Author's notes: Yes, yes I know. I took a really long time to put this up. I haven't Ben spending much time on the computer and I thought I owed my readers at least Chapter Six and my sister told me to put this up by tomorrow cause my school starts on Monday! The horror of it all!!!! Morning session… Three whole years of waking up in the morning!!! I'm so doomed! I shall not prolong your torture any longer. Go read! REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please? ~Lady Lanya Artemisan~
Comments for previous chapter reviewers:
Drunken Little Monkey: Adrienne is anything but another Charmaine. Zie Wei will most probably gag from being referred to as another Charmaine. And yes, apples are good…
WhetherRose: The events were serious? I'm frightened now… I'm glad it is fun to read because it's meant to be that way! ^_^ I'm sorry if all the new characters are confusing you. The female bonding thing came out of nowhere. I was writing and it just came out and I just kept writing and didn't… really… realize… what I was umm… writing… hmm… I have to pay more attention to what I write……
Bessyboo: I'm SOOOOO sorry!!!!!!! Gomenasai!!!! I can't help you though if you don't tell me what confuses you. *pout* Me sorry. *sniff* Hope you understood better the second time round.
Karma50: You'll have to read on to find out what happens then won't you… *grins evilly*
Shadow Phantom: You don't have to worry too much 'bout that. I forget sometimes too, you know. After all, we're only humans right? Right? Oh well, anyway thanks for the compliment. And you don't have to worship me just because I gave you the idea to start a mailing list… ^_^;;; Hope you have fun err… condemning people to an eternity? Hope you enjoy the chapter…
The Problem with Teenagers
~Chapter Six~ The Journey up HogwartsIt's been ten minutes since Calliope went out of the compartment. The Gryffindors waited in silence as they heard soft thuds in the corridor. The train was still in total darkness with the exception of the Gryffindor Fifth-year's. Remus' fire cackled slightly in the silence of the compartment.
'This is starting to get creepy,' muttered James.
'Don't we all know, Potter,' said Rachel.
Sirius started to fidget and Peter started to look around nervously.
'A Dementor isn't going to pop out any moment, Pettigrew. Stop looking around as if it would,' snapped Charmaine.
James put his hand on Peter's shoulder and they elapsed in silence once more.
Bill started sobbing lightly.
'What's the matter, Bill?' asked Deborah lightly.
'I miss my family,' said Bill softly. 'I never felt so lonely in my life since I was three.'
'It's going to be all right,' said Lily as she laid a comforting arm around Bill's small shoulders.
Suddenly the lights flickered back to life and the train gave a jolt. The train speakers sounded as the train driver spoke.
"Sorry for the interruption. We had some technical difficulties and now that the power is back online and we will continue our journey to Hogwarts School. Thank you."
'That's odd. The Hogwarts Express never had any problems before,' said Adrienne. 'More or less technical difficulties.'
'I wonder where Calliope went to?' said Remus as he let the fire he held die out.
'Probably in another compartment,' said Sirius uncaringly.
'Probably,' said Phoenix darkly.
The Gryffindors went on as if nothing had happened except Phoenix, who stared out the window, her bright violet eyes darkening to a dark mauve as she looked into the passing scenery and already dark sky.
~*~*~
The Gryffindors trudged into the carriages as the rain poured lightly on the pathway. Lily and Phoenix kept looking out for Calliope but still couldn't find her. They went into an empty carriage and they continued their journey up Hogwarts with two Gryffindor sixth-years.
As the carriage came to a stop, they got out and went up the staircase to where the other girls were waiting for them.
'Where's Calliope?' asked Adrienne.
'I don't know. We didn't see her at the station,' said Lily.
'I'm sure Calli can take care of herself. We'd better go into the Great Hall. We don't want to miss the Sorting,' said Charmaine.
'I'm sure Calli will join us when she gets here. She's most probably in one of the back carriages,' said Deborah.
'Come on,' said Rachel and the six girls walked up the rest of the staircase and into the castle.
