Although more than a week had passed since George and I's encounter at the library, the memory of him placing his hand at my back, the low whispers he breathed into my ear, and the sheer sight of him, all had me thinking about him every minute of every day.
I had avoided him to the best of my abilities, although it was quite difficult, seeing as he was in most of my classes. Most classes were easy to avoid him—all but Divination of course, where I was forced to sit with him every class. However, considering how he hadn't stopped teasing me since we first arrived at school, it seemed as though he took my words in the library seriously, because he had refrained, for the most part, from doing so.
Maybe I did enjoy it a bit when he teased me
As I shook the idea of George out of mind, the attention of another came along with it—Adrian, who now began to approach me. As I quickened my pace in order to get to Defence Against the Dark Arts class, as well as avoid Adrian, he quickly caught up to me and grabbed me by the arm.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" He said, as he held a firm grip on my arm.
"Getting to class, as should you." I stated firmly, attempting to ease his grip on my arm. This only aggravated him more, as he pinned my arm on the wall we stood next to.
"What the fuck is your problem? You've been acting so weird all week, ignoring me and shit."
"I've been ignoring you—really? You only ever talk to me when you want something from me. So please, don't you dare tell me I'm the one with the fucking problem." I said angrily, now realizing the grip on my arm began to hurt.
"What do you want me to say? Just because you sucked my dick once doesn't mean you're all of a sudden special." His words hurt more than I thought they would. "Besides, there's plenty of other girls who'd do it without question."
Before I could snap back at his hurtful comments, a voice off to the side came out of nowhere.
"Is there a problem mate?"
George
Adrian slowly loosened the grip on my arm as George stood there waiting for him to do so.
"Didn't realize I asked your opinion, Weasley," he said, now turning back to me "Are you sucking his dick too?" He asked purposefully so that George would hear.
George now came right next to us, towering over me as always. Although Adrian was also tall, he looked significantly less intimidating standing next to George's tall, and lean—yet muscular build.
Before George had the chance to do much, Professor Lupin stood outside his classroom door, waving us in.
"Come on everyone, today's class is starting."
As Adrian walked away into the classroom, giving both George and I a smug look, I immediately looked down at the ground in shame.
"Are you alright?" The look of concern on his face showed as he moved closer to me.
"Yeah," I said in a low voice, still trying to avoid his gaze. "I'm fine." I lied.
Before he could say anything further, I stepped into the classroom as he followed behind me, as the class had already begun.
Everyone now stood around a large, mahogany wardrobe with mirrors on it. As we all stood there momentarily, waiting for something to happen, it began to shake rather violently.
"Intriguing isn't it?" Professor Lupin said approaching it, as everyone else jumped back in fear from the moving object.
"Would anyone like to venture a guess...as to what is inside?"
"That's a boggart." Roger Davies spoke.
"Very good, Mr. Davies." The professor said, as the wardrobe continued to shake. "Now, can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?"
"No one knows." Andy, who now stood next me, spoke. "Boggarts are shape-shifters—they take the shape of whatever a person fears the most."
"Show off." Wood mumbled under his breath, receiving a glare from her as she continued.
"That's what makes them so—"
"So terrifying, yes, yes, yes…" The professor said, interrupting. "Luckily a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Now, let's practice it—without wands please." The wardrobe increasingly began to shake.
"After me...Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" The class repeated after the professor.
"Very good. Now, a little louder and very clear—Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" The class repeated again, this time, much louder.
"Very good...that was the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing—let me explain."
Professor Lupin now looked up towards Wood, who up until this point was distracted by Andy.
"Uh, Wood...would you join me please?"
Wood stood up at the front of the classroom, grudgingly.
"Now, Oliver...what frightens you most of all?"
Before he had the chance to answer, Fred had already chimed.
"Losing the Quidditch Cup." Fred said, laughing while he stared at Wood.
"Well, whatever it is Oliver, when I open that wardrobe, I want you to picture it alongside something you find amusing, alright?" Wood now shook his head in agreement.
