THREE YEARS LATER

Narcissa Malfoy passed away on Ginny Weasley's 20th birthday. The news had spread rapidly in the wizarding world, but Maia already knew of the disease that had plagued her mother since the end of the wizarding war that had raged just over three years ago.

At first the young Malfoy had failed to understand the reason for the origin of her recently redeemed mother's illness. Narcissa had always been healthy, drinking her tea every morning and every afternoon and trying to avoid the smoke from the cigarettes her husband and other close friends smoked whenever they got together. She liked to take walks in the garden early in the morning and ordered the elves the dishes that fit her diet as possible.

However, as Maia grew and matured, gradually consolidating the trauma that that war had caused her, she understood everything. Narcissa had stayed with her to the end, even challenging her husband and everything to go against him. When Voldemort had fallen to Harry Potter, Lucius Malfoy escaped, not caring about the fate of his children or his wife; he simply disappeared off the Hogwarts grounds and no one heard from him again. Draco, on the other hand, had decided to emigrate to France. There no one knew his last name, there he could be a new person once and for all, and although he did it with a little more care than his father, Narcissa felt, once again, deeply alone and abandoned.

But like Narcissa did with her, Maia stayed with her mother to the end. They had shared long afternoons together, accompanied by conversations that seemed to have no end but that strengthened the bond that united mother and daughter. Of course, the young Malfoy girl hadn't forgotten overnight all the damage and trauma caused by her parents, but she learned to patiently forgive her mother, who from now on was the mother she always wanted to be but could never afford to be.

Narcissa died of grief and sadness, of loneliness and abandonment, not tolerating the emptiness that that infernal life had left in her heart. There was no one left around her, none of those people who had once lived with her in any circumstance. She herself had taken the life of her own sister Bellatrix in a fleeting thought that she had murdered her only daughter. She barely remembered the faces of her parents, who had long since died but whom, she thought, she had made proud. She never resumed the broken relationship with Andromeda, although she did think about doing so. She had heard that her husband and daughter had been murdered, and nothing would have brought her back to life so much that she had to see her sister even for the last time.

Maia was dressed entirely in black, with a dress and shoes that had been gifted by her recently deceased mother. She had looked at herself in the mirror a couple of times before leaving the house, wondering if wearing these clothes was appropriate. When she arrived at her mother's wake, a deep pain seized her heart: she was alone.

"It's such a pity, mother. You were there for everyone, and then everyone fails you. We both knew you weren't perfect, but you did as well as you could in the environment that was chosen for us. You deserved redemption after what you did for me, for us, and you got it. You knew me well, even when I was a child. You knew I didn't belong there, and supported me even when I thought you didn't. You had a curious way of showing love, and I think I was the one to get it after you. It's been three years of being who we truly are, and I hope you know —wherever you are— that you've been the greatest. We both made mistakes, but what matters is that we tried to fix them and learned to make new decisions. You stayed with me until my very end, just as I've stayed with you. I'm just 21 and have a lot to learn still, but I hope I can make you proud from now on, mum."

Maia didn't shed any tears. She thought that in all those moments with her mother, the moments of truth, she had already spilled too many. Like when she confessed that her heart now belonged to the youngest of the Weasleys, or when she first brought Teddy to the Manor and introduced him as godson —he looked a lot like Tonks, and Maia thought her mother might have recognized Teddy's face, might've seen her sister Andromeda in the child's face— or like when she confessed all that she had experienced in those moments on May 2, 1998, when a part of her existence came to an end and seemed to be born again.

The young woman heard noises behind her and small footsteps, but did not take her gaze from the masterful photograph of her mother until someone pulled her dress. "Auntie Maia?" Teddy was staring at her with those huge honey eyes. Maia shook out his brown hair and scooped him up. "What are you doing?"

Maia took off her dark glasses and left them in her hair. "I'm saying goodbye, baby." She placed a kiss on his cheek, trying to convey that despite breaking her silence, she was not angry. Then he pointed to the portrait prostrate on the lectern. "You see the picture? She was my mother. She was sick, wasn't feeling okay, and now she's resting."

