Chapter 40 ~ Success.

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Maxine knew that the guilt would flood back as soon as she set eyes on Rose and Fauna. She knew the thoughts of her grimm life would come back when Stefan came back to her. She also knew her strength would set in again when the latter was around. But at that moment, she was smiling again. Because the session with Theon had not been awkward and guilt-ridden. In fact it had been brilliant. Focusing only on brewing and duelling had given her a freedom from her everyday problems. Still, it wasn't quite the same as with Stefan. But in some ways that was better.

Rose and Fauna's words, said as soon as they'd set eyes on her, were not heartening. But she shook it off - she knew they were right in some aspects, but she'd had a good time and wasn't going to let them get her down either.

"How did it go?" They said it in partial unison, eyes once again wary as Maxine walked towards them with a smile.

"Very well, actually." Maxine flopped down onto the settee beside Rose and grinned, pride returning to her eyes, which were obviously sparkling with ease. "You are now looking at a girl who can successfully brew the draught of peace."

Despite still being watchful in expression, Maxine was happy to see they felt her joy, and this emotion heightened as they congratulated her.

"Wow - well done!" Fauna joined in with her congratulations and a grin. "Unfortunately I haven't yet mastered that myself." 

"I take it Theon's a good teacher?" Rose asked after going her own congratulations and noting Maxine's improvement in mode and strange light-heartedness.

"He must be, if he's able to get you succeed in brewing that potion." Chipped in Fauna, Maxine pushing her playfully as the three laughed. Maxine felt grateful towards her friend, though, for loosing the wariness. It seemed Fauna had accepted Theon a little more as the conversation continued. 

"So, what did you teach him for duelling?" Fauna asked, inspecting her nails before looking at Maxine.

Maxine shrugged. "Just the basics. He's...well....let's just say duelling isn't his strong point." 

 "You'd think he was better though, having spent five years with the golden twins." Said Rose dubiously. "Was he really awful."

"Erm..." Maxine laughed. "To tell you the truth, yes. But so am I at potions."

"Nah Maxine, you're fine. I mean, who didn't find the draught of peace difficult to brew?" Said Fauna, obviously much more at ease with the conversation than Rose was.

"Stefan?" Maxine replied with a laugh. She tried to forget Stefan's feelings towards Theon as she brought up her friend, but also felt much better about it. She didn't feel like she was betraying him - the session with Theon had basically proven him wrong, and she also fell much more inclined to get back on their old footing again. "He was at ease during the process whilst I was tearing out my hair."

"Stefan's far to clever for his own good." Fauna answered with a laugh. "He's a whizz with everything, whether he likes what he's doing or not."

Maxine laughed in reply, amused at both the admiration and envy in Fauna's voice. "He is." She agreed, grinning.

Rose smiled but still looked tense. "Why didn't you ask Stefan to help you with your potions?"

Maxine creased her brow for a second, but then shrugged it off. "Theon offered so I just accepted. Besides, Stefan wouldn't want to waste his time teaching me."

"Well Theon is." Fauna pointed out.

"Yeah but we're trading - I' m helping him with his duelling and he's helping me with my potions. I bet he wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't doing something for him in return." Answered Maxine, as if it was common knowledge.

 But the truth was, she was angry at herself for not thinking to ask Stefan. Perhaps he had been hurt by it. She frowned to herself and seemed to forget that Rose and Fauna were actually there for a second, jumping slightly when Rose spoke.

"You make it sound like a very business-like." Rose said with a laugh, though it wasn't very convincing and Maxine saw rough it, as did Fauna, who sent Rose a warning look at she went on. "Is that all that's between you?"

Maxine looked bemused. "What are you implying?" She questioned. 

"Well, are you like - friends?" Rose persisted, Fauna meanwhile looking from Rose to Maxine with alternate expressions of meaningfulness and the curiousity.

Maxine paused, then shook her head. She knew where her friends were going, and she answered truthfully. "We're not friends." She said. "I'm just giving him a chance - I feel sorry for him. That's all." 

There was a pause and Maxine's light hearted mood lessened slightly as she spoke honestly to her friends, bringing up the matter that had been undress the skin of their conversation. "I know I shouldn't trust him, guys, and I don't. But lay off me a bit, will you? I'm just trying to help him."

Rose and Fauna looked slightly guilty. "We just....well, we just don't want you or Stefan to suffer as a result, you have to admit, he is suspicious. And Stefan, well - admittedly he knows more about you than us and we follow his example, as pathetic as that sounds."