"Wand at the ready!" Wood now gripped his wand tightly in his hand.
"One...two...three…" With the flick of the professor's wand, the doorknob of the wardrobe turned, and the door slowly opened.
As Fred stood corrected, out walked a figure whose most noticeable feature was his crooked front teeth—Marcus Flint, Slytherin's own Quidditch captain holding up the Cup.
Although Wood didn't seem to find this amusing at all, the whole class roared with laughter.
"Now, Oliver, go!" The professor insisted.
"Riddikulus!" Wood shouted, and in an instant, the trophy that Flint held, was now replaced by a fluffy, pink Pygmy puff.
The class filled with laughter, as did the Professor who now spoke up.
"Wonderful, Oliver, wonderful! Incredible!...okay, to the back now." Oliver now walked back to his friends, George now scruffing his hair in a teasing way, and Wood shoving his hand off.
"Now, everyone form a line!" The class now began to shove each other to get to the front of the line—I, however, was in no rush.
As each student took their turn one by one, I now approached the front of the line. As I stood there waiting, I felt a nudge on my back, encouraging me forward—George. For a moment, all I could think of was the memory I had from the Sorting Ceremony my first day at Hogwarts, and eleven year old George nudging me just like he did now. My heart swelled at the thought of this; however, I was quickly interrupted as Professor Lupin began to speak.
"Your turn now Calista...come on up." The professor prompted me forward with a warm smile. "Concentrate, and face your fear."
I stood there in fear, not knowing what to expect to come out of that wardrobe—when all at once, clouds of light smoke emerged from inside and began to take the form of several unidentifiable people. The shadow like figures all began to whisper, not really audible at first; however, it wasn't until all the voices began to speak up all at once, loud enough for the class to hear.
"Sorted into the wrong House...lying about her blood status...a Mudblood." The last words had me freeze in shock.
I must have heard that wrong
But I hadn't, because almost immediately, the whole class began to echo in loud whispers. My whole body began to go numb, as the realization of my secret had just come out to my entire class.
As the Professor now realized what was going on, he rushed to stand in front of me. The shadow figures that once stood before me now transformed into a dark cloud, and glowing behind it, the full moon.
"Riddikulus!" Professor Lupin shouted, and instantly the bright sphere now disappeared and was suddenly transformed into a white balloon that began to deflate—the professor now guiding it with his wand, back into the wardrobe.
Although the flying balloon caused a temporary distraction to what the class had just heard, they were soon brought back to whispers.
"Right. Sorry about that. That's enough for today. If you'd all like to collect your books, that'll be the end of today's lesson." As everyone began to groan in annoyance, I continued to stand still, gazing at the spot in front of me where those whispering shadows once stood. "Sorry everyone! You can only have too much of a good thing."
As the class began to walk out the doors, I saw from the corner of my eye, George slowly walking towards me.
"George, another time please." The Professor said, looking at me with concern.
George now began to walk away with the rest of his friends, with Lee muttering about the trip that would be happening today in Hogsmeade. As he turned back once more, a sad expression donned on his face—a look of sympathy, as he now exited the classroom.
As the Professor and I now were the only ones left remaining in the classroom, he spoke up.
"Ms. Warrington, might I have a word with you? Perhaps it would be best if you get some fresh air." I finally came out of my trance and nodded at the kind professor.
As we made our way out of the castle in silence, we now stood at the large, covered wooden bridge that connected the castle's courtyard to the other side of the cliff it stood over.
The Professor began to speak as I stared out into the breathtakingly, vast landscape.
"You know...Calista, you are a very bright witch… and it is not our blood status that gets to determine our paths. It's the goodness in your heart, and your actions that will lead you to great things."
"I've already felt isolated from the rest of the Slytherins since my very first day at Hogwarts. I can't begin to imagine how it'll be for the next three years here."
"Although we may not be able to choose our Houses, we can choose our friends."
"Yes, if it were only that simple sir." I said gazing back at the serene.
"The Weasley boy?" He questioned, with a small smile on his face.
