Remus placed a cool glass against his forehead as he thought about his day. Sirius made the sudden announcement that Andromeda quit the Order was met with arguments and shouting. Things calmed for a moment, and then an owl delivered a notice about his promotion to Head of House Black. At that same time, Tonks and Mad-Eye walked in. Molly broke the news to Tonks about her mother, and Tonks was mid-response when she was forcibly thrown from the house by some mysterious force. Sirius cackled and slapped his knees. Molly screeched at Sirius, asking him what he'd done. Sirius revealed he'd cast Narcissa, Draco, Andromeda, and Tonks from House of Black. Remus groaned inwardly at the statement. Sirius had no idea what he'd just done. He'd essentially pissed off the entire family, and Remus put down his drink and glared at his soon-to-be-ex best friend.
"You realize you pissed off not only Narcissa, Andromeda, Tonks, and Bellatrix, but also angered Calliope, Lucius, and Ted. Quite possibly the Dark Lord as well?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know Lucius cares about his family, and you knew how much it meant to Narcissa to maintain the Black legacy, even after she became a Malfoy. You pissed off Ted because Andromeda was once again cast from the family without reason, and finally, you have Bellatrix. You know how protective she is over her sisters. Let's not forget Calliope, who loves Bellatrix and hates to see her hurt. That means if Calliope is upset, the Dark Lord is upset as well. Do you understand, now?"
"You're overreacting," Sirius said dismissively.
Remus didn't bother to respond as Minerva tore into him for the same thing. Molly smacked her children for cheering Sirius on, and Harry was unsurprisingly quiet, staring at the fireplace. Mad-Eye tried to talk to him but gave up eventually. Remus made his way to the kitchen, where he found Kingsley leaning back against the counter, his eyes closed.
"Kingsley," he greeted.
"Remus."
The two stood in silence while a battle waged between common sense and vindictive impulsivity. Eventually, they heard the fireplace come to life and walked out to find Albus in the center of it all. It was dead silent. He scanned over the entire room, stopping once on Harry and again on Sirius before he sighed.
"We are supposed to be better than this," he said.
It was a verbal slap in the face to some, but to Remus, it was a joke. He went back into the kitchen and had just finished pouring his second shot when Kreacher waddled in and passed a scrap of paper to Remus. It was a simple note from Narcissa. More adequately, a warning.
Leave with Kreacher. Now.
After triple-checking he was alone, Remus nodded at Kreacher. The elf popped them both out of the kitchen.
After the unnecessarily long meeting of Albus re-assuring Harry and the others everything will be okay, Mad-Eye went to check on Tonks. He wasn't happy with how Sirius handled the situation. Still, he understood why he did it for Narcissa and the Malfoy spawn. But Andromeda? Tonks? Neither one had ever shown anything but loyalty to the Order. Tonks, while she was a clumsy disaster, was a good agent. Mad-Eye strolled up to the Tonks' family home and raised his fist to knock but nearly jumped in surprise when it swung open. Ted Tonks stared at him blankly, almost cold, and Mad-Eye dropped his hand.
"Evening, Ted. Mind if-
"No. You and that damned Order better stay the fuck away from my daughter, my wife, and my house. I might not be an Auror, but I know a few spells that'll catch even the great Albus Dumbledore off guard." Ted narrowed his eyes and added in a low hiss, "Get the hell off my property before you lose another limb."
Mad-Eye stood there in shock until a spell flew past his ear. He quickly hurried down the street the best he could and went back to Grimmauld. He had a bone to pick with Sirius.
Bellatrix found Calliope just outside of the wards. She stomped over to her and yanked her off the ground. Her glare intensified when she noticed the blood dripping from Calliope's nose and ears.
"When a goblin says your magic is off-kilter, you don't bloody go and apparate clear across the country," she exclaimed.
"Bella, too loud," she murmured.
"Oh, I'm too loud, am I?" Bellatrix shouted, carrying her over the wards toward the manor.
Calliope winced and covered her ears. Bellatrix dragged her into the manor, ignoring Tom and Travers as she walked down the hallway, and she threw Calliope on the couch in the drawing-room. She paced the room until she got her thoughts in order, and she stopped.
"Calliope, I just found out my entire life has been a lie. I had to change my name, lose my title, and because of that, my sisters- Hell, I had siblings I didn't know about who were practically murdered! I didn't answer in the tunnels because I wanted to have the damned conversation in private. Of course, I want to marry you. I always do, but you can't… do you have any idea what could have happened had I not been able to find you? Why would you go and do something so – so fucking stupid! I just… while I'm glad you're alright, I don't- just handle your business with the others. I want to be alone."
Calliope blinked hard and pulled herself into an upright position. Bellatrix held up her hand to stop whatever response she had and backed away toward the door.
