A/N: I know, I know. I hate myself too! I really do! But my story, Outsider on the Inside would not leave me alone. I even tried to sit down and write some chapters for this story and my Exceptional Skills story, but my brain refused to work! It's okay if you hate me.

On that note, this is the second time I have written this chapter. I started to write it before Henria took over my life, and I scraped that one. It just didn't do it for me! So, here is the chapter that does do it for me. :D I hope you all enjoy and don't be afraid to hate me. It is alright if you do.

Happy reading!

Henny, that lucky Penny!

Naps Are Warm and Fuzzy

The subsequent talk that happened helped me understand what I was going through. James might not have said it as eloquently, but I was maturing. I was growing. He called it manning up. I just nodded my head and agreed with him so he would not try to embarrass me too much. But it felt wonderful to finally put words to the odd changes in my behavior. Merlin! I do like growing up!

Scorpius looked at me proudly after I could not keep the small smile off my lips. Of course, the Daring Duo would know what the hell was happening before I did. They may act like all they know if pranks, but they study people too. They could probably tell you about the whole population at Hogwarts and you would feel like you knew each and every person. It helps that they have been going here for five years. It is almost cheating actually.

The rest of November had us cracking into our books hard and writing so many essays. I found that Potions class was easier for me. Being able to read the ingredients was natural. Of course, if we were studying certain plants in Herbology, I found that it was an easier course for myself also. Because the two coincided so much, I had a less difficult time. But Scorpius liked to make me feel inferior. If I got too excited about a potion or plant, he would delve into his fifth year understanding of them and smirk when I would glower at him. His father was also pretty good at Potions, so he naturally picked it up better than most children.

After November flew by, December decided to follow suit. I felt almost like I was in a whirlwind. It was starting to happen so fast. It helped that I was less of a target in my own house. Between verbally assaulting some of the sixth years and kicking Pattinson in the boy bits, I was perceived as a threat. I was still very much a mystery, but most of the other Slytherins observed me from afar. Aside for my penchant for physical violence, I had not done anything news worthy that would make them cautious. Word had gotten around about Halloween too. I had heard myself being compared to a rabid dog. Hey! If I cannot land a good punch, I will use whatever I can to keep people from touching me. That is just common sense.

Albus hovered more than usual in class. I caught him glaring at other boys every now and then. I am not sure if he was marking his territory or reminding other students that I was no one to harass, but it was nice. I never felt this safe in Salem. I never had boy friends who would willingly lead my around to ensure my safety. My girl friends were useless as well. They were never ones to stand directly in the path of an interested male. They thought it was cute when a guy showed interest in me. I had never had a date or a first kiss, what made them think that I would want a guy drooling all over me was beyond me.

Albus Potter did make me feel safe. It helped that Fred was also in a lot of my classes. He made me feel safe too. Although, his endless flirting could get annoying. I just had to hit his shoulder to let him know when he went too far and he would pinch my cheek fondly and leave me be for the rest of the day. I do not know what went through his mind when we had disagreed with each other, but his attitude towards me changed. Before, he was overly flirty and suggestive. After I smacked his cheek, he never went over the top and stopped suggesting lewd acts. But he turned out to be a very good friend. I usually did not over think it.

So, now, I found myself back on the Hogwarts Express with the worst case of butterflies I had ever had. I actually felt like being sick. Why would I be nervous? Did I not get assurance from my own parents that the Potters were spectacular people? Did they not tell me that they trusted the Potters and Weasleys to keep me safe and healthy during the Holiday? It could not possibly be bad if my parents were excited about it, right?

"Cal, why are you so pale?" Lily asked me after she was done studying my features. I took a deep breathe to quell the nausea in my stomach.

"Just...nervous I think." I replied softly, "James has been building me up so much to your mother that I'm afraid I won't meet all their expectations. I'm only five feet tall. What if they believe me to be seven feet tall? I can't possible grow two feet in a day!" I said unreasonably. Lily tried to stifle a giggle.

"Mum and dad would never think you were two hundred and thirteen centimeters tall! That's a giant!" Lily did fall into a fit of giggles. Rose and Roxanne looked at her curiously. I rolled my eyes. Of course I knew that was a giant! I studied our Magical Creatures books just as much as the next student.

"Honestly Lily! Be quiet. I don't need everyone to know I am nervous." I hissed under my breathe. Lily really did give a valiant effort to stop the giggles.

But when she failed again I sighed and excused myself to the loo. I was too wound up to take the light teasing. I did not like being angry at Lily. She never means to harm and she is the sweetest girl I have ever met. She always had a smile ready and kind words if you were upset. She followed Roxanne a lot. They were in the same year. And while Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors did not have a lot of courses together, they always managed to find each other in the halls and alternated walking each other to class. While she was sweet, I never let the fact that she was a Potter ever leave me mind. She may be soft voiced and kind, but she had the same genetic make-up of Ginny Potter. I had heard stories from James and Albus about their mother when she was in school. I feared for anyone who would dare make Lily upset.

I found myself looking in the mirror in the loo and noticed I was paler than usual. I was starting to look grey and not bright. I sighed again and decided to splash cool water on my face. The sudden cold helped my fluttering stomach. I took a long, slow pull of air and let it out just as slow and long. Some color came into my cheeks and I patted my face dry with a hand towel.

"Was habe ich mich da eingelassen?" I whispered to my reflection. Apparently this was not a talking mirror because my face said nothing back.

"That was interesting. Was that German? What did you say?" a soft voice curiously inquired behind me. I startled and shifted my gaze to the side.

A petite girl a year or two older than I was staring at my reflection, waiting patiently. I felt the blush creep into my cheeks and let a nervous smile fall on my lips. Her dark, chocolate brown hair tumbled down in waves over her shoulders. Her dark chocolate eyes sparkled with curiosity. Her skin was like coffee with creamer in it. And beautifully smooth. She was beautiful.

"I said, 'What have I gotten myself into?' and yes, that was German." I stepped to the side and let her use the sink. I eyed her curiously, mirroring her earlier analyzing.

"It rolled very well off your tongue. It sounded like poetry. You're the exchange from America, right?" she continued to talk as she washed her hands.

"Yes, Calesta Manslayer." I introduced myself. I skipped the handshaking part since her hands were busy.

"I'm Gaetana Zabini. It is a pleasure to meet you." she said in the same soft voice. I flashed a bigger smile and she sent me a small one.

"Same." I murmured. She nodded her head and dried her hands.

"I hope you have a Happy Christmas. See you after the Hols." and she left.

I looked curiously around and decided I needed to go take a nap. It was odd for someone to just randomly introduce themselves to me. I honestly had not made many friends at Hogwarts. I exited the small restroom and headed for the compartment I was sharing with Rose, Roxanne and Lily. The boys ran off to talk about something or another. It was apparently something that would bore us women folk. That is what James proclaimed as they went in search of a compartment that they could commandeer. The four of us just rolled our eyes. If they needed space, they could have just asked instead of insulting us. But that is them.

I entered our little space and sat by Lily. She was reading a book and looking very comfortable. I decided to lay my head in her lap. When the only thing she did was scoot over so I could stretch my legs out, I smiled inwardly. And when her fingers started to absentmindedly run along my scalp, I felt relaxed. And before I knew it, I was fast asleep, dreaming of nothing and feeling warm and fuzzy.