Madeline ran until she got to the High Street, passing by the Hog's Hear barman without even greeting him goodbye. As soon as she was in the middle of the main road, she stopped, and took a deep breath. Her knees still trembled.

A lot of Hogwarts students were walking around, and some of them sent her curious looks. She knew she must look flushed and dishevelled.

The Marauders and Lily were probably now at the Three Broomsticks; after all, Remus had agreed to meet Dorcas there at 5 p.m. She momentarily smiled at the idea of them having an official first date, but it lasted only a second, because Rathbone's face flooded in her mind again.

Fuck, she thought.

She didn't feel like reaching her friends right then; they would probably talk about what the Professor had told them, and they would ask her about their time alone.

She was not ready to face that discussion, yet. And Hogsmeade didn't look so appealing now that her head was full of thoughts.

So, she took a deep breath, and started walking back to Hogwarts.

It was a particularly cold day, and the fierce wind moved her hair, exposing her neck and making her skin cover with goosebumps. She walked fast, with the intention of reaching the Castle in a short time.

She couldn't shake away the feeling of Rathbone's longing, wishful eyes; she still remembered the warmth of his embrace. She could not deny herself that she was... Attracted, to him. The only thought of that made her feel incredibly guilty.

She knew she wouldn't betray Severus. He was the only one, for her. And yet again, she also knew that the Professor had made her feel... Something. And she felt ashamed because of that.

She wondered then if they boy would be in the Library. It was still early, so she had time to find him and stay with him before the other students went back to the Castle. She hoped he'd be there, and not in his Dormitory, or elsewhere. The school was too big to search for him.

As she reached the Hogwarts grounds, she noticed a dark figure walking not far from her; she recognised the boy almost immediately, and called out for him. "Regulus!"

He stopped in his tracks, and turned to look at her. His normally slicked back hair were now messy, probably because of the wind, and there was surprise in his grey eyes.

She approached him quickly, and he greeted her when she was close enough to hear him. Without exchanging more words, they started walking together towards the entrance of the Castle.

"Why are you alone?" He asked her, then, sounding curious.

"Oh, I was tired of being in a pub" she lied, "I just want some peace... And the school's pretty empty now, so I assumed it would be nice to come back early."

He nodded, "It is empty indeed." He commented. He was wearing refined robes that hugged his lean physique, and Madeline thought that she liked his hair better untamed. That look made him appear younger.

"What about you?"

He snorted, "I just went to Hogsmeade because Barty asked me to" he admitted, and she understood that he was referring to Crouch, another Slytherin boy. "He didn't tell me that he'd meet with Rita Nightingale, though."

"The Ravenclaw?"

He sighed, "Yeah." He asserted, "And when I found that out, I came back."

She nodded at that, "Why? Didn't Rita have a friend?" She asked, "Or, don't tell me... You've got another lover?" She inquired, while smirking.

He laughed at that, "I'm not exactly interested in romance right now. I have other things on my mind..." He explained, his tone lowering as he spoke.

"Not even a little one?" She insisted. He shook his head. "That's a shame, you're a very handsome boy" she genuinely told him.

He shrugged, and slightly blushed at her words. "Well... Thank you?" He answered, as they entered the Castle and found a repair from the wind. "No one's on my mind, though, nor in my heart."

She didn't reply to that, even if she would have liked to ask him more. Regulus had always been more reserved than Sirius, so she let him be.

"Speaking of lovers..." He told her after a minute, "Are you going to look for Snape?"

She fixed her blue eyes into his grey ones, "Yeah, I am. He told me he intended to go to the Library... I hope he's still there."

Regulus nodded at that, "I can accompany you, if you want. My friends are still in town, and I have already finished my assignments..." He added, and Madeline thought that he had appeared more and more insecure with every word he had said.

She smiled at him, then. "Sure, I'd be glad if you did" she replied, and he gave her a nod.

They talked about their classes, and Regulus told her that he was appreciating Dagon's lessons, even though the man seemed to hate Slytherins.

They also discussed Disapparition, given that Regulus was in his sixth year and that he would soon learn the art.

Madeline liked to talk with him; he was an extremely clever boy, and he was gentle. He wasn't as loud as her friends, nor as cryptic as Severus.

He was just charming.

