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Chapter 4:

It has been one month since Maia McKinnon got news of her pregnancy and her best friend's death resulting in her fleeing her beloved vampire mate behind in Volterra with nothing but a farewell and heartfelt letter.

Maia spent the first month in London, alternating her time between constant depression and family reunions. Maia decided that she would not go back to St. Mungo's until she has safely given birth, and so Maia spent most of her days going through pictures of her and Caius and reading pregnancy books.

Unfortunately, there were no books sold in the magical or the muggle world of what to expect when you're expecting a hybrid baby that so happens to be half-magical and half-vampire.

As the first month went by, Maia was left facing a troublesome perspective of her miraculous pregnancy; even though Maia was a month pregnancy, she looked to be about three months with child. Her baby was growing progressively at an unnatural rate. For this reason, Maia never informed her family, friends or fellow healers at St. Mungo's about her pregnancy – what exactly could she tell them? I am pregnant with a vampire's child and I am a month pregnant even though I look to be about three months?

Being a healer, Maia knew that she could not go on this way without treatment or confiding in anyone – god forbid anything happens to her. Maia stared resolutely in her fireplace, studying the embers and the ashes sparkling, watching the fire dancing merrily … a total contrast to her mood.

Maia went over to her beautiful and most trusted brown barn owl, Pegasus and penned a letter to the only person she could think of that had the possibility of helping her and perchance keeping her secret. Once Maia finished writing her letter, she attached it to Pegasus' leg and whispered, "Find him as quickly as possible." Pegasus hooted happily, taking off into the sky.

***Affari Nascosti***

Two days later, Maia found herself walking down the long path of Hogsmeade to the Hogwarts gate.

"'Ey, who's there?" a gruff voice called out.

Maia turned around to see the groundskeeper and half-giant Hagrid making his way over with his trusty dog Spike. Maia smiled, Hagrid was a real softy and loyal to the core. It always made her mad to see how some witches and wizards would shy away from him after finding out his ancestry and that he was actually half-giant. You couldn't find a more delicate and kind person than Rubeus Hagrid himself. Maia unconsciously placed her hand over her womb and inwardly winced; this was the main reason she was here to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore, she didn't want those prejudiced people to look down on her baby for being half-vampire or as the prejudiced purebloods would say, 'filthy half-breed.'

"Hey Hagrid!" Maia beamed at the half-giant, giving him a half wave. As soon as Hagrid recognized who was standing by the gate, his whole face brightened up and he cheerfully boomed, "Maia McKinnon! Is tha' you? Been two years!"

"I know Hagrid, I'm sorry I couldn't keep in touch. I was actually in Italy for nine months and I just recently got back. I actually have a meeting with the Headmaster," said Maia in a sincerely apologetic tone.

Hagrid merely waved her apology away with a bright smile and had Maia promise him that she would visit soon for tea and his infamous rock cakes (insert wince here). Hagrid opened up the gate and Maia made her way to the third floor, not stopping to pause until she stood in front of the griffin gargoyle, whispering the password, "Fudge Flies," before stepping inside the circular, moving stone staircase.

Before Maia could knock on the door standing between her and the headmaster, his voice called out for her to enter. Maia's eyes latched on to an instrument that was whirring and emitting some sort of pearly smoke before her eyes snapped onto Headmaster Dumbledore's pure blue twinkling eyes that were a shade or two darker than her sky blue eyes.

"Maia McKinnon my dear, it came to me as quite a shock when you asked for an audience with me, is everything alright my dear – ahh," as Dumbledore stood up and spoke his eyes momentarily flashed to her stomach, his face changing from concerned to delighted, his eyes twinkling full force. "My dear, congratulations, come have a seat, we cannot have you standing all day," he continued motioning his hand to the comfortable cushioned armchair.

Maia averted her eyes as she blushed, thanking the Headmaster – Albus, as he persuaded her to call him as she wasn't a student at Hogwarts anymore, before sitting down on the offered armchair. "Yes, Headmas- Albus, you see, my pregnancy is what I needed to talk to you about … it's a bit ... complicated."

