My One and Only

Chapter 3 - Year 1

MAIA FELT EXTREMELY OUT OF PLACE standing on the streets of London in her dirty hand-me-down clothes. It didn't help that Hagrid towered over everyone, drawing attention from every passerby as they clambered through the city, the twins struggling to keep up. She glanced down at the list of school supplies in her hands and frowned, reading over the strange titles. Textbooks for potions and charms; things that had been nothing more than fairytales twelve hours ago.

"Hagrid, where are we going first?" She asked, jogging to match Hagrid's stride.

"Can't go anywhere until we go to Gringotts." He caught Maia's confused stare and smiled. "The wizarding bank. Its run by goblins."

"Goblins?" Harry exclaimed, nose screwed up as he tried to imagine what a goblin might look like. Would it match the description given to them in their old children's books, or would it resemble something far different? Perhaps it would look just like them, tall and gangly, but human. Maia had a feeling that nothing she learned in the fantasy books she'd spend hours reading would prove to be useful in the wizarding world.

Hagrid's eyes twinkled as he smiled at Harry, before turning and stopping so suddenly, Maia nearly collided with him.

"This is it."

Maia peered apprehensively at the run-down pub before them, the sign dirty and missing a letter.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" Hagrid looked oddly proud as he beamed at the shabby building, and Maia cleared her throat, forcing a smile.

"It looks lovely." She said, her chest warming at the happiness on Hagrid's face. She looked around, noticing how the people around them bustled by, their eyes not even stopping for a moment to slide over the small building. She supposed if Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, she wouldn't have noticed it either. She tilted her head curiously, and Hagrid laughed, catching her gaze.

"The Muggles can't see it." He said, nodding to the dusty door before them. "Its hidden by a powerful concealment charm. Yeh'll learn all 'bout tha' at Hogwarts." Before Maia or Harry could respond, Hagrid was pushing his way into the building, and they had to run to keep up before the door slammed shut in their faces.

"The usual Hagrid?"

Maia coughed as she walked through a thick stream of smoke, blown from the mouth a tall graying man. He peered at her, eyes narrowed, and she swore she saw a flicker of recognition on his face, but it disappeared when a woman at his side touched his elbow and leaned in to whisper to him.

Maia tried to catch a glimpse of other faces in the bar, but it was too dark to make out any distinctive features. The bartender, a short, balding man, was smiling at Hagrid, his hands already beginning to mix a drink for the half giant.

"Not today, Tom." Hagrid said, his voice settling over the quiet hum of conversation. "I'm on Hogwarts business." He placed his hands on Harry and Maia's shoulders, and she stumbled slightly under the added weight of his hands, turning to smile at the bartender, whose smile had slipped into a look of pure shock.

"My word." He breathed out, his mouth flapping silently for a moment. "Is that – it can't be – but could it?-"

Maia noticed with an embarrassed jolt that all noise had ceased and every eye in the establishment were on her and her brother. She wasn't used to attention, not after years of children ignoring her out of fear of her cousin and now she suddenly wished she were back in the shadows. The heavy weight of the stares was suffocating, and she rubbed her eyes, flinching at the slight itch behind the irises.

"Bless my soul!" Someone cried. "Its Harry and Maia Potter!"

Maia looked at her brother, frightened as the bartender rushed around the bar to shake their hands. Her eyes itched once more as he gripped her hand in his own sweaty one, and his face lit up.