My One and Only

Chapter 9 - Year 1

MAIA'S HAND ACHED AS SHE LAID ON THE WARM GRASS under the sweltering sun, but her chest was far too light for her to be bothered by a sore palm. She'd finally finished her first year of exams and she was optimistic of the outcomes. After months of studying religiously with Hermione she was certain she'd aced every test and was eager for the results.

The Weasley twins and Lee had dragged her down to the Black Lake the minute they were released from their own exams, insisting that they couldn't let such a nice day go to waste. With no homework to stop her and Fred's promise that they'd see the giant squid that lived in the lake, Maia agreed. To her delight, Lee was able to coax the squid to the surface using mince pies he'd snagged from the kitchens. The three third years switched off between tossing the treats to the squid and tickling its tentacles. It stared at Maia with one large unblinking eye, before reaching out and wiggling its tentacle against her stomach, as if trying to tickle her. She laughed and squirmed away, eliciting laughter from the three boys.

They became distracted once more as the squid began splashing war with them, and Maia scooted back to avoid becoming drenched. She noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione seated beneath the shade of a tree nearby, and her smile fell as she noticed how Harry was rubbing his forehead.

He'd told her the day after the detention in the woods that his scar had begun burning the minute they saw Voldemort, and though he didn't speak further on the matter with her, she knew by the way he constantly grimaced and gripped his head that it still bothered him. She straightened up, her eyebrows furrowed, as Harry suddenly leapt up and took off, Ron and Hermione stumbling after him.

Calling a quick goodbye to the twins and Lee, she hopped to her feet as well and took off in the direction the three had gone. She managed to catch up to them just as they reached Hagrid's hut where the half-giant was seated outside, shelling peas into a large bowl.

"What's going on?" she gasped out, bracing herself with her on her knees to try and catch her breath.

"Hullo, Maia." Hagrid said with a grin. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Hagrid." Harry interjected quickly, his chest heaving. "What did the stranger who gave you Norbert look like?"

"Dunno, he never took off his cloak." Hagrid said with a shrug. "Its not tha' strange. Lots o' funny folk head to the Hog's Head pub."

"What did you two talk about, Hagrid? Did you ever mention Hogwarts?"

Maia was surprised by the urgency in Harry's voice, and she grew irritated as she glanced at Ron and Hermione, who looked just as nervous as her brother. What was going on that scared them so badly that she didn't know about?

"Maybe." Hagrid said with a frown. "Yeah, I uh, yeah. He asked what I did an' I told him about my job here at Hogwarts. He asked about the creatures I looked after an' I told him I'd always wanted a dragon. I can't remember much after tha', he kept buyin' me drinks, er lemme think, uh, yeah he told me he had a dragon egg an' he'd give it to me if I beat him at cards. He wasn't too sure I could handle it, but I said after Fluffy a dragon was nothing."

"Was he interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked, ignoring his sister's questioning look and leaning towards Hagrid, who looked just as puzzled.

"Course. S'not everyday yeh meet a three headed dog. I told him yeh just gotta know how to calm Fluffy down. Play him some music an' he'd go right to sleep-" Hagrid broke off with a grimace, his eyes wide. "I shouldn'ta told yeh – hey, where are yeh going?"

Hagrid looked desperately at Maia, who hesitated, glancing from him to where her three friends had run off. With a whispered apology, she turned on her heel and hurried after them, ignoring the weight of the guilt that had settled over her chest.