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Chapter Three
Maia sighed as she and Sirius entered the dark, dank hallway of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. The place was cold, unfeeling, horrible. She couldn't remember a time she'd ever felt happy here, and it was a huge contrast from the safety and warm, welcoming feeling of Hogwarts.
She shivered involuntarily, pulling her robes tighter around her shoulders, as if that could somehow protect her from the unpleasant feelings of just being in this house again.
" Do you think they're already home? " Maia whispered as she looked at Sirius, no desire to see her parents any time soon, and no desire to attract their attention with a loud voice.
She could already hear Athena whining in her carry case - she was always unhappy when they were here, and Maia didn't blame her.
There'd once been a time when she'd gone out of her way to defy her parents, and she hadn't cared about the consequences, but as she got older, and her father punished she and Sirius more and more, she found that she would much rather stay in her room, and avoid her parents as much as she possibly could, until it was time to go to the Potter's.
" I wouldn't have thought so," Sirius muttered, noticing the look of fear on her face.
He frowned - she didn't usually seem so scared. Of course they both hated the place, but she was never normally this scared. He wondered if there was more going on than he thought - perhaps their father gave her more than the occasional slap for being "disobedient."
The first time Orion had Sirius, he'd been younger. He couldn't remember it exactly, but younger than ten.
And at first, he didn't hit Maia. Then one day, the first time after they came home from Hogwarts for the first time, and Maia had refused to befriend a horrid Slytherin girl, daughter of Orion and Walburga's friends.
Sirius had shouted at his father, and Orion had hit her only once and sent her to her room.
Neither Sirius nor Maia knew what to do about it, and Maia simply insisted that she could handle it. It had been very rare at first. Orion had always shouted, and when they were home for christmas and summer, sometimes he hit her.
Sirius was aware that it had become more frequent as they grew older, because it had towards him too, but their father never hit Maia in front of him anymore, and when he questioned his sister about it afterwards, she always said it was nothing she couldn't handle.
Sirius had believed her. he was strong, but if she thought she could handle it, then it would have to do. He'd made her swear to him that their father wasn't too bad with her - that he didn't hit her as often, or as hard, as he hit Sirius.
She'd sworn, said she could handle it, and they'd get away soon, and he'd always believed her. He'd often thought in some way, he managed to protect her from their father wherever he could.
If he could sense her about to argue back with their father, he'd jump in and argue back himself, so she wouldn't get the beating.
He frowned and made a mental note to keep an extra close eye on her, and bring the subject up later.
" Yeah, I suppose you're right. They're probably still out showering Regulus with gifts," Maia nodded.
" Let them," Sirius replied, " if it means they pay less attention to us, then it's all the better. Now here, give me your trunk, I'll take it up to your room. "
Maia nodded, almost hugging her arms around herself, " Thank you, Sirius. I suppose I should get up to my room and let Athena out, or she'll be angry with me for days. Then again, the fact that we're even here will be enough to make her sulk. "
Sirius smiled a little, though he noticed the way she wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
He put down his own trunk and stepped a little closer to her, reaching out and taking her by the shoulders. He pulled her to him in a hug, and wrapped his arms around her.
Maia sighed as she sagged against him - there was something so secure about Sirius' arms. He was a lot taller than her, and she could bury her face against his chest and attempt to hide from everything.
" It's not long, now," Sirius said, rubbing her back as he held her tightly.
" I know," she mumbled.
" Just a few weeks," he said, and all of a sudden she wasn't sure which of them he was trying to convince.
She closed her eyes, " And after that? "
Sirius hesitated, and she could imagine his face slipping into that confused look he so often wore. " Huh? "
Maia's arms were still around his waist as she pulled back a bit and looked up at him, " What about after 7th year has finished? Where do we go then? "
" We'll work something out," Sirius said, looking straight at her, " We've each got a bit of money. It'd be enough to rent out somewhere cheap, like a couple of rooms at the Leaky Cauldron, while we found somewhere to live. We certainly won't have to stay here. "
Maia nodded, " I just wish our damned parents weren't so horrid. "
" Doesn't matter right now," Sirius assured her, " things will work out. I promise you. "
Maia nodded - it only seemed sensible to believe Sirius. She never had any reason not to. She was sure they'd work something out for after Hogwarts.