"Complicated you say?" Albus said as he narrowed his eyes at his former, brilliant student.

"Before I explain myself, I need your word that you won't mention what I am about to tell you to a soul, without my expressed permission," said Maia, her face completely serious, her tone brooking no argument.

Albus sat up straight in his seat; he could sense that this was neither a joking matter, nor a situation to make light of.

"I give you my word Maia," said Albus solemnly, his eyes devoid of any twinkle but shining with sincerity. "I take it your family have no idea what you are about to inform me?" Albus noticed how Maia instantly shifted uncomfortably with a hint of guilt at his merely innocent question.

Maia shook her head, her eyes shining with silent tears as she said, "They cannot know. Not about what I am about to tell you and not about me being pregnant."

Albus' eyes nearly bulged out at this bit of information, "Do you mean to tell me my dear, that your parents have no knowledge of your pregnancy?" Again Maia shook her head negatively. "How on earth did you manage all this secrecy for what looks like three months?"

Interesting, Albus noted, as Maia flinched at his last question.

"I am only a month pregnant Albus," said Maia in a small voice.

Even though the situation was no laughing matter, Maia could not stop her lips from twitching at the sight of her all-knowing, brilliant and composed Headmaster blanching and nearly falling off his seat at this tidbit of information. She wondered what his expression would be once she informs him of Caius.

Albus pinched the bridge of his nose before saying, "I presume this is part of what you need my help in?" he looked at Maia expectantly. Maia nodded and then opened her mouth to begin her story.

She told Albus of her loneliness and her decision to spend a long vacation in Italy, of her stay in Volterra and her first night meeting a handsome stranger. She spoke of Caius and of how in two short months she fell in love with him. How her heart ached when they were apart and of how Caius filled her hollow heart. Maia proceeded to tell Albus of their good times together before she cleared her throat and spoke of her suspicions, "no matter how much I loved him, I could not stop my brain from processing some of his odd qualities."

"Odd? What do you mean by odd, my dear?" inquired Albus. While Maia spoke, Albus couldn't help but smile at her happiness. He always was a fan of young love and the endearing hearts.

Maia twitched about, seemingly uncomfortable as she picked on a loose thread from her cloak. Albus gave her a few minutes to collect her thoughts. Finally, Maia cleared her throat and looked up. Albus felt himself wilting as he looked at the silent tears falling down the corner of her sky blue eyes.

Her voice trembled as she continued, "His eyes were a ruby red, Albus, almost matching the color of my own hair – at times when he would take me out they would be an onyx black and then the next day they would be back to their natural ruby color," Albus titled his head sideways in confusion, stroking his beard as he tried to make sense of her befuddling statement, "his skin is icy to the touch. Every part of his skin is below normal body temperature – he was unnaturally cold, I would describe it as the black lake during the winter… maybe even colder."

"That is quite … odd," Albus agreed. He waved his hand, silently encouraging Maia to proceed with her suspicions.

"The way he handled me, it was like he was frightened he would break me with his bare hands. He doesn't eat … in fact, I have never seen him consume any type of food or drink whenever in my presence Albus," Maia's voice broke off and she graciously accepted the handkerchief Albus offered her.

"Is there anything else my dear?" Albus asked, his confusion increasing tenfold as a house elf placed a cup of tea for him and Maia, who graciously took a small sip before nodding frantically, "he has an aversion to the sunlight Headmaster. He told me that he has delicate skin, his skin burns rather quickly … but it sounded like a well-crafted lie to me."

"The first thing that comes to mind is vampire, however that can only be an explanation to the sunlight," mused Albus.

"I thought the same thing Albus, but then I thought of everything we learnt in Defense Against the Dark Arts and it didn't fit. Vampires can sustain food as long as they have a healthy amount of blood in their system, their body temperature is the same as humans and their eyes do not constantly change colors," said Maia in a high-pitched voice.

"Yes and Horace personally introduced me to his vampire friend, Sanguini – such a delightful fellow," Albus smiled, drifting off into space for a while before he snapped his attention back to Maia, "Ah, sorry my dear, continue please."

