in the end ~ d. malfoy

Chapter Sixty-Six

October 2016

HER CONSCIENCE FORCES MAYA TO MAKE A MOVE.

It's more for Clary than for her — or at least that's what Maya tells herself. Having a civil conversation with the girl who once made her life a living hell is necessary for them to be able to watch for shadows behind their backs, to drive away the ever-present dark fate that seems to haunt their lives these days. McGonagall's in her classroom a few feet away, and the halls are almost clear since most of Hogwarts is still at breakfast. Maya can still hear the scratching of the deputy Headmistress's quill against other students' essays as she drags Romilda to a nearby alcove, the other girl sullenly following her as Maya quickly checks for onlookers before drawing the curtains shut.

"Why exactly did you need to see me alone?" She scoffs, wrenching her arm away from Maya's grip, as though her touch has burned her, "Want revenge for last year, do you?"

"Not all of us are as vindictive as you, Vane." Maya rolls her eyes, a scowl spreading across her face as her tone turns vindictive, "I have no intention of hurting you."

"Sure you don't." Romilda narrows her eyes at Maya, sending a flare of irritation through her otherwise composed expression, "Try anything and I'll hex you within an inch of your life."

"Ah yes, the perfect start to my morning." Maya scoffs, rolling her eyes. Her tone turns serious, "I know what happened to you at the Slytherin Party, Romilda."

Romilda's face goes several shades paler than normal — she looks as though the reminder makes her want to vomit. Then her voice becomes very quiet and shaky, "No you don't."

"Yes, I do." Maya sighs, "You and your friend were talking about it in Muggle Studies."

"You don't take Muggle Studies." Romilda looks at her with suspicion in her eyes.

"I heard it through the grapevine. Anyway — " Maya clears her throat, composing herself, "I'm bringing it up because...." She trails up, steeling herself, "I think the same thing happened to me too."

"And why should I care about that?" Romilda's expression turns forlorn, but the shakiness is still present in her tone.

"You shouldn't." Maya rolls her eyes, "I'm asking you because I need to know if you remember anything that happened. My mind is blank."

"I'm not having this conversation with you." Romilda starts, yanking herself up, but Maya manages to grab her by the elbow.

"Vane, please listen to me." Maya pleads with her, panic creeping into her tone, "I'm not going to use this against you. I just — I need to know if what happened to me could've happened to you too."

"Why?" Romilda scoffs, "It's a party. People get drunk, these things happen."

"You and I both know that neither of us drank much that night." Maya looks her directly in the eye, "Don't play dumb. Do you really want this to happen to another girl?"

Romilda pauses for a second, the curtains fluttering in the breeze as she stops, her expression unreadable. Then, she shoots Maya a glare of loathing, looking at her viciously as she slumps back into her seat, "What the fuck do you want, Rajesh?"

"Do you remember anything after your first drink?" Maya looks at her, curiously, "Any odd symptoms, weird things you saw...?"

Romilda sighs, leaning back into the wall. She pauses for a moment before speaking, her voice rough and uncertain, "It — it wasn't very strong, just pumpkin juice with a bit of Firewhiskey. I felt buzzed for a few seconds and then—." She stops.