(Disclaimer: Well, here comes chapter 6. I still do not own the wonder that is Harry Potter. JKR does, and I never will. I do still own Maya, and any other character I decide to stick into this story. XD
Author note: Now we shall find out what happened to poor Maya's parents. What will happen when Maya has…? Well never mind =D. On with the show!)
Chapter Six: I'll Never Forget.
Minerva glared slightly at Albus. "What is it you know that I don't! Tell me, please?"
Albus stroked his long white beard in thought, but finely he looked Minerva start in the eyes. "It is not for me to tell. Maya will come to you when she finds out."
Minerva looked down at her food, and started to push it around the plate idly with her fork. "Alright." She said simply, before standing up, and exiting the Great hall, her robes bellowing around her ankles.
Just as Minerva exited the hall, an owl flew in, and landed beside Maya's plate. Maya looked over at the owl, stunned. It was a coal black color, with yellow eyes. It dropped a letter in her hand, and took off into the air, flying gracefully out the window of the hall. Maya looked down at the letter. In heavy black ink the letter was addressed to Maya Amelia Tanner. With shaky hands she slowly tore open the parchment envelope. A letter fell out onto her knees, and she picked it up, reading it.
Dear Maya,
We are sorry to inform you of your parent's death. They were attacked last night at their home, and neither survived. We do not know their cause of death, but we are working on trying to figure it out. We would also like to inform you, that your guardian is now one Minerva J. McGonagall. If you do not wish to live with her, please inform us within the next thirty days so we may find you a proper placement. Once again we are very sorry for your lose.
The Leeds Police Department
There is a small note attached to the letter.
Dear Maya,
I'm very sorry. I got this from the post office this morning, and owled it to you as soon as I could.
Albus Dumbledore, Head Master
Maya's face went white, and she dropped her fork. She distantly heard the clink it made as it hit the plate, as her eyes started to fill with tears.
"Maya…MAYA!" Ginny shook her friend, a worried expression on her face.
Maya looked at her, tears making their way down her ghostly pale cheeks. Ginny screamed, as Maya fell forward into her arms, having fainted.
Albus rushed down from the head table almost at once, followed closely by Snape, and Flitwick. Flitwick conjures up a stretcher, and levitates Maya onto it.
Ginny looked at Albus, and the others, her eyes wide. "What's wrong with her Professor?"
"She has just experienced a very awful thing, Ginny." He sighed deeply. "Please go fetch Professor McGonagall for me, and tell her to meet me, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Snape in the hospital wing. Tell her that Maya will need her."
Ginny looked very confused, but did as she was told, and ran as fast as her legs could carry her towards Minerva's office. She burst through the office door, her eyes still very wide. "Professor!" She bent over, clutching her arms to her chest, trying to catch her breath.
Minerva was sitting at her desk, her head bent over a stack of papers. "Yes, Miss Weasley." She looked up at Ginny over the rim of her square framed glasses.
"Maya…hospital wing…now…fainted." She managed to breathe out.
Minerva jumped up, and ran out of the office, worry etched all over her face. Ginny followed, quite out of breath, but still extremely worried about her friend.
They both arrived in the hospital wing moments later, breathing hard, sweat pouring down their faces. Minerva walked over to Maya's bedside, and sat down in a chair, taking the pale girls hand in hers. She looked up at Poppy, tears in her eyes. "Is she going to be ok?"
Madame Poppy looked down at the girl who was now as pale as the sheets. "I believe so, Minerva. I think it's just shock. I'm going to keep her here until she wakes up. Then you may do what you wish with her."
Minerva looked back down at the dark haired girl. "What happened to her anyway?" She felt her heart breaking at the sight of her own flesh and blood so pale and scared looking.
Albus came rushing into the Hospital Wing. His wise face was etched with the worry that was consuming them all.
Minerva looked up at him, as her marched over to the bed. "Albus, what's wrong with my daughter?" She asked quietly, scared to know the answer. "Is she going to be alright?"
Albus conjured up a chair using his wand, and sat down in it, replacing his wand in his pocket. "She is going to be fine. She's in shock. She just found out the people that raised her have died."
Minerva couldn't help but smile slightly. "There is no one to take her away from me now?"
