A/N: Oh NO! Another short chapter. I find this one very entertaining. And Calesta of course, over reacts. This one is filled with some fluff. A break from the drama that is her life.
If it finds your fancy, leave me a review. I like to hear feedback! Happy Reading!
Henny, that lucky Penny!
Some Things Are Meant To Be Permanent
I felt silly with booze and mildly relaxed. Albus had stayed with me the rest of the night, plying me with firewhiskey. I had mentioned once or four times that I was fine and he could go have fun. He insisted that he was having fun and I left it alone.
He was even kind enough to walk me back to the Slytherin dungeons. His excuse was he was tired. Even with his insistence, I still felt bad that I had ruined his night. And I said as much.
"Never. I do what I want." he responded with a small, knowing smile.
"Thank you, for walking me back." I said softly, "What did you mean earlier?" I took a seat on a soft chair. Albus sat down on the couch and sighed.
"You have no reputation here. All you have is a pretty face and a soft voice." his gaze was boring into mine, "My family has out past. My father, uncle and aunt, their names, have helped having a hold over the students. Having James here first helped also. He and Scorpius cleared a path for all of us.
"Most of the student body left Fred, Rose and I alone when we started. So, all of those traditions didn't really occur. Sometimes the older students would catch one of us stragglers, but attacks on the Potters and Weasleys are few and far between."
"I did notice that you all tend to travel in packs." I had been quiet during his explanation. My mind digesting the information, "So, maybe I don't need a guy, but someone who has a reputation?" Albus shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess it really depends on you. But yes, your main problem is you are seen as a loner and very available." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. I sent him a glare.
"You would think with how James is always slinging his arms around my shoulders and how Scorpius always had a hand on my back as we walk. Freddie and his cheek pinching aren t subtle either." Albus laughed softly. I grimaced.
"It doesn t help any that you are completely clueless." my temper flared inside my chest. The alcohol did not help keep it contained, "Most of the student body keeps tabs on who is dating who. They know you are not dating those three." I glared at him.
"Well, how would they know? I could be dating-" I stopped myself. Even in my fuzzy state I knew that idea sounded ridiculous. I sighed and rubbed my face, "My face is numb. And I am trying to spout nonsense. I think that means I am pretty tipsy and should go to bed." I stood slowly from the cushy chair, trying not to sway. I failed.
"All right?" Albus eyed me cautiously. I nodded my head. I had a though that made me break out in a grin, "Why are you smiling?"
"I'm grinning, actually. And I figured out how you show your affection for me." I put a hand on the arm of the chair, half tempted to sit back down and sleep on it.
"Oh really?" he raised a questioning eyebrow at me.
"You tell me the truth. And don't brush me aside." I started walking to my dormitory, "Eve if it might make me angry or uncomfortable. Because knowing the truth is soothing."
"Soothing?"
"Like a warm hug, actually." I giggled.
"You're pissed." he stood up.
"I'm not mad." I was very confused. Albus sighed.
"Drunk, Manslayer." he translated. I giggled again.
"A warm hug. And I should've remembered that one. Mutter has told one of her brothers that a couple of times." I started humming. I could hear Albus walking behind me, "And I am not, by the by."
"'Course not." I caught the sarcasm. I snorted, very unlady like too.
"Save your sarcasm for when I am actually drunk. Then maybe it might fly above me." I sent him a smirk.
"Good night, Calesta." he said as he walked past me.
"Good night, Albus." I replied quietly.
The next morning I had the shock of a lifetime. And I was not happy about it.
And that is why I was sitting next to Roxanne Weasley and James Potter, crying silently at Gryffindor Tables.
"It is not so bad." I heard Fred say. That just made me bury my head further into Roxanne's shoulder. I felt James patting my back softly.
"Honestly. I like how the streaks of color play nicely off your light blonde hair." James tried. I let out a soft sob.
"What went wrong, Rox?" I whimpered. I felt her sigh.
"I haven't the foggiest." she replied. I hiccupped.
"Come on, Manslayer. Honestly, it looks great!" James tried again.
"You're a boy, what would you know?" I hiccupped again.
"Well, if you really want to know..." I heard him drop his pitch. That was a dangerous tone to girls. They tended to melt into puddles at it.
"Nine! Nine!" I shook my head into Roxanne's shoulder, "Go get Albus." I muttered.
"I'll do it." Fred mumbled. I heard him leave.
"What does my brother have to do with anything?" James sounded confused. I took a shuddering, deep breathe.
"He never lies to me." I stated as I brought my head up. I scrubbed my face with my sleeve. Roxanne relaxed. I finally stopped crying.
"Well, neither does...oh never mind." he slouched down. I hiccupped.
"What's up? Calesta- oh what the bloody hell?" my heart shattered. I sniffed.
"Great, she just stopped crying and now you made her start again." Roxanne sounded exasperated.
"Dammit, Albus!" James muttered under his breathe.
"Well, did you guys lie to her?" he was looking at me. I flicked my gaze to him.
"No." they chorused.
"They sugar coated everything." I mumbled wetly.
James and Fred sputtered. Roxanne, never one to be shamed, shrugged her shoulders. Albus sighed.
"Scoot over, Roxy." Albus took her spot next to me. And he started studying me.
After my shower this morning, I looked into the mirror and saw black and purple. Sections of my hair did not change back to blonde. I tried every counter charm I could think of. But streaks of black/purple and purple/black were still there. I was mortified.
I threw on a sweater with a hood and quick stepped it to the Great Hall. I found Rox and showed her. She even tried a few charms to non-avail. Her failure was a breaking point and I broke down into tears. And then all the soft tones happened.
Albus had my chin in between his thumb and forefinger. He was turning my head from side to side. He ran his fingers through my hair. He even wiped a few tears from my cheeks. I felt myself calm down.
"Better?" he whispered. I nodded my head slightly.
"A little." I swallowed, "Is it bad?"
"Never. Still a pretty face and a soft voice." he released my chin; "Although, the dark colors give you an edge." he winked at me. I felt my lips curve into a small smile.
"How did you get her to do that?" Fred asked in amazement, "We've been trying for ages now!"
"Twenty minutes is not ages, Freddie." I hiccupped, "I'm going to go see Lucy and Scorpius." I made to stand up, but a hand on my shoulder stilled my actions.
"We won't see them for a while yet." Albus warned, "They were still pretty out of it when I tried to wake them."
"Oh, okay." I patted his fingers, "Thank you, Albus." I gave him a bright smile.
"Anytime, Calesta." he gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. Then he was gone.
My stomach reminded me that I still had yet to eat. So, I threw my hood back on my head and grabbed a piece of toast and filled a goblet with pumpkin juice. I hunched into the table as low as I could. I began nibbling on the bread.
"Cal..." James began, "Can I still call you Cal?" he pulled my hood back slightly to get a look at my face.
"Can I call you Jamie?" I countered.
"Can you take off your hood and show the Great Hall your bright smile?" he pulled the hood back farther.
"Are you going to keep answering my questions with questions?" I nibbled some toast.
"Are you going to continue to do the same?" his forest green eyes sparkled.
"Yes, you can call me Cal." I slowly pulled my hood down and nervously smoothed down my hair.
"I suppose you can call me Jamie. Your hair is fine, by the by." he drank some of my juice.
"Thank you." I said through a bright smile.
Maybe having purple/black hair would not be so bad.