Carrow Manor, January 1956
Ft. @maddox-mckinnon , mentioning @cygnus--black
Searched. Arrested. Interrogated. Diana knew it was always possible, such was the way of things these days. The law did not care if you were innocent if your blood was tainted by the actions of those you once held dear, or those you still did. Cygnus had nothing to do with the actions of those distantly related to him, and yet, like vultures, the aurors had jumped at the slightest plausible cause to tear apart his home and arrest him. Diana’s stomach twisted in displeasure as her fingers tightened on her tea cup. Her home had been thoroughly searched before. She knew all too well what it felt like to have a place of security torn up, to see clothes, personal belongings, sentimental pieces, tossed about like they were worthless. To know that Cygnus endured that too? She hated them.
Aurors were meant to protect them, but who protected them from the aurors? She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, just behind her teeth as she waited. Cygnus’ words led her to one conclusion. Maddox was an idiot. She knew it well, but never did she think he’d be this undeniably reckless. Cruel. He’d been there with her throughout her parents trial, enduring her moods, her fears, and yet he’d still seen fit to do this? She should have sent for Podric too, but she couldn’t take any chances that he’d shelter his best friend from any of the words she needed to say. They were burning in her veins. He would listen to every one.
Maddox should have known. He’d been careless with his words, but he hadn’t been blameless in weaponizing them. He didn’t believe for a moment Cygnus was as blameless as everyone made him out to be, and with all the bullshit going on, maybe it was time for someone to check in on him. He didn’t think Cygnus would get sent to Azkaban or anything, but the bastard deserved to have his feathers ruffled. Didn’t he? But now he had to deal with Diana. Her letter hadn’t said as much, but it was no better than a damn summons. Sometimes he didn’t know how Podric put up with her. Except that he did. Because he liked her too, even if she could be too much at times. He sighed deeply as he made his way up to the Manor. He didn’t know why she still lived there. The place creeped him out. The building loomed over him, haunting, no doubt filled with secrets Diana ignored.
He swallowed, lifting his hand to knock when the door swung open. A small elf peered up at him, “Mistress Carrow is in the drawing room. She will see you now.” He croaked. Maddox clenched his jaw before nodding, “thank you.” He added before stepping inside. He wiped his feet at the door before heading through the halls toward the drawing room. He’d been there before, but it had been awhile. He far preferred hanging out with Di literally anywhere else. The door to the drawing room was open, but he still hesitated at the entry way. Fire crackled in the fireplace, a family portrait resting on the mantel. He could see Diana sitting in one of the chairs, a box with sewing supplies tucked beside her. There was a tea set out as well, the tea pot moving to pour a cup for him as it recognized the presence of another. His mouth suddenly felt dry. “Hey, what’s with the formalities?” He asked, sheepishly.
Diana turned, sitting up straighter as she heard Maddox arrive. Immediately he was joking with her. What was wrong with him? She frowned, moving to stand. Her hand swept over her skirt as she did. “This isn’t a joke, Maddox.” She scolded, gesturing for him to come and sit with her. “I know what you did to Cygnus. Against my better judgement, I’m praying there’s some sort of innocent explanation for why you’d do something so selfish, so stupid.” She added, wanting to give him the opportunity to speak first. Once she started, she had little doubt he wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise. It was only fair for him to explain first.
She moved to sit again as Maddox made his way over. He looked guilty. Good. He should feel guilty. She offered him the teacup, watching as he took it with a quiet thank you, but set it aside, uninterested for the time being. “Look, Di. I know he’s your friend, though I still don’t understand why. It wasn’t a big deal, I was talking to Reynard, and some things got said that maybe shouldn’t have. He’s not going to Azkaban, he just had a shitty night, and you know after everything he’s done, maybe that’s a little just dessert, you know?” He began.
Diana blinked slowly. Rage filled her as she sat silently, watching him. It wasn’t a big deal? He deserved it? She should have known Maddox didn’t have the maturity to actually talk about this, to see that what he’d done was cruel and selfish. “No.” She agreed, “He’s not going to Azkaban, because thankfully he has an excellent team of lawyers who know what they’re doing, but you didn’t know that, Maddox. You didn’t know anything that would happen. You were so excited to jump at this opportunity to hurt him, over this––this feud you two have that you didn’t think at all!” She shrilled, voice rising as Maddox settled back, wisely quieting.
“You have no idea what it’s like, to have your home torn apart, to be accused of awful things like that. You got him arrested, interrogated, Maddox!” She continued, voice wavering as she set her tea cup down to avoid spilling any of it. “You think this is a game, but this is someone’s life. Someone I care about. You’re selfish and mean, and I can’t believe you still don’t understand that.” She shook her head, frowning as he responded.
Maddox’s jaw clenched. “Selfish, and mean? I’m selfish and mean?” He demanded. After all the times he’d dealt with her, all the times he’d born her sharp tongue, her so called friends? He’d never even complained that she was close to Cygnus, not to her anyway. “It was a joke, Diana. For fucks sake, lighten up. Not everything is so serious.” He huffed, trying his best to keep the growl from his voice.
