It was finally Christmas break and trio were on the Hogwarts Express, which was slowing down as it pulled up to King's Cross Station in London. Callidus could hear the other students excitedly crying out as they spotted their families, eager for the holidays despite the gloomy shadow cast by the Orange Madness. Callidus was sharing a compartment with Harry and Draco, with Callidus and Harry on one side while Draco was indolently sprawled out on the other. Harry had decided to join Draco at the manor this year, without even a protest from Dumbledore (unlike last year.) As for Callidus, he would be spending his break with the Filodoxos, and seeing his friends only during one of the Malfoy winter fetes. Callidus's decision had been made more out of a vague sense of obligation than anything. After receiving a letter from Madam Filodoxos, in which she had gushed about how excited she was for the holiday season, and how she wanted to know all his favourite foods to prepare for the Yuletide feast, Callidus couldn't bring himself to tell her that he would prefer to stay at the manor instead. But there were perks to visiting the Filodoxos. If this trip was anything like the summer, he'd have access to Madam Filodoxos' amazing lab and potions ingredients.

Callidus was aware that Caiside and Hermione were somewhere on the train. He wasn't sure if Ginny had joined them or not - many of the students would be staying at Hogwarts because in spite of the recent incident of the disease (which was plastered all over the Daily Prophet in semi-hysterical tones), the school was still considered one of the safest places in Britain. And while Callidus knew he could have made his way over to their train compartment to find out, the idea made him uncomfortable and he decided against it. The feud might have been over but the feelings of deep mistrust still lingered between Slytherins and Gryffindors. Callidus didn't want to somehow make the situation worse (or so he told himself).

As the train ground to a stop, Callidus caught sight of his foster parents. Madam Filodoxos was scanning the train windows, perhaps trying to spot Caiside or Callidus. Segnis Filodoxos' expression was distant, and Callidus had a feeling that the man was distracted by a melody in his head.

"So we'll see you at the winter party?" Harry said to Callidus, while they waited for the crowd of students to clear.

Callidus nodded. "Indeed."

"Don't forget to dress up. And your hair had better be shiny and clean," Draco warned.

Callidus frowned. "My hair is always clean."

"Clean looking," Draco clarified.

"And I don't own dress robes," Callidus added.

"Then buy them," Draco replied, as if it was self-evident.

Callidus huffed with irritation, shaking his head. "Yes, mother."

Harry snickered with amusement. "Just let him be, Draco. Besides, I don't have dress robes either, and you know my hair is probably going to be worse."

Draco looked up at Harry's unruly mop of hair. "We'll see about that," he muttered, as though Harry's hair was some challenge to be vanquished.

When the mass of students began to clear, the trio made their way out of the train and onto the platform.

"See you soon!" Harry called out, while Draco added: "Do not forget your hair. And - enjoy your holidays." He looked over at Harry, before returning his gaze to Callidus. "It's going to be a little strange without you."

The corners of Callidus's lips lifted upwards. "Don't get into too much trouble."

Harry grinned brightly. "Is this your way of saying you're going to miss each other?"

Draco scowled "I didn't say anything like that."

Harry laughed. "If you say so." He turned back to Callidus. "Happy Yule, Cal!" And with a final wave, Harry and Draco parted ways with Callidus.

As Callidus pushed his way past the families, many of whom were smothering their children with affection (and some, who were stuck up enough to watch the displays of public affection with disdain), he met up with Caiside. The sight of her gave him a roiling sense of nausea, and he paused and blinked, unsettled. This wasn't Hogwarts. There wasn't any reason for him to feel uneasy about seeing her here (even though there were plenty of purebloods around.) And besides, Caiside herself was a pureblood, Gryffindor or not.

"Hello Callidus," she greeted with a touch of frostiness in her voice, and a face like stone. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Callidus frowned. "I've been busy," he replied defensively.

"Oh? Too busy to send us more than a single note? Too busy to make any effort to try and visit?" she asked accusingly.

A crease appeared between his brows. "I lost track of time. A lot has happened this month. I like spending time with you, and Hermione and Ginny."

"Do you? Hmm." Caiside appeared to be weighing his words, and Callidus had a feeling that the words just weren't measuring up to her standards. "We'll talk about this later."

The pair of them made their way over to the Filodoxos, and Callidus was embarrassed (but also a bit pleased) that Madam Filodoxos greeted him as if he were her own son. Segnis gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, saying: "You know, this occasion really calls for writing a new song. With horns I think. Yes, a strong brass section. And sea bells! Nothing quite like the ocean to remind one of home!"

Caiside rolled her eyes. "Dad, we don't even live anywhere near the ocean."

"And shell sounds. There's nothing that has the same haunting nostalgia as ocean murmur of shells," Segnis continued, too caught up in his own idea to pay heed to Caiside's comment. He began to pat the sides of his robes. "Where's my parchment? I must write this down! It's too important to forget!"

