Hey! Sorry this chapter is shorter and has taken so long. Life is hectic! So now Callista and Artie head off to Hogwarts, and the train ride proves to be very interesting.. Enjoy and review! Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I'm just "supposedly" a little too emotionally involved with it. *rolls eyes*

Draco Malfoy leaned against one of the columns in King's Cross Station, waiting for his best friend Blaise Zabini. He watched the families come and go, children laughing and parents crying, everyone anxious to get to Hogwarts. He had said goodbye to his parents at home. It would be unbecoming for Malfoys to cause such a scene in public. His mother had kissed him behind and made him promise to write more while his father instructed him to do well in school and keep an eye out for any news. Potter's younger sister had been found, and little was known about her as of yet. Both Lucius Malfoy and his master were curious.

"Draco!" He turned around to see Blaise walking towards him. The Italian boy looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Draco raised an eyebrow. Blaise was vainer than him; he never left the house without perfect hair and neat clothes. He could only conclude that Blaise did not spend the night in his own bed.

"Don't even start," Blaise warned, seeing his friend's look. "I overslept this morning."

"In Tracey's bed?" Draco suggested idly. The comment had its intended affect. Blaise's tan face flushed slightly, and he glared at his friend. Draco smirked, and the two friends walked towards the train. They swapped summer stories and parental troubles as they loaded their trunks into a compartment. Blaise went back to the platform to find Tracey while Draco stood by casually, his grey eyes flickering all over. And then he saw her.

She was new to Hogwarts, that was obvious, and probably in his year judging from her age. He knew she must be new because he would've remembered a girl that looked like that. She had long blonde hair that curled around her face, creamy skin, and captivating emerald eyes that seemed oddly familiar. Her white blouse and blue skirt may have been Muggle, but her features were so elegant that he was sure she was from an old Pureblood family. It didn't hurt that she carried herself like a lady. He saw her smile at someone he couldn't see, and he knew he was a goner.

Blaise appeared back at his side, having already said hello to his girlfriend. His best friend, the proudest of the Slytherins, the scion of the Malfoy family, was staring at a girl. He couldn't believe it. No one would believe it. Malfoys didn't stare, his friend would usually protest. Except that he was. "Draco?"

Draco blinked and looked at Blaise. "What, Zabini?"

The dark-skinned boy grinned. "See someone you like, Malfoy?" His friend scoffed, but his eyes still flickered over to the girl. Blaise followed his line of vision. His eyes widened, and he chuckled a bit internally. He could have some fun with this. "Would you like me to introduce you?"

"You know her?" Draco asked, his tone even to most but eager to anyone that knows him.

Blaise nodded. "I met her when I was getting my robes," he replied. "You'll like her." Before he could say anything, Blaise called out, "Callista!" The girl turned around, looking for the source of the call, before she saw Blaise. She smiled a captivating smile and walked over towards them.

"Hello, Blaise," she said.

"Hello, Callista. How was the rest of your summer?"

"Wonderful, and yours?"

Blaise grinned. "Satisfactory."

Callista raised an eyebrow. "Especially this morning?" Draco had to use all of his heir training not to burst out laughing. Very few people, especially women, called Blaise Zabini out. Callista, however, was unaffected by his charm.

"That obvious, huh?"

Callista shrugged. "Only if you ignore your rumpled clothes and the lipstick on the collar of your shirt." Blaise furiously rubbed at the spot she pointed out. Draco smirked. Her emerald eyes glanced over at Draco. "And who is this?"

Blaise smiled, anticipating the reaction to occur. "Of course, where are my manners? Callista, this is my friend, Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is Callista Potter."

Draco showed no visible shock, but Callista managed to sense it. "Don't worry, I don't bite," she teased, offering a hand. Just the word bite sent Draco into a tailspin he couldn't afford. This was Potter's sister. She was off limits.

Still, instead of shaking it, Draco kissed it lightly. Their eyes met for a moment, and it was very easy to forget she was anyone's sister. Then she pulled away. "My parents are probably looking for me. It was nice to meet you, Draco. I'll see you two at school, I suppose."

"Come by our compartment if you get a chance," Blaise offered. Callista thanked him for the offer and headed towards the crowd. Draco watched her until she disappeared.

