Ti bit her lip in contemplation, uncertain who was safest to look at: Albus or Maya. The latter looked mainly confused, but Ti could see a kind of spark in her eyes, that really didn't bode well.
"Well?" Maya said, not knowing what to think, seeing the two so close to each other (even though they were further apart than they'd been before she came into the picture).
"Listen, Maya, you see…" Ti began, but stopped when she realised she hadn't any idea what to say. Maya's eyes blackened before she stormed past the two, and Ti saw her heading for the old Divination classroom. Maya stomped on, unlocking the door with a snarled spell and slamming the door behind her. Ti might be labouring under the impression that she hadn't seen them, but the truth was that she'd spotted them just as Al's lips had left hers. And it hardly looked like a first kiss to her. So how long had it been going on? And why had Tielle not told her? She curled up in the moss, hugging her legs and leaning her head on her knees. She felt mistrusted and confused, and couldn't for her life understand why Ti would've kept anything like that from her. They were best friends! Didn't that mean anything? And had Ti told Claire, Amelia and Rebecca? She'd better have not, Maya thought darkly. Just then, she heard the door click, and she stood up quickly, gripping her wand firmly. Ti's head poked through, her face sullen and her eyes apologetic.
"May… May I come in?" she enquired, opening the door fully. Maya sat down again, putting her wand in her pocket.
"I suppose." Tielle walked in and locked the door after her, coming closer with hesitant steps.
"Listen, Maya, I-"
"How long?" Ti looked confused.
"What do you-"
"How long has it been going on?" Maya blurted out, staring viciously at her best friend. Ti's gaze wavered, and Maya recognised it as a sign of thought. "And for Merlin's sake don't lie to me." She spat.
"Maya, please…"
"Why can't you just tell me? I thought we were best friends!"
"But we are! I mean, I just didn't… I didn't want you to…"
"To what, exactly? Bloody hell, you're the Slytherin here all right. Why would I have minded? How could it possibly have hurt your relationship to tell me? Not telling me has only hurt ours."
"It hasn't hurt our relationship!"
"Want a bet?"
"Maya, seriously, it's not the end of the world. Yeah, so I didn't tell you. No need to snap your wand." The Ravenclaw stood up, furious.
"It is beyond me how you can be so cool about all of this. I just don't get why this had to be a secret. Merlin, it's like I don't know you anymore!" And with those words she stormed past her frozen friend and ran out of the room.
First class on Wednesday was Herbology, and Maya was rather glad she didn't have to see Ti after their row earlier that morning. Of course, having dragged that idiotic conversation is, she was already ten minutes late. Well, that's brilliant, she thought and kicked a stone out of the way as she rushed down the lawns. Finally she reached the greenhouse and yanked the door open. Professor Longbottom paused in his lecture, and eyed the girl carefully.
"Sorry." She muttered and pushed her way over to Emma and Andrea.
"Five points from Ravenclaw." He said calmly before returning to the lecture about the uses of Fanged Geranium. Maya heaved a sigh. She never did like Herbology.
"What was that about?" Andrea whispered, though kept her eyes on the teacher as to not call attention to her.
"I'll tell you later." She hissed back, and tried to listen to what the professor was saying. To be perfectly honest, she didn't get why they had to take Herbology. Yes, she had chosen to continue with it, but mostly because she wanted a NEWT in all the subjects she could.
"Miss Wood?" She jumped up and looked at Professor Longbottom.
"Hmm?"
"Did you hear what I just said?" She reddened a bit.
"Erm… Sorry, sir." He sighed.
"Try to pay attention." She nodded and focused her eyes on him again, really trying to listen this time.
After enduring three classes Maya finally dumped her things in her dorm and headed for lunch, grateful to get a bit of a break. It'd been ages since she was this uninterested in school work. If it had ever happened… While walking down the stairs, she spotted James Potter trotting towards the Great Hall in front of her. How the hell can I recognise him just by his hair?, she thought with slight irritation. Someone called his name and he turned around, catching her staring at him. She felt herself blush, and tried scowling at him when he grinned mischievously. Glaring at him for about half a second, she then stomped past him and hurried over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting down next to Emma.
"Now can you tell us what that was all about?" She realised they were referring to her being late. For most people it mightn't have been a big deal. But Maya Wood didn't do the whole being-late thing. She just wasn't late. And her friends (and probably half the castle) knew this.
"I had a row with Ti, 'kay?" she snapped, not at all in the mood for any kind of talk. What she really wanted was to retreat to the library and hide among the old books for a few hours. Or days…
"Honestly?" Andrea said, eyebrows raised. "But you two never fight."
"Yeah, I know." She replied with a shrug, picking absent-mindedly in her salad.
"What about?"
"I'm not sure I should tell." Maya frowned.
"Come off it." Emma said with an eye-roll. "What would we do?"
"Fine then… But promise me you won't tell anyone. I may be pissed with her, but she obviously kept it a secret for some reason." They all nodded, and Maya looked around to make sure no one would overhear them (giving a few first-years a pointed look which made them scamper off). "Right… Erm, it's not that dig of a deal really…" Andrea rolled her eyes.
"You're pissed with her, so it's hardly nothing either."
"Well, yeah." She took a deep breath, still frowning. "Ti's dating Albus."
