Chapter 6—The One Where Charlie Finds an Opportunity
Mrs. Binning was furious with Maya's behavior and as soon as they got home, she grounded Maya for the rest of the summer. "You'll go to your music lessons and home," she ordered. "And if you run away again, you won't be permitted to return to Hogwarts."
Maya sighed and went to her room. She started to pack up everything that she wanted to bring back to her London house, but her mother made her leave some things at the Hampstead house. Her parents had decided that she would, for the rest of the summer, alternate weeks with each parent. Maya hated the idea and longed to get back to the Burrow. She had considered asking if Charlie could come and stay with them, but was sure that she would get nowhere with either of her parents.
By the next weekend, Maya had moved everything that she wanted back to her Mum's house in London. She had also received her O.W.L. grades from Hogwarts. She had scored Outstanding in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Herbology. She had scored Exceeds Expectations in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, and Astronomy. She had managed to pass History of Magic and Divination with Acceptable in both, but had decided not to continue either class to N.E.W.T. level. She sent an owl to Charlie detailing her grades and the living arrangements for the rest of summer. Charlie's return owl arrived the next day. He had passed everything, as well, but would drop History of Magic, and Divination.
On Sunday, Maya and Maggie, who had returned from Penelope's, left to go to the Hampstead house with their Dad for the week. Maya's grounding had included his house and she was treated to a lecture from him on responsibility. "You ran off without so much as a note, Maya," he scolded her. "And to top it all off, you went to that boy's house."
"That boy is called Charlie, Dad," Maya argued. "And his parents were there the entire time."
"Keep up the attitude, Maya, and you'll be confined to your room," he warned.
"Go ahead," Maya retorted. Her father was unimpressed with her Gryffindor courage and did confine her to her room for the rest of the week. He only allowed her out of her room to use the bathroom and to eat. Maya sent owls to Charlie every day. He had offered to come and rescue her, but she declined. She didn't want him to get into trouble if she was caught out of bounds again.
When she returned to her mother's house, she was again allowed out of her room. She was only allowed to leave the house for music lessons for the rest of the summer, until her mother took her shopping for her school books for the next year. She wouldn't let her send an owl to Charlie to see if they could meet up. She was only allowed to owl him when they returned.
For the rest of the summer at her Dad's, Maya was allowed out of her room, but the strict rules that her mother had enforced continued in his house. By mid-August, Maya was so tired of being stuck inside that she begged her dad to let her out into the yard to read. "Please, Dad," Maya begged. "I promise not to run off."
"Alright," her father relented. "You are not to leave the yard for any reason. And we're having guests for dinner tonight, so dress appropriately." Maya nodded and went to the lawn to read.
When the "guests" arrived, Maya was immediately furious. Her father failed to mention that the guests were his new girlfriend and her daughter. Christine Ashcroft was a well-connected and wealthy woman. She was nothing like Maya's mother and Maya wondered what had ever attracted her father to her mother to begin with. Ms. Ashcroft had been married to a Parliamentarian who had left her with a daughter, Chloe. Chloe was spoiled and tried to provoke Maya into a fight. Maya, thanks to Maggie, kept her mouth shut so that she wouldn't get into trouble.
The rest of the summer passed slowly, but without incident. Maya had been permitted to venture outside each day at both houses, but was still confined to the yard. When September 1 arrived, she woke early to make sure she was ready for the train. She practically shoved her mother and sister out the door so that she could get to the station and get a good compartment on the train. They arrived at King's Cross by 10:00, a full hour before the train was scheduled to leave.
Maya left her mother on the platform while she stowed her things on the train. Then, she returned to wait for her friends. Maggie also found a compartment and joined her friends on the train while Maya waited on the platform. She didn't see Charlie arrive, and jumped when he snuck up behind her. "How's your summer, love?" he asked. She shrieked and threw her arms around his neck.
"Horrid," Maya whispered into his ear. "Of course, it's better now you're here."
"And we'll be joined by the twins this year," Charlie warned. Fred and George were standing by their mother, promising to be good, but holding their fingers crossed behind their backs and wearing matching mischievous grins. "Come on, let's get a compartment," Charlie suggested.
"I've already got one, but let's stow your things," Maya offered. She kissed her mother goodbye and went back onto the train. She and Charlie stayed in their compartment, waving goodbye to Mrs. Weasley from the window.
As the train sped north, Maya and Charlie sat quietly together in their compartment. They were joined by Ivy, Kenneth Wilson (a classmate), Jenna, and Ian. "How was your summer?" Ivy asked.
"Horrible," Maya answered. She explained her parents separating and running away to the Burrow. Ivy nodded and explained that Mrs. Binning had gone to her house first. Soon, Maya and Charlie had to make their rounds with the rest of the prefects.
"I haven't forgotten, you know," Charlie said, rather suddenly.