"It's nothing," I managed to mutter.
"You remind me of an old friend, you know? He too, grew up not sharing the same values on blood status as the ones closest to him—but that never stopped him from becoming the best of friends with some Gryffindors."
"And what is this friend doing now?"
"I haven't spoken to him in years...we drifted apart." He looked off into the distance with a thoughtful look on his face. "In time, you'll come to see that the people who mean the most to you, are the ones you least expect."
George's POV
As I walked into The Three Broomsticks with the whole gang, my thoughts were still racing, as I continued to process the information I had learned only a few hours ago.
As all six of us sat down at the table, Angelina was the one to break the silence.
"Can't believe she's a Muggleborn."
"What's your point?" I said glaring up at her. The others all seemed to be taken aback.
"What's gotten into you recently George? I swear, ever since that girl sat next to you on the train, you've been nothing but distracted. Don't tell me you fancy her, please—or I'll kick you off the Quidditch team." Oliver said with an annoyance in his voice.
"Ease off mate—I don't fancy her, I just feel bad." At this exact moment, three figures walked into the pub, making my blood boil instantly—Pucey.
I stood up immediately, pulling off my hoodie at the same time.
"Where're you going?" Fred looked up at me asking.
"Going to grab a drink at the counter...don't feel like waiting for the server." I said, my gaze now directly on Pucey, although he hadn't noticed me yet.
As I walked up to the bar counter, I overheard part of the conversation Pucey was now having with his friends.
"Not surprised at all that she's a mudblood, honestly...she wasn't good for anything but a quick deepthroat." My arm grabbed out to reach him with his jacket so fast that he didn't even have the time to react, as I pushed him up against the counter.
"What the fuck Weasley, get off me." Fred and the others quickly began to realize what was happening, as they all stood up and ran towards me. Fred and Lee both grabbed me off him, attempting to calm me down as my breathing now became fast. As they pulled me off him, and guided me back to the table, Pucey had collected himself and began to talk again as my back faced towards him.
"Do me a favour, Weasley...tell that Mudblood slut to watch out when she's alone in the Quidditch locker rooms." Turning around, my fist connected so fast with his jaw, the impact made him fall over to the ground.
"Mate, what the hell are you doing?" My brother shouted at me, although I began to lose my senses as my heart began to race. A crowd had now formed watching, the workers frantically telling me to stop.
Although my brother, Lee and Oliver all tried pulling me off him all at once, my adrenaline kicked in as I shoved them off me.
As Pucey now lay on the floor of the bar, I grabbed him by his jacket with my fist, and resumed my punches to his face, making sure my other fist made a hard impact each time.
As my strikes became slower, they also became much harder, as blood now covered my fists. As I began to become exhausted from my punches, Fred and the two others had finally managed to pull me off him, as I now sat on the floor attempting to catch my breath. As I looked towards where Pucey now lay feet away from me, I managed to see his hand move up to his nose, clutching it in pain.
Fred quickly grabbed me up off the floor, and began to drag me out of Three Broomsticks before I could get into any further trouble—with the other four following us out.
"Mate, are you mad?" Lee seemed just as shocked as everyone else, as the five of them now surrounded me.
"You..," I let out, attempting to catch my breath. "You should've...heard what he said."
"Jesus George, I don't care what the man said—look at your fist." Fred now yelled at me as he pointed to my bloody fist.
"Listen, guys, I think we should get out of here first before we start to discuss why George just stupidly did this." Andy said in a panicking tone.
"She's right—we should go before any of the teachers begin to show up." Oliver said, with a concerned look on his face.
Seeing as Oliver was never the voice of reasoning, I took that as a sign to start heading back to the castle, with the others quickly hurrying off with me.
Calista's POV
After having that conversation with Professor Lupin earlier this afternoon, it had helped my mind ease off for most of the day. I'd decided I best not go to Hogsmeade, seeing as I now would probably not even have anyone willing to go with me.
