Chapter 2: A Sirius Problem
Calamity enjoyed her first two months at Hogwarts immensely. She had worried that attending a boarding school in another country would make her life distracting, but she found with great pleasure that she was still able to sneak into the library unnoticed late at the night and that she could blend quite seamlessly into the background when need be. Lily, Margaret, and Susan were the only friends she really wanted. After all, she wasn't here for friends, she was here to become a healer. She supposed she didn't mind the study partner she found in Remus either. In late October the weather began to turn dark and rainy, washing away all the sunlight from the library windows, taking her peace away with it.
Calamity was reading as she walked back to the commonroom when she heard a commotion down the hall to her right. She looked up from her Advanced Potion Making, glancing again at her intended track, then back to the hallway with the commotion.
With a sigh she marked her spot on Golpalott's Third Law and moved towards the noise, her wand out. Getting closer she could hear voices and laughter.
"I told you, Snivellus, not to call people by that name," said the voice of Sirius Black.
Calamity peaked around the corner to see that Snape was hanging upside down with his slowly turning pink face covered in boils. Sirius had he wand out levitating the poor boy as James Potter grinned from ear to ear with pleasure. Peter was gawfawing on the floor and Remus was looking torn between pleasure and worry. Calamity could see his Prefect badge shimmer, even with the storm raging outside.
"Maybe he needs to go outside to cool of," suggested James, "He looks awfully angry." James flicked his wand and the nearby window opened letting in a howl of rain.
Well that was enough of that. Calamity waved her wand and the window closed as she stepped form her spot.
"I recommend you let him down," she said cooly.
"Ah, the ever elusive Calamity," said Sirius with a wink. "I'm surprised to see you out of the library, or a book at the very least."
"I'm surprised to see you still holding another student upside down with a Prefect in the room," replied Calamity.
Remus flushed with embarrassment.
"Hey, don't be rude to our friend," snapped Sirius, the charming look gone. He let Snape drop to the floor roughly and turned to Calamity. "He's an excellent Prefect."
"Obviously."
Peter looked excitedly from Sirius to Calamity.
"Sirius, let's just-" Remus began, but Sirius cut him off.
"I want to hear from her. After all, she thinks she has the authority to come and ruin our fun."
"You call that fun," ask Calamity. She waved her wand and Sirius swung his creating a barrier around himself. But, she hadn't been aiming for him. Her spell hit Snape in the face and his boil began to disappear.
"That was my BEST boil hex yet," Sirius said outraged. "I've never done such good work and on a deatheater too."
"Sirius," she said "You can't just go around jinxing people in a school."
"Who is this woman, Prongs," whined Sirius motioning to Calamity. James Shrugged.
"Wormtail, who is this?" he turned to Peter who also shrugged.
"Moony?"
"She's right. Let's go Sirius, we've done enough," Remus said quietly.
"He called James a blood traitor," Sirius snapped to Calamity.
"I don't care if he called James a pretty princess flobberworm," said Calamity cooly. "You can't just go around jinxing other students."
"Alright," said Sirius. He put his wand in his robes and held up his hands. "I see where your loyalties lie. Fine." He turned motioning for the marauders to follow him. But he paused just before they turned the corner. "I won't forget your choice." Then he was gone.
Calamity shrugged and walked towards Snape who was starting to stand, his face its' usual pale shade. He looked at her darkly.
"I don't need any help," he snapped before marching off.
"Of course not," Calamity called after him. "I could see you were handling it like a pro!"
Later she retold the story to Lily, Margaret, and Susan who listened with baited breath.
"What an ominous warning," said Susan, almost gleefully.
"Don't take them seriously," Lily said. Her tone was tense. "They shouldn't be messing with Snape anyway. You did the right thing. Remus should have stepped in instead."
"Like he could stop Potter and Black," said Susan. "I'm actually surprised it took them so long, we've been in school almost 2 months and this is the first prank on him. And provoked."
Lily slammed her book shut. "Provoked or not, you can't just bully people." She stood and marched up to the dormitory.
