"Physically there isn't anything wrong with her."
"That isn't telling me much, Doc." Moria snapped as she glanced at Max, who was just staring at her quizzically, as though she had never spoken a word in her nine years. "She was speaking just fine earlier!"
"Well I can't fix what isn't physically damaged. In her case it seems more of a mental issue." The healer remarked. "Maybe a therapist would do her some good."
Moria stared at him as he walked out and then looked at Max, who was playing with the hem of her skirt. "Max, sweetheart…whatever you think you did, that isn't right, okay? You did nothing wrong…so please say something." She pleaded. Max merely looked at her, gave a slight shrug with her shoulder, but remained silent. Moria swallowed roughly, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't break…not now…
"Okay…okay…well whatever happens, happens…we'll work through it. Okay?"
Still nothing.
Moria forced herself to smile and then helped Max down off of the examining table and the pair left, Moria trying to desperately not break down, because that wasn't what Max needed. She just needed to be strong…
She also hoped she could be.
Weeks passed and Max remained silent, staying mostly cooped up in the house and only leaving with Harry to go to the tutor that Moria had found at work to help them finish their primary studies, and a therapist that Moria had been ordered to find. But nothing seemed to work and she remained quiet. At that moment Max was sitting on the porch, playing with a leaf. She looked up when she heard footsteps and Arian squawked. Harry was there and he grinned.
"Max! I got to show you this place out in the woods." He said hoping to earn a laugh. Nothing. Instead she gave a bright smile at her brother and hopped down. He sighed softly, and held her hand tightly as they entered the woods. Max watched as Harry continued to have a one way conversation, making up her responses. She kept wandering behind him as they neared the overhang that Harry wanted to show her. She felt an odd sensation, as though something or someone was crying for her.
"-ax. Max!"
Startled she looked back at Harry, cocking her head to the side.
"Here, look." He stated lifting up a curtain of vines. She gave him a look. "Hey I can explore the forest too, you know. You don't own this place."
She rolled her eyes and then stepped into the cavern, glaring at him and the pair continued down the small cavern. It seemed to give off its own light, which caused the pair to pause. They then realized the light was coming from the end of the cavern.
"Let's go check it out."
Max clutched Harry's wrist looking at him as though he had lost his mind. He shrugged. "We'll be quiet." He added. Somehow she doubted that, but not willing to let him go alone followed, clutching her shirt tightly. Finally they made it to a large cavern and in it was a large tree, glowing a soft, almost inviting warm, turquoise color, surrounded by crystal clear water.
"Wwwwoooww…I don't remember this being here." Harry stated and he could feel the glare he was receiving. "Well it wouldn't hurt to look-"
"Not a step more…" A voice hissed out and Harry immediately felt Max by his side, gripping his hand tightly. He looked up to see a creature crawling against the tree trunk, glaring angrily at the pair for intruding. Its skin seemed stretched, large claws protruding where hands were supposed to be and it had a squished snout and two large glowing eyes. "Get out. GET OUT!"It screeched, bounding towards them. Harry took a step back and felt his foot slip into a hole and he stumbled backwards, hearing a snapping sound. He let out a yelp and fell to the ground, clutching his ankle. The creature screeched and Harry looked up to see Max had moved in front of him, her arms stretched out as though to shield him. Protect him. Her eyes were closed tightly as the monster raced towards her, lifted his claw…
And then paused.
Harry watched flabbergasted from the ground and Max opened one eye to see why the thing wasn't mauling her and saw it was staring at her as though it had seen a ghost.
"L…Lady Maia?"
Then as suddenly as the creature had been there, now it wasn't. Instead stood a man, who seemed…unearthly to Harry for some reason. His hair was dark, messy. Almost like his, though beads dangled off several strands. His clothes didn't seem to match any time period he had seen, as he was wearing a loose robe, colored in reds and whites with specks of gold. An earring dangled off of one ear and those ears were slightly pointed. He was pale, as though he hadn't seen sunlight in years, and his eyes…the only way Harry would think that this man's eyes were, was like a night sky. They were dark in color, but even from where Harry was, he could see white speckling the iris.
"Oh Lady Maia! You've returned!" He exclaimed and drew Max into a tight hug, leaving both children utterly confused as he sobbed, Max awkwardly patting his back.
"Hey, let go of my sister." Harry snapped, and earned a snarl in return.
"Do not talk of Lady Maia as if you do not know her!"
"He doesn't, Alder. Maia's story has been long lost to the history of time." Another voice echoed and this one, Harry saw, Max apparently recognized as she quickly snapped her head to the left as did he and saw another male walking in, looking almost bemused. "Her name isn't Maia either, my old friend. In this lifetime she is known as Maxine Black.
"Who is that…thing, Adan?"
