AN: I don't own Harry Potter I mearly borrwing JK's fantastic characters.

Chapter 7 A broom and a sacrifice

Since Hermione had stopped talking with Maira she had found new friends in Neville, Harry and Ron. Hermione however had no friends and spent all her time alone. The other two girls who shared the dormitory with Hermione and Maira, Lavender and Parvati spent their time together and were far too girly for Maira's taste. The lessons that many first years had looked forward to was going to take place today. Flying lessons was something most of them were looking forward to except Hermione perhaps since it couldn't be learnt from a book, not that she hadn't tried. Hermione was reading a quidditch book as she ate her breakfast trying to prepare for the flying lesson. Maira and Ron was busy discussing the latest results from the quidditch league as the post arrived.

"Look a remeberall," Neville said opening a package from his grandmother.

"Cool," Maira said if someone needed a remeberall it was Neville.

"It turns red if I forgotten something," Neville explain to Harry as the ball turn red. "Problem is I don't remember what I've forgotten." The laughed as Neville tried to remember. The group went outside in high spirits after lunch, not even the fact that they were having the lesson together with the Slytherins could dampen their spirits. Maira watched warily as Neville feel off his broom cradling his arm.

"Stay on the ground or you'll be expelled before you can say quidditch," Madam Hooch said as she led Neville towards the hospital wing. It was Malfoy that noticed that Neville had dropped his remeberall.

"Give it back Malfoy," Harry said stalking up to Malfoy.

"Come and get it," Malfoy said and took off.

"Harry you can't you'll be expelled," Hermione shrieked as Harry mounted his broom

"Can you shut up already? Contrary to popular belief, your voice gets old fast," Ron said glaring at Hermione. Hermione huffed and crossed her arms refusing to look at Ron. Maira shrugged and turned her attention to the two boys in the air. Harry was a natural on the broom and she cheered as he caught the remeberall in a spectacular dive. The Gryffindor's cheering was caught short however as Professor McGonagall turned up taking Harry with her. The class was dismissed ten minutes later when Madam Hooch returned and Maria made her way up to the Hospital wing. Neville was sitting in one of the bed looking miserable.

"Hi, how are you feeling?" Maira asked sitting down on a chair next to the bed.

"Okay, Madam Pomfrey is going to fix it" Neville said sighing.

"You dropped this," Maira said giving him the remeberall that Harry had retrieved. "Malfoy took it but Harry got it back." Maira waited with Neville until Madam Pomfrey shooed her out. Maira made her way down to the great hall and dinner. She sat down next to Ron and Harry.

"Neville broken his arm and has to stay in the hospital wing" she said and started to place some mashed potato on her plate.

"Ouch," Ron said grimacing. "Harry made the team, seeker" he whispered to her.

"Really, that's great," Maira said taking a bit of her dinner. They finished their dinner in high spirits only downside was Malfoy showing up to taunt Harry. Maira didn't voice her thought that it was incredibly stupid to duel with Malfoy instead she told them that she would come with them as extra backup. Hermione on the other side told them in no uncertain terms that they would be expelled. They spent their evening playing chess in the common room, Harry and Maira teamed up together trying to beat Ron. At half past 11 they left the empty common room through the portrait hole. To their surprise Hermione was waiting on the other side.
"I can't let you do this," she said crossing her arms. "You'll lose Gryffindor more points."

"Just go back this doesn't concern you," Ron hissed and the trio started moving away from her. Hermione huffed and turn around only to notice that the portrait was empty. The fat lady had taken a late night stroll. Hermione turned around and started jogging to catch up to them.

"I'll come with you," she said catching her breath.

"Why?" Ron asked glaring at her. Before Hermione had a chance to answer Harry hushed them.

"Someone is coming," they hold their breath as someone came around the corner. They all let out a sigh of relief when it turned out to be Neville.

"What are you doing out this late?" Ron asked annoyed.

"I got lost on my way from the hospital wing," Neville said.

"It doesn't matter now the fat lady is gone," Maira said it would be harder to get there without anyone catching them when they were five. They moved quietly along the hallways and when they almost had reached the trophy room when they froze noticing a teacher strolling along the hallway, they hid a side passage trying to decide what to do.

"I'll distract him," Maira said starting to move.
"Are you mad?" Ron asked

"Possibly but it's the only way, it is dad Ron," Maira said determined. "Good luck Harry!" Maira left the side passage and started to move down the hall. She met her father half way down the hall.

"Hi dad!" she said happily as he starred at her.

