SEVEN YEARS LATER

"Please, practice the spells we have learned today. For Tuesday write a parchment about the one that interested you the most. Don't leave everything to the last minute or you won't get a good grade in the OWLs." Maia's voice rose from the students as it was time to finish class. "Have a good weekend, guys."

"Likewise, Mrs. Malfoy!" The fifth-year students sang to the young teacher.

"Wish Ginny good luck from us, we'll be seeing the game from The Three Broomsticks." A group of Gryffindor students commented as they waved a small Holyhead Harpies flag.

Maia just smiled and winked at them.

It was no secret at school the relationship between Maia Malfoy, one of the youngest witches to become a teacher at Hogwarts, and Ginny Weasley, the best player on the best women's team in the Quidditch league. Therefore, when Ginny had an important game, the students did not hesitate to convey their congratulations and their luck to the teacher, and when they met the redhead outside Hogwarts, they would send a greeting to Maia.

Nor is it that they had kept it a secret at any time. They had lived too many things together to hide from the rest because of what they felt, so at no time did they try to hide their feelings, but rather showed them with pride. Everyone around her had shown their support in terms of their relationship and their development as people, Ginny's relatives accepting Maia as one of the family in a matter of time; they had even taken the relationship between the two girls as the most natural thing in the world.

However, life as an established teacher at Hogwarts was somewhat difficult for both of them. As Teddy had grown, he no longer needed Maia's primary care, so she had had to stay at Hogwarts every day, nights included, and the mornings in the park with Teddy and the nights wrapped up in the sheets with Ginny had become harder to find.

As for Ginny, her life wasn't easy either: ever since she'd moved in with Maia —shortly after landing that position at the Holyhead Harpies— she'd had to travel frequently with the team, and Teddy had gone from house to house, first with Harry, then with Andromeda and even sometimes with the Weasleys, delighted to have the little one with them, since the grandchildren had been arriving and they knew that Teddy also needed the company of the children.

Despite everything, Maia was comfortable where she was. She enjoyed her job, the place, and the company. She would never have thought about it, but returning to Hogwarts as a teacher was the best decision she could have made at the time, and she was glad she did. Her students were passing year after year, showing keen interest in defending against the dark arts, and exceeding their OWLs with good grades; that made her feel proud of her work.

Besides, she wasn't the only one who had returned. Now McGonagall was the Headmistress of the school, taking the position of the late Dumbledore, who was still remembered as the greatest Headmaster of all time. Neville Longbottom, too, had taken the job as a professor of Herbology, a subject he was excellent at in his Hogwarts years. Maia and Neville drank tea frequently, looking back at their castle days wistfully but also cautiously.

The young blonde peeked into Neville's office, who was wearing pruning gloves and ear protectors. Maia gave a funny smile when she saw that there were things that did not change.

"You comin', Neville?"

The boy seemed to hear her through those big ear muffs, as he jumped in place, scared, and Maia stifled a laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, coming. Just let me finish with this one."

Maia looked at his desk over her glasses. "Are you sure? You seem busy. She will understand."

The boy got rid of all the accessories and finally cut off the part of the plant he wanted, as a triumphant smile came over his face. "Done. Besides, I promised. It's an important game for her, she surely will appreciate the cheering, won't she?"

"Sure thing."

Indeed, things had not changed at all. Yes, perhaps it was new that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin like the two of them were as cordial as they were, given everything that had happened in the past; but it was still true that Maia was not too talkative and that Neville was still a bit shy, so their relationship was not as close as Harry and Maia could be, since they shared things in common —especially a godson.

They made small talk as they traversed the Hogwarts grounds so that they could disappear from there, and when they showed up at the stadium, Maia was almost grateful. On the way to the stands, Maia made a brief stop at the fast food stands: she bought a hot dog and they continued on their way. The two young teachers raised their hands in greeting as they made out Harry, George, Ron and Hermione at the end of the front row, and a little further to the right, Molly, Arthur and Bill, whom they also greeted from a distance.

"Here, I brought this for you." Maia reached out to hand the food to Ron, who looked at her like an angel.

"How did you know?"

"I know you enough to know that you always forget to get one for yourself before the game starts, and when you realize you'll have to get in line you start swearing out loud, so I decided to save that for all of us, Ronald."

The redhead flushed a bit, but smiled nonetheless. "Blimey, you know how to steal a man's heart."

