Previously
Maxym, who was sitting in an armchair in the far corner of the living room and could not see who had come to visit, did not understand why her parents were standing stock-still in the room.
She slowly got up and joined her mother.
»What's going on here?«, she asked and realized who had disturbed them in the morning.
»Maxym, it's good to see you«, she was greeted by the guest.
She just closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb. This couldn't be happening. Does it really have to be now?
»Don't you even want to say hello to your father«, the guest tried again.
»You mean her biological father«, Jim had found his voice again.
The guest nodded apologetically at the landlord. »Of course.«
In front of them stood Draco Lucius Malfoy, Maxyms biological father.
»Mister Malfoy, what an unexpected pleasure to welcome you to our home. Please sit.« Sophia had been the first to recover from the initial shock and now offered the guest a chair at the table.
»Thank you.« Draco sat down on one of the empty chairs. His posture was tense, his back straight and he hadn't taken off his long coat yet, though it was very stuffy in the small flat. Late summer had once again caused the mercury to rise.
Jim slowly freed himself from his paralysis and took a seat at the table as well, leaving the newspaper lying next to him. He had also forgotten about the coffee, which had already cooled down.
Maxym didn't bother and, unlike her mother, didn't want to feign false modesty. She stood behind her parents' chairs with her arms crossed in front of her chest. »What do you want?«
Draco was already preparing to reply, but Sophia intervened. »Maxym, please be polite to our guest.«
"I apologize for showing up unannounced. However, recent events have driven me to move my agenda faster than I had planned.« Draco looked at everyone thoughtfully. Only Maxym wanted to know more.
»Oh, and what events are those supposed to be? And what kind of agenda anyway?«, she asked defiantly.
»I'd like to know too«, Jim agreed with her.
Draco cleared his throat briefly and took a deep breath. »There have been some changes in the Wizarding World.« At the word wizarding world, Jim wrinkled his nose. Draco pretended not to notice and continued. »It has become dangerous for many families. Some incidents, I must not speak of them further, have put the Ministry, our Ministry of Magic, on alert. As a result, the older wizarding families, of which my family is one, are being watched particularly closely. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in some wizards taking this as an opportunity to harass the families. Sometimes with unseemly methods.«
»That's terrible. I hope your wife and son are all right?«, asked Sophia presently. Maxym rolled her eyes. She knew her birth father and half-brother could fight back. Even Astoria, Draco's wife, is smart enough and a talented witch. At least that was what she had heard from Scorp, her half-brother.
»Yes, we have been spared such attacks so far. However, I would like to keep everyone safe. And that includes you, Maxym.« With that, he addressed Maxym. »The current situation is not getting any better. They are now expanding their network and you are now on the Ministry's list as well.«
»Why is Maxym on this list? You said you wanted to keep her out of all this magic thingy. Maxym passed basic training with flying colors and we had all agreed that while she should continue to take a few lessons privately, she would be kept out of the rest. Precisely because the Malfoy family has a certain standing in your world.« Jim straightened in the chair and tried to look threatening. Maxym nodded in agreement.
»I know and that worked fine as long as no special attention was paid to our family. However, the birth records came up again through the Malfoy family's vetting and the Ministry has paid attention to this matter. My influence is limited and at this time I can hardly use it«, defended Draco.
»And what do you suggest? Is Maxym even safe anymore?«, the concern could clearly be heard in Sophia's voice.
»This is the reason that I have come to you. I have already spoken to the Headmaster and we all think it would be best if Maxym attended Hogwarts with Scorpius this term. She would be safe there, as the school has taken extra precautions. She could also still improve her skills and more importantly use them«, suggested Draco.
»Pah. I thought we already discussed this. I'm going through basic training to control my magical powers. But beyond that, I want nothing to do with your world. And certainly not with this Hogwarts thing.« Scowling, Maxym stomped her feet and raised her head a little higher to show strength.
»I have to agree with her. We had a deal Malfoy. You gave us Maxym, and we happily took her in. We even used to drive her to those idiotic lessons with that private tutor. You wanted to stay out of my daughter's life.« Jim leaned forward menacingly and glared at Draco.