"Nine months later, I stumbled upon Caius having a heated argument with his brothers Aro and Marcus. Thank god I had a notice-me-not charm and I hastened to hide behind a dumpster when I overheard my name. They were talking about exposure-" Maia's voice broke off and Albus could see that the retelling of the conversation she heard was very painful to her.

"His brother Aro yelled at Caius, he was shouting at him for fraternizing with a human girl and breaking one of their most sacred laws," said Maia. Albus frowned at this, human girl? Sacred laws? Maia proceeded to relay to Albus about Caius and his wife Athenodora, and of how she, Maia was his soul mate, before finally relaying to Albus that Caius was over three thousand years old, a different sort of vampire and of royalty.

Albus was flabbergasted. Never had he ever imagined for there to be a different species of vampires, and by the sound of Maia's description and the conversation she overheard, they were a serious bunch and even more tougher than Sanguini's type of vampires.

"I made you swear to secrecy because they were really uptight about exposure. Aro and Marcus told Caius that he had a week to decide to either kill me or turn me … no one can know about them," Maia pleaded, her eyes desperately beseeching him.

"I have already given you my word, Maia and I will not utter anything about them without your permission. Anyhow, it is better that we keep this between us my dear girl, I doubt that they wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone that knows of them and somehow from your descriptions, I do not think our spells would have much of an impact on them," said Albus gravely. Albus then snapped his head at his former student as he suddenly comprehended something, "you're pregnant with his child."

It was more of statement than a question, and Maia found herself nodding as more tears leaked out. "I did what I could to protect my baby. Staying with Caius … they fear the unknown, I do not think that his brothers or even he himself, wouldn't hesitate to terminate my pregnancy."

"It is a half-vampire, half-magical child Maia and because of its vampire gene, it is growing at an abnormal rate. It could prove to be dangerous for you," warned Albus.

"I know and that is why I am here. I cannot do this alone and I cannot bear my parents to know the truth. I fear they will not be as open-minded of my pregnancy like you," said Maia sadly. "I need your help in keeping my child's vampire half to stay dormant."

Albus nodded. "Very well, I will have Horace make the potion, but I must warn you it is illegal. I will need your blood to bind the potion to your child and we cannot use the potion until its birth."

"Thank you Albus! Thank you," beamed Maia.

"Another thing my dear, I need you to think about the idea of informing Madam Pomfrey about your special predicament-" Albus held his hand up as Maia was about to interrupt him, "I do not think that this pregnancy will be like normal pregnancies my dear. You are pregnant with a half-vampire child. And not our regular vampires that we have studied about, but muggle vampires, a completely different species. Poppy would not utter a single word of it and she would see this as a patient, healer confidentiality."

Maia could see sense of Albus' proposition and so she nodded grimly.

Thirty minutes later, Maia was found leaving Hogwarts with a little more of a pep in her step and a small smile on her face. Life was finally looking up for her and her unborn child.

***Affari Nascosti***

Christmas came and went, and Maia made some feeble excuse to her family, apologizing as she was unable to see them for the holidays for the first time in nineteen years.

In fact, for the past two months, all Maia did was come up with many reasons to why she could not go and visit her friends and family and to why she decided to take an unpaid leave from St. Mungo's.

Life was looking extremely bleak for one, Maia McKinnon. Her body wasn't able to stomach nutrients and potions weren't working on her. Albus and Poppy concluded that her child was asking for blood, and so Maia found herself drinking a blood replenishing potion with her daily meals. Her fridge was filled with blood pops and chocolate with blood fillings.

Finally, the day for her child's arrival into the world approached.

After Maia had her breakfast on January 30th, she felt her baby nudging her from the inside of her womb and she knew it in her heart that it was time and that her unborn child was warning her. Maia hastened to the fireplace, managing to floo call Madam Pomfrey before all hell broke loose.

Albus and Poppy arrived to the sight of Maia screaming a blood-curdling shriek of agony and a ripping sound coming from her womb. Her eyes were rolling back into her head, showing only the whites of her eyeball, and her body was twitching uncontrollably, blood spilling everywhere. Poppy yanked Maia into her arms her wand at the ready, throwing all the necessary potions she had brought with her into a shell-shocked, grim-faced Albus' hands.

