AUTHORS NOTES: a special thanks to Itsbreanabitch for their wonderful review and for noticing the upload problem which is hopefully solved, Thank you for reading, and reviewing, Cheers.
Maxima wakes up her body aching and an unsettled panic resting in her gut. Her usually soft sheets scratch against her skin, and a hand warm and damp with perspiration clutches her own. Maxima jolts upright.
James sits at her bedside, his glasses askew and red rings circling his eyes. her mouth feels like sand and though she now sits up her brother seems not to have noticed. His eyes are shut tightly and his mouth forms the words of a prayer.
Merlin please protect her. Don't take her away. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
He whispers, his voice raw and Maxima knows she has to say something to stop his agony but no words form themselves. She drops his hand "James'' the words are raspy but audible and he looks up. James shoots upright from his chair almost manically "madame pomphrey," he alerts before enveloping his sister in a hug that is way too tight giver her small stature but neither complain greatly for the closeness. "Thank you" he whispers into her hair and she catches the sheer reality of his fear- he had lost her before. SHe had lived another life, but he had grieved only to have her return.
The healer rushes in with a frenzy of spell work, james pestering at each step but at the ending reaching a verdict that Maxima is quite fine. She had been suffering from complete drain of her magical core for which she received many warnings to act with caution. Curiously, there is no mention of the two boys who had to be ushered out rather forcefully to let James have a moment of peace.
"It's been two days" James tells his sister worry etched on his brow. "Days " she repeats and feels as if the floor had given out. She feels unsure of all but one thing, albus Dumbledore did not have her best interests in mind, not in the slightest.
It is later when she finds herself, alone, without James, awake in the hospital wing. Well perhaps not alone as she observes Remus lupin the bed beside her his torso and hands all bandaged and she has a sinking feeling that the young Remus lupin had just survived the full moon, alone, with no wolfsbane potion to keep his mind clear.
It is cold in the hospital wing and maxima is glad for the green jumper that no doubt James had retrieved for her. She shrugs on the soft material, and despite how her muscles ache as she does so she is great full for its warmth. It's more than a physical ache that she feels, she can feel strain in her magic like another limb. Damn Dumbledore and his good intentions straight to hell. There must be a way to control her unique magic but she knew that it was not attempting to beat it into submission.
Remus uttered a soft groan bringing her focus back to him. She crawled out of bed and in some strange burst of familiarity she sat on his bed waiting expectantly for him to open his eyes. Two wide hazel eyes opened, and in seeing her, he yelped tumbling straight out of the bed onto the floor. She snickered, rolling her eyes as Remus looked at her distressed.
"Relax, Rem its just me" she said her eyes flicking to the sight of his bandages.
"I fell" he sputtered unconvincingly. "Oh rem, don't you worry your wolfy secret is safe with me. Now get back in bed or I wont gift you some of my chocolate stash I have hidden in my dorm". Remus looked at her incredulously but slid compliantly under his covers his eyes trained on the strange potter twin positioned at his bedside.
When he was settled Maxima reached towards him "now let me see the damage" she spoke hoping it wasn't as bad as she imagined, hoping she could help. He flinched away from her touch, understanding Maxima lay her hand on top of his. "You can't infect me, not like this" she spoke softly desperately wanting at least the something he would understand. He was not a monster.
Maxima unraveled the bandages, her touch gentle and practised. Remus averted his eyes as his wounds, like blood soaked flesh, were exposed. Tears welded in his eyes as her wand grazed the openings, trying not to wince at her touch. There was something in her even tone that convinced him to hand over implicit trust. She murmured softly and he watched fascinated as his flesh seamlessly knitted itself back together.
"How-?" Remus asked, his voice barely a whisper, there was something about this moment that he dare not break it by speaking too loud. He looked at her full of curiosity as if seeing her for the first time. In truth he had not thought about her much, he recalled her kindness on the train, and James' displeasure at her sorting but aside from those his interactions with her were minimal at best. But here she stood like a healer not caring for his affliction and doing more than Madame Pomphrey had been successful in last night.
Maxima smiled at him, her blue eyes shining with kept knowledge "Remus, Ive got some hidden talents of my own". He wanted to ask her so much; like where she had learned to heal at eleven years old, and why she had been in the hospital wing in the first place. But he didn't ask, not because he didn't want to know but because he knew what is was like to have secrets and he bore no entitlement on that she kept guarded.
