Author's Note: Please forgive me when things in the rewrites do not correspond with chapters that have not been rewritten yet. They will get fixed eventually.
Disclaimer: Most things are not my own, and please do not steal the few things that are. Merci.
Playing with Fire
By Godforsaken
Chapter Two.
Calandra blinked sleepily as she peered out the window of the Hogwarts Express and into the winter predawn. It was six o'clock in the morning. Every cell in her body screamed that it was time to go to sleep now.
Where the hell was Draco?
She closed her eyes and reached out to see if she could sense him, but it did no good. Her powers were severely drained from living in the sun for so many weeks—she was looking forward to some time to replenish them, even if it was only a two-week vacation.
She sighed and leant her forehead against the windowpane, curling up into an even tighter ball.
Was this really a good idea, inviting a human being into the lair of three vampires? Common sense told her it wasn't. Not like she made much of a habit of listening to common sense very often, but still
Ah well, no backing out now. Draco was making his way towards the train.
Dismal morning, she greeted him as he entered the compartment a minute later.
Yes, it is, he concurred, collapsing into a seat. I am never getting up at three in the morning again. I'll pack the night before next time.
Calandra gave a slight laugh. At least the big ball of fire in the sky isn't quite out yet.
What does that have to do with anything? Draco inquired.
It interferes with feeling sorry for yourself, she explained. And personally, too much light too early gives me a headache.
Sucks to be you, was Draco's sympathetic reply. Is that why you never go outside?
Your powers of stating the obvious astound me.
There was a moment of comfortable silence before Calandra spoke again. I don't believe I've warned you of my families oddities, or indeed spoken of them to you at all
Draco paused. No, I don't believe you have, actually.
She raised her eyebrows. Oh, dear. I should probably do that before we arrive; we're a bit eccentric
Draco waved this away, as the train lurched into motion. Eh, so's my family.
Most wizarding families are, she reminded him. You'd still be pretty hard-pressed to beat mine.
Draco rolled his eyes. Come on, you know every teenager thinks their family's the weirdest.
She gave a lazy smile. Is that a challenge? she inquired, raising an eyebrow.
responded, amused at his friend's mannerism. I challenge you—he mimed thwacking her with a glove—to make good your boast.
Very well. She sat up straight. Point the first, we are not an ordinarily related family unit, in that my father is not my father, my mother is not my mother, etc. I think we're all connected to the same family, but bastards, which is why we've all banded together. You'd have to see it on paper to figure out the relations, but for all intents and purposes, my mother's Indian, my father's French, my sister's Spanish and I'm Greek.
So you've just sort of banded together?
Calandra nodded as something in her brain snorted, Gullible human. Outcasts do that. Well-known sociological fact. Not like I know anything about actual sociology she trailed off. Sorry. Tired. And I know it sounds ridiculous.
That's alright.
No, it isn't; it's ridiculous and you should've caught it. our idea of a holiday celebration is going to be to sit around in the living room and make fun of it for about fifteen minutes because we can't all stand each other's company for longer than that, so I hope you don't mind that there'll be no big dinner or anything.
Perfectly fine.
In fact, we don't eat much at all in general. But I'll be happy to cook for you; I like cooking but it's just not warranted often enough in my household.
You don't have house-elves? Technically Draco knew this was an abominably rude question, but he had been raised to be abominably rude like that.
Calandra shrugged. Don't need them; my father's compulsive enough. Pause. I have a pet snake. I hope you like snakes.
What kind of snake?
Red boa.
Drat. Not poisonous.
Calandra grinned. I tried, but Mummy Soneille wouldn't let me. Wouldn't even let me get a constrictor.
Poor you. Anything else?
We're nocturnal.
Draco paused. I think you've made good your boast.
Calandra laughed. You'll get used to it.
I daresay it'll be fun, he grinned.
Hope so. Thoughtful pause. I believe that's it. We're generally lunatics. You'll fit right in once we all get used to each other and loosen up. She sounded almost optimistic.
For an ice-cold moment they simply looked at one another, wondering what they'd gotten themselves into. Then Calandra winked and settled back in her seat, retreating into her own thoughts.
And the train rolled on.