"That is a boy, Alder. And he is Maxine's brother." This person called Adan stated "Are the others here?"
"Only Toche has not returned to Gaia's tree." The man named Alder said. "They have grown too weak. I thought they had gone mad when they had said Maia's soul had returned but now…"
"I understand." Adan said looking at Harry. "You're hurt." He added bending down. Harry shrank back a bit, but with a gentle squeeze from Max he looked at the man curiously as a soft glow resonated from his hand and around Harry's ankle. Slowly the pain began to dull, though not cease completely. "I can't heal all of it, but this should do for now."
"Thanks…but…who are you exactly?"
"Adan."
"And…you?" He asked looking at the other man.
"My name is Alder, protector of Gaia's tree and shape-shifting servant to Lady Maia."
"Thanks…I guess. And…how do you know Max?" He asked, pointing to his sister, who was looking around at this place with a new sense of wonder. Adan smiled slightly.
"That is a bit harder to explain. For the both of us."
"Of course it is." Harry grumbled as he stood, limping to Max. "Well that's great and all, but I think it's time for us to leave. Adventure over." He said with a fake smile and began to pull Max away. "Let's go."
"Go?"
"Yeah, considering Mum is going to give Max a big talk about talking to strangers." He hissed looking at Max angrily who rolled her eyes glaring at him. "Don't give me that, you met that guy in the woods, I mean he could be some creep for all we-"
"Leaving so soon?" Another voice hissed and the group looked up and for the first time since they got there, Max shrank behind Harry, her eyes wide with panic. Obviously she recognized this creature too…and it didn't bring about happy memories. A dark figure, almost like a shadow was crawling around the wall. It looked at them and then sneered, revealing sharp fangs. "But you just got here…"
The shadows seemed to grow in stature, swallowing the wall in opaque black. And Harry could hear soft whispering, taunting. Harry took a step back, keeping Max behind him. Adan and Alder stood in front of the pair protectively.
"You will not harm either of them."
"What makes you think you can stop us?!" The shadow roared and the opaque shape advanced towards them shooting towards where Max and Harry were. Harry grabbed Max's hand and yanked her away as Alder jumped in front of the pair.
"Go!"Alder cried out.
"Come on Max!" Harry said, pulling her, her legs seemed to be locked, staring at the tree almost ignoring the darkness. "MAX!"
She snapped and looked at Harry, her eyes widening before shoving Harry forward, causing him to fall and barely miss being decapitated by a shadowed figure.
"T-thanks." He said looking up at the shadows and then rolled, dragging her with him as a shadow smashed its fist into the ground where they had been. "Why is it you always to manage to find trouble-OW!" He yelped as she smacked his head angrily. "Okay, okay! Both of us! Still!" He added scrambling up to his feet and dragging her forward. He looked up and then shoved her back into the lake. She looked up to see one of the shadow creatures had grabbed Harry, hoisting him by the neck. She rushed forward, trying to figure out what to do. Some of the water splashed onto some growing shadows and they receded quickly, almost screeching. She looked at the receding shadows and then kicked the water violently, splattering it onto the shadow. It was like she had thrown acid. The shadow violently let go of Harry, screeching as it looked to her angrily. The skin bubbled and sizzled, tearing away as it tried to shrink back, but it seemed to be melting and it fell into the water. Max watched the shadow in horror as it looked at her in agony, reaching for her before dissolving fully away into the water, vanishing as though it had never been there. Suddenly her head began to throb and she fell to her knees, curling up in the fetal position clutching her head.
"Release…"
"Max?!" Harry exclaimed, rushing to her, trying to shake her out of it. "Max, what is it?!"
She stared at the water, her reflection, but was it really her own reflection? Staring back at her seemed to be another woman, with the same eyes and face shape, but older, her hair longer, a dash of make up on her face and weird markings were on her face.
"Release me…"
"Max, come on you need to move! Max! Ma-"
Suddenly Harry's hand wasn't there. Max looked up to see that he was yanked by a shadow from the shore line smashing him to the ground, his head hitting the rocks with a sickening crack, and he went limp. Max's eyes widened and the pain in her head didn't seem to match the rage that flooded her system.
"Release me…the real you from deep inside."
Light erupted from her along with a scream that flooded the cavern. The shadow creatures screeched in agony dispersing as the purified water splattered on them. Adan and Alder looked away, their eyes burning. Finally the roar and the light subsided and the pair looked towards the tree. Max stood, standing in the water, staring at her hands, flexing her fingers.
"How long has it been since I've had flesh?" She asked, her voice seeming to echo suddenly.
"Maxine?" Adan asked and Max turned to look at him and he heard Alder gasp. Because while Max's form stood there…the persona that resided there was not.
"It has been a long time hasn't it Adan…Alder…" Maia stated, her voice sounding like Max's voice layered with several other voices.