"For once, Calliope," Bellatrix sighed and shook her head, "listen to me," she said softly.
The door slammed shut behind Bellatrix's exit, and Calliope stared at the floor for the longest time until her father entered the room. He gently tugged her to her feet and escorted her upstairs. Calliope's heart lurched when he bypassed her bedroom and took her to his room. He sat her on the bed and pushed until she got the hint. Tom pulled the covers over her and kissed her forehead.
The group returned to Rayne Manor with news of their progress, but Tom explained Calliope was feeling under the weather and would call for them in the morning. Neville took the twins, Blaise, Astoria, and Daphne back to his estate while Draco, Luna, and Tonks waited with Tom. Once they were gone, Luna sighed and folded her arms.
"What did she do this time?" Luna asked.
Tom smiled sadly and said, "It would seem my child inherited my lack of communication skills."
"I guess I better go check on Aunt Bella," Tonks said.
"Don't. What happened has them both under the weather."
"That bad?"
"Indeed."
Draco and Tonks winced, and Luna thanked Tom before she went outside. She knew no one would come after her, and she followed the magic until she found Calliope in a clearing beyond the manor. Calliope's magic swirled around her violently while she kneeled in the Earth. Luna sat down in front of a tree and waited.
Calliope released her magic like a shockwave. She pushed it and pulled it over and over again until she had a handle on it. Narcissa taught her magic was like an extra limb. You had to know it as well as you knew the rest of your body, but she was having a hard time controlling it. She blamed most of it on her mood, but the magic itself was overwhelming because she didn't know where she began, and Morgana ended. Technically, she was Morgana, but it hurt her head whenever she thought too hard on it. She had too many names, too many faces, and it was all starting to catch up with her.
Calliope opened her eyes, unaware she'd even closed them, and focused on the two strings going around in spirals. The dark blue one with black streaks was hers, and the golden one belonged to Morgana. They were weaving away from each other, and Calliope cocked her head. She grabbed, and following her instincts, tied the strings together. Sweat pooled on her brow, and her breathing picked up as she twirled the strings around one another until they became one. Calliope pulled her magic back into her body, and she collapsed to her knees and dug her nails into the dirt. She felt more settled after a few moments, and she felt Luna's presence before she spoke.
"You know, messing around with your magic can be quite the experience." Luna dropped the protective shield she had around her body and stepped forward. "Do you feel better?" she asked.
"Better is a questionable term at the moment." Calliope turned to Luna and cringed at the light surrounding her friend. "Can you tone yourself down a bit?" she asked.
"Sorry. I'm not used to people being able to see it."
The light around Luna dimmed considerably, and Calliope nodded her thanks. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked around. Most of the trees had been demolished, and there was a crater surrounding her. She wordlessly cast a spell to fix the grounds, and the Earth, after some hesitation, pulled itself together. Calliope anticipated the exhaustion that came with performing a spell-like that but it never came.
"Hm. Interesting," she said.
"What?"
"I do not feel tired."
"Why would you? That was a basic level spell for someone like you. Though where you excel in magical prowess, you fail miserably at human decency."
"If you are only here to yell at me, I suggest you go home."
"Not happening. As your best friend, it's my job to tell you when you're being a bitch and a brat."
"Did Bellatrix tell you to say that?" Calliope mocked.
"No. I just know this is on you."
Calliope puffed out her cheeks and looked away. Luna slapped her, and Calliope touched her cheek.
"Did you just hit me?"
"Another benefit of being your best friend. Especially when you're being a self-absorbed idiot."
"That does not give you the right to hit me!"
"Yes, it does. Because that woman has been through hell just like you, and the last thing she needs is you acting like a spoiled brat. Do you truly understand that? Because your attitude says otherwise."
"Goddamnit, Luna! I know!" A tree exploded behind Calliope, and the anger drained out of her. "I know, okay? I came out here to figure out how to make things right when my magic went haywire. I reacted poorly to a situation without considering the other massive issues in her life, and I know that now. I could have killed myself. And I also questioned her love for me by insinuating she no longer wanted to marry me. I just…"
Calliope ran a hand through her hair and looked up at the stars.
"Did you know I wanted a night wedding?" she asked suddenly.
"What an odd subject change considering what we're discussing."
Calliope chewed on her lip and shrugged. "I have nothing more to say to you about it. She deserves to hear the rest," she said.
Luna looped her arm through Calliope and sighed dramatically, "One, I'm sorry for hitting you. Two, why a night wedding."
"I was more shocked than offended. That is not the first slap you have given me, and I doubt it will be the last. And because Bellatrix looks amazing under the moonlight, and she reminds me of the universe. Maybe a beach wedding at night? We could have a bonfire."
"Have you forgotten who will most likely be responsible for the wedding?"
"Narcissa will see the beauty in this. I know it. So? Yes or no?"
