𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter twenty; A Cigarette Peace Offering
" "Gobstones is a game, not a sport."

  MADELINE NORMALLY HATED when Ravenclaws had classes with Gryffindors, but now she had a reason to dislike it. 

  Sirius Black did not understand discretion.

  It was Transfiguration, McGonagall was lecturing about something Madeline could not recite, and Sirius was trying to gain the Potter girl's attention. She'd been ignoring him, hoping he'd get the hint, but neither Bluebelle nor Kai could ignore the waving, the notes turned paper planes, or his incessant need to lean back so far in his chair he was nearly on Madeline's desk.

  "Mads—"

  "Do you want everyone to know?" Madeline whispered harshly, catching the back of Sirius' robe as to keep him from tipping over entirely. His chair rocked back onto all four legs, the boy frowning now. "Be quiet."

  "Black, Potter."

  "I'm not doing anything this time!"

  "The other Potter," McGonagall said pointedly, "Am I interrupting something?"

  "No, Ma'am," Madeline said, letting Sirius go fully, "Sorry."

  McGonagall nodded slightly, delving back into her speech. The rest of the class period, all four legs of Sirius' chair remained on the ground.

ϟ

  "Why was Black bothering you?"

  "When is he not?" Madeline questioned boredly, readjusting her books. Bluebelle was far too concerned with Sirius than she was comfortable with, jumping on Madeline as soon as they exited the classroom. 

  "You're overthinking things, Blue," Kai sang out, slinging an arm around the shorter blonde's shoulders. She grumbled. "Sirius Black is ruddy annoying."

  "Thanks, mate." Kai jumped slightly, not expecting Sirius to be waiting patiently at the end of the hall. He was leaned casually against the stone wall, one foot propped up. "Mads, I need to talk to you."

  "I'm overthinking it, huh?" Bluebelle questioned.

  "Prongs is losing it over Lily," Sirius explained, giving Bluebelle a bored look, "Mads needs to slap some sense into him."

  "Have fun!" Kai laughed, pulling Bluebelle down the corridor quickly.

  "Okay, so, what's wrong with James—?"

  Madeline's eyes widened as Sirius grinned, tugging her into a supply closet he'd previously been leaning on. She hadn't even noticed it until he yanked the door open, dragging her inside.

  "Sirius—!"

  Her words were cut off rather abruptly. Sirius had kissed her with his entire being, a thing Madeline had never before experienced, being knocked against the hard walls of a closet in a heated moment.

  She was sure if it had been anyone else, Madeline would not have appreciated the harshness.

  But Sirius Black had a way of affecting her, making her thoughts go down the drain, her brain turn to nothing but mush, and her heart flutter harder than a hummingbird's wings.

  "Wait, Sirius," Madeline mumbled against his lips, her hands naturally falling to the crooks of his elbows, "Wait, wait."

  Sirius pulled away quickly, even in the poorly lit room Madeline could tell he was worried.

  "No, you're— don't," Madeline sighed, brushing her hair back. "I don't think I can keep sneaking around with you."

  "What?"

  "I can't risk James. . . hating me to be some girl you. . . snog in a closet."

  "Maddie," Sirius began quietly, "You know I. . . fancy you, right?"

  "I hope so, you've kissed me more than once."

  "I mean I. . . fancy you," He repeated almost awkwardly, "Mads, I haven't. . . I haven't wanted a girl the ways I want you— I mean, I just. . . I just want to be around you."

  Madeline's breath was caught in her throat, unable to see Sirius' expression clearly enough to gauge his mood.

  "I want to take you on a date and watch you study and kiss you— Maddie, I really want to kiss you."

  So she did the rational thing. 

  Madeline kissed Sirius the way he kissed her, the boy slightly taken aback by her eagerness. But then again, he wasn't complaining.

ϟ

  Remus Lupin and Lily Evans were waiting for Madeline Potter to explain. The three were sitting in the library, mulling through homework, and while Madeline didn't normally get much done, it was exceptionally bad that day.

  The brunette kept looking up, twisting her quill between her thumb and index finger as she scanned the library. Remus cocked an eyebrow as the girl flipped through an Astronomy book, not reading, just fingering through the pages.

  "Maddie—"

  She jumped, the front cover of the book creating a rather loud thump as Madeline dropped it. Her head snapped to Lily, who was beyond worried at that point.

  "Are you okay?" The redhead questioned quietly, pushing her homework aside, "Is it Keeler—?"

  "No, no," Madeline waved off, readjusting her things, "I'm just thinking, s'all."

  "Thinking about. . ." Remus prompted, leaning forwards.

  "Why is quidditch the only sport played here?" Both Lily and Remus let out laughs, "I'm serious!"

  "Well, there's dueling club," Lily sighed after her laughter had calmed, "If that's a sport."

  "Gobstones."

  "Gobstones is a game, not a sport."

  "You've never played Gobstones with James."

  And while Remus and Lily debated whether Gobstones was a sport or not, Madeline sat back, fiddling with the corner of her book, because she had not been pondering the existence of sports at Hogwarts. She had been thinking of the boy that saved her days prior.

