Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 19]

Later that night, George Weasley quietly climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitory in Gryffindor Tower, expecting to collapse straight into bed.

Instead, he stopped in the doorway.

Fred was fast asleep.

His head rested heavily on the shoulder of Callidora Nott, who sat against the headboard of his bed with the curtains half open.

Calli was still awake.

One of her hands gently threaded through Fred's hair, slowly combing through the red strands the way someone might soothe a frightened child. Every so often Fred shifted slightly, and her hand would pause before continuing again.

George watched for a moment.

Calli noticed him and offered a small, tired smile.

George just nodded quietly, understanding everything without a word.

Then he pulled the curtains around his own four-poster bed to give them privacy.

Fred's breathing stayed slow and even against her shoulder.

Calli kept stroking his hair.

She didn't dare move.

Not when he looked like he'd finally fallen asleep after hours of worry about Ginny Weasley.

Her fingers slowed slightly as her thoughts drifted.

All she could hear was the echo of voices from Nott Manor the previous summer.

"Remarkable control for someone her age."

"He cast wandless magic like that too."

"The Dark Lord would be pleased."

Her stomach twisted.

They hadn't been praising her.

They'd been comparing her.

Comparing her to Lord Voldemort.

Calli swallowed hard.

Fred shifted slightly in his sleep, his hand tightening loosely in the fabric of her sleeve.

She immediately resumed stroking his hair.

Not tonight, she told herself firmly.

She would tell them.

Fred and George deserved to know what had been happening at Nott Manor, the training, the gatherings, the way her father showed her off like some sort of weapon.

But tonight wasn't the time.

Not while Fred looked like this.

The dormitory door suddenly burst open.

"Fred! George! She's fine! Ginny's fine!"

Percy Weasley shouted through the door.

"Lee! Get them!"

A moment later Lee Jordan leaned in.

"McGonagall called everyone down for a feast. Come o-"

He stopped mid-sentence when he saw them.

Fred asleep.

Calli sitting there with his head on her shoulder.

Lee's grin spread slowly.

Calli shot him a warning glare.

"Not now, Jordan."

Lee held up his hands innocently but the smirk never left his face.

The castle was celebrating tonight.

The Chamber of Secrets was closed.

Ginny was safe.

The monster was gone.

Everyone was relieved.

But Calli's mind refused to settle.

Calli sighed and gently nudged Fred.

"Fred, come on. Wake up."

He groaned softly and blinked his eyes open.

"Mm?"

"Feast." She said quietly. "Ginny is safe."

Fred looked around groggily before realizing where his head was resting.

"...oh."

Calli laughed softly.

"Come on."

Thankfully no one noticed Calli slipping out of the Gryffindor Common Room with Fred.

The castle was buzzing with excitement.

They were just approaching the Hospital Wing when the door opened.

Molly Weasley rushed out.

"Fred! George!"

She pulled Fred into a tight hug before grabbing George as well.

Then, to Calli's complete surprise, she pulled her into one too.

"Oh!"

Calli froze for a moment before awkwardly hugging her back.

"She's alright." Mrs. Weasley said tearfully. "Just needs some rest."

Then she pulled back and looked at Calli warmly.

"How are you, dear?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley." Calli said with a small smile. "It's good to see you again."

"You must come visit sometime."

Calli's chest tightened unexpectedly.

The Great Hall looked like a festival.

Students in pajamas filled the tables, cheering and laughing as mountains of food appeared.

In four years at Hogwarts, Calli had never seen anything like it.

Even most of the Slytherins seemed relieved the nightmare was over.

At one point Minerva McGonagall announced that exams were cancelled.

The hall erupted. You could hear Hermione and Calli exclaiming that was unfair from two different tables.

Later, Albus Dumbledore awarded Gryffindor four hundred points for saving the school.

The House Cup was theirs again.

Across the table, Lucy shoveled chocolate pudding into her mouth.

"I'm telling you." Lucy said. "We're never seeing the House Cup again as long as Potter's here."

Stella snorted.

"It's like the boy attracts danger."

"Potter curse." Lucy continued. "I won't be surprised if dragons attack the school next year."

Calli rolled her eyes but glanced toward the Gryffindor table where Harry Potter sat surrounded by celebrating friends.

"Hey, don't say that." She said quietly.

"It's not his fault Voldemort has a personal vendetta against the boy."

Her voice softened slightly.

And despite the laughter and celebration around her, Calli couldn't stop thinking about the future.

Because if Voldemort really was coming back...

Then sooner or later she would have to show her father which side she belonged on.

And when that moment came, she hoped Fred and George would still be standing beside her.