THIRTEEN YEARS LATER…
Maia sat on the cold stone floor in a corridor inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She twirled her wand between her fingers getting bored. She didn't understand why her dad brought her here just to make her sit outside Dumbledore's office the whole time. She stared up at a nearby statute that was looming over her. This place was really gothic, she noticed, scratching her arm. She was donning her usual attire: a sleeveless black shirt that showed off her "birthmark" as her dad put it, although it looked more like a tattoo, with a red plaid skirt that was above her knees. She was a bit cold since it was the beginning of November and she wasn't wearing much. Her boots were scuffed and worn out from constant use. Maia tucked her wand back in her shoe and folded her arms.
Lately, Maia and her father have been running around a lot. Maia guessed that since the Dark Mark appeared at the Quidditch Cup, that the Ministry in Britain wanted all the high-ranking wizards to give advice or something. Maia knew that her father was very reluctant to come back to the U.K., probably because of the painful memories, but it was annoying for Maia, because she had nothing to do.
But that didn't seem like the case here, she thought. Apparently, the Triwizard Tournament, which hasn't taken place in over hundreds of years, has started up again, and Hogwarts was the host school. Maia sighed and leaned her head back. She always wished that she could go to a school, but what was the point when your father was one of the most elite wizard teachers in America? She's been home schooled since she could remember and was always traveling around him all over the world. She practically met every Minister of Magic in every country, and seen every magical creature that's been discovered. She liked to travel, but sometimes, she would actually want to be around kids her own age instead of withering old wizards and witches.
A bell echoed through the abandoned hallways, making doors bang open and students flooded the corridor. Maia quickly stood up so that the kids wouldn't trip over her long legs. She felt a slight tug when she rose up, reasoning that it's probably from the binding spell that he father put on her. She had a tendency to "explore" when she was alone.
Nearly every kid that passed by her pointed at her and whispered. Maia nervously tugged on her long brown hair that was in a braid. All the students seemed to be headed in one direction, so Maia figured that it was time for lunch or something. She would of loved to see what happened in the school. She heard from her father that a quite a few famous people were here, like Victor Krum, one of the best Seekers of this generation, and Harry Potter, who was famous for a lot of little things at this school, as well as "killing" Voldemort. She heard that the renowned Harry Potter fought Voldemort like twice since his death thirteen years ago, which Maia didn't quite understand.
But, whatever, she thought, as the hallway cleared and she slid down the wall. She wished this meeting with Dumbledore would end soon. It seemed like she was waiting here for two hours. She buried her face in her arms.
"Well, well. I didn't think I'd ever see your chubby face again, Davis," said a smug voice to her right. Maia snapped her head up, recognizing that tone anywhere.
"Malfoy," she said, returning the smirk. "I thought you'd learn you're lesson by now." She noticed that two huge dudes surrounded him on either side of him. One had a really bad haircut, while the other looked like a monkey. Malfoy looks exactly the same; with his silver blonde hair slicked back and always slightly taller than her.
"I guess you're going to have to learn all over again," she said with a sigh, getting up once more. With some trouble, she got in the middle of the hallway and faced her old "friend" (at least that's what her father thinks they are). "It's a shame that I have to embarrass you in front of your cronies," she said, bending down slowly and delicately tugged her wand out of her boot (willow with unicorn hair, 10 1/2 inches, swishy, black).
"Huh. I doubt that," he said, pulling out his wand from the sleeve of his robe. They got into a dueling stance, and just about when they were going to shout an incantation, someone shouted, "Malfoy!"
It came from behind Maia, so she had a turn around to see who it was. She almost dropped her wand in shock, went she saw Harry Potter with some other girl with very bushy hair. "Potter, this doesn't concern you," he said irritably. "Doesn't the school Champion have somewhere else to be? Signing autographs or something?"
Feeling like she was in the middle or something, Maia, backed up against the wall yet again, getting a bit dizzy. "Shut up Malfoy," said the girl, who was clutching a rather large book. "He didn't ask for this."
