The Werewolf's Daughter

33. The death of a fellow student

5th June 1995

'MORNING!'

'What the fuck?' Draco shouted, falling out of bed. Maya doubled over, howling at him.

'Sorry, I couldn't resist.' She laughed, calming down.

'Gonna put a charm on that door so you can't get through.' Draco muttered, climbing back in to his bed and rolling over.

'Dracooooo! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!' she shouted, trying to get her boyfriend to get up.

'Can I have a Happy Birthday at a reasonable hour?' he asked.

'Reasonable?! It's nearly half 10! Come on, please get up?' she cried, climbing in to the bed next to him.

'Maya, it's my birthday. I should be allowed a lie-in.' he moaned, curling up so her hands were caught on his stomach and she wasn't able to move.

'But Dracoo…you need to get up now.'

'Why do I need to get up now?'

'Because I want you to.'

'So I don't need to get up then. You want me to get up.'

'Noo, you need to get up.'

'Maya, I'm going back to sleep.'

'Eurgh, fine. We are meeting your mum, Granny Andy, Grandad Ted, my dad and Tonks for lunch. In an hour. Please get up?'

Draco groaned. 'Whose idea?' he asked, turning around to face her.

She blushed. 'Mine.'

'Why?'

'Your mum was sad because she hasn't seen you for ages so I suggested a birthday lunch. She wanted it to be a surprise.'

Draco closed his eyes. 'Ok, I suppose I better go for a shower and get dressed then huh?'

Maya nodded. 'But first…. present time.'

'No, no presents. I told you no presents!'

'Draco, please understand…I will never not buy you a present for your birthday.' She said, smiling at him.

'Ok, give it to me.' He said, sighing.

Maya reached up and kissed him. 'Now, I like that present. You can always give me that.'

'Ha, ok I will. But here is your real present.' She answered, handing him an envelope.

Draco opened it and looked back up at Maya. 'Sorry' he blushed, 'what is it?'

Maya chuckled 'It's dollars' she said, 'the money they use in America.'

'Oh. Maya, you really didn't nee-.'

'Draco, I know I didn't need to. I wanted too! Now, before we get in to a kissing fest, I think you should go for a shower before we're late. Do you want me to wait here?'

'Ok' he said, sighing heavily and kissing her again. 'Shower it is.' He grabbed his towel and some clothes from his trunk then made his way in to the boy's bathroom. Maya watched him walking away thinking to herself how lucky she was. He was drop-dead gorgeous. Maya didn't realise that Draco was thinking exactly the same thing about her and really needed a shower.

Once ready, Maya and Draco made their way down to the entrance hall, hand-in-hand. They were signed out by Filch and took a slow walk down to Hogsmeade village. They stopped in Honeydukes to pick up some chocolate for Maya (it was that time of the month), before heading to the Three Broomsticks. Maya led Draco up the stairs to a private room, where there were balloons and banners, and their families were sitting waiting.

'Draco! Happy Birthday darling!' Narcissa cried, hugging Draco tightly.

'Hi Maya, how are you?' she asked, giving Maya a hug and a kiss on the cheek when she had finally let go of Draco.

'I'm fine thanks Cissy. You?'

'I'm good thank you sweetheart. I love your dress by the way!'

Maya grinned 'Thank you.' She really liked her dress too – it was a beautiful tie-dye maxi dress with plaited straps. She wore sandals with it. Making the most of Summer.

'Hi Dad, hi Tonks' she said to them both as they came forward.

'Hi sweetheart. How's school? How's Harry?'

'School's good. Harry's nervous, I think.'

'Yes, I thought he would be. Tell him to floo me if he ever needs to talk ok?'

Maya nodded and then gasped when she looked behind her dad. 'Uncle Sirius! What are you doing here?'

'I wouldn't miss a birthday for a world – missed too many of them up until now!' he exclaimed, hugging her. He shook Draco's hand when he came over, but it looked a bit strained.

'Uncle Sirius.' Maya warned.

'What? I'm just making sure he got that little warning last summer.' He answered, making Draco blush.

'You have nothing to worry about there.' Maya whispered, 'Drop it!'

Sirius laughed 'I'm joking you two! Come here Draco – Happy Birthday little cousin.'

'Can we all sit down please? Time for food.' Narcissa said.

Everyone sat down and the next few hours were spent chatting and celebrating. Narcissa had even arranged a cake for Draco.

'Mum, you didn't need to do all this.' He said, in awe at the cake.

'Draco, I didn't get to do all of this, ever, so I will be doing this from now on. Don't fight me on it.' Narcissa responded, smiling at him.

Later that evening, Maya and Draco made their way back up to the school and to the Gryffindor Common room. They stepped inside to a roar of 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRACO!'

'What?' Draco said, looking at Maya questioningly.

'I didn't know anything about this one.' Maya answered.

'Come on Draco – come and have a drink! Happy Birthday mate!' Ron said, pulling Draco over to the couches and handing him a butterbeer. Ron let go of Hermione's hand as he handed drinks round to everyone and Hermione came over to her friend.

'Hey, how was the birthday lunch?'

'Hey 'Mione! It was lovely. Was this your idea?'

'No, actually. Ron and Harry's.'

Maya looked up and smiled, Draco was standing chatting to Harry and Ron as if they were best mates. She was glad he was fitting in.

Maya started to get sleepy after about 30 minutes, so she was about to make her way up to bed, when she felt arms around her waist. 'And where do you think you're going?' Draco whispered.

'I was getting a bit sleepy, but you looked like you were having fun, so I wanted to leave you to it.' She said, kissing him.

'I'm a bit tired too. Come up with me?' he asked. Maya thought about it then nodded.

