Severus brushed lint from his cloak in a show of boredom. The truth was he was biding his time. He needed to show face, make a show of dominance in the presence of the pink monstrosity beside him, but he was eager to escape to his private quarters. The Great Hall was full of noisy, mindless chatter, but it was the silence at the head table that bothered him the most. Minerva and Albus were struck dumb at the sight of the infamous Golden Girl sitting with Luna, away from Potter and the other Weasley. Severus would wager the entire hall was whispering about the blatant change to the dynamic set in place long before 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' was born.

But the presence of the ministry in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts meant his time was drawing closer to an end, thankfully. Severus was grateful he would no longer have to play spy, that he could be with his family openly and honestly, but he was also having a hard time wrapping his head around the upcoming revolt against the Wizarding World. It wasn't that he was against it, no. Severus was proud of his stance behind Calliope and Rayna and Tom. Even Bellatrix, at times. But he was more annoyed at the fact people will scream evil, evil, evil until they suffocate on their ignorance and hypocrisy, leaving more chaos in their wake. Severus was a man of little patience, tolerance, and acceptance for foolishness. It appeared to all be inevitable dealing with the so-called Light side and its followers. A throat cleared beside him, breaking from his thoughts, and he barely caught the snicker that came from Calliope.

Scowling, Severus lifted his head and turned to the side.

"Yes?" he drawled.

"Professor Snape? It is an honor to meet someone of your infamity," she said.

Severus twitched at the word and corrected, "Infamy."

"Pardon?"

"The word," he paused and exhaled, "is infamy."

Umbridge bristled at the correction, and Severus forced himself to appear apologetic.

"Being a professor comes with both positives and negatives," he said. "It would appear correcting someone is one of those negatives."

"Yes, well. I accept your apology."

Severus inclined his head and went back to his inner musings, only it was broken by another throat clear. He was tempted to shove his wand down her throat and blast her internal organs through her toad-like body. Instead, he sighed and looked back at her.

"The muggleborn. Is she going to be a problem?" she whispered.

"No more than Potter."

Umbridge nodded her head as if it was the answer she expected. She went back to her dinner. Severus made a show of getting to his feet. Draco and Calliope both glanced his way, and he ignored them. He was tired. He wanted – needed – a drink. Possibly two.

"If you will excuse me," he drawled.

Severus exited the room with the intent of never opening his door until class the next day.


"You will be the talk of the school by morning," Luna said softly.

"Am I not always the talk of the school? Whether because of my foolish belief in Harry or my undying love for Ron?"

"You do have a knack for attracting attention."

"It is an unfortunate trait I inherited from my father."

Luna giggled and scraped her potatoes onto Calliope's plate. "Is it odd I'm already looking forward to break?" she asked.

Calliope scowled at the potatoes and asked, "Why on Earth would you give me these?"

"Because you like potatoes, remember?"

"I do not like- oh."

Calliope groaned and picked up the fork. She speared a wedge and forced herself to eat it.

"You have to adjust," Luna whispered.

"But potatoes? Anything- never mind. For the record, no, it is not odd. This feels like a farce. I know more spells than anyone ahead of me, and the damage I could do to the younger years should scare the professors."

"Maybe you should show off a bit this year," Luna suggested.

Calliope dumped an unhealthy amount of pepper on top of the potatoes and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Your poor heart," Luna sighed. "And you know what I mean."

"My heart is fine, thank you very much. And I had already planned on letting my power out a little," she said. "I was too tired during those stupid games."

"Speaking of games-

"No," Calliope interrupted.

"Draco told me his," Luna said.

"Luna."

"Sorry," she muttered.

Calliope squeezed Luna's wrist and said, "I will tell you in time. But please do not ask the others."

"I won't."

"Thank you."

Calliope stomached a few more potatoes before she pushed the plate to the side. She had no idea why she started the potato thing. It was a joke, at first, to add to the Hermione character, but apparently her love for potatoes translated into an obsession. It was unfortunate, really, as Calliope avoided potatoes if outside of Hogwarts. They made her feel stuffy.

"The kitty cat is watching you," Luna muttered.

"Good. That's exactly what I need."

"You're the one that spoke to her after the funeral," Luna said pointedly.

"I was upset."

"As if that excuses your manners," Luna drawled.

Calliope furrowed her brows. "You have spent far too much time with my brother and my Aunt," she said.

"Not nearly enough," Luna sighed dreamily.

"Gross."

"As if we complain about you and your girlfriend," Luna whispered.

"Ours is romantic. Yours is disgusting."

"Biased."

