A/N: A little on the short side. But, I finally got over my fear of the mail! I know that some of you are still waiting, impatiently, to see if Calesta decides to attach herself to one guy. I'm going to admit, the idea of Calesta dating makes me worried. I don't know what I am going to do yet, but Calesta will be making a name for herself here soon. There is only so much cruelty a girl can take before she snaps and runs rampant through the halls running people over. I have an inkling of what I want to do, but I don't have anything concrete. :D

Happy reading!

Henny, that lucky Penny!

Letters and Tears

Sweetheart,

Your letters bring a smile to our faces. Thank you for being so calm about the move and the transition. We are so proud of you!

Your mutter and I have been working almost non-stop. It is almost a blessing that you are at boarding school. We would not be able to find the time to be the parents you are deserving of. But without you smile, we don't have much sunshine in our home. We miss your brightness, but the knowledge that you are happy makes it all worth it. We will all be happy together one day.

That brings me to the second reason why I am writing you. Your mutter and I have been handed some unfortunate news. I have been tasked with going to some conference in December and cannot for another time. No matter how much I yelled in German, they did not change their minds. So, during Christmas, I will be in Bulgaria. I am so sorry tochter. I desperately tried to get out of it, but I am low man in the food chain.

I love you, my sweetheart. And I miss you every day. Please forgive me. I want nothing more than to see your bright eyes on Christmas. Please stay safe and warm.

Love, your Vader.

Dear,

I am so proud at how well you are doing. The grace in which you have accepted these changes is astounding and something to feel good about. You have grown into an amazing young woman and I am thankful you are mine.

But, I am sorry; I must tell you some bad news. My work alongside your Vader is sending me to Germany. They want to inspect some potential core materials. I have told them time and again that there is nothing more powerful than what we have already. But would they listen?

I am afraid that I will not be home for Christmas. And I know your Vader already sent you a letter stating that he will be away also. This is not how I pictured out first Christmas here in England. It is not fair and I am so sorry, my tochter. My hope is that you can enjoy your Christmas at school. I know that does not sound appealing, but it is what has to be done. I love you, my tochter. Please do not be cross with us. Even in English, as I preferred to use, they did not agree with me. Stay safe and stay happy.

Love always, your mutter.

My sob escaped my mouth before I could clamp down on my emotions. I felt the familiar sting of the oncoming tears. I scrubbed my eyes to squeeze them out. That was much less embarrassing this way.

"Cal?" James inquired, the concern was heavy. I took a long, calming breathe.

"Jamie?" I inquired back, not meeting his gaze. I am not that good at keeping my tears from falling.

"Can you look at me?" I felt him nudge my shoulder to try and get me to face him. I ignored his efforts.

"Are we going to keep asking questions again?" my stubbornness kept me staring at the plate of half eaten food. He sighed.

"Someday, you are to going to realize it is futile to ignore my questions." he shifted his attention back to his breakfast, "How are your parents?"

"Great." the lie slipped through my lips. If I wanted to get through today, I would need to lie a lot.

"That's good." he took a sip of pumpkin juice, "What are your plans for Christmas?" I could feel his eyes land on my profile. He was watching how I reacted from the corner of his vision.

I paused.

"Nothing concrete." I swallowed the lump in my throat, "See you after class." I grabbed my bad and hurried out of the hall. I could not handle that conversation much longer.

"James told me you were acting strange at breakfast." Albus' voice wove into my thoughts. I stopped pretending to read my book, "He also mentioned there were letters involved." I sighed in resignation.

"Not now, please?" I bent down to put my book back into my bad, "I won't be able to concentrate-" my heart skipped a beat and I felt my arms go stiff.

I brought my bag into my lap and started to feel the panic rise. My fingers clumsily started shifting my books and parchments around. As my movements became frantic, I looked harder and faster. My letters were not where they should be.

"Calesta?" I groaned in frustration.

"I left them." I said breathlessly, I left them at the table! I need those letters." panic leaked into my voice. I got up to rush to the Great Hall before a voice stopped me.

"Today's potion will be the Deflating Draught. It is the antidote for the Swelling Solution." Professor Quigley's entrance had me sitting back down.

Now I am definitely not going to be able to concentrate.

I knew that the letters were lost. Either the house elves threw them away or someone stole them. Either way, they were now gone. And that was all I could think about.

Where am I going to go for Christmas? Am I really going to have to stay at Hogwarts? Maybe I could just go home and stay there alone? Would I really have to stay here?

Why this Christmas?

"Calesta!" Scorpius' voice was loud in my ear.

I jerked back on instinct and blinked. A few people at our table looked at me curiously. I felt my cheeks color. I looked down at my barely touched dinner. I then began wondering how my day went, since I do not remember it.

"Damn it girl! Pay attention!" I heard Scorpius snap at me. The tone of his voice had my flinching, "What is wrong?"

