Unwanted, Unplanned [Maxima]

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Ava was "used" to these Hogwarts students coming to Hy-Brasil. THey came once a year. But they usually stayed clear of her. It was just a handful of them, those that were studying magical creatures or herbology. She understood why they came. She'd never spoken to them though. Never approached them. This year was different. Because apparently there would be a lot more students. Hogwarts wanted the students to understand how bad the barrier going down had hurt Hy-Brasil's ecosystem, and also understand all the druids that were running around trying to find the creatures. That's what she'd been told. But she still didn't like it. It meant more people. A lot more people.

Normally, Ava would have stayed home, or stayed near her brother, just her usual hiding antics. But this was a bit different. Because Max was one of the students coming to the island. She knew about Max. Sent a few letters to her "sister" since finding out she had more siblings than Jean. But she'd never met any of them aside from Rhys. She didn't necessarily want to meet Max, because she just didn't like meeting people in general. But she felt like she had to. Had to at least... try...

So that's what today was. An attempt to be brave and meet her half sister. Ava had put in her last letter where they could meet, drawing a map so that Max could reach the spot. After all, Hy-Brasil was mostly forest, so only the locals really knew the lay of the land without assistance. She hoped the directions and map would help.

Now though, that the time had finally come, and all the Hogwarts students were doing their own thing, Ava wanted to chicken out. Jean had to work, so he couldn't be her backbone, and she was alone. 

To no surprise, Ava was in coyote form, making her way to the designated meeting spot. She'd just arrived, and was still in her animal form, when she heard the rustling of leaves and footsteps on the forest floor. Ava, who's nerves were already on edge from her anxiety flinched and leapt behind a tree, her white fur standing out quite a bit as she cowered, her coyote head half peaking out to see who was approaching. She knew who it would be, who it had to be. But that didn't make her any less skittish.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

Unlike some of her fellow students, the island of Hy-Brasil wasn't entirely new to Max Greyback. She had visited the island for the field trip there in her sixth year, too, because she was taking Herbology at NEWT level, but she hadn't really chosen to immerse herself in the culture of the Druids outside of the subject matter. She had been there to learn; that had been it, but returning as a seventh-year brought new possibilities.

Not only were many of the older students at Hogwarts permitted to attend, but that trip to Hy-Brasil would be different for her, Max Greyback knew, because of the fact that she had two Druid half-siblings whom she had never met. Rhys had met them, but Max had only been able to write them until that point. There was supposed to be some free time built into their schedule during the trip, so Max hoped that she might be able to meet up with them somehow and had gotten enough information to plan a meeting with Ava in advance. Having a conversation around the lines of, "Oh, yeah, I've got more half-siblings on Hy-Brasil, actually," wasn't exactly something that she wanted to deal with when it came to her peers or even her teachers, but she would manage. If not then, then when would she have the opportunity to get to know them?

Ava had drawn her a map to indicate where to meet her, which was helpful. Even though she had been to Hy-Brasil once before, Max didn't feel confident in her ability to navigate the island on her own without some sort of guide. On Hy-Brasil, things weren't really built to the standard to which Max was accustomed, and a lot of the navigation was tied to landmarks that seemed almost arbitrary.

Max, following the map as closely as she could, was sure that she had come upon the right spot. She was careful as she stepped through the forest, given how many creatures there were around, and looked up from the map to see something that resembled a canine snout looking from around a tree just ahead of her. With her limited experience with Hy-Brasil telling her that there was a good chance that she had just encountered an Animagus… right where and when she was supposed to be meeting Ava.

"Er… Ava?" Max spoke with a little bit of hesitation but as though she had come across someone in their human form. She shifted her book bag across her body. "Is that you?" she asked. Assuming that it was a human regardless, then at least they could indicate where Ava was, she presumed.

@ava

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Ava did NOT want to leave her coyote form. It was where she was most comfortable. Even Jean sometimes had a hard time coaxing her to turn back into human. But Ava had agreed to meet Max. And now that she was thinking about it, she hadn’t told Max she was an animagus. Though it wasn’t a far fetched idea. Druids had a high animagus population. Ava herself had been taught so her grandparents would have an easier time hiding her.

This was Max though. There was that faintly familiar scent she could smell around Jean. She’d also smelled it in rhys. Then, the older girl said her name, asking if she was Ava. Her English wasn’t great, but the words so far were small enough to not cause any language issues.

So, despite her severe anxiety she transformed back into a human. She stayed half behind the tree. She tentatively nodded.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

From where the coyote had been, Max could tell that a girl had materialized (or transformed, to be more accurate about it), though she couldn't see her very well because of the tree in the way. The girl had an extremely fair complexion, and she looked to be much smaller than Max expected her to be. All that she could really see was that the girl had nodded her head to confirm that she was Ava, though Max got the feeling that she wasn't entirely sure who she was.