As the rest of my evening was spent in bed, avoiding as many people as possible, I quickly became restless laying in bed, and thought I would get up and head out for anywhere but here.
As I made my way down the dark corridors of the castle, I decided on going to the library. As I walked into the library's grand entrance, I immediately noticed George's bright red hair, as he sat atop the table with his head looking down, and his large hands gripping the edges of the it.
"What are you doing here?" I let out, as he quickly looked up from his gaze at the floor, standing up from his position immediately and walking towards me.
"Just thought you'd be here is all." For a man who went from laughing and teasing me just a week ago, his calm tone of voice was surprising.
As I looked down momentarily, my gaze met with his right hand, as it seemed to be severely bruised and cut up in some places. Before I could manage to comment on it, he spoke up.
"I'm sorry about today. Sorry that everyone found out the way they did." He said, now playing with the ring on his finger as he always did. "Not that that makes any difference to me."
"Don't know why I thought I could go seven years without anyone finding out." I stated, walking slowly along the wall of books, as George began to follow.
"So your parents then...do they know about you hiding it?"
I let out a small sigh at this. "Um, no—I live with my adoptive father who doesn't pay much interest in wizarding affairs...his wife passed away not long after they got me."
"Oh...I see," he said looking down at me as we continued to slowly stroll down the library. "What about your biological parents?"
"Don't know much about them either. Only thing the agency managed to give us was the fact that they were Muggles."
He continued to look down at me with sympathetic eyes, I looked away blushing, as he always managed to make me.
"I always wondered why you weren't put in Gryffindor."
"What do you mean always?" I now questioned him.
"What," he now said with a grin on his face "you don't remember your first day at Hogwarts? You looked like a lost puppy."
"I did not! I just…yeah, okay, fine I did." Small chuckles now escaped from the both of us. "So what happened to your hand then?" I said, nodding at his beaten up fist. He quickly lost eye contact with me, now looking back down at the floor.
"Just roughhousing with the boys during Quidditch practice—we got a bit carried away." He mumbled. "Speaking of Quidditch, who's on your team this year?" He seemed particularly interested for some reason.
"Uh...Flint, Harrison, Leon, Colten, Griffin and...uh, Adrian." George's facial expression instantly went from sweet to irritated in a matter of seconds. "And me of course." I said, finishing off my statement. It was quite a strange thing to ask.
"So you're the only girl on the team then?" He seemed concerned about this.
"Ya, so?" I asked, confused.
"No, it's nothing...was just wondering."
"So what was that all about then earlier—with Pucey."
"Why are you all of a sudden interested in these things?" I asked, now even more confused by his questions. "It's not a big deal anyways...just a misunderstanding."
"I saw the marks on your waist the other week." He blurted out, leaving me in disbelief.
"It's not what you think," I said, not seeing where this conversation was going.
"I just don't think spending any kind of time with someone like him is a good idea, that's all." I quickly stopped in my tracks at this, and turned to now face him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" A look of anger now dawned on my face. "And what business is it of yours to even tell me something like that?" Frustrated at this, I turned back around now walking past him with a fast pace. He quickly held onto my wrist before I could get much further, only this time, I didn't make him let go.
"I'm sorry," he said with an apologetic look to his face. "I didn't mean anything by it."
He now leaned into me closer than he ever had, with a look of longing in his warm, brown eyes. As much as I would have enjoyed to take in his chiseled features, I slowly removed my wrist from his grip, to which he complied.
"I'm really tired," I lied, seeing as I had been in bed the whole day already.
"Right...can I walk you down to the dungeons or something?" He asked, now messing with his ginger hair.
"No, that's fine...anyways, um, I guess I'll see you around then." I said awkwardly, not knowing how to end this strange night.
"Yeah, goodnight." He said back.
"Thanks, by the way." I said, giving him a small smile, to which he returned, as I walked out of the library.
My mind only began to try and comprehend everything that had happened today, as well as wrestling with these strange feelings I felt around George. As I walked down the corridors tonight, heading back to the common room, I knew I wouldn't be falling asleep anytime soon.