February crept up upon them with alarming speed, and for Hermione at least, this meant that she was already intensely revising for exams. Callidus, who was also invested in his academic performance, had begun to do a little bit of revising as well, but unlike Hermione he was not panicked or obsessive about it, not because he was so confident in his abilities, but because he was a Slytherin and Slytherins did not reveal their weaknesses and fears. He also had a number of other worries on his mind.

After the incident with Mrs. Norris, Harry had been abjectly miserable, and though he may not have said anything out loud, it was clear from the down-tilt of his head and his slumped shoulders that he was berating himself, as though he was a monster incarnate. But when Harry soon after discovered that Mrs. Norris was perfectly fine, his relief was so great that when Callidus finally had a chance to mention the pendant, Harry brushed aside his worries with a laugh.

"You worry too much," Harry had said. "Besides, why would Draco ever give me something that would hurt me?"

Callidus hadn't been sure of what to say to that. He was, at the moment, sitting at the table with the Gryffindor girls in the fourth floor classroom. He should have been looking over his charms notes, but instead, was reading a book on enchantments, which, even if it had nothing to do with Harry, was a fascinating subject. It was a shame Hogwarts didn't offer any classes in enchantments, but it was an extremely challenging form of magic that most people weren't able to grasp. But the idea of an intellectual challenge intrigued Callidus, and furthermore, enchantments were powerful.

"Callidus."

Callidus looked up at the sound of Hermione's voice, eyebrows raised.

"About that situation with the fifth years," she tentatively began.

Callidus knit his brows. "You've been researching it? I thought you were revising."

"I'm able to do more than two things at once, I'll have you know," she answered sounding mildly offended. "And besides, you don't think I forgot about your situation did you?"

"'Moine never lets a problem go," Ginny remarked. "Not if it's important."

"Did you learn something about mind magic, then?" Callidus ask, hopeful.

Hermione's expression was apologetic as she said: "Not exactly, no, but thinking about the mind was interesting so I started looking into some Muggle studies about the brain and psychology."

Callidus frowned. "Psychology?" He wondered what that had to do with anything.

Hermione nodded eagerly, eyes brightening. "Yes muggles have done extensive experiments on behavior and psychology. Of course, some the old experiments they did were rather unethical and even disturbing, but the muggle understanding of the mind has come quite far."

"Oh? And you think you've learned something relevant to my situation?"

"Possibly," Hermione answered, momentarily biting down on her lower lip. "Have you ever heard of something called behavioral conditioning?"

Callidus shook his head. "I don't think so."

Hermione hummed. "I can't say that I understand all the intricacies of it, and the theory behind it has drawn a certain degree of criticism, but something you mentioned once made me think that it might be applicable to your situation. You said once that aside from the initial spell that those fifth years cast, that you couldn't sense any magic on yourself?"

"No, I couldn't sense any magic, but mind magic could work differently."

"Maybe," Hermione murmured, "but there is another possibility. We don't know for certain what those fifth years have done to you, but perhaps what they did was traumatic enough that on some level they conditioned you, which could account for your discomfort when you're around us."

"What's that even mean?" Caiside questioned.

While the terms may have confused Caiside and Ginny, Callidus needed no explanation. Hermione's suggestion had hit him hard and made him feel sick to his stomach. If what she said was true, then those fifth years had all but train him like a dog. The words of the Gryffindor girls were a blur, as Callidus's thoughts battered him like a tempest. Could it really be true? Could whatever those fifth years have done to him somehow conditioned him so that being around the Gryffindor is made his skin break out in a sweat, and his heart race? Could they have made him afraid of the Gryffindor? And how had magic not protected him from conditioning? The idea that this was all some sort of mind trick made him feel strangely tainted and he wished he could scrub his mind clean.

He heard Ginny say: "So what you're saying is that they're trying to change Callidus through rewards or punishment? Though I'm guessing they're not rewarding him."

"That's the basics of it," Hermione answered.

"We can't confirm it," Callidus growled, feeling raw. The worried looks from the girls was making him uncomfortable, and reminding him of just how little control he had in this situation.

"No, but it's important to consider," Hermione pointed out. "And if you have been conditioned, then its is just a matter of using conscious awareness to gradually undo it." Her expression gentled and she leaned towards him, looking as if she wanted to lay a reassuring hand on his arm. "If it is this, we might be better off. At least it means we know what we're facing."