"They use to be friends," explained Margaret. "Never could figure out why. he runs with a bad crowd."
"What do you think Black will do to you," Susan asked curiously. Margaret gave her an incredulous look.
"Calamity does NOT want to discuss Black and his stupid threat, Susan. And neither should you," she scolded.
"Just wondering," shrugged Susan.
Calamity did not have to wait too long before finding out. Just a few days later she was eating lunch when owls arrived dropping Daily Prophets, letters, and packages. Two of the owls began fighting in the air after dropping their letters and the hall turned to see the unusual sight. As suddenly as it had begun, the fight was over and the owls disappeared.
"Wonder what kind of owl drama has been happening in the Owlery," said Susan with a giggle.
"Oh, Calamity," Lily gasped pointing to the letter in front of her. Calamity turned it over to see the official seal of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries- a wand crossed over a bone.
The girls stared at it silently.
"What could it be," whispered Margaret.
"I sent in an application to volunteer this winter," said Calamity, her voice shaking.
"It's very thick for a rejection," said Susan hopefully.
"Which is an odd way of saying I bet you got in," said Lily giving Susan an exasperated look.
"You'd go the whole break," whisperedMargaret. "Even Christmas?"
"Why are you whispering," asked Calamity. "It can't hear us."
"Oh, I'm just so excited," replied Margaret. "Open it!"
"Alright," Calamity said. She tore open the envelope and took out the letter, which had to be almost 5 pages long.
"Read it," whispered Lily.
"Oh yes," agreed Susan, also whispering. "Read it to us."
"One second," Calamity muttered. She reached for her pumpkin juice and took a sip. Her throat felt scratchy so she took another sip, but that seemed to only make it worse. She cleared her throat and began,"To Ms. Clara Ezra-Mahoney." She hiccuped.
"Sorry," Calamity said feeling the scratching increase. She coughed and it came out as a hiccough. She brought the goblet to her nose, her hand shaking as more hiccoughs began to erupt from her mouth, growing in fierceness. The pumpkin juice smelled like pumpkin juice except, there was something else- an almost undetectable difference. Her next hiccough sent the goblet out of her hand.
"Oh, Calamity," said Lily standing.
Calamity was having a hard time breathing in between her fits. She attempted to tell them that she had to go to the Hospital Wing, but her hiccoughs prevented it, so she stood and simply pointed up. The girls nodded.
"I'll come," said Lily grabbing their bags and the letter. Lily pulled Calamity's arm to increase her speed, but Calamity slowed as she saw Sirius Black from the corner of her eye. He was grinning ear to ear, trying to suppress laughter as he watched. Calamity stopped, looking at him dead in the eyes, concentrating very hard on her breathing so as not to pass out from lack of air as another fit hit.
He thought he could embarrass her with hiccoughs? Ha! Well, she'd take the wind right from his sails. Calamity walked determinedly at her usual pace, ignoring her hiccoughs as they wracked through her, staring at Sirius Black.
See, your immature prank isn't even successful, Calamity thought and she was pleased to see that Sirius' smiled slowly turned to a frown.
Once they reached the Entrance hall out of sight, Calamity rushed to the Hospital Wing. Her triumph over Sirius helped her ignore Madam Pomfrey's scoldings, "it would have only taken me a tap of my wand if you had come right at the start, instead of dilly dallying!"
Later, Calamity sat in the library looking over her Advanced Potion Making.
"Elixir to Induce Euphoria induces a sense of irrational happiness upon the drinker. Though it is traditionally used to cure depression, it has also been used to help treat more serious injuries that may be causing the victim an extreme amount of pain. Some side effects include excessive singing and nose-tweaking." Calamity underlined for depression, then turned back to the essay at hand.
"Discuss the benefits and difficulties of choosing between the Cheering Charm and an Elixir to Induce Euphoria," she pondered out loud. She turned back to the paragraph she had just finished.
"Blimey you make it look difficult."
Calamity slowly lowered her book just enough to see that Sirius Black was standing next to her table looking bored.
