𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter sixteen; Rumor Has It
" If there's anything worth getting expelled for, it's this. "

  SEPTEMBER FIRST CAME around just as quickly as it always did. This time, the Potter household buzzed with three teens instead of two, but the real miracle was they still managed to get to the platform on time.

  "Bye, Mads!" Sirius waved dramatically as the girl pushed her cart into the sea of people.

  "Don't miss us too much!"

  "Fat chance of that," Madeline scoffed at her brother, quickly disappearing into the chaos of the station.

  "Potter!" James turned his head, Ryan Shallowed was making his way towards the train with a group of unfamiliar Hufflepuff and Slytherin boys, a small smirk on his face. "Guess we all know why you're not a Keeper, huh?"

  James let out a confused chuckle as the entire group began to howl in laughter.

  "That was strange," James mumbled after the boys had continued on. "Even for us."

  "I'd have to agree with you there, Prongs."

  The next time someone made an off-hand comment, the Marauders were completely reunited. The boys were making their way into the Great Hall, laughing about something Remus had said when none other than Colin Hughes approached.

  "Hey, mate, take a page from your sister's book; don't let her actions define you."

  "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

  "Oh, no one's told you?" Colin's lips curled into a smile. "That's precious."

  "What—?"

  "I'm sure you'll hear soon enough."

  The boys were all unnerved as Colin sauntered back to the Ravenclaw table.

  "I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Bluebelle whisper-shouted, hitting Madeline's arm as she sat down.

  "Didn't tell you what?"

  "I had to hear it from Jenne Lewis that you jumped Keeler and Hughes' bones!"

  "I'm sorry, I did what?" Madeline laughed. Genuinely and loudly, shoving Bluebelle's arm lightly, "Your pranks are nearly worse than my brother's."

  "I'm not kidding, Maddie," Bluebelle whispered, her voice far more serious than seconds prior. "Everyone's talking about how Keeler was the one to take James Potter's little sister's—" The blonde cut herself off, taking a deep breath, "And that he let Hughes have his leftovers."

  "I didn't," Madeline said, a wave of panic engulfing her, "I broke up with Nico in August and I don't even want to talk to Hughes, let alone. . ."

  "Think Keeler's a bit mad about it?"

  "I'll bloody give him something to be mad about," Madeline grumbled, pushing herself out of her seat and marching straight down the table to the group of seventh-year boys, ignoring Bluebelle's calls.

  The boys were laughing, chatting, elbowing each other, that was until they noticed Madeline.

  "Nico."

  "What?" He laughed, turning around after one of them gestured. And instead of giving any logical explanation, he smiled. "Maddie!"

  "What the hell's your problem?" Madeline questioned angrily, throwing a heated glare to Colin who was laughing as well.

  "Didn't mean for it to get out, Maddie, I know it was a very special moment for you," Nico spoke up to the girl, "The first time, at least. Don't worry, if anything I did you a favor. Guys will be lining up, you know they'll do anything for a girl that can do what you do."

  "I don't do anything!" Madeline shouted, causing a large portion of the Great Hall to fall quiet and stare at the altercation. "Why are you lying?"

  "It's okay, love, everyone already knows," Colin smirked, leaning onto the table.

  "What is wrong with you?!"

  "Ms. Potter, you're causing a scene."

  "You're both pigs," Madeline informed the boys lowly, momentarily ignoring Minerva McGonagall.

  "And you're a slag."

  "Professor Flitwick will deal with you both later," McGonagall told the boys, looking down her nose at them, "Ms. Potter, follow me."

  Madeline reluctantly followed the woman, ignoring the tears burning in her eyes.

  "Where are you taking Maddie?"

   The only boys brave enough— some would say dumb enough— to question Minerva McGonagall were the Marauders. Sirius Black was transparently worried, but no one batted an eye since all four boys were intently focused on the brunette.

  "Mr. Black, I have to ask you to take your seat," McGonagall sighed tiredly.

  "Minnie—"

  "Sit down."

  "Meet us by the lake afterward," Remus gently informed Madeline before the four boys hurried away.

  McGonagall's office was silent. Madeline had only been in the room once before, ironically the same night a year ago.

  "Madeline, you realize the way you were acting was in no way appropriate?" The woman questioned strongly, "The opening feat, and you were yelling like you were at a quidditch match."