“Yes it is!” Diana shouted. “Merlin, Maddox. Don’t you get it? You think this is funny? He could’ve been hurt, or sent to Azkaban. Jokes aren’t supposed to hurt people, and you know that! You say that all the time, but here you let yourself be blinded over something so stupid! If you don’t like him, fine, but this was too far.” She insisted, in disbelief. Was he being defensive just for the sake of it, or did he really feel he’d done nothing wrong? She shook her head, moving to stand at the same time Maddox did.
“Yeah, Di! I thought it was funny. It was a joke that the auror chose to take seriously. I didn’t do that. I didn’t say go arrest him. I didn’t tell them to go tear his house apart. You know why they did? Because they also believe he’s not as innocent as he claims to be. I know you hate thinking about it, I get it. These people are your friends, your family, but they aren’t all good Diana. Not everyone actually wants what’s best for you or anyone else. You think they’d all treat you the same if you weren’t a pureblood? You think you’d have the same experience if your last name was something else?” He demanded, standing in front of her.
Diana’s eyes flashed with hurt as she looked up at Maddox, taken aback by his words. Is this what he truly felt? Did he think she was just a naive, spoiled pureblood who couldn’t see past the ugly truth? Her stomach twisted as she shook her head. “You don’t even know him.” She insisted, voice colder. “You think you do, but you haven’t got any idea.”
“Yeah? Then why are you so afraid? If he didn’t have anything to hide, this should be an inconvenience, nothing more. But here you are, terrified that he could go to Azkaban. Why is that, Diana? They don’t send people to Azkaban who are innocent, Diana. You know that.” He challenged, watching her. He knew he was overstepping, again. Podric was going to kill him, but Merlin she was pissing him off. If Cygnus had nothing to hide, this shouldn’t matter. They both knew she was afraid because the possibility of him not being innocent was all too real. “You wanna blame the aurors, you wanna blame everyone who calls out the bullshit, but you don’t want to face the truth. Some of the people you love are bad people, Di. I’m sorry. It’s just the truth. You wouldn’t be afraid if you didn’t know that.”
Diana inhaled, watching him as angry tears welled in he eyes. She willed them away, standing quietly to collect herself. “Innocent people get swept up in these things too, Maddox, because your precious aurors are just as blinded as you are. They believed you because Cygnus knows people, just like I do. What do you think would happen if you said my home had dark and dangerous artefacts hidden? Do you think the aurors would care that I haven’t done anything? Like you said, my experience is different because of my name.” She argued, watching as he had the good sense to look apologetic. “They’d love to have a reason to go after me, to have unrestricted access to the manor, and they feel the same about Cygnus. You gave them their reason, Maddox. You. I’m supposed to be able to trust you.”
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Look Di, not everything’s gonna end up the same way as your parents. They were into some deep shit, you know. They would’ve found a reason eventually for them too, even if Vulcan hadn’t––”
“Stop it!” Diana shouted.
Maddox bristled, but wet his lips before nodding. “Yeah, I know. Sensitive topic, but we both know I’m right. This is very different than your parents, Diana. You can hate the aurors all you want, they’re just doing their job.” He insisted. “You have no reason to believe they were unprofessional with Cygnus. They might’ve been looking for a reason to investigate, but why is that, Di? Because it’s Tuesday and they felt like it? Don’t be so stupid. You’re not naive, even if you wish you were. They needed a reason, it wasn’t my intention to give them one, and I’m sorry it scared you, but maybe now they’ll back off, now that they know he’s not actually hiding dark shit in his house. Your parents, they’re monsters, and that’s what aurors do. They find the monsters and they put them away, Cygnus’ problem was different.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying, so cavalier, like he wasn’t talking about the way her life had been uprooted. She didn’t think, anger, and hurt crashing over her as she drew back her hand and brought it across his cheek, the smack sharp enough to make her hand sting, and redden just as his cheek did. “Don’t you dare talk about my parents.” She hissed, watching as Maddox lifted his hand, jaw clenched, holding his cheek where she’d slapped him. “What the fuck, Diana!” He shouted, angry too. He’d gone too far, he knew it, they both knew it, but she’d kept pushing and pushing him to feel guiltier than he already did. He’d snapped. Now, so had she.
Maddox frowned, his cheek stinging where she’d slapped him. “Okay. Okay.” He breathed, exhaling. “Look, Diana. I do care about you, I know you don’t feel like that right now, and I know I should’ve maybe been less of an asshole to Cygnus, but you don’t get to act like I’ve thrown him in Azkaban. I’m sorry I said shit about your parents, that wasn’t cool of me, but it’s true. I really never meant for them to investigate him, they must’ve had enough reason to do it. He’s fine though, right?” He asked, jaw tight, still pissed, but wanting to salvage what he could.
Diana turned, breaths uneven. “I think you should go.” She answered, tears welling faster now. Maddox frowned, “Diana––” he began. “Go away, Maddox!” She shouted. He withdrew, swallowing. “Yeah, alright. Alright fine. I’ll talk to you later, Di. I’m sorry again.” He muttered, before turning, heading for the door. Diana didn’t turn back around to see him out. Instead, she let the tears fall, an ugly sob tearing from her lips. Maddox had made sense, in some ways, but she knew better when it came to Cygnus. That had been wrong. They had no true reason to investigate him, not like her parents.
It didn’t make any of it hurt less. She’d forgive him, eventually, but right now she wished he’d stay far, far away.