"What are you doing here," asked Calamity, moving her book back up to cover his smug face. "I thought you were allergic to the Library."
"Padfoot" Peters voice said from behind the book "We're suppose to meet Moony and Prongs soon."
"Just wanted to check in after your embarrassing little episode this morning," Sirius said ignoring Peter.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean," Calamity said. She scratched a few notes on her parchment- Cheering charm had the benefit of being ready with a wave of a wand, where as the Elixir to Induce Euphoria needed to be brewed. What a brewing ti was too!
"Your hiccoughing fit. Some people just can't handle their pumpkin juice, I suppose."
"Oh, was that embarrassing," asked Calamity lowering the book so that it lay on the table. "I didn't notice." She made a sympathetic face. "I hope you weren't disappointed."
Sirius' face was neutral, but his lip twitched. Peter tugged at his shoulder again. "Let's go, Padfoot."
"Yes," Calamity agreed looking at the charms book on her other side and scanning for the cheering charm. She put her finger on the paragraph tht discussed it's application. "Go, Padfoot."
After they disappeared, Calamity let out a breathe she didn't realize she was holding. Well, at least she could fake the confidence. She spotted Lily looking around and waved. Lily sat down and brought out her Charm essay, noticing Calamity's potions book. Lily opened the Charm book and brought out the letter from the morning.
"Calamity, I forgot to give you this."
"I still haven't read it," whispered Lily. Calamity smiled and opened it.
"To Ms. Clara Ezra-Mahoney:
After careful consideration of your qualifications we at St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries are happy to accept your application to volunteer December 20th through January 1st. You will find attached the necessary paperwork including emergency contact, allergies, and previous vaccinations necessary to work with some of our most vulnerable patients. Ensure that these arrive a week prior to your arrival for a smooth start date.
Do not hesitate to contact me if there are any pressing issues and changes.
Sincerely,
Edward Bones
Healer-in Charge of Magical Bugs & Diseases
Chief Mediwizard of Recruitment"
"Oh, wow," Lily said looking over the letter as Calamity flipped through the paperwork she'd need to fill out. She flipped to the last page- a warning that He-Who-Must-Not-Name had targeted St. Mungos in the past and that all volunteer must accept the risk that this might pose.
"Oh, wow," Calamity agreed.
The rest of the month crept by slowly. When it got too unmanageable or aggravating Calamity took out her letter and reread it. Without all the other paperwork, now sent in safely, she could easily fit the letter in her pocket.
Finally the last week of term came and with it, the anticipation of St. Mungo's. Though Calamity was excited and chipper, the weather did not reflect it. Calamity woke to find hail and rain howling outside. In the Great Hall the sky showed thunder and lightning in the enchanted sky.
"Hey, Calamity, I just heard that Care of Magical Creatures is canceled," said Alice, a Ravenclaw in Calamity's class. "The rains too thick and the airs too cold."
"Might be an ice storm coming," Susan said looking through the weather section of the Prophet.
"Thanks for letting me know," said Calamity. Alice smiled and caught up with her friends.
"My horoscope does not look good," Susan said seriously. She turned to the front of the paper and began reading the headlines with a concerned look.
"That gives you a free period," Margaret said jealously. "I knew I should have dropped divination."
"Oh, Merlin," Susan groaned. "Bellatrix Lestrange attacked a muggle Village outside of Belfast. The aurors got there in time to save most of them."
"It's getting pretty bad," Lily said, her face etched with worry."Anyone we know missing?"
Susan turned to the last page and scanned as the girls waited with bated breath. "No. No new names. Still no sign of Elizabeth Clearwater's dad, though."
Margaret checked her watch "Divination time," she said standing.
"And Ancient Runes," Lily agreed.
"I'll walk you," Calamity said standing and gathering her things.
"What will you be doing," asked Margaret. But before Calamity could answer the three girls said "Library," together.
"Haha," Calamity said with a smile. "Very funny. For your information, it's for pleasure."
"Yuck," replied Susan before waving and walking with Margaret and Lily up the oppose stairwell and out of sight.