"Ooh, fighting Potter's battles are we, Granger?" said Malfoy, cocking his head. "I bet he'd thought that he would be excepted. That the famous Harry Potter would be able to compete even though he's underage—"
Maia was lost for a moment, but then she figured it out. Harry Potter, school Champion. And Malfoy was… "I see," said Maia, crossing her arms and putting one foot against the hall.
"See what?" said Malfoy, infuriated.
"You're jealous."
"Malfoy's mouth opened and closed soundlessly. "Tuh. I am not. Jealous of a cut on his forehead? Hardly."
"Yeah right. Two years ago that's all you'd talk about—"
"Silence!" he said, pointing his wand at her. Suddenly, the stone gargoyle sprang to life and stepped aside, showing a moving spiral staircase behind it. Maia curiously peeked in, and she saw her father's and Dumbledore's feet appear on the stairs, and they slowly came into view as they reached the landing. "—think about it," said Dumbledore, trying to convince Davis. "Just talk it over with her."
"But she doesn't know—"
"Know what, dad?" said Maia, peering around the corner. She could tell from his face that he was thinking "Oh, crap."
"Er—ah…nothing, um, honey," he said, nervously. Then he spotted Malfoy. "Ah! Draco, by boy! Great to see you again!" he said a bit too exuberantly, happy to change the subject. "My, you've grown! I see you were getting reacquainted with your friend, Maia! And—" Then he saw Harry. His face grew somber and dark. "It's been awhile," he said. Harry shot a glance at Hermione, having no idea who this man was. Dumbledore put a hand on Davis's shoulder, as if to warn him. Davis nodded at tore his eyes from him and back on his daughter. "Well, I guess we should be going," he said. Maia knitted her eyebrows, confused at his behavior. Coming back to Britain was screwing him up.
"John, you should stay for lunch," said Dumbledore, with his hand still resting on his shoulder. "There's a particular tart I wish to sample—"
"Sorry, Albus," said Davis, shaking his head. "I must decline the offer. Maia and I have some discussing to do. If things are as serious as you think, well…"
"Yes, I understand," he said, removing his hand. "And I await your owl."
Davis gave a weak smile and gestured for Maia to follow him. Maia glanced up at the old wizard, and he returned it, with a twinkle in his eye. Like he knew something that she didn't. She sharply turned back and picked up the pace.
Maia was sitting on her flying carpet in her room, which was hovering three feet off the ground, reading a muggle book about dragons. Even thought the descriptions weren't off, they story was. Maybe she would have liked it better if she didn't know that dragons existed. She's been bugging her father ever since they left Hogwarts about what they need to discuss, but he just ignored her, making her even more furious.
She was inside their manor, which was located outside of Saintfield in Northern Ireland. Her backyard was expansive, having around six acres of woodland, full of magical creatures. Her favorite one was a talking demon tree, nicknamed Grandmother Willow from a muggle movie that she watched when she was young. She would confide in her all the time, since her father was never home to listen to her anyway. Maia liked her for that she could talk to the plants and they would tell her future events, like predicting the future. Maia considered talking to her when her father dropped her off, but she thought it would be for the best for her dad to break whatever news he had.
Suddenly, a loud crack was sounded outside her room, making Maia jump out of her skin, then figuring out that it was just her dad that Apparated just outside. Her father opened the door, and sat down on her bed without saying a word. "Where did you go off to in a hurry?" she asked, placing a bookmark between pages and putting the book down.
"Maia, I have to be honest with you," said Davis, running a hand through his graying hair. "I've been a terrible father to you."
Again, Maia furrowed her eyebrows, not expecting that. Is that what Dumbledore wanted them to talk about? His parenting? What does he know about her father? "What are you talking about, dad?"
"I've been selfish, making you travel all over the place, never settling down anywhere for more than two weeks before taking off again; or I leave you here alone for days—"
"Dad, I like to travel, and I—don't—mind being alone," she said, half lying.
"No, no. You need to be with kids. Kids your own age. Not traveling the world."
"So what are you saying?" she said, putting two and two together. Is that why Dumbledore wanted to speak with him? It all seems so sudden. Why now?
Davis lifted his head and looked straight into Maia's eyes, making her cringe a bit. "Maia, would you like to attend Hogwart's School or Witchcraft and Wizardry?"