Obliviate

CHAPTER TEN

"Was it absolutely necessary for you to go telling all of my business to Alphard?" Maeve asked Abraxas as she entered his compartment on the train ride back to Hogwarts.

Abraxas rolled his eyes. "No, but it was fun to watch him get all worked up."

"Oh, shut up. Alphard is one of Tom's boys."

Spinel jumped into Abraxas' lap as Maeve took a seat opposite him.

"It's interesting to have watched you grow fond of Tom," said Abraxas. 

Maeve scowled and bit her lip.

"Don't mistake me. I understand why." He petted Spinel absentmindedly. "It's just you used to chastise me for looking up to him."

Abraxas' tone was unfamiliar to Maeve.

"I suppose I did," said Maeve looking out the window. "Apologies."

Abraxas smiled softly.

They were joined shortly after by a few Slytherins and Lavinia Robertson. Maeve spent most of the train ride reading.

They arrived at Hogwarts in time for dinner. Maeve carried all of the books she had brought for Tom down to The Great Hall.

He was already seated at the Slytherin Table.

"Hi," said Maeve, sliding onto the bench across from him.

"Hi."

Perhaps it was Maeve's imagination, but it looked like Tom was suppressing a smile.

"This is everything I thought you'd be interested in reading." Maeve set down the stack of oversized books. "However, these three on top will probably prove the most useful."

"Thank you." Tom peered at her over the stack. "You didn't search yourself?"

Maeve pursed her lips. "Not exactly. I realized if I told Father what I was up to, he'd get so excited and would probably faint and would pester me about you. So I kept him out of it."

Tom looked surprised.

Maeve continued. "Plus, I believe it's going to be a journey you should take yourself. Do let me know if you need anything further, though."

He nodded.

"I have something for you," said Tom. "I had an idea for us to communicate more efficiently."

Tom handed her a rather small piece of parchment. "I have one as well. I've bewitched them. Whenever one of us writes the other, the message will appear instantly. Once it has been read, it will disappear."

"That's quite clever."

Tom nodded. "Now, I can reach you whenever I need you."

Maeve's stomach flipped. "Even outside of Hogwarts?"

Tom nodded. "Wherever you are."

Maeve pocketed the parchment. Tom thanked her for the books and immediately got to reading.

Classes resumed. Maeve had gotten high remarks in Defense Against the Dark Arts for her counter curse to the Full-Body Bind Curse and a bit of applause from Dumbledore for transfiguring Abraxas into a snowy white owl. No others besides Tom successfully transfigured their partners into animals.

Dumbledore commented to Abraxas after class that he made quite a beautiful owl. Maeve bit her lip to keep from laughing. Abraxas didn't appreciate the Professor's comment.

It was weeks before Tom brought up his heritage to Maeve. She was seated in the farthest corner of the library by a crackling fire when Tom appeared in front of her with an open book pointing to a line.