Disclaimer: I don't own anything save for my own ideas.

Bloody Kitsune: Why am I so angsty sometimes? I guess it has to do with the fact that I wrote so much fluffy shit or something like that. Damn, this makes me fear what I'm going to write when Calla discovers the joys of being a teenager...I'm going to be fucked aren't I?

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FANactic Writer: Candy Cane would be the first one to join up with you. I hope you enjoy this one as well.

Valentines day interlude

Once back at Hogwarts, Calla and everyone else fell into an easy rhythm. Classes were slowly getting harder, the school seemed to be settling down for the most part since no more victims of the basilisk had been found. The lack of attacks immediately caused those that knew about the Diary and it's connection to one Ginny Weasley realize what had been going on. Needless to say, everyone was pretty happy that the connection between the two had been broken back during Christmas break. The fan-girl was showing signs of recovery which relieved Calla if only because the kid was the younger sister of a good friend and two almost friends. Of course, they did have to deal with the snake at some point, but that would probably only occur closer to the end of the year when they could focus on it.

Calla walked into the great hall only to freeze and look at the pink covered place in horror. Granted, she didn't mind Valentines day for the most part since it was an excuse to eat chocolate and apparently one of the best days to kill oblivious people. She actually somewhat liked the day especially when she got to watch Toby try and, usually fail very badly at it, flirt with Eyeless Jack mostly by giving the cannibal a heart from one of his victims. Today on the other hand, she felt a sense of horror and dread fill her to the brim as she stared at the Great Hall which was covered in enough pink to make even Sally cringe in disgust. Gagging at the disgusting sight, she backed out of the great hall and grabbed a stunned Vivian on the way.

They hid inside one of the abandoned classrooms after getting enough food to last them until classes were over. Vivian shivered violently as they finished locking the classroom with every locking charm they knew, "Who the fuck is stupid enough to do something like that?"

"Lockhart," Calla dropped down onto a beanbag chair that she transfigured from an old desk, "Dear Creator, I wanted to puke,"

"There is such a thing as too much pink," Vivian shudder violently.

"I think Sally would agree with you," Calla muttered as she transfigured a second chair and Vivian slumped against it, "Think we'll miss anything important?"

"Nope," Vivian shook her head as she grabbed one of the danishes they'd picked up.

Calla took out her scarcely used phone and texted Candy Pop, 'Cover for Viv and I?'

'I guess. Your dad's going to be annoyed at you missing school,' Candy Pop replied.

'Papa will understand especially if you send him a pic of the great hall. Dear Creator, I think even Sally would puke at the sight of it,' Calla was definitely going to avoid the color pink for awhile.

Candy Pop sent her a green sick emoji, 'Probably. Want me to grab your school work?'

'Please,' Calla made herself a breakfast sandwich, 'We're set for food until dinner,'

'Smart,' Candy Pop replied, 'Make sure you keep the door locked, the pedo hired dwarves dressed up as cupids to deliver valentines. They'll also sing apparently,'

"Oh god," Calla was very glad she hadn't started eating yet and showed Vivian the text plus the picture Candy Pop sent her of a dwarf.

"Holy shit! We're so fucking staying here all day," Vivian shuddered at the sight.

Calla nodded in agreement as she began eating her food, 'Text me when I need to summon you here.'

'Gotcha,' Candy Pop sent a thumbs up, 'See you, Little One,'

"I am so glad he's willing to help us out," Vivian commented as Calla put her phone away.

"Ditto," Calla swallowed the food in her mouth before grabbing one of the water jugs.

Rather than drink it out right, Calla took out a piece of black lined grey paper earning a curious look from Vivian, "What's that?"

"Something LJ and I came up with awhile ago," Calla answered as she poured some water onto the paper, "It'll tell us if there is any potions present," The paper turned a soft green, "Looks like we're good,"

"You really think that asshole would potion us?" Vivian asked as Calla poured herself a glass of water.

"Either him or someone else, why do you think I drink water or milk while we're at school?" Calla took a drink before going back to her sandwich, "Water is easy to test and potions don't work when added to milk because of the calcium. It spoils milk and turns it a rather nasty green color,"

"Really?" Vivian looked at the hybrid curiously, "I didn't know that. The whole calcium part. How come?"

