╔═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╗
❝ a shitty hand of cards ❞
╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

𝓔𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮'𝓼 𝓟𝓞𝓥
MONDAY, JANUARY 9th 1978

Having arrived back at Hogwarts, I find out that the news of Regulus and I's betrothal has spread around the school quicker than I'd hoped it would.

Hoping to clear things up and bring myself some closure, I approach the marauders as they sit outside in the courtyard and they all glare at me except Remus who refuses to look up from his shoes.

"Remus, can we talk?" I ask hopefully.

"Why don't you talk to your fiancé?" James spits.

I hesitantly side eye Peter who is casually leaning back against the wall, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

"Please, Remus" I plead.

He turns to me and takes a step towards me but his arm is grabbed by Sirius who glares at me in anger.

"Leave him alone" Sirius growls.

"Keep your nose out of my business, Sirius" I retort in irritation.

"You don't have to talk to her, Moony" The oldest Black tells his friend who glances down at the harsh grip on his arm.

"He can think for himself. And don't grab him like that" I huff, pushing Sirius away from Remus.

"Are you not bored of playing games, Malfoy? He's been through enough!" Sirius yells at me, pushing me back "He doesn't need you meddling with his feelings all over again!"

"Are you not bored of being wrong all the time? I just want to talk to him!" I argue, moving forward to push him again but James grabs my arms.

"Enough, James. Let her go!" Remus demands as I struggle in his strong hold.

Due to all the wriggling my sleeves are pushed up and Sirius yanks me out of James' grip, grasping my wrist and pushing up my sleeve to reveal the black mark on my arm.

"Sirius, no!" I scream, desperately trying to pull out of his grip but they've all already seen the tattoo like mark tainting my skin.

"Please tell me this isn't what I think it is" Sirius pleads, looking at me in disbelief and my eyes water.

"Cub, tell me what I can do" Remus pleads sympathetically.

"You can't save me, Rem" I smile weakly "I just wanted to say goodbye"

"No" He frowns, shaking his head.

"Evangeline" Regulus' voice says from behind me and I snatch my arm from Sirius.

"Goodbye, Moons" I say to the scarred boy who stares at me with tear filled eyes of sorrow and pain.

I turn and walk towards my best friend, allowing myself to be tucked under his arm as he presses a kiss to my temple.

"I'm sorry, princess" Regulus sighs as we head inside.

"It's not your fault, Reg" I assure him "I made my bed. Now I've gotta lay in it"

"You don't have to lay in it alone" He reminds me.

"Not when I have you" I smile warmly.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

After a long day of boring classes, endless congratulations about my engagement and incessant whispers that exhaust me, I decide to take a walk by the black lake to clear my head.

I watch how the frozen lake reflects the rays of sunshine beaming down on it and how the chilly breeze blows through the fallen leaves covering the ground.

Just as I stop to admire the scenery around me, I feel a presence and turn my head to see Sirius smiling at me sheepishly.

"I just want to start off by saying I'm sorry" He speaks up "I should never have grabbed you like that and I should have let you explain before jumping to conclusions"

"I probably would have done the same thing" I reply nonchalantly "Don't worry about it too much"

"How are you?" He asks me.

"I'm fine" I lie, shrugging him off.

"Angel, I'm serious" He sighs.

"Well, you're always Sirius, aren't you?" I joke, my lips curling up to a smile as I look at him.

"Ha ha, you're bloody hilarious" He scoffs sarcastically.

Without checking if he's following or not, I start walking towards the forbidden forest and Sirius' eyes widen.

"Where do you think you're going, Evangeline Malfoy?" He snaps, scurrying after me.

"Honestly? Hell is very probable" I answer, glancing back to see him roll his eyes.

"Enough with the sarcasm. Tell me how you really feel" He demands as we wander through the forest.

"Rius, I'm a seventh year death eater who is being made to marry my sixth year best friend who is also a death eater in about a years time. How do you think I feel?" I huff out.

"I can imagine pretty shite" He says and I nod.

We reach my favourite tree and the raven haired boy next to me stops, examining it in awe.

"What is this?" Sirius asks.

"It's where I come when I need space" I answer, sitting down at the base of the trunk.

I pat the space next to me and Sirius sits down, leaning back against the bark.

"I should've taken you and Regulus with me when I left to stay with the Potters" Sirius declares.

"Don't blame yourself" I tell him, laying my head on his shoulder "It's not like you didn't try"

"Easier said than done, Angelface" He hums, laying his head on my own.

"I'm gonna be okay" I assure him.

"But you should be better than okay" He argues.

"Sometimes people are dealt a shitty hand of cards. We just gotta play with what we've got" I state.

"Maybe you're right" He sighs.

"I'm always right" I grin and he chuckles, nodding.

I feel myself starting to doze off, days of not sleeping and barely eating finally starting to catch up with me.

"I heard about your mother. I'm sorry for your loss" Sirius speaks again, waking me from my sleepy state.

"We were just starting to get closer. Now she's gone and it feels like absolute fucking rubbish" I admit.

"I can't even begin to imagine how that feels" He sighs.

"Hopefully you'll never know" I mumble.

"Yeah, hopefully" He agrees.

"Hey, Rius. Do you mind if I close my eyes for a few minutes?" I ask him "I haven't slept in what feels like weeks"

"Why haven't you slept?" He questions curiously.

"Every time I try to sleep I see my mother laying in a pool of her own blood and I wake up alone in complete darkness with a pain in my chest" I explain to him "I just don't want to wake up alone this time"

"You're not alone, Angelface" He assures me "Close your eyes. I'll be here when you wake up"

"Thank you" I sigh.