Acceptance

Masks

"We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be."

-Patrick Rothfuss

Angie was pacing  around her room, deep in thought. What had she done? What had they done? She groaned.

Robert had taken the decision not to visit Maia at St. Mungos and she had tried to beg him to repeal his decision, to no avail. Why had not she tried harder? She had to end up acting like her timid self and cower under husband's anger. Again.

Robert had simply said "We are not going," but the expression on his pale face was enough to make her run away and hide.

Her sweet little Maia, was now gone, slipped away from her hands. Why had she not overcome her own stupid meekness and stood up to her husband? 

Robert was sitting in his study, and had locked it. What he was up to, she would never know.

Knock Knock.

Who would it be at this time?

She went out of the room to see the arriver, but as she entered the living room, she saw Robert standing in the hallway facing a huge man. Her eyes widened as she recognised who it was. 

A werwolf.

Her husband was hissing under his voice, anger sketched all over his face.

The werewolf suddenly roared, "I'm not going to believe all your pathetic lies! I know the girl is here. hand her over."

"She's not here. Please leave now. She has not been here since morning." she came over and spoke, her stoic facade back in place on her face.

Something must have been in her expression, for the werewolf looked at her for a moment and then turned his gaze.

"Let me search the house."

"Absolutely not! I forbid you!"

Robert now had his wand drawn right in front of the werwolf. 

"Remember, werewolf. I can easily manipulate the Ministry against your race and your clan, and the few existing rights you currently possess will be snatched off to."

"You would not dare."

"Remember who you have messed with, werewolf. That's my daughter. Darkwood heir. You would not want you precious clan to disintegrate, would you?"

"Oh, daughter? A daughter who you did not visit, when she is sick at Mungos?"

Robert's face turned stone hard and scowling, he turned and left.

"Leave." she said impassively.

The werewolf left with a last smirk and grunt.

Finally, she thought, and her mask broke.

"Marge dear?" her husband's voice ranged behind her.

Marge turned around and saw her husband's red rimmed eyes.

"I was thinking..." he trailed off.

"About what?"

"Maia. What do we do?"

Marge looked at the girl and noticed her features. Dark hair which reached till her back, a pale face. Too innocent for what had happened to her. 

"Her parents did not come to see her, did they?"

"No."

"How could any mother be so heartless? Their child had to go through such horror, and she did not even bothered to pay a visit?" 

She did not cry, though. Contrary to popular belief, she was not an emotional mess. Yes, she loved Joseph from the bottom of her heart, but she knew very well how to keep strong, unlike her husband.

"That's what I've been thinking." her husband replied.

"What do you want to do?"

"I was thinking to..."

"Are you thinking what I am?"

"Maybe."

A sudden groan startled both of them. It was Joseph, stirring in his bed. She rushed to his bed, and gently cupped his head.

"Dear?"

"Mother?" his voice sounded strained, as if it hurt him to speak.

"Don't strain your throat now. Relax. I'm here."

"Mother, Father, do you hate me?"

Her eyes opened wide. She had been expecting tis question, but it still shook her a little to hear it from her son's voice.

Her husband quickly jumped up to speak.

"Of course not! How could you think like that?"

She glared at him, asking him silently to keep shut, as she saw Joseph's eyes widening in fear yet again.

Her voice soft, she said, "No dear, of course we don't! We love you no matter what. This does not make you a bad person, you're not a monster. You're still me beloved Josey."

His smile, though not reaching till his ears, was still bright enough to lighten up her day.

"What about Maia?" he sounded genuinely concerned for his new friend.

She smiled at her husband, and together they said,

"We will invite her to live with us."

A/N: There you go! I hope this fanfiction will be updated regularly from now on, I'm very sorry for my hiatus, I'm back for good now :D

Announcement!

I'm collaborating on an original story with a fellow writer here on Wattpad, TheEnigmaticPhoenix ! She is an amazing writer, and it is my honour to collaborate with her! Please do check her account!

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