"Stefan's allowed his own opinion." Maxine found her voice came out surprisingly hard. "As I said, I'm just giving Theon a chance and trying to improve my potions." Her voice softened when she turn to her two friends though. "But thanks guys. I appreciate your concern. But I can make my own decisions of character."

Fauna smiled apologetically. "I think that's what we forgot. Looking at it, me and Rose seem like over protective grandmothers."

Maxine laughed. "Is it bad that I can picture you and Rose being lovely grandmothers?"

"It's a compliment." Replied Rose with a laugh. 

Maxine grinned and there was a pause before Fauna spoke again. "Well, now that's sorted, let's get on with that potions homework. Maxine, I expect you to tell me exactly what the properties of the Draught of Peace are."

"You stil haven't done that homework?" Maxine asked with a smile of both disbelief and amazement. "It's due in tomorrow!"

Rose also laughed at Fauna's expression, but Fauna herself concentrated on the title she was writing before looking up and pointing her quill at Maxine. "Right, fire away."

Maxine laughed again. "I'm no expert on it."

"Seriously?" You've brewed it sucessfuly and know that section of the textbook of by heart. Now go on." Fauna ordered again, earning more grins and chuckles before Maxine gave in.

"Fine." Maxine moved to sit next to her friend and began to reel of the information on the potion that she had ingrained in her brain thanks to Stefan's method of repeating the contents of the textbook to a beat. "The draughty of peace is named as so because of it's...."

But as they sat there in silence, her voice being the only noise echoing round the common room, Maxine felt slightly I'll at ease as well as slightly happy. The confusing mixture of emotions was again a result of Theon. Because, unlike what she had told her friends, she did feel a warmth towards Theon, a warmth that could not be ignored. They had connected in the way she and Stefan had, and again she wondered why her friend was so hostile towards the boy. He just cared about her, she told herself. He always overprotected her. But in her heart, she knew it was something more personal. As were her feelings towards towards Theon. She felt that she and Theon had created a bond not far from friendship in the one session. And she was leaning towards trusting him. Well, she'd just have to make sure she kept her guard up. Because, by some means, her friends were right. And she had to be careful.

But there was still happiness lingering there. Because she had genuinely enjoyed the session and it had given a chance to forget her abnormalities related to Stefan. It had been fun. And she appreaciated that.

But was she ready to accept it? That she was allowed to have fun with this boy?

Maxine sighed inaudibly and shook her head slightly, a habit she took to when trying to emot her head of unwanted thoughts. She gave in and accepted that she'd had a good time.

Whatever anyone had said, she knew it had been a success. And she knew that she was going to meet Theon again.

*   *   *   *

"Psssst! Theon! Theon!" 

Theon stopped mid-walk on his way to the Slytherin common room and found the source of hissing; Avery and Ava were concealed in an alcove and making beckoning motions. With a smile, he advanced. Despite the dark light, he could see that both Avery and Ava were watching him expectantly. Smiling to himself, Theon entered the gap and waited for e questions and their reactions to his report.

"Well, how did it go?" Sure enough, Avery was first in, his handsome brown eyes wide with both  concern and excitement as well as expectancy. 

Theon smirked. "Very well." He enjoyed giving them a tempting answer and forcing Ava to question him.

"Well? Did she buy it?" Snapped the golden girl impatiently.

"Oh yes."Theon grinned in a snake-like manner. "She bought it alright. Laughing, joking, you name it."

"But what about trust? Does she trust you?" Ava asked sharply, watching him closely. She was always planning, always plotting. Alway figuring out the next move. Theon marvelled at her frequently. However, his answer wasn't quite what she wanted.

"Well...no...it's not there yet." He admitted, shaking his head. "She listens to her friends to much."

Avery looked slightly angry at this, but Ava inadvertently calmed him by answering with ease. "Oh, well that's understandable. It'll soon change, though. We'll just have to be gradual." She turned to Theon and bestowed him with a dazzling smile oozing with satisfaction and cunning. "Well done, Theon."

He didn't smile back, though. "It's so difficult, though." He complained. "How long do I have to do this for."

"Stop moaning, Theon." This time Avery spoke, but it could just as well have been Ava. Both were wearing the same expression. "You'll get your money; just focus on that."

Theon was silent, but he still felt displeasure. It was a completely feigned act, his mood with Maxine. A very convincing act. But it took a lot of energy, too.

Meanwhile, Ava was smiling her venomous smile again. "This is going well, though." Her words also out a smile on her brother's face. "This is he first step of many, but I think we could call it a success." She turned to look at Theon, her eyes hard again. "We can call it a success, can we not?"

"Oh yes." Theon's voice held a little weariness in it, but his reassurance widened the smiles of the twins. "It was a definite success."