"Lady Maia! It's you! You HAVE returned!" Alder exclaimed as Maia walked out of the pool and to Harry who was lying limp on the ground, blood dripping from his head. Gently she pushed away the hair over his eyes with a soft smile. Then soft, kind whispers echoed through the cavern and a light shown from her hand and enveloped Harry's wound, and the blood slowly stopped and Harry shifted tiredly.
"You have done well, young one…rest…forget…" She said and Harry's pained face lessened in expression. "You will not remember this horrid day."
"I see you have not gotten over your incessant love for the human maggots, dear sister." A new voice, this one dark, booming and twisted sounding, a demonic whisper surrounding the words echoed through the cave. Maia stood slowly, staring at the wall ahead of her momentarily before turning to look at the tree, the hole in the center the focus of her gaze. A sickly green haze covered the crevice like a band-aid over a festering wound.
"Kaos."
"I see you remember me, dear sister. I thought you would have forgotten me from when you imprisoned me. Perhaps had you not been so blind to imprison me, you would not be chained to a body of flesh." Kaos jeered, a beady eye roving to where it stared at her. Max gave an unamused stare
"Unlike you brother, I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, wolf, and man. Your words mean little to me."
"Do they? Well then, release me from this prison and we shall see who gets the last laugh this time, Maia. I will tear you to pieces and crush your bones into dust." Kaos roared and Maia stared at the tree before scoffing softly, pushing her hair back, the light surrounding her seeming to grow in size.
"Do you speak like this only in my presence, or is the venom you spew a daily occurrence?"
"Why don't you release me and find out what my venom is truly like?"
"You must see me as a fool then." Maia stated coldly looking away. "I know the moment I release you, you will find the one that the boy is destined to fight…empower him so you can feed like a parasite to the madness he will evoke."
"Lady Maia?"
"I will seal you further away, as our fight has not come yet, brother of mine." Maia said softly lifting her hands and the water rose, and then rushed at the open crevice and the seal. The wood began to contract further, lessening the hole.
"This is not over sister! Do you hear me? I will be released one day! I swear it!" Kaos roared, before all was silent again. Maia collapsed, the glow receding slightly, clutching her chest.
"Lady Maia!"
"I am alright…I have just not used these abilities in so long."
"Lady Maia…aren't you going to destroy Kaos?"
"No…if I am to defeat him, he must not have a source to feed off of." Maia said, looking at Max's hand, the host of her soul. "She will not survive if I release him now. And the balance will be completely destroyed."
"What must be done?"
"Harry Potter must complete his own fate…whatever outcome occurs after this, will determine my battle against my brother."
"…which is fine and all, Milady, however Kaos and his forces will try and destroy your light before that happens…and she won't be able to fight them all back. They sense her, and the Potter boy is always there. They will be both in danger."
"I am aware…and to ensure that both their destinies are completed, I must seal my energy, memories, and light deep away in her. She must not remember any of my stories…must not remember that she houses light that would balance the world. I will use the Bugul Noz's energy to ensure the seal remains until the appropriate time."
"Milady, no!" Alder cried out nearly throwing himself to her and latching to her legs. "It has been so long since you have returned to the real world, to actually be conscious again!"
"Alder, my dear child…" Maia said softly running her hand over his cheek. "I must…however I have a job for you to do…I require that you watch over Maxine Bryn Black. I will free you from the chains that I tethered you to this place…" She said softly before looking at Adan. "Likewise, I require you to return to the in-between with Toche. You must defend the portals to ensure that the strays are not free to roam."
"Yes milady…"
"But…what will I do to watch over her? If she does not remember this…" Alder asked. Maia smiled as a white ball of light emerged from her chest, resting in the palm of her hand.
"Do what you find necessary. I know you can. You are free to change shape, free to walk into the light again." Maia said before walking back into the water. "I will see you soon…" She added before closing her eyes uttering soft whispers that the two other people could not distinguish. The pool of water surrounding Maia began to glow and then rise, circling around her. The light orb rose as well. Maia's eyes opened, and were an opaque white and the whispers grew louder. The water began to glow brighter and then the orb of light traveled down sliding into her head. Her eyes snapped open, opaque white and Adan and Alder watched as the aura around her slowly faded, the light vanishing. Finally gravity took over the water and it fell back into the lake, rippling slightly. Max had returned to her body and she fell forwards unconscious, nearly hitting the water if Adan hadn't jumped over to her and snagged her before her body sank into the lake and jumped back to the shore.
"Is she alright?" Alder asked holding Harry.
"Yes…just passed out…it must have taken a lot of energy to seal herself." Adan stated calmly. "Alder…take them to the surface…make it look like they fell off the path.
"I will…what about you?" "I need just a few moments to collect my energy and I will wait for Toche to enter the in between and follow Maia's command."