"How was the journey?" Madam Filodoxos asked, straightening up Caiside's robes (to Caiside's irritation.)

"Well, it involved a train. Moving on tracks," Caiside acerbically replied, attempting pull away from her fussy mother. "There might have even been some acceleration and deceleration involved."

Madam Filodoxos huffed, tugging sharply enough on Caiside's robes to cause her to wince. "Impossible child! That's not what I meant." Madam Filodoxos turned to Callidus, her expression gentling. "Callidus?"

"The journey was fine," he replied neutrally.

Returning to the Filodoxos' household was a strange experience. As they were spat out by the fireplace (they travelled by floo,) Madam Filodoxos remarked: "Your room is just as I left it, Callidus, dear."

Callidus hadn't left any personal effects in the guest room. It was strange that Madam Filodoxos was calling it his room. And yet, some corner of his heart was gladdened by the warm welcome. The Filodoxos might be a bit odd, but it was truly generous of them to welcome him with open arms, as they did. He might not have seen the Filodoxos as his family, but at least he knew he was wanted (though he couldn't forget that the Prince name had something to do with it.)

After supper (during which, most of the conversation was carried by Madam Filodoxos who seemed intent on interrogating Caiside about her time with the Gryffindors, as though trying to assess how far the Gryffindor corruption had spread), Callidus made his way up to his room, and sat down on the side of his bed, exhausted. Though the entire day had consisted of little more than a long train ride, he felt worn out.

He knew he should change out of his robes, but instead, he plopped down on the bed, letting his eyes drift closed. But though he was tired, he found himself thinking about Caiside's words. What did she want to talk to him about? He didn't think he had done anything wrong (though some small part of him felt guilty, despite his stubborn and failed efforts to ignore it.) And besides, the situation wasn't anything like Hermione had to face last year. The girls had each other for company. Was it really such a big deal if he got a little carried away with his own projects, and forgot to communicate with them? Despite the struggle going on in his head, Callidus managed to eventually drift off to sleep. It wasn't like his problems were going anywhere. Unfortunately.

The next day, after the fuzziness dissipated from Callidus's mind, his first thought was that it was strange to wake up without Harry and Draco nearby. Harry's words came back to him, and with a rueful grimace, he realized that Harry was right: he missed his friends. They weren't even just his friends - despite being a foster child of the Filodoxos', it was Harry and Draco that felt like his true family, blood brothers or not. Callidus sighed, running a hand down his face. He would have to write those two later. That and try and ignore the small twinge of envy he felt that they got to spend the break together, while he remained apart. Was this how Draco felt when Harry and Callidus got to spend the summer at Hogwarts?

After finishing his morning routine, and changing out of yesterday's clothes, he made his way downstairs to the breakfast table. Caiside and Madam Filodoxos were both already at the table, and after greeting him, Madam Filodoxos informed him that Segnis had "caught a wave of inspiration, and will likely be holed away in the music room for a while."

He sat down next to Caiside, ignoring the irrational fluttering feeling of anxiety in his gut. His pride didn't want to admit that the fifth year Slytherins words had affected him more than he realized. The Filodoxos house elf brought him a plate of food, while Madam Filodoxos asked: "What are your plans for the day, Callidus? You're free to make use of my lab again, if you wish."

"Thank you," Callidus answered. "However, I need to purchase some dress robes for a fete." He paused. "Draco has also informed me all of you have been invited as well. You should be receiving the invites within the next few days."

Madam Filodoxos' eyes widened. "Draco - You mean, Draco Malfoy?"

Callidus nodded. "Yes."

"Why - we've been invited to a Malfoy affair? Caiside, did you hear that?"

Caiside rolled her eyes. "Yes, mum. In case you haven't noticed, I'm sitting right here."

"This is such an honour!" Madam Filodoxos exclaimed, slightly breathless. "Oh my, I wasn't expecting this." She raised a hand to her cheek. "We'll all have to get dress robes. We must look our best!"

Caiside frowned. "Mum, we already have dress robes!"

Madam Filodoxos shook her head. "Oh, but those robes are old. You don't seem to understand, Caiside. The Malfoys!"

"I've met Draco before, mum," Caiside irritably replied. "We've even spoken a few times."

Madam Filodoxos' brows lifted in surprise. "You have?"

"Yes. And he's a just wizard, like any other," Caiside continued. "I suppose he has decent manners, when he makes an effort."

"Caiside!" Madam Filodoxos' admonished. "The Malfoys most certainly are Not like other wizards." She shook her head, hand pressed to her temple. "What did I ever do to be burdened with such a willful child. The Malfoys are one of the foremost families in Magical Britain."

Caiside only rolled her eyes again in reply.