Callidus's expression was dark, but he nodded. Though he knew that he had agreed to the Gryffindors' help, he still hated that Hermione had been the one to discover this, rather than discovering it himself. It wasn't that he begrudged her her intellect; it was simply that the unknown corners of his mind felt like too personal a place to expose before the three Gryffindors.

"I can do more research," Hermione tried to reassure him.

But Callidus shook his head. "I'm capable of doing my own research."

"We could find an answer faster if we work together," she pointed out.

"No!" Callidus answered, far too sharply.

Hermione flinched back, her expression wounded. "I'm just trying to help."

Though he wanted nothing more than to crawl back to the dungeons, and face these troubles alone, he forced himself to take a deep breath to calm himself. "I appreciate the help," he ground out, "but I'm fine."

"But -"

"'Moine," Caiside interrupted, "just let it go."

Hermione gave the other girl a stubborn look, chin tilted challengingly. Callidus had a feeling that Caiside's words were more for Hermione sake then for his own, but he was still grateful to her. Eventually, Hermione broke eye contact with Caiside.

"I don't like this," she said to Callidus, "but you are one of the cleverest people I know, so I know that if anyone could handle this, it would be you."

Callidus nodded, appreciating the show of faith. "Thank you," he murmured, more because Hermione was willing to let the matter go, then for her remark about his intelligence.

After giving him a worried look, she finally returned to her revising, much to his relief. But while Callidus had returned his attention back to his own book, his thoughts were fixed on what Hermione had revealed to him. He did not want the Gryffindors to know just how significant the information was to him, but there was no denying that he was shaken by it. If what Hermione said was true, then did it mean that he was following a false lead? But no, he had heard the fifth years talking about mind magic. All Hermione's hypothesis really revealed was that Callidus didn't really understand the situation at all, but he knew that all along. If anything, this was just an unfortunate reminder.

Callidus returned to the common room earlier than usual, his concentration tattered by Hermione's discovery. As he entered through the passageway, he was surprised to see that Harry and Draco we're already finished their practice, and we're sitting at the sofa by the fire with the rest of the second years.

"Cal!" Harry cried, standing up. The expression on Harry's face caused Callidus to freeze on the spot, and his foreboding was confirmed when he saw Harry's eyes flick towards fifth years. As if realizing that he was drawing attention to himself, Harry quickly sat down. Callidus hurriedly made his way over to the sofa, keeping his face impassive. Harry must have heard the fifth years making plans with the spider ears spell.

Harry opened his mouth, but Callidus quickly cut him off. "Tell me later," he said, his voice low.

Harry darted another glance at the fifth years but then nodded.

"You're practice finished early?" Callidus asked Harry and Draco.

Harry's expression became embarrassed, while Draco just scowled.

"Something seemed to have distracted Harry," Draco said with a pointed look at Harry. "He didn't even notice the snitch when it was right in front of his nose. Flint was furious, or at least as furious as he could be, considering that we've been regularly dosing him with that friendliness stuff you gave us."

"Yeah," Harry admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "I was kind of distracted. But it was just one time! It's not like I'm always distracted. Flint didn't have to tell me that he'd wring my neck, and spit on my parents' grave, and that I was a failure of a seeker that would amount to nothing." Harry pouted. "Usually he only talks like that when he's not dosed on the friendliness potion."

"So Flint made us leave early," Draco continued. "Said he couldn't stand to see our faces anymore. Though why he included me, I have no idea." He gave Harry and irritated look. "I guess that's just what I get for defending you."

Harry grinned and nudged Draco's shoulder. "I really do appreciate it. You're the best sort of brother that anyone could ask for."

Draco huffed. "It's a good thing flattery will get you everywhere."

"I wasn't trying to flatter you. It's true."

"You're so embarrassing, Harry," Draco grumbled, his cheeks turning pink. "You can't just say things like that."

Harry shrugged. "I just did."

"Has anyone ever told you how cute you three are?" Pansy interjected. "If ever I'm having a bad day, I cheer myself up by watching the three of you interact."