"It's alright," spoke Max, giving the younger girl a little smile to try to reassure her that she wasn't just some random non-Druid coming from out of nowhere who happened to know her name. "I'm Max." At least the awkwardness of introducing herself as Ava's half-sister was unnecessary. Max took another few steps but continued to keep her distance until she knew that Ava was comfortable with her being there.

@ava

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Ava almost flinched as Max moved a little closer, trying to reassure her in English and introducing herself. Though Ava had already been sure this was Max, the introduction put some of her anxiety at ease. Ava just really didn't do well when meeting others, especially if someone she didn't trust was around to help reassure her. Gods, she wished Jean was here. He was the flamboyant and outgoing one. He was the one that got people, and didn't have issues striking up a conversation. Alas, he'd had work and she didn't want to worry him by begging he be here.

".... Nice to meet you..." she forced herself to say, slowly. English always felt strange to her, as she rarely used it. Reading and writing it really wasn't an issue for her. It was the speaking and hearing that always posed a problem. Those that knew her though weren't surprised. Her visual memory was much stronger then her oral memory.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

Upon realizing just how timid Ava obviously was, Max tried to remain as non-threatening as possible. She didn't do sugary sweet—and she thought that that would have come across as horrendously fake—but she could do calm. Ava spoke very slowly, as though unsure of what she was saying. "Nice to meet you…" she said finally, and Max recalled that English probably wasn't something that she used very much.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Max replied. "There's no need to hide from me. I promise," she added, loosening up her posture as much as she could. She wanted to make sure that this wasn't awkward for Ava, but she wasn't quite certain how to break the ice. "And thank you for the, er, map, by the way. It was really helpful," she said, and she meant it. Max knew she wouldn't have been able to figure out how to get through the forest otherwise.

@ava

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Ava wasn't... against having more family. Depending on said family. Ava loved her grandparents but they'd raised her on horrible stories of her father, never letting her forget what she was. Wolfsired. The offspring of a werewolf. Werewolves, in Druid culture, were not widely accepted (that was putting it nicely) and likewise that disappproval was quite often also shared by the children of werewolves, despite not actually being werewolves themselves. It was almost as if the blood relation was enough to corrupt the children as well. So... meeting another wolfsired child? Well, it was quite the confliction for Ava. She'd gotten past it with Jean, but she knew she still struggled with the prejudice her grandparents had instilled in her.

Thankfully, Max seemed to realize how nervous she was making Ava and had changed her tactics a bit. When she spoke, Ava had to think very hard on the words. The first phrase was easy, since she'd just said it herself. The second... Less so. But when she did finally translate it in her head Ava visibility shrank back behind the tree a bit more. Not hide? It was what Ava did best. It was the only thing her grandparents ever praised her for. Her ability to hide and not be seen. Because she was the unwanted child. No one wanted to see the unwanted child. Plus.... she knew some people didn't like her... well lack of pigment. "... I... not pretty. Easier when hide," she fumbled out the words.

The map was a welcoem change of topic, though it took her a moment to understand what Max was saying. That seemed to perk her up a bit and not appear nearly as terrified. "Island hard for mainlanders. Need maps, or get lost. Animals not like mainlanders. Bad if lost." She nodded, as if agreeing with her own words. It was true that there were some very dangerous creatures on the island and could coexist with Druids safely because of their affinity with nature. Unfortunately other witches and wizards didn't share that same affinity.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

Her words seemed to do little to calm Ava, even though they had communicated with one another through letters already. "I… not pretty. Easier when hide."

Max didn't care about how pretty Ava was or wasn't. What, did Ava think that she was some sort of supermodel? She definitely wasn't, nor did she want to be. Obviously, she knew that Ava was younger than she, but she didn't really expect the Druids to be so worried about living up to the expectations of Witch Weekly or anything like that.

When she brought up the map, though, Ava was more talkative, though that was still relative. "Island hard for mainlanders," she said. "Need maps, or get lost. Animals not like mainlanders. Bad if lost."

"Yeah," Max said in agreement, though she didn't really think that all of the creatures on Hy-Brasil were particularly vicious. Bothering any of them probably wasn't the best idea, but that went for non-magical creatures, too. That, of course, didn't stop some people from being stupid, unfortunately. "Hy-Brasil is different from Hogwarts," though she supposed that Ava probably hadn't been to "the mainland" before, because she wasn't yet old enough for her OWLs.

"You don't need to hide from me, Ava," Max reiterated, not sure what else to say or do to prove to her that she was neither going to judge her nor do anything to harm her. Thinking on it, Max knew that she really wasn't one for hugs herself, but she held out her hand in lieu of that. "We're sisters. It's alright," she reminded Ava, though this was the first time she had met a Greyback half-sibling of hers who was younger than she. Her two maternal half-siblings were both younger than Ava by quite a few years, but neither of them were shy like Ava was.

