Sometimes good things must come to a end!

Freedom... that was what Maura felt as she walked down the crowded street of Diagon Alley wondering aimlessly around like a first year who just seen Diagon Alley for the first time, as for her it wasn't her first time, just her first time in four months that she seen it. Nothing much has really changed she noticed, there were still witches and wizards buying things from Potions to the latest broomstick that was out there, Maura was glad to see not that much has changed in the small hidden wizarding world she came to love. Walking pass the sign that says Knockturn Alley she stuttered at the sight of it, Maura never been in there, but she heard that it wasn't the place that you wanted to get lost in. Walking through the crowd she held seven months Ciara Hiroku in her arms against her chest protecting her from the bitter cold, just because she couldn't feel it didn't mean Ciara couldn't with her being half human. " Don't worry Angel, mummy will get us out of the cold soon enough I promise! "said Maura softly but honestly before she walked vampire speed towards Sparks.

Walking into the Bistro, Maura realized that she never been inside of Sparks, she heard so many things about it but never been inside of it. Waiting to be seated, Maura was finally seated as she placed Ciara in a high chair. Frowning at how wet she was, Maura quickly took her to the bathroomand cchanged her into some fresh warm clothes, before walking out of the restroom with Ciara on her hip and a baby bag on her shoulder. Postioning Ciara back in her high chair Maura sat down before looking at the menu. "What should mummy get? "Maura cooed at Ciara as she held the menu up for Ciara to see, as her small hand went on the part that says cheesecake and tea. Seeing where her hand was Maura chuckled. " Cheesecake and tea huh? We'll have that then!"said Maura softly before she tickled Ciara as she giggled.


Being out of the house was slowly starting to make Maura feel better, but she still felt a bit lonely lately, she couldn't help but not to think that she was acting a bit childish for the way she was acting. Although Maura just wanted Ryo to believe that she changed, that she isn't that crazy blood sucking monster that she was anymore, she was the same Maura knew and loved. Although Maura couldn't help but not to think that this was a sign, that nothing good could ever last, it was just in fairytales. Maura's life has been anything but a fairytale, it been filled with tragic and horror, she been alot for someone her age should have went through. Despite her tragic and horror woes, Maura was here fighting, even if it feels like she wanted to give up at times she didn't. As the waitress came by and asked what she wanted, Maura ordered tea and cheesecake as she gotten out some applesauce feeding starting to feed Ciara.


Despite Ryo not believing her, she was glad to have Hallie her best friend back in her life, she missed talking to Hallie about things. Hallie was the one person who understood her and didn't judge her for what she did, she was always there to comfort her when she needed someone to cry on. As of lately that was what Maura needed, she just needed someone to tell her that they were there for her and it was going to be ok. Maura was staying at Hallie her best friend place for awhile, she couldn't stand to be in the same house as Ryo was while he was acting this way, she just didn't understand why he was so defensive and distance from her and did he even love her anymore? All these thoughts were clouding Maura's mind, she wanted to forget about them, but she couldn't no matter what she did.

It was easy to get carried away when one had a wallet bursting with gold. Though there was a method and reasoning to his being in Diagon Alley that day, Theodore Rookwood couldn’t help but find his eye was getting caught by things that normally he would have disregarded. On this occasion, with his daughter on his shoulders taking in and exclaiming about all of the different sights and sounds, he found himself far more interested in some of the peculiarities and fascinators which the shops were selling.

Before long, he’d already purchased a Kneazle kitten which Esme had called Meg without a second thought. The cat and girl were already best of friends by the time Theodore got them to the robe shop and he was charged with holding the strange bit of flat-faced fluff while Esme was measured. He’d intended to get some formal ones and a few normal pairs for around Hogwarts when she was there, out and about. In the end, though, he managed to get some for himself and a gift for his mother which he sent on and charged to his father’s account just to spite the man.

After that the pair (plus the cat) were back out on the open cobblestones and they flitted from shop to shop in search of amusement, slowly increasing the number of bags that Theodore had until he had to stop and reduce them all in size so he could fit them in his coat pocket.

