SIX MONTHS LATER

"Hey, baby. It's me, Maia, in case you don't have my number saved anymore. Well, I don't know who else would call you baby —maybe your mum? I'm rambling again. The point is, if you still remember me after almost four long months without me, or if you still want to see me, I'm right by your house. So, yeah, you should come down in about... five minutes? Oh, and don't worry about the noise; I have a little surprise for you. Well, two of them."

As soon as the light turned green again, Maia tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and started the car. She tried to remember the movements she had to do each time while pressing the corresponding pedal. She remembered how confused she had been in the first few days, and was thrilled to learn that after a few months, she could consider herself lucky to have a driver's license.

She turned at the next exit, cross country, away from Ottery St. Catchpole. Despite the fact that Bellatrix and other Death Eaters had destroyed the Burrow, after the war the Weasleys had gone to work and had managed to repair part of what was once their home. Maia supposed it had been hard for them, as the place brought back many memories of things that were gone, but they had overcome the situation, and with the help of locals and war heroes they managed to form a new house.

It was not like before, of course. It was much more modest, with fewer floors, since they had decided to widen the base of the foundation to make it more resistant. Now that the children were older, they no longer shared a room, they had even allowed themselves the luxury of establishing rooms for guests, since Harry and Hermione used to be seen there more than usual: the first for being Ronald's mate, and the second for being his girlfriend.

They also lived near the Luna Lovegood neighborhood, so Maia had visited sometime. It was true that there were still grudges from the past without forgetting, but little by little the Slytherin was showing that she was not like the others and that her intentions were good.

As soon as she glimpsed the peculiar building a small smile crossed her lips. She hadn't been there for months, the same time she hadn't seen Ginny, so returning to a place like this was always special to her. She drove into the Weasley grounds and stopped her car a few feet from the garden, where Arthur and one of his sons seemed to disinfect it of gnomes.

"Blimey," Arthur Weasley mused when he saw the vehicle near him. Arthur was a huge fan of Muggle artifacts, he had owned a car himself, but his children had destroyed it. "Is that an Audi? I read all about them!"

The father of the family was still as open-mouthed as the first moment. Ron greeted Maia from behind his father, aware that he was no longer going to do his tasks, and then continued himself.

"It is. Do you want to take a look inside?"

Without waiting for Mr. Weasley to answer, Maia opened the car doors and waved him inside. "Do you drive it with magic? It looks flawless."

"No, I really drive it." Maia laughed.

"You do?" Arthur poked his head out the window. "How does it work? I've always wanted to have one of this for myself, but with Molly and the kids..."

"Well, the first thing you should do is adjust the mirrors. You buckle up, release the parking brake, and start the engine," Maia indicated how the key should be turned, and so did the man, marveling at the sound of the car. "Then all you have to do is practice and know the rules of the road. I could take you for a ride sometime, if you'd like."

A high-pitched scream cut off the conversation. The two of them turned to a first-floor window, where Ginny, a scarf wrapped around her neck and a huge smile on her face, greeted them. That deeply touched Maia, who greeted her back. It had been months since she had seen that smiling face, and seeing her after so long continued to awaken unsuspected sensations in her.

Arthur realized that it was time to go. "She's been really happy lately, and I guess we owe that to you. Take care of our little girl, will you?"

"I will, thank you."

When the door to the Burrow opened wide, Maia's heart leapt of joy. The redhead was still just as she remembered her, with those funny freckles around her nose and on her cheeks, big brown eyes, and long, fire-red hair. Maybe a little taller, but Maia didn't detect it instantly, as Ginny lunged at her as if she had missed the blonde as much as she missed her.

Little did she know Ginny fell asleep every night thinking of her.

"I missed you so much," muttered the redhead against her ear. A shiver went down Maia's spine. "What is that?"

Maia reluctantly broke away from the hug —she never wanted to be separated from her again— and looked where Ginny was looking. "Oh, that's the first surprise. Pay attention because this is probably the first time you're seeing someone with a driver's license!" Maia waved her arms in the air as if it were truly a feat.

"You can drive ?! When did that happen?"

Maia headed for the passenger seat, urging Ginny to follow her. Then she opened the door for her to enter and shelter from the cold. "That, my lovely, I will explain during our journey. The surprises haven't finished."

Ginny smiled and the Slytherin did the same. She returned to the driver's seat and rubbed her hands together. "Seriously, since when do you own a car? What did I miss?"