Draco clenched his hand into a fist and closed his eyes for a brief moment. He needed to collect himself and not lose his temper. That muggle, Jim, he corrected himself in his mind, only meant well and he loved Maxym like one of his own. She was, after all, his daughter. There was never any official adoption certificate, at least not in the wizarding world, but Jim and Sophia had all the rights in the muggle world to raise Maxym. He had made sure of that. After the death of Maxym's birth mother, a Muggle with whom he'd had a brief affair before his marriage, he hadn't wanted to raise the child in his world. He had experienced first-hand what it was like to live as a Malfoy. Yes, he had turned his back on the Dark Lord, changed his views regarding pure blood and muggles. But still he, Astoria and even Scorpius had rough days. Maxym would be doubly burdened with her half-blood status, and he wanted to protect her from that. So, with a heavy heart, he decided to give Maxym to a muggle couple that had wanted children for a long time but had never been blessed with happiness. It had been hard at first, especially when Maxym's magical abilities began to show. But Draco, with the help of Sophia, had been able to come to a compromise that Jim also agreed with. Draco had always kept an eye on Maxym and knew more of her life than she might have liked, yet in said compromise it was discussed that Draco would stay out of the little family's lives.
But all that had become moot. He had not exaggerated. Things were getting more dangerous, especially for the pureblood families. The safety of his two children was his first priority. »I have stayed out of my daughter's life, just as you wished.« At that, he put extra emphasis on the word my. »But she is in acute danger and the only solution is Hogwarts. It would only be for a short time, too. As soon as the situation eases, she can drop out of the school year immediately.«
»Yeah great and the school year here? What about that? I'll catch up on that? Then I'll have to sit and do an extra year without my friends?«, You could hear the displeasure but also the fear in her voice.
Draco shook his head. »No, as I said, I've already discussed all of this with the Headmaster. He will give you a document that you can show at your Muggle school. Then your stay at Hogwarts will be counted as a stay abroad. You might even get some benefits out of it.«
Maxym only acknowledged this with a shrug.
»How would it work? Doesn't she still need the equipment? Isn't the level of the subjects too high?«, finally Sophia spoke up. She had been silent all this time. Maxym's adoptive mother had listened to all the views, but trusted Mr Malfoy's testimony. She just wanted Maxym to be safe.
»Maxym would come to Malfoy Manor two days before the term begin. There she can join Scorpius and we will get their equipment together. My wife and I will accompany them both. She will make friends quickly at Hogwarts herself. I'm sure of that. Maxym is a gifted student, or so I've been told by her tutor. I don't think we have to worry about the level«, the wizard reassured her.
»You can't be serious. You can't just send me away like this. I still have something to say.« Maxym was furious. At everyone. She felt a wall building up between her and the adults. They couldn't just decide like that, could they? And most of all, she didn't want to go to this strange world, to this strange school. She didn't know anyone there. Sure, she was in contact with Scorp and they often wrote letters to each other, exchanging stories. But otherwise she was alone. Alone in this world and alone at this school.
»Maxym, if Mister Malfoy thinks it's safer, then I can only support him there. We can't protect you like he can. Like this school. You know that. We'd do anything for you.« Sophia walked up to her and went to hug her, but Maxym took a step back and turned away demonstratively.
»And they can guarantee my daughter's safety there?«, Jim asked Draco, glaring at him piercingly.
Draco skirted the fact that Maxym was also his daughter and nodded. »Yes, she would be safe within the walls of Hogwarts. The castle has taken measures as I said, the teaching staff is highly trained and the Ministry, our Ministry, is also responsible for protection.«
Jim nodded, but seemed to think about it. Draco looked from Sophia to Jim. If anyone managed to persuade Maxym, it was those two. He knew his daughter would never listen to him.
»I want to be kept informed of all occurrences and, of course, to be in touch with Maxym.« Jim had made up his mind. Draco exhaled in relief.
»Dad, you can't do this to me. We still have so much to do. I wanted to get ready for school here«, Maxym sobbed. She had tears in her eyes and it pained Draco to see her like this. But he only wanted the best for her. As they all did.
Jim now stood up as well and walked towards Sophia, who was still standing next to Maxym. »I know, and we'll make up for it. Look at it for what it is. A new experience during a term abroad. Nothing else. And if it means you're safe, then there's no reason not to do it anymore. We'll write to each other every week and keep in touch. Mister Malfoy will give his word, right?«, he looked at Draco.
»Of course. Maxym, we'll get you an owl to bring the letters to your parents quickly, and I'll show them a way so they can contact me quickly.«
»So, it's decided then? I'm going to Hogwarts this term?«, you could still hear the small hope in Maxym's voice that everything would turn out alright after all.
But her mother just nodded. »Yes, my angel.«
After that, everything happened very quickly. Draco didn't want to stay any longer than necessary. He realized how unpopular he was and quickly took his leave. He was going to come back in two days to take Maxym to Malfoy Manor. The mood in the family was depressed. Forgotten was the joy from earlier. Sophia was helping Maxym to pack. Neither of them really knew what was needed at this school and Sophia was more involved in the process than Maxym. The young girl just sat next to the suitcase and nagged. But it didn't help. She would have to go to Hogwarts.