Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Maximum Ride.
Chapter 2: Selfish Love
Christmas was coming fast, and Harry Potter couldn't wait to spend it with his friends, family, and the mystery avian girl he summoned from the pages of a book.
Perhaps it was a mistake, suddenly calling her into a world she knew nothing about, but Harry was too happy to care. Max didn't seem worried. She was enjoying her vacation.
She was tall, and she wore a mixture of Hermione's jeans and the Weasley twins' shirts. She was a year younger than Harry, but a head taller.
"Oh, Harry, can we go out into town?" Max asked. "I'd really like to see this Diagon Alley."
So, that's how Harry and Max ended up eating ice cream at a little table just outside the store. Max pulled a chocolate chip cookie out of her ice cream and took a bite. "Mmmmm! These things are my weakness!" she exclaimed.
Harry chuckled. He knew that from reading the books, but he didn't tell her that.
They walked down the street, entering almost every store Max saw. Her eyes were wide with wonder, taking in every sight.
"The rest of my flock would love to see this," she said. "Especially little Angel."
Harry bought her candy and a butterbeer. "This is amazing!" Max said. "I love it here!"
As the sun rose high in the sky, a few snowflakes started to fall. Max stuck out her tongue. "Do those taste good, Max?" Harry asked.
"Yeth!" she exclaimed. "You thould twy it!"
Harry laughed and copied Max: tongue out, arms spread wide, grinning like a maniac. "I'll race you down the end of the block," Max said suddenly, taking off at a dead sprint.
Harry ran after her, but he was unable to catch up to her. "So close," she said. "Nice try anyways. Hey, what's back there?" Max took off running down Knockturn Alley.
"Max! No!" Harry called after her. He sprinted as fast as he could, hoping to reach her before somebody less friendly did. She turned a corner and ran straight into Lucius Malfoy, who was standing with his son. Harry cursed their bad luck.
"Excuse me, sir," Max said. "I'm so sorry."
"What's a pretty girl like you doing down around these parts?" Malfoy Sr. snarled.
"Browsing," Max said, crossing her arms. She stared into his eyes, unafraid.
Harry finally reached her. "We were just leaving," he said. "Come on, Max."
"Keep you dog on a leash next time, Potter," Malfoy Jr. spat.
Max had turned away to leave with Harry, but at Draco's words, she turned back around. She walked right up to him and towered over him. "I'd be a little more careful if I were you. I could take you out in a heartbeat."
Harry grabbed Max's elbow and pulled her away. "Just leave it, Max," he pleaded.
"I don't like the look of them," she said. "Maybe I should go back."
"No!" Harry said quickly. "Let's just go home."
Everyone had fallen asleep except Harry and Max. She peacefully read the Daily Prophet, absorbing as much information about his world as she could. Harry tried to read, but he found himself staring at her.
"What?" Max asked.
"Nothing," Harry said. Max always acted afraid of love. He didn't want to scare her away. Besides, he knew she loved Fang, a boy from her world.
"It's not 'nothing', Harry Potter, don't lie to me," Max said, putting the paper down.
"I was just thinking about how selfish of me it was to bring you hear," Harry said. "You could get into a lot of trouble."
"I won't lie," Max said. "But I do enjoy the vacation. Really. I'm happy."
"I'm glad," Harry said. "But the people I, er, love tend to get hurt. I put you in danger, bringing you here." He thought of the earlier incident with the Malfoys. Max didn't know just how dangerous these people were.
"I'm not fragile," Max said.
Harry smiled. "Trust me. I know. But some tough people have died already. My world is at war."
"Then, I'll help you fight while I remain here," Max said.
Harry shook his head in amazement. It was that kind of courage that he was hoping for.
The voices of Tonks and Remus Lupin drifted in from the kitchen, growing closer. Harry counted to three, and they entered on cue. "Hello, Harry," Remus greeted. "Who's this?"
"I'm Max Ride. I'm a sqiub from Hermione's neighborhood. She invited me here while my parents are in America, visiting my sick grandparents."
"Nice meeting you, Max," Remus and Tonks both said at the same time. They paused, stared at each other, and laughed.
"Harry, did you see anything suspicious today?" Remus asked.
"Well, I did see the Malfoy's milling about Knockturn Alley. Why?"
Harry asked, but Remus refused to give him any information.
"He has a muggle pet?" Voldemort hissed. "Does she reside with him?"
"I believe so, my Lord, but I am uncertain," Malfoy answered.
"Very well. I expect you to organize a full-scale search of the Dursleys by tomorrow."
"Yes, my Lord."
Nagini slithered around Harry's bare feet. They were pale and withered. Mud clung to them. "Nagini, you will soon feed on the muggle girl," Voldemort whispered in parsel-tongue.
Harry stared at his gnarled hands. They were cold and foreign to him. He felt his face and froze. Something was off. He walked to a puddle on the ground and stared into his own face, except it wasn't his face. It was Voldemort's.
"Soon, we will use the girl to break the boy," he hissed.
Harry awoke, tangled in his blankets. Max was in danger. Tomorrow, he would begin to search for a way to send her home with Hermione. In the mean time, he would have to keep Max confined to Order headquarters or the burrow.