"I'd be surprised if you did considering the fact only potions masters or those with a really good grounding them know about it like healers," Calla took a bite of her sandwich as she dredged up what she'd read in her mother's notes on the subject "The calcium acts as a nullifying agent that pulls apart the bonds that form between the various ingredients. Certain potions are able to circumvent it like the one I took last year, they're specially made to accept and use any calcium to help along the process of what it's made to do,"

"But what about if someone drinks milk before or after taking a potion?" Calla was somewhat surprised by how curious Vivian was.

Vivian didn't like potions or it could be that she didn't like their teacher. Calla would definitely have to ask once she'd answered the other girl's questions, "The acid in our stomach and our magic creates a barrier that prevents it from doing that even if the potion is harmful. I don't exactly know why that is since Mama never got a chance to research it and I'm mostly going off her notes," She looked at Vivian curiously, "Viv, do you actually like potions?"

"Not really," Vivian actually flushed a bit, "Can I be truthful?" Calla nodded, "I really like chemistry, Cal. What chemicals make up what and how the affect the world around them, it's really interesting,"

"You should talk to LJ or Toby since they're pretty good at it though mostly Jackie," Calla offered up feeling just a bit surprised, "Toby mostly likes finding the best way to make something go boom while LJ has to know a lot in order to make some of his more dangerous candies. In fact, you can probably learn a lot about various sciences from Jackie,"

Vivian looked a bit surprised and hesitant, "Do you think he'd be willing to teach me?"

"If you ask nicely and aren't a pain in the ass towards him, he'll probably be willing since he likes talking about that kind of thing when he isn't on a job or working on a playmate," Calla smiled warmly at her friend, "I'll even call in one of the favors he owes me if it'll help,"

Vivian's eyes widened at the offer not that Calla was surprised since favors weren't given out easily in their world, "R-really?"

"Sure, you're my first friend that actually my age after all and pretty much one of my best-friends," Calla grinned a bit, "Not that I think a favor will be necessary since LJ's starting to like you a lot especially after making Jeff throw a fit about you learning to use a gun,"

That had been hilarious especially when Vivian ended up screaming at Jeff that just because he's her sperm donor doesn't mean he's her father, he didn't get to say shit about what she learned. If he wasn't going to act like a dad or actually try to get to know her properly, he could can it. Granted the whole thing had involved more curse words and quite a bit of screaming on both parts, Slenderman had to pretty much work Jeff down to the bone to keep the ever-smiling killer from killing his daughter after a rather harsh beat down. Needless to say, the relationship between Vivian and Jeff wasn't exactly the best even with certain people trying to pull them together. Vivian snorted at Calla's comment, "Of course he does."

Calla decided to move onto a diffrent topic since Vivian would likely become very moody if she didn't. Considering the fact that they'd be spending the day together, the hybrid did not want to deal with a moody Vivian. Offering the other girl a curious look, she asked, "How are those lessons going anyway?"

"Not bad, Masky said that if I kept up the good work, he'd let me keep a pistol," Vivian grinned looking pleased with herself.

Calla was a little surprised since Masky could be a perfectionist, but admitted that it was probably a very good thing. Vivian's mood had improved since she started learning how to shoot. It was due to the other girl having something she was better at than the hybrid and the fact she'd be able to fight rather than hide from an enemy eventually. Granted, they'd both be hiding if they really encountered an actual threat until their snapping day, but it was the principle that mattered. Vivian began explaining what Masky was having her learn to an interested hybrid who hadn't gone as far as the other in said training since the proxy had decided that guns were completely off-limits to her no matter how funny shooting Jeff in the ass by accident had been.

Calla just wasn't a good marksmen which suited the hybrid just fine. She preferred the thought of being close to her targets/enemies during a fight. If she needed to do something at long range, she had her marionettes to do it if throwing knives or spell casting wouldn't work for the situation. Maybe she should look into more ways to fight long range just in case, you could never be too prepared after all.

Candy Pop's lie about the two girls having to do some non-magical tests was met with quite a bit of surprise since no one had realized either of them did non-magical school work. Because of this, they would be facing quite a few questions that only Vivian would have a hard time answering since she wasn't that big on non-magical school work. Granted, it wasn't quite a lie on Calla's part since she was using the time to work on her online school work and prepare herself for the tests she'd be taking during the coming summer. Depending on how she did, the hybrid might just be graduating High school this year which was something her teachers back at the mansion and town were quite proud of. Even if she didn't graduate during the summer, she'd be able to take the tests again during winter holidays and would probably have no problem whatsoever graduating once she knew what to expect. Either way, a party would likely be thrown to celebrate and she'd probably start looking at college courses to take. The online versions and summer courses only though since she was still going to Hogwarts.