Poppy laid Maia onto the bed and saw the baby biting its way out of her womb. Once the baby was out safely, she passed the baby over to Albus, snatching her potions back. Once Albus deemed the crying baby was safe and healthy, he laid it on the small cot next to Maia's bed and went to aid Poppy in her attempt to heal the huge gaping cut where the baby cut its way out.

The both of them worked together in rapid synchronization as they traced their wands over her wounds and kept on repeating over and over, "Vulnera sanentur … vulnera sanentur … vulnera sanentur …"

Once the wounds were fully healed, Poppy pressed a blood replenishing potion, a numbing potion and a healing potion down Maia's throats, her hands gently massaging it so that Maia could easily swallow them down.

Albus sat by Maia's side, waiting patiently for her to wake up and recover, while Poppy went over to clean the newborn child and check its vitals.

An hour later, Maia woke up to see Albus' beaming face and twinkling eyes. The first thing she could ask for was her baby. Poppy came over and handed over a beautiful baby girl. She had unnatural beauty, a mixture of her and her father's … Caius …. Of course, Maia mentally slapped herself; with a father like Caius, her daughter would be insanely gorgeous.

"A girl," Maia whispered, tears consumed her, "I've always wanted a little girl, oh, you look so much like your daddy." Once the little girl heard her mother's voice, she opened up her big doe-eyes and blinked, her mouth forming into a little 'O' making Maia gasp.

Her daughter had pale, white, creamy skin – a shade or two darker than Caius himself, pink petal, plump lips resembling her own along with her heart-shaped face and emerald green eyes. Maia could not recall green eyes running in the McKinnon family, but then she reconsidered everything she knew of Caius and came to the conclusion that Caius must have had emerald green eyes before his transition into a vampire, thus turning it into a ruby red. Maia then looked at the tiny patch of hair that was already growing at an increasing rate and smiled, her little girl inherited her red hair – an exact replica of her Caius' eyes. All in all, her daughter was a beauty, her miracle, a gift of god.

"Donata," Maia whispered adoringly.

"Hmm?" Albus asked, taking his eyes away from the precious little girl in his former student's arms.

"That's her name. It means gift of god in Italian. I want to name her an Italian name for her father," Maia said with a watery smile.

Albus chuckled as he stroked Maia's hair soothingly. "I think it is an admirable and beautiful name."

"What about her middle name," Poppy asked; unable to pry her eyes away from the gorgeous, giggling baby girl who had the most entrancing and unique emerald eyes she had ever seen.

"Caterina; it is Italian for pure. She is pure of heart, pure of skin and she was conceived from one of the most pure forms of love. Donata Caterina McKinnon-Volturi, that is her name," beamed Maia, as she stroked Donata's little face. Suddenly, Donata lifted her tiny, pudgy hand and held Maia's fingers in a surprisingly firm grip.

"It is time for the potion my dear. I fear that Donata would continue to grow at an abnormal rate," said Albus hesitantly. Once Maia nodded, Poppy took the potion out from the inside of her cloak and handed it over to Albus. It was a sickly orange color with hues of pink swirling inside. Maia cut the inside of her palm with her wand, adding twelve drops of blood into the potion.

Poppy then placed the potion over Donata's tiny plump lips and fed it to her at slow intervals. They had to keep pausing as Donata kept gurgling and trying to spit it out, which resulted in her crying; finally after ten minutes, the potion was empty.

Albus and Poppy decided to stay over for the rest of the two hours, which was when the potion would take its effect.

"Her vampire genes are now dormant my dear," Albus smiled once the two hours were up. "Poppy and I are going to take our leave now, enjoy your time with Donata."

Maia smiled at them, thanking them profusely, as she prepared herself to spending the rest of the day in bed with her beautiful, angelic little girl. She only wished that Caius could be here for this wonderful moment, the birth of their beautiful little girl, princess of the Volturi, Donata Caterina McKinnon-Volturi.