Sirius smiled and let go of her, turning away to take hold of her trunk for her. He heard Maia following him up the stairs, mumbling quietly to her cat, assuring her pet that they could leave soon.
He smiled to himself. He always called her silly for the way she acted with her cat, but he knew how much comfort she got from her pet, and how much she loved her. He could hardly begrudge her anything that made her feel better in this terrible place, even if under normal circumstances, he hated the damned cat.
He left Maia in her room, which was on the landing below his, to unpack her belongings.
Almost an hour later, Maia had unpacked all of her things and was lying on her bed, one hand lightly stroking Athena, and the other turning the pages of Witch Weekly's latest issue.
" You two! Down here, now! "
She groaned when she heard the shout. She thought she'd heard her father, mother and brother arrive back not long ago, and knew it wouldn't be long before she had to face them.
She was sure she'd be subjected to hours of her mother's demands that she befriend the horrid children of her friends, who all believed that pure-blood nonsense the rest of the family spouted.
She also knew she was due the latest lecture about how much of a disappointment she was to the family, and after hearing about her cousin Narcissa recently becoming engaged to the son of another dark pure-blooded family, she was sure her parents would soon be trying to force the same on her.
She knew better than to prolong going downstairs, and she went out into the hallway, where Sirius was already making his way downstairs.
" Hey," Sirius mumbled, when he saw her, " are you alright? "
" I am until we go downstairs," she replied darkly, " come on, let's get it over with. "
They both went into the drawing room, where their mother was sitting in her armchair with a drink in one hand, while their father stood in front of the fireplace.
Their parents didn't ask them how they were, or make any kind of greeting, not that either of them had expected anything like that. The twins were simply informed that their parents were holding a dinner party the following night for some of their friends, including their aunt, uncle and cousins, and that they were required to behave themselves.
Maia grimaced at the thought of Bellatrix and Narcissa both being in the house. She'd hated them when she was growing up, and she hated them now. Both married to men of "respectable" pure blood, both selfish, and stupid enough to believe all the family rubbish. And in Bella's case, just pure evil.
" What's that face for? " Orion Black asked his daughter sharply.
" No reason," Maia said quickly.
Her father took a step closer to her, " Do you have a problem with friends of your mother and I, being invited into this house? "
" Friends or Death Eaters? " Sirius scoffed, stepping forwards a little, so Maia was partial hidden behind him.
The Death Eaters were the group of witches and wizards who were starting to rally together under a new dark wizard who called himself Voldemort. He and his follower were pure evil, and believed that all blood should be pure. The whole family, except the twins, and Andromeda, who had been disowned years ago, believed in all of it, and the group were rising quickly. Their brother Regulus was being sucked in, and some of the boys in their own year at school were all ready to leave and join the Death Eaters.
" You'd do well to think about the Dark Lord's ideals, boy," Walburga hissed, her face contorted in anger, " rather than bringing shame down onto this family. "
" Shame? " Sirius repeated, " it's a shame to be in this family. "
From behind him, he felt Maia nudge him, as if she was trying to tell him to be quiet, but he didn't care. He found it more and more difficult to hold his tongue.
" None of your lip, boy," Orion said, " and you, my girl, you can stop hiding behind your brother. Let me have a look at you. "
Very reluctantly, Maia took a single step to her left, so she was no longer partially hidden my Sirius. Her father stepped forwards and walked around her in a circle, twice.
Maia held her chin up high, wondering what he was doing. Suddenly he stopped and turned to his wife.
" The girl had grown up nicely," he observed, " she'll do. "
" Do for what? " Maia asked, narrowing her eyes.
