Callidora Nott has always known exactly what is expected of her.
As the daughter of one of Britain's oldest pure-blood families, her future has already been carefully planned; alliances, power, and a life shaped by tradition she never chose. At home...
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Diggory Shoots and Scores
September seemed to disappear in a blur.
Every professor talked endlessly about how important their O.W.L. exams would be, and the homework piled up faster than Calli could finish it. Between studying, Quidditch practice, and her duties as a prefect, she barely had time to breathe.
Especially after the boggart lesson.
Calli tried very hard not to think about that day.
So she studied more.
"Hey!"
Her quill suddenly vanished from her hand.
Calli looked up sharply.
"Fred! Give it back."
Across the table, Fred Weasley held the quill just out of reach, grinning.
"She talks!"
"Of course I talk." Calli said, reaching across the table for it. "What's going on?"
Fred leaned back in his chair.
"Come on, Calli. We haven't seen you properly for weeks."
"That's not true." She said, frowning. "You saw me yesterday at Transfiguration."
Fred raised an eyebrow.
"When was the last time we pulled a prank together? Or you sat still long enough to talk?"
He glanced around the library.
"Lucy and Stella said even they haven't spoken to you properly."
Calli paused.
Then she slowly closed her books.
"You're right." She murmured. "I'm sorry. I've been a horrible friend."
She dropped her head onto the table with a soft thud.
"Nice going, dummy."
Lucy Winterbourne suddenly appeared from behind the bookshelf and smacked the back of Fred's head.
"When I said talk to her, I didn't mean make her feel bad."
"I didn't mean that!" Fred protested.
Lucy ignored him.
"Come on, Calli. We're going outside."
She grabbed Calli's arm and pulled her up from the table.
"Get her stuff, Weasley."
Fred muttered something under his breath but gathered her books anyway as they followed Lucy out of the library.
They eventually ended up by the lake near the Black Lake, the grass still warm from the afternoon sun.
Calli dropped onto the ground with a relieved sigh.