"She's no Gryffindor," Draco stated, the wheels in his head turning.

"But she's from a family of them," Blaise pointed out. "You're screwed, Draco."

Draco didn't say anything. Callista Potter was dangerous, to be sure, and he couldn't decide whether that was good or bad. The two Slytherins headed back towards their compartment, settling in and catching up with their housemates. The entire time, Draco thought of the emerald eyed beauty who saw right through his mask.


Callista stared out the window. She had never been so far away from home, and it was all a little disconcerting. Artie assured her she wouldn't feel homesick after a few months at school, but she was still worried. Grace had cried every night that week. The little girl would never ask her to stay, but her eyes said it all. Callista promised that she'd see her all the time. Her mother was the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts, and Grace would be staying with her. Callista told Grace she loved her at least a hundred times, kissed her forehead, and got on the train.

"Callie?" She turned around. Artie was watching her, concern written all over his face. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she replied, playing with the locket she never took off. It had been a gift for her eleventh birthday from Babcia Joséphine. It was her last birthday with her whole family: Ciocia, Adela, Con, his grandfather, and Babcia Joséphine.

"You'll have more beautiful things one day," Babcia Joséphine had promised as she put the necklace around Callista's neck. "But this is a good start." At eleven, Callista didn't think anything more beautiful existed. On one side of the locket was a family picture at Christmas, and the other was of her, Jace, and Grace. She liked to keep them close to her heart this way.

Artie frowned but let her be. He started to talk to his two best friends Ron and Hermione. Callista still felt a little awkward with them. Hermione didn't seem to know how to act around her, and Ron was a little too friendly for her tastes. She was still a little uncomfortable around boys her age, though she did remember Ron from childhood. Blaise reminded her of her friends in Knockturn, easing her nerves, and his friend Draco… Well, he fascinated her. He hadn't flirted with her or leered at her. He just watched her with cool grey eyes. Few men reacted to her that way.

Luna and Neville had gone off to find Ginny, who they suspected was still flirting with Dean Thomas, so Callista was on her own for now. While Ron and Artie debated Quidditch teams and Hermione poured over her school books, she pulled out Rein's gift and started reading. It was easy to lose herself in this story. Whenever she read it, she could still hear Ciocia's gentle voice. She was about halfway through the story when the door to their compartment opened. She looked up, expecting to see Luna and Neville returning with Ginny, but instead she was greeted by familiar black cropped hair and purple eyes.

"Becks!" she shouted, jumping up and hugging her friend tightly. She had gotten a few letters from some of her girls, but Becks' letters had been far and few in between.

Becks smiled, relieved to see her friend again. She liked the Diggorys, she really did, but their house didn't feel like home yet. She missed her girls and the constant chaos of living with ten other people. Callista pulled away, allowing Becks to sit down.

"I saw Colette and Melissa when I was getting on the train," Becks said. "And I know a few of the other girls are here."

Callista nodded, her fingers tapping on the seat. "I haven't heard from Con," she said quietly. "I've sent him five letters."

Beck's hair flashed grey, showing her worry, but she said, "I'm sure he's just been working a lot."

Callista raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Con was a wild child, always had been. He had been the one to dare her to do almost every dangerous thing she'd ever done, and after their family died he'd gotten even wilder. She worried about him more than anyone else, but he always replied to her letters. Something was wrong this time.

"So, meet any cute boys?" Becks asked, changing the subject. She waggled an eyebrow ridiculously, causing Callista to smile.

"Maybe," the blonde girl replied.

"Maybe?" Becks repeated. "As your best friend, I need more details."

"Later," Callista promised, glancing at her brother. She knew he would report any details she told Becks to their dad and their uncles, and she didn't need an overprotective brother, two Aurors, and a werewolf scaring away any boy in her path. Besides, she wasn't sure what she thought of Draco Malfoy yet. He was clearly a very traditional Pureblood, not really her usual type, but she couldn't ignore the shiver that ran down her spine when he kissed her hand. She hadn't felt like that since Jace, and it was hard to ignore. Callista needed more information on Draco Malfoy before she did anything. It was a good thing Seth owed her a favor.