"Will you be alright?" Alder asked picking up Harry and Max.
"I will be…now go."
Alder nodded and hurried out of the cavern, leaving the other standing in the newly silenced cavern.
Harry slowly awoke to being shaken. Groggily he opened his eyes sitting up as pain throbbed in his head. His memory was fuzzy. He remembered wanting to show Max something, but now he didn't remember anything else. The shaking stopped and Max's face came into view, her eyes were wide with panic.
"'M okay." He murmured, rubbing his sore head. She yanked his head up and down as though to make sure he wasn't bleeding profusely and he whined in pain.
"I said I'm okay, not great. We must have fallen down the hill and I must have hit my head. You shaking it, is making the headache worse." He grumbled and regretted it as her eyes lit up with worry.
"I'm fine, Max. Really…just sore. Do you remember what I was going to show you anyways?" He asked to which Max shook her head, shrugging and tapping her head. He sighed.
"Well great…well…I guess we should head back before Mum has a panic attack." Harry said and Max looked at him. "What? Mum can have panic attacks too you know."
Max sighed before helping him up and patting his back before the pair headed up to the path, unaware of the figure hidden in the tree branches that slowly changed forms into a shape of a butterfly and fluttered lazily behind them.
Several weeks passed and the Italian Ministry of Magic was in full swing for a meeting of different countries ministry workers about muggles and laws surrounding them. A large group of red heads wandered around the bustling underground world, clearly not native to Italy, following a thin man with slightly balding red hair.
"Arthur, are you sure this was a good idea?"
"Molly dear, the Ministry paid for this trip, and imagine the new experiences we'll learn. And this is the first trip in nearly two years where everyone is here." Arthur added looking at his eldest son, Bill to which Molly began to sob loudly and clutched her son. Bill gave a look to his father, as though begging to know why he had brought it back up that he hadn't been home in nearly a year. Arthur gave an apologetic look.
"Mister…Weezley?" A thick Italian accent called out and the large group all turned.
"I'm Arthur Weasley."
"Ah! Yes." The young man said trying to read the parchment he had. "Forgive me for taking so long…meetings. I believe you need to meet Lucio Nacar so he can assign a guide."
"Guide?"
"Yes, The English Ministry do not have a guide normally here, so we has an auror from England, so she knows the English language well."
Molly looked at Arthur as they followed the young man. From the looks of it, he hadn't known this either. Then the man began to grumble about flights, airplanes and Arthur's head swiveled to the point it nearly broke off. The rest of his family sighed, knowing where this was going to go.
"So this is the Italian Ministry. Wicked cool looking, don't you agree George?"
"I must agree Fred."
"You two behave." Molly chastised. "We're here from English Ministry. Think of it as we're a bridge between the two."
"Even though Fudge and Racciopa hate each other?" The second oldest, Charlie, questioned.
"Can't blame him. A lot of Fudge's policies haven't been beneficial to the Italian trade." Bill added. "You should hear the goblins complain on how much gold they're losing from Italy."
"Well if the Italian ministry would consider lowering some of their own laws, maybe the British ministry would be willing to negotiate." The only boy other than Arthur wearing glasses asked.
"Geez Percy, lighten up would you?" George apparently asked, looking at his carbon copy. "Fred and I are thinking this is a vacation, and that means loosen up."
"Why can't you two be like Ginny and Ron?"
"Perce, Ron puked on an old man's shoes when we were done using the portkey, and Ginny is trying not to follow his lead. Them being quiet is a good thing."
The older boy glared at the younger twins but before he could open his mouth to retort, the man that was leading them came over to Molly, clearly at a loss as to what to say to Arthur after an interrogation of airplanes.
"Mr. Nacar is watching his team train. Your guide will be there at moments. Come, come." He motioned and they followed down deeper into the ministry, and they finally came into a large arena. Several older men were staring down into the arena and the Weasley's observed different teams. The ministry worker that was leading them around went to one of these men, and began to chat. The group of redheads didn't seem to notice, more interested in what was going on down below. Groups of aurors were rushing towards a golem.
"What are they doing?" George asked as the groups separated. "Looks cool."
"They're training. The point of this exercise is using wit against a creature without wand use." A voice answered and they glanced up to see the man that the ministry worker had been talking to. "My name is Lucio Nacar."
"So you're…?"
"No, no…I'm not your guide for this." Lucio stated with a grin and a slight bow. "Your guide is well…down there…a bit preoccupied at the moment."
"Moria! Look out!"
Moria looked up and barely managed to dodge the thrown trident that had been given to the golem. It impaled into the wall, inches from Moria's head, the handle shaking from the violent throw. Rosetta was staring at it and then an idea dawned on her.
"Moria, are you thinking what I'm thinking?!" She exclaimed as she scrambled over to the older woman.
