"you took my light, you drained me down
but that was then and this is now, now look at me"

"May I have a word with you?"

"Now may not be the best time." Maia replied, her gaze fixed on the parchment. She looked up to dip the quill in the ink and continue writing, but stopped immediately when she noticed Slughorn's presence. "I'm sorry, sir. What do you need?"

Slughorn gave her a sad smile. "I have to leave Hogwarts for a few hours to ...run some errands. I would ask any other person, but I don't think they are capable as you. I have a Potions class in a while and it would be lovely from you if you could have a look while I'm away. You know how the Carrows are...never cancel a class, do they?" The man laughed hoarsely.

"Um, sure, sir. Do I need to do something?"

"Don't worry, my dear, they already know what they have to do. Just do me a favor and collect the potions they make, will you?"

Maia didn't have time to answer, because the man had said goodbye quickly and had greeted Madam Pince for the last time. Maia was surprised, but she kept her ink and parchment anyway and went to the Potions class. She certainly hoped they were first years —she wasn't in the mood to take on teenagers— and didn't make her mad.

She went to the bathroom to clean her hands —you never knew what she was really going to have to do in a Potions class— but stopped dead when she heard sobs. She made sure no one was about to enter and walked slowly to the bathroom where they came from. She pushed open the door a little, and found Daphne Greengrass huddled in the corner, blonde hair covering her face and her shoulders rising with each sob.

"Daphne?" The girl raised her head. Her face was red and her cheeks were tear-stained, and mascara was scattered across her cheekbones. "What's wrong?"

"It's— It's nothing." She hiccuped.

"Hey, come on. You are clearly upset, it's not nothing. You can tell me."

"There's nothing I can do about it —besides, you'll be busy enough for me to tell you about my messy life."

"Don't say that. We are friends, right?"

Daphne looked at her and sniffed. She peeked slightly through the door frame, and when she saw that no one else was there, she came out. She washed her face, but it was still a reddish hue that not even the freshness of the water could alleviate. "My parents sent me a letter this morning. When I return home for the Easter break, it will be the last time I step on the Greengrass Mansion. My parents have disowned me."

"What? Why?"

Daphne's eyes filled with tears again. "I have had a journal since I was eleven years old —they gave it to me when I entered Hogwarts, so that I could write everything that happened to me— but I stopped using it here because it started to seem very childish to me. I hardly used it, I just wrote the most important things that happened to me. I wrote my attraction to women, thinking that no one was ever going to be able to read it, and my mother discovered it while putting away clothes she had bought for my birthday."

"Oh, Daphne..." was all Maia could say. She hugged the girl, who started crying again, and Maia looked at her with pity. "I'm so sorry. If there is anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to tell me. "

"Do your parents know it?"

Maia gulped. "How did you find out? About me."

"I didn't know, but when I kissed you, you didn't panic or look at me in disgust. So there were two possible options: either you were extremely empathetic and understanding, or the same thing was happening to you."

Against all odds, the Malfoy smiled. "My parents don't know shit. At least, I've never told them anything. And I intend it stays that way." Maia put her arms around the young Greengrass again. "I know this must be difficult for you, but you have to keep your head up. Don't let anyone tell you you're not worthy because of who you are. You're great, Daph. If your parents can't see that, then fuck them. Once we finish Hogwarts in June, you can fly away and start a new life, being just who you want to be."

Daphne wiped back the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "Thanks, Maia. I needed to know there's someone who doesn't hate me now."

"That's nonsense. We won't judge you. But I promise not to tell anyone if you don't want to."

"I don't think so. My parents have probably spread the word by now, so no one helps me. I'll figure out what to do. I still have a month to find a place to stay."

"It will be okay, Daphne, I promise. If you need anything, please let me know."

The shorter one smiled through her tears and nodded. "Thanks. Do you not have class right now?"

Maia's eyes widened: she had completely forgotten about the task Slughorn had given her. "I do, actually! And I'm late. I'll see you later, okay?"

The Malfoy didn't give Daphne time to reply, as she ran from the bathrooms to the Potions class. Maia hadn't even noticed in detail why Slughorn wasn't going to be there, or why he had told her —a student, after all— and not a qualified teacher like Snape could be. Now, it was true that Snape hadn't been around Hogwarts much since he was appointed as headmaster, and it was the Carrows who were teaching his subject now.

When she walked through the door, her books almost fell on the floor. Ginny was sitting in the front row, talking to another Gryffindor girl next to her, and she opened her eyes wide when she saw Maia enter, stunned. She left her bag on the teacher's desk, and now all attention was on her. "Damn, if Slughorn looked like this I would come everyday."