"I-

Calliope stiffened when she felt someone come up behind her. Luna's face remained neutral, almost blank, and Calliope twisted around. She cocked an eyebrow at Seamus.

"Hello, Seamus," she greeted.

"Uh, are you guys under a spell?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Ron and Harry.

"Not that I know of," she said. "Why?"

"Oh. N-no reason."

Seamus scampered back to the Gryffindor table. Calliope turned back to Luna, who was amused if the twinkle in her eye was anything to go by.

"I wonder why he would think we are under a spell."

"No idea."


"You and Luna were under a spell at the table, weren't you?" Neville whispered.

Calliope gasped and put a hand to her chest. "How dare you accuse me, us, of such a scandalous thing?" she asked.

"Oh, please."

"You believe we have something to hide, Mr. Longbottom?" she teased.

"Absolutely."

Calliope chuckled and stretched out on the floor. Neville lied next to her with his hands clasped over his stomach. She chose not to tell Draco or anyone else, really, about why she and Neville bonded the way they did. It started at the birthday party, but it was a secret whispered in the dead of night that only she was meant to hear where things between them changed.

"I'm scared."

Neville leaned back on the railing backward and exhaled, looking up at the sky.

"Of?"

"The darkness."

Calliope stared at the lake behind her home and sighed. "It will never fade," she said. "It will chill you to your bones. It will make you question all that you know, all that you believe, and it will strip you bare. It will feed off your anger and grow until all you know is bloodshed."

"How do I avoid it?"

"If it is in you, it is apart of you. The only thing you can do is make sure you have someone willing to sit with you until the light comes on."

"And if it doesn't?" he whispered.

"It will."

"Where'd you go?" he asked.

"Just in my head."

"Again?"

"I have a lot on my mind," she said wryly.

Neville hummed. The rest of the common room had long given up on trying to figure them out and had left them alone on the floor. It helped Calliope had a small repelling spell over their bodies. No one made it pass the couch before they changed their minds.

"Umbridge seems like she'll be a piece of work," he said.

"I know for a fact she will."

"Why, got the inside scope?"

"You know I do," she laughed.

Umbridge was anti-muggleborn, anti-halfblood, anti-creature, and extremely manipulative. As well as vindictive and sadistic. Calliope caught wind of Lucius's rants about the woman late at night. She was not for the Dark Lord, but she wasn't exactly against him, which made things tricky. Umbridge wanted power, and she was under the impression the Dark Lord didn't have the amount she needed.

"She will be more than a problem. She does not believe in You-Know-Who nor his cause. She deems him weak, incapable of making real change. To her, he's nothing more than walking propaganda."

Neville scratched the back of his neck. "What does that mean for us? For you?"

"When I know, you will know."


Draco was unsurprised to see Neville and Calliope at the same table with Luna. Luna put a stop to the jealousness creeping up his spine almost immediately. Draco saw the subtle differences after she explained. Neville was Calliope's Daphne, and it made sense. They were intimately connected in a platonic way.

"Drakkie, why do you keep staring at the mudblood and her pet?"

Calliope twitched and dug her quill into the parchment. Neville quickly replaced the pen and parchment with some of his own. Draco shook his head and glanced sideways at Pansy.

"That is not your seat," he sighed.

"But you haven't written me all summer," she whined.

Draco caught the smirk on the face of his wretched sister. He should curse her in front of everyone. Calliope lifted her head slightly, her eyes almost daring him to do just that, and Draco clicked his teeth in annoyance before he turned back to Pansy.

"I was busy," he said stiffly.

"With what?" she asked.

"Stuff," he said.

Blaise came in, saw Pansy, and took his sweet time in getting to the table. Draco hated him with every slow step he took.

"Have you considered my offer?" she cooed, running her finger down Draco's arm.

Draco jerked his arm away and said, "I told you I needed time."

"You've had three months!"

"I still need – oh, hi Blaise," Draco greeted sarcastically.

"Up, Snouts. You're in my seat."

Draco gaped at Blaise. Some other Slytherins laughed, some Gryffindor's snickered, and Blaise made a shooing motion with his hand. Pansy covered her face and ran to her seat in the back of the room. Daphne was the only Slytherin without a partner, and the glare she shot Blaise would've set him on fire. Though Draco was positive it was because Daphne now had to comfort the crying girl.

"You called her Snouts," Draco whispered.

Blaise shrugged. Severus made his appearance at that point, but Draco was torn between falling out of his chair with laughter or feeling bad for Pansy. He chose the third option, pretending nothing happened and hoping Snape was in a better mood.


