Chapter 3: Fear of others

The sun rose slowly as the once Hermione Granger, now Mia Zabini, slept soundly in her bed. For the first time during the entire summer she did not have a single nightmare. At quarter past nine Mia's eyes slowly opened and began to look around. Memories about the night before came flooding back to her as she groaned. As Mia sat up, a sharp pain shot up from her ribs but she shrugged it off. Gently pushing against her ribs she didn't feel anything broken, though than again Malfoy… no Draco… said Blaise had called a doctor.

A small pop interrupted her thoughts. Looking beside her, Mia saw a small house elf with curly brown hair and green eyes. She was wearing a pale blue maids outfit.

"Good morning Lady Mia," it squeaked. "My name is Trish and I shall be your personal house elf from here on. How are you feeling Miss?"

Mia was speechless to say the least. Never in all her years of knowing house elves has she ever heard one not speak in third person. House elves usually weren't supposed to be educated.

"Miss?" asked the house elf again.

Mia looked at it for a second before speaking. "I'm sorry what did you say your name was?" The house elf smiled.

"My name is Trish miss. Oh, I just remembered you mum wanted to me to tell her when you awoke. Excuse me miss. I'll be right back." And with that she disappeared.

Mia sat in stunned silence. Shaking her head she took this time to take in her room. The carpet was a soft cream color and the walls were a gentle maroon. A silver vanity and mahogany desk sat to her right and a giant walk in closet was to her left. Getting slowly out of bed she walks carefully over to her closet. Crookshanks, who still lay on the bed, stared at his mistress. Opening the doors to the closet, Mia stared wide-eyed at all the different colored dress robes and gowns. There were jeans and t-shirts of all kinds and hundreds of shoes and accessories. Mia stepped out of the closet and closed the door before stepping over to the large window on the right side of the room (AN/ if you were looking into the room from the door it'd be the left). Gently running her hand over the soft purple fabric of the curtains she takes a seat on the window bench pulling her knees to her chest.

After sitting there for about ten minutes her bed room door opened and in walked a fairly tall women with long black hair followed by her husband. Mia looked toward her parents and watched as tears filled up in her mother's eyes. Her mother stood in her spot for only a short moment before rushing forward and wrapping her daughter in a bear hug.

"Oh my goodness, Mia," she gushed. "How we've missed you."

Mia sat there for about a minute with her arms still at her sides before slowly wrapping them around her mother. Once she did, she immediately broke down crying. Anastasia, her mother, sat on the bench and held Mia as she cried. Her father, Ryan, walked over to the two of them. He reached a hand toward Mia to rub her back, but Mia let out a frightened squeal and jerked away from him, clinging to her mother. Ryan took a step back in surprise as Ana (AN: We'll call her mother that from now on) looked from her husband to her daughter seeing the fear in her eyes.

Ana waved at her husband to back away and he did. Turning back to her frightened little girl, she pulled away gently and placed her hands on Mia's cheeks.

"It's alright baby. Your father isn't going to hurt you… not like those muggles did. You're safe here," said Ana soothingly. Mia, started to calm down a little but when Ryan took a step forward she once again broke into hysterics and continued to cling.

"Ryan dear why don't you just leave, please," spoke Ana softly. Ryan nodded to his wife. Before leaving he pulled something out of his pocket and placed it the bench beside Mia, her jerking away in the process, then he left the room.

Ana continued to rock and gently rub Mia's back till her sobs were down to a small whimper now. After about 15 minutes Mia stopped all together. Ana, placed her daughters face in her hands and looked at her.

"There we, go… Are you alright now sweety?" she asked. Mia nodded and whipped her eyes. She then looked down at the bench and looked at what her father placed beside her. It was a gold hair clip with sapphire roses. Ana saw her daughter running her fingers over it and admiring it.

"That belonged to your father's mother," she said. Mia looked up at her mother.

"Really?" Ana nodded.

"Yes.. Since your father was an only child his mother gave him that to give to his daughter if he were to ever have one. And you father and I had twins. A handsome little boy that we named Blaise and a gorgeous little girl who we named Mia." Ana brushed some of Mia's hair behind her ear. "But unfortunately we had to give a little girl up for adoption until it was safe to have her at home."

Ana smiled at Mia as she leaned on her mother.

"I'm just glad to be home. It was awful at the Granger's this summer… John was…." she sighed. Ana looked questioningly at her daughter.

"Was John the one who did this to you?" asked Ana as Mia nodded. Ana kissed her daughters head and hugged her. "Well everything is fine now." Smiling, she lead her daughter over to the bathroom. "Now come we have to get you cleaned up and take off that concealment charm we talk you about in the letter. Remember?" Again Mia nodded.
The two of them entered the bathroom. Ana went straight to the tub and started to run the water as Mia went to the mirror and looked at herself… her muggle self for the last time. Her hair was still as bushy as ever and looked like a mop for she also had bed head. Her honey pools didn't have much life in them. Her front teeth were still a little to big for her liking, even though she did have Madam Pomfrey shrink them in forth year. Her figure needed work, she thought, as she still had the baby fat around her stomach and every time she sat down Mia thought she looked pregnant.

Ana walked up to her daughter, wand in hand. "Alright Mia, it's time to take off the charm and get you into the tub. I won't let you see your self till after you're cleaned up," she said as she dragged Mia over to the tub. Nodding, Mia stood still has her mother waved her wand around her and muttered a small spell. Ana stepped away from her daughter as she got undressed and slipped into the tub.

A half hour later and Mia was seated on her bed, her mother sitting behind her brushing her hair. Ana picked up the hair clip and pined it Mia's hair. Smiling Ana went out of the bathroom and opened the bedroom door.

"Boys will you come here a moment," she called. Mia peeked out of the bathroom as first Ryan came in then Blaise followed by Draco. Ryan kissed his wife's cheek.

"What is it dear?" he asked. Ana just smiled and turned to the bathroom door.

"Mia you can come out now," she said gently. "Gentlemen allow me to present Mia Zabini."

Taking a deep breath Mia walked out of the bathroom to meet the boys. Ryan smiled with pride while Blaise stood with a big grin on his face. Draco on the other hand… stood with bulging eyes and his mouth wide open. Mia blushed.