Maia watched as Ginny cast a withering glance at the boy but said nothing. "Professor Slughorn can't come today, so he's asked me to have a look of what you have to do."

"But you're a student, we would like to see your degree." The same boy from before spoke again.

The Slytherin saw his Gryffindor tie and smiled. "And I would like to see your' E 'in all of your OWLs, and your name, please. I'm sure professor Slughorn appreciates you volunteering to prepare all of his potions for classes and for personal uses." Maia dropped onto Slughorn's stool, and smirked. "Silence. What a shocker."

Maia gave him a proud look when she heard the hidden laughter of the other students. The boy sank down on his stool and said nothing more about it. She winked discreetly at Ginny, who covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"I assume you have to prepare the Amortentia potion —it was around this time of the year— so I recommend you to follow the instructions properly, as professor Slughorn will need a sample of each and every one of you's potions. Let me know if you have trouble."

The Slytherin surveyed the room with her eyes and nodded to herself, huffing. She spent all her time finishing the essay on Dark Arts that Amycus had sent them —she didn't know why she'd gone to the library for information if she knew it first hand— because a Hufflepuff on her year had refused to use the Imperio curse on a first year boy.

Occasionally Maia couldn't stop her gaze from turning to Ginny. The girl had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, sweat dripping down her forehead from the smoke of the potion. She stuck her tongue out childishly every time she put an ingredient into the concoction and stirred it carefully. Maia watched her with interest: she had never known her student side. What had she got in the OWLs? What was her favorite subject? What did she want to do when she graduated from Hogwarts?

When the time was up, Maia looked up and approached everyone's cauldrons. "Time's up. If you'd done it correctly, then you could smell something. Usually there's three scents: all of them related to the person whom you love. Anybody wants to give it a go and confess their love?" Maia surrounded all the Gryffindors as they lowered their heads. "Weasley?"

Ginny closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. For the first time, she wished her potion hadn't been spot on and she couldn't smell anything Maia had said. She rose carefully and drew in a deep breath, approaching the cauldron. "Um... I smell —sniff— wet grass, and expensive perfume, and —another sniff, her face turning red— cigarettes."

Maia smirked. "That's... interesting." She stifled a laugh, sneakingly covering her mouth and feigning a cough. "Well, you can leave now. I'll collect some of your potions and deliver it to professor Slughorn."

The girl took small bottles and filled its content. She heard the door close behind her, but didn't bother looking. She grimaced every time she found a foul-smelling potion, but refilled the pot just the same.

"Why did you do that?" Ginny said from behind her, her mouth ajar and her brow furrowed, as if she had been betrayed. Maia gave her a brief look. "I'm embarrassed."

"Why? Because you smelt like me through and through? " Maia smirked once again. "Don't be a crybaby." She mimicked. She took a cigarette from the bottom of her pocket and put it between her teeth. "Nobody knows I smoke, anyway." She winked at her.

"Why the wet grass, though?" The redhead asked somewhat calmer, helping Maia fill potions. "I could recognize the perfume —you always smell like what I imagine heaven— and definitely the cigarettes."

"When I was younger, Draco and I used to play Quidditch when my parents didn't look or weren't home. It was specially during rainy days, we finished the match and ended up rolling on the grass and laughing our asses off. Wet grass is what my garden smells like, typical English weather, you know."

"That's cute." Giggled Ginny. "But you... You'd make a hot teacher. A great hot teacher. Just so you know."

Maia smirked. "I don't know where this confidence has come from, but I can say I like it." Ginny approached her from behind, placed her hands on her waist and began to give small kisses on the Slytherin's neck. "Oh, no, you're just pure evil."

"What? I just have to mark what's mine." Maia gasped surprised; she didn't have Ginny as the jealous type.

"I didn't know you were jealous. If it's for the Gryffindor idiot, don't worry, I'm not really into men, and less Gryffindor."

"I saw you earlier with Greengrass." The redhead said as she separated from the Slytherin's body, which turned around completely. "I was going to the bathroom but I saw you two talking, so I didn't want to interrupt. You looked cozy." Ginny raised an eyebrow.

Maia sighed. "She's having problems. I'm just being a good friend."

"I believe you. She wouldn't want to mess with my bat-bogey hex anyway. "

Maia laughed out loud. "Sure thing, little one." She said, patting her head jokingly. "I have to go now, and you probably have class. Behave, okay? Wouldn't want you to end up in the Hospital Wing." She kissed her on the cheek and left all the samples on Slughorn's desk and left the class.