"You've been away for a long time," Maia smiled, apologizing. "I got the license last month. This summer I was working in London, do you remember? And I couldn't just appear in the middle of nowhere with that many muggles watching. So I thought the most practical thing would be to adopt their traditions and customs. So I informed myself, and here I am."

"Does your mum like it?"

Maia smiled. "Oh, please, she doesn't even know. Everytime she comes by I tell her it's my neighbor's car. She would kill me if she'd knew I trust muggles this much." Maia adjusted the mirrors and turned on the car's heater. "Oh, put your seatbelt on." The blonde gestured back so Ginny would know where it was. "Nevermind."

The girl leaned against the seat, inches from Ginny's thigh, whose ears reddened deeply from the closeness, and gasped when she raised her head to see that Malfoy's face was closer than she had expected. She cursed herself: she had missed kissing her for so long, and now that she had the chance she was totally nullified by the girl's effect on her.

"Are you alright?" Maia asked her when she had buckled up and saw that she had a blank look on her face.

Ginny leaned forward, unable to control her instincts, and bumped her lips against hers. She felt that characteristic trembling in her stomach, capable of making her legs shake in a matter of seconds. It was amazing how after sharing so many kisses Maia continued to have that effect on her.

Maia smiled against the Gryffindor's lips. This was all she needed, and she had gone too long without it to waste a second, so she deepened the kiss, taking Ginny by the cheek and tilting her head a little more until the redhead had to part with embarrassment and lack of air.

"They're probably behind the windows watching," Ginny didn't even want to turn away from an amused Maia.

"Cute," was all the blonde said.

Ginny was shocked to discover that Maia wasn't driving badly at all. It wasn't because she mistrusted her girlfriend's abilities, but Maia was a pureblood girl, raised in the bosom of one of the richest and most important families in the wizarding world, and the image of the young woman dressed in Muggle clothes and driving a car was too surreal to be true.

The ride was pleasant for the young Gryffindor. The seat was comfortable, she could see out of the window the snowy landscape of England and it was not cold; not to mention the more than pleasant company she had on her right. Maia was narrating things she did to make the car work, or even the radio, which also played songs by Muggle singers —Ginny had gratefully discovered that the group that her mother liked so much wasn't on— but Ginny did not manage to keep the many details Maia told her.

"How's everything at Hogwarts?" Maia asked without taking her eyes off the road.

Ginny didn't quite know what to answer. What was the response Maia expected? Did she want the heartbreaking truth, the truth in which Ginny could narrate how some students were still unable to leave their rooms unaccompanied, how they hardly trusted each other, how the walls of Hogwarts were still not completely repaired after the war that occurred just six months ago?

Or maybe she wanted a more subtle truth? Perhaps she would be content to know that the corridors were not talking about anything other than Harry Potter and Maia Malfoy, the saviors of Hogwarts and the wizarding world, how the four houses of Hogwarts seemed more diffuse than ever, how she was improving her magical skills thanks to all the afternoons and nights they spent together.

"I guess it's too soon to tell." She finally chose to respond.

"Do you like it there?"

Once again, Ginny didn't know what to answer. Yes, she supposed she liked being back. Going back to Hogwarts used to be a sign of prosperity, that things were going well. Also, now she had Hermione always by her side, who had returned to finish her last year, and thanks to what happened in may, now many people seemed to want to talk to her, and that, in one way or another, made her feel less alone.

But the reality was that too much had happened to pretend it was a normal new year, and go about their lives as if nothing had happened. She would walk around the castle and imagine the scenes she had seen happen, and she had to sit down so as not to get dizzy. She saw some shattered column and instantly knew who had caused it. She had too many memories of things she wanted to forget forever.

"It'd be better if you were there." Ginny drew a small smile to hide everything that was going through her head.

Maia fell into her trap and dropped the subject. "I wish I could do that, really, but now I've got Teddy to take care of. I would love to have a normal life and resume my final year there, but I can't do that now. I don't really know what I want to do with my life, so it just kinda flows with me."

Ginny nodded as she looked out the window. "Ron told me he and Harry went to visit you the other day with Teddy. He said your house looks well decorated —that's a lot coming from Ron, who probably wouldn't tell the difference between red and crimson. "

The blonde laughed pleasantly in Ginny's ears. "You're cruel. But yeah, they came by. They were on a break and Harry brought me something for Teddy, so they stayed for a cup of tea. I think it's going fine for them."

"Damn, woman, you talk to my own brother more than to me."

"Damn, woman," Maia retorted. "No one's had the privilege, you're having right now, riding my car."

