An Apology (Elyah & Maximillian)

There were days like these when Elyah wasn't sure what she wanted to do in this castle. These were the days when she was usually found in some corner of Hogwarts, or in a place where she was usually alone, thinking about her life. She didn't know what to expect, truth be told, and it was weird for an eleven year old to think like that.

Who was she really, and why was she here? There were questions about her life that she couldn't answer, and Elyah just felt lost, sometimes. Especially when the other kids around here kept asking about her parents. Was her mom a witch? Her dad? What were their names? Where did they work? And all these questions that people asked, not because they wanted to harm her in any way. Just because this was the natural thing. But Elyah was not an average girl.

And the worst part was that she didn't like talking about her parents. Her mom was not her favorite person, and she wanted to refer to her, as little as possible. She didn't want them to know about her, nor her life. Elyah just didn't want people to know she had grown up practically alone. Because her mother was irresponsible and her father never bothered to meet her. And yes, that was the truth. Elyah was scared of people knowing that her mother didn't care and her father didn't even want to know about her.

And this was what brought her to the Black Lake, where she could be alone and think of all these things that made her cry sometimes. Elyah might seem cold and ruthless, but she was still an eleven year old girl. A girl who've had a very hard time growing up. A girl who still didn't know what she was going to do with her life. And she was only eleven, for Merlin's sake!
But when you are alone from the start, you really need to plan beforehand.

Lost in her thoughts, the young girl didn't pay attention what was going on around her, until a voice broke the calmness that existed both outside and inside of her. A voice she really didn't wanna hear now, or any time in the near future.

"Hey Elyah!"

Oh, hell no!
Elyah didn't open her eyes as the question on how she was doing popped up. She simply remained still, taking deep breaths just the way she had been doing the past 20 minutes to an hour for sure, as she wasn't ready to face the boy that was now standing close to her.

"What do you want?" She asked in a calm manner, not wanting to get angry. She was already really frustrated by what had happened, but she had managed to calm herself, collect her thoughts and feel whole. Even for a little. So instead, she decided to extend the duration of that, and not punch Max in the face like she would normally do.

When Elyah had asked him what he wanted, she didn't exactly expect such a long, detailed explanation about what he really wanted. But this was Max, and she should have known better than to allow him the privilege to speak. But as mush as she wanted to make him shut up before he could even start, knowing that these discussions never ended well, she did the right thing and simply allowed him the freedom to explain himself. That was what a lady was supposed to be doing, right?

"Well, I was out walking Freddo, actually. He likes the snow."

Elyah only rolled her eyes at him, a sign that simply meant 'continue', since she had no interest for that fury creature. Cats were stupid. She just couldn't understand why people liked them.

"And we came this way, and Freddo saw you. He likes you, so he keeps coming towards you, but I caught him before he could actually touch you because I know you don't like cats."

That caused the girl to blink a few times, for more than one reasons. One, that cat liked her? That is exactly why these creatures where stupid! She had made it obvious she despised it and still, that idiotic cat wanted to be near her. Was it a masochist or something?

And then came the second shock. Max cared whether she liked cats or not, and had made sure to hold the monster away from her. Which shocked her the most out of the two. No person had actually cared about what she wanted. Yet Max, in his own way, had made sure to grant her wished by keeping his cat away from him. Which brought the faintest smile on the Hufflepuff's lips.

"But I actually did want to see you."

And that was when her heart skipped a beat.
What the hell, Elayh?!, the voice in her head said and the shock she felt almost reached her face, but she kept it hidden. What did he mean by that? And why did she have that reaction?

"I got you some chocolates. Well, actually one of the older Gryffindors, Simon, got you some chocolates because I'm not allowed to go to Hogsmeade, but he got can. I asked him to get you some chocolates. They're to say sorry for ruining your potion a few months ago. I didn't mean to. I'm just not very good at Potions."

And there came the whole explanation she was expecting, plus his apology for ruining her potion. Elyah didn't want to forgive him, truth be told, but he was being incredibly sweet right now, and Elyah, even if she seemed cold, was still a girl. She liked her romance once in a while. But this wasn't romance, was it?

Though the heart shaped box was saying this was sort of romantic-ish? Right?

Pushing herself on her feet, Elyah looked warily at him, and took the box, looking at it just as warily. The fact that he had asked for an older Gryffindor to get him something since he couldn't, instead of giving up was something Elyah would remember. This gesture wouldn't go unnoticed.

"Why... Why a heart? I mean, uhm.. Isn't this something couples do?"
She was feeling a bit nervous. She really was. But how could she explain this to Max when she didn't want to seem like she liked him? She didn't like him, did she?!

The shock she received as a response to her question, almost made the young Hufflepuff giggle. But instead, she smirked a tiny bit, waiting to see what Max would say. She knew him well enough to know that he would surely have a long explanation.

"No it's not... yes it is what couples do, I think. Simon said that because it's nearly Valentine's Day that Honeydukes were only stocking heart shaped chocolates. I don't know if he was telling the truth, or whether the shops are that silly to only stock couple chocolate. But, I didn't ask him to buy heart shaped chocolate for you. It's... just to say sorry. Not... something silly or anything."


He's cute.., the voice in her head said, making Elyah smile, just like any other girl would smile if a boy got her something. Elyah might be cold and distant, hard to befriend and all the other things that followed, but she was still a girl and Max was still a cute little eleven year old. And maybe, just maybe, Elyah could see herself having the smallest crush on him.

Maybe it was his dorky-ness, or maybe it was simply the way he was being so.. free. He didn't really care or criticized people, and even if she had been cold and mean to him from the first day, he had been there for her again and again. And his little kitty too. The animal, as much as she hated it, had started to appeal to her a bit more every day. And that was a lot weird.

"If you don't like them I can probably get Simon to take them back, but I don't know when the next Hogsmeade trip is, and I doubt that they will take the chocolates back if it's too long..."

"No, no! There's no need!"
The younger witch moved closed to Max, taking the box from his hands and finally smiling, as she suddenly pulled him in a friendly hug, wanting to prove she had forgiven him. She might be a tempest, but she surely wasn't mean and cold hearted.

"Thank you, Max. I forgive you. Just don't do it again or I will break your bones!"
She then tightened her grip around him for a few seconds, before releasing him completely.
"But we will have to share this cause.. I won't eat this all on my own!"