It was her mother who answered, " It's of no consequence yet. Your father and I are having dinner out with the Parkinsons tonight, Kreacher will make sure you both, and Regulus, have some dinner of your own. Maia, I am taking you for new dress robes tomorrow. That is all. "
" Why do I need new dress robes? " Maia asked, frowning.
" Because I will not have you looking scruffy in front of our friends at the diner tomorrow," Walburga replied stiffly, " appearances are important, Maia. "
Sirius groaned, " Why do we have to be at this dinner at all? Can't we just stay upstairs and pretend why don't exist? "
" Don't be ridiculous, boy! " Orion snapped, " our friends already know that you're both doing your best to bring shame upon this house, and we're determined to minimise the damage! "
" Because sitting around the dining room table and pretending to like each other sounds sensible," Sirius scoffed.
" Sirius! " Maia hissed through her teeth, recognising the signs of her father about to lose his temper.
Orion glared at his son, " You - the both of you - are going to be at our, " dinner tomorrow. You're going to sit around the table and say as little as possible. We are going to give off the appearance of a family that doesn't turn on each other and embarrass the whole name. "
" Father," Maia started, not sure what she was actually going to say, only to be cut off by her dad.
" Not another word from either of you now," he said sharply, stepping forwards and grasping hold of both of her forearms firmly, " Maia, you'll be doing as you're told tomorrow. "
His fingers dug into her arms and she nodded, desperate for him to let go of her. She knew Sirius' face was etched with concern, and her father seemed to notice it too, as he added, " Don't look so worried, boy! Your sister is safe. Today at least, anyway. Now get out of here, the both of you. "
He let go of Maia's arms abruptly, pushing her away from him roughly.
She stumbled over her feet a little as he did so, but caught herself and drew herself upright. She wouldn't let anyone get to her. She drew herself up to full height and walked out of the drawing room slowly and deliberately, holding her head high.
She heard Sirius following behind her, and they didn't exchange a word as they walked up the staircase.
When they got outside Maia's room, she looked over her shoulder at him, " Are you coming in for a bit? "
He nodded, " Got nowhere else to be. "
He followed her into her bedroom, and she groaned, flopping down onto her bed. Sirius sighed as he leaned back against the wardrobe, folding his arms over his chest. He barely even noticed Maia's cat slink round his legs before jumping up onto her bed.
" Well, that could have been worse, I suppose," Sirius commented.
Maia frowned, " They're up to something, Sirius. "
" I know," he said, " but I'm not sure what. "
" It's about me," Maia said, looking up at him.
Their eyes met and for a few moments, they tried to read each other. After a few moments pause, Sirius had worked out exactly what his sister was thinking - sometimes they were very good at knowing exactly what the other was thinking.
" You think they're going to try and marry you off. "
" You disagree? " she asked cooly.
Sirius hesitated. It was very common for families like theirs to make sure their children married other pure-blooded families, and with two of their cousins married off in a similar way, It wouldn't be at all surprising that the family had something in mind for Maia.
They were sadly mistaken however, if they thought she would conform.
" No," he replied after a moment, " I think you might be right. "
Maia closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands, " Merlin, this is bloody brilliant. I'm sure they've got something in mind for me - the way they're so insistent on my being at this dinner, the things he said about me being ready, what she said about me getting new robes and needing to look good. What the hell are they thinking? "
" Hey," Sirius said softly, using a voice that was only ever reserved for when he sister needed comforting, " whatever they're planning for you, it won't happen. "
She looked up at him, " What's he going to do to me, when I say no? "
Sirius frowned - their father certainly wouldn't be happy, but Sirius had no idea why they expected that they'd be able to make Maia get married. Presumably to a son of some of pure blood families. Who presumably was coming to dinner tomorrow evening.
" He won't do anything to you, Maia, he won't," Sirius assured her, crossing the room and sitting down beside her on the bed. He reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
She sighed and leaned against him.