The Sorting went by without event. And with the last First-year sorted ['Weasley, William!' "Gryffindor!"], the Sorting ended and with a few words from the Headmaster, the feast began.
Conversations were exchanged all along the Gryffindor table. Phoenix looked around worriedly searching in vain for the silver-haired Gryffindor. She jabbed Lily lightly.
'I don't see Calli!' she muttered urgently.
'She's probably with someone else down the table,' Lily said dismissively.
'Look!' Phoenix said as she grabbed Lily's head and turned it to her left, down the table. 'No bright shining light being reflected by a silver-haired girl we all know and love. Over there. Longhaired blond Ravenclaw boy whose name we are all so familiar with. What is it? Falcon Silver. Calli isn't here, Lil!' Phoenix said exasperatedly.
'Calm down, Phil. I'm sure she'll turn up later,' said Lily unnerved.
'What if she doesn't? What if she's hurt? You know how she's like,' said Phoenix.
'Phoenix, you've got to calm down. Nothing bad is going to happen to Calliope. You're just freaked out she missed the Sorting. She'll be here for dinner,' said Lily.
'You know what. Maybe you're right. I should get a hold off myself. I'm the coolest girl in Gryffindor. I'm calm. I'm happy. Smile,' she muttered.
'You're the cool one, Phoenix, not the calm one. That's Cal. I'm the bubbly one. You and smile don't go together well,' said Lily blandly, taking a spoonful of mashed potato and putting it in her mouth.
'Right. I'm cool. I'm cool. Relax. Eat dinner,' muttered Phoenix and she launched herself onto the food.
~*~*~
'Okay Phil. You can panic now,' said Lily as she came down the common room after making sure the first-year girls were asleep.
'Huh?' Phoenix replied as she turned to face Lily from staring at the fireplace.
'Cal is nowhere in sight. She wasn't at the feast. She didn't see the Sorting. She wasn't with me when we led the first-years up. She isn't in the dorm. She's disappeared,' said Lily.
'What are we going to do now?' said Phoenix. 'Should we tell a professor?'
'I'm not sure,' said Lily. 'I mean she could have seen a professor or something.'
'You know what. We should wait till tomorrow. If she isn't in the dorm in the morning, we're telling my mum,' said Phoenix.
'Right. Come on. Let's go to bed,' said Lily.
~*~*~
'That's a nasty cut you got there, Miss Silver,' said a man.
'I know. Hurts like a dagger being stabbed in my arm,' said Calliope, touching her wound lightly. 'I really appreciate you letting me stay on the train a while until I can move, Master Dian,' she said again.
'No worries, Miss Silver. Just call me Tallinn,' said Tallinn, the train driver.
'Calliope,' she replied.
'You'd better clean that there wound you know. Might get infections,' he said as he handed her a gauze.
'Thanks,' she said, taking the gauze and holding it over her wound.
'Here. Let me help you,' Tallinn said, taking a bottle of lotion and applying it on her wound before she pressed over it again firmly while he secured the bandage.
'There. All done. Mistress Tilaia Aesculapius will be able to heal you better but this is as much as I can do,' he said.
'I appreciate it, Master Tallinn,' said Calliope.
'You're very welcome then, Miss Calliope,' Tallinn said with a grin.
'It's starting to get dark,' he said looking out into the sky at Hogsmeade station. 'We'd better be getting to back to school. Can't be depriving them of you now, can we?'
Calliope gave him a small smile.
'I suppose not. My friends will be worried sick,' said Calliope.
'Then Mistress Aesculapius will be having a field day with patients to worry over,' chuckled Tallinn.
'Can you stand, love?' Tallinn asked getting to his feet.
'I'll try,' she said as she unsteadily tried standing up.
Tallinn caught her before she fell.
'Guess not. I suppose I'll walk you up to the school of yours and might as well be explaining the your professors there what happened,' he said, holding her waist to support her.
'Master Tallinn?' said Calliope suddenly.
'Yes?' he replied.
'Can you keep it secret? What happened earlier? I'd rather the professors and students not know,' she said quietly.
'All right. If that's what you wish,' he said sceptically.