"Maira what in Merlin's name are you doing out of bed," Matthew asked trying to understand what his daughter was doing there.

"I couldn't sleep so I took a walk," Maira said happily. "What are you doing here?" she winced as her dad swatted her backside.

"20 points from Gryffindor and detention, believe me I will tell your grandmother," he said sternly. "Let's go!" He grabbed her arm and started marching her down the hallway.

"Let's all remember Maira's brave sacrifice," Ron said quietly as they watched her getting led away before they hurried in the other direction towards the trophy room.

#

Maira started regretting her sacrifice as she was marched down the hallway by her father, she tried to squirm away from him but he had a steel grip on her arm. She could feel the anger radiating of him and she was starting to realize that this wouldn't end well for her. To Maira's surprise he didn't lead her to the Gryffindor tower instead he stopped at the entrances to their quarter. He released her as soon as they had entered and with arms crossed he looked sternly at her.

"Do you want to tell me what you were doing?" he asked calmly. Maira gulped it was never a good sign when he was calm instead of yelling.

"I told you I couldn't sleep so I took a walk," Maira said but the sass she had had in the hallway was leaving her and she didn't dare to meet his eye.

"I'm not stupid Maira," Matthew said frowning. Maira only shrugged she wouldn't betray her friends no matter what.

"You're not going to say anything! Fine, go to the bed and believe me we will have a long discussion in the morning." He pointed to her bedroom door and Maira decided not to fight him for once. Instead she obeyed and got to bed.

#

Her father was waiting for her when she got up the next morning. He wasn't as angry as the night before but he was looking strictly at her.

"I'm not going to ask you to explain, because you are not going to answer," he said sternly.

"Dad," Maira started but Matthew held his hand up to halt her.

"You have detention tonight at five o'clock and you're staying the night."

"Why do I have to stay here," Maira whined.

"Because you are grounded for the weekend, you'll spend the weekend in your room studying," Matthew said catching her eye and giving her a stern look. "Understood?"

"Yes sir," Maira grumbled. That sucks she thought as she made her way towards breakfast. Harry and Ron were waiting for her and had saved her a seat. She sank down grateful next to them

"How bad is it?" Ron asked mouth full of porridge making it rather hard to understand him.

"20 points and detention," Maira said groaning. "And dad decided that I'm grounded."

"I'm sorry Maira," Harry said looking at her with sympathy.

"It's okay he'll get over it sooner or later," she shrugged. "How did it go last night? Did Malfoy turn up?"

"It was a trap, Filch turned up looking for students out of bed," Harry said.

"We escaped though," Ron added. "You'll never guess what is in the forbidden corridor." Ron never had a chance to explain that as Professor McGonagall was moving down the table with determination.

"Miss McGonagall a word please," she said briskly gesturing for her to follow. Maira groaned as she got up and started follow her grandmother. Great now she was going to get scolded again. Minerva led her into an empty classroom closing the door behind her. She looked strictly at her granddaughter and Maira blushed. It was always harder when granny was scolding her.

"I was told that you were out after curfew yesterday" she said sternly.
"Yes, I couldn't sleep and I went for a walk," Maira said studying her feet. Minerva snorted.

"I find that hard to believe, I'm guessing you are protecting someone." Maira glanced up a frighten look at her face. Minerva smiled softly at her.

"I won't ask you to betray your friends. But I most press the importance to stay in the common room after curfew."

"Yes granny, dad already told me" Maira said dutiful as it was expected of her.

"And please be kinder to your father, you are giving him grey hairs," Minerva said opening the classroom door. Maira looked at her grandmother as she passed her the door.

"Dad took 20 points," she said pleadingly.

"And it will stand, I might have taken more," Minerva said sternly and Maira sighed knowing that the battle was lost.

#

Maira arrived promptly at 5 to serve her detention, finding her father waiting for her in his office. An extra table had been placed next to his desk and a parchment, quill and ink had been placed on the table.
"You'll be doing lines," Matthew said looking up from the papers he was grading. "I will not wander the halls after curfew, 150 times you may begin." He went back to his work as Maira sullenly sat down at the desk. She starred at the parchment before she dipped the quill in the ink and started writing. For a little while only the scratching of the quill and turning of papers could be heard in the office. Maira wrote the first 40 lines without complaining, before she stopped. She laid down the quill and crossed her arms. It was stupid and she was not going to do it. It took Matthew five minutes to notice that she had stopped, sighing he got up to check on her progress.