Calliope was the only one in the hall. She really wished she had said no to Harry. Because then he wouldn't have borrowed her textbook and gave it to Ron. And then Ron wouldn't have left it in a classroom, remembering twenty minutes before curfew, and Calliope ending up having to go all the way across the school to grab it.

Did he or Harry offer to go with her? No. Neville was with Seamus and Dean, so she couldn't track him down and drag him around the school. Luna and Draco were in Snape's private quarters for a date. And the twins were stuck on Ginny duty. Daphne was with Tracey and Pansy, and Blaise was with Crabbe and Goyle, which meant Calliope was forced to go alone. She made quick steps, seething, but the source of her anger changed when she ran into Umbridge. Literally. Calliope hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of her, and she couldn't help but groan. The hell was that woman made of?

"Oh, dear," the woman said, staring down at her. "You should look where you're going."

Calliope got to her feet and looked around. The portraits were there, but most of them were sleep.

"I'm afraid you and I are the only ones out here, Miss Granger," she said, spitting out the Granger name as if it were a curse. "Now. I know why I'm out here. Why are you?"

"I was going to retrieve a book from a classroom," she explained.

"At this hour? My, my, my, that's an oddly convenient excuse for you, isn't it?" Umbridge stepped close and Calli tensed. "You're friends with the Potter boy, yes?" she asked.

Calliope nodded.

"Words, dear. Witches use words," she said.

The shot was subtle, but effective.

"Yes, Harry and I are friends."

"I take it you believe him about this You-Know-Who nonsense?"

"Voldemort," Calliope deadpanned. "His name is Voldemort."

"How dare you call him by his name?" Umbridge hissed.

"You are the one afraid of giving a name to a ghost."

Umbridge pressed her wand into Calliope's stomach and whispered, "Regardless, I will admit he had the right idea about cleaning our world, removing the filth from the streets. Such as yourself."

"You speak so freely," Calliope mused.

"No one will believe you," Umbridge said. "You're nothing more than a filthy mudblood. One wrong move, and I can have you expelled and sent home to your- oh, dear, you have no one to return to. Do you?"

Calliope smiled, subtly flicking her wrist at the woman, and said, "I look forward to the day I can wrap my hands around your neck and watch the life leave your eyes."

Umbridge went to respond but couldn't. She grabbed at her throat, and Calliope snapped the woman's wrist in half. Calliope added pressure to the broken bone. Umbridge's mouth was wide open with a silent scream, tears streaming down her cheeks, and Calliope chuckled.

"It would do well for you to remember this moment. My blood status should be the least of your worries. And I can see it clear as day in your eyes, you will try to run and tell someone, but not even you can willingly confess you were bested by a…mudblood."

Umbridge clenched her jaw, and Calliope released her grip. Umbridge held the wrist to her chest, and Calliope pointed her finger at the woman.

"Brackium Emendo."

The bone visibly snapped back into place, and Umbridge was furious, her eyes promising retribution, but Calliope was not fazed. Even as she canceled the silencing spell on the woman.

"I will make your life hell," Umbridge warned.

"Oh, Dolores. I have seen Hell, and I imagine yours will be nothing but a mild inconvenience."

Calliope felt that familiar spark at the tip of her fingers and clenched her jaw. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and walked back to the dorms. Textbook be damned.


Calliope licked the blood from her knuckles and adjusted her position on top of Ron. He was barely conscious, but she didn't care. She could hear others calling her name, muffled and distorted voices, but they were using the wrong name. Calliope chuckled and grabbed Ron by the head. He whimpered, and she rejoiced in the fear in his eyes.

"Her…mione, p-please," he whispered.

Calliope slammed his head against the tile repeatedly until she spotted blood pooling beneath his skull. She looked up, seeing Harry and Ginny behind her, and she cocked an eyebrow.

"Problem?" she asked.

Calliope jerked forward when Neville pinched her neck. She blinked at him and frowned.

"What?" she asked.

"I asked if you could help me with my essay," he repeated.

"Oh. Yes."

Neville stared at her warily. "You've been zoning out a lot lately," he said.

Calliope looked around before she whispered, "Being here has done a little damage."

"Meaning?"

"I share something in common with my girlfriend," she muttered. "I have moments of…insanity if I do not use my magic properly."

"I'm sorry. Can you explain a little more?"

Calliope ran a hand over her face and leaned forward. "I dreamed I killed Ron," she whispered. "And I enjoyed it."

Neville nodded and pulled out his essay, handing it over. "Here. Let's take your mind off it," he said.

"You just want me to write your essay."

"That too."

Calliope snorted, and the two worked in silence until Ginny walked into the library, spotted them, and ducked behind the shelves in an attempt to be inconspicuous. Calliope pulled out a spare parchment and scribbled down: We're being watched. Fancy a game?