@ava

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Ava knew that her timidness was.... extreme. And yet she couldn't help it. People just terrified her. Even after exchanging a few letters she still felt like her siblings (aside from Jean) were still strangers to her. This was, after all, only her first time meeting Max. Writing could only convey so much. But at least Ava and shifted a little behind the tree, so that at least half of her face was a little more visible then before, though she was still leaning into it heavily, as if desperate for it's support. She nodded as Max agreed, and went on to explain Hogwarts was different. "Read about Hogwarts," she mumbled. Her curiosity in that moment finally getting the better of her. Jean hadn't gone to Hogwarts, and the other druids she did speak to, like Fae, only had limited exposure to the school from the exams. "Room that changes... Real?" She didn't know the words to explain her question properly but she wanted to know about the Room of Requirements. She'd read about it, and was fascinated by the idea that it changed depending on your needs in that moment.

Then, Max repeated herself, telling Ava not to hide. Ava hesitated, moving back behind the tree a bit more. The second words, "sisters" was strange. Jean had been the only one to really call her that before now. But now.... Well the subtle reminder that, while a stranger, Max was her older half sister seemed to be enough for Ava to finally stop her cowering. Still, Ava didn't move immediately, still hesitating... before finally forcing herself to step out from behind the tree and into full view.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

"Read about Hogwarts," Ava responded to her mentioning that Hogwarts was different from Hy-Brasil. "Room that changes… Real?"

Assuming that Ava meant the Room of Requirement, Max nodded. "Yeah, the Room of Requirement is real," she told her. It was sort of embarrassing that most people at Hogwarts only really seemed to use it as a party venue in place of the Great Hall—mostly for events that were technically supposed to be kept secret from the staff. That didn't stop word from getting around most of the time, though it wasn't as though the room was a secret. It had a significant history, too, from the Second Wizarding War.

Eventually, Ava eased away from the tree and entered Max's sight. She really was pale, and Max wondered if perhaps she had albinism. She didn't say anything more initially, and Max pressed her lips together in thought before she spoke up. "It's alright," she said again, smiling at Ava. "I'm here because I want to meet you." She wasn't as nervous as Ava was, but it was still a different experience for her, too.

@ava

[Deleted]

February 13, 2026
maxima ruqayyah greyback

Room of Requirements. So that's how it was said in English. She mouthed it silently to herself. Ava wondered what sort of magic it would take to create such a place. How many spells and enchantments. No doubt it was an intricate web of magic that she'd love to learn more about. Her expression seemed to bright a little at the confirmation. "Have seen?" She quickly asked. "What possible?" Was her second question in her broken english. What sort of limitations did the room have? Had Max ever seen it before? What had it turned into?

Ava fidgeted when she'd stepped out from behind the tree. She clasped her hands together, but it appeared more like she was trying to strangle her own fingers. Finally though, Max spoke and Ava actually started to flinch. She stopped though, and instead her eyes widened a bit as she looked at her older sister. Clearly she hadn't expected the reaction. Ava had wanted to meet Max too, and obviously Max wouldn't have agreed to meet if she didn't want to... But hearing it more real then reading. "Why?" She asked quietly. "I.... uh..." she started to speak but stopped as she couldn't think of the right words in English. Finally though she tried to finish the sentence. "Half breed." She was only half druid, but that also only made her half witch. A half breed with a terrible man for a father, something druids never let her forget. It was clear she had very little experience with the mainland though, as she almost seemed to assume mainlanders would hold similar sentiments as the druids. Though... in that moment she suddenly realized. That terrible man? Was also Max's father.

[maxima ruqayyah greyback]

February 13, 2026

"Have seen?"

Max nodded her head. She had seen the Room of Requirement for herself. Multiple times, even.

"What possible?"

"Er, loads of things." There were almost infinite possibilities, keeping in mind the confines of what magic could do. "Except food…" The school's elves still had to make that, given that food couldn't be transfigured from nothing.

When she explained to Ava that she had come because she wanted to meet her, Ava asked her why. "I… uh…" she started. "Half breed."

Max was a little surprised that Ava knew the term "half-breed" and even more surprised that she must have heard that applied to her—likely by someone from Hy-Brasil itself, she supposed. Max knew from her previous trip to the island that the Druids had different views of Dark magic than most of the rest of magical society. For all the progress that had been made in the past twenty or thirty years in anti-werewolf sentiment, especially, it seemed that those same beliefs hadn't really carried over. It was even more jarring for the Americans, Max knew, because they had even less concern for who was a werewolf or a vampire, for instance, as long as they were magical and not a Muggle.

"If you're one," Max said gently, not wanting to repeat the word if she didn't have to, "then so am I." They shared the same father, after all, though lycanthropy itself wasn't hereditary. "It doesn't make us bad people," she reassured her. "We didn't get to choose that."

@ava