"and all the kids cried out, "please stop, you're scaring me"
i can't help this awful energy
god damn right, you should be scared of me
who is in control?"

MAY 12TH, 1987

"Father, father! Where are we going?"

A much smaller version of Maia Malfoy ran around the corridors of the second floor of the Malfoy Manor. In the end, the door to the room was open, and she watched as her mother put on the earrings and laughed lightly.

"I think someone's a bit impacient." Said a voice behind her, and instantly she was lifted from the ground. Lucius smiled a little while holding his daughter. "Today we have an important meeting at the Ministry, and I remember you wanted to visit my job, so I got you a very important task: you have to be very quiet during the meeting so you'll be able to pay attention. Do you think you can comply?"

"Yes, father!" Shouted little Maia.

"Come on, grab your things. I'll wait for you downstairs."

The blonde girl ran to her room, despite knowing that her parents didn't like it, because she could trip and fall. Her brother Draco was at the Crabbe Manor for their eldest son's birthday, and since Maia hadn't really been excited, Narcissa and Lucius had decided to cheer her up a bit.

She already had all her things ready, so she put on her backpack with a huge smile on her face.

"Can you believe it, Dobby? Father is taking me to the Ministry."Gushed the girl. She still had troubles saying ministry.

"Dobby is very happy for Miss Maia. Miss Maia seems really happy. Dobby will have a sandwich prepared for when Miss Maia comes home."

"Thanks, Dobby!"

TODAY

If there was something that really characterized Maia Malfoy, that was the obsession she had with control. Some — Narcissa, really — came to name it as unhealthy, but who didn't like to have control of the situation? Maia sorted her books by color, and from greater to lesser height and greater or lesser thickness. If she got to see any of the books out of its position, she took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, although when she was small she failed loudly —it was usually on Draco who she discharged all her fury, since it had also probably been the fault of her twin brother. She kept her clothes carefully in the closet, many times following the same pattern as with the readings, and when her house elves interfered to leave her clothes clean, she repeated the process she had practiced on her brother.

However, things had obviously transcended beyond simple children's things, and, in fact, Narcissa would have preferred it that way. While many people could come to think that absolute control could only be achieved through physical damage, Maia continually showed them that this wasn't so. Maia's methods were much more effective: inspire respect for her, which led to fear, which in turn led to terror. That was how she had achieved her place in the Quidditch team during her second year, but she ended up abandoning the following year because her wish was over.

There were many ways in which to fear the firstborn of the Malfoys, but her need to be in command, although it didn't seem the most threatening of her features, could be the one that led anyone who underestimated her to death.

The younger ones may not understand where all this fear of the young woman came from, but they knew that it was prudent to get out of her way and not get into her business. Probably some of them wouldn't even have shown signs of magic when Maia began to be feared in the magical world. The little girl was only eleven when she began to be known; the hat had shouted Slytherin before perching on her head. A group of seventh year Slytherins had begun to make fun of Draco in the Common Room that night, laughing as they mimicked Potter's reaction by refusing his offer of friendship. Since the small and squalid blond girl had sent that group to the Hospital Wing, everyone had learned the lesson of not messing with the Malfoys.

Because if Maia had any weaknesses, that was Draco Malfoy.

She looked at him in detail from her position. He moved with subtlety, stealth, and in a more elegant way. He wore the black suit he was barely getting rid of and his cloak, ready to get on the train. He looked as pale as usual, and his sharp features stood out less for not having his hair sleek back. He had his hands in his pockets and a bored face, but his sister could see through him: he clenched his jaw very often and his lips trembled imperceptibly —he didn't want to be there.

Maia decided to disconnect from the conversation her brother and mother had to give them more privacy. Around her, the platform was more empty than usual. With the self-proclamation of the Carrow as teachers and Snape as Headmaster of Hogwarts, attendance at Hogwarts had become mandatory. Muggle-born had chosen to escape, since their presence in the castle was going to be pure fun for the Death Eaters, as well as those who weren't keen on the ideals of Lord Voldemort. Maia thought that year would mark the beginning of the end.

In the distance, Mrs. Parkinson, in a dress as sober as ever, fixed her daughter's silver and green tie and hair. Pansy rolled her eyes at the insistence of her mother, who seemed to give her some instructions, as the Slytherin nodded from time to time. In one of those head movements, the dark eyes of the Parkinson's daughter met those of the Malfoy, and shared a complicit look. They were not best friends, but no doubt she preferred her company to Daphne Greengrass or Millicent Bulstrode, her other roommates, who were far from goody-two-shoes but seemed to be weaker in her eyes than Pansy.

