One week had passed and Callista was already struggling with the nasty comments that people often threw at her. They didn't dare physically harm her, she was a Slytherin after all. Slytherins always looked out for each other when it was necessary, no matter who it was. That didn't stop the verbal abuse.
She was sitting in one of the darkest corners of the library, reading as much as she could about potions and spells. Her friend Emily was supposed to meet her two hours ago, but she hadn't showed up. Callista decided to read a couple more chapters before she quit waiting. She was reading about a complicated seven year potion when a bag was thrown at the table, scattering books. She looked up to see an out-of-breath Emily.
"You're late." Commented Callista, not angry but curious.
"Draco wanted to talk." Was all Emily said before sitting down with an exhausted sigh. "You know I couldn't deny him."
"Clearly." Callista smiled mockingly, noticing the swollen lips and flushed face of her friend. "I wonder when you two make your relationship known."
"Not in the near future, that I can assure you. I don't want Parkinson's heart to break so quick." Emily said with a light laugh. "So what's up?"
Callista put her book down, turning serious. Emily, noticing the change of atmosphere, shut her mouth.
"I've received a mysterious letter. It's for the both of us. It might be a prank, but I'd still like to check it out." Callista said quietly, handing her friend an envelope.
Emily opened it, a black rose and letter was inside. Her heart skipped a beat, unfolding the letter and reading the fancy handwriting. "You can't be serious. The As-"
"Hush!" Callista hissed, checking for anyone who might be eavesdropping. Satisfied that no one was around, she sat back down. "Don't say it aloud. What do you think? Should we go?"
"Most definitely. If it's a cruel prank, I'll personally rip the person's belly and spill their innards all over the place." Emily spat. "If not, then I wonder.."
"We'll make sure we won't be seen and head up there, see what's the deal." Callista nodded.
"Let's go, then. It's lunchtime."
They both packed their belongings, not saying a word about their meeting and headed for the Great Hall.
ϟ
"The transfer is looking in our direction." Emily said lightly before taking a bite of her turkey sandwich.
Callista waited a full minute before glancing up at the Ravenclaw table. There was indeed the transfer student. Noticing he'd been spotted, he quickly looked away, sparking a conversation with what she presumed was a friend. "Are we that pretty?" Callista laughed before eating her salad.
"Don't sound so shocked." Emily smirked, but it vanished as soon as it appeared. "If he looks in our direction one more time-"
"You'll do nothing. Don't pick fights, Em." Callista scolded.
With a roll of her eyes, Emily sighed and finished her meal. She drank some pumpkin juice, trying to ignore the feeling of being watched. "Seriously, what's his problem?"
"Does it matter? I'll talk to him later if it makes you feel better." Callista groaned, exasperated at her friend.
"Fine. I will if you don't." Snapped Emily.
"Understood." Callista waved her away, finishing her banana and taking small sips of water. She noticed the transfer stand up and walking out of the Great Hall. "I'll see you later." Callista didn't let Emily say anything before sprinting away, trying to catch the boy.
"Hey, transfer!" She yelled, spotting him in the crowd of students. Some sneered at her, others pointing and laughing. She ignored them, grabbing the boy's shoulder and dragging him away on a secluded corridor.
"What in the Devil's name are you doing?" He said, rather shocked.
"I'm sorry." She said, a bit embarrassed. "Look, I just came here to ask you why you were..." Now that she came to think of it, it was rather stupid of her for dragging him away against his will, only to ask him why he was staring at her and Emily. She shouldn't have made such a fuss, just talk to him like any other normal human being. Her face flushed, but she carried on. "Well, why were you staring in the direction of my friend and I? She's rather curious." She tried smoothing it out in the end.
"Your friend? Curious? Why isn't she the one asking me?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, she's a bit impulsive. I don't think you'd like her method of questioning." She bit her lip.
"Your method of questioning is somewhat pathetic." A small smile twitched his lips, lessening the blow of his words.
