The Kind Hufflepuff

Chapter 40: Hystrifors

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The Kind Hufflepuff - Year Three

Chapter Forty: Hystrifors

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Cali was admittedly barely paying attention to Professor McGonagall as she gave a lecture that Cali had written off within minutes of it beginning, choosing to stay silent as she offered a small finger to the porcupine that sat calmly on her desk. Surrounding her sat about 50 porcupines in the relatively similar situation, though some of them had fallen fast asleep and some were walking around curiously.

"The spell that we will be practicing today is called Hystrifors. Your desk mate will be partnering up with you, one will be practicing, and one will be dealing with the porcupine. Please turn to your desk mate now," McGonagall interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey Greta," Cali greeted.

"Hi," Greta giggled. "Are you going to let me try this spell?" Cali gave her a pointed look and Greta sighed. "This is the only class I hate you sitting beside me in," Greta informed the girl.

"Yeah, I know," Cali nodded. "Put it up with McGonagall," Cali shrugged.

"I'm quite close to doing so," Greta rolled her eyes. "I must admit though, this little guy is cute," Greta mumbled, bringing her finger up to poke the porcupine tentatively.

"That is true," Cali admitted, continuing to pet hers as it settled down into a nap.

"Hystrifor," the class chorused repeatedly as the second years continued to cuddle their own porcupines, their wand nowhere in sight when the shadow of McGonagall began hovering them.

"What are you doing?" McGonagall asked the two girls, scowling as she peered down them through her glasses.

"Do we have to have this discussion every day?" Cali countered, rolling her eyes.

"I understand your particular situation, may I ask why Greta has not been permitted to do the same?"

Cali and Greta shared a glance, "Because she is destroying my education," Greta informed the woman, a smile spreading across her face.

"Calista Higgs," McGonagall looked at Cali, her eyes narrowed as her lips pierced in a sterned expression.

"I am not going to support you hurting this animal," Cali explained. "He can not consent to this spell, and I absolutely refuse to allow her, or myself, to complete such a horrific spell."

"20 points from Hufflepuff, each," McGonagall sighed, before walking away briskly.

"You are going to be the reason why we never get the house cup," Greta informed the girl.

"I've done so much better than last year," Cali defended herself.

"So, are you still not going to tell me what happened over break? Nobody is claiming you to be a blood traitor any longer but you haven't spoken to Regulus Black once since we're returned," Greta pointed out.

"There's nothing to say. I helped Narcissa Black with Lucius, and they got the drama about me being a blood traitor to go away a favor in return," Cali explained.

"And what of Regulus? You would think he'd be delighted; he adores you."

"We saw one another on New Years, we've just been busy is all," Cali waved away, a flash of the kiss entering her mind as she thought back to the situation. It's true that they had not spoken or even seen each other since New Years outside of mealtimes in the Great Hall where they've each been avoiding eye contact. They had returned on Monday to the castle, and a few days have passed without a single word being exchanged between the two.