She set out to find Daphne; the girl hadn't left her head since their encounter that morning. It might sound selfish, but a part of her still didn't know if she was worried because they were truly friends, or that what had happened to Daphne could happen to her at any moment.

It didn't take her long to imagine the situation. Lucius would probably be disgusted and would do the same as the Greengrass, disown her and make sure no one thought she was still carrying the Malfoy name. Perhaps Narcissa would be somewhat more understanding, perhaps someday she would be able to accept her as she was, but that thought was soon erased from Maia's mind: Narcissa had been able to make her two children available to Voldemort, how could the girl think that one day she would position herself against Lucius?

And Draco... Well, it wasn't very difficult to imagine his reaction. Always so against Muggle children, Squibs, and anyone who was not like them —Slytherin, wealthy, and pureblood. While it was true that his thinking had changed somewhat in recent years, Maia doubted that he agreed with her life. Still, Maia had suffered enough in her life to beg for love from people who, if they discovered her secret, wouldn't be able to give it to her.

She discovered, with a bitter tinge to her heart, how her life had changed for the better the moment she had withdrawn from the thoughts of her family. The further away from the dark side she was, the better her life seemed to be going: she had developed a better friendship with Daphne —that same scrawny girl who in the first year looked like she was going to cry at any moment— and had even met Ginny —whom probably never would have even looked in other circumstances.

Just then, Draco appeared in the hallway and it was as if time had stopped. They shared a long look —Maia was scared if fate had made that happen, as if this was the right moment to tell him the truth— and Draco slowly approached as she stood in the middle of the hall. "I was looking for you. Can we talk?"

"I don't feel like fighting, Draco." Maia sighed.

"I didn't come to fight. I just want to talk." Maia nodded slowly —after all, it was her brother. "Looks like you have a very busy life now."

"I could say the same." Maia retorted while they sat on the benches. "Why isn't Pansy dearest with you today?"

Draco spread his hands, palms up. "I told her I needed some time. So you can expect me not to be seen with her in a while, at least."

Maia frowned. "Why is that?"

"She's been messing with my business a lot lately and I didn't like that. Besides, I don't like the way she talks about you." The boy took one of Maia's hands, who looked at him intently. "You're my sister, my blood. You and I know we've been through hell all alone, only having each other to rely on. You've always been there, no matter how bad it was, no matter how bitter I was about it, and I've failed you again and again. You've been nothing but a good sister to me, and I've become no one for you." His voice trembled slightly but he recomposed quickly, clearing his throat. "I want to change that, if you let me. Remember when I got the dark mark? You said you'd be with me with every step I took, that you'd be by my side no matter what. And you have, but I haven't. So instead, let me be the one to be with you. There's a storm raging on, Maia, and I will do anything for you when the time comes, just like you would."

The girl took a slow breath, taking in the words of her brother, who was looking at her. There was the Draco she knew, the one only she could see. The eyes of the two siblings became wet, but neither let the tears fall. "Are you serious? What about mother and father?"

"All my life I've been trying to justify their actions because for me it was unthinkable that parents could do such things to their kids. It's not supposed to be like this, they have to protect and care for us, not force us to this life. I'm with you, Maia. I'm sorry I said those things to you, I just needed one reason to hang on to them, but that reason is gone. You're the one I should be hanging on to. I'm supposed to be protecting you, not turning my head when you need me the most." The boy laced their fingers and squeezed. "How are you holding up?"

"Better, honestly. I regret it, but it was either him or you. I guess a part of me will always come back to family."

They were silent for a few moments. It seemed to Maia that Draco wanted to ask something else, but he didn't dare, and the girl thought maybe it was better that way. She didn't want to tell him where she spent the nights and with whom, not yet, at least.

"Mother will never forgive herself." Started Draco, whispering. "She thinks I'm not looking, but I see her gaze everytime he's at home —she's fearful. I see her when we are forced to do something —she regrets it. She cries. I'm not saying she's a good mother, but I can see she doesn't belong there and she suffers for us more than she does for herself."

"I know." Maia nodded despite everything. "She deserves far more than this."

"We have to be strong for her, for us. It'll be over soon."

Maia rested her head on her brother's shoulder, and they remained in that position for what seemed like infinite time. She sighed and thought that it had been a long time since she had felt so much peace. Things seemed to be going well: Daphne, Eden, Ginny, Draco. All the good things that had happened lately could be summed up in those four people, and she was grateful that things went well.

