A/N: Translation:

Ich hasse dich. - I hate you.
Ich liebe dich auch, Prinzessin. - I love you too, Princess.
Sprechen sie Duetsch? - You speak German?

Henny, that lucky Penny!

New Beginnings

I thought transfering would be hard. New people, curriculum, teachers and building. Maybe that was the magic of this place. It was welcoming and warm. You just had to meet the right people.

September went by with a breeze. It was mainly refresher lessons. That made the transitioning part easier. And every Sunday I played Quidditch with the Potters and the Weasleys. I started to notice I was not as winded when I climbed the stairs.

The Quidditch workouts were a lot of fun and oh so stress relieving. They took my mind off of missing Salem and not being near my parents. Mostly missing my friends though. Who were not acting like my friends.

Not a single one had written me. Why? I did not know. But it was pissing me off. I had shared my thoughts on the subject with Lucy. She may have been a year younger, but she was my confidant.

Until October first.

"Calesta doesn't have any friends!" Lucy's cheeks went pink. I nearly choked to death on my pumpkin juice. Scorpius patted my back, "I want her to stay." I could feel my face burn tomato red.

"Luce..." Albus started, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"Where am I going?" my cheeks were still hot.

"She believes you are going to run away from us." Albus shrugged his shoulders. He took a sip of water, "She saw you talking to a seventh year Hufflepuff." his eyes glanced at me. I shifted in my seat.

"Lucy!" I squeaked, "Have you lost your marbles? I told you about my friends in confidence."

"Oh, never tell Lucy anything. My dear cousin can't keep a secret. It is her Slytherin charm." Albus threw a smirk over the table at her.

"Well, she can keep it a secret until she can use it against you." Scorpius drawled. My jaw dropped.

"You do the same thing, Malfoy." Lucy growled. I noticed she dropped last names when someone displeased her. Even her own sister.

"I have more tact." he drawled back.

"Scorpius has a crush on you." she slid her eyes over to me. Her voice was calm and smooth. I felt Scorpius tense. Even Albus stopped eating. I inhaled slow and deep, my appetite leaving.

I got up calmly from the Slytherin bench and gathered my belongings. As I slung my bag over my shoulder, I glanced at James. His face was expressionless, gauging my emotions. I could not believe how calm I was.

I walked out of the Great Hall and ran as fast as I could through the halls to Transfiguration.

"Lucy is an idiot sometimes." Albus muttered next to me during class, "She was trying to get a rise out of Scorp, not you." he said gently as his gaze shifted to mine.

"I'm not mad." I whispered, "Mostly humiliated." I covered my face with my hands.

"Perhaps Miss Manslayer knows how to transfigure a cage into a bird?" Professor Jeffries called Albus and I out. I shook my head and Albus grumbled a 'No.', "That is what I thought. Detention, tonight." I heaved a sigh.

"Damn." I mumbled under my breathe.

"Two." Professor Jeffries called over his shoulder.

"Well, shit." Albus muttered.

"And you too, Mister Potter."

I looked at Albus and gave him a weak smile. He nodded his head. Well, I guess everyone has to get detention at some point.

I managed to get through the day without sight of Lucy or Scorpius. It was not because it me nervous. I just did not like awkward. And Lucy dumping everything on the table was awkward.

It was dinner time and I went over to James. He lifted his eyes up to mine.

"Can I sit next to you?" I asked meekly. He nodded his head and I wiggled my way down on the bench.

"Scorp told Molly, who already informed me." he stated. I took a bite out of my chicken, "She can be a right bitch." I flinched.

"It's okay." I swallowed my food, "I'm not mad or sad or hurt." I pushed my food around, "I just want everyone to forget I know. Keep it a big secret. And then I won't feel so awkward." a hand descended upon my shoulder. I did not even jump.

"Oh sweetheart, we will never forget." the owner replied dramatically. I looked into the face of Albus, "Hey bro. Me and this one have detention. Just the two of us." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, "Alone." I shoved him in the gut as I stood. He grimaced.

"You're the only one who thinks you're funny." I said sternly.

"I find him funny." James interjected. I shot him a nasty glare. The Gryffindor Weasleys start snickering.

"And you all are maddening." and I turned on my heel. I stalked out of the hall. Albus came up behind me, laughing.

"Don't be sour." he hip bumped me. I returned the gesture, but harder.

"I'm not." I replied, "We were going to be late if you and your brother were going to play act the fight you two always have when there is a girl." I shrugged, "That's all."

Albus' face dropped. We fell into an uncomfortable silence. I will admit my comment was off putting, but I knew how they teased girls.

James and Albus were fairly similiar. They had similiar facial structure and personalities, but they had so many differences. James had messy, auburn hair. His eyes were forest green. Albus had hazel eyes with chestnut, messy hair. I had heard that their father could not get his hair to lay flat either.

Albus was a little shorter with slimmer shoulders. I had seen pictures of his father during his school years and he was built like him. He was an excellent seeker. And a very good friend.

James was taller and bit more filled out. He resembled his Uncles George and Fred. I quite imagine a great deal of their mischief is inspired by them. I have heard the stories. But that did not make James any less of a great friend either.

We entered the trophy room. Since this was my first detention, I only assumed this was where it was held. The elderly caretaker, Mister Filch, was waiting for us. He had a cranky face.

"I want all of them polished. And not just for an hour." he sneered, "You're not leavin' 'til it's all done." and he left. Albus sighed.