"I don't know, were you thinking 'holy shit, holy shit a trident almost went through my head'? If so, then yes." She hissed out as Rosetta grabbed her wrist.
"It gets confused when there are multiple people running around it!"
"Really? Seems it spotted me just fine!"
"You moved when everyone else was in hiding! But when all of us were running around, it didn't attack."
"I guess that makes sense…I mean it's a rock. It probably has stones for brains." Moria stated from behind her cover as they watched another team run towards it, only they decided a head on approach and they watched as the golem made a sweep, sending them to the wall. "And there went the French team."
"Why did they even volunteer to join this?" Giacintro asked as he jumped down followed by the rest. Moria chuckled.
"Have to show off to the Italian Ministry that they're the best."
"So the British Ministry didn't send a team for this? I'm shocked."
"Of course not. Fudge thinks they're too good for that." Moria grumbled and Nico snorted.
"You and Racciopa share the same personality for him."
"I don't like anyone whose last name is a piece of candy and can't even figure out how to get out of a spell, much less help a nation in a time of crisis."
"Well that's one way of putting it."
"So, Gia…did I hear correctly that Felisa decided to stay in your flat?" Moria asked with a grin.
"So what if she did?"
"Well I would think that a man and a woman living in a flat together…something might be going on…." She teased. He glared at her.
"You're an evil woman."
"No I'm a practical woman."
"Can we focus on the problem at hand?" Giacintro asked annoyed.
"I guess we'll just-LOOK OUT!" Basilio said before ducking as the golem threw a boulder at them.
"Okay, so any plans."
"Right. Moria you distract him…"
"How?"
"I don't know…"
"I don't want to join the French." Moria said pointing to the still group of limbs trying to right themselves. "Any other ideas?"
"Well…no…"
Moria groaned, rubbing her forehead as she tried to think of something, peering from the ditch they were in and looking at the surroundings. She then had an idea.
"Flore…I need you to go into your dryad mode. Rosetta, you calculate the needed height to trip him up from those pillars over there, and boys…boys better put all your strength into your arms. You're going to need them."
"And what are you going to do?"
"What Rosetta said: distraction." She replied coyly before standing up. "Yo Rocky! Come here big boy!" She called out and the golem turned slowly. "Try and catch me Mountain Butt!"
The golem began to advance towards her and she raced away cackling as her team looked at her, their mouths gaping.
"She's insane." Nico whispered.
"She's married to Sirius Black. From what I've heard about his youth, she had to have been a little bit insane to actually manage him. Come on, let's just get this over with." Giacintro replied and the group hurried in the opposite direction. Moria continued running forward before sliding to a stop and facing her opponent.
"Alright, you big walking rock. Let's see what you can do." She said with a grin. The golem swung his arm down, which Moria nimbly dodged, swinging up and smashing her heel into the stone face, ignoring the slight sting and glad that there was metal in the back of her boot. The golem swung at her and managed to clip her, sending her backwards, bouncing on the ground once. She managed to roll over and slid the rest of the force on her feet. When she finally slid to the stop she stood, rolling her shoulders.
"That your best shot?" She teased, withdrawing chord from her jacket sleeve. "That was just weak. Come on. Let's try that again." She growled, rushing forward. She spun the chord in a circle before tossing it at the golem's wrist. As it lifted its hand it pulled her up and she propelled herself onto its head and looked down.
"Hey Rocky!" She teased. "Come on, you aren't going to let me stand here all day are you?" She asked. The golem responded by trying to punch her, however before it could reach her, she jumped down, narrowly missing be punched, while the golem beat itself in the face. It stumbled backwards, directly into the line of vines that the rest of her team had set up. Tangling its legs it stumbled and then fell backwards completely, slamming into the ground hard, and shattering into pieces. Moria panted and then grinned as Rosetta whooped.
"We did it!"
"Yup." Moria stated with a grin. "Good job, now let's just see how many people start complaining that we-"
"Everyone!" Lucio called out, and the group turned to see their leader walking over to them, a grin on his face. "Well done you all. The other minister workers are duly impressed."
"Why thank you."
"Now Black, I know this is short notice, but you've been assigned as a guide and guard." He said and Moria looked annoyed.
"And I have to do that why?"
"Because the ones you're guiding are English, and even though you may understand us, and we know some English, we do not know a lot, and they do not understand us."
"If its Minister Fudge, just let him struggle." Moria replied coolly, earning a snigger from some of the team members. Lucio smiled, but cleared his throat.
"It isn't. It's the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and his ah…rather large…family. The man who introduced them to me couldn't really same their name correctly. Wesley, Wezley, Weasle-"
"Weasley?" Moria clarified automatically.
"Actually I think that's right. You know them?"