The months passed by, and Maia worked hard to keep Donata a secret from her family. Whenever she visited her parents and brother she would give Donata over to Albus Dumbledore or Poppy Pomfrey who were eager to babysit.

Maia wasn't the only lucky one to give birth to a beautiful baby girl, but her sister-in-law was as well. Her twin brother Michael and his wife Estelle gave birth to a little girl as well; Marlene McKinnon. She inherited the McKinnon sky blue eyes, but her mother, Estelle's blonde hair.

Maia decided that soon she would tell her family the truth about Donata since the vampire genes were dormant now. She so wanted her daughter and niece to grow up together, be placed in the same house at Hogwarts together and be each other's bridesmaid at their respective wedding days. But for some unknown reason, Maia wanted some private time alone with her daughter before she had to share her with the family.

It has been five months since the birth of Donata, and Maia was beginning to feel the gloom and devastation in the air. Since her best friend Jessica Stone's death – murder, Maia had to constantly remind herself – there has been more murders springing out of nowhere. Most of them were Muggleborns, but there were a few 'blood traitors' according to the prejudiced purebloods in wizarding Britain.

Maia knew that the McKinnons were one of the most unprejudiced families out there along with the Potters, Longbottoms, Proudfoots, Weasleys, Prewetts and many more and so, Maia couldn't help but prepare herself in case she was next.

Maia made all her arrangements with Gringotts, giving everything to Donata to inherit. Maia also placed a letter, explaining to her darling daughter all about her father, her birth and her dormant vampire genes. In the letter, she also confided to her daughter not to trust anyone with the information except for her future husband, Albus Dumbledore, Poppy Pomfrey and only one other that she would trust with her life in case of emergencies – god forbid.

Maia also wrote two more letters, both addressed to Headmaster Dumbledore, but they were kept with head goblin Ragnok to pass on the second she was dead. Gringotts always had a way of telling when their clients have passed away and she trusted no one but Ragnok to send them on time and safely to the Headmaster.

Maia McKinnon never counted herself as a lucky person. In fact, she usually thought of herself as one with no amount of luck. God blessed her with an adoring family and a great bunch of friends. Later on, she thanked Merlin for her intelligence and then for her nephew and godson Alexander. Maia patted herself on the back for suggesting a vacation in Volterra to herself. Maia changed her beliefs and began to count herself as a lucky person after meeting Caius. Then she found out about his true nature and just as she was about to consider herself as unlucky for finding her soul mate in one of the most dangerous, powerful and ancient line of royalty vampires, she received news that she was with child. Maia then got news of her best friend's death and found herself leaving her beloved to save her baby's life. Maia McKinnon had some of the oddest luck in the world. She was a lucky woman for having great intuition. Her intuition led her into preparing herself for an unexpected death.

Four months after Maia wrote out her letters and left them in her vault and for Ragnok to send to the Headmaster, she found herself leaving McKinnon Manor to go pick up Donata from Hogwarts, only to find herself surrounded by two men dressed in matching long, black billowing capes, with a hood and some white metal mask over their face. They offered her two choices, either she joins their Lord, abdicating her 'blood-traitor' ways as she helps to eradicate the wizarding world from the 'Mudblood filth' or die.

Maia McKinnon recognized the speaker as none other than Abraxas Malfoy himself. And so, she spat in his face and said, "I will never confirm to your bullying, abhorrent and despicable ways Malfoy! You and your Lord can go to hell for all I care, acting like cowards by picking people apart in secret, threatening, blackmailing and murdering them in dark alleyways! I would rather die than join such filth!"

Abraxas Malfoy's face twisted into a sneer, "Very well, you have made your choice," he took out his wand and snarled, "Avada Kedavra!"

All Maia McKinnon could think about as she watched the green light getting closer to her in slow motion was of her beautiful gift of god, Donata. She hoped that she would have a great and wonderful life without her, she hoped that she would be reunited with the McKinnons one day and make great friends with her cousin Marlene, she hoped that Albus would follow through with her wishes in the letter she sent him and give Donata to a loving family that would adore and cherish her.

The last thought that went through Maia McKinnon's head as the green light hit her chest, was how sorry she was that her beloved, her mate, her Caius, would never see her again and she silently apologized for not being able to keep her promise in the letter she left for him.

