Of The Solstice

Hogwarts Express

After placing my trunk and belongings in the loading area, I hurriedly made my way onto the Hogwarts Express. Walking down the long, narrow hallway of the train, I almost collided with James Potter as he stepped out of a compartment. Without hesitation, he pulled me into a tight hug.

"Your mother wasn't too hard on you, was she?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "She sent an owl to my parents and said you aren't allowed back to our house this summer?"

I hugged him back tightly, grateful for his presence. "She forbade me from coming back," I admitted with a sigh.

He released me and opened the compartment. Remus and Sirius were already sitting inside chatting. Sirius perked up as I walked in standing up to give me a hug. "How are you Buggy?" he whispered as he held me.

"Pretty shit, Pads," I smiled holding him tightly.

After Sirius hugged me, we both sat down, and I took a seat beside Remus. "My mother is furious that I broke things off with Evan," I shared with them, scanning their expressions.

"Cali, you actually sent the letter?" Sirius asked with surprise.

"Was I not supposed to?" I asked, confused.

"Calista, he is going to be absolutely livid when he sees you," Remus warned me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "What could he possibly do to me that he hasn't already done?" I replied.

"So you won't be joining us for Christmas either?" Sirius asked.

"No, my mother made it clear that I wouldn't be going anywhere but Hogwarts," I replied with a sigh.

"That's ridiculous! You're almost 18!" James exclaimed.

I let out a deep sigh. "It's just like how she thinks she can dictate who I'll marry," I muttered

Remus leaned forward with a thoughtful expression. "It's not uncommon for pure-blood families to arrange marriages for their children," he said, "but that doesn't mean you have to go along with it."

Sirius nodded in agreement. "You should marry who you want, not who your mother chooses for you."

"I don't think you three understand how overbearing this woman is," I said, trying to lighten the mood

James chuckled, "We know all too well about your mother, Cali. You wouldn't have stayed with my family for the past two summers if we didn't understand."

I let out a small chuckle, hinting that I didn't want to keep talking about it. Finding comfort in the passing scenery, I leaned against the window while the three boys started their own conversation, giving me some space. As the train picked up speed, a loud whistle echoed through the air, signaling our departure. I watched in awe as we chugged through the beautiful Scottish countryside, the lush green fields and rolling hills passing by in a blur. The crisp autumn air whistled through the open window.

The boys continued their conversation, sharing stories of their summers and discussing what they were most looking forward to in the upcoming year. I listened intently, occasionally chiming in with my own thoughts and experiences.

As we passed through a particularly stunning stretch of countryside, I couldn't resist the urge to take in the view. I leaned closer to the window, feeling the cool breeze on my face and taking in the beauty of nature. The vibrant colors of the trees, the gentle sway of the grass, and the distant mountains created a stunning panorama that seemed to stretch on forever.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed when the train began to slow down, signaling our arrival at Hogsmeade station. As we gathered our things and prepared to disembark.