"I'd rather your sister's." Maia deadpanned, a smirk on her face.

Harry, Neville and Hermione shared an enthusiastic laugh, while Ron wondered if he liked that comment or not and George rested his hand on his brother's shoulder as he shook his head, as if to tell him that he had asked for it himself. .

"Hey, look, it's about to start." Someone commented behind them.

And as soon as the first ball was in the hands of the Holyhead Harpies, they all concentrated on the game.

Maia had been a huge fan of Quidditch during her early years at Hogwarts, but when she decided to leave the team, a part of her passion also left with her. More than once she had confessed that she only watched the games for Ginny, but the truth was that she still had some part of the illusion for that game in her heart.

And it was Ron who fueled it, for they had more in common after all than she ever would have thought, and one of them was Quidditch. They discussed the other team's plays in the hope that a player from Ginny's team would listen to them and react, as they were losing. They protested vigorously when there were blatant tackles, when fouls were called that were not, in case they managed to intimidate the referee. Harry even joined them once in celebrating the balls going through the hoops, but Hermione and Neville were completely alien to the world of Quidditch.

"Where is Teddy?" Harry commented when a break was called.

"I left him at a friend's house; he lives at the end of the street. He's just a kid, I couldn't bring myself to force him to come," Maia sipped her own drink. "Oh, he's enjoying a bit too much the broomstick you bought him for his birthday, by the way. He's already broken two windows."

There was laughter all around and Harry shrugged with a smile. "Have to introduce him to our old traditions, right?"

The stadium was full, and the roars of the fans were heard more and more, predicting the end of the game. The Holyhead Harpies trailed by 10 points, it just took someone to get two more shots or to finally catch the snitch.

The day was sunny and hot, a strange thing for England, but it was good weather to see the snitch with a naked eye. As time progressed, the whole group squinted their eyes —Harry and Maia through their glasses, which made them look a bit funny— to catch a glimpse of it. But they were late, as someone else did. A broomstick ridden by a girl hurtled toward the ground, flying gracefully, fast as lightning, heading for a small golden ball that was fighting for freedom and not being captured.

But it didn't happen like that, because amid all the revelry and shouting, Ginny Weasley caught the golden snitch, awarding 150 points to the Holyhead Harpies and achieving a wide victory, thus winning the league.

Maia rose from her seat like a spring. "She did it! That's my girl!"

"You go, Ginny!" Ron yelled from beside her, putting his hands around his mouth.

They descended with speed from their seats to congratulate the winning team, which was approaching the stands to celebrate the victory with the fans, but especially Ginny, who had been the star player and the culprit of that triumph.

As soon as the young redhead made out Maia's long coat and the braid she wore that day, she ran to her. Maia didn't care if she stained her clothes, or if she was making too much noise: it was Ginny's time and she was going to celebrate, whatever it took. So she let the redhead lunge at her, a huge smile on her face, and Maia lifted her into the air, spinning her around, eliciting a loud laugh from Ginny.

"I must stink, Maia!"

"You smell like freshly cut roses, lovely," Maia planted a kiss on Ginny's cheek, whose smile grew even wider. "You did that! I'm so proud of you."

"You were the one to encourage me, so thank you, really. You always see the best in me, even when I can't." Her eyes brimmed with tears, and Maia's smile froze, but when the redhead smiled again she understood: she was crying of happiness.

"That's what I'm here for, right? To push the other to get her dreams. I hope one of yours is fulfilled now."

Ginny bit her lip whilst still smiling. "Oh, dear. My true dream was fulfilled even before this evening."

They reached the Burrow a little over an hour later. Everyone except Ginny planned to meet for dinner even in case the youngest's team lost, although now it was under the guise of celebration. Night had fallen, it was a bit colder, so the men of the house decided to pitch a tent around the table in the Weasley's garden.

Maia stepped into the new home, already used to the small bump just upon entering, and lowered her head at the exact moment so that the dreamcatcher wouldn't hit her on the head. She took off her coat and hung it on the rack, just before something caught her eye. A small shelf, almost hidden behind the darkness that entered through the windows of the fireplace.

