From the End to the Start

Chapter 2

Maleficent spent the first half of the year simply going through the motions. She woke up every morning, went to her classes, did her homework, and slept. After her first day, when she got sorted, her first common room experience involved Stefan introducing her to his friends- people of the finest bloodlines, he told her. Despite being a mere third-year, Stefan already exercised a lot of influence over Slytherin house. Naturally, his endorsement of her, coupled with the fact that she descended from one of the oldest pureblood lines, led her housemates to think that she believed in pureblood ideals as well. Those that wish to remain neutral found her family ties off-putting, and those that thought differently, if they indeed exist, dare not say anything in front of her.

Diaval hasn't spoken to her ever since term started, but she did catch him watching her during meals and classes. She wanted to approach him, to say she's sorry, to say anything. She doesn't even understand why she was so compelled to talk to him. Maleficent reckoned it's probably because she feels like she doesn't have to pretend when she's with him.

Still, she kept her distance, not sure whether he'd still want to be friends, anyway. Maleficent knew she was more trouble that what she was worth. Being close to her meant incurring Stefan's wrath and the disapproval of her family. She wrote to her Uncle Balthazar often, as he was the only family she has who would understand. Her uncle has been living a duplicitous life for as long as she can remember- teaching her not to treat half-bloods and muggle-borns differently while remaining in the confines of their family's wealth. She can't quite fathom how he did it; how he tolerated people he would never agree with.

The only upside to the winter holidays was seeing her beloved uncle, but everything else was awful. Her parents only asked about her class performance and whether she'd made strong connections within Slytherin. Whenever the Lefeuvres visited, her parents gushed over Stefan and reiterated that she should make sure to follow his footsteps and make her family proud. To save herself from the bleakness of her situation, she asks her uncle to tell her stories about the few relatives she had who defied their family's expectations and lived their own lives. One day, she'd be like them, she swore to herself. One day.

The school year resumed, and she was once again trapped in the cold stone walls of Hogwarts. She knew that for a lot of people, Hogwarts was home, but she can't feel that connection. This place was no different than the manor she grew up in, she decided.

Maleficent continued to observe Diaval from afar. She felt proud of him when he gets rewarded with house points for every correct answer he gives in class. She was genuinely happy for him whenever she saw that he was having fun with his friends from Ravenclaw. At least one of them found a home here.

With the end-of-the-year exams fast approaching, she found her refuge- the library- crowded with students frantically cramming. At first, she hated it, because she wanted the library all to herself, as was the case during lull periods in the year. However, it would prove to be something she'd be grateful for in the future.

Maleficent stayed often enough in the library that she had a usual table. Nobody dared invade her personal space when she was there, even though it was a table big enough for four, because almost everyone in the school had become wary of her due to her name and relationship to Stefan Lefeuvre, whose network extended even to seventh-years. Sometimes Slytherins sat with her, but that rarely happened as she was always unresponsive whenever her housemates tried to strike up a conversation.

This was why she was surprised when a voice interrupted her revisions one day.

"Hey, um, is it okay if I sat with you?"

Startled, she stared dumbly into obsidian eyes.

Fidgeting, he explained, "everywhere else is full"

Maleficent looked around, and every table was indeed occupied. Sighing, she acquiesed. They needed to study. Surely that was a sufficient reason for anyone who would ask.

Diaval smiled in relief and set down his things. They work in silence for a while- him, eager and enthusiastic; her, nervous and rigid. She wanted to say something, as this was probably the only chance she was ever going to get, but Diaval beat her to it.

"Are you prepared for the exams, Maleficent?"

"Huh?"

Diaval grinned. "I asked if you think you're adequately prepared for the exams."

Catching the reference to their second conversation ever, Maleficent failed to keep herself from smiling. "Oh. I still have to go over my Transfiguration notes."

"I see. Potions is the one I'm most afraid of."

Maleficent rolled her eyes in response. "Oh, I'm sure you'd do well. You're probably one of the few students Professor Snape hasn't called dunderhead yet."

"Has he called you dunderhead?"

She scoffed lightly, "Of course not."

A lull in the conversation ensued, both fiddling with their papers and quills.

"I'm sorry", they blurted out simultaneously.

With an incredulous stare, Maleficent asked, 'What for?"

Heaving a sigh, Diaval explained hastily, "I shouldn't have avoided you all year. I noticed you were alone most of the time and that you haven't really made friends in Slytherin, and I wanted to talk to you but I didn't think you want me to because it might have been my fault why you're so sad all the time."

"Why would you think that?"

"I thought Lefeuvre told the other Slytherins that he caught you talking to me on the train."

"He didn't. The Slytherins aren't avoiding me; I'm avoiding them."

"Why?" Diaval's lips formed a moue of curiosity.

"Because I told you- I don't hate muggleborns. Stefan and his cronies are determined to draw me into their pathetic little pureblood society, but I don't want to be part of that."

Diaval smiled then, the kind of smile that her uncle gave her whenever he urged her to stand up for her beliefs.

Encouraged, she continued, "And if anything, I should be sorry. I shouldn't have let Stefan call you that nasty name. You didn't deserve it- nobody does."

"It's okay, really. It wasn't your fault. But I did wonder how you two know each other."

"Stefan's parents and my parents are old friends. We practically grew up together, but even then, he's always been cruel and I hated it. But my parents adored him and wanted me to 'learn' from him, so..." She trailed off, feeling morose.

Making light of the situation, he quipped, "Is everyone in your family evil?"

Maleficent smiled weakly. "Not everyone. My uncle, the one who was with me in Diagon Alley, is the nicest person I know. He was the one who helped me become aware of just how twisted my family's principles were. I write to him a lot because he's the only person I can talk to, really."

"Can't he just adopt you?"

"Things don't work out like that, Diaval."

For a moment, Diaval looked unsure. Maleficent patiently waited for him to vocalize his thoughts. "Well, you can always write to me. Maybe we can exchange letters over the summer? So you won't feel too trapped in your house." When she wasn't able to reply immediately, he mumbled, "Just a suggestion. You don't have to feel obligated."

"I'd love that." She whispered, flashing the widest smile that has graced her lips ever since coming to Hogwarts.

A/N: Make sure you read The Power He Knows Not (see One Week, Day 7-2) so you don't have any false expectations regarding this thing!

Warning: I was sick when I wrote this thing (I still am, actually) so yeah.

Cheers!