A little after midday, the father and daughter began to get hungry and so Theodore went in search for somewhere that would fill their bellies. He was reluctant to leave Diagon Alley because there were still some things he needed to buy but he also didn’t want to go back home to Salamander Gardens, just off of Knockturn Alley. He still wanted to be out and about and, critically, eat out at a restaurant that day. For a combination of that and creature comforts, Theodore went for Sparks.

It was busy inside, the usual lunchtime rush, but soon enough Theodore was found a table and as he made his way over to it with the waitress trailing whom Esme was chatting to, the dark-haired man spotted a familiar face. Diverting the waitress, he expressed a desire to sit with the fair haired woman and he stepped over to Maura’s table, wondering to himself whether she’d speak to him or not given the conflict between himself and his, now, ex-wife.

“Maura?” Theodore ventured hesitantly. “Do you mind if we come and sit with you?” He offered her a smile and gestured to the chair. “If not, that’s alright. Don’t worry.”

Maura was in the middle of feeding Ciara some applesauce, for once she didn't get it all over herself, but Ciara loved applesauce as well as Mac N ' cheese in the baby food version so Maura always made sure she had those two baby food with her at all times. Ciara was very much like Maura, she was some what a picky eater and only ate certain things, one thing for sure she hated peas and carrots, bit what baby didn't as well as child? Hearing a familiar voice Maura looked up at Theodore her ex headmaster or was before the marriage law fired him or whatever and now Hallie's ex husband. " Hello Headmaster Rookwood, of course you can join us!"said Maura softly but honestly. Realizing what she said she chuckled. "Sorry just habit, but of course you can join us, just because you and my best friend aren't together anymore doesn't mean we can't be friends."said Maura honestly.

Looking at Esme, Maura gave her a soft warm smile. " And who's this little cutie? "Maura asked as she nodded at Esme who had a fur ball of hair surrounding her almost making it hard to see her. " Let me guess, she begged you get it and you couldn't say no?"Maura asked him smirking. Maura knew that she was going to be the same way once Ciara was was this age, she was already spoiled by her as it was. As her cheesecake and tea came she thanked the waitress before she took a drink of her tea. " So...how have things been for you lately Theodore? "Maura asked him softly but curiously.

She hoped things have been better for him than they were for her, but people had more issues than she did, other people's problems seem to make her problems small. But drama seemed to follow Maura like a deadly disease, no matter what she did, drama seemed to follow her. She just wished sometimes to have a normal life, but her life was beyond normal, she never been normal and to be honest she didn't want it even if she wondered what it'll be like. But then again no one was really normal, everyone had there issues and problems, and if they said they were Maura would laugh and call them a liar. Maura knew better than that, but then again, people pretended that everything was okay when it really wasn't.

" Yeah like I am at times! " Maura thought to herself as she took a bite of her cheesecake. Maura was the worst when it came to that, she always pretended that she was ok when she really wasn't, heck she was doing it now. " How does it feel to be Headmaster again? "Maura asked him softly but curiously. He was her Headmaster before he gotten fired for some reason, Maura didn't know why, but Maura had to admit that he was a pretty good Headmaster and he was a fair headmaster.

If Theodore was going to be honest with himself then he would have to admit that he had not been expecting a warm welcome from the former-Hufflepuff whom he had once chaperoned as Headmaster. He’d had good reason to expect anything and everything other than that given the spectacular nightmare of a marriage he’d had with her best friend. Yet, he supposed Hufflepuffs had that knack of forgiveness as well as being charmingly kind and despite what he felt would have been his own better nature in such a situation he found himself sitting down with her, wondering how on earth he was being allowed to. He knew that had he been in the same position he would have closed ranks on an unprecedented scale. But this woman was a much better person than he could ever hope to be and he was grateful for it.

“I’m glad,” he expressed earnestly, “and I’m sorry,” he added, a nerve in his jaw twinging with regret. “I didn’t mean for everything that happened to happen quite as it did, Maura. I did love Hallie, know that, but things changed irreparably. In truth, I am not sure I would like it repaired.”