  Like a scratch she was unable to reach, or a harmony that wouldn't leave her head, Madeline Potter couldn't stop wondering why the hell Regulus Black stood up for her.

  This thought lingered since the day it happened, keeping Madeline from school work and sleep, which was exactly why she found herself in the Astronomy Tower long past curfew. Admittedly, a part of her hoped a certain someone would join her.

  And someone did.

  Madeline turned around quickly at the approaching footsteps. And for a split second, she thought Sirius was joining her.

  Then reality kicked in, the shorter build and hair, the green tie, the complete uniform; it was Regulus Black.

  "Oh," Regulus said, eyes widening briefly, coming to a screeching halt at the top of the stairs. "I didn't know—"

  "S'fine," Madeline assured, pushing herself up from the ledge, "I was just leaving."

  "Don't do it on my account," Regulus sighed almost tiredly, taking swooping lazy steps towards the edge.

  Madeline nodded, she was uncomfortable enough to stay standing instead of sitting beside Regulus, leaning against the railing on the opposite side of the tower as him. The boy had taken her seat, legs swinging with no care for the seemingly infinite drop beneath them.

  "You're not like your brother."

  "You aren't like yours," Madeline retorted simply.

  Regulus nodded, not that Madeline saw it as she was staring at the sky not him. She eventually had enough of the silence, tapping her foot twice before whirling around and marching right to the boy.

  He didn't even turn as she sat beside him.

  "Why'd you tell Keeler off?"

  "Because he was being an arse," Regulus stated bluntly. "People shouldn't treat people like that. Especially if he loved you like he said he did."

  Madeline didn't expect an answer, let alone one like that. Regulus had always seemed so closed off, but it seemed when asked, he had no problem telling the truth.

  "That's Leo, right?" Madeline questioned after a moment, resting her chin on her left arm, using her right one to point out the constellation. "Regulus is. . . that one?"

  Regulus wordlessly grabbed her wrist and lifted it slightly, so it was pointing at the correct star.

  "Surely you know where Sirius is."

  Madeline scoffed, but pointed it out, "Of course I know where that is. The brightest star in the sky. Sirius—"

  "Never stops boasting about it," Regulus' voice mixed with Madeline's, the teenagers letting out airy laughs afterward.

  "Couldn't forget it if I tried," Madeline sighed after a moment, bringing her right arm under her chin. "Why're you talking to me?"

  "Want me to leave?"

  "Not on my account."

  Regulus scoffed, rolling his eyes heavily.

  "So, why are you up here, then?" The boy sighed blandly, digging in his pocket and producing a pack of cigarettes.

  "My brother," Madeline said, not wanting to admit she had been unable to sleep due to his kindness. The girl thought over Regulus' silent offer of a cigarette before accepting, "He's a twat."

  Regulus laughed loudly, unable to bridle it at all. Madeline found herself amused at this, grinning slightly before letting him light her cigarette with his wand in place of a lighter.

  "So's mine."

  "Yeah, yeah, he is," Madeline nodded, inhaling as deeply as possible before letting the smoke out. She coughed, rather loudly, which earned an amused look from Regulus. She rolled her eyes once the cough-attack had halted, shaking her head as she spoke, "But at least he cares about you."

  "Right," Regulus laughed, flicking the ash off the end of his cigarette, "Sure."

  "What, think he doesn't 'cause he moved out?"

  Regulus let out a huff, shrugging with a slight nod before tucking the cigarette back between his lips.

  "You know, the night he showed up," Madeline began, staring at her cigarette for a moment, "He wasn't really him. He looked mad, his face was bloody. . . James made me leave."

  "So, what?"

  "So your parents should rot in Azkaban for how they treat you both."

  "You don't know what you're talking about," Regulus snapped angrily, flicking the butt of his cigarette off of the tower.

  "If you don't want to chat about it, that's alright," Madeline said, her cigarette still balanced between index and middle finger, "You're just as welcome at the Potters' as Sirius is."

  "Not sure your brother would agree with that."

  "I'm used to ignoring him," Madeline grinned, turning to Regulus.

  And Regulus Black was obviously shocked. His sharp features looked softer, long hair falling forward, thick brows furrowed. Almost as if he thought she was lying.

  "Why are you being nice to me?"

  "Because sometimes, being like my brother isn't such a bad thing. You deserve the option to leave just as much as Sirius does."

  Regulus stood still for a moment, watching Madeline take a much smaller pull from her cigarette before letting it fall off the tower, the ember shrinking until it disappeared into the night.

  "Thanks. For the option. But—"

  "You don't have to answer now. Or ever. It's just there."

  ". . .Thanks."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
Idk basically everyone knew
it was Reggie but hey!
it's confirmed!
Idk everybody writes characters
different, and I don't think Reg
is MEAN, I think if someone gives
him attention/care he accepts it
idk PERSONAL OPINION
so him and Maddie are like 
almost friends I guess, idk
I love it tho I want to do more
with it!