The entrance hall was already packed by the time they made their way downstairs.
Apparently half of Hogwarts had decided that Valentine's Day was worth braving the damp February weather for. Students crowded around the great oak doors in scarves and cloaks, talking over one another as professors checked names against permission slips. Pink and red decorations had somehow appeared among the usual noticeboards, and somewhere near the front, Peeves was loudly attempting to rhyme romance with underpants.
Calli barely noticed any of it.
"So." She said quietly, drawing Fred, George, Stella and Lucy closer together. "Does everyone remember the plan?"
Four expressions immediately sobered.
Across the entrance hall, Hermione was leaving with Ron. Just before disappearing into the crowd, she glanced back.
Her eyes found Calli's.
Hermione gave her one small, determined nod.
Calli returned it.
That was all.
She couldn't think about what Harry might be doing later that day. Couldn't think about the possibility of her father's name being spoken aloud, attached publicly to the graveyard and Voldemort and everything the Ministry had spent months denying.
Not today.
She had something else to do.
"If you're not back five minutes before we're supposed to return to the castle, we find Dumbledore or McGonagall and tell them exactly where you went." Lucy nodded briskly.
"I still hate this." Stella mumbled.
"Which means you got caught." Lucy continued as though Stella hadn't spoken. "Or something went wrong."
Getting them to agree to this much had been difficult enough.
Calli couldn't exactly blame them.
As far as she knew, Nott Manor was currently playing host to some of the most dangerous people recently escaped from Azkaban.
Going anywhere near it was madness.
Which was precisely why Stella and Lucy had initially reacted to her plan as though Calli had announced her intention to stroll into the Forbidden Forest wearing a sign reading WEREWOLF SUPPER.
"And we'll cause a big enough distraction here that Toad Face doesn't notice anything suspicious." George added with determination.
"As you cause a distraction." Fred corrected.
Calli slowly turned her head.
George looked at his twin.
Lucy looked at Fred.
Stella closed her eyes.
Calli stared.
Fred smiled pleasantly.
"I accompany you."
"No."
"Yes."
"Fred."
"Calli."
"You're not coming. We've talked about this."
"Love, you must think me a fool if you believe I'm letting you wander into Death Eater-infested waters by yourself."
"I'm not wandering anywhere."
"Excellent. I'll accompany you purposefully."
George snorted.
YOU ARE READING
Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley
FanfictionCallidora 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...