"Oh my, we must go shopping right away! And what should I wear? Perhaps I should do up my hair - I would need to book an appointment for that." Madam Filodoxos' eyes were bright. If anything, she was acting almost girlish in her excitement, as though she had just been invited to her first ball. It made Callidus want to shuffle uncomfortably in his seat. He had a feeling that Madam Filodoxos would be pleased to be invited to the Malfoy's fete, but he wasn't expecting this.

"What about dad?" Caiside wondered. "He won't be happy to be pulled away from work - not when he's like this."

Madam Filodoxos waved away Caiside's concerns. "Oh, he'll be fine. He can bring his notes with him. You know how your father is - he'll just hear his songs in his head."

In a little over an hour, the Filodoxos were prepared and ready to head out to Diagon Alley for a shopping trip. Caiside had attempted to protest, saying that it would be a scene of madness to go shopping this close to Yule, but Madam Filodoxos brushed her off. As for Segnis, his sunny nature overrode any irritation he might have felt about his work being disrupted. Instead, the man had beamed and cheerfully decided that seeing a bustling crowd would only provide new inspiration.

Caiside turned out to be wrong about Diagon Alley. There was a lot of people there, and yet, it wasn't at all packed like Caiside and Callidus had expected. As Callidus looked at the faces around him, he couldn't help but noticed that people looked strained. Shouldn't they be feeling more festive?

"What's going on?" Caiside muttered. "I've never seen Diagon Alley so empty at this time of year"

"I wouldn't call this empty," Callidus muttered, but Caiside ignored him.

"I imagine people are afraid because of that Orange business," Segnis mused. "Terrible word, orange. Nothing rhymes with it! Now reddish-yellow - I can work with that. Even yellow-red works! But orange - the person who invented the word should be put down!"

"That's rather harsh," Caiside muttered.

"If the problem of the Orange Madness is so bad, I'm surprised that we're here. Isn't it rather risky?" Callidus wondered.

"No need to worry yourself, Callidus dear," Madam Filodoxos reassured him. "We have everything well in hand."

Callidus frowned. Madam Filodoxos sounded rather sure. Strangely sure. But perhaps she had some form of protection that he wasn't aware of.

Despite the lack of crowds, Callidus still didn't particularly enjoy being surrounded by pushy strangers.

"It's a shame that dress robes aren't offered by owl post," Callidus muttered, the tense mood of Diagon Alley affecting him. He scowled as an older wizard bumped into him, without even an apology.

After a moment of silence, Caiside replied. "Dress robes are offered by owl post."

Callidus arched his brows. "They are?"

Caiside nodded. "Yes. It's just that they're hideous, and fit terribly."

Callidus's lips turned downwards. "Odd, that there isn't a solution for that. Aren't there spells that can resize a robe?"

"Yes," Caiside answered. "But spells can't fix ugly."

Callidus smirked, amused, and Caiside narrowed her eyes. "I'm still not happy with you, you know. But we'll talk when we get back from this stupid shopping trip."

Callidus's amusement quickly faded. He thinned his lips and nodded.

Shopping for new dress robes was an arduous process, despite the relative lack of crowds, and the support of magic. By the time the family returned to the Filodoxos household, Callidus felt sapped. Some of that tiredness was likely due to Caiside's determined efforts to show Callidus her displeasure through peevish looks, and clipped responses.

He trudged up to his bedroom, but before he could enter his room, he heard Caiside's voice from behind.

"Stop right there," she ordered, as she tromped up the stairs. Callidus faltered and looked towards her, only to feel her grip his robe and drag her into her own room. She released him, shut the door behind her, and then crossed her arms.

"Now we talk," she said, her near-black eyes piercing.

"Yes. Now we talk," Callidus echoed, trying to gain some feeling of control.

Caiside huffed, and uncrossed her arms, shaking her head. "Merlin! You have no clue, do you? Uuugh! Boys! It's soo annoying!"

Callidus frowned. "I understand that you're upset that I've been distant in the past month."

Caiside snorted. "Distant. Right."

She took a step forward, and Callidus's anxiety increased to alarming proportions. As if moving of their own accord, his feet stepped back, trying to gain some distance between him and the irritable girl in front of him.

Caiside's expression turned into something like a puzzle scowl. "Callidus - you look - erm - afraid?"

"I'm not afraid!" Callidus quickly replied, sounding far too defensive.

Caiside's brows met in a furrow. "There's something - different about you."

"What do you mean?" Callidus asked, but his voice sounded strange, and his heart was galloping in his chest.

"Callidus." Caiside's voice was firm, but the irritated edge was now gone. "What happened to you? I know things have been difficult in the past month - have the Slytherins been getting on your case?" She took another step forward, and Callidus backed away. But Callidus's sense of control was slowly reasserting itself, and as he reminded himself to keep his mind blank and empty, he began to calm down.

