Of the Solstice (rewrite)

Calista

I got to my first class early, potions with Slughorn. I sat in my seat and watched all the other students fill into the room. I dread this class, Slughorn teaches like a snail. Fortunately I'm fairly skilled at potion making.

Evan dropped his stuff beside me and pulled a rose from his bag.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I lost my temper." He admits, his tone makes him sound sincere. "It won't happen again, I promise."

I take the rose, inspecting it. Now would be an awful time to mention roses are not my favorite. "I forgive you," I smile and set the rose down on the table. I know forgiving him seems stupid, but I can't help but believe that he is trying to be better.

He sat beside me and placed his hand on my thigh, rubbing it softly through my tights. My face felt hot, it felt like every eye was on me. I hate public affection, seeing it, being the one involved in it.

Slughorn waves his wand and the fires under the miniature cauldrons start blazing. Every time I tried to pay attention to the lecture he distracted me in one way or another. I put eye of bat in the cauldron P O O F...

"Eye of newt, not bat Calista," Evan gave a snarky remark.

"Well if you'd stop distracting me I'd do it right" I huffed.

Evan glared at me then pointed to the instructions, "You're telling me you can't read that?"

Lava, straight lava ran down my spine. "Stop messing with me Evan, or move over there" I tilt my head to where Severus and Barry were sitting.

I keep moving my leg from his grasp but he just pulls it back, the silent argument caught the attention of Slughorn multiple times who gave me a raised brow each time. Near the end of class Slughorn walked over to our table.

He said in a low voice "That'll be 20 points, from each of your houses, Mr. Rosier you ought to learn to keep your hands to yourself."

Evan gave him a scoff and leaned back in his chair, my heart dropped to my stomach, I mouthed "Sorry" to Slughorn.

Girls at the table beside us were snickering after the professor walked away. I needed to leave, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me.

Slughorn began dismissing the class, explaining the homework, my head felt underwater the entire time. I almost didn't notice everyone getting up to leave until Evan nudged me

"Earth to Calista?" He said loudly, causing me to jump.

"Sorry I was just in my head," I replied and started putting my stuff in my bag.

"Yea seems like it," he replied

-

The library is quiet as usual, besides the few first years that try and prank each other between the bookshelves. James and Lilly are in the corner alcove doing their thing, Remus sat with his legs over Sirius reading a book, Peter on the other end.

"So 're you gonna tell us how your cheek got messed up?" Sirius says, his voice cut through the silence catching Remus and Peter's attention.

The question caught me entirely off guard, I want to tell the truth. But Sirius already knows what happened, he just wants me to admit it.

"I bumped it." I say.

He raises his eyebrow, Peter chimes in "You didn't have that last night?"

Why must these boys cause such an uproar about everything. "So what, I got smacked. It happens, my father does it to my mother, she does it to me. It's kind of a normal thing in my life" I blurted out.

"Well? Who did it?" Sirius asks, his jaw tightened.

"Evan and I got into it. But I deserved it this time." I try to justify it, "I'm not really allowed to be by myself with anyone.. specifically male anyone's."

Remus sat up "Calista that's abuse." He says flatly.

"No its, it's just-"

"Cali. How many times has he hit you in the months you've been together?" Sirius demanded.

"A few?" I answer, unsure of the actual number.

Sirius clicked his teeth, "I'll be back." He gets up, before I can say anything he is gone.

"He might actually kill him this time" Peter says with excitement.

"That's not a good thing." I grab my stuff and quickly run after Sirius.

-

I caught up to him in the hallway, "Sirius stop!" I grab him, spinning his arm to face me.

His face was red, his eyes dark, "Let me go" he jerks his arm away.

I flinch and step back, "You are just going to make it worse.." I say softly

Sirius walked off, his footsteps heavy.