Thestralls
The boarding of the train is different, this second first time. There is no terror is jumping headfirst into a new world, one that she wasn't yet sure she would belong in. This time, she is leaving behind parents who ask her to write, parents who get it. This time, without a doubt, she knows that this is world she belongs in. Her fear is placed differently, it is fear about the kind of witch she is becoming, and the darkness that feels always looming.
Maxima's wand, like another appendage twitches at the thought and it takes everything not to place the cool wood into her hands and feel the rush of power through her body like ecstasy.
James is just thrilled at the prospect of this new adventure chattering nonstop about all the possibilities, and their dad, in typical fashion, was egging him on threatening to cut his allowance if he doesn't get into Gryffindor.
"And what is so bad about the other houses, you remember I was Slytherin" adds Dorothea raising an eyebrow at the two Potter males, daring them to say the wrong thing.
"Nothing is wrong" Maxima says quietly her face pensive "but isn't bravery a greater quality to cultivate than slyness" she adds, thinking of the Severus snape, and how his life might have been different had he been a little more brave.
Dorothea crouched to her daughters eye level, "being a snake is about so much more than that, it is about being both brave and smart in the right moments. It is about planning to win the war but willing to lose a few battles along the way" Maxima swallowed hard, "my darling, I will be proud no matter what house that dusty old hat places you" her mother spoke softly. Maxima is touched by her mothers words but but was too lost in her thoughts about war, and what it might take to win to articulate a response.
The train screams and after a last dragged out goodbye James grabs maxima hand and the two twins disappear into the train and the first semi-available compartment.
There is already a boy sitting there, and Maxima recognizes the slender boy with a lurch in her stomach but it is packed everywhere else, and she has no reason to give James why this compartment wasn't good enough.
A boy sits on the first bench, he has long shaggy hair and tony scars all over his face and hands that catch in the light. He is handsome nevertheless, he hasn't looked up at them, instead his nose is buried in what looked to be a second hand copy of Hogwarts a history. Maxima smiles nostalgic despite herself, "Hi, I'm maxima potter and this is my twin James" she sticks out her hand "Remus lupin" he responds his eyes glued to the ground, but maxima persists shaking is hand despite his discomfort. She knew this might be the first time someone had willing touched him in years. The thought enraged her.
"Hallo Remus, good to meet you" spoke James nodding at the skittish boy. No sooner had he sat onto the bench "accidently" shoving Maxima into the window had two additional first year students arrived to their compartment. Maxima, to her luck, hadn't noticed "Jamie if you shove me one more time I will shove puking jellies in your ears when you sleep, and you know that will make you popular among your dorm mates" she threatened and James glared in return "you would never" he challenged and maximas eyes narrowed.
Someone cleared their throat before the twins decided to go for each other's throat, and Sirius Black stepped into her compartment. It was like time had stopped. Maximas heart felt like it was in her mouth and she did not dare speak should it actually be.
"Sirius black" he spoke with the rehearsed suave way she recognized, and still this boy was nothing more than a stranger to her. He ran a hand through his hair "this pip of a lad is Peter, would've missed the train if it weren't for him" and the group laughed at his almost misfortune, the boys settling in as the train began to lurch forward.
Sirius and James got along all too well alreadt discussing plans for pranking while Maxima spoke with Remus playing, for the first time that he would remember, wizard or muggle with literature they had consumed over the summer. When the boys moved onto the topic of quittage they were not able to veil their surprise when Maxima could keep up.
"Just you wait for tryouts I'm going to be the youngest female chaser Hogwarts has ever seen" declared Maxima grinning viciously, inciting laughs from the boys. "I don't care Potter, as long as you demolish Slytherin," Spoke Sirius, there was something about his tone that made her uneasy, speaking about more than just a sports game.
"I hope I get sorted in Gryffindor" James stated twirling a chocolate frog so fast in his palm that it hiccupped chocolate bubbles.
"I heard you have to be brave and courageous for that" Peter responded fidgeting with his hands "I don't know if I'll pass for that" Remus nodded attesting to similar feelings. "Anything but Slytherin for me" Sirius boldly states "whole lot of them are evil"
"not evil, just too many have been manipulated under Voldemort "spoke Maxima staring out of the window, James grabbed her hand softly. He always swore it was the twin bond, knowing when they we're needed. There was something in her voice when she spoke his name, something James was certain he did not like- fear and Maxima was scared of nothing.
"Don't say his name" Sirius' voice was clipped frightening even James who sat securely beside him.
"It just a name" the small, frightened Peter said his chest puffed out. Maxima shook her head at the blissfully ignorance. It was so much more than just a name, there was power in such things she should know better.