"Well I met them briefly. I more knew the brothers of a woman that married one of the Weasley brothers. Then again, this might not be the same Weasley I met." Moria responded with a shrug, to which Lucio chuckled.
"I see…well since you'll be tasked with guiding them, I suppose I should warn you that Mr. Weasley seems to have a great like in the mechanics of airplanes."
"…yup that would be Arthur." Moria murmured, suddenly nervous. She knew these people…as small of a link as that was, and was unsure on how the reaction would be. "Let's just get it over with."
"Arthur…he said Auror Black."
"Molly, I doubt that it's the same family."
"How many Black's do you know?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I'd like to introduce you to Auror Moria Black. She came to this unit nearly nine years ago, and is highly respected."
"Hello." She added softly.
Molly stared at her, thinking the name over and over. Then she remembered the young woman that came occasionally came to visit with Gideon and Fabian, playing with Bill, Charlie, Percy, and Fred and George. She had always gone more towards the kids, rather than the adults, and the boys had found her games she played incredibly enjoyable, but after the death of her brothers…she couldn't bear seeing their friends, and the visits had stopped.
"Moria…Prescott?" She asked and Moria blinked before nodding, blushing.
"That's my maiden name…yes…"
"B-but I thought you were killed."
"Yes, that seems to be the common misconception in England at the moment."
"So why were you here…you essentially disappeared when…" She then remembered who her boyfriend at the time had been and swallowed, but one look at Moria's face, the desperation to not fear her, something quelled the burning sense to fear this woman. She smiled.
"It's been awhile." She stated. "These are-"
"Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George." Moria stated pointing at the oldest five, startling the group with her memory. "Boy, you five have grown since I last saw you. You two didn't even reach my knee." She said to George and Fred, smiling before glancing at Ron and Ginny. "Though I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you too. Likely, I became way too busy with uh…issues back then." She added with a slightly nervous laugh.
"Oh yes, this is Ron Weasley, he was born around a little while after…" Molly trailed off and Moria understood and nodded. She held out her hand to which Ron, still staring at her with a speechless expression, the memory of her fighting the golem incredibly fresh in his mind, shook it. She then turned to Ginny.
"This Ginny, she was born a year after Ron."
"Ah, so she's my daughter's age." Moria commented with a smile. Molly blinked.
"Your…daughter?"
"Mhm." Moria responded with a large smile that Molly could never remember seeing when she had visited the family previously. "Actually, thinking about it…my godson is probably around the age of Ron." Moria stated, thinking about it.
"Godson?"
"Oh Harry…" She replied off-handedly, still thinking about it. "Anyway, enough about my life. Was there any particular place that you-"
Ginny at this time found it fine to lose her lunch, still not quite over the portkey. Everyone watching flinched and Moria offered a slight smile.
"Do you guys have your rooms yet? Or do you want to come over to my place and let your stomachs all settle from the portkey?"
The answer had been, since their rooms were still being accommodated, visiting Moria's home. Harry looked up when he heard a familiar pop as did Max from her sketchbook. Harry grinned.
"Hi Mum!" He called out.
"Harry, where's Arian?"
"In the forest hunting!"
"Who's Arian?" Charlie asked to his mother, to which she shrugged. Maybe another person…but who would be out hunting at a time like this?
"I see. I brought guests!" He heard as a multitude of feet clamored into the parlor, shoes being discarded at the entrance with his and Max. The pair walked into the hall, curious, and were met by a sea of red.
"This is the Weasley family. They're from England."
"Oh." Harry said and Max shrugged, still silent. "Hello. This is Max and my names Harry-"
"Blimey it's Harry Potter!"
Harry stopped and Moria mentally groaned as nearly all the heads swiveled. Max cocked her head to the side and then sidestepped around Harry, forgoing her natural shyness as natural protectiveness took over and she stood in front of him. Molly smiled at the little girl, before tsking at her family.
"Enough of that. The poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo." She scolded her children as Max grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him past the corner. "Now you've gone an embarrassed the poor boy."
"I think she was more protective of him than he was embarrassed. Wonder why she didn't say anything." Ron questioned and Moria swallowed.
"She doesn't. Talk that is. There was an incident a few months ago…and she hasn't gotten over it."
The Weasley's looked at Moria who was staring where Harry and Max had been. She then looked at them with a sad smile and shrugged.
"Don't worry about it. Now then…I'm a horrible host. I'll go make tea. Harry! Max! Please be polite and show our guests around."
"Arthur and I will help out."
"I'll come too."
"Me too." Charlie and Bill said, leaving the other five there as Max and Harry returned, Max with a guarded look on her face. She eyed Ginny who was blushing heavily, before the redhead waved at her. Max blushed and waved hesitantly back, playing with the hem of her skirt. The boys-sans Percy-grinned.