Neville gave a half-shrug. Always the semi-willing participant in her games. Calliope grinned and ran her finger down his arm intimately. He rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand.

"We're supposed to be working," he scolded.

"But darling, I have yet to been alone with you all day," she said dramatically.

Neville deadpanned, "We have the rest of the night to catch up."

"Very well. May I at least have a kiss?" she pouted.

Neville made a face. Calliope tried hard not to laugh. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, her connection to Bella roared to life.

Guess who?

Calliope choked on her laughter, eyes wide, and she tapped the side of her head. Realization shone in Neville's eyes, and he went back to his work. He had no interest in getting in the middle of whatever silent discussion she was having in her head.

"Fine, fine, fine. No kiss, but I will remember this moment," she said.

Kissing? Who the bloody hell are you kissing?

"Are you giving me the silent treatment? Neville, you hurt me deeply," she huffed.

Neville? I'll kill him.

He glared at her when she said his name, and Calliope smiled cheekily.

"Oh, darling. I am only kidding," she said.

I desperately want to wring your neck, Calliope.

Calliope knew her girlfriend was more amused than angry and smiled brightly at Neville.

"I enjoy our private moments together," she said.

Understood. Have your fun, you cheeky witch. Reach out to me at dinner.

"I love you," Calliope whispered.

And I love you. Tell Neville to keep his hands to himself.

Calliope cut the connection and sighed. She was glad Bella took the risk to reach out to her. Calliope pouted and laid her head on Neville's shoulder.

"You okay?" he whispered.

"No," she said. "And I apologize."

"Your bouts of insanity have become the norm."

"Rude."

"Is my essay right or not, woman?"

"Umbridge will rip it to shreds."

Neville tore the parchment and grabbed fresh pieces from his bag. Calliope studied her nails.

"Do you think I should grow my nails out?" she asked.

"Am I the right person to be asking this question?"

"You're the only person here," she said pointedly.

Well, not including the still spying redhead hovering near the magical theory books.

"I don't think you should cut them. Unless you're into that sort of thing." He paused and shook his head, "Never mind. I'm not going down that road."

Calliope flexed her fingers and leaned down on the table. "Dumbledore called a meeting with me this evening before dinner," she said.

"What for?"

"I believe it has something to do with the argument I had with Harry and Ron yesterday. You know, the one where I –

"Called them both stupid fools who will die by the end of the year without your help?" he finished.

"You act as if it was a lie," she said defensively.

"But did you have to say it in Latin?"

"They are lucky I did not curse their fucking tongues to swell in their mouths."

"Careful, your evil streak is showing," Neville teased.

Ginny's gasp was barely caught at the last minute before she jumped out from the shelves. Calliope forced herself to be surprised at Ginny's sudden arrival.

"Ginny?" she exclaimed.

Neville turned around and frowned.

"Hey- wait, were you eavesdropping on us?" he asked.

"Why have you been lying about your relationship? Why are you hiding secrets from Harry and Ron?"

"Is that your excuse for eavesdropping on us?" Calliope said dryly.

"Also, our relationship is none of your concern," Neville added.

"I'll tell Harry!"

"Be sure to give him my love in the process," Calliope drawled.

"What happened to you? You would've never hurt Ron like this," Ginny said, trying a different tactic.

Calliope clicked her tongue against her teeth and said, "I have not changed. I simply grew tired of having to always protect the Boy Who Lived and your brother, who by the way, owes me for the textbook that has mysterious, food stains all over it."

"See? That! You've never been such a bitch!"

Neville sighed and shook his head, already packing up their stuff. Calliope glowered and stood up from her seat, making her way to where Ginny stood.

"I am allowed to change, Ginevra. I am allowed to have friends who have no expectations of me beyond me being me. I am allowed to be angry. I am allowed to curse this War and everything it stands for. I am allowed to be a bitch seeing as you have your head so far up Harry's ass that you have the audacity to question me about what I do in public and in private. Need I remind you that you are not my sister. You are not my family. You have become nothing more than an annoying chit who refuses to know her place in my presence, and I swear to Morgana if you do not get the fuck out of my face, I will shove my wand down your throat and make you choke on it. Am I clear?"

The entire library went quiet. That was when Calliope realized she had the attention of most of the library, many of them Gryffindors. Ginny burst into tears and ran out of the library. Some Gryffindor girls followed after her, but only after they shot dirty glares to Calliope. Some of the boys glanced between she and Neville before they huddled and started whispering. On top of it all, Professor McGonagall was there.

"Miss Granger, if you would please follow me to the Headmaster's office," the woman commanded.