"I'm all right," Callidus said, almost as much to himself as to Caiside.

"Callidus," Caiside repeated. "Considering that we haven't spoken for weeks, I think I'd know when something is different about you. And something is different about you."

Callidus didn't care for Caiside's tone. "What's your point?"

Caiside huffed and rolled her eyes. "In case you've forgotten, I am your friend. I'm trying to help, all right?"

Upon hearing her words, Callidus's defensiveness quickly faded. He nodded. "All right. I haven't had much difficulties with my House. The only thing is -"

"Yes?"

Callidus grimaced. "A group of fifth years." He shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "They accused me of being a traitor, but most of seemed to be just talk."

"Just talk," Caiside repeated, sounding sceptical.

"It was nothing." He paused. "They did cast some sort of spell on me. But as far as I can tell, all it did was make me feel queasy the next morning."

Caiside's blinked, incredulous. "They cast a spell on you. And you didn't think to tell anyone? What about your Head of House - Professor Slughorn?"

Callidus scrunched up his face. "Slughorn? Why would I tell him? Besides, he's all the way up on the sixth floor."

"Then one of the other professors? Or Professor Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore?" He scoffed. "No. Besides, this is a Slytherin matter. I wouldn't involve outsiders," Callidus replied, trying to brush off Caiside's concerns.

"So you think you can handle this on your own?" Caiside asked doubtfully.

"I'm capable," Callidus argued. "I spent the majority of last year learning to sense magic, and I've sensed no foreign magic on myself, other than on the day they cast the spell."

"You can sense magic?"

Callidus shrugged. "It's not something I openly share." A small, but proud smile quirked his lips upwards. "I prefer to keep my cards close."

Caiside huffed with exasperation. "Slytherins." She narrowed her eyes as she examined Callidus, making him feel like an insect under inspection. "You may say you can handle this on your own, but we're going to help you, like it or not."

Callidus frowned. "What do you mean 'we'?"

Caiside smirked. "You don't think I would be able to do all that much on my own, do you? That's what friends are for."

'No,' Callidus thought. "You're involving Hermione and Ginny."

"I am," Caiside answered with self-satisfaction. "Come on! Hermione's brilliant! And Ginny's - erm - enthusiastic!"

"Then what are you?" Callidus asked, darkly.

Caiside gave him an amused look. "Determined."

Callidus groaned. "There's really no reason for you to involve yourself. I've noticed no effects from that spell, and those fifth years haven't bothered me since that day."

Caiside shook her head stubbornly. "No. There's something different about you. You might not see it, but I can. You're - you're skittish - no - scared - around me! And I wouldn't be surprised if you reacted to Hermione and Ginny in the same way!"

"I'm not scared of you!"

Caiside crossed her arms. "Why don't I believe you?" Her voice dripped with doubt. "And besides, if nothing was wrong, would you be so defensive?"

"I'm not -" Callidus cut himself off, feeling his face flush with frustration and embarrassment.

Caiside sighed, unfolding her arms, and stepping forward. Carefully, as though approaching a high-strung animal, she placed her hand on his arm. Callidus forced himself to stand firm, but it didn't feel good.

"You believe me when I say I'm trying to help you, don't you?" Caiside asked gently.

Callidus knit his brows. "Yes -"

Caiside raised her brows. "You don't sound too sure of that."

Callidus exhaled heavily. "I believe you. And - yes. You're right."

"Oh?"

"My reaction towards you doesn't seem right - it doesn't seem normal. Give me a moment." He focused his magic, attempting a more intensive scan of his magic. The effort was tiring though, especially because of the stress he felt from close proximity to Caiside. By the time he was done, he felt almost breathless. He shook his head, though the action made him dizzy. "I don't sense anything." But instead of feeling reassured, he now felt uneasy. What was going on?

"Bloody hell," he swore under his breath. "What did they do to me?"

"I'm glad you can finally admit that something's wrong," Caiside said wryly. "And - well - I'm sorry that this happened." She shook her head. "What kind of cowardly fifth years would attack a second year?"

"It wasn't quite an attack -"

Caiside glared at him. "It was cowardly."

Callidus shrugged. "I suppose."

Caiside straightened. "Now I just have to send a letter to Hermione and Ginny."

"Hermione lives with muggles," Callidus reminded her, still feeling reluctant to involve all the Gryffindor girls.

"Oh, we'll figure out all the details later. I'll owl Ginny first. Her family knows all about muggles! Or at least Ginny's dad does."

Callidus's shoulders slump as he resigned himself to the fact that there would be no dissuading Caiside (nor any of the other Gryffindors once they realized that there was a problem.) And yet, at the same time, there was a small measure of relief. He hated the idea that there was something wrong with him, and it was bad enough to have had to even admit it. At least with the girls on his side, he wasn't alone in this.