"My names Ron." Ron said going to Harry, holding his hand out who returned the shake hesitantly. "So…do you have the…scar?"
"Ron!" Percy hissed.
"It's okay. Yeah I do. See?" Harry replied lifting up his bangs and showing the lightning shaped scar.
"Wicked." Ron breathed and Harry beamed.
"Hey, that looks like Geoff." George stated pointing at an image of the Harry, Max, and Geoffrey.
"Geoffrey Lupin?" Harry clarified.
"Yeah. He's a Ravenclaw. He's got a wicked sense of humor." Fred stated. "Has helped us out on a few pranks."
"Yeah, our dads knew each other when they were younger." Harry stated with a grin. "So obviously we know each other."
"Oh, wicked." George stated, looking at Fred. Maybe they knew some jokes as well.
"Come on lets show you our room." Harry said, grabbing Max's hand and leading the group up to their room.
"Wow…this is so pretty..." Ginny murmured as they entered. "Who drew all those?" She asked shyly. Max pointed to herself. She beamed.
"Can you draw me?" Ginny asked and Max nodded, going for her sketchbook. She grabbed her pencils and flipped it open the group watched as she began to sketch easily, as though she had never stopped drawing and they had merely walked in. It took her a few minutes, her tongue poking out in concentration before showing Ginny the sketch. The girl's eyes widened.
"Wow! You're so good!"
Ron snorted quietly as George and Fred watched him and Harry, while Percy seemed content staying in the background, cleaning his glasses. "That's boring."
"I know. I'm way too used to it. Want to see my broom?"
"Broom? You fly?"
"Duh. I love Quidditch." Harry stated going to his closet. "The Italian Gallivanting Ghost team is wicked good."
"Gallivanting Ghost? Get real. The Chudley Cannons are the best."
"But…they've lost nearly every match." Harry protested. Ron huffed angrily.
"Well fine, what about any United Kingdom teams?" George asked and Harry grinned.
"The Irish National Quidditch Team and Holyhead Harpies."
"Okay, you can be friends with us." Fred stated with a grin. Max rolled her eyes and continued to draw out Ginny's suggestions.
"So…what happened to Max?" Molly asked as she helped Moria make tea. Moria paused briefly and then sighed, pushing her hair back.
"There was a boy in her old school, decided that she would be his target for bullying. One day he crossed the line and when she yelled at him to be quiet, an accidental magic incident happened and well….let's just say she sort of….blew out some windows and hurt the kid. Not badly mind you…but enough to where she associated her voice as a danger to people. So…she stopped talking." Moria said scratching the back of her head, sighing. She didn't look at Molly, Arthur, or their oldest sons…not wanting to see their expressions. The group of four glanced at one another. The idea that a She sighed.
"It's been nearly six months since I last heard her talk, and it's kind of lonely for Harry and I to not hear her anymore. Honestly, I'm beginning to think that I'm-"
"You aren't." Molly interrupted with a smile, knowing what she was going to say. "You are far from a horrible mother. And don't worry…I'm sure that when the times come, Max will find her voice again." Molly suggested gently and Moria offered a slight smile, before a loud thump and a squawk mixed with a yelp was heard.
"What in the world…" Arthur began before footsteps was heard and loud laughter echoed. Percy came into the kitchen soon after, covered in feathers, followed by his brothers, sister, Harry, and Max. The last of the group was swiftly followed by an adolescent griffin who was hopping around happily rushing over to Max and Ginny, nuzzling the former and sniffing the latter, nipping at her hair and its strange color, before being swatted by Max.
"Oh…to answer your question from earlier…that's Arian." Moria responded dryly. "Max is his surrogate mother…I'm assuming there was a rough landing?"
"He landed on me." Percy grumbled.
"Well Harry did say move, Percy. You just chose not to listen." George said as the group flocked around the table. "I must say, we add anymore feathers to you, we can throw you over a cliff, and you'll probably fly back to England."
Everyone nearly laughed, but stopped briefly under Molly's glare. But then a soft, melodic sound entered the room, something that hadn't been heard in so long.
Max's laughter.
It was soft at first, and they thought that they had imagined it, but it grew in strength and Harry and Moria stared at her in shock as she laughed, covering her mouth, trying to be polite, but just kept laughing and laughing. But it didn't seem to want to stop, as though six months of silence had become too much and she couldn't stop. Slowly the others began to laugh as well. Even Percy. Moria and Harry hugged Max, laughing till tears slid down their faces.
It was later that night, and Moria glanced up towards the hill that the kids were stargazing from. She didn't realize how lonely it had been since Remus left in this house. It hadn't seemed so big since they had left, but maybe she had been so preoccupied with Max and Harry and her job to realize how lonely she truly felt. She was happy that she had gotten friends here, and truly grateful for them because the past nine years would have been hell…she missed England. Without realizing it she began to play with the necklace Sirius had given to her, rotating the charm around her neck.
