August 31st, 1978
Today would be Madeline's last in-person OOTP meeting since she leaves for school the very next day. Minnie and Dumbledore swore to keep her up to date but her parents want her to focus on school and not worry about the war.
And so an hour or so after dinner everyone started to apparate into the big green room for the meeting. She took a seat between James and Frank. Before the meeting talked the three went on about quidditch.
"You're gonna be a brilliant captain this year, M." Frank assured her.
"You really are. You got to watch two great captains before you." James fed his own ego.
"I'm just nervous about finding new players. Half you losers won't be back this year." Madeline frowned.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. They have you after all." Frank smiled.
"And there are other talented players out there, they just haven't ever made the team before?" James said.
"Exactly because they aren't as good as you guys who are gone. Leaving me alone." Madeline said sarcastically.
"It'll be fine, M." Frank reassured her.
"Alright everyone if you'll please we will get on with this meeting," Minnie announced.
"As you are all aware Madeline won't be attending our future meeting given she will be at Hogwarts. We will be sure to update her weekly or as needed." Alastor started.
The adults went on discussing minor details and updates until it came to Dumbledores turn to speak. The real horrid news everyone was dreading to hear.
"Now as much as we all hate to hear it, what we expected to happen, is indeed happening now. The attacks on muggles and muggle-borns started last week. Most of the older adults are already aware of this, given it is also spreading around the ministry. The Aurors have been working on trying to retrieve the taken-"
He went on.
"Keyword: trying," Sirius mumbled just loud enough for the close friends to hear.
"At least they are trying." Remus told him.
"We didn't want to worry the younger of you. And parents also didn't want you guys to know yet, but Madeline-"
She looked up at him.
"-will be safe not only because she is pure blood but because she will be in Hogwarts. Those of you that have kids, I can assure you they will be most safe there."
She looked back down.
"What's wrong?" Frank whispered after bumping her shoulder with his.
"Nothing... it's just, the death eaters. Reg- I don't know." She looked back at Dumbledore who was still talking.
"-and some bodies have been found in numerous places. Since they are scattered we can't pinpoint where they will be. But again we will try our best and this is what this Order is for. To protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"We also aren't certain they aren't spying on all of us here. We advise you all to be extra careful with how you get about. Be cautious. Charm your homes. Make sure you are never followed here. Not only is this our meeting place but it is also the home to the Potters and three other young boys. If they tracked us here and attacked they'd be attacking a sacred home."
Madeline looked over at her brother and they shared the same sympathetic concerned look. She as well as the other boys all had their own talks with each other about their concerns for their own safety. Madeline and Sirius kept on their roof conversations. Moony and M talk while they (at least try to) read. Peter and her usually talk at every meal. And the siblings talk to each other about this every day, usually while in the living room.
As if on queue. A horrible queue. Regulus Apparates in the room while breathing heavy and a worried look on his face.
Everyone looked at him with the same expression but he ignored them all and ran straight to Madeline, she stood up out of her seat before he got to her.
Everyone watching. Waiting to see what the panicked boy was here for.
He cupped her face and she grabbed his forearms. "What- what are you doing here?"
"Thank god you're okay, they haven't gotten here yet." He pulled her into a hug, his breathing became slower.
"Reg, what are you talking about?" She asked him. She tuned out everyone else in the room.
"I- I uh-" he let go of her and rubbed the back of his neck. "I overheard my parents talking about an attack, tonight. Here."
That is what everyone was waiting for. Everyone began to look and question each other but the couple was still tuning everyone else out.
"An attack? Here? How did they- what- how do they even know where the meetings ar-"
She was cut off by the sudden sound and view of the giant glass window, that took up one whole side of the room, breaking. The echoed sounds of screams took over. And spells cast by the death eaters kept breaking the window even more and in a new spot every time.
Regulus without even thinking, brought his arms over her head and pulled her down to the ground, below the windows, in hopes to protect her. His own back facing the window. Madeline had her own hands over her head.
Everyone's thoughts were filled. How is this happening? What is happening? Are my loved ones okay right now? Is everyone okay? Is anyone hurt? How long will this be going on? How?
Madeline had tried to tune everything out, she moved her hands to cover her ears because of the occasional scream. You'd think; why don't they fire back? If they tried to they'd get hit. The shots were coming in too quickly.
This went on for a couple of minutes of nonstop firing. As soon as Dumbledore knew it stopped he stood up immediately and cast a protection charm over the house in case they came back for round two.