She stopped roaming the platform with her eyes and returned to her initial position. Draco indicated that he would take the suitcases inside so that they could chat calmly while pointing with his head at the station clock: quarter to eleven.

"Maia, dear," Narcissa started. It had become a tradition for Narcissa Malfoy to say goodbye to her twin children on the platform, as Lucius was a much coveted target. Draco had felt sorry for the first year that happened, but Maia had simply rolled her eyes. Anyway, she preferred that only Narcissa came, she thought constantly. "You probably know what I told your brother."

Maia's lips tightened in a thin line. "Be safe, be quiet and focus on your studies, I suppose."

"Always so intelligent, so intelligent..."

"Mother, I'm not a child anymore. What is going to happen, at Hogwarts? I deserve to know."

Narcissa looked at her with infinite love, as well as sadness. She smiled slightly and clutched herself smoothing her cloak. "You know everything Lucius says you need to know. You will be safe, the Carrows won't touch you, I promise, Maia."

The girl's eyes lit up. "What about when they come for me? Will I be granted protection, too, or will I be alone, again?"

The Malfoy matriarch swallowed with dissimulation. Her grip on Maia's arm weakened, and for a few moments she was unable to return her daughter's gaze.

"You know what, mother? Don't bother with me. I'll take care of everything. Merry Christmas, in case I die before." She added through a whisper, though her mother had heard her perfectly well.

The girl didn't wait for her mother to give her another word or another sign of affection, but left her standing there, with wet eyes and an incredible weight on her heart. The woman looked around, always looking for someone who could have heard their conversation, and not seeing any gossip around, disappeared.

On the other hand, Maia was sweeping everything she saw on the train with her eyes. She could pretend she was in control in this situation, but, deep down, she knew she wasn't. She was another piece in her father's pathetic game, determined to recover the Malfoy's reputation. Hadn't he learned the lesson after he was imprisoned? Hadn't he heard how his son had cried all night at the end of his death eater process? Didn't he see how his daughter, who was once his greatest admirer, gradually moved away from him? He was willing to risk things that Maia, if she were a mother, wouldn't have dared to touch.

Her life had been sold to the Dark Lord since her birth, as was her brother's. Ironically, Maia had lost control even before she could understand that concept. However, she knew she couldn't do anything about it. She could not rebel, or Draco would pay the consequences. Because all she cared about was her brother. He was who had the responsibility of bearing the dark mark on his forearm, it was him who had exposed himself to protect his mother and sister. Maia had to follow the instructions if she didn't want things to twist.

She looked for familiar faces in the aisles and compartments of the train, but she only encountered cold looks that blamed her for being in those circumstances wherever she went. Of course, those silent threats were never more, no one had the guts to face the young Malfoy, they preferred to do so by saving distances. Because, after all, who wanted to deal with someone so related to the Death Eaters? Who was willing to risk their life to impart some justice? Definitely not those people who recriminated her so much with angry eyes.

She had learned a long time ago not to let herself care what they thought of her. She had had to deal with comments about her father and the Dark Lord at a young age, about her condition as Slytherin and Malfoy, that her future was probably as ruined as that of her entire family, especially her aunt Bellatrix. She had turned all those looks into something positive for her: they looked at her and she knew that, deep down, they feared her. And that was the only thing she needed to know so that the comments and opinions of those people didn't get to her.

Draco, on the other hand, was much more temperamental. He held his wand every time he heard derogatory words against his mother or comments about his father's stay in Azkaban. He was carried away by his emotions in spite of everything he already knew, and that was what was leading him to perdition. Maia had had a different fate, to her fortune. When she wanted to curse someone, she would shut up. When she wanted to raise her voice, she kept quiet. When she wasn't happy with something, she remained silent. She hated having to use passivity in certain situations, but it had been very beneficial.

She felt the train begin to move under her feet, and didn't bother looking outside to say goodbye to her mother: she knew she would have left now. She pushed several children running around and stopped to buy some candy for her and her brother. They had to rely on each other during those difficult times, stay together, and Maia wanted to show Draco that she really cared about him.

"Here. I got this for you." Maia said when she entered the correct compartment. She didn't expect to meet Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson there as well, but she seemed to hide her surprise well, because they both gave her a nod.