"You're doing good, by the way. You are a quick learner, it seems."

"I am, aren't I?" Maia answered instantly, and Ginny blushed again.

"Shut up!"

The conversation fell into a bed of laughter. They shared a pleasant silence until they reached their destination, gently caressing when it wasn't dangerous for Maia or kissing when the lights were red. Ginny was glancing at her and she seemed much older than she had been a few months ago.

And it was that a lot of things had really happened since the last time she saw her. It was a recent surprise that Maia had taken the time to learn to drive, but she had also told her in multiple letters that she had recently moved to a nice muggle neighborhood, and was invited to see her new home whenever she wanted. She hadn't told her, however, how lonely Narcissa had been with her daughter's departure, or the haircut she had, or the way her cheekbones stood out every time she laughed.

"How are you holding up?" It was Ginny's turn to ask questions.

Maia sighed. "Some days it's worse, some days it's better. I try to keep myself busy with the work, with Teddy, but at the end of the day I'm all alone and it all comes back."

Ginny turned to the blonde, concerned, trying to keep the belt from tightening her neck.

"Are you having trouble sleeping or eating?"

"Sometimes the anxiety eats me up." The blonde confessed in a small voice. "There's days I just forget to eat because I'm not hungry, but having Teddy there helps because he takes care of me, he just doesn't know it. He sleeps in a room next to mine, and when he's whiny is when I love him the most, honestly; it's the time of the day I don't have time to think about anything. But when he's asleep... The demons come back. Suddenly it's that night and everything's repeating in my head, just with little twists that didn't happen the last night." Maia ran a hand over her face wearily. "The day I don't cry myself to sleep is a good day."

The last words made Ginny's heart break little by little. She was watching her carefully, aware that her eyes weren't going to see Maia's grays turn to her and shed tears. Simply because Maia wasn't like that; she hated feeling weak because she felt that she was the one who should stay strong for others. But she suffered, and the redhead suffered with her.

"Have you considered going back home, be with your mother? Maybe she'd ease your pain."

Maia denied. "I can't go back to the Manor. There's too many memories for me to be sane there. I needed to go because my anxiety levels there would shock you," Maia tried to laugh to hold back the tears and to lighten up Ginny's mood. "Where I am is where I need to be."

"And what about a psychologist? McGonagall is encouraging us to go visit one, she's studying to bring them to the castle, even."

The blonde laughed humorlessly. "And how would I tell them what's happening inside my heart? How would I tell them someone named Voldemort tried to kill me, my aunt killed my best friend, I came back from the dead? Hello there, I'm a witch and you're going to absolutely lose your mind. " Maia stopped her words and clenched her jaw, aware that her words hurt the girl next to her and that it was not Ginny to blame for her pain. "I'm sorry, Gin. I just need time."

"I can give you that," the redhead reassured her, caressing her cheek. Noticing the mood, then she said: "Drive home."

"What?"

"You heard me. Tonight's all about us. You show me your new home, we watch a movie thanks to that TV or whatever the name is, we eat popcorn, drink some wine. Besides, it's time I properly meet Teddy, isn't it?"

Maia looked at her, not knowing what to say. "But I prepared today for you. I wanted your first day back to be special."

"Lovely, just being with you, doing nothing, is the most special thing that's happened to me, ever. So drive home and we'll throw blankets on us."

Maia was overwhelmed. She had this surprise plan in mind for Ginny for a long time, but the idea of ​​returning home to her favorite people in the world was just too tempting. So, with tear-filled eyes and a grateful smile, Maia turned and headed home.

Ginny hadn't created a mental image of what her girlfriend's house would be like, but she certainly wasn't expecting it like this. It was in a posh neighborhood, with Christmas lights on the trees and perfectly lined single-family houses. Snow covered most of the sidewalk, so the redhead was careful not to trip. She looked once more at the neighborhood around her, and wondered if Maia, a pureblood witch, would not feel deeply alone in this muggle place.

When she entered her new home, a wave of heat hit her face and she was immensely grateful. It smelled good, like when her mother baked cookies, and of a woman's perfume. The staircase welcomed them into the house, Teddy's toys by the door. Maia showed her the living room, much larger than she had imagined, with only a sofa and an armchair, but what was necessary for the people who lived there.

"I'm here!" Maia screamed at nothing. Ginny frowned and the blonde gave her a conciliatory look.

Narcissa Malfoy appeared from Teddy's room with the little boy in her hand, his hair —that moment— disheveled brown and a reddish blush on her face caused by the heat of the home and the dream from which he had just awakened. The matriarch kissed her daughter's cheek, who made the little boy a face, and then noticed the Weasley's presence.

