The Werewolf's Daughter

46. Running

'Come on slow coach!' Maya shouted, as she ran around the perimeter of the house – ensuring she stayed within the protective wards. Three months had passed since the night of Bill and Fleur's wedding and in the weeks after, her panic attacks had gotten worse. She could barely leave her room.

One day, her Dad came to her with a solution – exercise. 'Why don't you try exercising for so long every day. It could help.' Maya had wrinkled up her nose at first – she hated exercise – but the next morning when she felt herself getting worked up over something stupid, she decided to try going for a run. It worked too and now she ran for 30 minutes every day – sometimes twice a day if she felt anxious.

Draco had joined her after a few weeks; he didn't get much exercise either.

'Slow coach?' he shouted, coming up behind her and grabbing her. He twirled her around as she squealed and tried to get away from him.

'I gave you a ten-minute head start!' he chuckled, pulling her down on to the grass and tickling her.

'Maybe five minutes!' she laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.

'I love seeing you smile. Are you happy?' he asked, caressing her cheek.

'I still worry, but yes. I am happy. The running really helps clear my mind and having you here helps too.' She responded. 'I just wish we had heard from Hermione or the boys and I hope everyone at Hogwarts is ok.' She sighed.

'I do too love. I do too.'

Maya stared at the sky, thinking of Hogwarts and the night her father told them they definitely couldn't go back.

'Listen you two, as you know the Death Eaters have taken over the Ministry, that means they have also taken over the school. Snape will be headmaster this year.' Lupin said, closing his eyes and sighing.

'WHAT?! HE KILLED DUMBLEDORE!' Maya shouted.

'I know.' Remus said quietly 'But, he is a deatheater and they now rule the school. You two can't go back. This also means confinement to the house for the next year. The ministry is enforcing mandatory schooling for all witches and wizards of school age. Now, they do not know this address - Maya when you started there, Hogwarts was put down as your home address and for some reason never changed. Draco, yours is still down as Malfoy Manor. They won't find us here, but I need you two to be safe and stay here where you are protected.'

Maya and Draco had both agreed, but it hadn't been easy at first; then Maya turned 17 and being able to use magic without the trace made everything seem easier. They were still bored though and getting outside for their daily run was the only thing that kept them going.

'Draco.' Maya said.

'Hmm?' he asked, twirling a piece of her hair around his finger.

'Draco….'

'I'LL RACE YOU BACK TO THE HOUSE!' she shouted as she jumped up and ran.

'You bloody cheat Maya Jones!' he shouted after her, getting up and running too.

Maya looked back laughing and then turned back to the house – thank god she did as she almost ran straight in to her father's chest.

'Sorry Dad!' she said, breathless.

'Maya, I need you to go inside.' He said, looking beyond her. 'I need to talk to Draco.'

'What about?' she asked, confused.

'It's not really for me to say – I just need you to let us talk.'

'Dad, you better not be asking him to go off on some mission.' She snapped, holding her hands on her hips.

'Maya, just go inside. Please?' Maya nodded and headed towards the house. As she got to the door, she heard her father speaking to Draco. 'Can I talk to you?' he asked the younger boy.

Maya stepped in to the kitchen where Andromeda was feeding Teddy.

'Gran, what's happened?' she asked.

'I can't say my darling – you will find out soon enough.'

Maya was confused – confused and annoyed that no one would tell her what was going on. She stomped up to her room and slammed the door. Ten minutes later, she heard someone running up the stairs and then Draco's door slammed shut.

'Draco?' she asked, knocking and then trying to go in. It was locked.

'Draco are you ok?' she asked – no response.

'Maya, come with me.' Her Dad said behind her, making her jump.

'Dad, what the hell is going on?' she snapped.

Remus led her away back to her own room. 'Maya, Lucius Malfoy was found dead yesterday.'

'What? Draco's dad? Remus nodded.

'Well isn't that a good thing? He did try to kill him.' She spat.

'Whatever he did, Draco now does not have a father at all. Even a bad one; try to think of it that way and just ensure you're there when he is ready to see you.'