"It's true," Blaise drawled. "She was terribly put out this morning when she woke up with utterly intractable hair, but seeing three of you spewing your affection all over the place has cheered her considerably."

"We do not spew," Draco sputtered, looking both disgusted and offended.

A slow smile crept across Blaise's face. "So you admit to being affectionate."

"I admit nothing," Draco retorted, vexed.

It wasn't until they returned to the dormitories, that Callidus and Harry had a chance to speak. Draco was in the bathrooms, and they knew that he would take a while.

"I'm guessing I won't be having any sleep tonight?" Callidus asked, seated on the edge of his bed.

Harry, who was sitting cross-legged next to him, shook his head. "Worse."

Callidus frowned. "Worse?"

"I heard them talking during practice," Harry explained. "That's what distracted me from seeing the snitch."

"I gathered as much."

Harry bit his lower lip. "Yeah, well, I heard them saying that they were going to try again tonight. Only -" his expression became something unhappy and Callidus's sense of apprehension increased.

"What did they say?" Callidus prodded.

"They said they were going to keep trying," Harry finished, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loud made a situation far too real to bear. "They're going to keep trying night after night. But they said they weren't going to give up until - until -" Harry couldn't seem to finish the sentence.

After a stretch of silence, Harry said: "Maybe we should tell one of the professors about this, like Slughorn or something. I don't know what those fifth years are doing to you but I really don't like it.

"No!" Callidus exclaimed, causing Harry to look up at him sharply.

"No," he repeated, trying to keep his voice controlled. He hadn't told his friends what Hermione had said to him earlier, but he dreaded the idea of telling any of the professors or telling the Headmaster, especially if it turned out that the problem was all in his head. After all, if all the fifth years had done was condition him, then how could he explain himself? How could he explained that it wasn't even magic? That it wasn't even really hurting him?

"I can handle it," he tried to assure Harry. "If it comes down to it, I can make use of meditative techniques to protect myself. And if I can ever get that book on Occlumency, then I'll be fine."

"Are you talking about the fifth years?" Draco asked. Callidus hadn't even noticed his arrival, despite the glossy sheen of Draco's green silk pajamas. "They aren't causing you more trouble are they? Maybe I can try to get them expelled. My father is on the Hogwarts' Board of Governors, you know."

As distressed of Callidus was, he couldn't help the choked laugh that escaped his lips. "It's a pleasant thought, but I can't imagine that the Board of Governors is responsible for expelling students. I believe that job belongs to Dumbledore."

Draco's brows drew together. "All right I suppose he probably wouldn't be able to expel them. Perhaps I should tell my father to blacklist them instead. If they're financially ruined they're not going to be able to afford the Hogwarts tuition."

Callidus snorted. "While it will hardly help me sleep any better, I don't think I would object to seeing them financially ruined. But they don't strike me as the sort to have much to ruin in the first place, unfortunately. It wouldn't exactly be fair to the families, but I can't imagine their parents being particularly decent people if they ended up with offspring like those fifth years."

"I'll do it then," Draco declared, with a sudden toothy smile. "There's something dreadfully satisfying about the idea of ruining someone."

Callidus rolled his eyes. "Trust you to say that without a trace of irony."

"I'm a Malfoy," Draco answered with a shrug. "Using power is in my blood."

"That would also be true if you replaced 'using' with 'abusing'," Harry mused.

Draco smirk. "What's the difference?"

"What indeed," Callidus murmured.

As Callidus lay in the bed that night, he thought about simply drifting off and facing fifth years. But despite his earlier bravado, the idea filled him with dread. Instead, he found himself thinking about being behaviorally conditioned. Though a part of him wanted to shy away from the possibility of such a thing happening to him, it also felt like the most fixable problem. He may not be able to wave a wand to make it go away, but he couldn't help thinking that willpower alone could crush this problem. Suppose that somehow the fifth years had conditioned him to fear the Gryffindor girls - then wasn't the solution a matter of spending more time with the Gryffindors? Of enduring their rather distasteful affection? It sounded easy enough, and if he thought back over the past month, he realized that there were times when he completely forgot about how uncomfortable the Gryffindors made him feel, especially if he was distracted.

Despite the unease that jittered through him, and despite the way that his thoughts buffeted him in endless circles, Callidus eventually drifted off to sleep, having no books, nor lights, nor notes to distract him and force his wakefulness.