Teddy's curious eyes darted across the room to the photograph of his great-aunt. Her blonde hair was combed to one side, the mischievous yet kind gleam in her blue eyes accompanying a small smile on her lips. "She pretty. You look like."

Maia smirked at her godson's attempts to speak properly. "Do I? Does that mean I'm pretty, too?"

"Of course!" Teddy stammered, flailing in Maia's arms. Her heart swelled at the sight of the little boy, who suddenly stopped moving. "My mummy is resting, too?"

"She is." nodded Maia, waving the little boy in her arms in hopes of keeping him happy. "She was brave and loyal, and the hope of the family. Just like you are. But you have nothing to worry about, you have me."

"You have me." The little boy repeated, almost without knowing what that meant.

Maia's heart skipped a beat again, and it seemed her eyes were going to get wet this time. "It seems you'll be the one to take care of me now, shall you?"

"But I don't know!" Teddy exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air and shrugging.

"I take care of you and you take care of me. Deal?" The blonde extended her hand for the boy to take it.

"Yes!" And Teddy shook her hand as hard as he could.

Maia pulled her godson out of her arms when she heard someone sniffling in the doorway.

Ginny Weasley felt especially bad about the death of her mother-in-law. It was her birthday, and there was a big party at the new Burrow, to which of course family and friends were invited. Ginny knew that Maia was not very sociable, but nevertheless the blonde had accepted Molly and Arthur's invitation because it was her girlfriend's birthday and she knew that she would be especially excited if everyone together enjoyed her birthday —it's not your 20th birthday every year.

But of course, Maia had agreed to go without knowing the fact that her mother was going to die the same morning that, 20 years ago, Ginny had been born. Teddy went with her everywhere —literally, wherever Maia went she was chased by the little Lupin— but while Maia had decided to say goodbye to her mother alone, Ginny had accepted the task of watching over the little one.

Teddy was more than used to seeing the redhead —after all, she and Maia spent a lot of time together— but in the face of his godmother's delay he had shed Auntie Ginny's arms and penetrated the silence of the goodbye that Maia so much had longed for.

It seemed to Ginny that that day was cursed and that whatever happened, nothing good was going to happen.

"Look, Teddy. Auntie Ginny is a bit nosy, isn't she?"

"Nosy!" Teddy pointed at the redhead, who was wiping her tears.

"I'm sorry, Maia. He just wanted to get to you and I couldn't..." Ginny began to sob again. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now."

Maia gave her a brief look, her grey eyes as impassive as the first day. Ginny didn't know whether to be angry with Maia for not feeling or whether to admire her for the great ability she would have to hide that immense pain. The Slytherin had just been left alone in that world and the first thing she did was comfort the Gryffindor; with that thought in her head, Ginny hugged Maia.

"It's okay, Gin. She's alright now, watching over me. I think she liked you, you know? Started to see you as a person but not as a traitor or a Gryffindor. She knew how stubborn I am and you put me into place whenever you had to. Saw how happy you make me. That's all she ever wanted."

Ginny kissed her with all the love she could pour into a kiss. "She loved you so, so much. I promise."

Maia smiled at the redhead, who returned it through tears. The Malfoy scooped Teddy up again, earning an enthusiastic little cry from the little boy, and wrapped her free hand around Ginny's waist. "Let's go home, yeah? I have to change my clothes and we have a party to attend."

The redhead shook her head furiously. "There's no need for us to go. We can have something of our own, something small, postpone this celebration for another day..."

"Nonsense." Interfered Maia. Ginny's face was still sad as ever. "Listen to me, Ginny. This is not your fault, okay? There's nothing you have to be sorry for. We're going to the Burrow, your family get to see Teddy —look at him, all grown up— and you get to have a good time and clear your mind. I'm not ruining your birthday, I'll be right by your side."

