A/N: I am soo sorry! I cannot believe it took me this long to write this chapter. First I was dealing with personal issues and then I was upset and exhausted that I had writers block. I apologize for the length that you lovely people had to wait for this. Hopefully I broke through my writers block. I have been having a lot of ideas, so that makes me feel better about. :D I hope you all enjoy this one. Cal is starting to break through and be herself. I love it!

Translations:
Verdammt das weh!- Damn that hurt.
Sprache, Kleiner.- Language, little one.
Fahr zur Hölle, die beide!- Go to hell, the both of you!
Jeder hat seine Schwächen.- We all have our weaknesses.
Ja?- Yes?
Du auch.- So do you.
Nine.- No

Henny, that lucky Penny!

Halloween Parties and Sucker Punches

For the week following Hugo's incident, Lily and I say with him at meals. Being at the Hufflepuff tables made me itchy. Even though two of their own, Lily and Hugo, had clearly allowed me to come join them, the other Hufflepuffs were less welcoming. Glares, angry whispers and rotten looks were a daily following when I sat at Hugo's side. I could ignore the majority of it; they were mostly of no harm. Most of them.

"Snake!" an angry hiss came from my right.

"Good morning to you too." I replied. I chanced a glance to catch his expression. I sighed into my bacon.

"Go back to your viper pit." the light brown haired fifth year said in a low voice.

"Wiggins! She is just eating." Lily scowled, but her voice was calm, "She doesn't even bother anyone."

"Her kind attacked a defenseless second year." Charles Wiggins almost growled, "She is probably scouting their next target. Slytherins cannot be trusted."

"My brother is a Slytherin. Can he not be trusted?" she asked with a tilt of her head. Wiggins glared at her.

"Your brother does not lie, cheat or steal. Nor would he ever think about attacking a younger student!" he answered with an air of arrogance.

"Then why do you?" I asked over the rim of my pumpkin juice. His glare flicked to my face. Or part of the table with bated breathe.

"Because you are a snake bitch." he replied slowing and in a dangerous voice. I was bored of that name already. I drained my goblet of juice and gathered my belongings.

"That name would pack a bit of heat if it were true." I said calmly. I looked over at Hugo, "You good?" after his nod, I stood up and placed a soft kiss on top of his head, "Good. I'm going to Potions. Same place for lunch?" I shot Wiggins a sickly sweet smile.

"Yeah." Hugo responded quietly.

"Excellent." I replied, still smiling at Wiggins, "Have a great day." and I sauntered out of the Great Hall.

"Is everything all right?" Albus asked me as he sat down next to me.

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" I looked up from my book.

"Wiggins looked especially angry this morning. He glared at Lily." his tone had an edge to it. I shrugged.

"I diverted his attention to me. Then I promptly told him to bugger off and bade them ado." I said nonchalantly. I did not even bother to mention the house rivalry bullshit.

"Was he insulting my sister?" I saw his hazel eyes turn dark.

"Most certainly not. Those are reserved for me." I looked down at my book again, "I would have hexed him silly." I smirked into the words on the page. Albus wrinkled his nose at my wording.

"That's not very Slytherin of you. That sounded more Hufflepuff." he arched a brow at me.

"Maybe the quiet ones are rubbing off on me?" I arched an eyebrow to match his expression.

Since I found my Gryffindor Bravery, my nerves have slacked. I noticed my stomach did not twist into knots and I could breathe with a steady rhythm. I still preferred to not be touched and everyone around me could sense that. The shift inside me reared its ugly head in the form of an uncharacteristic hug with James. Albus Potter, never one to miss a detail, noticed my voluntary contact.

Albus took advantage of my new found courage and primed me for verbal assault from Slytherins. They did not take kindly to me interrupting a well-known tradition of hexing younger students. While verbal assault has never bothered me, Albus was tutoring me in the finer arts of insulting with finer language. Where he learned that, I had no clue. Most of his family members were happy throwing out slang and hexes. Most in the same breathe.

"Obviously." he muttered. Mu indifference to his words irked him. He liked to rile up my fiery temper that had me spewing German in his direction. I only ruined his fun because out Potions lesson with Professor Quigley was about to begin.

"Wake up sleepyhead!" a loud voice stirred my brain awake. I rolled away from the offending sound and groaned.

"Leave me be." I grumbled into my pillow.

