From the End to the Start
Chapter 8
Dear Lefi,
Happy Christmas! As promised, I've enclosed photos I took here in France. It's a really fascinating place, and Professor Flitwick was right- there are interesting tidbits of wizarding history to be found here. I've rewritten my History of Magic essay to include things I've found out. Anyway, I've also included a couple of souvenirs that I thought you might like.
How is your holiday so far?
Yours,
Diaval
Dear Lefi,
Happy New Year! Did you receive my last letter? You haven't replied, and I'm beginning to wonder if you were alright.
I'm finally home and I'm excited to tell you all about France when we get back to school.
I'd be very much delighted if you wrote back, however short the missive, just so I'd know you're fine.
Yours,
Diaval
Dear Diaval,
I'm hoping this reaches you before we get back to Hogwarts. I'm sorry I haven't been able to write back, especially since I was the one who made you promise to write. Stefan told my parents about you, see, and they've been giving me a difficult time. Father burned your letters! And they also locked my owl away. I'm sending this through Uncle Balthazar. I just didn't want you to think I'm ignoring you or something.
I'll talk to you on the train. I cannot wait to get out of this stupid house!
Yours,
Maleficent
Maleficent all but ran towards the Hogwarts Express, completely eager to get back to Hogwarts. The past few weeks have been miserable and she cannot wait to leave all that behind.
Early as usual, she found an unoccupied compartment and observed the students milling around though the window. She had only realized she was dozing off when her eyes snapped open at the sound of the compartment door rattling against the frame. A blonde Ravenclaw girl in her year stood smiling in the doorway.
"Oh, hello! Do you mind if I sat with you?" The girl- Leila Halloway, if Maleficent remembered correctly- asked brightly.
Maleficent shook her head, and Leila took the seat across her. Awkward silence followed, both of them not really knowing what to say to each other. However, as is often the case with Ravenclaws, their curiosities always won out in the end.
Eagerly, she blurted out, "How did you become friends with Diaval?"
Startled, Maleficent blinked dumbly at her. Leila chuckled.
"I'm sorry. Was that too forward?"
"It's fine." Hands folded in her lap, she explained, "We met in Diagon Alley, right before we started Hogwarts. We've been writing letters and meeting in secret ever since the end of first year."
"Wow. I've always assumed you didn't like muggle-borns, you know? I guess it was wrong of me to generalize Slytherins into a stereotype."
"Don't worry about it. There is a reason the stereotype exists, after all. I'm more of an exception to the rule, I think."
"Well, I think that's cool."
"Uhm, thanks?"
Leila giggled. It was then that Diaval slid the compartment door open, surprised by the scene in front of him.
Eyebrow raised at his befuddled expression, she said, "What, am I not allowed to talk to Maleficent? Are you the only one who can be friends with her, hm?"
Diaval stepped inside the compartment, sitting beside Maleficent. "'Course not. Just surprised, is all. She hasn't been saying anything bad about me, has she, Lef?"
In a regal manner, she remarked, "Isn't it incredibly vain for you to assume that just because we know you, we'd automatically be talking about you? Really, Diaval."
Leila giggled, "Ooooh, I like this one."
Laughing, Diaval said, "Obviously, she's brilliant. Anyone would be, after spending time in my company."
Leila made a funny rejoinder and Maleficent rolled her eyes. As the train sped towards Hogwarts and the three of them conversed and laughed about a multitude of things, Maleficent felt a thousand times lighter than she did all winter break. All her woes were soon forgotten and she realized she's genuinely excited to go back to school.
She's never quite developed the attachment other students have for Hogwarts, but as the months flew by, it has become a niche where she can thrive. Slowly, she has begun to branch out and form new friendships. Maleficent especially liked Leila, despite the girl being bright and cheery when she herself was prone to dry wit and sarcasm.
Eventually, the astonishment of the student body waned, as they became preoccupied with schoolwork and more interesting pieces of gossip. The Slytherins ignored her for the most part, sneering and glaring occasionally, but she never cared for them before and she wasn't going to start now. Stefan wouldn't deign to even look at her, which truthfully suited her just fine.
Before she knew it, the end of summer term was upon them, and Maleficent had to say goodbye once again to carefree times. Real life was awful, but it wasn't something she could forget entirely- not as long as she was sharing the same roof as her parents.
Diaval took her on a walk along the Lake after the last day of exams, talking idly about summer plans and what next year has in store for them.
"I just remembered", Diaval suddenly blurted, having just tossed a piece of bread to the Lake, "how exactly are we going to stay in contact throughout the summer? Don't tell me I have to wait until September to talk to you again!"
"I've been thinking about that." Maleficent said. She watched the surface of the Lake ripple as a tentacle rose and pulled the piece of bread under. Only when the waters calmed once more did she begin to voice out what's on her mind. "If it's okay with Uncle Balthazar, I figured out that you can send your letters to him, and then he'll forward them to me. He can stuff it in a book or parcel or something. He always sends me lots of stuff to keep me from getting too bored in the house. Anyway, I'm still allowed to use the family owl and write to uncle, so maybe he can be our go-between? We can't do it very often, but it's better than nothing, don't you think?"
"Wait- that's brilliant!" Diaval enthused.
Narrowing her eyes at him, she countered, "Why on earth are you surprised?"
"Well, I suppose I just didn't think you'd actually consider this so thoroughly. But yeah, that's a good plan. It's just really annoying that we have to go through so much just to send a bloody letter."
Her gaze distant, she whispered, "I know."
Maleficent sensed Diaval's stare. "I wish you could just run away. Leave your family and all of their ideals behind."
She replied, unable to prevent the wistfulness that laced her words. "I wish I could, but not right now. Someday, I promise."
A/N: Bit of a filler chapter, really. And I couldn't resist writing Leila in. After The Flaw in the Plan, I wanted more of the Leila/Mal friendship. :))
In GoF, there was a scene where Harry and Hermione feed the giant squid breadso the last scene was a homage to that. :))