Written for Hogwarts' Auction Challenge: (character) Martha Steward II, and the Mythology Assignment: Task 5: Augean Stables - setting: stables.

Also for the Writing Club: Character Appreciation - (word) last, Disney Challenge: Scar - Write about someone trying to sabotage someone in their family, Shannon's Showcase: 10. Azerbaijan: (Lyric) "If you think that you don't count, let me prove you different now.", (Theme) Overcoming difficulties, Showtime: Fantine's Death - (relationship) Mother, Count Your Buttons: Isolt Sayre, Lyric Alley: And the only solution was to stand and fight, Emy's Emporium: The Empire - write about a powerful man/woman or organisation, Film Festival: Character: Career Man/Woman.

Martha Steward II is the squib daughter of Isolt Sayre and James Steward, who founded Ilvermony.

Word count: 727

paint you another sky

"There you are, Martha! You shouldn't have run away like this, you caused your father and I quite a fright!"

Martha kept her head bent down as she picked at the straw from the ground. Her mother raised Hippogriffs, and while Martha stills sometimes found the creatures frightening, their stables were still the only place where she always felt truly safe, the one place where she felt she could be left in peace.

The Hippogriffs never bothered her, not really, and sometimes Martha brought them food and they would let her pet them — though only after she properly bowed, of course.

"I'm sorry, Mother," she said. "I shouldn't have told you where I was going."

She didn't say she wouldn't do it again, and her mother caught it instantly. She frowned. "Martha…" Her voice was full of concern and it made Martha's stomach twist painfully.

She hated worrying her mother like this, but she couldn't help it."

"What happened?" her mother asked, bending down to her level.

"Nothing," Martha mumbled back. In her hands, the straw broke in half from all the twisting she had done to it, and she stared at it like it had betrayed her.

It was better than to stare into her mother's face.

Isolt sighed. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Reluctantly, Martha nodded. "Of course," she said.

"Well then, what is it? I know you only come here when you want to escape your feelings?"

"You do?" she blurted out, before clasping her hands over her mouth, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Her mother laughed, the sound as clear as bells. She smiled gently. "Of course. And I'm very glad that you manage to find peace here. You get that from me, I think. Certainly not from your father, anyhow," she added, winking at Martha mischievously.

Martha giggled. It was true that her father, James Steward, was terrible with the Hippogriffs. It wasn't that he disliked them, far from it actually, but for some reason he always got too excited, which made the Hippogriffs nervous, which made him more excited, and so on.

Isolt was the one who had a way with animals, and the Hippogriffs loved her.

They liked Martha too — better than they liked her twin sister Rionach anyway.

She picked up another bit of straw. This one had been clinging to her robes.

"Mother," she started to ask, biting her lower lip nervously, "why don't I have magic when Rionach does?"

Her mother's eyes sharpened, and something flashed through them, too fast for Martha's downcast eyes to catch. "... Did your sister say something to you?"

Martha opened her mouth to answer, but at the last minute, she hesitated. "She said I was useless because you couldn't teach me your spells," she admitted in a whisper.

When she looked up, her mother's nostrils were flaring in anger. "I see," she said, her voice dangerously even. "I think I should remind your sister of a few things, then. But first things first..." She looked Martha right in the eyes and said, "You are not useless, Martha Steward. Magic or no magic, you are going to be amazing." She winked.

"Now, why don't we go out on a flight? I think you're old enough now, and Smartbeak likes you — I'm sure she'll let you ride her."

Martha's heart skipped a beat and she gasped. "Really?"

Her mother had never let her or Rionach ride the Hippogriffs — not that Rionach had really expressed any interest lately, not since she had had her first bout of accidental magic. And since Martha hadn't.

But their mother insisted that they were still too young, and that it was too dangerous.

Even so, Martha had seen her mother fly countless times, and part of her was desperate to try it, even just once.

"Really," Isolt confirmed, smiling at her daughter. "I can teach you." Again, she winked. "And it's not something you need magic for."

Martha's eyes widened. "Oh. I get it now! You're helping me prove Rionach wrong!"

Isolt laughed. "Of course. Now, come on. I believe we have a lesson to start."

"No?"

"No time like the present." She stood up and offered Martha her hand, wiggling her fingers a little.

Martha grinned, and grabbed her mother's hand.

This was going to be amazing.