Obliviate

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Maeve had been so busy studying by herself that she hadn't seen Tom, except in passing, since the night they were caught in the Restricted Section. The previous night when she finished her Prefect duty, she spotted Tom and his usual gang of Slytherins entering Profesor Slughorn's office late in the evening.

This was a regular occurrence for Slughorn and his favorite young men. With Tom being, arguably, at the top of the list.

It had, however, been pleasing to find out that Grisham lost seventy points for Gryffindor, was given detention until the end of term, and was banned from the Dueling Club for his attempted attack on Maeve.

"Have fun at your little boys' club last night?" Maeve asked Tom, feigning a smile as he sat opposite her in the library.

Tom smirked back. "We talked about you actually, Sinclair."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I believe Professor Slughorn called you 'a waste in Ravenclaw'."

Maeve frowned at the satisfied look on Tom's face.

"I took up for you, though."

"Right," laughed Maeve, dipping her quill in her inkwell.

"I told him you weren't a waste in anything."

The scratching of her quill stopped. Tom's voice wasn't arrogant. He wasn't gloating over her. Maeve was taken aback by the genuine way he spoke. His face was stoic but sincere.

"Thank you," was all Maeve could muster.

"You're welcome."

A moment of silence passed between them, but Maeve couldn't help herself from continuing to pry.

"What else was said about me?"

"Abraxas said he was certain you'd get Head Girl. Slughorn agreed," said Tom. "Slughorn also said he was certain he had seen more growth in you this term than most any student in his recent memory."

This satisfied Maeve greatly.

"He spoke fondly of your brother."

Maeve's breath caught as the topic of Antony caught her off guard.

"I'm sure." Maeve resumed her writing once more.

"The entire conversation about you got me thinking. You're nothing like I assumed you were."

Maeve stopped writing again. "Elaborate."

Tom shrugged. "You were just a Ravenclaw I didn't put much stock in. Good at spells, yes. I assumed you to be innocent and naive, a facade you play well. We're actually very much alike when it comes down to it."

Maeve twirled her quill in her hand. "Just a Ravenclaw," she quoted him.

Tom's face was reproachful.

"It's alright. I understand," said Maeve. "Thank you for the compliment. I am aware that things would probably be much simpler if I had ended up in Slytherin."

"Do you wish you had?"

"To be honest, I don't think about it all that much anymore. When I do, I worry my Father holds disappointment in the Sorting Hats decision. Hundreds of years traced back the Sinclair name, every one of them emerald and silver. Except me."

"You are an incredibly bright witch, Sinclair. House Status aside, no one can deny the talent you have."

"No," Maeve smiled sweetly, "but that's never stopped anyone from a bias. It didn't stop you."