"I want you to have your time, Maia. After all that's happened—"

"Precisely that's why I want to go. With all that's happened I've learned I need to appreciate more those who are still with me. And I know I'm not whoever your parents wanted you to be with, but they love you, and I love you, so I'm going. I'll have time to grieve for the rest of my life, but I don't know how much time I've got left with you." Maia took advantage of the red light from the stoplight to intertwine her fingers with Ginny's. "I can promise you I'll be sad tomorrow if that's what you want me to do. But as today, we're going to try and enjoy ourselves. I know my mother would want me to feel like this, and I've got you to help me, haven't I?"

Teddy watched the scene from the back seat, not understanding the entire conversation but knowing when to act. "Present..." the boy whispered with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, thanks, little one." Maia winked on the mirror to the three-year-old, who laughed. "Teddy's right: you haven't even seen my present. Well, our present. He helped me choose."

Ginny stared open-mouthed at the backseat and Teddy covered his mouth so he wouldn't spill anything, just like Auntie Maia had taught him. "Hey! You didn't have to."

"Happy birthday, Ginny!"

After that in the Burrow it was all laughter, shouting and applause. Teddy joined in the fuss not quite sure what was going on, but as soon as he saw balloons, garlands, and a huge cake on the head table, he started kicking so Maia would let go of his hand so he could go browsing around the room.

Maia gulped whenever a relative or family friend approached Ginny to congratulate her or tell her how much she had grown since the last time they had seen her. The Malfoy thought about how much a cigarette in her pocket attracted her, but she had to swallow the anxiety that it caused her to be there surrounded by so many people she hardly knew. For Ginny.

Because from now on she would be alone in this world, but alone with Ginny and Teddy, and she had to strive to be a good person; a good partner and a good godmother. It was the only thing that would give meaning to her life from that moment on. She no longer had to worry about being a good daughter, for her mother was gone and she had a clear conscience that she had done everything that would have been asked of her, even more.

Still, she couldn't avoid those intrusive thoughts that came to her from time to time, berating how little guilty she felt for her mother's last days, or blaming herself for wanting to turn the page on so quickly. The truth was that Maia had assumed that her mother would not last much longer and had been getting used to the idea for months, but Narcissa had been stronger than anyone would have expected and had died that same morning, her cold hand entwined with  the warmth of her daughter's, who had looked into the eyes of death that had ended up taking her mother away just over three years ago.

She couldn't help thinking of Lucius or Draco, the latter more than her father. She wondered if he knew that their mother had passed away, if he even knew that she had fallen ill. She hadn't seen him for a long time, hadn't heard from him. If there was anything that saddened her more than Narcissa's impending death, it was the separation that had existed between the four members of the Malfoy clan. Destined for greatness, the Malfoy twins had been left heartbroken because of each other.

Maia sipped her firewhiskey again when she felt a presence behind her. She flinched when Fleur caught her by surprise and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I've heard the news." Her accent had improved a lot, there was no doubt. Maia smiled uncomfortably. "I'm so sorry, Maia. If you ever need anything, please let me know."

"Thanks, Fleur." She raised her glass in gratitude and drank again.

"How are you holding up?"

"The worst is yet to come. It's Ginny's birthday and I don't want to fuck it up. But... yeah. I guess I'll feel sadder as the time passes, but it happens to everyone, doesn't it?" Fleur nodded and looked at her with something Maia couldn't decipher, but it felt good that it wasn't pity. "Vic looks so much like you. She's going to be as pretty as her mum."

Fleur laughed lightly. "She's an angel, best baby I've ever dealt with. Has Teddy ever awakened your maternal instincts?"

Maia fought not to spit the contents of her mouth back into the glass. Fleur laughed outright this time, catching the attention of some of the guests. "Merlin, Fleur. I've had to raise Teddy since I was eighteen, and I'm twenty one now. I can assure you I've had enough of 'em."

"Everything well over here?" A feminine voice interrupted them.

The Slytherin turned to see Molly Weasley surveying the scene, her eyes traveling from Fleur to Maia. "Everything alright, Molly." Fleur replied.

"Mind if I steal Maia for a moment, Fleur, dear? I think Teddy wanted to see baby Victoire."

"All yours." The veela winked at Maia the moment Molly wasn't looking at her.

