Chapter 36
The next morning, she bumped into a girl in the common room as she was carrying her books down the stairs. "Excuse me- please move?"
"No."
Calypso glared at the girl, "Well at least wait until I put all these books down"
"No- you KNEW Warrington was going to die didn't you? And you did NOTHING to stop it? Your whole, precious, pureblood family are death eaters, they knew!"
Calypso stared at the girl in shock, "What the fuck? Who do you think you are?"
"Who do you think YOU are? I don't know, but I would feel a lot safer at Hogwarts if people like- you-" she spat the word 'you, "-aren't working to kill everyone for you own benefits"
Calypso dropped her books on the girl's feet, drawing her wand. "I. DID. NOTHING. You dare disrespect him, and me- for thinking, that I would work to kill him?!"
"CONFRIGO!"
"Protego" shrieked Calypso, jumping out of the way as the wall next to them exploded.
Theo stood to the side of them and pointed at the girl. "You're lucky it missed." Theo sighed, probing the wall for it to resurrect itself.
The girl stared at him with wide eyes. "Y-y-you would have blasted me? That would be instant d-death!"
Theo ignored her and kicked a remaining piece of rubble. "No one wanted him to die."
"How do you know that? Do you ever think of other people- my sister is upstairs crying right now because of him!"
"So you're the blood traitor who likes to still be recognized as a Black? Leave it Theo" she added warningly as she watched him point his wand at her heart.
For some reason, Theo looked distressed. "Is Apollo well?"
Calypso stared at him and hissed "later" before pushing the girl off the stairs. "The only person that deserved to die tonight was you. But that can be settled another time"
The girl, clutching her leg as she drew her wand glared at her venomously. "Never"
"Ahhh, she wants to achieve immortality then?" Calypso laughed. "The only way possible is too- advanced- for you."
"It involved the dark arts I suppose?" she spat.
"Scourgify," Theo said quietly, waving up her saliva. "We don't want you dirtying Salazar's house dormitories, would we? And yes, dark magic is needed. But is it really dark, if people use it to save themselves? The line between dark and light has been so blurred it's nonexistent. Are the death eaters evil for attacking you but you aren't evil for attacking them? Were the nasty animals, not evil when they prosecuted us for having what they did not? Yet you still defend them and all the muggle-borns where their blood status like a badge of honor" Theo snarled. "Why should we-"
"Theo!" Calypso said, interrupting his history lesson. "Come on, we have to pack."
"We only want what's best for everyone!" the girl yelled from the floor. "Death eaters, they kill innocent people just for the fun of it!"
If looks could kill, the one Theo gave the girl was enough to send her on a one way trip to Potter's parents. "Is that what you think?" he said calmly, yet somehow still made it sound like a threat.
"It's what I know!" the girl yelled angrily.
Theo stared at her, "You wish Warrington hadn't died?"
"What- that has nothing to do with-"
"You'll be next" interrupted Theo with such hatred that Calypso did not think possible before he enveloped the girl in ropes and walked away calmly.
The girl writhed on the floor and Calypso would have helped her if not for her twisted, disgusting way of thinking.
"Next time, learn your lesson" Calypso snarled before walking off again as Theo came down from the boy's dormitories.
"Wait…" Calypso glanced at the door that she was sure Theo had just left through before looking at the Theo that emerged from the staircase. "Weren't you just...nevermind."
All throughout breakfast and the remainder of the school year, there were hushed whispers about how Potter had killed Warrington, and how he was hallucinating and dangerous. Calypso did neither to encourage or discourage such rumors. It was enough for her that she knew the truth. If they couldn't see past the 'mundane' like Professor Trelawney liked to call it, then they were useless and were practically begging for the Dark Lord to rule over them.
Before she knew it, the end of term feast rolled around, also known as the 'Leaving Feast' to some. Usually, the Great Hall would be decorated with the colors of the house that had won the inter-house championship and filled with happy voices but instead, it was covered in black drapes for respect to Cassius.
At the staff table, the real Mad-Eye Moody had returned, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him. Professor Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen though, perhaps he had returned to the Dark Lord?
Calypso's musings were ended by Professor Dumbledore, who stood up at the staff table.
