Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 70]

Tensions Rise

Calli stood in the middle of the compartment, still breathing a little unevenly.

"I'm sorry." She said quietly.

With a small flick of her wand, the water soaking their robes lifted into the air and vanished.

Lucy's hair dried instantly.

George's abandoned seat stopped dripping.

Even the carpet returned to normal.

"Thank you." Stella said gently.

Calli nodded, but her mind was nowhere near calm.

Her thoughts were racing again.

Except now there was only one thought at the front of them.

Fred's lips.

He had kissed her.

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

She had been having a panic attack.

Maybe he had only done it to help her breathe.

Maybe it meant nothing.

Fred had excused himself a moment earlier, muttering something about needing Ron's owl for a letter. George had followed him, grinning suspiciously the entire way out of the compartment.

The door slid shut behind them.

Silence settled.

Lucy lasted exactly four seconds.

"Alright." She said immediately.

Calli blinked.

"I'm asking."

"What?" Calli said faintly.

Lucy gestured vaguely toward the door Fred had just disappeared through.

"That."

Stella gave Calli a very pointed look.

Calli hesitated.

Then she waved her hand slightly.

A soft ripple passed through the air.

No wand.

No incantation.

"Did you just-" Lucy began.

"Yes." Calli said.

She nodded once.

"Muffliato."

Lucy blinked.

Calli shrugged tiredly.

"I've been practicing."

The compartment fell quiet.

Calli looked down at her hands.

Then she said it.

"I'm pretty sure my father was one of the Death Eaters at the World Cup."

The words landed like a dropped stone.

Stella inhaled sharply.

Lucy didn't look entirely shocked.

Calli continued quickly, like tearing off a bandage.

"I've never seen it..." She said. "But if he rolled up his sleeve..."

She swallowed.

"I know the Dark Mark would be there."

Stella frowned.

"Calli, that's a huge accusation."

Calli nodded slowly.