What seems like only seconds later, he found himself and his potions lab, frantically trying to clean up the impossible mess of slime that Longbottom had made. He had long given up trying to clean up the slime with his wand; each flick of his wrist only seemed to make the situation worse, the slime coating everything. He felt a terrible horror, knowing that the slime would destroy his precious potions ingredients unless he acted fast.

"Well," came a feminine voice behind him, full of a gleeful menace, "it's been a rather long while, hasn't it? Oh my, what a mess here. You're difficult to get a hold of, you know. It's almost like you don't sleep."

Callidus froze as he realized that he was dreaming. The slime, which seemed so important before, no longer mattered. He turned around, willing his heart to slow, and his mind to still. His mental control, his meditative state, was the only defense that he had.

"Hoyt," he greeted, flatly.

The girl arched her brows. "So, you know my name." She shrugged. "I suppose it doesn't really matter. I'm just here to make sure you suffer for your crimes, traitor."

"The crimes of what?" Callidus asked, darkly. "Is that what you tell yourself so that you can sleep at night? You Hoyts come from a family of mind healers, don't you? Your actions certainly violate those principles. You think you're up holding Slytherin traditions? I think you sink to this level of pettiness because deep down you know that you're no true Slytherin."

The girl, Hoyt, narrowed her eyes. "You know nothing of me or my family."

"Do they know that you're abusing family magics?"

Hoyt snarled. "The magic is mine by right!" She looked like she was ready to begin hexing him, but she managed to regain her grip on her temper. "Such big talk for a little boy who's essentially in my power. We can all have a little fun once my friends get here."

"Too weak to do anything on your own?" Callidus taunted, though he knew it was foolish. He braced himself, and not a moment too soon because seconds later they felt Hoyt's magic lashing out towards him and he was overwhelmed with pain. And yet, Callidus's action had paid off: he saw the flickering impressions of Hoyt's friends as they tried to connect to her mind but her lack of control had broken the connection and like shadows exposed to the light, they faded.

"Bloody hell!" the girl swore. "Look what you've done! Uugh! If Alphie can't connect, he's going to - uuugh! You stupid little brat!"

"You always do what Alphie wants you to do?" Callidus ask, between panting breaths.

"I do what I want," Hoyt spat out.

"Ah, so you like submitting to Alfie," Callidus needled, knowing that he was being reckless but angry enough about his situation to not care. "You like bending over backwards for him."

Magic hit him again, and he felt his knees buckle from the pain but his ability to maintain a partial meditative state kept the pain at a barely tolerable level. Dream or not, there was a sheen of sweat on his brow, and his heart pattered wildly in his chest. And although he was the one on his knees, and Hoyt was the one who was standing, he still felt the gratification of knowing that he had won the battle. His body was tremoring, but his mind was clear. Hoyt was the one who was looking wild-eyed, and frazzled.

"Getting tired?" He mocked.

Hoyt narrowed her eyes. "We've only just begun."

Callidus forced his lips into a smirk. "I could do this all night," he lied.

"We'll see about that." Another wave of intense magic hit him so that his nerves screamed, and his muscles quivered. If he had been able to think more objectively, he would have found it remarkable that in this dream state, the pain could mirror reality so well.

As Hoyt used her magic to torment him, the pain was like a symphony of terrible sensations, and yet it wasn't anywhere as bad as it would be if all her friends had been here. But although Hoyt was here on her own, his own mental magic was not strong enough to break her spell. Nonetheless, he was grateful that she was alone, and though a part of him was tempted to keep mocking her, he didn't want her to know how weak her individual spell-casting was. It gratified him to see Hoyt struggling with her magic. It gratified in too that by the end of the night, the pain was increasingly bearable, like the intense discomfort of a flu rather than blinding white agony. And best of all, Hoyt had lost sense of her own magical endurance, and instead of ending the spell, the connection snapped, and Callidus was soon able to return to the peace of his own mind.

A/N: I've switched over to voice typing rather than regular typing, so if these last two chapters have felt "off" it's because I was struggling to adjust to voice typing (it feels like a totally different beast than regular typing). Only now am I starting to get used to it, so hopefully things have smoothed out.