Masquerade (Discontinued)

Chapter IV

Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London, England, Great Britain

Friday the 3rd of July 1998

2:00 PM

"She is here?"

Maya pursed her lips as she stared at the two Hogwarts professor. Her arms were crossed, debating whether she should tell the two if her daughter was here or not. The pleading look in Dumbledore's blue eyes seemed to win and Maya nodded. Minerva looked relieved.

"She's upstairs. In her study."

"She has a study?" Minerva asked in surprise. Maya shrugged and tilted her head as she led the two professors from the Floo and towards the stairs.

"Not a study, per say. She doesn't really live here in anymore. I mean, occasionally, she sleeps here, but she really sleeps at the Slytherin Manor. She's actually preparing to move into her flat in London. However, her piano is large and she needs space for it," Maya explained as they began to make their trek up the old and creaky stairs. Minerva nodded in understanding and they fell into an uncomfortable silence again.

Maya sighed as she led the two professors up the stairs. She had mixed feelings about all of this.

Maya Wilkins was not stupid.

She knew why they were there.

They were there to make a deal with Bella. They wanted to make amends but they also wanted something from her. Maya hoped that Bella knew what she was doing.

They finally reached the final landing, the attic. Maya opened the door and suddenly, music emerged from the soundproof room.

It was soft and sounded quite innocent although it sounded as if Bella was simply playing around with notes. Maya tilted her head and held up a finger, listening to how Bella created music. She was never really present when that happened but now, she was genuinely curious as to how Bella composed.

And then, suddenly, Bella was playing out chords as she messed around. It sounded absolutely wonderful and then Bella stopped. There was the quick sound of a quill on parchment before the playing resumed once more. Maya walked inside as quietly as possible, beckoning Dumbledore and McGonagall after her.

Maya's eyes widened when she caught sight of her daughter.

Bella's eyes were closed as her fingers drifted up and down the white piano, creating a run. She didn't even look like she noticed what she was doing. Maya couldn't help but notice that she didn't have her gloves on, exposing the numerous scars on her left hand. Maya hated seeing them, knowing that most of the scars had been caused by people who wanted to hurt Bella.

But then again, some she had made herself.

The young woman stopped, suddenly before hesitantly continuing on with lighter strokes of the keys. She continued to play on the high part before she frowned and slammed chords down, bringing a new depth to her playing. She sighed, a slow smile spreading across her face as she made another run from one end of the piano to the other end.

With that run, her fingers began strange dance as they twisted on the ivory with such complexity that Maya couldn't possibly keep up. Bella was treating the piano like one would treat their lover. There was undoubtedly a passion within her that made Bella continue to play like that.