The Kind Hufflepuff

Chapter 71: The Pack Charm

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The Kind Hufflepuff - Year Three

Chapter Seventy- One: The Pack Charm

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Hello Dearest Calista,

Please find other arrangements for the summer. We think it best that you do not return for the summer.

Ardel Higgs.

"Oh, look here," Cali laughed. "The least favorite child has been uninvited back home," Cali showed the letter to Greta as she gave the owl a small treat.

Greta read the letter, "They didn't even explain to you why."

"I know," Cali sighed. "I guess I have to figure out what to do now."

Greta laughed at the girl, shaking her head. "Cali, you're such a dunderhead. You do not have to worry about where you're going to stay. You'll be staying with me," Greta declared.

"Are you sure?" Cali feared. "You haven't even spoken to your parents."

"Absolutely," Greta waved away. "But they did help me apply for a cooking school at the end of the summer so if I get in, you may have to stay somewhere else? It would be for a few weeks though," Greta explained.

"I can work with that," Cali nodded. "I really appreciate it, Greta."

"What are best friends for?" Greta shrugged as Cali hugged her tightly. 

"I'd be living in a ditch this summer without you," Cali giggled.

"Now come on, I haven't packed yet," Greta admitted as Cali's eyes widened.

"How have you not packed? The train leaves in an hour!" Cali shrieked. 

"I was hoping you'd help, you're so much better at packing than I am."

"I'm going to ask Amos for help," Cali rolled her eyes. "We don't have time to pack."

"How is he going to help?" Greta questioned causing Cali to giggle. 

"The Pack Charm, duh."

"Oh right," Greta mumbled embarrassed. "Bloody wizards doing wizard stuff."

"You are aware that you're a witch, yes?" Cali giggled as they approached Amos Diggory.

"Hi," Cali greeted the boy as he regarded them.

"Hello Calista," he greeted awkwardly, remembering that she had seen him get charmed by James Potter earlier in the year. "What do you need help with?"

"Greta has been holding off on packing, can you help?" Cali asked awkwardly as he laughed.

"Sure girls, come on. Sometimes I forget what it's like to not know this charm. I think you'll learn it next year but you might consider trying to learn it sooner to avoid this," Amos informed the girls as they lead the way to the Hufflepuff dormitory. 

"Ok Greta, while you do this- I'm going to meet with Regulus!" Cali broke off from the group, running towards the Black Lake to meet with Regulus like they had done the year ago. Regulus' hair had grown a bit since the holiday, his hair wild as it blew through the wind. 

"Hi Regulus," Cali greeted, running up to the boy and throwing her arms around his shoulders in a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"We'll see each other," Regulus shrugged. "Pureblood events, and such."

"You might see my parents," Cali corrected. "But not me unfortunately, I've been uninvited back home." Regulus' eyes widened in surprise, his hand reaching for hers absentmindedly. 

"Are you okay? Where will you be staying?"

"With Greta," Cali admitted.

"That's not bad," Regulus sighed. "I guess that does mean we won't see each other this summer though."

"It does," Cali confirmed. "Which is why I'm going to miss you."

"We'll see each other though," Regulus laughed. "You know in the fireplace."

"You're so funny," Cali mocked. "But I will miss you," Cali added sincerely for a moment, her eyes meeting his.

"Cali!" Sirius yelled from across the grounds, not even caring that she was talking to Regulus.

"Looks like I'm being called away," Cali sighed, hugging the boy again tightly and kissing his cheek.

"Goodbye," Regulus whispered in her ear before she headed off to Sirius.

"Yes?" Cali asked Sirius, her eyes narrowed.

"Hey Cali, sorry to take you away from your loverboy," Sirius laughed as the rest of the Marauders appeared.

"He's not my loverboy," Cali corrected.

"You guys did seem pretty cozy," James shrugged.

"Shut up," Cali rolled her eyes. "Now what do you guys need?"

"We got mandrake leaves," Peter showed her a small bag filled with them. "Enough to mess up a few times, I'd suppose."

"We're actually going to do it?" Cali asked, her eyes wide. "We're going to become Animagus?"

"Well you didn't copy that book down in three nights for nothing. We've been pouring over the book and we've got a plan," James replied.

"For the record, I'm completely against it," Remus piped up. "I'm not participating in this nonsense."

"Becoming an Animagus is difficult but you're really smart," Cali informed him helpfully but Remus waved her away.

"He's not becoming an Animagus," Sirius shrugged. "Whatever."

"Guys, shut up," Peter interrupted. "We just finished our third year, let's go celebrate."

"We lost the Quidditch Cup," James sulked.

"We actually won the House Cup!" Cali cheered.

"But we didn't," Sirius pointed out. "Just you."

"It was just cause Kettleburn gave her points for breathing," James laughed.