'Thank you,' she said quietly.
'Come on then. Let's be going. If we hurry we can make it there before it get too dark to see,' Tallinn said.
'Come Aglaia,' Calliope said and the falcon started flapping her wings and walked towards them.
'Nice name. Aglaia. One of the three Greek Graces. Brilliance is what she represents,' Tallinn said thoughtfully as they made their way up to Hogwarts, with Aglaia gliding up ahead of them.
'Right. Were you a Ravenclaw in Hogwarts?' she inquired.
'Not a chance. I myself was a Hufflepuff. Was hoping to get into Gryffindor but Hufflepuff wasn't too bad either,' he said.
'A Hufflepuff? And Falcon couldn't figure it out. A Ravenclaw indeed.'
~*~*~
'She's not in bed,' Lily said. 'We shall all officially panic now.'
'Who's not in bed, Lil?' yawned Charmaine.
'Calliope. We haven't seen hide or hair of her seen that train thing,' yawned Phoenix.
'Hmm? What talkin' bout?' murmured Adrienne sleepily.
'Calli not here. Something 'bout panic, train and hair,' muttered Rachel from under her covers.
'Kay,' murmured Adrienne as she dropped back onto her bed asleep again.
'Get up, Tyler!' said Lily as Phoenix stumbled into the bathroom.
'Hmmph!' was all that replied her.
'It is morning, the time you wake up not go back to sleep,' said Lily again, shaking Adrienne.
Adrienne slapped her hands away and grunted and turned away from her.
'You'll never wake her that way, Evans,' muttered Rachel as she got up to go to the bathroom.
'So how will I be able to wake her,' said Lily frustrated.
'Here, let me,' Phoenix said as she walked over to Adrienne's bed while Deborah went into the bathroom as well.
Phoenix stood next to Lily and gave Adrienne a great shove and with a "Thud!" she landed on the floor between her bed and Charmaine's.
'What'd you do that for?' Adrienne grumbled as she got off the floor, rubbing her eyes.
'I don't know,' Phoenix shrugged.
'You pushed my off my bed and you don't know why? I'm going to murder you!' she said threateningly.
'Don't ask me why. I was just assisting Lily,' said Phoenix lightly walking back towards her own bed.
'Go wash up or you'll miss breakfast,' said Lily.
'Mmmph,' was Adrienne's reply as she stumbled into the bathroom as Rachel emerged.
After mush grumbling and stumbling, they all got ready and all headed down for breakfast.
'FOOD!' Adrienne, Charmaine and Phoenix all shouted at the same time and started piling food on their plates.
The rest of them could clearly see Sirius and James doing the same on the other side of the table.
'You'd think it's going to be the end of the world by the way they're eating,' muttered Lily.
'To them, it will be the end of the world if they don't eat,' Lily heard someone say behind her.
Lily turned to see Remus walking calmly towards her with Peter trailing behind him.
'Hey Remus. Morning Peter,' Lily greeted.
'Morning,' Peter muttered and hurried into the Hall.
'What's up with him?' Lily said confused.
'Morning. He's just being extra shy today,' said Remus with a smile.
'Oh. Okay,' Lily replied.
Remus looked around as the two sat down at the Gryffindor table.
'Where's Calliope?' he asked.
'I'm uh… not really sure,' she stammered.
Remus shrugged and started eating his breakfast. Lily got up and tapped Phoenix's shoulder. Phoenix waved her away.
'I'll tell her later,' Phoenix said, knowing why Lily came over.
'Go tell her now,' Lily urged.
'Later. Breakfast,' Phoenix replied, stuffing more food into her mouth.
'Phil? Lily?' someone said from behind them.
The two girls turned to see Professor Nightingale standing behind them.
'Hello professor,' said Lily.
'Hi mum,' Phoenix said, swallowing her food.
'Where's Calliope?' she inquired.
'Well, professor. We were meaning to tell you,' Lily said pointedly to Phoenix.
'We haven't seen Calli since she went out of the compartment yesterday when the train stopped. There you happy now?' Phoenix said to Lily.