"Bollocks." he mumbled.

"All of them?" I gasped, "But I have homework." my mouth would not close.

"He seems to have gotten nastier with old age." a voice said from the door. I felt awkward again.

"Dad said detention was never this bad." another voice stated.

"Freddie, Scorp, come to help?" Albus smiled, "Where's James?"

"Yeah, I've already had detention once. Filch made me do the whole Trophy Room." Fred grabbed a rag, "You know, Prefect."

"I told him to stay put." Scorpius responded as he picked up a rag also, "Don't need Molly riding his back."

I bent down and grabbed my own rag. I armed myself with some polish and picked a case. I prepared myself for some mind numbing nothingness. The other people in the room had other plans.

"We need to talk." Scorpius' voice rumbled in my ear, he put an arm around my shoulders, "I've got a lot to get off my chest." my pulse quickened. I licked my lips nervously.

"Alright." I whispered back, "What's up, buttercup?" Scorpius smiled.

"Americans have the most interesting expressions." his free hand tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "What Weasley said at breakfast was not untrue. But, what she left out were my intentions." I shifted my weight away from him, "They are nothing." I snapped my head up to meet his eyes. They were serious.

"Oh really?" I narrowed my eyes, "Because that Saturday in September felt awfully real."

"I was trying to help you." he shot back, "Look how far we have come." I dropped my gaze to his hand. I had to admit, his forced interaction did work.

Of course, after I punched him in the face, I forgave him. It took my a whole weeks worth of anger to finally do it. After I broke his nose, he smirked at me. I just scowled. Everyone in the Common Room thought we were sleeping together. Whatever.

"Yes, I realize that." I muttered, "Just because you and James can sling your arms around my shoulders, does not mean I am cured. If you haven't noticed, if your last name is not Potter or Weasley or Malfoy, you cannot do that!" I felt my eyes prick with tears, "Scheiß drauf!"

I pulled out my want and zig-zagged it infront of my case of trophies. I murmured 'Politus.' and the trophies gleamed. I shoved Scorpius' arm off my shoulders.

"He doesnt like magic used. You'll be here doing it again." Fred said over his shoulder. I glared at the back of his head.

"Go ahead, you can tell him what I did." I replied calmly, "It will not matter to me. I don't sleep much most days." I shivered, "I'm going." and I did.

I did not run this time. I sauntered. I sauntered through the hallways and down corridors. Past portraits and statues. I did not care if I got lost. I was going to stay lost until morning.

But I did not get lost. I was remembering most of the paths. So, I stopped walking and took in my surroundings. I was not far from the Astronomy Tower. A breathe of fresh air would be nice.

My ascention of the stairs was easy. I was barely breathing hard. Next year, I will definitely be trying out for the Slytherin House team. i'If there is a next year.'/i I thought bitterly.

I bypassed the tiny room and headed out to the balcony. The cold night air hit my face. It bit right through my uniform. I did not care. I took a cleansing breathe. The cool air froze my through and lungs. But it felt god.

"I thought my sister had a temper." Fred's voice came up behind me, "You are much more angry than she."

"It's all the hormones in the food in America." I muttered. His voice had startled, "Why'd you follow me?" Fred shrugged his shoulders, "Stop acting non chalant. It's irritating." his eye's narrowed.

"Stop acting rash. It is annoying." he snapped, "Your mood swings are bothersome."

"Your jokes are troublesome." I said in a low voice, "James told you about the thing with my hand. You decided to have a laugh."

"Because it is in my nature!" Fred stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Aren't you cold?" I nodded my head yes.

"My intentions of being up here were to freeze to death." I crossed my arms infront of my chest stubbornly.

Fred rolled his eyes. He grabbed a fistful of my sleeve and dragged me into the small heated room. I smacked his wrist and he let go.

"Do not touch me!" I snarled.

"You sound like a broken record." he grumbled, "And I did not touch you. I touched your shirt." my jaw dropped. He just smirked.

"Ich hasse dich." I mumbled. Warmth was going back into my hands. I put them on my neck, under my hair for even more heat.

"Ich liebe dich auch, Prinzessin." was shot back at me. I snapped my gaze back at his eyes. Mine were wide with surprise. His were smirking.

"Sprechen sie Duetsch?" I asked.

"No." his face broke out into a shit eating grin, "Scorp taught me some lines incase you spoke any around me. Somehow he knew you would eventuall say, 'I hate you.' to me." Fred laughed at his own prank. I smiled. I had to admit, it was quite hilarious.

"Do you want to start over?" I asked quietly.

"How so?" Fred looked intrigued.

"Try that handshake over again?" I stuck my hand out. He pondered it for a moment, "No kissing it." I ordered, my eyebrows scrunched.

Fred chuckled and grabbed my hand. I jumped and recoiled on instinct, but he did not loosen his grip. I relaxed in his fingers, remembering that I offered to try again. We brought our hands up and down a few times.

"Hello, my name is Calesta Manslayer, but you can call me Cal." I said quietly. Fred bowed his head and brought it back up.

"Nice to meet you." he flashed a genuine smile, "My name is Fred Weasley." I let his hand go and he retracted his.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled back, "But I am afraid I have detention to attend. Trophies don't shine themselves."

"That they don't."

When we arrived, half the trophies had been done by hand. The two boys were exhausted. Fred and I did the other hald, including the case I had magicked.

We did not finish until the wee hours of the morning.