The blonde bent down and inspected the photos, all neat and shiny, as if Molly and Arthur took it upon themselves to observe and clean them every day. The first image was of Bill and Fleur, looking at each other with deep affection and holding hands and waist as if they were dancing. Maia recognized the scene, for she herself kept a photo —now old and somewhat wrinkled— of Ron and Ginny in that very spot, happy and younger. The next was from Charlie, who was posing with a smile that didn't pretend to be attractive but still was; Maia laughed a little. Surely his mother was expecting him to marry at some point.

The next one to come was Percy with his wife, Audrey. They were not seen much around the Burrow, as they both had busy jobs at the Ministry, but the Slytherin knew they had regained a cordial relationship with their parents after the long months Percy spent away from them. Maia's heart broke a little when she saw the photo of Fred, alone, with a small black bow in the corner of the frame, but attached to the photo of her brother George with Angelina, newly married.

Maia had to contain her laughter when she saw the next one: Ron and Hermione. They still hadn't said "yes, I do", but it was a matter of time, as Ron had dared to ask the big question months ago, and although Hermione had said yes, they still hadn't made up their minds to leave the single life behind and start a new one as a marriage.

The blonde managed another small smile when she saw the last photo, that of her adorable but fierce Ginny. Maia was completely dazzled by the way she was smiling in the photo, so much that she imitated the gesture without realizing it. She had a beauty that the blonde had never perceived from another person.

When she heard a clear throat behind her, she flushed, knowing she had been discovered. She found herself face-to-face with Molly, who was grinning widely. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stick my nose."

"We're waiting for you," she kept the smile on her face. Then she looked at the picture. "Both outside and there."

Maia clicked her tongue and gave her an anxious smile. Then she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small black box which she showed Molly. "I've had this in my pocket for days."

"Oh, dear. Have I ruined your surprise?"

"Not at all, Molly. It's just that I've been waiting to pop the question —waiting for, I don't know what. The thing is I don't want to stop loving her, ever. And I feel if I ask her and the love disappears, it'll be the most heartbreaking thing it'll happen to me."

Molly took her hands in hers, Maia already used to the physical closeness her mother-in-law required. "You do not have to worry about that, Maia. Relationships come and go, maybe this one is forever, maybe it's not. But you have to live in the moment, not let the future ruin your plans. Sure, it will be heartbreaking if one day you decide to part ways, but follow your heart if this is what makes you happy now. Does this make you happy?"

"More than anything in the world."

"Then do it when you feel like it. There's no right moment to ask, you just have to create it. We should go outside, shall we?" Molly hooked her arm through the blonde's and adjusted the collar of her coat. "This is a very pretty pendant. The color is just exquisite. Where did you get it?"

Maia opened her mouth, aware of what Molly was holding in her hands. "That's an old present from my mum and my brother."

"Do you miss them?" Molly's lip twitched.

Maia simply smiled and nodded. "Everyday."

The woman squeezed her hand lovingly, as if she wanted to transmit strength. She was now the only mother figure Maia had in her life, with her mother and cousin Tonks both deceased years ago. Oh, how many times did Maia wish that her mother could meet there, see the life she had created for herself, see how she shared her life with the person she loved, how little by little the past had been left behind and only what was lived mattered in the present. She liked to think that Narcissa would be proud of her and what she had accomplished, after all.

"Hey, Maia!" Ron caught her attention from his seat. "I saved you a seat."

"We're feeling nice today, yeah?" The girl laughed but sat.

"It's just because there are drumsticks for dinner and he knows they're not your favorite, so he'll be able to eat more," George whispered next to her, making her laugh again.

"That's not true!" Ron protested. "She's nicer to me than you are, George."

Maia's heart sank for a moment. She was surrounded by Weasleys, Gryffindor, sympathizers of things that, at first, would have been very different from Maia's. But the girl felt good, welcomed, happy, warm, contrary to what she had always felt in the manor, surrounded by the coldness of the walls and that of her parents, the close treatment by obligation of the elves, who they feared.

She had never thought her life was going to end this way, eating every weekend with the Weasleys, blood traitors and Gryffindors, a far cry from what she was supposed to be in life. But when Ron gave her a small smile and passed her the plate of mashed potatoes, when George nudged her to get her attention and share a laugh, when Harry, sitting across from her, looked at her with those deep green eyes, as if assuring her that everything was fine, when Hermione shook her head mockingly, as if telling her not to pay attention to Ron; that's when she realized that this was the life she wanted for her.