" Why are they so horrid, Sirius? "
He chuckled bitterly, " Some people just are. "
" Sirius," she sighed, closing her eyes as she revelled in the comfort of his arm around her, " if they really have got plans for me to marry someone after I leave school, I'm going to refuse - "
" I should bloody well hope so," he interrupted.
" I'm going to refuse," she continued as though she hadn't heard, though her lips threatened to twitch into a smile, " and then they're going to be furious. He'll be so awful, Sirius. He'll ... he'll ... oh Merlin, I don't know what I'll do. "
Sirius rubbed her arm gently. It seemed that his sister had suspected for a while that they'd try to marry her off, given the way she spoke about it.
He knew his sister would never agree to marry someone she didn't love after graduation, just because he was rich and pure-blooded - not like their mother had, and not like Bella and Narcissa, and many others they could name.
" I won't let him hurt you," Sirius said.
" Oh yeah? " she challenged, " how can you stop him? "
" I won't let him hurt you," Sirius repeated firmly, " there's no doubt that Father will be furious when you refuse to go along with their plans, and so will Mother, but I'll be there for you. "
Maia sighed, " Who do you think it is? "
He had to admire the way her mind worked - aways trying to keep herself pulled together, and keep her emotions in check. Although it meant she had a tendency to bottle things up and explode all at once.
" I dread to think," Sirius sighed as she leaned against him, Athena in her lap, repeatedly nudging her hand, as if she was desperately trying to tell her mistress that she didn't want to be here. " But whoever it is, he'll be some pure blooded, Voldemort loving, idiot who doesn't deserve you. Probably a Goyle, or a Nott, or someone like that. There aren't too many options these days when you're sticking strictly to the old families. "
" I wish we were still at Hogwarts," Maia mumbled.
" Me too," Sirius said, " maybe not the lessons, but the castle itself. "
" All tucked up in Gryffindor Tower," Maia smiled.
They sat together in silence for a few moments, and Maia tried to think of something, anything else. She lifted her head from Sirius' shoulder and looked at him,
" Come on," she said, " I need distracting. How about a game of chess? "
Sirius nodded, still concerned about her of course, but sure that for now she was alright, and he would take her mind off it with a game of chess if that's what she wanted.
" Whatever they say, I'm going to say no," Maia told Sirius ten minutes later, as they sat opposite each other on her bedroom floor, " they can't physically force me to marry. "
" Of course they can't," Sirius said, " it's just not going to be easy to take their reactions when you say no. Assuming they're lining up a husband for you, anyway. "
" They are," Maia said, " I'm sure of it. "
" We'll cross it when we come to it," Sirius said, " but it's going to be ok. "
Maia nodded, commanding one of her pawns, before a sudden thought occurred to her. She looked at Sirius, her eyes suddenly growing wide, with thoughts of her new idea.
" What are you thinking, you scheming witch? "
She shook her head at his teasing tone, her own face and tone completely serious.
" We could leave. "
He stared at her, and she rolled her eyes as she continued, " What's with the slack expression? "
" Leave? " he repeated, " just ... get up and walk out? "
" Maybe pack some belongings too," Maia shrugged, making another move, " but we're old enough to do it now. We've got a bit of money in the bank, enough to live well on for ages yet, we could find somewhere to go. We hate it here. Why don't we just - "
" Leave," Sirius finished.
He nodded as he thought about it. He'd often dreamed of being far away from Grimmauld Place, but running away from home had never been a real option. Still, they were 16 now.
" Exactly," Maia said.
They looked at each other for a few moments, knowing the same thoughts were running through each others minds, and after a minute, Sirius nodded.
" Maia, we need to think about it. At least think about where we can go. See how things go tomorrow, and then - "
He trailed off, and Maia knew. She just knew, that some day soon, they'd be out of here. She just dreaded the fall out that would inevitably come when they did, and the fall out that was bound to come tomorrow. The thought of her mother screaming at her, her father shouting, and probably beating her, filled her with dread.
" We'll do it," Maia finished.