The Kind Hufflepuff

Chapter 29: Wiggentree Bark

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The Kind Hufflepuff - Second Year

Chapter Twenty Nine: Wiggentree Bark

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It had been an entire week since they had returned to Hogwarts, and everyone seemed to be falling into a routine quicker than expected and Cali was ecstatic to realize that her and Regulus were spending a lot of time together. The two of them spent most afternoons together doing homework, and while Cali initially was concerned that he wasn't making any friends his own age, he had reassured her that he was completely fine on the friend's front and spent time with them during actual classes and during mealtime.

Cali had been reassured by this sentiment and they were currently sitting in the library, a sunny corner due to a window that looked out over the courtyard. The leaves were beginning to change colors as the excitement of returning to Hogwarts began to wane with the piling amounts of homework that every student was receiving. Even Regulus, a first year, was bogged down with homework for various classes as he sat in the chair across from her, his feet on the chair in front of him and his knees bent up with his forehead leaning against the chair as he poured over some of the required reading that he had been assigned for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Meanwhile she was writing a potions essay on the uses of Wiggentree Bark, an ingredient that upon physical contact provides magical protection from being harmed against magical creatures. She found herself rambling about the early dates of the ingredient more than she was talking about the potion, Wiggenweld, but she had found the ingredient to be incredibly interesting. "I think I would like a Wiggentree Bark vest," Cali informed Regulus, interrupting the silence.

"For whatever reason?"

"It protects you against dark creatures," Cali informed him.

"Why do you need protection against dark creatures?" Regulus asked her, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Cali didn't respond, simply shrugging in response as they resumed to their homework until they heard a very elegant interruption.

"Excuse me," the voice declared as Cali and Regulus' head snapped up to see Narcissa Black. She was an older Slytherin student with long black hair who Cali thought was stunning. Her face often seemed pinched though she had noticed that the pinched facial expressions relaxed around Lucius Malfoy, the man that she was betrothed to.

"Hello," Regulus greeted quietly as Cali smiled in greeting.

"I'm Narcissa Black, I believe you were at my sister's wedding, correct?" Narcissa regarded Cali.

"Calista Higgs, but you can call me Cali!" Cali said excitedly, bouncing in her seat. "I was, I was also at her engagement party," Cali explained.

"Yes, you seemed familiar. You were with the other Black brother, as well as Regulus?" She questioned as she inspected her nails.

"Yes," Cali nodded, her excitement dwindling.

"It seems you've made a better choice in friendships, that other Black boy has always been a stain in our family. Being sorted into Gryffindor was the last straw in my opinion, it was an embarrassment to the legacy."

Cali glanced at Regulus who didn't have a reaction to this sentiment and frowned entirely. "I am actually friends with both of the Black brothers," Cali told the woman, her voice suddenly less friendly. "I consider them both some of my dearest friends, and I'm glad they still consider me a friend since I am in fact a Hufflepuff, not a Slytherin." With that, she quickly stood from her chair and shoved her books into her bag, grabbing the essay she had been writing and stiffly walked away, her frown deep.

During her stomp back to the Hufflepuff Common Room, she came across Greta and smiled, one that was tight lipped and tense and caused Greta's eyes to widen in shock. "What happened with you?" Greta asked the girl as Cali groaned in response.

"It feels like every time I'm turning around, somebody is saying something rude about one of the Black brothers. Everyone is being an idiot. I am not choosing sides, and I don't see why I should have to do so. What does one of them having a green tie and one of them having a red tie have to do with me? Especially considering mine is bloody yellow!" Cali ranted to the girl as Greta sighed.

"They're brothers in differing houses, it's going to cause a ripple. Especially since the two of them haven't spoken once since the school year started," Greta shrugged in response.

"How did you even notice that?" Cali questioned, confused.

"Look, you might not be interested in boys but Sirius Black is quite attractive."

"You like Sirius?" Cali asked, shocked as Greta nodded.

"Many do, he's quite the catch."

Cali paused for a moment, nodding in thought and Greta sighed after examining her reaction. "I haven't seen anyone express interest in Regulus," Greta reassured the girl as Cali knitted her eyebrows together.

"That was quite random," Cali commented, and Greta rolled her eyes in response.

"We both know it wasn't."

"Calista!" A voice yelled out, causing the two girls to spin around to see Regulus Black rushing towards them. He skidded to a stop directly in front of them causing Cali to let out a giggle as Regulus ruffled his hair as he took a deep breath. "Hi," he greeted sheepishly.

"I'm going to go, John challenged me to a game of Wizards Chess," Greta told the girl.

"Bye Greta!" Cali told the girl as Regulus nodded his goodbye. "Hi Regulus," She greeted.

"Hi," He mumbled again.

"Yeah, you've said that," Cali giggled in response as she began rocking back and forth on the heels of her feet.

"Right, look. I'm sorry," Regulus mumbled.

"About?" Cali asked, an eyebrow quirking.

"Narcissa, I know you are friends with Sirius. She didn't realize."

"That doesn't excuse the ill will speak towards him," Cali rolled her eyes.

"He's not the most popular kid back at home," Regulus admitted.

"I'm aware, I was at Christmas." Regulus nodded, though he seemed like he had only just remembered that fact. "Look Regulus, I'm not mad at you. But I don't appreciate having to constantly defend you two against each other. Your ties shouldn't have changed anything, and I am friends with both of you. That will not change," she told the boy as he nodded while she spoke.

"I know that Cal," he promised the girl.

Cali smiled softly, pulling the Slytherin in for a hug. "Meet me on Monday for Homework?" Cali asked the boy, and he readily agreed.