They reached the Library pretty soon, lowering their voices as soon as they eyed Madame Pince. She seemed relaxed that day, probably because all students from the third year up were in Hogsmeade.

Regulus and Madeline ventured into the almost deserted place; the girl really hoped that Severus would be there.

After everything that had happened with Rathbone, she just felt like seeing him, being with him, feeling his eyes on her. She knew she couldn't tell him about the Professor, but she wanted to fix what she had... Felt, when she had been with him. She wanted Severus to know how much she cared for him.

"Madeline" Regulus called out for her. She looked at him, and he gestured her to approach him. When she did so, he pointed towards a corner of the library, where a black-haired boy was sitting, and reading a book.

She smiled to herself. He looked so cute, as his eyes roamed the old pages of the volume in his hands. Regulus observed the shift in her expression, then. "There he is... Now I should probably go" he whispered.

"What? No!" she answered, and he raised his eyebrows at that, not understanding her reaction. "You told me your friends are in Hogsmeade… If you've got nothing to do, you could… Spend some time with us. You know about Severus and me, and… You two are friends, aren't you?"

Regulus snorted, "Well, kind of… It's not easy to be Snape's friend, but… We get along pretty well, yeah. I think he likes that Sirius and me basically hate each other."

Madeline rolled her eyes at that, "You don't hate each other, Reg" she told him.

Before he could make a sour remark, or deny her to stay with them, she put her arm in his and pulled him towards Severus with her.

As soon as the boy heard some steps approaching him, he distractedly raised his onyx eyes. When he saw the pair walking in his direction, he knitted his brows.

Madeline snickered at that; she knew that seeing Regulus and her together was no ordinary thing.

The girl left the boy's arm as soon as she approached Severus, and took a chair to sit next to him. A second later, she threw an arm around his neck and pulled him to her to kiss him on the mouth.

Severus was so surprised by her gesture that he reciprocated the kiss for a moment, letting his lips graze hers gently, before he remembered Regulus' presence and stiffened. Madeline separated from him, then. She knew he was a quite reserved boy.

His shocked expression made her giggle, and she caressed his hair as she removed her arm from his neck. She put her elbow on the wooden table, and laid her face on her hand, "Hello, baby."

Regulus laughed at that, and took a sit across from them, on the other side of the table. "It's funny to see you embarrassed, Snape."

The boy threw him a stern look, before looking at the girl again. There was a question in his eyes.

"He knows" she told him, "He kind of… Understood that"

Regulus nodded, while looking between them, "Yeah, well… You've been terribly cheerful lately" he said with an amused tone, "I sensed something was up. And then Madeline confirmed it."

She giggled, "I had to. My expression spoke volumes."

"It did" asserted the younger boy.

Severus listened to their explanation, and his shoulders slightly relaxed. "I see" he murmured, "That's… Alright, I guess."

She rolled her eyes at his uncertainty, "Yeah, it is. Reg's cool."

Severus threw her another one of his looks, then, "Reg?"

Regulus let out a low laugh, "Come on, Snape, I've known her for far more time than you."

"True" affirmed Madeline, "For years" She added, with fondness, looking at the boy in front of him.

Regulus nodded, before looking down, as if feeling a bit moved.

Severus snapped her out of her thoughts, then, by clearing his throat, "What are you doing here, by the way? Shouldn't you be in Hogsmeade?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Madeline sighed, while meeting his questioning eyes, "Well… I was tired of being at the Three Broomsticks, and so I thought that I would come back… I met Regulus outside the Castle and we got here."

Regulus nodded, "Yes, Barty dumped me for a Ravenclaw lass…"

Severus snorted at that, "Typical of Crouch. He's not to be trusted…" he commented, before looking back at Madeline, "Why tired?"

She shrugged, "I don't know… The confusion… The boys were being super loud" she lied.

He studied her expression for some seconds.

"And… I missed you" she added, giving him a flirty look that made him roll his eyes, though he looked amused.

She could see it in Severus' eyes that her comment had pleased him, for she read some desire in his eyes. Regulus was what kept him from acting on his feelings, because the library was otherwise quite empty.

The other boy leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms; there was an amused expression on his handsome face, "How lovely you look together" he commented with that aristocratic tone of his.

Madeline giggled and shook her head at him. Regulus could be so much like Sirius. It was sad that the two brothers didn't realise how similar they were.