It was the first time Theodore had admitted such and he took a breath, steadying himself as the realisation washed over him. He didn’t want it. He didn’t want her. He knew that while the Ministry would disagree that he was better without her. Irrespective of the axing of the marriage law, he’d been put through his paces in order to get out of it. Now that he was truly free and truly a bachelor once more he had the threat of a family-orchestrated wedding hanging back over him and bizarrely he was looking forward to refuting them every step of the way. He was freer than he’d ever been, even with the addition of his daughter. In truth, acknowledging one’s bastard also had its perks. Given that no pureblood woman in her right mind would knowingly marry a man who had a habit of making children outside of married circles, Theodore’s release from polite society and all its implications more or less looked guaranteed.

“Oh,” Theodore snapped out of his thoughts, “this is Esme, my daughter.” He smiled fondly and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, watching as she continued to cuddle and pet the cat.

“Yeah,” he conceded, wincing a little. “She’ll bankrupt me one day and I won’t even care because she’ll be happy. Won’t you?” He asked of the baby. Esme nodded enthusiastically and Theodore rolled his eyes, chuckling lowly.

“Things have been … interesting,” he conceded. “It’s a lot better now I’ve got a steady job again. I did love being headmaster, even though I probably wasn’t very good at it. I have Keiran now, though, and Millie and it’s a bit of a strange family affair, almost. At least, insofar as the staff are concerned. There’s a real cohesion about the place and the students seem happy enough so it’s been good, really good. How are you and Ryo?”

To be honest, Maura didn't forgive Theodore at first, she knew to well how he was to Hallie. There was tons of times that Hallie stayed at her house after a fight or argument that broken out between the both of them, but Maura always welcomed her best friend with open arms, she knew that Hallie would've done the same to her. Although Maura was a Hufflepuff, so it was in her nature to forgive people, maybe sometimes more often than she should, but it was the way she was. Besides, she was sure that she didn't want Hallie hating Theodore just because their relationship didn't work out, despite that Maura thought Theodore was a pompous arse at times she knew that he loved Hallie. Maura knew that Hallie loved him as well, just maybe they weren't meant to be as the ministry says they were, it was how things were in life.

Maura looked at him and shook her head. " You have nothing to be sorry for Theodore, sometimes things don't go the way that we want them to, that's life. "said Maura softly but honestly. Maura might be just eighteen years old, but she was very mature for her age, everything that happened to her made her mature. " All I know is that Hallie is happy now, at least from what I can see, I don't know if there's anything to fix because I don't know what all happened. " said Maura softly but honestly. She honestly didn't know what happened between them, but something bad went down that broken them in so many ways, they couldn't fix it so it was best to split up to make each other happy. A year ago Maura would've been furious, but she understood now, even if she didn't want to, she understood better than people think she did.

Maura looked at Theodore and realized that he was happy just like Hallie was, she couldn't help but not to smile at that. Maura thought it was funny how the ministry paired 'perfect' couples, she always knew that it was a bunch of rubbish. Even her and Ryo weren't paired together, they had to sign a petition for them to be together, it was a nightmare but they were together and happy. Maura believed that people should pick who they loved, not be forced to love someone they didn't know, it was like that for Hallie and Theodore even if they came to love each other. As for her and Ryo they were together and married out of love, not out of force, she was glad that the marriage law was repealed.

Maura looked at Esme and smiled at her. " Well nice to meet you Esme, you're very pretty indeed. " said Maura softly but honestly. " What's your kitty's name? "Maura asked her softly but curiously looking at the fur ball that was almost covering her face.

Maura chuckled. " Uh-oh I better watch out then, but I already spoil Ciara but I'll do anything to keep her happy! "said Maura softly but honestly. " At least she already knows that she's spoiled, not many kids know that now days! "said Maura honestly before chuckling.

" I thought you were a great Headmaster, better than all the other ones we had!"said Maura softly but honestly. Maura meant what she said, he was a good and fair headmaster. Maura smiled. " That's great Theodore, I'm glad things are starting to look up for you! "said Maura softly but honestly. Maura bit her lip at the thought of her and Ryo. " Um... I honestly don't know, he been a bit distance from me since I gotten back, I think he's scared that I might lose control and try to attack Ciara again. " said Maura softly before sighing to herself. "I'm not proud for what I did, but I'll never hurt my daughter or anyone else in that matter, I just lost control just like any hungry vampire would but I'm better now even if he or anyone else does. " said Maura sighing.