The Weasley matriarch led the young Malfoy through the crowd, being able to feel the blonde's nerves from coming into contact with so many people. Finally she decided that it would be best to get away where no one could whisper and eavesdrop on their conversation. However, neither of them noticed the watchful gaze the youngest Weasley was giving them.

"Ginny's told me about your mother. I'm sorry for your loss, dear. I know we weren't exactly acquaintances, but no child should ever be without their mother this young. I wanted to talk to you in private because there's things I've noticed and I wanted to talk to you about them. I know you've been taking care of Teddy since you were eighteen —a child, for God's sake— with Andromeda and Harry's help. He's a sweet, caring boy, you know? He's growing up to be just like his parents, and that's thanks to you. Tonks confided you this task, maybe you were too young, but you're being fully capable to do so." Molly offered her a drink, but she politely declined as she had had some before. "Ginny spends a lot of time with you and Teddy in your house. She says it's a bit far from the wizarding world, isn't it?"

"Magic has caused me a lot of trouble, Mrs. Weasley. I want Teddy to grow up in a healthy environment, not one where people look at him thinking he's the son of two deceased members of the Order. I also want him to learn that Muggles can be just like us."

"He might show signs of magic."

"I know, that's why I try to explain things to him in a way he can understand. He knows he'll go to Hogwarts when he grows up, and he observes me, curious, when I use my wand. Besides, Harry also comes over often. He's his godson, too, and takes care of him."

"Does he?" Asked Molly rhetorically. "I thought he was very busy these days, you know, training for the Auror thing."

Maia glanced back when she heard Harry's voice. He wore a white shirt and black pants, elegant, and the most tamed hair Maia had ever seen in the Gryffindor. Teddy was prostrate on his legs, and every time Harry brought him close to the ground, the little boy would burst out laughing.

Maia smiled a little. "He's a great company for Teddy. We might've had our quarrels in our Hogwarts days, but he wants what's best for Teddy, and that makes him a good godfather."

Molly stared at the blonde thoughtfully. "I might've been wrong about you all along."

"Why is that?"

"Sometimes the past doesn't let us live our present. Sometimes it condemns you and ruins you from the inside. I used to think everybody had a choice, but you, dear... I remember the first time Ginny told us about you —you also sent a letter, I still remember. Merlin, we thought she'd gone mental, talking to a Malfoy, is she? But you took care of her, even when we thought what was best for Ginny was to stay away from you. You saw the light in my daughter, you cherished it and protected it. And working with Harry and Dumbledore to take down Voldemort. I've seen you look at your brother, at your mother. Your mother has died, and you still have strength enough in your body to come here just to make my daughter happy. Because I've seen the way you look at her, and little Teddy. Your love is powerful, you have saved many lives here. You wore revolution and rebellion in your eyes and we didn't know the fire burning inside of you: love."

Maia opened her mouth, but no sound came out of it. "I... I don't know what to say, Mrs. Weasley."

"Ginny and I talk a lot —you know, she might be twenty but she's still my little girl— and I see her happy. She tells me how she wishes she could help you more with Teddy, how your eyes light up everytime he calls her Auntie Ginny. She radiates happiness, and fire, and pure, genuine love. I want that for my daughter. After all she's been through, you give her the peace she deserves. So I pray it's you and no one else who stays with her, Maia, dear." Molly's eyes seemed to water, and although Maia had been touched by Molly's gesture, she knew she didn't cry for anything. "The boys already love you —Ron and George literally talk about visiting you and Teddy nonstop— but I figured it would do you good if the parents told you this. Please know you can lean on us during these difficult times. You're family, dear."

The Weasley matriarch did not deeply know the Malfoy's character, but she did know how little she was used to physical contact, so she simply took her hand in hers and squeezed warmly. Maia gave her a small smile, this time more real than before, which was paralyzed when a small force collided with her leg.

"Help!" The little boy yelled. He hid behind Maia's legs, who looked around for the source of Teddy's fear. "Dragon."