Instead they spoke softly of lie before Hogwarts, well mostly he talked and she commented. Still, she spoke with interest and asked questions no one had bothered to wonder, about his family, about his favourite sweets and about which author her preferred. The conversation was easy, as if they were old friends comfortable with each other's presence even discussing the potential magical ability of their favourite authors as they had on the train. Remus Lupin decided, while worlds different from her brother whom he was fond of, he quite liked Maxima Potter.
"See you later Rem" she offered as she made her leave some time later. He looked at her for a long moment almost contemplatative "I think quite like that Rem " he said "I've never received a nickname before" he ran a hand through his soft brown hair. She gave him an almost knowing look, "I'm sure it'll be one of many" she smiled and had only taken a few steps before he called; "Maxima?" She turned back to look at him "Thank you" he spoke his gratitude almost seeping out of his pores. She only smiled in return leaving Remus curious but utterly greatly for her presence.
As she left, he realized that he never did have the chance to ask what she was doing in the hospital wing. He doubted she would have answered him truthfully or at all. He found that he didn't mind, she too was entitled to her secrets. While by some stroke of luck she knew about his condition, having endearingly dubbed him wolfy, she didn't know about the things he had done with IT was in control.
At breakfast the next morning Maxima is grateful see Remus at the Griffendore table signalling a successful recovery, while James is overjoyed to see his sister back at her designated table back in the emerald uniform. A look at the professors table told Maxima enough that she would expect a lecture from Dumbledore for what she had done for Remus, but for her, it wasn't an option not to. She knew how Remus would grow to resent those scars, finding them evidence of a perceived inner monstrosity, as if she could make them less, even by a little it wasn't even a choice.
She bounds from her seat next to Thea to make good on her promise to the wolf her pocked lined with chocolate. "G'day gentleman" she spoke and curtsied in an ostentatious manner grinning. James snorted pumpkin juice through his nose, and this at the very least felt like a success.
"Hast my eyes deceived me or is the morose maxima smiling?" Questioned Sirius showing no evidence of their encounter or the secret she now bore but for an increased friendliness.
She quirked an eyebrow, "hast doth harm me so? I? Morose? I have neer dreamt of thing" she spoke in an exaggerated English accent imitating the older ladies that sometimes accompanied her mother for tea. "Harm? Banish the thought and let me pay recompense for thy lady sensibilities" Sirius spoke his over exaggerated accident leading way to undertones of sarcasm and laughter as he spoke the last two words.
Maxima rolled her eyes "lady sensibilities you git" she scoffed shoving his shoulder as the soon be called marauders were sent into a fit of laughter. Boys.
When the laughter subsided, Maxima handed over the chocolate to Remus almost in a conspiratorial manner. "Let me know if the favours are to your liking" requested maxima adding on "I must know because I don't doubt that all future bets will be made with chocolate as a wager". She nicked a mini waffle from james' plate grinning, he let out a noise of complaint.
Remus scrunched up his face in distaste as he bit into a chocolate, quickly resolving it but maxima caught the reaction. "Which one is it" she questioned, her eyes narrowing as he avoided her gaze. "Remus?" She voiced an attempt to draw out her answer. "The pecan ones" He spoke softly, almost apologetic "they're rather a sweet for a much older wizard". She nodded "of course". She had selected the chocolate based on what she could remember of a much older Remus' preferences. It made sense that his younger counterpart, in what could very well be a different timeline, would have different sweet preferences.
"The chocolate is Divine" added Remus a moment later his mouth full of his acquisition, giving her an awkward hug which she took advantage of to whisper "chocolate helps healing, join me in the library if you want to know more wolfy".
She nodded having riled up the group of gryffindors enough of one morning pausing only to comment to James "and for the love of Circe James, write back to Mum sometimes, she's driving me spare with all the questions". With that she waved and slid back to her own seat at her own table.
"What the hell was that Sirius, Remus" James asked, not accustomed to finding his friends so friendly with his sister. Peter dug loudly into his eggs and toast chewing with his mouth open while Sirius replied. "We have an understanding her and I" James raised his eyebrow wondering how his sister had browbeat his friend into malleability. "I reckon that we'd better learn to get along since we'll be mates for life and you're not likely to get rid of her" a strangely mature response from someone who not an hour earlier had engaged in a belching contest with peter..and won. Curious, but nothing that James could refute.