"Scorp..." Albus began.

"Excuse me." I mumbled. I could feel the tears gathering. I stood up from the bench. My feet quick stepped it out of the hall.

"Kleine!" Really?

"Not now." I threw over my shoulder.

"Yes, now!" I heard his footsteps getting closer. A betraying tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away in a show of frustration.

"I'm not in the mood." my voice cracked. Another tear rolled down and I wiped at it.

"Come on, kleine. Just talk to me." I could hear the tone of his frustration. I winced. I felt bad that I was the cause of it. So I stopped my furious pace.

"I honestly don't want to talk. Right now, I just want to lie in my bed and soak my pillow with my tears." I turned towards him and looked him in the eye. His cool greys studied my wet blues. He was frustrated that I was hurt.

"What happened?" Scorpius' voice had an edge. I readjusted my bag to lie more comfortably on my shoulder.

"I'm not ready to discuss it." I muttered miserably. He took a step closer to me and I took a step back.

Good going. Are we in our first week at Hogwarts?

Scorpius sighed in frustration. I inwardly cringed. I honestly do not like to illicit those emotions from him. He was regarding me with caution.

"You shouldn't bottle everything and pretend it is all your problem." he slowly reached a hand out. His palm was pointed up. I dropped my gaze to the extended peace offering.

"I-I'm not sure what I should be thinking right now." I closed my eyes. My arm brought my hand to his. I felt his warm palm engulf my small hand, "I think I am mostly hurt and angry." I squeezed his hand with a small smile, "I just need my time to figure out my head."

"After you drive yourself mad, will you talk to me about it?" Scorpius kept hold of my fingers.

"I promise." my fingers fell from his grip and I left to cry my eyes out.

As I sat down for breakfast the next morning, two letters came from above me and landed on my empty plate. I looked up curiously to find James Potter looking worried. I narrowed my eyes.

"You read them?" I asked evenly. James sat down next to me with a nod.

"I did. And it is not right."

"Who told you that you could read these letters?" my temper was rising. James looked me square in the eyes. His were cold and dull. Not his usual forest, sparkly green.

"No one. But when a friend has a bad reaction to come words, you get worried." I frowned, "So, I read the letters and now I am a little concerned for you. You can't stay at the castle that is boring."

"I haven't got anywhere else to go. So, unfortunately, I have to stay at the castle." I flinched as he threw a third envelop on my still empty plate.

"You have my home. Or Lucy's home. Or Hugo's home. And, if you are feeling brave, Fred's home." I looked at him curiously, "I already wrote my mother and father. They already responded. You can come to a Potter/Weasley family Christmas." I saw the corner of his lips twitch. I was floored.

"What?" my voice was breathless.

"Come to my house for Christmas. I told my parents that you were stuck at the castle all alone. They even want to meet your parents if they can. I know your mum and dad said they have been busy."

"Really?" I still did not believe him. Good thing James is more patient than Scorpius.

"My family would love to have you over for Christmas." he responded slowly.

"That-really-me?-What?" James chuckled. He grabbed the unfamiliar envelope and pushed the letter into my hands.

James Dear,

Oh! That sounds terrible! How is your friend doing? I hope you are trying to make her feel better.

WAIT!

I just had a though!

Bring her here, to Godric's Hallow! Your father and I will even meet her parents so that they know who we are. She can spend the holiday with us! I have been waiting to meet her. She sounds fun from how you describe her.

Oh! I am going to let your father know right now!

Love, mother!

"I sound fun? What kind of stuff do you write to your mother about me?" I glanced at him. I saw his cheeks go red.

"Never you mind." responded gruffly and snatched the letter from my fingers. I giggled at him. And that silly noise felt more preferable to my crying.

"I'll write my parents. If they have any problems with it, I'll guilt them into letting me." I stuffed my letters into my pocket, "I'm going to need your parents information in the off chance my parents are all for the idea of meeting them."

"I'll bring it down to the dungeons." he poured a goblet of pumpkin juice for himself. I got up from the bench and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Jamie." I said softly.

"You are welcome, Cal."

Mutter and Vader,

Thank you for your love and support. It means the world to me. You two are the best!

The news about Christmas has definitely thrown me for a loop. I was very sad. I will admit that I did cry. But never fear! Manslayers prevail and continue on!

My friend, James Potter, found out about the Holiday. He wrote his parents and requested permission for me to stay at his house for Christmas. I was wondering if I had your consent to do so. The second piece of parchment is their address so that you may correspond with each other.

Please do consider. I am actually excited about the possibility of going.

Love, your tochter.

A/N: Although, I am wondering, who would Calesta play off nicely with? When you read this, who do you think she would pair up nicely with? I am genuinely curious. I haven't given much thought to the idea. So, I wonder what the masses think.