Suddenly, I was jarred awake by the floor. Lucy had rolled me off my bed onto the floor. I was a tangle of blankets and sheets. My elbow was stinging.

"Verdammt das weh!" I exclaimed.

"Sprache, Kleiner." a murmur came from above.

"Fahr zur Hölle, die beide!" I grumbled quietly. I only said it to make myself feel better. I am pretty sure that neither Lucy nor Scorpius had heard me.

My hopes were dashed when I looked up into his smirking face. Why does everyone like when I curse? All of the Potter/Weasley clan grinned silly when Scorpius translated my German to English. He even laughed most of the time.

"I just don't understand how such a sweet person like you is so crass in the morning." Scorpius bent over and picked me up, "Honestly, boggles my mind." he sat me on my bed, which then I proceeded to lie back down.

"Jeder har seine Schwächen." I mumbled into my mattress. I felt myself sinking into sleep.

"Kleine!" the fierce tone had me sitting up straight, wide eyed. That tone meant I needed to stop messing about. I cleared my throat.

"Ja?" I realized I had been speaking almost exclusively in German. I shook my head to clear all the grogginess.

"As cute as it is to hear you curse in your native tongue, we need to get a few things from Hogsmeade and then prepare for tonight s festivities." Scorpius brushed my hair from my face, "You need a shower. Your hair looks dreadful."

"Du auch." I muttered under my breathe. He just chuckled and kissed the crown of my forehead.

Lucy and Scorpius left me to make myself presentable.

"Are you done grumbling in German?" Scorpius asked me as I sat next to him and Albus. I was freshly showered and dressed in muggle jeans and a heavy sweater.

"Nine." I growled.

"Why are you all out of sorts?" Lucy inquired. I shrugged my shoulders.

Why am I all out of sorts? I normally perk up by now. My grumpy morning self would be morphing into perky, smiling Calesta Manslayer. Happy to see everyone and be alive. Unless...

"Shit!" this time in English. That concerned everyone at the table. I got up quickly and ran to the dorms.

Yup. My monthly right as a woman was here. I sighed as I did my thing. I really wish I was a boy.

I armed myself with some chocolate, my bag and wand. With my tools, I headed down to the staging area for the students heading to Hogsmeade. I avoided the rush. Good thing too, I was still pretty grouchy and I still had not been able to eat any chocolate.

Once I entered the area, I chose a comfortable piece of wall and leant my seated body against it. With my chocolate bar in hand, I opened my book and occupied my time with Charles Dickens. I nibbled the sweet, creamy candy, feeling my anger and resentment melting like the chocolate in my mouth. After I felt like a person again, I sighed in contentment, a small smile playing across my lips.

I was so very distracted; I missed the footsteps coming up next to me.

"Better?" a familiar drawl made me raise my eyes to catch his expression.

"Nine." my mumble was only halfhearted. Scorpius caught my tone.

"Good." a crowd was forming behind him, "Up, Kleine. It is almost time to leave." he offered a hand to help me up.

I took the offered appendage. After I righted myself, I slid my book into my bag and strapped it closed. By now, most of the student body was present. I licked my dry lips.

"What do we need?" I asked to keep my mind off the crowd.

"James asked for some sweets, party favors and I have to charm butterbeers from Madame Rosemerta." my surprise and shock must have registered on my face, because Scorpius' features lit up into a mischievous smile, "Not with magic, Kleine. Well, not the kind of magic with a wooden wand."

"Nine! Nine!" I shook my head, trying to ignore the innuendos, "Let's just do the shopping. You keep your lewd plans to yourself."

"Silly girl." Scorpius laughed lightly as he placed his hand between my shoulder blades and gently pressed me to move forward.

The trip was fairly short. Scorpius mainly brought me along for company. We chatted about everything and nothing. I had this nagging feeling that he was trying to keep me occupied. But I pushed that feeling aside since this was a much calmer trip.

After smiling and winking and even throwing some innocent puppy eyes at her, Madame Rosemerta allowed Scorpius to buy a case or five of butterbeers. I rolled my eyes when he gave me a smirk and a wink. Pretty boys and their antics.

"Are you ready to decorate the Room of Requirement, Kleine?" jovially as he shrunk the butterbeers.

"Ja!" I replied.

"Rox, can you pin up my hair? I'm absolutely dreadful when it comes to my hair." I asked sheepishly. I normally relied on my mother to twist my hair up. I love feeling her fingers comb through my strands.