However, she couldn't help but worry. She knew herself and knew her life: happiness didn't last long. She wondered which of those pillars would crumble earlier and make her life turn upside down.

She raised her head slightly, looking at Draco sheepishly: would he be aware that Daphne had been marginalized? And if he did, the reason? Ginny wasn't a distraction to her. She was a person whom she had learned to love and had earned a place in her heart, despite all their differences and the large number of things that were against them. She feared that Draco might not be able to love her in the same way, that thought terrified her deeply.

"I do hope you can forgive me. I'll be the brother you deserve from now on."

Maia nudged him. "We are in this together. I'll be by your side."

"And I'll fight by your side when the time comes. Merlin, I've missed you so much." Draco hugged his sister tightly, and she responded by doing the same. In that moment no one could ever come between them. "I love you, little sister."

Maia raised an eyebrow. "I'm not younger than you."

"I was born before you."

"Which only means I was technically created before you."

Draco laughed at the bickering and put an arm around his sister's shoulders, his unoccupied hand in his pocket: they were the Slytherin pair once again.

However, this situation —even though it had to relieve the redhead— only made Ginny worry. Since Maia had told her with a big smile that she talked to her brother again, that she and Eden were inseparable again, and that she was making friends with Daphne, she couldn't help feeling displaced.

All of the secret moments they had shared were being overshadowed by Maia spending more time with her friends —individually, of course— which took away more time from the routines they spent together. She had grown accustomed to seeing Maia from a distance, without her giving her as many furtive glances as before: breakfasts were spent with Daphne, with whom she seemed to be particularly close to —Ginny's fork had collided more than once with the bottom of the plate, making it squeak—, the lunches were dedicated to Draco —and Ginny was no longer the only one watching, but Pansy also heard them laughing from a few seats beyond— and the dinners belonged to Eden —Ginny thought it was because the boy gave her more peace and was definitely what she needed.

Of course, they were still sneaking, enjoying short but intense moments, the secret glances still existed, but Ginny's heart told her that from now on this would be so, and although she liked Maia to get along with them she couldn't help but feeling that she was becoming a second course and that her presence was no longer as needed.

Because, although it might not seem like it —of course, facing the public, Ginny Weasley was a confident young woman— the redhead also had insecurities. She was the youngest of seven siblings, always afraid to live under the shadow of one of them, always with the thought that she wouldn't be enough in her mind. She could be a powerful and intelligent witch, but there was also a facet of her that not everyone knew about: she had been hurt her in the past, she had always been Harry's second choice, and now that there was someone who saw and chose her, she was afraid of suffering again.

"Hey, Gin." However, that nickname made her heart melt. Maia was leaning against the door frame with a docile smile. "Are you available?"

"At midnight?" Maia nodded innocently. "What are we doing, invoking Satan?"

"Oh, much better. I'll tell you only if you promise you'll do it."

"Oi, come on. Just tell me."

Maia didn't answer, just grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her out of the Gryffindor Common Room. Ginny was thankful that she was still dressed —she was waiting for Maia to show up in her room as she used to do at night— because they were running through the halls of the castle as if there was some kind of fire.

"I'm not running ever again. I don't care if someone's chasing me, I'd rather die then."

"You're a drama queen, Weasley." They stopped running but kept an eye on every corner. "We'll tell you once we get there."

"Wait, we?"

"As late as ever, Maia dearest. You never know— wait, did you bring her?" Eden raised the lantern and grimaced. "I was rooting for Longbottom, to be honest."

"What do you even mean? Why would I bring Longbottom?"

Eden shrugged. "The sword can be heavy ...?"

"And you can be a moron." Deadpanned Maia. Ginny watched the scene, stunned. "She can do whatever a man can do, or even better, as you have the emotional range of a teaspoon."

Ginny snorted but felt proud Maia was defending her —not adding the fact that she didn't even know what they were talking about— and Eden seemed to finally notice her presence. "You're right. I'm sorry, Maia's girl."

The redhead blushed as much as her hair but clenched her fist. "I have a name, you know."

Both Maia and Eden laughed softly. "Feisty. A keeper."

"Indeed". Maia winked at her.

"Is anybody going to tell me what I'm doing here?"

Eden looked at Maia with his mouth ajar. "You haven't told her? I thought a relationship implies sincerity?"

"Could you stop it with all your... words?" Maia reprimanded. "If I told her before we came, then the option of her not agreeing could be very... highly likely."

"Pardon her, she's new to all this relationship stuff." Eden interfered. "We've come here to destroy this." The boy took a small chest out of his backpack, and Ginny watched it closely. "And you're the only one who can wield the Gryffindor's sword."