'Just let me get my pjs' she said, going up to her dormitory. She grabbed her PJs, toothbrush and book (Draco did sleep-in a lot), then went back down. Draco was still standing waiting for her. He took her hand and they went up to the boy's dormitory. Once in there, Maya changed in the boy's bathroom. When she came back out, Draco was already under the covers of his bed. He pulled the covers back and she slipped in beside him.

They curled up under the covers, Maya lying across Draco's bare chest, him stroking her hair.

'Thank you for today. It's been fantastic!'

Maya smiled 'I'm glad you had a good day. Draco, I think I realise now why you don't really like your birthday.' She said, rolling over to look up at him. 'You didn't get to celebrate, did you? When he was there?'

Draco shook his head 'No, birthdays weren't to be celebrated. Sometimes he didn't even acknowledge them.'

'Well, please know that as long as we are together, I will celebrate your birthday in some way.'

Draco smiled 'Thank you. You're starting to fall asleep now – I can see your eyes going – night beautiful.'

'Mmm, night handsome Birthday Boy.' she said back, sleepily, moving so she was lying next to Draco with her head on his chest and her arms wrapped around him.

…

The next few weeks seemed to pass so quickly in the run up to the third task and before they knew it, the day had arrived. It was the morning of 24th June and Maya woke up with a start and looked at her clock – 11.27am! She hadn't slept that late for ages. When she rolled over, she saw Hermione was awake and staring right back at her.

'You ok?' Maya whispered.

'Not really. Worried about Harry.' Her friend responded.

Maya sighed. 'I know, but we just need to be strong. Harry will be worried himself.'

Hermione nodded but Maya knew she wouldn't be able to keep it together for Harry. Maya had to be the strong one today. When they got down to lunch, there were a few more faces at the tables 'Mrs Weasley!' Maya shouted, running to give her a hug.

'Maya, lovely to see you darling. Are you ok? Hello Hermione, Draco' she said, hugging them all. 'All well I hope?' Before anyone could answer, she had turned back to Harry. 'Harry, you really must eat something dear.'

'I'm not hungry just now.'

'Mum, Harry and I are going to go for a walk.' Ginny said, before Mrs Weasley could say anything else. 'Are you ok here with everyone else?'

'Of course, dear, enjoy your walk.' She responded, smiling after them as they walked out.

At that moment, Ron and Hermione had been whispering to each other; Ron laughed at something and gave Hermione a quick kiss on the forehead. Hermione beamed and Mrs Weasley's grin was almost just as big.

'Now, how has Harry been Maya?'

'I think he's just nervous Mrs Weasley. After the first two tasks, I don't blame him, but he'll be ok!' she said, trying to sound upbeat. Mrs Weasley wasn't fooled and gave Maya's hand a small squeeze.

The rest of the day was spent wandering around showing Mrs Weasley their favourite spots and the common room. Bill joined them too at one point and eventually Harry and Ginny reappeared. Harry still wouldn't eat anything – he eventually disappeared off to the boy's dormitory until it was time to go down to the quidditch pitch – which was now a giant maze!

The boys moaned constantly, while Maya and Hermione whispered nervously about Harry and the task. Ginny was sat next to her mum, cuddling in to her.

Dumbledore announced that the champions would be entering the maze separately; Harry and Cedric were on the same number of points so they would be going in together. Viktor would be next and Fleur last. The maze would test their abilities with dangerous creatures and tasks – the person who got the Triwizard cup placed in the centre of the maze first would be the winner of 1000 galleons and eternal glory.

Maya sat in between Draco and Hermione, on the other side of Hermione was Ron who had his arm around her. Draco had his arm around Maya. Hermione and Maya were holding hands and all of them were trying to soothe Ginny who was quite upset.

'Ginny, Harry's come this far – I'm sure he'll be fine!' Maya said to the younger girl. Mrs Weasley rubbed her hair and tried to keep her calm.

Draco rubbed Maya's shoulder as she said that – he knew that wasn't actually the way she felt but she was trying to be strong.

Not long after Fleur entered the maze, red sparks were sent in to the air – someone was in trouble. The teachers sprang in to action and Fleur was soon apparated out of the maze – she was uninjured but in shock. The students couldn't hear what she was saying, but she was babbling very quickly to Madame Maxime in French.

Suddenly, red sparks went up again and the group all held their breath while they waited to see who it was; Krum was apparated out, unconscious.

'Git, glad he didn't win.' Ron muttered, kissing Hermione's forehead. Hermione smiled and leaned in to him.

'How long have they been in there?' Maya whispered, leaning in to Draco.

'Only about 40 minutes. It looks like a big maze.'

'Ok.'

The crowd was starting to get restless, waiting around for whoever was going to win. Whoever it was, it was a victory for Hogwarts so now it was just whether Hufflepuff or Gryffindor won. Maya really didn't care – she just wanted Harry to be safe.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light and Harry crashed to the ground. The crowd started to go wild – apart from Maya. She noticed Harry leaning over something. Someone. Someone that wasn't moving. Maya edged forward and then screamed when she realised what it was. Cedric Diggory's body.

Harry was crying and refused to let him go; Professor Dumbledore was trying to take him off the body, but Harry wouldn't move. Maya tried to move down towards him, but Draco stopped her.

'Just wait. Cedric's parents are here – they deserve to go down there first. Moody's got Harry.'

Maya looked to her left and saw a man running down the steps with a woman trailing behind him. She could hear Harry shouting 'It's him, he's back. Voldemort's back. He killed Cedric.' She moved back in to Draco's arms. Surely that couldn't be right. When she looked up again, Harry was being led back up to the school by Moody.