Maya nodded and Remus left the room. Maya tried to think of a way of to get a message to Draco. The best she could do was write a note on a bit of parchment and put it under his door – hoping he would get it.

'Draco,

I am so sorry to hear what happened. I hope you're ok. Please know that whenever you are ready, I am here for you.

Love Maya x'

It was three days before Draco took her up on the note; she was lying in bed trying to sleep when her bedroom door opened, and he stepped in. His eyes were dark underneath, his hair unkempt and his face pale. 'Can I come in?' he asked quietly.

Maya nodded and pulled back her covers for him. He got in and she pulled his head down to her chest, rubbing his hair, as he had done with her so many times.

Draco was silent, just letting her stoke his hair. 'Are you ok?' she eventually asked.

'Yes. I hated him.' He answered bluntly.

'Draco' she said, looking down at him 'You hated the person he was. You can be upset though – that you don't have a "dad" anymore.'

'He was never that to me. Sirius has been more of a dad to me than him.'

Maya stayed silent. 'It's just that I grew up with him.' He continued 'He was a constant presence in my life and although I've wished him dead for years now, it feels weird that it's actually happened.'

Maya kissed his head softly, encouraging him to keep talking.

'He was never a dad, but he was always a father. He kept me in clothes and gave me food. Even if he was a dick about it. I'm glad he's gone.' He finally decided, looking up at her. 'Thank you.'

'What for?' she asked, confused.

'For being here for me.'

Maya chuckled 'You've done this enough for me love, it was about time I did it for you. How's your mum?' she asked, as she pulled his head back down to her chest.

'I haven't seen her yet. I'm scared to. She loved my dad at first you know? I'm scared she will be heartbroken, and I won't understand.' He whispered.

Maya nodded 'She'll be worried about you.'

'I know. But, I can't. Not yet.'

Maya nodded again and continued to stroke his hair.

'I love you' she whispered, kissing his head again.

'I love you too.' He whispered back.

…

Maya was on her way to get changed for her run when she heard someone sobbing; she pushed open the door to the bathroom and saw Narcissa sitting on the toilet seat. Sirius was standing over her, stroking her hair.

'Sorry!' Maya said, pulling the door behind her.

'Maya! Maya, wait!' Narcissa shouted, following her to her room.

'Narcissa, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to walk in on you.' She said.

'It's ok. But I have to ask you something?' the older woman said, shaking. Maya nodded. 'Please don't tell Draco what you just saw.'

'You crying?' Maya asked, confused.

'No. Me with Sirius.'

'Oh' Maya said, still confused.

'Maya, Sirius and I…we love each other.' She whispered.

'WHAT?! Aren't you cousins?' Maya asked, a bit confused.

'Well…no.' Narcissa said. 'If I tell you this, you need to promise me you can't tell Draco; not yet, ok?'

Maya nodded, keen to hear what the woman was hiding.

'Maya, when I was 10 years old, just a few months before I went to Hogwarts, my real parents died. They were another pure-blood family; I was then taken in by my god parents who I called mum and dad from then on. I was brought up as a Black, but I never was one.'

'Sirius and I – we loved each other from the moment we saw each other; we couldn't do anything about it though as we were then being brought up as cousins. I was married off to Lucius at 18.'

'I was devastated at first; until I had my Draco. Then, my life revolved around him.'

Maya was still silent so Narcissa continued.

'I wish I had done what Andromeda did. When I heard Sirius had left the family home, I wished every day he would come for me so we could go together. He never did though. Now I know it's because he didn't want me to be a cast off as well; back then though I thought he just didn't want me.'

Maya was crying silent tears now. 'You shouldn't have had to live like that.' She whispered.

'Well, that's why I'm glad Draco has you – neither of you will ever feel that way. Plus, I have Sirius now.' She said, smiling at the younger girl and squeezing her hand.

'You have who now?' came a voice from the doorway. Both women whipped around and found Draco staring at them, eyes wide. After a moments silence, he stormed off to his room and slammed the door.