"I wish you were here, Sirius…" She murmured under her breath, before returning to reality and going to pick up the discarded books in the living room. Outside, the group was stargazing.
"Wow…so many stars." Ginny commented later that night as she, her brothers, Max and Harry sat on a nearby hill. Their parents and older brothers, including Percy had gone to the hotel they were assigned, thankfully free of charge with this trip. But George, Fred, Ron, and Ginny had stayed there. It had been rather funny. When Harry wasn't around, Ginny acted normally…however the moment the boy entered the room, her face would match the color of her hair, and she would begin to stammer and on more than one occasion, drop an item. Moria managed to stop her laughter. It seemed that Harry had quite the admirer.
Though her mannerisms hadn't quite changed throughout the day, it seemed that with Max she was much more comfortable with, and chatted with her, even though Max didn't actually respond. After the laughing bout, it seemed her voice had retreated back. However it had been a hopeful moment…her voice wasn't completely gone. Max smiled at her friend…her first friend actually. It was actually nice.
"Hey Harry, are you and Max going to be going to Hogwarts?"
"We think so." Harry stated with a shrug. "Not sure when we're moving back though."
"I hope it's soon." Ron said with a grin, which Harry returned.
"Aw is ickle Ronnie gonna miss his friend?" George teased earning a glare from the boy in question.
"Oh would you two be nice, I mean…what's Max doing?" Ginny asked as Max got up and walked slightly down the hill. She smiled brightly and kicked a rock into some plants, awakening fireflies. They lit up the sky circling around lazily flickering on and off. It appeared to be a large colony of them, lighting up the entire sky with them.
"Wow…reminds me of when we were younger and we would go running though the yard at home." George stated.
"Yeah…let's do that again!" Fred yelled and took off running. The rest of the group looked at each other and then followed the red head, yelling into the night.
The week went by quickly, the Weasley children hanging out with Max and Harry, while the older sons and their parents followed Moria around as she helped them to different meetings and translating for them. Finally however, the time to return back for the Weasley's to England came, much too quickly, but there was little they could do.
"Well it seems that there are a lot of policies that would be marvelous in England." Arthur stated as they got ready for their portkey to arrive. "I hope to implement some."
"Yes, life would be nicer if that were to happen." Moria replied with a grin to which Arthur and Molly shared.
"And do write. I'm sure Ron and Ginny will be writing to Harry and Max quite a lot." Molly stated and Moria looked at the four, and couldn't help but agree, watching as Ron and Harry chatted about Quidditch, while Max was making a list of things to draw, her eyes alight with excitement.
"We will. I hope your boys have fun in Hogwarts…Harry and Max will be joining them soon enough." She said with a sigh.
"What are you going to do when you get to London?"
"Honestly, I don't know…I'll figure it out." Moria stated, pushing her hair back. "I've always managed to do that."
"Whatever the case…you're welcome at our home." Molly said and Moria blinked then smiled.
"Thank you."
"Promise you'll write." Ginny stated and Max nodded brightly, smiling. "And you send me drawings." Ginny added and once again Max nodded. Harry walked over to say goodbye to her, and Ginny's face turned red, and she looked down at her shoes.
"I…I'll see you later H-Harry." She stammered out and Harry looked confused while Max just smiled and nudged Harry. Ginny then hurried away, and followed her parents and brothers. Harry looked at Max who was staring at him.
"What?"
An eye roll and she pointed at the receding family.
"Oh come on, I was just being polite."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Oh don't give me lip. Just because I made her blush doesn't mean I did it intentionally. I don't even know why she did that."
Max's eyes rolled again and Moria held back a chuckle. She took a step forward and there was a sudden stinging in her leg. She flinched and looked down, expecting there to be something there that her foot hit. However to her confusion…there wasn't anything there. Maybe she had stepped funny?
"….come on you two. Let's go home." She said ushering the two away. Miles away, a woman with white hair stood on a balcony, feeling the wind through her hair as she stared into the water abyss. She only turned when she felt something slither up her leg, coiling around her neck, its head resting in the hand that she rose for it. She looked at her familiar, a pale snake with red eyes a perfect match to her own eyes and hair.
"Well? Did you get the woman's blood?" She asked and the snake opened its jaws and blood began to drip from its fangs. She sneered happily.
"Well done…now the pieces are all together….and it is time for my revenge." She whispered, inhaling the ocean air.
"You've had your fun Moria Black…but the fun…is over."
PHEW! THAT TOOK TOO LONG! ANYHOO, ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO! AND THEN IT'S ON TO PART 4….I REALLY NEED TO WORK ON MY OTHER FANFICTIONS TOO XD, BUT THIS ONE IS BEGGING TO BE FINISHED!