"Forgotten what?" Maya asked.
"My promise to you," Charlie answered, stopping them and pulling Maya very close to him. "About finding an opportunity to test a theory with you." Maya smiled and bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"I believe you," she giggled. They were, again, interrupted. This time, however, it was prefect duties that kept them at bay. Charlie, obviously frustrated, threatened the first years with being tossed from the train if they caused any further disruption.
At the sorting, both twins were sorted into Gryffindor. They were obviously plotting something while Professor Dumbledore read the list of rules from Mr. Filch. Charlie spotted it, but determined not to give them detentions just yet. After the feast, Charlie and Maya let the 5th year Prefects see that the 1st years made it to Gryffindor tower and knew the password. They patrolled the hallways together.
They were sure that there were no problems in the hallways and started to head back to Gryffindor tower. Charlie pulled them into his favorite secret passageway. "Again with the secret passageway?" Maya teased.
"Of course," Charlie said, smirking. "I believe I've found an opportunity." He winked at Maya and leaned in. She smiled back and leaned against the wall.
Slowly, Charlie's lips found hers. He slid his tongue along her bottom lip and she opened her mouth slightly. He had his hands on her waist and she snaked hers around his neck. After what seemed like moments, Charlie pulled back. Maya didn't slap him, but was smiling at him.
"I knew you wouldn't hit me," Charlie teased, taking her hand and leading her back to the common room. Maya tapped him on the shoulder, smirking.
When they reached Gryffindor tower, Maya decided to go to bed. "Good night, Charlie," she said at the stairway. She kissed him chastely on the lips before climbing the stairs to her dormitory. Charlie went to his dormitory with a very large smile on his face.
"So, rounds took a long time," Ivy teased when Maya appeared in the dorms.
"Lots of castle to patrol," Maya joked.
"You got snogged!" Ivy accused. Maya blushed, but did not deny it. Jenna and Ivy exchanged knowing looks and squealed with delight.
"Well done," Jenna said. "Now, we want details."
"There aren't any to give," Maya said. "He just sort of kissed me." Despite Ivy's and Jenna's protests, Maya refused to give any more details and something about the way Charlie had looked at her just before he kissed her made her believe that she would take that to her grave.
As Maya was ignoring the interrogation from the girls, Charlie was trying to sneak to bed from his mates. "Oi! Charlie!" called Ian as Charlie was tiptoeing into the bathroom. "What the bloody hell took you so long?"
"I was doing rounds with Maya," Charlie answered. He also felt certain that he would rather bunk with a blast ended skrewt than share the information with the boys.
"And do your rounds always occur in secret passageways?" asked Mike Johnson, another boy in their year.
"What are you on about?" Charlie demanded.
"We have a sneaking suspicion that your prefect duties may have involved some extracurricular activities," joked Kenneth Wilson, whose bed was next to Charlie's.
"And why would you think that?" Charlie asked.
"Because, mate," said Ian, "you're wearing her lip gloss." Charlie's lips were indeed tinted with the pink lip gloss that Maya wore on a regular basis.
"And your hair is a little messy," added Justin McGuire, the last boy in the dormitory. This, of course, was also true; Charlie's hair had an unkempt look thanks to Maya running her hands through it while they had snogged.
"You've caught me," Charlie joked, with mock indignation. "I was snogging Maya in a secret passageway after we completed our rounds."
"How far did you get with her?" Ian asked, smirking.
"I'm not telling you anything else," Charlie snapped, going to brush his teeth.
The next morning, Charlie and Maya had Care of Magical Creatures first, followed by a free period. As they walked to the class, Charlie held Maya's hand and whispered to her, "We should talk after class." Maya nodded, not wanting to alert any of their classmates to their plans.
During class, they learned that there would be 2 camping trips in the year and that the trips would be into the woods around Hogsmeade. The class would focus on finding and identifying several magical creatures and their habitats. After the class, Charlie led Maya away from the castle to a large beech tree by the lake. He offered her a seat and then sat next to her.
"So, last night was kind of incredible," Charlie said, nervously. He was terrified that she wouldn't have thought so, but was reassured when Maya smiled broadly and nodded in agreement. "And I'd very much like to do that again," he added, wringing his hands. "And I'd really love it if we could go to Hogsmeade together."
"Are you asking me out?" Maya asked, trying to stifle a giggle. Charlie blushed, but nodded. "Then, I'd love to." Charlie smiled broadly and exhaled loudly. "That nervous?" Maya cheeked.
"Shut it," Charlie joked. "So, I've also been made Quidditch captain. We'll have tryouts next week. I think Fred and George might try out for beaters, but I think they're a bit young, really."
"We've also got beaters, but perhaps they could be the reserve beaters," Maya suggested.
"And that is why you're my best mate," Charlie said. "You always know what I'm thinking."