From the End to the Start
Chapter 19
"Lefi!"
Maleficent smiled as she saw her best friend hurtle towards her, weaving through the Diagon Alley crowd like an expert. In the blink of an eye he was in front of her, then his arms wound around her tightly. Diaval disentangled himself quickly, giving her a once-over as he grasped her upper arms gently, eyes alight with gladness.
"I've missed you." He said, a little breathlessly.
"We've spent all summer writing to each other!"
"Not the same as being with you in the flesh."
Maleficent rolled her eyes exaggeratingly, making him laugh. With a guiding hand on the small of her back, he steered her towards The Leaky Cauldron.
"Oh, did you get your O.W.L results already? Mine just arrived this morning."
"Mine as well. How did you do? Wait, let me guess- 8 O's and two E's, right? The E's were for Ancient Runes and Arithmancy."
Diaval glanced at her incredulously. "How did you know?"
Maleficent raised an eyebrow and replied, "Take a guess on my O.W.L scores."
"Hmm. 8 O's, one E, one P- the E being Care of Magical Creatures, and P for History of Magic, because you slept halfway through the exam!"
"How did you know?" Maleficent asked, quite rhetorically.
Getting her point, Diaval grinned. He added, "Why'd you sleep through History of Magic, anyway?"
"It's just so. Bloody. Unimportant! Not to mention boring!" She groaned, punctuating her words in hatred of the subject.
"What did your uncle say about that?"
"He wasn't too upset about the failing mark. If anything, he was amused- he just tried not to show it, because he has to be a proper disciplinarian and all. But he failed History of Magic and Divination on purpose back in his time, so he's can't really chastise me."
"What is it with your lot and History of Magic, anyway?"
"You do realize that with the fall of You-Know-Who, our family name hasn't been exactly stellar with the masses, don't you? Our part in the wizarding world history isn't exactly an endorsement, although my parents would beg to differ."
Diaval frowned. "That's why you hate History?"
"Aside from the fact that it's so bloody mind-numbing, yeah."
Diaval halted their steps, stopping her by the wrist. Looking at her determinedly, he said, "You can always write your own history, Lefi. Change the way your last name is seen by the people."
Before she can answer, he quipped, "You can start on that now, in fact, seeing as you'd probably be the first from your pureblood supremacist family to have lunch with muggles."
"What do you mean?"
"My parents have been wanting to meet you for ages, Lef. They're waiting at the Leaky."
"What? Why didn't you warn me?" She exclaimed, slightly panicked.
"Figured you wouldn't come willingly. It's just my parents, Lef, not Hitler. You'll be fine."
She furrowed her brows, sidetracked. "Who is Hitler?"
Diaval bit back a laugh. "Never mind that now."
Maleficent nodded once, expression still worried. "What if they don't like me?"
"Bollocks. I can guarantee you they'll like you."
"How can you be sure? I'm sure you've been telling them stories about me, in which I'm this extraordinary person you have made me out to be. What if they're expecting so much and I don't meet that? I probably won't." Maleficent didn't notice the hysteria creeping in her voice, until Diaval shook her gently by the shoulders.
"Calm down, will you. I'm telling you- they'll love you. They will, because you treat me well. And that's really all a parent needs to know about their kid's friends."
"I haven't always treated you well."
Diaval threw her a half-hearted glare. "Stop that. Just-" he ran a hand through his hair. "Will you do this for me?"
The pleading in his tone was palpable. This was important to him, somehow. Maleficent couldn't understand, for she lived with a family she'll always be ashamed of, but this was a big deal for him. Face finally softening, Maleficent reached up and let the tips of her fingers brush a few strands of hair away from his eyes. "Of course."
Diaval quickly found his parents inside the tavern, and pulled her towards their table. She noticed how his parents were seated closely and conversing warmly, fondness and intimacy clear in their body language- something she has never, ever seen between her own parents.
"Mum, Dad!" The pair looked away from each other to watch their only son walk towards them excitedly.
"Sorry for the wait. We got tied up with a couple of acquaintances outside." Diaval lied easily, covering up for her near-panic attack. "Anyway, this is Maleficent- Maleficent Moor. Lefi, my parents- Samuel and Ophelia."
Maleficent didn't know what she was supposed to do. Was she supposed to shake their hand? It would be too formal and weird to curtsey, even though she's been raised to do so in front of elders. However, the decision was made for her when Diaval's mother- a cheery looking woman with hair the same shade of black as Diaval's- stood up and went to hug her.
"It's nice to finally meet you, dear! We've heard so much about you!" The older woman exclaimed, releasing her from the quick embrace. Diaval's father- a lean man with salt and pepper hair and laugh lines around his eyes- then extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Maleficent! Do you know you're all he talks about in his letters to us?"