I'm sorry my love, we shall never cross paths with each other again.

***Affari Nascosti***

Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office, looking through the letters the current Minister sent him about the recent deaths and how they were increasing daily. Albus sighed to himself; for some reason he hoped that it wasn't the doing of Tom Marvolo Riddle. The boy always gave him a bad feeling, radiating such evil thoughts and intents which he hid behind his brilliant mind and charming smile.

Albus stood up, making his way over to the gargoyle. He decided that he would spend some time with Donata before Maia came to collect her; that little girl always did manage to brighten up his mood, gift of god indeed, Albus chuckled to himself.

Just as Albus was about to head out, he heard an owl screeching and pecking at his window. As he made his way back to allow it entrance, he noted that it seemed to be a Gringotts owl.

Albus looked at the two letters. He noticed that only one of them was addressed to him, and so he read it:

Dear Headmaster Dumbledore – Albus,

If you have received this letter, than I am sorry to tell you but I am dead.

Albus gasped, clutching onto his chest as he slumped down into his seat, the beginning of tears beginning to form, his head shaking in denial. He breathed in deeply before looking back down to Maia's letter and continued to read.

After hearing about all the random murders ever since my best friend Jessica Stone's death, I have been having this feeling that I should prepare myself in case I meet the same fate as them all. I prayed to god that I was wrong, but alas as you have received this letter, my prayers went unheard.

I hoped to have more time with my little angel Donata. I so wanted to watch her grow and witness sending her off to the Hogwarts Express every September 1st, attend her graduation and then her wedding. I prayed to be available and dote on a handful of grandchildren, but as I am unable to do all this, the only thing available to me is time.

Time to prepare for my daughter's future; time to give her a wonderful life now that I am unable to.

I would appreciate it if you could give her up to a loving and adoring muggle family Albus. I do not want to risk sending her to a wizarding family and for them to meet the same fate as me, being passed around from family to family. Give her to a wonderful family, please. I would also appreciate it if you and Poppy could be her guardians in the magical world – and if you are able to check up on her at times with her new muggle family it would be deeply appreciated. Also, try and have her, Alexander and Marlene befriend each other, for my sake – I cannot do anything from the heavens.

One last request; there is another letter Ragnok delivered to you. It is meant for Caius. You never know what the future holds, but for some reason I have this great feeling that your paths will cross one day. My intuition hasn't failed me yet. I know it in my heart that you would be able to recognize him instantly from the descriptions I have given you. Hand him that letter when that day comes, preferably when my precious Donata is all grown up, for her safety.

I have already left Donata a letter in my vaults for her to read in the future, informing her of her ancestry and all that we have done to keep her safe. And of Caius, of course. Please direct her to the right path; let my gift of god read and understand the letters. I have already written to her that you are completely trustworthy and what actions you took part of.

I am done rambling my final words to you, I thank you and Poppy from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me, as well as being an ear I could confide in. Give Poppy by best and please take care of my darling daughter.

With Love,

Maia Evangeline McKinnon.

Albus was surprised to find a few stray tears hit the bottom of the letter. Maia was dead, she wouldn't be able to come and collect Donata. Donata was an orphan now. Albus would have bet Fawkes away that she was killed by the killing curse, like all the others.

Albus Dumbledore had a long time to grieve for one of his favorite student's death and for the poor orphan currently in the hospital wing with the strict matron. Right now, Albus had to fulfill Maia's last wishes, which began with him looking for a loving family that would adore Donata and protect her with all that they had.

At the end, Albus Dumbledore chose the Evans family. Robert and Rose Evans already had a daughter, Petunia, and were sad as they were unable to conceive another child. They readily accepted Donata into their little family with open hearts. Petunia was excited for a little sister that she could take care of, play with and spoil.

Donata Caterina McKinnon-Volturi was gone, only to be replaced by Lily Marie Evans.

Thus, Albus Dumbledore and Poppy Pomfrey turned their backs away from the precious child of their dear friend and made their way to her funeral, to say their last goodbyes.