  Madeline didn't say anything, the girl just wordlessly hung her head, curtains of dark hair shielding majority of her red face. McGonagall had discovered lecturing the girl's brother and his friends was far easier, they showed little to no remorse, and here Madeline Potter was, on the verge of tears.

  "May I ask what happened?"

  "It's embarrassing," Madeline mumbled, rubbing her eyes before tears could bead and run down her cheeks.

  "I've heard my fair share."

  "Someone's just. . . spread a rumor about me," Madeline admitted finally, "And I don't know what I've done wrong."

  "If you'd like to do something about it. . . Well, I'm sure you can find my office now."

  Madeline looked up fully, sitting in silence as McGonagall dipped a large quill in an ink well, scrawling onto a piece of parchment.

  "Is that— I mean that's all? I'm not in trouble?"

  "I can't see a reason you would be," McGonagall spoke simply, not looking away from the parchment, "It was a simple misunderstanding, and I've sent you back with an apology to any Professor who questions it for the disruption."

  Madeline's eyebrows raised, slowly standing as if waiting for the woman to take it all back.

  "Would it be alright if I just went to bed?"

  "That would be fine."

  "I can see why James talks about you so much."

  The woman looked up in shock, Madeline offered a small smile before slipping out of the office and leaving McGonagall with the ghost of a smile herself.

  Madeline remained in her bed until students began flooding in, managing to escape the common room without running into Bluebelle or Kai. She did, however, face a few snide remarks, accepted being the butt of multiple jokes, but the second she was out of the tower it was a breath of fresh, silent air.

  "I'm going to kill him."

  "They won't survive the night."

  "I'd like to know why we're killing someone," Madeline spoke up, earning the attention of all four Marauders, "Not that I'm not in, but if we're going to be thrown in Azkaban I'd really like to know the reason."

  "Keeler and Hughes are dead meat," James pointed at the girl, anger clear on his face, making her small smile drop.

  "James, please—"

  "What, you want him to get away with this?" James scoffed, "No, he'll be lucky if he sees the first quidditch game this year."

  "Quidditch," Madeline repeated, turning away from the boys and covering her face, "How could I have forgotten about quidditch?"

  The thought hadn't even crossed her mind back in the tail-end of July when James got the news he'd be quidditch captain and Madeline was considering breaking up with Nico. It was just a sport she'd learned to love, no extenuating factors.

  Except for the team captain.

  "Maddie," Remus spoke up gently, "You shouldn't let him have power over your life."

  "The quidditch team is built of his friends," Madeline informed softly, locking eyes with Remus as he walked around to be in front of her. "It'd be signing up for my own personal hell."

  "I swear, I'm gonna—"

  "James, don't get yourself expelled," Madeline cut him off in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. "It's not worth it."

  The boys were all shocked, because of what she said and how she said it and how utterly defeated Madeline Potter appeared to be.

  "If there's anything worth getting expelled for, it's this," Sirius told the girl, earning a strong nod from James.

  "We've got your back, Maddie," Peter spoke quietly.

  "Promise."

ϟ

  "I had a feeling you'd be here."

  "Guess you know me better than I thought you did."

  Sirius scoffed, sitting beside Madeline on the edge of the Astronomy Tower.

  "You know, for someone who claims to not like astronomy, you come up here quite a bit."

  "Twice, Doll. Twice isn't a lot."

  Sirius blushed a bit at the nickname but chose not to comment on it.

  "James thinks you slept with Keeler." Madeline turned her head to Sirius, who had his eyes on the stars, "I know you didn't, but he didn't know you broke up with him, so. . ."

  "What about Hughes?"

  Sirius huffed out a breath, tightening his lips briefly.

  "So he thinks it's all true," Madeline nodded, "Brilliant."

  "Are you okay, Maddie?"

  "It shouldn't matter, right?" Madeline turned to Sirius, this time his eyes were on her already, "I mean, aside from James, everyone I care about knows the truth. I shouldn't care that the entire school thinks I'm a slag."

  "You're not a slag," Sirius nudged her. "Even if you had done it, you wouldn't be. Sleeping with someone doesn't make you a slag, people who use that word are just angry they can't get any."

  Madeline laughed, which made Sirius smile softly.

  The girl eventually lifted her head, catching the boy watching her. The laughter faded into nothingness before she pulled him into a kiss, one Sirius Black welcomed with open arms.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
Slut shaming isn't ok 
in any degree, and while
Sirius speaks TRUTH, 
let's not put him on a 
pedestal for being a decent
human being.