The Kind Hufflepuff

Chapter 31: How to Be a Pureblood

---

The Kind Hufflepuff - Second Year

Chapter Thirty One: How to Be a Pureblood

---

Cali had always been enamored by the spectacle of the owls arriving each morning, dropping down letters and parcels in a quick fashion, trained to complete these tasks. They always seemed to be in a uniformed fashion, as various types of owls ranging in large to small flew into the Great Hall each morning. The reactions of first years the first time it would occur were always something she found to be amazing, as even Purebloods reacted to the vast number of owls that brought in gifts and letters to the students of Hogwarts. While she believed using the owls as a form of postal service to be morally wrong, pointing out that even Muggles have since found a more humane way to deliver postage while the wizards were using something barbaric, it was something she always found to be beautiful, though she never anticipated a letter as most in her circle were aware of her objections to the careers that these owls had been forced to take on.

Though, today didn't seem to be an ordinary day as one owl with black onyx feathers and a mean looking face quickly dropped a letter on her plate. She quirked an eyebrow at the creature, grabbing a slice of toast from the banquet and politely offering the treat to the bird. The bird quickly took it and flew away while she opened the letter that had been dropped. The envelope was slick and black, almost shiny with reflection. When she opened the envelope, it was a thick paper that was a matte black invitation with cursive writing and gold foil in the shapes of snakes floating around the invitation, slithering through the paper as she held it, clearly magically enhanced using advanced magic. The invitation was inviting her to the Slytherin Common Room that night from Lucius Malfoy, she stared at the paper as she watched the snakes move around the pages.

"Who is that from?" Greta asked, snatching the letter as she watched the snakes move around as well.

"Lucius Malfoy," Cali mumbled, clearly nervous.

"The seventh year Slytherin?" John asked, surprise filling his voice as she nodded. "Why would he be asking for you?" John questioned further as she shrugged in response.

"Is this a date?" Greta asked, shocked as she stroked one of the snakes.

"That's disgusting," John disagreed, wrinkling his nose.

"It's not a date," a voice interrupted the group who turned around to see Regulus standing behind Cali awkwardly.

"Do you know what this is about?" Cali asked, grabbing the invitation from Greta and handing it over to Regulus who quickly glanced at the invitation and nodded.

"I received one as well, just the two of us, I believe. Narcissa was a bit miffed by your reaction to her comment about Sirius, I suspect that's what this is about," Regulus told her as she nodded slowly.

"Is he going to hurt her?" Greta demanded as Regulus shook her head.

"No, no. Though, I'm not sure what is going to happen," Regulus admitted.

"So, you have no way to know for sure?" Greta concluded stiffly; her eyes narrowed on the Slytherin.

"I won't let him hurt her," Regulus promised Greta, and after a few moments of staring him down, she seemed to relent and visibly relaxed.

"I know," Greta grumbled.

Calista Higgs had spent most of the day pondering on what would be happening in the Slytherin Common Room, wondering what it was that the tall blonde had in mind, having heard horror stories from muggleborns primarily of his actions in closed corridors, of the muted horror of his role as a Head Boy. He wasn't a well-liked boy by any means, known for his cruel and hotheaded reactions to things and if this was regarding her behavior towards Narcissa Black, she was sure that this was not something that she would enjoy.