Chapter 57 ~ Strength.

"Thank you so much for having me!" Rose came forward to hug Ginny Potter, smile bright and wide. Rose had certainly enjoyed her stay in the Potter household, fitting in well and enjoying herself. But Maxine herself was only to glad to get out of there, even if she hid it well.

"It was a pleasure. Come to stay again, we'd be glad to see you." Ginny answe to Rose's farewell. 

"I'd love to!" Rose said with a grin, turning to Maxine with eager eyes. "Maybe in the summer?"

"Sounds good." Maxine swapped her preoccupied look for a friendly smile, despite her mind going against what she said. A holiday with Rose would mean going out and Maxine would have to stay hidden in the up,coming summer if things weren't sorted by then.

Rose beamed, then went forward to say goodbye to Harry as Ginny turned to her foster daughter. "It was lovely seeing you again, Max.  And you're friends are excellent company."

Maxine's smile became a little more genuine. "It was great seeing you too, Mum, and Dad. And thanks - I'm glad you like Rose and Stefan."

Ginny smiled, but paused. "Maxie - about Stefan - I understand he brought a lot of bullying your way-"

"Mum, we were both being bullied." She cut in. "And it's fine now."

Ginny looked unsure. "It's not that I don't like him, Maxie - he's very intelligent and kind - but if he attracts unwanted attention..."

"As I said, we both attract it. But everything's calmed down now." She reassured her mother again, then paused, looking down the hall at James and his friend standing there. "Well - except for James."

Ginny followed her daughter's gaze with concern before turning back to her. "Look, don't worry about James. He's been warned." Ginny paused, shaking her head. "Still, I don't know what's up with him."

"Neither to do I." Answered Maxine quickly, eager to get off the subject of James and wishing she hadn't introduced him. She had enough problems beside James at the moment. "Anyway, I'll be fine. See you Mum, thanks for letting me and my friends stay." She stood on her tiptoes and embraced her mother quickly.

"Goodbye, Minx." Ginny smiled at her foster daughter fondly as they drew out of the hug, then moved out of the way so Maxine could get to the door. "Off you go." 

Smiling at her Mother before she turned, Maxine made her way down the hall, hauling her trunk with her and moving to stand outside with Stefan. They were travelling via Muggle car to the station as they had on the way, but they would still have to walk through the bustling station, and both Maxine and Stefan were dubious of what could happen there. This is why they exchanged glances as they stood side by side beside the car waiting to take them, a look of meaning flashed between them for a second, both knowing the reason. Then it was back to smiling.

The drive there was the same. Maxine couldn't stop fiddling; curling her hair round her finger, track the line of her cheekbone with a soft hand, picking at the skin around her nails until it was sore. Stefan was the opposite - staying to stil and staring into space. Both of them dealt with it in different ways but both weren't acting normally. It was a good thing Rose was to busy playing big sister to Lily and Nina, otherwise she would have noticed. And so the worrying continued. Maxine ran through it in her head again, getting more and more anxious by the minute. All thoughts of being brave and mature deserted her - instead, she began to think like a little kid, going over and over what could happen and becoming more and more scared.

They could be attacked. That station could mean death for them. Out in the open, in a crowd of muggles, they'd be easy to attack. Vulnerable. Even though they had Harry with them, there was a good chance they'd be taken or killed. And the truth would come out, or rather it was likely it would if they were attacked.

Then the fateful minute came, the car stopping and their fellow passengers unbuckling their seatbelts as Maxine froze. Stefan looked at her and they exchanged glances again, then she realised how scared she was. Scared. It dawned on her that she has never been scared before the whole matter arose, for obvious reasons. But it couldn't change, she knew. She had to be the strong one as well. What had happened to the old Maxine? The one before Theon, the one before all the danger? But wouldn't the Maxine who had coaxed Stefan out of his shell and made him strong, have taken this in her stride? Suddenly she realised that the only way she and Stefan were going to deal with the threats they had just come to terms with was by them treating it as an adventure. It was all very well saying it was going to be fine, that they were going to be strong, but they had to work out how to do that.

Maxine looked at Stefan, then grinned, surprising him. "Come on." She smiled. "Let's make any adventure out of it. Let's take it in our stride. Let's be strong."

He paused, then smiled back. "Yes." His grey eyes held less fear. "Let's do it."

The words seemed to get them hyped up and they treated it a bit like an action movie, bursting out of the car with seed and glancing around, quick and observant. Rose watched her two friends with amusement as they checked all around themselves dramatically, both mock serious and with warm glints in they eyes.

"What are you doing?" Rose questioned, laughing. 

Maxine looked at her friend and grinned back, pausing. "I'm not sure."

Suddenly she felt a sharp jab from Stefan, turning again as he modded across the crowd of hurrying muggles. She followed his gaze and saw a tall, burly man in a large coat. "I think we have trouble." Said Stefan, murmuring it in her ear and not grinning as much anymore.

She creased her brow. "What do you me-" her speech stopped mid sentence as he winged into a scaled, bald creature, still not having noticed her. Maxine swallowed. Yes. The clothing, the species, the hand that he held by his side, presumably clutching a gun and his vigilance as he scanned the grown confirmed it. Plus the man who stood a little way for him, looking very similar as he too woged. Maxine felt fear gather in her throat as she saw this, but, as she had or missed to herself, she took it in her stride. Turning back to Stefan swiftly, she only flashed him a meaningful look before running over to where Harry was finishing putting the trunks on trolleys, grabbing the one which held her own and steering it round.

"What are you doing?" Asked Albus with bemusement as he took his own in hand.

Maxine grinned. "Come on - race you!"

Stefan was beside her now, smiling as too began to push his trolley, both gaining speed as they ran towards the barrier. Muggles tutted as they were forced to get out of the way and Albus, Rose and Albus' friends joined in the racing, Maxine keeping up appearances by laughing, Stefan keeping a look out with sharp eyes and seeing four menacing figures advancing through the crowd. He looked at Maxine as she met his gaze again, realising the agents were approaching. She turned back, driving her trolley on faster. Something about it was terrifying. Something about it was also exhilarating.

Both were fast runners and now far ahead of their other supposed trolley race competitors - but not ahead of the oncoming assailants who were getting closer and closer. Harry was far behind as well - now they were definitely on their own, becoming invisible to muggle so as they neared the barrier. But not invisible to the Wesen.

Suddenly, one of them was panting behind them, unbelivably fast and woged into blutbad form. Maxine felt a flash of terror as, from the muggle crowd, it made a grab for her. But Stefan had her back - literally, lashing out with his leg to kick the man and moving behind Maxine. A second later, she was through the barrier and pulling up beside a scarlet engine.

Stefan followed on, slowing to a halt and spinning round as soon as he managed to stop. But one of the attackers had followed on through the barrier - most likely because they couldn't.

"My god." Stefan was the first to speak, still panting. "That was...."

"Terrifying." Maxine filled in, looking at her friend. "But also-"

"Exciting." He took his turn at providing an adverb, grinning at her. "We dealt with it well, if I may say so."

She laughed. It was a wonder they could make light of a possible assailant ion of kidnapping attempt, but there they were, strong and possibly a little bit hyper. "Yes. This is the way to go about things." Her face became serious as they turned to face her friend. "Stefan, promise me we'll do it like this. Promise me that we won't give in to fear and that we'll help each other."

He took her hands, looking at her with honesty. It seemed official this time it seems real. Not just a comfort, an oath. And that's why his answer was said in truthful, solemn tones as he gazed into her deep, green-blue eyes. "I promise."