"Oh, hello. I didn't know we were having visitors over. You could've told me."

To her surprise, the discomfort that Ginny had felt at first gradually evaporated. She didn't feel any look of revulsion or hatred come from Narcissa, which was quite comforting. Did she know about their relationship or did she just think they were friends? Whatever the answer was, Ginny thought that the fact that she hadn't looked at her in disgust was already a great advance.

"I tried to bake cookies —I have a lot of free time, you see," she said, the last sentence directed exclusively at Ginny. "I reckon they smell good, don't they?"

"Yeah... Ginny's having the first bite." Maia settled, and the three of them laughed.

"I have to go now," Narcissa said, putting Teddy in Maia's arms. The baby giggled. "I'm meeting Eden's mother, she's been reckless these days and she's in need of a friend."

"That's good, mum," Maia muttered, kissing Teddy's head. "You'll come around tomorrow again, yes?"

"Yes, honey!" She shouted, as Maia was entering the living room with Teddy. It was just the two of them, then. Narcissa approached Ginny. "She needs you now. Please, be kind to her. Take care of each other."

"I will do, Mrs. Malfoy. Thanks."

The woman disappeared behind the darkness of the door and Ginny berated herself: your girlfriend's mother, famous for detesting muggles and blood traitors, speaks to you in good manners and that's all you can say to her. Way to go, Ginny.

She followed in Maia's footsteps and dropped onto the couch next to her. Maia had Teddy on her lap, cradling him back to sleep, but there seemed to be no way to do it. Ginny looked at the scene completely dazzled: it was surprisingly good seeing Maia surrounded by children. He brought out her most affectionate but mature side at the same time. She thought for the umpteenth time that day that she did not look her age.

"He loves you."

"Well, I'm the one who feeds him, aren't I?" Maia joked. She rubbed their noses and the little boy laughed again. "This is what I was talking about. This is one of the moments when I can just relax and live, just because he's with me."

"I miss you dearly at Hogwarts, but I'm glad you're taking care of him. No one could do it the way you do. If he grows up to be just half of what you are, then he'll be lucky."

Maia's eyes were fixated on her. "I think that's a very nice thing to say. Thank you, lovely." Maia got up with the child in her arms and looked at Ginny again. "You want to hold him? I can bring us something to eat."

Ginny's heart fell in love a second time the instant Teddy's little hands sought to caress her face when Maia placed him on her lap. She could not avoid the coo she gave him, nor the tickling she did on that chubby tummy. Maia, holding the tray of fresh cookies, looked at the scene with deep tenderness.

"Can't say he has bad taste: he likes you, too."

"You think so? He's just a baby. He will love anyone that tickles him and makes him laugh."

Maia frowned in amusement. "Ouch. Thanks."

They spent a pleasant evening, surrounded by the company of Teddy, who sometimes demanded a cookie and sometimes that they left him alone with his toys. The two girls talked about everything that was going through their heads: their family, their future, how they had managed to assimilate everything that had happened. Maia didn't want to ask much more, but Ginny even talked about Fred and how the subject was being discussed at home.

Maia also spoke of her father and how she had not heard from him since that fateful day. She exposed her doubts to her partner: had he ever really loved her? What had changed that he had considered abandoning his family? They were questions to which she did not know the answers, and probably never would, but she could say that she was happier without Lucius in her life.

Things had changed a lot. Her relationship with her mother had changed a lot, rather. They talked more about any matter, openly, she had even confessed months ago her relationship with the youngest of the Weasleys. Narcissa had not emitted any kind of reaction, claiming that she had sensed her preferences since she was young and that she had normalized it long ago.

"Are you sleepy?" Maia asked when she saw Ginny lean on her repeatedly.

"Just a bit. But keep talking, I'm listening to you, I swear," she promised with a yawn.

"Come on. We'll put Teddy to sleep and then we'll call it a night."

And so they did. Ginny was too sleepy to notice Maia's room, so she reminded herself to do it the next morning. Wearing Maia's pajamas that were a bit too big for her, she ducked into the blankets and looked for the extra warmth the blonde was giving off. She met Ginny's eyes in the dark, wide and expectant, and kissed her one last time that night. Now she did have everything she ever wanted with her.

The younger girl snuggled against Maia's body, who wrapped her arms around her and closed her eyes.

"Maia?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Don't worry, okay? We'll fight the demons together."