"Before you dig in, you vultures," Ginny said above everyone else, standing up and pounding her glass with a small spoon. "I would like to share something with you, with all of you. Because you've been my family since they one, doesn't matter if you were here or not since the beginning, because every single one of you has proved to me that you care and love me, and I love and care for you the same way. You've pushed me to become a better student, a better player, a better person, and I'm grateful for all of it. Really, I am."

"Go and make us cry, Ginny!" George yelled from his side, making the audience laugh.

Maia laughed softly, lower than the others, because she was expectant at Ginny's words. She understood that that day had been important to her and that sensitivity now emerged thanks to emotions.

"Shut it, Georgie. Because you love me, and I love you, I'd like to tell you two things. I'm quitting Quidditch." At the gasps of shock and whispers of protest, Ginny shrugged. "George has offered me to help him with the shop, and given Ron will not be able to help anymore, I decided I'll be the one to help."

There was still confusion in the tent, especially on the faces of Arthur and Molly, and Maia. They hadn't talked about Ginny quitting Quidditch, so the confusion was evident in her frown and parted lips.

"But why? You just won the league!"

"Are you injured?"

"Are they not treating you right?"

Many questions reverberated in the tent, but they didn't hear any answers yet.

"Please, let me explain," Ginny laughed nervously. "I know we just won the league, and that's just the cherry on top of the cake, I'm so happy for it, really. No, I'm not injured, I'm perfectly fine. And also, no, they treat me right. It's not any of that."

"Come on, spill the tea!" Someone said.

And she did.

"I'm pregnant. I'm... having a baby."

At that very moment Maia froze. She was in a state as if her brain had not been able to understand the words that had reached her ears. The people around her erupted in applause, incredibly happy for the news, while Maia kept staring at Ginny's black sweater, who was hugged and congratulated by everyone who approached her.

Maia got up with her body still numb. A flash of light bothered her face, and she saw that Charlie was standing near her with a camera. "What the hell?" She whispered to herself, but Harry, who was now next to her, placing a hand on her back, somewhat concerned, heard her too.

"Are you okay? You're so pale you're about to become transparent." Harry let out a soft laugh as he helped her up. "Are you not happy?"

"I didn't think it was gonna work."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The potion. She must be pregnant because of the potion she took. But the doctors said it only had a 35% chance to work. I thought we were going to do all those tests for nothing, but she was so excited I didn't want to tell her it was going to be in vain."

The green-eyed boy took her in his arms and, again, it all seemed like a dream to Maia. How could his life really be that? Maia got carried away a bit, resting her chin on his shoulder and closing her eyes. "You're having a baby. Congratulations, Malfoy."

A baby. A BABY. The feeling began to fill her head when she saw Ginny look at her with those adoring eyes. She had hugged her hundreds of times, thousands, she would dare to say, but she did not feel that any hug connected and united them as much as this one. A fourth life would be formed in their home, because Teddy was always one of them. Maia scooped her up in her arms, trying not to hurt her or let her fall.

"Any words from the cooler mum?"

Ginny grunted, feigning offense, as Maia kissed her on the cheek. She put it down and Maia just looked at Molly. "Just take the picture, yeah?" Molly gasped as she raised her hands to her mouth, tears forming in her eyes as Maia knelt in front of her daughter. "Someone once said to me there's no right moment to ask this, you have to create it for yourself. With you by my side I've realized everything is easier to say, to feel. You're the one creating special moments and memories for me, and I want the rest of our lives to be one of them. Will you marry me?" The tent was filled with joy and joy again when Ginny took the blonde's face in her hands and kissed her deeply, Maia feeling the salt of her now fiancée's tears in her mouth. The ring rested with delicate beauty in her hand. "I feel like you should've done this though," she grunted whilst getting up", you're more flexible than me."

ELEVEN YEARS AND NINE MONTHS LATER

"Alright, sweet cheeks. Are you packed yet?"

Maia crouched in front of the girl, who, for her age, was quite small. The little girl shook her head, a blush evident on her cheeks, as if she knew she was going to be scolded. Maia sighed.

"Teddy stayed up last night and he let me watch a film with him, so I forgot to pack everything. I'm sorry, mum, I'll be doing it now."