Behind him, the door of the Room of Requirement appeared. Maia was standing just ahead, her eyes closed and her hands on her hips. "That's the horcrux you found? You want me to get rid of it?"

The three entered the room, discussing the possibilities they had. Ginny wasn't satisfied with the decision, but she couldn't help but feel useful in such an important task that was so far from her interests. She looked at Maia, who was pursing her lips, and felt a kind of pride in her heart. It was only two years ago since the Order of the Phoenix meeting, when her mother had considered her too young to learn of older matters. And there was Maia, entrusting her with something so important. She tried to avoid a small smile.

"I have read the Gryffindor's sword only appears when really needed, so the Room of Requirements seemed the perfect place to do this. The plan is, Maia grabs the diadem and then you, Ginny, grab the sword and destroy this... thing."

"That simple?" Ginny asked. Both Slytherin nodded. "Why would it appear if it only does when needed? Why would I need it for?"

"Because the chances of the horcrux trying to kill Maia if she takes it are high, and you surely would need the sword more if it's Maia who's dying." Ginny opened her mouth in horror. "Hey, don't blame the player, blame the game."

"I know you might not like this, but we're doing this for greater good. I'd never do anything to put you in this position if it wasn't really necessary." Maia grabbed her hand. "If you're not ready, then we leave. You aren't forced to do this."

"No, no. I told you I'd help you. If it's to kill him once and for all, then so be it."

Maia squeezed her hand and smiled at her. She took the chest in her hands, sighed deeply and looked at her two companions. "Ready?"

The two shared a look and nodded. Eden stayed somewhat removed from the situation and Ginny stood directly in front of Maia, prepared for anything that might happen.

The blonde held the diadem in her hands, hoping that something might happen and that was enough for the sword to appear. However, nothing happened. The diadem looked as beautiful and harmless as ever, as if it hadn't been damaged by dark magic.

However, suddenly Maia touched one of the diamonds, and that was when the image came out of the horcrux. A strong blizzard surrounded the room, ruffling Maia's hair and making it difficult for her to see what was happening in front of her. It was as if everything else had vanished, there was only her and the figure that was beginning to form. The black smoke finished taking shape, and the girl's eyes widened in horror as she caught a glimpse of Yaxley's figure before her.

His face was disfigured in such a way that his eyes turned white and large fangs and worms emerged from his mouth. The skin on his face began to crumble, and she watched in horror as the pieces fell and disappeared as soon as they touched the ground. Yaxley's ghostly figure approached her quickly, and Maia, sitting on the ground, backed away as nimbly as she could. However, the force of the horcrux seized her by the robe and lifted her by the neck.

"You killed me. You had the choice and you did it anyway. Why would I spare your life right now? You're nothing."

Maia's feet started to rise and she stopped touching the ground. The tie around her neck was beginning to cut off the air, and she released the diadem in an attempt to loosen its hold.

She didn't hear anything around her, only Yaxley, who continued to look at her sarcastically. "You're going to die anyways. Why does it matter if it's tonight?" Maia's eyes widened, losing air but at the same time trying to make Yaxley's words go unnoticed. "Oh, you haven't told anyone, have you?"

The blonde was beginning to lose consciousness. Her lips turned purple and the paleness of her face changed to a maroon hue. "Do it... now." she got to say.

A great roar echoed in the room. The pain around her neck and the shortness of breath in her lungs were replaced by intense pain in her chest, so intense that she had to shout —almost howling— because she felt that at that moment she was dying. She struggled to stay awake with the effort to recover the air and the attempt to dissipate that pain in the deepest part of her being, and from outside, Eden and Ginny believed that she was losing the battle.

The girl stopped moving and screaming a few seconds later. Eden ran to her, and a stunned Ginny followed suit. "Maia!" Ginny shook the girl's body, which lay limp. "What's happening to her?!"

Eden looked at her. "She's okay. She will be."

"Why is she like this? What the hell is happening to her?!" The redhead demanded to know. Her eyes started to fill with tears when she saw Maia wasn't moving or waking up yet. "Please!"

As if she had heard the Weasley's pleas, Maia reacted and opened her eyes. Immediately she scanned her surroundings with her eyes and put the palm of her hand to her heart. Then she swallowed hard. "Is it done?" She rasped.

Ginny wiped her tears with fury and held her tight. "Don't ever do that again, you idiot." Eden glanced at Maia with a nod, who closed her eyes dejectedly but leaned into the girl's touch.

"I'm sorry. But it's done, right? There's three left."