Charlie emerged from the tent they had set up for Ginny's birthday with something in his hands. Molly shot him a withering look when she spotted the little dragon in her son's hands, flaring shyly that probably would have caused fear in Teddy. "Charles Weasley! What have I told you about showing Teddy these... things ?!"

"But he insisted!"

"He's a three-year-old!"

Maia took Teddy into her arms, a little calmer. "There's nothing to be afraid of, little one. Charlie works with them, they would never hurt you. We've seen them in movies, haven't we?"

"But fire..."

"It's okay. You could even ride one, when you're older. Uncle Harry has seen one face to face, right, Potter?" Maia laughed when Harry growled. "But only if you're brave enough."

"I am brave, Auntie Maia."

"Of course you are. Would you be happier if we got to give Auntie Ginny some birthday presents?"

Everyone around them celebrated the idea of ​​the young Malfoy to please Teddy, who applauded. Thus, all the closest family and friends gathered inside the tent. Teddy's eyes widened when he saw the pile of presents for young Weasley and had to hear a short reprimand from Maia not to get out of her arms and run to open each and every one of the packages.

The afternoon passed that way. Ginny had received several joke items from George's store, where Ron frequently helped out because of the high flow of people who came from all over to buy something. George had tried to explain in easy words what each thing was so that Teddy could understand it —it was obvious that the redhead was trying to instill his traditions to the little Lupin. Charlie had brought various things from Romania, mostly about dragons —Arthur had been the most interested in those accessories. Ron, Harry, and Hermione had raised money so they could buy Ginny clothes and Quidditch items, especially collectors items that they were not going to find anywhere else.

The last gift was especially great. It was perfectly wrapped, it even came with a golden bow that caught Teddy's attention. The little boy walked over to Ginny and took her hand, ready to drag her toward the gift. "Ours." The boy mused.

"Would you let Auntie Ginny open it, little devil?" Maia picked him up from the ground and placed him on her shoulders, knowing the boy was too eager for the redhead to find out what their gift was. Teddy's short legs were bumping against her chest. "Happy birthday, Gin."

Ginny undid all the paper that was wrapped around the box, and when she opened it, she gasped. She was holding the new Firebolt, the latest model on the market. All the attendees crowded around the redhead, wanting to get a closer look at the broom. "Oh my God. You didn't have to. This must've cost you a fortune!"

"Don't be silly, Ginny. Today is your special day and I wanted to buy you one for yourself, you don't even have a driver's license." Gushed Maia, and everyone laughed. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? I love it!" Ginny rushed to hug Maia, who laughed at her loss of balance at the strength of the redhead. Ginny placed short and quick kisses in all the space that she could cover on Malfoy's face, who, in everyone's eyes, looked happier in those short seconds than in the entire evening.

Teddy reached down, still on the blonde's shoulders, to take Ginny's head and plant a kiss. Ginny pouted fondly at Teddy's gesture. "Nothing for me?" Maia commented, amused. Teddy clapped his palms against the Malfoy's cheeks, who grunted, which seemed to the boy the funniest thing in the world. "Bloody kid." She mused as she put Teddy down, who quickly escaped, laughing.

"Come on, everyone! The dancefloor is waiting for ya!" A voice screamed, and they all rushed forward with their best moves.

Maia, on the other hand, preferred to stay at one of the tables, oblivious to everything, watching how Ginny's eyes narrow every time she laughed.

"Strange thing it is, love." Harry spoke behind her, aware of the way Maia was looking at young Weasley. "You died for love, lived again for love, healing thanks to it."

"You tell me." Answered Maia. "Tonks was right."

"About what?"

"Dying." Responded the blonde girl. "It doesn't hurt. What hurts the most is what you might leave behind. I sure as hell wasn't ready to leave this behind."

"That's why you came back?" Harry asked, having a seat beside her.

"When Voldemort killed me, my mind and soul wandered around... somewhere. Dumbledore was there. He said I could either stay there, or come back. I asked why I had the option when others couldn't get to decide. My life wasn't to end there, that night. I had business here. I still do." She smiled longingly, watching how Ginny moved Teddy around, throwing a fit of laughter.