"Maira, you are not done yet, get a move on," he said going back to his desk. Maira only shook her head and starred at him determined. It was a battle of wills and she was going to win this time. Matthew ignored her for a while hoping that she would start again, but it was not to be. When she still hadn't started writing ten minutes later he looked up at her sternly.

"Maira, write the lines," he said his voice sharp as steel.

"It's stupid I'm not doing it," Maira said without moving an inch.
"Maira I'm not going to tell you again, write the lines," he was getting frustrated and fought with himself to stay calm. Maira only shook her head and stared at him. Matthew rose from the chair and went over to her; he crouched down so he was at her eyelevel.

"You don't have a choice. I can stay here all night. You'll not move from there until the lines are finished. Do you understand?" his voice was stern and Maira almost gave in but finally shook her head maintaining her rigid stance.

"I say do you understand?" Matthew said sternly.
"There's no point to it, it's boring. I'm not doing it." She was stubborn Matthew had to give her that.

"Lose the attitude" he said glaring at her.

"I don't have an attitude problem. You have a problem with my attitude, and that's not my problem," Maira sassed regretting the words as soon as they left her mouth. Matthew rose crossing his arms he looked sternly at her.

"That's it lets go," he said gesturing for her to get up. Maira slowly rose from the chair sensing that she had taken it too far. Matthew pointed towards the door to the quarter, giving her swat to get her to move. Maira slowly walked towards the door and entered the quarters her dad following close behind. As he closed the door behind them Maira gulped. She wasn't sure what was going to happen. Matthew didn't say anything instead he led her to one of the corners in the living room, turning her around so she faced the wall.

"You can stand here until you'll be civil again," Matthew said sitting down on the sofa opening a book and prepared to wait her out. Maira couldn't believe, she hadn't been sent to the corner for years. She wasn't a toddler, stomping her foot she turned around staring at her father.

"Turn around Maira," he said simply without looking up from his book.

"Dad," Maira whined.

"No turn around!" Maira stomped her foot again as she turned around fuming of the injustice. Matthew patiently read his book, or at least he tried he had started to read the beginning of the same page 30 times. He was studying his daughter trying to determine if she had reached the breaking point yet. It took almost 30 minutes before Maira relaxed and started crying silently.

"Maira, you can come out," Matthew said putting down the book. Maira turned around slowly tears were running down her face, and Matthew was struck by how small she looked.

"Are you ready to finish you lines?" he asked and Maira nodded. Matthew went to retrieve the parchment and placed it at the kitchen table.

"I don't want to hear a peep out of you until they are finished," Matthew said gesturing for her to sit down at the table. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," Maira said as she sat down and started writing.

#

She finished an hour later silently handing the parchment to father. He looked them over and nodded.

"Go and watch your hand and we'll have some tea," Matthew said and Maira grateful for the small reprieve left the room. When she returned a few minutes later the table was set with tea and sandwiches. Maira ate in silence waiting for the scolding she was sure was coming. She had behaved terribly and she knew that her dad wouldn't stand for it. She didn't know why she felt the need to push his buttons but she did. Matthew waited until she had finished her sandwich before he spoke.
"What were you hoping to achieve by behaving like a toddler," he asked gazing sternly at her. Maira shrugged avoiding his gaze.

"I don't know!"

"Nothing will be achieved by throwing tantrums," he lectured. Maira nodded she knew that.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, it's time for bed," Matthew said starting to clear the table.

"It's only eight o'clock," Maira protested.

"And it will be almost nine after you showered and gotten ready," Matthew said not giving in. He could tell that she was tired and that she needed her sleep. Maira grumbled as she made her way to the bathroom. Matthew came to tuck her in an hour later when she had crawled in to bed.

"Good night sweetie," he said kissing her forehead.

"Dad, I'm sorry," Maira said looking at him sadly,

"I know sweetie, but you can't act like every time you are punished," Matthew sighed. "You are 11 years old, not two."

"I know," Maira said blushing.

"If you do the crime you have to be prepared to pay the time," Matthew said seriously.

"I'll try to do better," Maira promised trying to stifle a yawn.

"That's all I ask, I'll see you tomorrow," Matthew said placing one last kiss on her forehead before he exited the room.

#

Maira stayed in bed as long as she dared the next morning, figuring that sleeping away most of the Saturday was a good plan. But in the end it breakfast lured her up just after eight. She grumbled as she made her way out in the living room. Her dad was already up having breakfast in the small kitchenette. Maira reluctantly joined him glaring the whole time. Matthew ignored her grumbling and glaring instead he retrieved her breakfast that had been waiting for her.