Albus scowled, a very uncharacteristic scowl, at her. "Minerva is that all you can think about, while this poor innocent child mourns the loss of the people she loved for almost 11 years of her life? The people she called her parents! The people that raised her, and treated her right, keeping a roof over her head!"
Minerva sighed gently, and didn't meet his eyes. "I know, Albus. I'm awful." She put her face in her hands, tears coming to her eyes. "It's just, I can't help but be happy. I mean, I have my daughter back."
"Do you think that the deaths of the Tanner's is a coincidence? Minerva, they were murdered."
Minerva looked over at Maya, noticing a piece of paper held tightly in her fingers. She pried her fingers open, and removed the letter. She scanned it rather quickly. "Albus, who would do…." Her voice trailed off, as a sickening thought came to her mind. "Albus, was it him?" She asked in a whisper.
His eyes met with Minerva, as she looked up over the top of the letter. "I believe you know the answer to that question Minerva."
Tears came to her eyes, and she shook her head, trying to clear her head. "No, Albus, he's a death eater, but he'd never hurt them!"
"Minerva, you foolish women! Listen to yourself!" He rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on.
She looked up at him, and sighed, letting the tears fall down her cheeks. "I am being foolish Albus. You're right. He did kill them I know it. But the question is, why?"
He nodded his head at the unconscious girl, and Minerva knew at once what he met. "You're daughter Minerva. He has come back to reclaim her as his own. He knew you would give her up once you were on your own, and now he wants to take her back as his own, and turn her I into a death eater."
"What use would he have for her?" She closed her eyes, in thought.
"He could force her to bear children for other death eaters, so that the dark lord will have more servants."
"Albus, she's just a child."
"Not in his eyes." Albus said sadly.
Both of them went silent, as Ginny walked over. Albus conjured her up a chair, and she settled into it. They all waited in silence for the child to wake.
After hours of waiting, Maya's eyes finally fluttered open. Unshed tears rested in her eyes, as she looked around at the three of them. "What happened?" She asked weakly, rubbing her head like it would bring back the memories of what happened.
"You fainted in the Great Hall, dear." Minerva answered quickly. "Right after you read this." She held up the letter.
Suddenly, all the memories came flooding back. Her parents were dead. The people she grew up with were gone. She would never see their smiling faces again. Even if she wanted to stay with her real mom, she still wanted to see them from time to time. She looked at Minerva, as the unshed tears made their way down her cheeks. "I didn't want them to die." She whispered softly. "I wanted to stay with you, but I didn't want them dead."
Minerva instantly got up, and wrapped her daughter into a hug. "Baby, I know." She sat down on the edge of the bed, and pulled her daughter onto her lap, gently, as she rocked her just like a mother would to a baby. "I know you didn't."
"Do you think they knew I loved them?" She asked, as tears streamed down her cheeks that were quickly regaining color now that she was conscious.
"Yes. I know they knew you loved them. You were their little angel, sweetheart." Minerva whispered, though the words she spoke were breaking her heart, knowing that her little girl was someone else's baby.
Maya lied her head on Minerva's chest, letting her tear fall. "I guess, I'll have to move on." She decided. "Can I go to their funeral?" She looked up at her mother, emotion swirling in her eyes.
"There will be none, Maya." Albus resting placed a hand on her shoulder. "Their family requested not to have one."
Maya shrugged his hand off her shoulder. "How could they not have a funeral!? My parents deserve to be honoured just like everyone else!"
"I know, but it's what they want, Maya. You can't change that."
"I can damn well try!" She screeched tears of anger now filling her eyes.
"Watch your language young lady." Minerva scolded gently.
"NO! SCREW YOU!" She jumped up off Minerva's lap, and bolted out of the Hospital Wing, tears blurring her vision.
Minerva sighed, and made to follow her. She felt an old, but firm hand on her shoulder. "Let her go, Minerva. She needs time."
Minerva turned to face her friend; tears now appeared in her own eyes, which betrayed how hurt she felt. "How can she say something like that?"
"She is hurt Minerva. Just let her have some time to let everything sink in."
"Fine Albus. You always seem to know best, so take you up on this. I hope you're right."
Albus looked to where the girl just ran threw the door of the Hospital Wing. "I hope I am too Minerva. For her sake, and your own."
The next couple of days whizzed by rather quickly for Minerva, Albus, and Maya. Maya never spoke, and whenever she was spoken to, she'd turn, and run in the other direction. She often was seen crying, or being close to tears. Minerva was never happy in class, and she took off many points for no reason. Stupid stuff like helping someone in class, or forgetting something on an essay would land you taken points or detention.