'Yes,' was Lily's cool reply.
'Wait, wait. Slow down. What?' Professor Nightingale said.
'Calli's been missing since the train stop incident yesterday,' Deborah said from beside Phoenix.
'And you didn't come straight to me?' said Professor Nightingale.
'Well, we wanted to be sure,' Phoenix said slowly.
'I find you impossible sometimes,' Professor Nightingale said. 'Next time something like this happens, come straight to me or any other professor, understand?'
'Yes ma'am,' they murmured.
With that, Professor Nightingale left.
'You're mum sure is upset,' said Rachel.
'What'd you expect if your kid didn't come straight to you when one of their friends go missing?' said Deborah.
The timetables were handed out and they all filed out to their first classes.
~*~*~
'Where's Silver?' James asked as Remus sat down next to him in the Transfiguration room.
'I don't know. Do I look like her nanny to you?' said Remus.
'Yeah,' Sirius said brightly.
'Shut up, Padfoot,' snapped Remus.
'You seem to hang out with her a lot, so I thought it appropriate to ask you,' said James slyly.
'I'm not her boyfriend so stuff it,' said Remus.
'Whatever you say, Moony,' said Sirius.
~*~*~
'Thank for bringing me up, Master Tallinn,' said Calliope as she limped towards the door.
'No sweat, Miss Calliope. Are you sure you don't want me to explain to your professors?' he asked.
'I'm sure,' she replied. 'Goodbye, Master Tallinn. I'll see you round.'
'Be seeing you,' he replied as he went off.
Calliope grasped the handle and limped into the Entrance Hall.
'Miss Silver?' a woman gasped.
Calliope turned and saw Professor Nightingale, looking very worried, with Professor Dumbledore.
'Professor Nightingale, Headmaster Dumbledore,' she greeted, inclining her head at the two professors.
'Ah, it seems Miss Silver has found her way back. My, it seems you have managed to sustain a rather nasty injury there on your right leg, Miss Silver,' he said.
'Uh, quite,' Calliope mumbled.
'I'm sure Tilaia would be more than obliged to clean that up for you. Come now,' he said.
'Florence, you'd better get to your class. I'll make sure Miss Silver's injury is taken cared off,' said Professor Dumbledore with a smile.
'Of course, Headmaster. Calliope, I'll want to see you in my office at lunch if you're better or I'll come to the hospital wing. Is that understood?' she said firmly.
'Yes, professor,' Calliope answered as Professor Dumbledore helped her up the staircase to the hospital wing.
Review Plea: How is it? Good? Bad? Stupid? Confusing? Ridiculously humorous? Review??? Please? *Lanya starts tearing in the eye and her bottom lip starts to tremble* Leave a review for me, please? Pretty please?
Author's Note: Well, I hope it isn't too bad cause I'm just finishing this off and posting it up. I'm starting school tomorrow!!!! AAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! God damn it…… anyhow, I might not be able to write as often as I used too, so don't get your hopes up. I've got homework, and my librarian duties, and house practice and all kinds of funny stuff to do. And who can forget the dreaded PMR!!!!!!!!!! That's an exam for Form Three students for those of you who don't know or are overseas and not from Malaysia or Singapore or wherever else country that has PMR……… WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!! I'm so so dead… but I'll try to write up my story as frequent as possible so you guys can read it. I got to stop here cause it's 12.48 here and I don't mean in the afternoon. Byez! Love always, ~Lady Lanya Artemisan~
Disclaimer: All I own here is the plot, Calliope Silver, her brother Falcon Silver, Phoenix Nightingale, her mother Professor Florence Nightingale, Master Tallinn Dian the train driver, Mistress Tilaia Aesculapius the Hogwarts matron and the bottle of lotion. Rachel Byrne and Charmaine Durst's first names belong to my friends whose first names I borrowed and put into the story. Adrienne Tyler's behaviour mostly belongs to my friend. Deborah Augustin is owned by herself and I hope her cousin is well and herself as well… (okay, okay, I know I've crapped to much in a disclaimer but who cares?)