Vivian stared at Calla in shock as she choked out, "Just how fucking smart are you?"

Calla flushed lightly and shrugged, "Pretty smart if I can graduate from High School at thirteen."

Vivian stared at her for a few moments before shaking her head, "You know what, I don't give a fuck. It's awesome that you're so smart. Mind helping me with the non-magical school work I have?"

"No problem," Calla felt the tight feeling in her chest ease at the fact Vivian wasn't angry at her for being more intellectually intelligent.

Vivian seemed to see the relief on her face and snorted, "Cal, I'm not going to be pissed at you for being smarter than me when it comes to shit like this. It's actually really amazing and I'm kind of surprised you don't lord it over everyone."

"Why would I?" Calla looked at her in confusion.

"Because most kids our age with your kind of intelligence can be fucking jerks," Vivian replied with a shrug, "They think they're better than everyone else especially when they graduate from High School sooner than usual,"

Calla just shook her head, "That sounds stupid."

"Pretty much," Vivian looked at her curiously, "So how did you get so smart?"

"Part of it comes from my fey heritage through Papa," Calla explained as she moved to pick up one of her physics books, "Fey learn quickly both to survive and to keep themselves from going bored which can take a toll on them given that they live for a long time. Almost everything else comes from the fact no one at the mansion really knows how to dumb things down which makes it pretty much sink or swim as you've probably seen," Vivian nodded as she grabbed one of the cans of soda Candy Pop was bribed into bringing them, "The last bit involves our Creep heritage which constantly makes us adapt to ensure our survival which is why the older ones rarely die even if they're like Slenderman,"

"That actually explains a lot," Vivian pulled on the tab of her can and took a drink of coke, "I guess that's why we're in Ravenclaw though how come Hermione isn't?"

"According to Hermione when I asked her about it, she was given a choice between the houses," Calla explained as she opened her book to the page she needed, "I'm not sure what exactly they discussed, but the hat seemed pretty torn between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Eventually, Gryffindor won out because the hat commented that she needed to learn how to use her courage and bravery," She shrugged lightly, "I'm sure there is more, but it isn't something I really care about. No matter the Hogwarts house, she's still one of us and a friend,"

"You know, the only house we don't have friends in is Hufflepuff," Vivian idly commented after a moment of silence.

Calla hummed lightly as she took out her pencil and began writing down some notes, "Maybe, but it's not like they've shown interest in us especially after I revealed my Parselmouth status," She looked up at Vivian, "Does it really matter if we don't have friends in that one?"

"Not really," Vivian shook her head, "But what if one of the kids in there is like us?"

Calla was about to protest, but admitted that Vivian might be right. She hadn't really paid much mind to the other students around them since finding out that Vivian and Hermione were like her. Granted, she hadn't sensed much from those normally around her, but that didn't mean much since she was still learning to use her sensing ability. Setting down her pencil, she said, "After everything with Valentines day dies down, I'll go searching through the school to see if there are any more like us, but we will not outright approach them."

"How come?" Vivian looked at her in confusion.

Calla gave her a deadpan look, "They could be psychotic especially if their energy isn't as stable as ours."

"That's true," Vivian frowned a little, "But what if they are, what'll happen?"

"Slenderman will be alerted and they'll be watched," Calla explained as she turned back to her work, "Depending on the results, they might be pulled in to the fold,"

"Or they'll be killed," Vivian's voice was soft, "Cal, is that going to happen to us?"

Calla shook her head, "No, we're stable, Viv. Only those that are too unstable will get killed, we don't have to worry."

Vivian sighed deeply as she pulled her legs against her chest, "Cal, what if we become unstable?"

"On the off-chance it happens, we'll be killed no questions asked," Calla looked at Vivian and could see the fear in her eyes, "Viv, we aren't going to become unstable. So long as we work hard and don't push ourselves too far, we'll never become unstable,"

Vivian looked at Calla, "Cal, would your dad let it happen?"

Calla paused for a moment before nodding as she swallowed heavily, "Yes and probably end up being killed at some point afterward," She gripped her pencil tightly, "Papa's already lost so much, Viv. If he lost me, he'd never recover from it unless Mama was there to comfort him. Even then, I'm not too sure."

"We live in a fucked up world, huh?" Vivian's eyes were watery.

Calla nodded as she released her pencil, "Yeah, but it's the only world we've got."

Calla got up and moved over to sit next to Vivian. Wrapping an arm around the other girl, she quietly hugged Vivian knowing the other needed some form of comfort.