"It was the horcrux inside of us which let us really live. Isn't it ironic?"

"Ironic indeed, Harry."

The boy smiled. "You've called me Harry."

Maia looked at him enigmatically. "It's surprising to me you still don't know I'm fond of you. You're a good lad, Harry. A bit reckless, but still."

The Potter chuckled. "It's surprising I could say the same thing about you. Maybe we weren't as different as we thought we were." The green-eyed boy sipped his drink. "How are things at Hogwarts?"

"It's just as I remember it. I wish I could turn back time and live again my Hogwarts years. Sometimes I miss it dearly. Kids don't know what they're missing. I'm sure McGonagall misses you three, always causing trouble." The Slytherin and the Gryffindor shared a laugh. "She's still saving the spot for you, you know. In case you change your mind."

"Maybe in some years."

"It doesn't hurt anymore, right? Your scar."

Harry touched his forehead and shook his head. "It doesn't. Yours?"

"Not a bit. Maybe all is well, at last."

"What is well?" An alien voice entered the conversation, and Harry cleared his throat and rose from his chair.

Ginny watched the scene with a raised eyebrow in amusement. She took a brief glance at the place the boy had left, and preferred to sit on her girlfriend's lap anyway. "You just interrupted a conversation, m'lady."

"Oh, have I? What is so interesting about Harry? Maybe I should leave—"

Maia tightened her grip on Ginny's waist and whispered, "Stay."

They were silent for a while — as quiet as there could be — enjoying each other's company, Ginny's head resting against Maia's blonde hair, and Maia's blonde hair resting on the Weasley's chest. "I saw you earlier with my mother. Everything okay?"

"When I say you're nosy, I mean it." Ginny laughed against her girlfriend's hair. "Everything okay. Cherish her now while you still can, Gin. She really loves you. She's okay with her little, precious daughter dating a Malfoy, so she must really love you."

"You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." Ginny looked at her straight in the eyes. "Even when we wake up in the wee hours due to nightmares, when we see the faces and scream the names of those whom we've lost, I look at you and I'm so thankful it's you who's by my side. Nobody gets and calms my heart the way you do."

"I love you." The blonde muttered against the red-head's lips. "I'm going to accept the job."

"You are?" Almost shouted Ginny. "That's great!"

"I won't be a professor immediately, though. My first year will be only practice. McGonagall says it'll be nice to have a young, refreshing face over there." Smiled Maia. "She understood my situation with Teddy, and she says it's not necessary for me to stay the nights and the weekends in the castle. So, as soon as I finish my classes, I'll be home."

"I think it's a great idea, Maia. You're going to love it."

"Being a DADA professor? I don't know. Coming back to Hogwarts? I'm sure of it." Both girls giggled.

Ginny put a hand on Maia's cheek and kissed her deeply. They stayed like that for a short period of time, enjoying themselves and the tranquility they gave each other. Ginny looked at Maia. "You look tired."

"I am."

"And sad."

Maia opened her eyes and sighed. "They're all gone. You don't know how many times I wished when I was sixteen I could just run away and leave them behind. And now I have my own life, I can't help but wonder what would happen if they were here."

"Don't worry about it, love. Things will change, time will pass. You will heal from everything. You'll get to give Teddy everything you wanted. And you're not alone at all; you have all of us."

"I know. Thank you for being family." Maia kissed her cheek and brought the girl to herself. "But hey, I have another surprise for you. Well, it's not really a surprise, as you have to do all the work and I'll get to just watch you."

Ginny furrowed her brows, a smile still tugging her lips. "What is it?"

"We're going to the Holyhead Harpies try outs." Maia whispered, her lips near Ginny's face, who opened her eyes wide. "Don't look at me like that."

"But they're so good! I have no chance to make it into the team."

"You say that every year. You're good, Gin. And now you have the broomstick with ya. What do you have to lose?"

"What if they say no?"