"Don't exaggerate, Black" spoke Severus, with his intimidating, low voice. It made Madeline smile. She did love his velvety tone. She put a hand on his thigh, then, under the table, where Regulus couldn't see, and squeezed it.

He looked at her again.

"He's just jealous" Madeline teased Regulus, "Because he has no lover" she added, before sliding her chair closer to Severus', until their shoulders were touching, "While I have you" she said, and the boy couldn't help but sneak an arm over the back of her chair. His fingers distractedly started playing with her blonde hair as Regulus laughed, "I could have a lover if I wanted, though!" he defended himself, "I'm just not interested, I told you that."

"Yeah, I remember…" she commented, before glancing at the book Severus had been reading. "What were you studying?"

He sighed, "Ancient Potions" he muttered, "Things that Slughorn would never cover."

Regulus snorted, "The old man's not very much into teaching. He's into getting the favour of Pureblood families, instead…" he commented, sneering.

Madeline sighed, "Yeah, he can't help but ask me about my parents every given chance."

Regulus scrunched his nose, "Well, that doesn't surprise me. He's for sure already planning his Slug Club's Halloween party."

Madeline rolled her eyes at that, "Don't remind me of that…" she answered, "The Slug Club." She stated, tone dripping with sarcasm, "I certainly won't miss it."

Regulus snickered, "I have another year of that."

Madeline sighed, "I don't envy you." She told him, and noticed that Severus was listening to them chatting with an amused expression on his face.

For a moment, she thought that she would want to have more moments like that. She wanted to joke with Regulus and Severus without having to hide from other people. She wanted to be Reg's friend and Sev's lover in front of everyone else.

But they were Death Eaters. And she would fight against them, eventually.

The Marauders were her friends, and she knew that Sirius would consider a friendship with Regulus as a betrayal.

If only things were different... If only Lord Voldemort didn't exist...

"Madeline?" Asked Regulus, catching her attention.

She shook her head, "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something... What did you say?"

His grey eyes twinkled, "I said that, given the company you're taking lately, you should eat at the Slytherin table tonight."

She knew he was mocking her, and she giggled, "I would never betray my House! I am a Gryffindor" she proudly said, and Regulus sneered.

"What an overestimated House!" He commented, while shaking his head.

Severus nodded at his words, "Very overestimated..."

"Hey!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms and feigning offence, "You're insulting me, you know that?"

Regulus raised an eyebrow, "You? No, Madeline... You could actually be a proper Slytherin. You're cool."

She gave Severus a look, then, "You said so, too, once."

He shrugged, "Well, it's the truth."

She sighed, "I am a Gryffindor, though."

"Unfortunately" they both muttered at the same time. When they all realised that, they burst down in laughter again.

Maybe if she had been a Slytherin, things would have been different. She didn't think she would have ever become a Death Eater, no. But maybe she would have stopped Regulus and Severus from becoming ones.

Severus probably noticed that she was overthinking again, like she was starting to do more and more lately, because the hand that was playing with her hair went to scratch her head.

She smiled at him when he did so, and Regulus seemed to understand that something was happening, because he slid his chair back from the table and stood up.

"Well, it's getting late..." He commented, "I'll leave you two have some time alone before the school fills with people again."

He was a clever boy. Severus seemed to think the same, because he gave the younger Slytherin a thankful nod.

Madeline smiled gently at him, "I'm happy we spent some time together, Reg. The prospect of Slughorn's next party is less painful, now that I know you'll be there."

He giggled at that, "Yeah, likewise. It's going to be fun to judge everyone at the party with you." He admitted, before taking in his hands his cloak, which he had previously laid on the back of his chair. "See you at dinner, Snape."

"Black" Severus greeted him goodbye.

The boy grinned, and turned, before he started walking out of the Library.

Madeline stared at his lean figure until it disappeared from her view. Then, she felt Severus' lips gently kissing her jaw, and she smiled.

"He's a sweet boy" she told him, while her hand caressed his thigh again.

Severus shrugged, "I guess you could call him that."

Madeline giggled, "Keep an eye on him, okay? Merlin knows he needs someone to do it..."

Severus studied her face for some seconds, before nodding. "I'll try" he muttered, and raised his right hand to take her chin in his finger and force her to turn her face at him.

