Learning From The Ashes: Book 1, Year 3

Chapter 9

I woke up to the morning sun flowing through the window. Checking my watch I saw it was 6:30 am. Sighing happily, I went into the bathroom to take a quick shower and change into my robes. My gryffindor robes. I stepped out of the bathroom buttoning up my white blouse before putting my Hogwarts cardigan over it and then my robe.

     "Morning 'Mione." I smiled.

     She said good morning then stepped into the bathroom to get in the shower next. We were lucky that Pavarti, Padma and Lavender showered the night before.

     I charmed my hair dry and looked at my long, wildly curly hair in the mirror, smiling. When its not full of blood and dirt and grease it actually looks pretty beautiful. It felt much healthier after I cut six inches off it in Diagon Alley, leaving it to still reach the middle of my back.

     I packed all of my books that Dumbledore gave me yesterday in my extendable messenger bag and waited for Hermione to get out of the shower. As she stepped out she frowned at me.

     "How do you get your hair like that?" She demanded. "You have curly hair too yet yours isn't frizzy!"

     "It is a charm my mum always used, she had curly blonde hair so she knew the struggle. Come here." I gestured her over "siccum mollia" I said clearly, waving my wand in a large circle around Hermione's head. Her hair instantly drying and forming soft curls with no frizz.

     "Oh, Callie! This is wonderful!" She cheered, running her fingers through her hair. "Thank you so much!"

     "Its no problem. I'm happy to share any spells that I know." I grinned, walking out of the girls dorms to the empty common room, sitting on the couch with Hermione as it was too early to go down to breakfast.

     "What sort of magic do you know?" She asked. "I mean, did You-Know-Who teach you magic? Or even let you perform magic?"

     "Oh, no." I started. "My mother took me to a wand shop in Germany when I was only 4. It still chose me even at such a young age. She immediately started teaching me magic. She wanted me to be prepared so she taught me a lot of useful charms, some transfiguration techniques, but mostly protective spells as well as defensive spells. You can see why those were the most important."

     She nodded her head in response, amazed that I learned so much.

     "She was also an illegal animagi, as am I. Its easier to make quick get a ways." I suddenly panicked, not sure why I blurted that out. "Please don't tell anyone that, Hermione. I could end up in Azkaban if anyone found out what I am. Or even who I am." I begged, realizing I had slipped my secret.

     "Of course I wont tell anyone! It is not my secret to tell." She smiled reassuringly, patting my knee.

     "Thank you. She also started teaching me to apparate before I was kidnapped." I explained. "My mother prepared me for the day it would happen, we both knew it was inevitable. So when they arrived, I had to run. Hide my wand in the place she had set out and pretend I had no practice of any form of magic. It was easy to believe as I was only 7, not even old enough to get a wand in Britain. Voldemort always promised he'd teach me all the magic I could ever dream of knowing if I said yes. I always said no, though. Hence the torturing." I smiled softly at Hermione.

     "Excuse me for asking this, Callie. But, how can you even talk about all of this? I don't understand how you are not a lot more messed up than you are." She said unsurely.

     "Because I'm free, Hermione." I smiled brightly. "What good would it do me to be bitter about what's happened to me? I have to move on. I am going to do everything in my power to destroy my father and his followers. I can't have a clear mind and full heart if I am still dwelling on how unfair my life has been. Don't you think?"