The woman sighed again. She adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose as she bent down again to zip up her own luggage; the eleven-year-old would leave home to head for Hogwarts, but she would, too, for another year. However, this was already routine, it hardly bothered her. Teddy was almost twenty years old, so he could take care of himself, and now that he had a girlfriend he barely stopped by the house, which left Ginny, Maia and—

"Cissy!! I swear, you're a snitch!" Teddy yelled from downstairs, his huge shoes bumping against the wood of the stairs and causing the girl to let out a high-pitched scream.

"Please, Edward, stop scaring your sister, she has to pack yet," she gathered her hair into a ponytail and gave her daughter a small smile. "Come on, I'll help you. We don't have much time and you don't want to be late, do you?"

Cissy shook her head fervently, but avoided Maia's gaze. "What if... people don't like me?"

"What do you mean, sweet cheeks?"

"What if I don't make any friends? What if I'm sorted into a house you don't like?"

"Baby... You don't have to worry about that. I promise you, you'll make great friends. You're going to meet people your age, maybe older, maybe younger, who would wish to be your friend. You're very special, you're kind and really smart. In Hogwarts you'll find very good friends, I assure you." Maia reached out and showed her a photo. "You see? I met all of your aunts and uncles at Hogwarts. At first we didn't really like each other, because I had other very good friends, but in the end look at us."

"Getting drunk every weekend." Teddy interrupted from the doorway. Maia tossed him a pillow with a frown, which made her daughter laugh.

"Don't pay attention to him, he's just jealous," Maia yelled the last part so her godson could hear it. "As in the house part, don't you worry, I will love you no matter what house you're sorted into. Doesn't matter if it's Gryffindor or Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff —they would kill to have you on their side."

"Teddy was a Hufflepuff, Mama was a Gryffindor, you're a Slytherin. What if I don't fit in any of them?"

"There's always room for everyone at Hogwarts. You will not be left out, the Hat always takes your opinions into account."

Cissy hugged her mother tightly, wrapping her short arms around her waist, and she smiled.

Maia could go on telling infinite times how her life was, how pain, anguish and oppression were transformed into freedom, into love, into family. How the mark that burned with desire to lie on her arm never materialized, how the life it was destined for never came through a handful of acts of bravery that a sixteen-year-old girl was able to do. How in the end her family, who promised to go very far in the pureblood dynasty, crashed against a wall of misfortune and loss, being only she the only one who would extend that lineage, but very far from what her ancestors had desired.

She could go on narrating, too, the countless nights she slept with Ginny by her side, calming her nightmares, feeding her dreams, waking up next to her every morning, when she saw Eden's lifeless eyes look at nothing, when she suffered again the the pain of Bellatrix's crucios before she died, how she saw herself, wand held high, murdering a man in cold blood for a creature that never deserved her admiration or love.

She could remember Teddy's first word —Maia —, the first time he asked about his parents, the first time he rode a broomstick; the first time he stepped on Hogwarts, when the sorting hat settled on his head and he screamed Hufflepuff! after thinking about it for a short time, how she, from the great teachers' table, cheered him on with a big smile and told him that she was very proud of him.

She could remember how that very night, when her daughter was already sleeping in what would be her room for the next seven years with her new companions, she wrote a letter to Ginny with a beaming smile, affirming what she already knew since she had looked at those big gray eyes and she had caught that mischievous grin on her freckled face: that when the hat had screamed Amelia Narcissa Malfoy, it had taken her five seconds to reply Slytherin, and little Cissy had felt at home, surrounded by applause and of kind glances, eager for her to go to the snakes table.

She could remember a thousand other things, because she had had a long and full life, but now none of that mattered. Details or banal things did not matter, nor great curiosities or moments.

The only thing that mattered was that, after all, all was well.

so... this is it. i guess i —we, really— am saying goodbye to this story.

it's been special for me to write this for many reasons, your amazing feedback being one of them. i'm forever grateful for your kind words, your hilarious comments and your patience with me. i hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as i've enjoyed writing it.

it may seem stupid because it's just one more story, but this is the first one i really took time in writing. writing about maia, ginny, eden, every single character of this fanfic has been a great journey. but it's time to close this story because it has come to an end.

again, thank you for bearing with me and staying until the very end. hope to see you in my other stories, if they are of your interest, of course. if you have any question regarding metanoia or anything else, don't be shy and interact with me, i'm always open to have a chat!

really hope to see you all soon