"Albus? As in… As in Albus Potter?" Maya nodded. Sarah clamped a hand over her mouth.
"No bloody way!"
"Yeah. Since the end of last term, apparently."
"But… Then it's been going on for like three months."
"Almost, yeah."
"And she didn't tell you?" Maya shook her head.
"She didn't tell me a thing." They all remained silent for a few moments.
"So… You're angry… Because of the relationship?"
"Hell no! He seems like a nice guy. Prefect, too. No, I'm pissed she didn't tell me, of course."
"Ah, yeah, figures…" Andrea said, to which Maya made one of her very own faces.
"Any plans on making up with her then?" Maya shook her head.
"Well, eventually, of course. But not right now. Far too angry." Emma snickered. "What?"
"Nah, never mind." She stood up. "Come on, we'd better get to class." Maya nodded, and they all stood and headed for the Ravenclaw tower to fetch their things.
After having endured Potions, Maya walked with her friends to Charms. She was, to say the least, dreading it, as she shared the class with the Slytherins, thus with Ti. She held her thick book tightly against her chest as she headed for the classroom, walking a few metres ahead of her friends. As she was not at all in the mood for talking, she thought it wise to just stay clear of them.
She arrived by the door ten minutes before the class started. With dread she looked at her watch as the seconds ticked on, bringing the inevitable closer and closer until… Professor Hayes turned up and was let past to unlock the door. Leading them all in, he headed to the front of the classroom. With a small crease on her forehead, Maya sat down on her own, deliberately not sitting close to Emma, Andrea or Sarah. They seemed to notice, but didn't comment.
"Good afternoon, class." The really rather handsome professor said. As usual, most of the girls in the group were sitting watching him closely, some of their mouths slightly open. With Ti, it was amusing. When Maya saw all the others do it, she just felt repulsed. He's a teacher, for Merlin's sake…
"Today, we won't be working with any new spells." There was a muffled groan going among the students. Hayes smiled. "We are to begin practicing non verbal spells." However angry and annoyed she may be, Maya straightened a bit at this. It was no new spell, but it was a whole new way of performing the ones she already knew, which were a fair few. He was about to start speaking again before he closed his mouth and looked around the room.
"Where is Miss Zabini?" No one said anything, and he automatically looked at Maya. "Have you seen her?" Maya shook her head.
"No, sir."
"Really?" he couldn't help but say, and a few girls snickered.
"No, I haven't seen her." She said again, forcing herself not to roll her eyes.
"Well… All right. I'll have a word with Professor Spence later." He scribbled a quick note on a small piece of parchment. "Right then. Let's get started. Non verbal spells are, as I hope you all know by the name, when one performs a spell, charm or hex without uttering the incantation." He strode around the desk and stood in front of it, crossing his arms over his chest. "Can anyone tell me why this could be needed?" Normally, Maya's hand would've been raised before the question had even been completed. But today, even though she was interested in the topic, she didn't move, and let Emma answer.
"In a duel, casting a spell without saying it gives you a small benefit, as the opponent won't know what it is you're planning on doing."
"True, true. But, this isn't a Defence class. Come on, why would you need to use non verbal spells in your every day life?" There was silence. Maya rolled her eyes to herself and raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Wood?"
"For instance, if you're in a place where you are not allowed to speak, this is a way of going around it. Also, if you can't speak, you still have an opportunity to perform spells."
"Excellent. Ten points to Ravenclaw for both of your answers." Maya sighed slightly. Great.
"Now, let's start with trying to cast a summoning spell without uttering a single word." He opened a cabinet and threw out a large number of rubber ducks. The class laughed. "Yes, I'm rather fond of these. Though the cabinet gives me different objects all the time. Anyway. Now then, try it out. You need to really concentrate, almost yelling the spell in your head. Begin." Maya picked up her wand, and rested her eyes on a smaller duck lying half hidden behind the professor's desk. Around her she heard a few people whisper the spell, and saw some people gritting their teeth not to. Focusing on the duck, she frowned and concentrated. Accio. It didn't move. Come on now, ducky, I now you love me, really. Accio. It shuffled closer, but nothing more. I know you want toooo… Accio. It flew across half the floor and then fell to the ground in front of her desk. Bugger.
"Fantastic, Miss Wood!" Hayes exclaimed and beamed at her. "Five points to Ravenclaw." Yeah, not at all 'cause you're the Head of Ravenclaw… she thought sullenly. After that she managed to summon the stupid duck four times in a row, and Hayes was so happy he let them all finish fifteen minutes earlier.
"Just remember to practice!" he cheered as they left. Emma hurried up to Maya as they walked out.
"He's nuts. Anyway. How are you?"
"I'm fine." She answered in a clipped tone, making her way to the stairs.
"Yeah, that's crap. Come on, tell me."
"Listen Emma, thanks for the concern and whatever, but I am not in the mood."
"Merlin's beard, tell me already!"
"Emma, for heaven's sake, just-" She cut off mid-sentence and stopped dead in her tracks. Emma stopped too, looking at her weirdly.
"What?" Maya stared forward. At the bottom of the large staircase was Ti. Maya gasped angrily and screamed at her:
"Why the hell are you talking to him?"