"We're friends" spoke Remus smiling softly, and James didn't have it into him to ruin such a beautiful sentiment from his introverted friend. Truthfully James was happy she was bonding with his friends, she seemed happier and he had been so worried with her ending up in the hospital wing.
"Wait, Remus…What was the bet" asked James curious on what agreement the two had made that had ended with Remus acquiring chocolate. Remus smiled, "can't tell you or your sister with murder me and mate don't take this the wrong way but I am much more scared of her than you" Sirius laughed at the remark agreeing almost wholeheartedly. while both twins had a jovial streak and a penchant for trouble, it was without a doubt that it was maxima's bad side one wanted to avoid.
Dumbledore approached the podium signalling the morning announcements after repeats of messages that students had heard many mornings before came a new one. "Mr. Fitch politely requests that if those who have turned poor mrs. Noris purple reverse the spell by end of day, then they will not receive any consequences for their ill-humoured prank". No one, students or professor missed the chortled laughter that came from Gideon and Fabian prewett at the mention of the prank.
"Who is ms. Noris" asked Maxima sure that the same cat could not be alive almost two decades earlier than Flitch's pet "is she a professor?" she questioned finding that to be the only rational answer. "What would be Filtch's cat, a fuckuing menace if you ask me" spoke none other than Bellatrix Black and it took all of Maxima's self restrain not to get up and run. Like a memory her arm burned and she tried to remember that it had not happened yet, she would not be victimized by that witch this time.
Bellatrix looks far from what Maxima had remembered, her dark curls were pulled into a coif and her face was soft in ways that Azkaban removed. "Honestly" maxima found herself saying under the scrutiny of the young but terrifying witch. Perhaps it was her potential for atrocity more than anything that gathered such fear. "In don't understand why Dumbledore keeps filth around, a squib in a magical school is just asking for … trouble". Maxima focused on the wrong witch missed the way thea's fists tightened, now following the conversation intently.
Bellatrix looked at maxima carefully, her dark eyes calculating. Despite the chatter of the Great Hall the slithering table was deathly silent all observing the interaction between the two witches. "For a first year you are quite opinionated" spoke Bellatrix almost suspiciously after a heavy silence. Maxima saw the remark for what it was, a challenge. She relaxed her features tossing some curls almost absentmindedly over her shoulder "I wasn't aware age precluded me from basic logic" maxima spoke an eyebrow raised and Bellatrix laughed. Maxima tried not to inhales expansively in relief.
Bellatrix stuck out her hand "I don't believe we've officially met, Bellatrix Black, but you my favourite firstly can call me Bella" she spoke her eyes still calculating. Maxima took the hand of the older witch, thanking all the stars and her mother that she had been taught how to complete the exchange the correct pure blood way.
"Maxima Potter" she spoke "but I imagine you already know that Bella" Bellatrix grinned almost as if amused by the young girls audacity. "Lucius speaks highly of you" Bella remarked, another test. Maxima smiled "He's been nothing but a gentleman". She could feel Lucius gaze on her hot as she replied. She could feel her occulmency wards shutter as she shielded an attack, annoyed but not was known for her exceptional talents as litagemency, able to decide if the intrusion was almost unnoticeable or incredibly painful. Maxima was grateful she had gone with subtly.
"I'll see you in Maths Maxima" spoke Bella in lieu of a goodbye as she and narcissa left the table. Maxima could feel the air flood back into her lungs. Expectant she turned to Thea to venture to class but the girl brushed past her Severus in tow.
"Find your own way to class, I hope your the Slytherin that gets attacked today" Thea spoke bitingly. If Maxima was the kind of girl to curse she would do it now, profusely and colourfully.
"Oi Kitten" a voice dragged her out of her own self-pity. "Sirius?" She questioned as the consistently disheveled wizard stood next to her void of his usual accompaniment.
"Shouldn't you be with your usual band of hooligans?" Asked Maxima startled by his presence. Sirius grinned, "as honoured as I am to receive that designation, your brother went to declare his affections for Lilly… again and I can't bear to witness such brutal rejection so close to breakfast" Maxima despite herself, grinned knowing knowing exactly how vocal james was about his affections and how dismissive lily Evans could be.
"Walk you to class" Sirius offered and Maxima knowing that the griffendors and slytherins shared potions that morning nodded. In truth, she was quite grateful for the company, not that she'd tell him.