"Your stalking skills are rather poor." She mocked.
"They are, aren't they?" He laughed.
"You never answered my question, by the way. You're trying to distract me but that won't work." She smiled sweetly.
"It's nothing, really. My friend was telling me about Hogwarts and the students. Your friend and yourself happen to be mentioned briefly." He shrugged.
Callista wasn't convinced. "Oh? And what did he mention about us?"
His eyes twinkled in what one would assume was mischief. "That both you and your friend are at odds representing the house of Slytherin, though trouble seems to find you every chance it gets."
ϟ
Emily and Callista had waited until everyone had left for their dormitories before sneaking out of the common room. They were silently arguing about going faster without drawing attention at any teachers who might be patrolling nearby.
They were almost at the stairs for their destination, the Astronomy Tower, when Mrs. Norris appeared and hissed at them before racing away to alarm her master. The girls widened their eyes in utter terror before Emily forcibly pushed Callista into the nearest room and closed the door behind her. They looked around, it was an old and unused classroom. Callista hid in a spacious cupboard, Emily running for the closet.
There was not any movement, not a sound besides their slow breaths. The door to the classroom creaked open and some footsteps, followed by muttered curses. The door closed again. The girls didn't dare make a sound or leave their hiding spots for another ten minutes.
"Salazar, that smell in the closet! I need a shower." Groaned Emily after sniffing herself.
Callista had frowned, dusting cobwebs from her clothes. "We're almost there. Don't make a sound." She whispered.
Emily and Callista continued on their way, sprinting up the stairs until they were too tired. Finally, they arrived.
"I should've brought something warm." Emily whispered with a shiver.
Callista ignored her. "Do you see anything out of the ordinary?"
"No. Well, if you count those silly kids' drawings on the wall." Emily snickered. "Clearly an artist."
Callista stared at the wall Emily had pointed. "These aren't kids' drawings, Em. These are markings or runes. They mean something."
"Nonsense, that's what it means. I'm beginning to think this is a prank. After all the trouble we've been through." Emily huffed in annoyance.
"We haven't made a thorough search."
"What do you think I'm doing? Playing Quidditch?" Snapped Emily.
Callista ignored her once again, deciding to leave her friend fuming by herself. She looked around, not wanting to give up. She didn't want to accept that maybe Emily was right. This could well be a stupid prank to make them waste time and possibly get them in trouble for being out after curfew.
"Callie?" Emily's terrified squeak made her hair stand on end.
"What is it?" Callista asked, looking at her friend before jumping back. "Who are you?"
"I am a messenger." Came the reply in a hushed tone, almost wheezing.
"You're here to relay a message." It wasn't a question. "From?"
"You shall find out once your task is complete."
"What task?" Callista asked in a defying tone.
"Come closer." The messenger said.
"Don't." Emily shook her head, terrified eyes on Callista.
"We risked our necks to find out what all this was about, Em. I'm not about to cower now. So shut it." Callista snapped, striding confidently to the black male figure.
He held out his hand for her to take. Callista hesitated, but touched his nevertheless. With one hand in his, he put his other on her forehead and her mind went blank. No thoughts, not even memories. Then everything came back in a crash, splitting her head in thousands of pieces before fixing themselves just as fast. The memories were projected but instead of going forward, they backtracked. It was confusing yet she understood what was happening. Her body was shut down yet she could feel everything, her hands clenching, heart pumping blood, muscles coiling. Her feelings were muted and yet she saw emotions in brilliant colors, so raw that it blinded her. Her senses were a thing of it's own, an organism that could think independently.
"Callie! Callista!" Emily screamed as she saw her friend writhing on the floor. She didn't have time to consider fight or flight before the cloaked man wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to an abyss of colors and taste, feelings that were not her own... The experience was too strong that her body shook and trembled and jerked this way and that.
Emily and Callista lay on the ground, twitching. The cloaked man nowhere to be found.