ashes of worship, h.p

03. halloween

━ THREE.

     year one, 1991

     October arrived, and the crisp autumn breeze carried a sense of festivity through Hogwarts. Usually draped in rich greenery, the castle was now surrounded by breathtaking crimson, orange, and gold. The leaves on the trees had turned, painting the grounds with a vivid splash of colour. Despite the dropping temperatures, the grounds seeped a warm, inviting glow, especially when the afternoon sun cast its light on the ancient stones of the castle.

Kallias found himself falling into a comfortable routine as the days grew shorter. Most of his time was spent with Blaise and Miles, their friendship deepening with each passing day. It was a friendship marked by light-hearted banter. They shared interests, from discussing classes to exploring the castle's hidden corridors and nooks few others knew about- often led them to undiscovered parts of the castle, where they'd stumble upon old suits of armour or tapestries which concealed secret passages. Or, in the evenings, they would gather in the Slytherin common room, lounging by the fire.

     Blaise and Miles had a way of grounding Kallias, reminding him there was more to him. He could relax, let down his guard, and speak his mind around them. Their friendship was uncomplicated, free from the expectations often weighing on him, and he found himself grateful.

In front of others, Kallias still maintained the quiet, controlled manners expected of him. He was the composed Peverell, calculated and impeccable, his words always chosen with precision. But with the two, it was different. He would catch himself expressing his true thoughts, letting sharp words slip out, biting remarks he would never dare voice elsewhere. Blaise and Miles found his unfiltered self amusing, often laughing at the snarky observations he would make.

He discovered a side of himself he hadn't fully acknowledged. Sharper, more cynical part buried beneath layers of practised politeness and self-restraint.

      Meanwhile, he also spent more time with Hermione. Though he remained somewhat uneasy with her Muggle-born status, it was impossible to deny that Hermione was among the few students who could match him academically. She often pushed him to go beyond his limits, a challenge he found both infuriating and refreshing. They both tended to overachieve, whether brewing a particularly complex potion or excelling in their Transfiguration lessons or any other lessons the two houses shared.

Their shared drive often brought them together in the library, where they sat across each other, surrounded by towering stacks of books and scrolls. The room would be filled with the soft rustling of pages turning and the occasional whisper. Kallias had to admit, begrudgingly, that Hermione's relentless pursuit of knowledge was something he could respect.

     Despite the friendships Kallias was forming with Blaise and Miles and even the unlikely camaraderie with Hermione, he couldn't shake the lingering unease gnawing at him. It was a feeling he wasn't accustomed to, unsettling him in a way that nothing else ever had. Growing up as a Peverell meant he rarely grappled with feelings of longing. He had always been able to obtain what he desired, whether it was material goods, opportunities, or the attention and respect of others. The concept of wanting something or someone and being unable to have it was unfamiliar to him. He had been sheltered by his name and privileges, cocooned from the pangs of jealousy that now gripped him.

     But now, seeing how easily Ron had seemed to push him aside for Harry, Kallias felt a knot of bitterness tighten in his chest. He almost scowled as he remembered Malfoy's words from their first day. "Some wizarding families are better than others, you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort." The irony stung, and in a twisted way, Kallias agreed with the sentiment. Wasn't that precisely what was happening? Hadn't Ron chosen to sideline him in favour of someone else just because it was easier?