"Dad!" Diaval frowned as she shook the man's hand.
"What, I'm just saying the truth!" Diaval's father said jovially, indicating the seats across them. Diaval and Maleficent sat down.
"Diaval, go get your friend something to eat." He complied with his mother's command, not heeding Maleficent's silent plea not to leave her alone.
"Don't look so stressed, my dear! We're not going to interrogate you or something!" Ophelia commented when she saw Maleficent's stricken expression.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Blanchard." She mumbled.
"Just Ophelia. So, how's your exam scores? Diaval just got his this morning. Bit disappointed with his Exceeds Expectations marks, but I think he's okay now."
"My scores were alright. I did have a failing mark for History of Magic, and one E, but all the others were fine. I'm sure Diaval was disappointed. He's very much a perfectionist."
"He gets it from his father!" Ophelia nudged her husband who was smiling warmly at her. Maleficent felt a sense of familiarity with it all, though she can't fathom why. Her parents certainly never acted this way, and her uncle, who could have been a good husband, preferred singleness.
"We both know that's a lie, sweetheart." Samuel chuckled. "How are you, Maleficent? Diaval said you've been living with your uncle now?"
"Yes, I am. Parents kicked me out; there wasn't anything I could do, really. I much prefer it this way, to be honest. My uncle practically raised me, anyway."
"Still, it must be awful to be away from home. You have a baby sister now, don't you?"
Maleficent felt a pang in her heart at the mention of her sister, who she hasn't seen in over a year except in the few pictures her uncle took. Diaval's mother sensed her melancholy and patted her hand gently. "If there's anything we can do for you, just say so, okay? We know Diaval tries to help, but he's limited as he's still just a kid. But if you ever need a place to stay, or financial aid, or anything- anything at all, you just have to write to us. Alright?"
Overwhelmed by the couple's warmth, she blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay. "Thank you so much", she said hoarsely.
"S'nothing, really." Samuel shrugged. "Figured you'd be part of the family in the future anyway, so might as well start assimilating you into it now, don't you think?"
Maleficent's eyes widened at the man's implication. He roared in laughter at her astonished expression. Diaval arrived at that moment, with the barman behind him carrying a tray of food. When the orders have been set on their table, Diaval asked with narrowed eyes, "You haven't been giving Lef a hard time, have you?"
"Of course not. Your parents have been nothing but nice, Diaval." Maleficent enthused with a hand on his forearm.
"I am. Your father, on the other hand…" The older woman joked.
"What? I just said she's gonna be part of the family in the future anyway, so might as well start getting into it now!"
Appalled, Diaval exclaimed, "Dad!"
"You're going to marry her, aren't you, boy?"
Maleficent's cheeks were rouged in embarrassment. Diaval stated, "Dad, she's not my girlfriend."
"Not yet." The older man waggled a finger in correction.
"Darling, stop. You're embarrassing the girl." To Maleficent, she gently said, "Don't worry, sweetheart. We're not in any rush."
"Merlin's beard mum, you too?" Diaval glared halfheartedly at Ophelia.
Against the two adults, Maleficent and Diaval never stood a chance.
After lunch, Diaval's parents practically commanded Diaval to accompany Maleficent in buying her school stuff. With Flourish and Blotts being the exception, they breezed through the shops, both being efficient shoppers. Diaval ended up carrying almost all her things, which was nothing new- the same thing happened in Hogsmeade all the time. They stopped at Fortescue's for ice cream, sharing idle chitchat.
After a long stretch of comfortable silence spent polishing off their sundaes, Maleficent remarked, "You're lucky, Diaval."
"How so?"
"Your parents are amazing."
"Embarrassing, you mean." He huffed in exasperation.
Maleficent laughed lightly. "Still, they're pretty amazing. You have to understand- I've never seen that level of intimacy between two people in my entire life. It's clear from the offset that they love each other, and you're so lucky to grow up knowing that sort of connectedness and kindness."
Diaval's lips stretched into a radiant smile at her statement, the sort of smile that told people he's too happy for words. He just stared into her eyes, and in that moment it dawned on her why there was a familiarity in how his parents interacted with each other.
It was like a mirror of the present and a glimpse of the future.
And for the first time, she wasn't terrified at all.
A/N: Hi guys! Tomorrow's a holiday, so I had time to write this. It's extra long to make up for the previous chapter's briefness. I hope you like it!
I put random names for Diaval's parents lol I was too tired to research names.
Next update's going to come after next week, hopefully. I just need to get through this week's activities and next week's 4(!) major exams. Oh, the med school life is killing me.
In other news, I auditioned for the College of Medicine choir. Personally, I think I botched it, but I'm still hoping I get in. lol
To those still reading, I love you so so much.
Cheers!