She smiled as he did so, enjoying the expression of impatience he had taken. The boy took a look around them; when he noticed that they were alone, he leaned in, and kissed her.

Her hand instantly jumped to his hair, and her fingers threaded through them, making him grin against her lips.

If Rathbone had been a thought of hers until that moment, the minute Severus' lips touched hers, it disappeared.

There was only him. In her mind. In her heart.

She cursed herself, then, and opened her mouth so that he could slip his tongue in hers. The feeling of him was inebriating.

They kissed for some minutes, and when they separated, he pecked her cheek and said, "I'm glad you came back early."

She smiled, "Me too, Sev" she told him, before sliding her hand from his head to his face, and she put a strand of his hair behind his ear to have a better look at his pale face. "You know, I was thinking... It's been almost a here since we've met. It was here."

He smirked at that, "Yeah, I remember. You wanted to hire me for your prank."

She laughed, "Right, and you told me that I wasn't your type."

He blushed slightly at that, and shut her giggle by giving her another tender kiss, "…And here we are" he said after he drew back.

"Here we are" she repeated, before pulling him to her again and assaulting his mouth once more. His hand moved to her hip to hug her, and he quickly took control of the kiss, as she laid her hand against his jaw, and her thumb started caressing his delicate skin.

They snogged for some seconds before a noise made them separate. They both looked up to see a little Hufflepuff boy basically running away from the room towards the exit of the Library. They hadn't noticed him, and his blushed face made them giggle.

Severus recomposed themself, then, and stood up to put the book he was reading back into place in one of the shelves.

The blonde girl observed him as he did so, a smile on her face. "We still have time before dinner" she told him, her voice sweet.

He threw her an amused look, "Oh, do we? And what do you suggest?" he asked, crossing his arms and leaning against another table, not far from her.

She stood up, too, then, and approached him, slowly; he parted his legs to welcome her against his chest, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled at him as his went around her waist. "I don't know… Maybe we could check if we can find a bedroom… The Room of Requirement, perhaps? I'm sure it will give us what we want"

He let out a low laugh, "A bedroom? Your suggestion is very interesting, love" he told her, mocking her use of pet names.

She grinned, eyeing his lips, "Yeah, isn't it? And maybe I'll find out what's underneath that Slytherin tie" she recited, and by the twinkle in his onyx eyes she knew that he had understood.

Those were the same words she had used a year prior, when they had first met.

His lips went closer to hers, and she could feel his breath on her mouth. It was damn sexy. "You already found that out" he reminded her, "More than once."

She dramatically sighed, as her fingers caressed the hair at the nape of his neck, "It's been some time, you know… My memories are fading."

He laughed at that. "Oh, I see…" he whispered, touching her nose with his. "I'll make sure you remember, then" he said with his low, velvety tone, and she couldn't hold back anymore, and kissed him.

He drew back after a little, eyes burning with desire. "Not here. Let's go" he said, and took her hand in his to guide her out of the Library.

They walked quickly through the empty halls. At one point, as they were almost reaching the Come and Go Room on the fifth floor, she stopped in her tracks and pulled him back to her. He gave her a questioning look, then. "Before we get there…" she said, "I have to make sure of one thing".

He raised an eyebrow, "What's that?"

She took a deep breath, "I have to make sure that… You know… How much I care for you. You're the only one for me, Sev."

His expression softened, then, and she was certain that her words had shaken him. He was not used to love, nor to such declarations. He nodded, once. "I trust you, Madeline… You know I…" he sighed, "It's difficult for me to express-"

She shook her head, "You don't have to say anything." She interrupted him, knowing that he had never given him a reason to suspect his feelings. Sure, she still had doubts about what he felt for Lily… But that was another story, completely.

"Come on, let's go to the Room of Requirement" she added, pushing away her thoughts, and she resumed walking, pulling him with her.

He wore a playful grin, then, appearing stricken by her quick change of mood. "My, my, such an impatient girl you are."

She giggled at that, "Oh, Severus Snape, you don't even know" she answered, wickedly.

"Show me, then" he suggested, and she recognised that tone, the one he used when he desired her.

"I will" she promised, and as the wall disappeared and a door opened for them, she started kissing him again, trying to make him understand what she felt every single time that they were alone together.