Albus banged on her office door one day, finally tired of all the reports he had been receiving about Minerva. Enough was enough. He had to get Maya and Minerva to talk to each other, or he had to get Minerva to stop with all this rude, and uncalled for behaviour. He opened the office door, and slammed it shut. He stormed over to her desk, and placed both hands on it, scowling darkly at her. "MINERVA JESSICA MCGONAGALL!"
She shuddered, and looked up into the angry eyes of her friend. "Yes, Albus?" She squeaked, wiggling nervously.
"YOU HAVE TO STOP WITH THIS MADNESS! ALL THE KIDS ARE SCARED TO COME TO YOUR CLASS, AND I'VE BEEN GETTING HORRIBLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT YOU!"
She gulped, and looked away from him, looking down at her desk, were a piled of neglected tests laid. "I'm sorry." She offered softly, fear in her eyes.
"YOU BETTER BE!" He sighed deeply, and sat down across from her. "Now, you will stop, and treat your students right. You will only give detentions, and take points when need be, not whenever you please."
"Yes Albus." She looked up at him. His eyes held a much calmer looked to them, and she smiled slightly. "I'll be nicer, I promise."
He stood up, and walked towards the door. He put his hand on the doorknob, before looking back at her. "And speak with your daughter. She hasn't been a very co-operative person these past couple of days. Kind of like yourself."
Minerva groaned softly, and nodded. "Send her in. I'll speak with her."
Maya came stomping in a few minutes later. She sat across from Minerva, and crossed her arms over her chest. "What the hell do you want?!" She spat angrily.
Her eyes went wide. "Young lady! You do NOT use that kind of language with me!"
"Whatever, dude." She glared daggers at her.
"You're getting very close to a punishment." Minerva warned softly.
"You can't do shit all to me!" She got up, and started out of the office. Before she made it to the door however, Minerva grabbed her by her shoulders, and shoved her firmly back down into the chair.
"SIT THERE!" Minerva roared.
She nodded, tears coming to her eyes. She had uttermost fear in her eyes. "Don't hurt me, please. I'm sorry!" She put her arms up in front of her, shaking.
"I'm not going to hurt you." She said softly, gently placing her hands on each of her arms pulling them down. "You just have to treat me, and everyone else with more respect."
She sniffed softly, trying to hold back the salty droplets of water in her eyes. "I will, I promise. I'm sorry that I swore lots, and stuff. I just get so frustrated sometimes, and I lose my temper."
Minerva sat beside her, and crossed one leg over the other, resting her hands neatly on top of her knee. "I understand my dear. That happens to me sometimes, but you need to learn to control that temper of yours. It could get you into a lot of trouble."
"I understand, mum." She smiled, and stood up.
"You're grounded for two weeks. After class you will report to this office, and I will accompany you to supper. After that you will come to my chambers, and we will set you up a room."
Maya groaned softly, but nodded, not wishing to get in any further trouble. "Alright mum." She walked out of the office without another word.
That night she stood in her room in Minerva's chambers. The wall had been charmed a bright orange color. Her new carpet a very brilliant shade of lime green, with navy blue end tables and a dresser to match. Her muggle stuff, a television, stereo with CDs, a DVD player, complete with all her favourite DVDs, and posters covering her walls. She went over to her bed, which had purple bedding, and a purple blanket to match. It had a canopy that was purple to match everything. She smiled, and changed into a pair of sky blue pjs, climbing into bed. She picked up a picture that rested on her end table. It was of a woman, and a man. The woman had a young child in her arms, no more then two, and the man was beaming proudly at the both of them. Tears came to her eyes. "I'll never forget." She whispered. She lay down in her bed, and closed her eyes.
Minerva came in a little while later to tuck her in. She sighed and took the picture out of her sleeping daughters hands, putting it back on the end table. She tucked the blankets in around her, and kissed her forehead. "Good night, my dear. Tomorrow is another day, and a new beginning for the both of us." She smiled softly, and walked out, flicking off Maya's light as she went.
(Author note: Woot for Chapter 6! XD. We will don't know who Maya's father is! We will find out soon enough. Review people! -points to the review button- YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO CLICK IT!)