"Eat," he said kindly returning to reading the paper. They ate in silence the only sound heard was the rustling of paper when Matthew turned the side and the clicking of metal on plates. Maira finished her breakfast and silently got up places her plate in the sink and prepared to slink back into her room.

"Stay right there," Matthew said putting down the paper and Maira stopped in her tracks halfway to her room. She sighed and slowly turned around, her dad was pointing towards the sofa and grumbling she stalked over and sat down.

"I would very much like you to explain your behaviour last night," Matthew said sternly eyeing his daughter. Maira shrank back under his stern eye.

"It was boring, I didn't want to do it," she whispered knowing that she wouldn't be able to offer any good explanations to the way she had behaved.

"It wasn't designed to be fun, it was a punishment," Matthew commented.

"Well I still didn't feel like doing it," Maira said argumentative. Matthew rubbed his chin sighing it was like pulling nails with her. He really was getting nowhere.

"We all have to do things we don't want to. I want to know what hoped to achieve with your tantrum yesterday," Matthew said sternly and Maira skruvade på sig.

"I just didn't want to do it," she yelled tears starting to fall down her face.

"There has to be a reason," Matthew replied crossing his arms.

"You're always scolding me," Maira shouted before she stood up and ran to her room slamming the door behind her. Matthew sighed and followed her. He found her lying on her bed crying into her pillow. Sitting down he tapped her shoulder.

"Turn around please," he demanded. Maira slowly rolled over and sat up. Tears were streaming down her face and her breathing was hitched from all the crying.

"Maira, I don't always scold you," Matthew said trying to understand what she meant.

"Yes you do, ever since I started school it's all that you've done. And you gave me detention," she sobbed. Matthew sighed again gathering his thoughts briefly before he spoke.

"You were out of bound breaking the school rules," Matthew said. "And to be honest you have behaved terrible since school started." Maira shrugged looking away from him, absentmindedly stroking Snowball who had joined them at the bed.

"Half the time you just blow everything out of proportions. Maira you continue to put yourself in situations you shouldn't be in," Matthew explained gently but sternly.

"You acted like a teacher not my dad yesterday," Maira whispered. Matthew once again sighed finally they were getting somewhere.

"You had detention that I gave you as a teacher," Matthew told her gently stroking her hair.

"But you're my dad!"

"Sweetie, I'll always be your dad. But I can't ignore you breaking the rules."

"I won't break anymore rules, I promise," Maira said seriously.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, "Matthew said smiling slightly. He opened his arms and Maira needed no invitation to throw herself in his arms. He hugged her tightly and she clung on to him for dear life. He rocked her gently as she refused to let him go. When she finally let him go after a few minutes she dried her tears and looked up on him.

"If you finish your home work I'll play chess with you this afternoon, deal?"

"Deal!" Maira smiled scrambling over to her desk to receive her schoolbooks.

#

Matthew surprised Maira when he allowed her to go to the Great Hall for lunch with her friends. He even gave her a whole hour reprieve. Smiling Maira rushed down to lunch sitting down next to the Weasley twins who was sitting opposite Ron and Harry.

"Maira, did the warden let you out," Ron said around a mouthful of potato.

"Haha very fun, but yes I got a whole hour of freedom," Maira smiled happily as she started to laden her plate with potato and lamb chops.

"So why did you get detention," George asked focusing his attention to his brother and his friends.

"I might have taken a late night stroll in the corridors and dad took offense when I met him."

"You walked right up to him and said hi dad," Ron said. "Of course he took offense!"

"Well I did it to save you guys," Maira huffed shovelling some food in her mouth.

"We'll be forever grateful," Ron mocked laughing. Maira rolled her eyes a small smile tugging her mouth.

"Insane the lot of you," Fred said.

"I agree, well we must be off," George said and the twins left. Maira looked around to make sure that the other at the table was busy.

"So what was in the forbidden corridor?" she whispered.

"A three headed dog," Harry whispered back.

"A three headed dog, what in Merlin's name is it doing here," Maira wondered.

"No idea, but Hermione recons it's guarding something," Ron shrugged. The three dropped the subject and spent the rest of the hour discussing more pleasant subjects. It was noticeable happier Maira who returned to the quarters after her hour's reprieve. She was skipping as she entered the quarters and to Matthew's surprise she threw her arms around him.

"Thank you dad," Maira smiled hugging. Matthew slightly perplexed returned the hug smiling.

"You're welcome sweetie," he said happy that Maira seemed to have forgiven him.