"Sure." she responded with a cheeky grin, "I know just what you need!" I shrank away from her look. She just laughed as she pushed me into a chair. I was really having second thoughts.

"Roxanne, please don't make me look foolish." I cringed as she gave my hair a hard tug, "o-okay. I-I trust you." I closed my eyes.

My anxiety calmed as she ran her hands through my hair. Almost like my mother. Roxanne was firmer about it though. But I already learned my lesson about trying to cross Roxanne Weasley.

"Y'know, you are already a fool, why would you care if you hair was foolish?" she started waving her wand around my head.

"I guess the more appropriate word would be, stupid." I amended. My eyes were still closed.

"Oh, Cal, you are too pretty to look stupid." I blushed fiercely.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"Well, what am I going to do, lie?" she sounded cross. I winced, "There, all done."

I slowly opened my eyes. And gasped. My hair was no longer light blonde; it was black and purple. On top, I had puff ball buns, alternate colors to my roots. It was not half bad. Roxanne looked smug as she saw my eyes sparkle with happiness. I shifted my gaze to her face in the mirror. My face broke out in a wide grin.

"Rox, this is great!" I jumped up and spun around. I wrapped my arms around the younger girls' shoulders and gave her a squeeze, "Thank you!" she chuckled and returned my embrace.

"Now git you costume on! It is almost time to party!"

Weird Brothers were playing and everyone was dancing. Well, most everyone. Some of the attendees were trying to converse. Some of the older ones were on their way to an anatomy lesson. And then there was me. I was standing along the wall, sipping on some firewhiskey. (I learned my lesson the hard way.) My court jester costume was earning me a few glances that had my cheeks tinting pink. Or was that the alcohol?

An arm snaked low around my waist and I stiffened. My gaze left the floor and peered into unfamiliar blue eyes. I set my drink down on the little table next to me. I did not have a good feeling.

"Hey gorgeous, wanna dance?" his voice slurred. I felt like I had been slimed. I tried to step out of his grip, but he only tightened his hold on my hip.

"No, thank you." I replied quietly. But he must have only heard 'thank you' because he tried to pull me from the wall.

"Come on, let's dance." he almost sounded like he was whining. I resisted, "Don't play hard to get, love."

"I said no." my voice louder and firmer. My brows scrunched together in frustration. I placed my hands on his chest and shoved him away. Well, I tried at least.

"Some spirit! I like a girl who-oaf!"

I punched him in the gut. Hard. His arm dropped to cradle his midsection.

"Back off." I growled.

"What the hell?" he grunted.

"I said no!" I repeated.

"Fucking tease." he shot me a glare.

"Kleine?" Scorpius' voice broke through the music. I looked at his face, but he was not paying attention to me. He only had eyes for the prat currently trying to decide if he should be afraid or not.

"Hey Scorpius." I said softly. He nodded in acknowledgement, letting me know he heard me.

"Do we have a problem here, McLaggen?" he was glaring now. I felt the chill and shivered. Scorpius stepped next to me and placed a protective hand between my shoulder blades.

"Yeah, this crazy bint won't dance with me." he replied, frustrated as to why a girl could resist his charm. I scowled at the derogatory word.

"Manslayer? A crazy bint?" Scorpius turned away from the sleazy boy and made eyes to James, signaling him to come over. McLaggen did not even notice, "Kleine, you want to dance with this slimy prat?" I shook my head.

The light brown haired boy shot his hand out like lightening and enclosed my wrist in his grasp. I squeaked in surprise as I was roughly pulled into his arms. He held me tightly against his body. Since I had no space to get a proper arm swing, I sunk my teeth into the soft flesh of his pectoral. I felt the skin break through his shirt and he was not happy about it.

McLaggen shoved me away so hard, I fell on my back. James was next to me in an instant, his hands on my shoulders, concern shining in his eyes. I waved him off. I was going to pick myself up and deal with this on my own. And that is what I did.

"Do NOT touch me!" I said savagely in his face. My glare was so intense; he took a sudden step back, "I WILL not be manhandled."

James and Scorpius took him away. I am going to assume he was being kicked out. I did not care. I felt someone gently lay a hand on my shoulder. I turned and looked up into Albus' hazel eyes.

"What do I do that is wrong?"

"You don't walk around with a bloke." was his cryptic answer.