"I'll let you know."
"Fine. And naturally, you'll be my main maid of honor."
"Main?"
"Tonks has to be the second. There was some kind of contract I made with her when I was like six."
"You can make her the first."
"But-
"Calliope, if you think our friendship is based on me being your maid of honor, then you're ridiculous. Plus, you can make it up to me by being my maid of honor when Draco asks me to marry him."
"Marriage? So soon?"
"Lovegoods are notorious for marrying early. We just know these things."
"Fair enough." Calliope slowed down once they got closer to the manor. "Now, for the hard part," she muttered.
"Which is?"
"Sleeping without my girlfriend because I was a dumbass."
"You should be more concerned about the apology part," Luna said dryly.
"Fuck."
Calliope paced the bedroom with her thumb between her teeth. Everyone else was fast asleep as it was two in the morning, but Bellatrix still hadn't returned. Tom told her she went to see her sisters, and that made sense. Bellatrix would need them, and there was no reason for her to be there at the manor.
"You'll wear the floor down if you keep doing that."
Calliope spun around and paused at Bellatrix leaning against the door frame. She had puffy eyes, and her hair was messier than normal, but she was the most incredible thing Calliope had ever laid eyes on.
"Thank you."
"What?"
Bellatrix chuckled and folded her arms.
"You said that last part out loud," she said.
Calliope wrung her hands together and took a small step forward.
"Bella, I'm so sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to be such a brat."
"You're always a brat, but I've forgiven you for it. I was mostly annoyed because you never let me explain, and you went off and put your life at risk. Again. I'm beginning to see a trend, honestly."
"I am not that bad," she muttered.
"Yes, you really are. And stop talking."
Calliope flushed and ducked her head. Bellatrix crossed the room and tilted her chin up, kissing her sweetly on the lips.
"You scared me running off like that. Especially with the fact that your magic was too unstable. You could have really gotten hurt, and I," she cupped her face and kissed her again, "I love you too much to let you go. Like I said earlier, I want to get married. But while you may have made your peace with the Morgana thing, there was so much going through my mind in the tunnels I didn't trust I would say the right thing. I'm sorry if my silence gave the wrong impression, but you should know by now I have my moments where I just need a second of silence to process everything."
"I know. Well, now I know. Luna got on me for acting like a brat. I should not have run away like that earlier. I cannot tell you what was going through my mind to make that okay, but…"
"Promise me you won't do it again?"
"You know that is an empty promise," Calliope joked weakly.
"I know. I just wanted to see if you'd bullshit me to my face." Bellatrix wrapped her arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Let's just move on, alright? We've both had a really long day, and I'd like to go to bed."
"In here?" Calliope blurted.
"Where else would I sleep?"
"But I just thought-
"I was always coming back. And I kind of knew you were still awake." Bellatrix tapped her head. "Your thoughts were glaringly loud. Even Narcissa could hear you," she teased.
"Sorry. It was not on purpose, but yes. Bedtime. I look forward to sleeping in for once."
"No bath first?"
"I thought you wanted to go straight to sleep?"
Calliope made her way toward the bed while Bellatrix opened the door to the bathroom. She rolled her eyes and waited. Calliope turned with a weird look on her face.
"Do I smell jasmine?"
"You're like a bloodhound. And Tom helped me set this up while you were downstairs with Luna. I may have…" she trailed off. "Well, I may have been home a lot longer than I let you think."
Calliope had no idea how to respond. Bellatrix laughed and strolled across the room. She tugged her toward the bathroom and revealed a fully drawn bath with flowers on the floor and candles already lit.
"Are you interested in a bath now, Miss le Fay?" she teased.
Bellatrix wrapped her arms behind her and kissed her neck.
"Absolutely, Miss Forthright."
Bellatrix tensed a little before she relaxed and nipped her ear.
"You should call me that more often," she said. "I need to get used to it."
"Only if you do the same."
"Yes, dear."
The next morning, Calliope searched through her old clothes from when she used to stay with Jean and Dan while Bellatrix caught up on sleep. She grabbed some sweatpants and a tank top, snagging one of her hoodies from the back of her closet. Calliope tugged on a pair of pink fuzzy socks and slid around the manor until she ran into her father. Literally. They collapsed in a heap on the floor, and Calliope smiled sheepishly. She scrambled to her feet, and Tom brushed off his clothes.
"Dare I ask?" he sighed.
"Sorry. I was feeling… nostalgic, I guess."
"What do you mean?"
Calliope shoved her hands in her hoodie pocket and said, "Sometimes, I would have these lazy days with Jean and Dan. We would watch movies, play games, and drink an unhealthy amount of hot cocoa. It was fun, and I- I wanted that feeling again. Even if I'm planning a war."
Tom had an unreadable look on his face for a moment before he asked, "Do you have any more socks?"