Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 51]

Lightning Strikes, Finally

The Quidditch season was finally over.

And honestly Callidora Nott was completely done with Marcus Flint and his brand of "creative" Quidditch.

The last match had been the dirtiest game she'd ever played.

Now the castle had shifted into a different kind of tension.

Exams.

Students filled every corner of Hogwarts Castle revising, finishing essays, and muttering spell theory under their breath.

That evening the Slytherin Common Room was dim and quiet.

Calli sat at a low table surrounded by parchment and books, quill moving quickly as she finished an assignment.

Then a muffled boom rolled through the stone walls.

The room vibrated slightly.

Calli paused.

Another rumble followed.

She glanced toward the tall windows overlooking the depths of the Black Lake.

The water outside was churning violently.

Rain lashed against the surface in thick sheets.

Then a flash of white split through the lake water.

Lightning.

Calli froze.

Her eyes widened.

"No way."

She shot out of her chair so fast it tipped over behind her.

Parchment scattered everywhere as she sprinted across the room.

Her foot caught on a rug.

She stumbled, nearly face-planting.

Then collided with two younger Slytherins playing wizard chess.

"Oi!" One fourth year shouted as a rook toppled over.

"Sorry!" Calli blurted without slowing.

She burst into the dormitory she shared with Lucy and Stella. Lucy looked up from her bed. Stella slowly lowered her book.

Both of them watched Calli rush to her trunk like a maniac.

Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"Subtle."

Then another flash of lightning illuminated the lake outside their dorm window.

Lucy's eyes widened.

"Oh!"

Stella immediately closed her book.

"Oh."

They both jumped up and hurried over as Calli yanked open her trunk and grabbed the small velvet pouch.