Calamity found Pride and Prejudice in the Muggle Studies section of the library. She had never read it and had been aching to do so, but never seemed to have free time. She checked the book out and began to walk and read, carefully dodging the passing first and second years rushing by.
"IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. `My dear Mr. Bennet,'' said his lady to him one day, ``have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?''Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.`But it is,'' returned she; ``for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.'' Mr. Bennet made no answer.`Do not you want to know who has taken it?'' cried his wife impatiently.`You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.'' This was invitation enough.`Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.''`What is his name?''`Bingley.''`Is he married or single?''`Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!'"
Calamity turned the page and continued. By the third chapter she felt a sharp nudge of her arm as a Hufflepuff hurried passed, apologizing over his shoulder. Calamity paused and looked around, finding herself in an unfamiliar tower next to a window, the storm raging outside. Now more aware of her surroundings she heard a faint calling. She frowned and strained her hearing. She couldn't quite make it out. The rain was coming down and making it hard to see through the window, but Calamity could see a blurry figure outside, seeming to attempt to make it to the door, but the wind kept blowing the figure back. Maybe a house elf? She ought to help the poor wet thing.
Calamity rushed down the stairs and found her way to the entrance hall. She pushed open the door to see if she could spot anything. But the figure was no where to be seen. Perhaps she had taken too long and it had managed by itself? SHould she go out into the storm to look? She took out her wand, still peaking out the door.
"Odd," she said to herself. She was just about to retreat back into the entrance hall to put a water repellent charm on herself, when she felt a push from behind and her wand snatched her hands. The door closed behind her and she was in the ice cold rain looking at the door. She heard a loud sound of metal turning. She attempted to open the doors, but knew she would find. Sure enough, they were locked.
She drew her hood, putting her bag underneath her robes to the best of her ability and walked hurriedly to a window near by. There was Sirius Black leaning on his arm lazily, looking very pleased with himself, twirling her wand between his fingers. He spotted her and waved enthusiastically.
Git.
She could feel the ice water soaking into her uniform. She spotted the Herbology greenhouses. It would be warm there. Unfortunately, they were all locked. Standing outside the last Greenhouse she spotted Venous Tentacula. Maybe it was best that she couldn't go in. There was a crash of thunder and the icy rain increased. She was officially soaked through.
She spotted the groundkeeper's hut and rushed over, banging on the door. The giant man opened the door. Spotting the shivering figure he picked her up and dropped her inside. The hut was small but homey, and most importantly, it was warm. She rushed to the fire.
"What are yer doin' in a storm like this," raged the giant man. "Didn' yer hear that classes outside are canceled?"
"Got locked out," Calamity shivered. The giant man's face softened with pity.
"Give me yer robe," He said gruffly taking it and hanging it to dry. Calamity began checking her books. Most were undamaged, though her Standard Book of Spells Year Six had a small puddle forming on it's binding closest to the bag's opening. The pages were still dry though, so it would survive.
"Names Hagrid," the giant man said pouring her some tea. She sipped it eagerly, happily tasting peppermint.
"I'm Calamity," she said.
"Never heard a name so fitting," Hagrid chuckled. "So, Calamity, how did yer get locked out?"
Calamity took another sip and shrugged, "Same way everyone gets locked out. The door was locked."
"And yer couldn' magic her open?"
"No wand."
"Tryin' ter catch yer death?"
"Just making new friends."
Hagrid's face broke into a smile underneath his huge beard and he laughed, hitting the table with a thunder-like bang and making Calamity jump.
"Alright, I can tell when I'm not wanted ter know somthin," Hagrid said finally. "How bout this, I'll take yer to get a butterbeer, been wanting to see Rosmerta as it was. She'll fix you up."
Calamity beamed remembering her stop at the Three Broomsticks with Lily, Susan, and Margaret. Hagrid picked up a pink umbrella and opened it carefully outside of the door.
"Sometimes yer got to do it the Muggle way," Hagrid said, motioning for her to join him under the umbrella.