"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year." He paused, and his eyes fell upon their table.
Theirs had been the most subdued table before he had gotten to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest, angriest, and palest faces in the Hall.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Slytherins, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cassius Warrington"
They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Cassius Warrington"
Even the Gryffindors didn't object as they toasted to the late Slytherin.
Calypso caught a glimpse of Selena through the crowd. There were tears pouring silently down her face. She looked down at the table as they all sat down again.
"Cassius was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Slytherin's house," Dumbledore continued. "He was ambitious and cunning. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."
The whole hall grew with anticipation as Dumbledore spoke again.
"Cassius Warrington was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence. Not even reassuring them, the stupid git.
"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbly continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so — either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cassius died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."
Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward Dumbledore now . . . or almost every face.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Calypso saw Potter muttering something to Granger and Weasley.
Calypso felt a hot, sick swoop of anger in her stomach. She forced himself to look back at Dumbledore.
"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cassius' death," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."
A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Potter's direction before flicking back to face Dumbledore.
Leave it to Dumbledore to turn a sad moment, mourning the loss of a Slytherin to one of praising a Gryffindor who had inadvertently probably got said Slytherin killed.
"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "He risked his own life to return Cassius's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."
"Of course you do" muttered Daphne from beside Calypso. "You would probably be kissing the hem of Potter's robes if you could"
Dumbledore turned gravely to Potter and raised his goblet once more.
Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured his name, as they had murmured Cassius's, and drank to him.
Calypso sighed and remained with most of the Slytherins except for that girl a few days ago, sitting defiantly in her seat, her goblet untouched.
When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened — of Lord Voldemort's return — such ties are more important than ever before."
Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table.
Krum, looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.
"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again — in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
"It is my belief — and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken — that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder."
"A week ago, a student was taken from our midst. Remember Cassius. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cassius Warrington"
And now Dumbly was using Cassius' name to turn people loyal to him and fight against their families. "Disgusting," thought Calypso, full of contempt.
Soon, Calypso's trunks were packed, Artemis in her cage, and everyone was standing on the platform getting ready to board the train back home.
"We will see each uzzer again, I 'ope," said Fleur as Calypso boarded the train. "I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish."
Celestia, who looked like she had been crying, took a deep breath. "Ee parents are saying eet eez too dangerous 'ere. I'm not coming back to 'ogwarts next year"
Calypso could feel the tears streaming down her face as she hugged Celestia tightly. "I'll miss you"
"Me too. Fleur can teach 'ou for french and when zis eez all over, 'ou can visit me in France"
"I will"
"And tell Z'eo I will miss h'eem ple'ese."
Calypso nodded and watched sadly as the train pulled out of the station and away.
Daphne hugged her silently, "We'll all be fine. It's just like you said, isn't it? From now on, I'm sticking with Theo's dad."
Theo shrugged, "I wouldn't mind"
Calypso laughed bitterly. "Should we find a compartment then?"
As the train sped southward, they talked more freely about what was to come and Cassius' death.
Draco came to visit them near noon. "You okay Lestrange?"
Calypso looked up at him surprisingly. "Yes?"
"Hmmm. well Skeeter's been caught by Granger"
"What?" demanded Daphne. "She's trapped Rita Skeeter in her luggage?"
"No" scoffed Draco. "Hasn't anyone told you, she's an illegal animagus in the form of a beetle, Granger's got her now"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, off to visit them now. Wanted to check if you were okay first though" said Draco, his face flushing pink.
Calypso smirked, "Well that was nice you. Now get out, you don't add much to the door decor I must say"
Draco glared at her before slamming the door shut. "I'll get you back for that Lestrange"
He never did return though strangely. But as he left, grief settled over Calypso again.
The guilt that she had not spent more time with him was weighing down on Calypso heavier than ever when they pulled into the station.
"See you next summer" Theo waved cheerfully even though his eyes were still glaring pointedly at Zeren who seemed to have taken it as his yearly duty to pick his younger brother up.
"Yeah, bye," Calypso said.
"Oh you'll be seeing him a lot sooner," said her mum from right behind her.
"AHH- mum!" she whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"Come to pick you up" she held out a hand and Calypso took it, apparating away back to home.
