouldn't reveal her secret relationship with the former Professor to anyone else.

But Lily was no ordinary girl. She was one of her best friends. She knew about Remus. James loved her. Also Severus had loved her, though that make Madeline's heart ache a bit.

Lily could be trusted.

"Actually, Lils… We have something to tell you" started saying Madeline, then, and the Marauders all looked at her with surprise. James appeared pleased by her words, and hopeful. "It's about the war... Do you want to hear it?"

The redhead put some red hair behind her ear, while nodding fervently. "Of course I do." She replied, and her forest eyes were burning with curiosity and interest.

Madeline took a deep breath, before starting explaining her everything.