"Just don't say it" he repeated looking at her eyes dragging a hand through a mess of dark curls. Maxima was shaken by the eye contact and nodded. No one said anything else until the train pulled up to the station.
"FIRST YEARS THIS WAY" Shouted Hagrid leading a large groups to what Maxima knew would be carriages magically spelled to travel to the school grounds with no aid. But when they got there Maxima saw something much more than fancy spellwork.
Large white beasts supported that carriages, and one look at James told her that he saw nothing more than the carriages. James, Remus and Peter clambered in the carriage eagerly but Maxima's breath hitched staring at the massive beasts in terror watching as Sirius looked transfixed at them as well.
" FIVE TO A CARRIAGE PLEASE " spoke hagrid as many of those before them began to move.
She remembered Harry talking about them, claiming that you had to see death to see them, she never quite believed him, but seeing truly was believing.
They were broad horses with a soft white coat and gorged out eyes, as if their soul had been ripped from them. She didn't realize she was shaking until Sirius touched her hand softly and helped her into the carriage joining in when the boys discussed the recent puddlemore united quittage game. But every so often he sends a glance in her direction, and there was something harrowing about the look in his eyes, who had he seen die to give him sight of these creatures?
Professor McGonngal was there, much to Maxima's relief to give them instructions and lead them to be sorted. One by one students were sorted and the three boys that huddled around maxima chattered nervously.
"What do you think it feels like" asked peter his voice squeaking" Maxima grinned mischievously "you see that hat, it has tentacles the latch on to your brain and dig in" she motioned turning her fingered into claws "it'll find out what house you belong on, no one has died in years" she paused looking at Sirius who smirked " unless you count that one boy" he added on "shame about him" she replied unable to keep from laughing.
"I'm sorry petey, we're just taking the Mickey, it's really not that bad. You'll do fine" she said grinning, peter smiled back in relief his anxiety still written over his expression.
"Severus snape" the hat rested on a boys head who had already bumped into her hot head brother getting on his bad side. It was not even a breath before it shouted "SLYTHERIN"
Peter was the first was their small group to be sorted, shaking like a leaf but it wasn't long before the hat declared "GRIFENDORE" and relief flooded his feature as he rushed to join his new house table.
When Sirius stepped onto the stool there was silence, familiar faces from across the tables all paused to look at him. He knew what house he was supposed to desire, the green tie he was destined to wear, but more than anything else he wanted to sit among his new friends, far away from his cousin Bellatrix that grinned at him from her table. Bella indeed wore a green tie.
"Anything but Slytherin" he muttered loud, "Hmm, interesting, you could find glory there, power too" declared that hat but Sirius shook his head.
"No? Better be GRIFFENDORE hollered that hat and Sirius took a gulp of air before he took a spot on the bench beside peter.
Remus Lupin was placed almost immediately "GRIFFENDORE" the hat declared and Remus joined his new friends and tentative smile gracing his features.
James was before her, sitting confident on the stool, like he knew nothing could go wrong. "GRIFFENDORE" the hat roared and james juming off the stool bowed a few times before joining his friends.
Maxima tried to be calm when she sat on the stool after. Breathing slow, paced. She tried to remain expressionless, she would manage no matter the decision. "Curious one, you are" the hat muttered she could feel her magic rush through her like waves and she had to focus from holding onto her restrain "oh yes, many ties, souls bonded already. Smart and yet you would eat up ravenclaw wouldn't you a vicious creatue. Better not" the hat laughed and every eyes in the room was focused on her. Never before had a sorting taken so long.
"Not huffelpuff either you are a difficult one. Cunning, and Creative, resourceful too. A growing viper better be SLYTHERIN" that hat declared and james droped his glass, it was silent but for the noise of his goblet clanging on the ground.
Maxima shook in disbelief, she had grifferdore before, she didn't even consider the possibility that it would change. She looked to Mcgonngal for help but the witch just ushered her off the stool and towards her house table. She did not miss the horror on Sirius' face, or the slow smirk from Lucious Malfoy.
She sat at the edge of the Slytherin table, looking for a friendly face but finding none but the youthful faces of men and women from her nightmares. When Severus Snape sat beside her, she almost kissed him in relief.
"Snape" he drawled introducing himself "lose the accident if you want to live" she hissed at him, he nodded not yet too jaded to understand what help was when it was being offered so freely.
"Maxima" she offered, "people I like call me max, you can call me Maxima for now" and then Severus Snape did something that in all her years of being his student and fighting alongside him she never imagined, he laughed.
It was a soft musical sound "I'll keep that in mind, Maxima" he said grinning. Maybe she could make it through this after all, nested in the vipers nest could prove to be useful.