"It's safe. It is safe now." Dumbledore said as he dropped his hand and put his wand back into his cloak.
Madeline slowly opened her eyes then looked around at what she could see through her arms and his own and her hair blocking her view. Once realization hit that it was over she hardly even looked up at the boy before grabbing a fist full of his shirt and pulling him into her. He wrapped his arms around her and slowly fell back onto the wall with her in his arms. He stroked her hair while repeatedly whispering "it's okay." "You're safe." "It's over now." "I'm right here."
The same type of encounters were happening all though-out the room.
"Boys? Madeline? James?" Euphemia's familiar soothing voice caught Madeline's attention.
"I'm here mom. The boys were all okay." James said.
"Madeline?" She looked around the room.
"Mom I'm here. I'm okay." She called out while keeping her face buried into Reggie's chest.
"Thank god..." Fleamont finally breathed.
The same calls were happening with other friends and families. Some crying was definitely heard.
The Marauders kept making sure Lily and Marlene were okay.
Madeline finally pulled her head back from his chest to look up at him. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm fine. I'm not hurt." He managed to form a smile for her.
She turned her head to look around the room. She could tell people we're definitely injured but it doesn't look like they managed to kill anyone tonight.
She looked back at the boy who was holding her. "Thank you, thank you for warning us."
"But I wasn't fast enough. If I got here sooner we could have cast-"
"Hey, shhh. You tried. That's all that matters. If you weren't here and didn't pull me down when you did Id have a lot more than a scratch."
"You were hit?" A look of concern washed over his face.
"A piece of flying glass is all." She looked at her shoulder. "It's fine. It's just a cut. I've been through worse." She chuckled softly.
Euphemia came around from the other side of the table and bent down to her knees pulling both of them into an embrace.
"Thank Merlin you two are alright. Reg you put yourself at risk coming here to protect her. Thank you." She kissed the top of his head.
Sirius came over to them next after Euphemia left. "Reg, what will they do to you when they find out you came here to warn us?" Sirius said with genuine concern for his younger brother.
"They don't know I left. Hopefully, they still don't know I'm gone."
"You should hurry back before they check your room and realize you're missing. I don't want to imagine what they'll do to you for this." He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're right. I really do need to get back off I want to live another day."
Sirius nodded his head and went back to his group.
"Reg, he's right. You need to get going." She managed to stand up and she pulled him up with her.
"I know, I know." He pulled her into a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow alright?" He kissed the top of her head.
"Yes you will." She smiled.
"I love you."
"I love you." She tiptoed to kiss him before he apparated back home.
~
After everyone was 'calmed down' Dumbledore and Alastor said a few words of 'comfort' and scheduled the next meeting elsewhere. Cautioning everyone to be sure they aren't followed so this doesn't happen again. The adults brought the injured to St. Mungos hospital, the others went home after gathering themselves.
The kids all stayed in the second floor living room all together, even the girls stayed. As shaken up as they got, being with each other and talking and laughing made them nearly forget about the incident that happened less then an hour ago, they all fell asleep around 2 in the morning.
~
The kids were all woken up by Euphemia who came in practically shouting to wake up. Everyone. Including the girl who is going back. Forgot that today was the day to indeed go back to Hogwarts.
"Shit, shit!" Madeline mumbles as she got to her feet, she threw her blanket off of the ground which landed on top of Peters face. She rushed past her mother who gave her daughter an annoyed look. Madeline ran to her room and pulled her wand out from her desk and used it to pack her clothes and school supplies into her trunks.
She proceeded to use magic to have them follow along side her as she rushed downstairs.
She quickly blew a kiss to the lot of the boys and girls who were still trying to wake up but managed to get to the first floor to say goodbye. Euphemia and Madeline apparated to the train station.
"Shit. I didn't say goodbye to dad." She looked up at her mom.
"It's alright, just come home for winter break. You were mad at him anyways." She jokes.
"Yeah but I still should've said goodbye. With everything going on-"
"Hey." She pulled her into a hug. "Everything will be fine here alright? You just focus on school. It's your last year. It's important. Just promise you will be back for break."
"I promise."
"Good. Now hurry before I make you miss the train." She chuckles.
"I love you, mom."
"I love you too, sweet girl." She kisses the top of her head before letting the girl go.
Madeline boarded the train and went to find her compartment and was met by two of her favorite faces. They got into a group hug and immediately started to talk about their summer vacations, and what they hope this school year has in store for them, unfortunately, happiness was not really one of the things they would get.