From the End to the Start

Chapter 7

"Lefi!"

Maleficent was slowly trudging through the snowy streets of Hogsmeade when she heard the nickname she has grown attached to over time. Smiling, she looked up to see Diaval waving enthusiastically at her near The Three Broomsticks.

"Hello. Merlin, it's really cold out." She greeted as she walked to him.

Diaval said nothing and simply stared at her as she stood in front of him. Growing self-conscious beneath his gaze, Maleficent bowed her head slightly and asked "What?" more testily than she meant to.

"I half-expected you not to show up." He explained, grinning.

"I always honor my word." She replied a tad haughtily. "It's about the only good principle I've learned from my family."

Diaval asked, "Do you want to go in first or walk around?"

"Let's get in first. It's about time you had your first butterbeer."

They entered the pub and immediately found a table. Maleficent left Diaval to place their orders to Madam Rosmerta. Two butterbeers in hand, she returned only to find Diaval talking to someone. Diaval grinned when he spotted her. His companion, whose back was towards her, turned to follow Diaval's gaze.

"You've got to be kidding me. She's the one you're here with?" The boy asked, incredulous. She recognized him as Robert Hilliard, a Ravenclaw in their year.

"Yeah, mate. Robert, this is Maleficent. Maleficent, Robert." He introduced. Robert's eyes were still wide in disbelief even as she muttered a "pleased to meet you".

"Pleased to meet you too!" He croaked out when Diaval elbowed him in the ribs.

"Now scamper, mate." Diaval said, grinning.

Still looking shell-shocked, the Ravenclaw boy finally left.

Still smiling widely, Diaval faced her. His smile immediately morphed into a frown when he noticed her expression.

"I asked you if you were sure about this." He sounded a little reprimanding.

She retorted, "And I am. I just- I hate it! I hate the fact that we live in a society where people would find us weird. Why can't anyone be friends with whoever they want without people questioning it?"

"It's just the way things are. Doesn't mean you should let other people dictate who you associate with."

Maleficent nodded, handing over a bottle to him. "Here's your butterbeer."

"This ought to be good." He said before taking a swig.

Eyeing him expectantly, she asked, "Well?"

Silence, then-

"I love the wizarding world."

Maleficent laughed. "Just because of butterbeer?"

Diaval flashed her a toothy smile. "Easily the best thing I've found here. After you, of course."

She rolled her eyes despite feeling a little mollified. "Tch. You're just hoping I'll buy you another one."

"Am I too predictable?"

Opening her own bottle, she remarked with a smirk, "Entirely too predictable."

They spent all afternoon walking around Hogsmeade, hopping from shop to shop. She bought him a quill he's been eyeing in Scrivenshaft's, and he went crazy in Honeydukes, buying candy to take home for the hols. They debated on whether the Shrieking Shack is haunted (don't be silly- it's a tale to scare students away!) and briefly looked around Zonko's. Their covert meetings in the castle were fun, but being able to walk around and openly talk without looking over their shoulders was infinitely better. Maleficent has noticed a couple of students gaping at them, and some Slytherins looked positively aghast, but as long as they mind their own business, she can handle it.

While Hogsmeade, with many students from different houses around, was an alright affair, dinner back at Hogwarts was a different matter altogether. She can practically feel the questioning glances from several of her housemates, and those who hadn't heard what happened were spreading the news around (Guess who's friends with a mudblood?). And Stefan was glaring at her the entire time.

As soon as she was done eating, she hightailed it out of the Great Hall, not noticing that she was followed. Upon reaching a deserted hallway, Maleficent felt a hand grab her wrist and violently turn her around.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Stefan growled, still holding her wrist.

"Let go of me." She pulled her arm away, but Stefan refused to concede.

"If this bruises", she said coldly, "I'm telling Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey and Uncle Balthazar." Stefan relinquished his grasp but didn't back off.

"Explain why you saw it fit to gallivant around Hogsmeade with a filthy mudblood and disgrace your family name!" He demanded.

Glaring back, she retorted, "Do not call him that! And I don't have to explain myself to you! What I do is really none of your business."

She was forced to step back when he angrily stepped toward her. "How dare you? After everything I've done for you-"

Maleficent let out a derisive laugh. "After everything you've done for me? You haven't done anything at all, except shove your stupid pureblood ideals down my throat and lord your superiority over me ever since we were kids! The day I'll be thankful for that is the day I die, Stefan."

Stefan sneered, hands balled tightly into fists. "I'm sure your parents will be thrilled to hear what a disappointment their only child is."

Defiantly, she crossed her arms. "Since they're just as big a disappointment to me as I am to them, I think we're quite even."

With a final glower, he snarled, "You'll regret this, Maleficent."

As she watched Stefan stomp away, Maleficent realized with pervading fear that he didn't threaten her- he promised her.

The uneasiness from her altercation with Stefan stayed with Maleficent even until the ride back home. Since practically none of her housemates wanted to sit with her, Diaval invited her to sit with him and his friends.

Aside from the necessary introductions, she hasn't said anything to anyone in the compartment. They were almost at the station when Diaval nudged her foot with his. Everybody else was preoccupied with a game of Exploding Snap.

"Are you alright?"

She sighed. "Not really. I had an argument with Stefan yesterday."

Temper rising, he asked, "Did he do anything to you?"

"No. His words just didn't sit well with me."

He pursed his lips in annoyance. "Stefan Lefeuvre is a git, nothing more. Forget him." With concern evident in his features, he wondered, "Is there anything I can do?"

Maleficent smiled slightly. "Just promise me you'll write over the hols?"

"You don't even have to ask, Lef."

For a while they simply stared at each other, smiling, until one of Diaval's housemates- Robert, probably- coughed to call their attention. When the pair looked up, everybody else was grinning at them.

A/N: Robert Hilliard was the name of the Ravenclaw prefect from Pottermore, who made the introduction to the house after the sorting. :)) It was supposed that he started attending Hogwarts in 1985, '86 or '87, but for the purposes of this story let's say he started in 1985. (Which means that by the time Mal and Diaval are 7th yrs, Harry will be in 1st year)

The thing I like best about writing this fic is that I get to do extra Potter research. You really can never have too much Harry Potter in your life.

Cheers!