"Then it's their loss. But really, you know how good you are —we all do!—, trust yourself a bit more and I promise you you won't regret it. You just have to go with it and nail it. I'll be on the stands cheering for you. Come on, Gin, let's do this. We're already proud of you, but think how cool would it be for Teddy to have an aunt who plays Quidditch in the best all-female team and a godmother teaching at Hogwarts?"

Maia looked at her intently. Ginny pouted again. "Okay, okay!" And the blonde girl spun her around. "Put me down! I'm getting dizzy with all the fire whiskey I've drunk." Ginny sighed and threw her arms around Maia's neck. "Teddy must be tired already. You should be home with the baby."

"Oh, how good of a girlfriend am I?" Maia whispered in her lover's ear. "Harry has agreed to take care of Teddy tonight, and you're coming with me. So, I guess it's just the two of us."

Ginny had a sly smile on her face. "Good girlfriend? You're naughty."

"Oh, I can be." Maia squeezed Ginny's hips and looked at her with deep affection. "It's getting late, isn't it?"

The redhead grinned and snorted, catching the Malfoy's game. "It definitely is. Let me say goodbye and then I'm all yours."

Maia gradually released her hand, not wanting to be separated from the young Gryffindor for another second. She bit her lip when she saw Ginny turn back to her and send her a flirtatious smile. Maia had noticed the state —intoxicated— of the younger, although it was true that Ginny used to be cunning and provocative, knowing the power she had over the Slytherin.

A strange sensation took over her body completely. She didn't know if it was due to the alcohol she had ingested, or perhaps the mixed feelings in her chest, or simply that Ginny was incredibly attractive, but she found herself staring at the redhead. She saw her moving from one place to another, with that bright smile on her face, sharing kisses with her relatives and guests, thanking them for the gifts and for the company, perhaps sharing an odd anecdote to give easy conversation and be polite.

"You're screwed." Hermione Granger laughed behind her, covering her mouth with her hand. "I see the way you look at her."

"She's got something." Maia started. "She's captivating, you can't simply tear your eyes away from her. She's completely alluring."

"Love works in mysterious ways. Who would've known a Malfoy could love a Weasley this way?"

Maia wasn't even looking at Hermione, who understood. The blonde girl seemed completely in love with the redhead. "I'm screwed. And utterly in love with her."

"Have you marriage ever crossed your mind?" The Gryffindor asked, really curious.

The Slytherin turned to her, a grimace on her face. "You've just ruined the moment, Granger. We're still kids. But believe me, that girl's going to marry me. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but one day she'll be the first and last thing I see everyday."

"I'm really happy for you two. I would've never imagined this would happen, but the truth is you're good for each other. You know how to keep her on the ground and she brings out the best in you." Hermione interrupted herself when she saw Ginny advance towards them. "Go get your girl, Malfoy."

"Always a pleasure talking to you, Granger."

Ginny reached out to make contact with Maia, who gave her a small smile before disappearing and appearing at her home, miles away from the Burrow. Laughing, the blonde grabbed Ginny, who stumbled for reasons Maia never fully discovered.

"You okay there?"

"Just a bit tipsy. It'll pass. It's funny, you know?"

"What's funny, Gin?"

"Every single person I've talked to today has told me the same thing."

"And what would that be, lovely?" Maia was still careful around the Weasley, afraid she'd fall.

"That I should see the way you look at me." Ginny hugged Maia, staring at her. "How do you look at me?"

"Like you're the only thing that's keeping me alive." Cracked Maia, whispering. "You save me everyday in every possible way. I know we're not perfect, we're two broken kids, but you still take your time, picking up every single piece of me and taking care of it until it's ready to work again. You stay by my side, even when I wake up in the middle of the night shouting Eden's name. Even when we were going through hell, it was you who pulled me from it, taking my hand every damn second. I'll be forever grateful for your existence, Gin."

Tears fell from the eyes of a renewed Ginny, who was smiling despite everything. "Damn, you're extra cute today."

"I am in love with you."

Both girls' hearts stopped in that same instant for the same reason. "It'd be awkward if you weren't, because I'm in love with you, too."

That night Maia chose love for an infinite amount of times.