Draco smiled at her sideways and accepted the chocolate frog his sister offered her.

"Haven't got any for us, Malfoy?" Pansy asked with a funny gesture on her face. Draco and Blaise smiled, but Maia didn't find it so funny.

"I see you have two feet. You'll be fine moving by yourself to the trolley."

Pansy whined a little at those words, and Blaise shook his head as he laughed. Maia didn't find that situation funny, rather ridiculous. Why couldn't they stop behaving like children even in situations like that? She snorted.

"She won't shut up until I go, right? You make me want to throw myself off the Astronomy Tower."

Maia closed the cabin door tightly. She certainly wasn't in the mood to endure Pansy, and maybe no one else. She went to the trolley again, without worrying about what another chocolate frog would cost. Before returning to the compartment she went to the bathroom, and thanks to Merlin it wasn't occupied.

She stared at herself in the mirror and repeated what she had been saying every morning for months.

"You're the fucking queen. You got this."

Maia had found it sad the first time she did it. She had never needed to remember her worth before, but she felt she was missing it at times, and if she didn't tell herself, who was going to do it? Maia trusted herself. She was the only thing that was going to stay forever, after all, and she had to take care of herself. So what seemed a thing at once was repeated every day. She contemplated her reflection in the glass and affirmed how strong she was, she remembered that she could put up with everything and that it would end sooner than she expected. As they say, fake it until you make it.

She left the bathroom and opened the chocolate frog; she deserved it, after all, and she could always buy another one for Pansy on the way. However, something landed on her shoulder and caused her to stop her actions. She looked at her right shoulder, and discovered a small purple creature, with huge eyes and something she could identify as a mouth, which widened, as if it were smiling. It made loud, somewhat annoying noises, but its fur and gentle nature made her not complain. Where had that thing come from?

It seemed that thing liked her, because it didn't move when Maia did. Maia shrugged her shoulders —it was a harmless creature with the naked eye. She changed her mind when that thing picked up her chocolate frog and jumped, ready to leave. It jumped from side to side with the candy in its mouth, and Maia chased it as fast as she could, but that thing was fast and sneaky. She ran after the creature, which was still loud despite having its mouth occupied. Finally Maia caught it and tried to get the frog out of its mouth, but a scream behind her made her stop.

"That's my pygmy puff!"

"Well, your pygmy puff has eaten my chocolate frog!"

Ginny Weasley was with her back to the girl who had captured her pet, but immediately recognized Maia Malfoy's voice. Her face became darker when her grey eyes inspected her.

Maia couldn't deny the beauty of the Weasley. Her fire-colored hair was agitated by the wind of train speed, and her brown eyes were fixed on her. Surely she was thinking she had hexed her pet, or even stolen it. She handed that hairy thing in good manners upon the redhead's watchful eye.

"I don't —I haven't hexed it."

Ginny gave her a look. "Pygmy puffs don't like chocolate. It's just full of saliva."

"You should keep it, then. It'll be a delicacy for you, right?" Draco laughed behind them. He put his arm around his sister's shoulders, who gave him a withering look, probably the same as the Weasley's, who decided to save the words to herself. "Did I say something?"

"You're an idiot, Draco. Did you really have to say that?"

"What now? We used to do this every day when we were kids."

"That's the thing, Draco!" Maia shouted between whispers. "We're not kids anymore and you seem not to realize it. We're not just messing around anymore, our words and actions have consequences right now. Look at you, look at me! Look at your bloody arm." The blonde held her brother's arm, who flinched. "Can't you see? Haven't you had enough? We don't need to attract more enemies."

Draco paled. He hated receiving reprimands from his parents, just because of the superficial feeling of disappointing them. He used the word "superficial" because he knew they were only words, that Narcissa would continue to give him kisses and that Lucius would pat him on the shoulder. But when his sister did it was serious. They fought a few times, but the times that happened, Draco knew that he had really screwed up.

He nodded shortly after, directing a glance at Maia, who was looking at him sadly: Draco thought she was probably sorry for the way she used the words, so he smiled slightly.  "You're right, aren't you always?" Draco chuckled. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just —it feels like being like this is the only thing I know. I'm sorry. I'll be good."

Maia smiled slightly at her and, this time, she let his arm slide down her shoulders with pleasure. When they returned to the Malfoy compartment, she had already forgotten that she should have bought another chocolate frog, so when Pansy asked with a frown that where her candy was, she simply replied:  "They've run out of them."