Bonded

Sixteen

"C'mon Callie, let's head up before the corridors get really busy," Natalie said. Dumbledore had dismissed all of the students, and the house prefects were beginning to gather the first years as older students began to leave the hall in small groups, chatting with their friends.

"Yeah let's get out of here," Calliope and Natalie got to their feet and began following the many students out of the Great Hall.

"I can't believe that Umbridge woman!" Natalie said as they walked, "I mean, she seems like she's going to be a right piece of work-"

Calliope felt a crackle of electricity spread through her as she was grabbed by the arm and pulled into an alcove, away from the mainstream of students.

"Fred!" Calliope complained, "you can't just grab me! At least get my attention first!"

"Sorry Screamer," Fred apologised, "but I missed you!"

"It's not even been two hours since we were on the carriage together!" said Calliope, but she knew exactly what he meant. It was going to be very strange not spending so much time together, as they had practically spent the entirety of the previous year in each other's company 24/7, and they had spent most of the summer together as well.

Whilst Calliope was excited to be back at Hogwarts, she didn't like the idea that she would not be able to seek Fred out whenever she wanted, as she was unable to access Gryffindor tower.

"What do you think of the toad?" Fred changed the subject.

"I think the ministry is interfering at Hogwarts," Calliope said, "I think that Fudge doesn't trust Dumbledore anymore and wants him watched and that's why she's here. You remember what happened in the Hospital Wing at the end of last year don't you. Fudge doesn't believe that Voldemort is back, and he thinks Dumbledore is just stirring up trouble."

"I still can't believe that Fudge doesn't believe it," Fred shook his head, "it's ridiculous to think he'd ignore what three people tell him."

"He's scared," Calliope shrugged, "he doesn't want it to be true so he's denying it in hopes that it isn't."

Fred sighed, he absentmindedly reached out for Calliope's hand and held it tightly in his. "I don't like it, Callie, I really don't like not knowing what's going on. It's like last year all over again."

"There's nothing that you can do-"

"Don't give me that, you sound like Mum, there's plenty that we could do if they just gave us the opportunity! I want to help defeat Voldemort. Don't pretend that's not what you want too."

"I honestly don't know what I want," said Calliope, "I want for my friends and family not to be in danger. I want to feel safe. I want to not have the fact that Voldemort is after me hanging over my head and I want to not have these whispers muttering about death in my head all the time. But we don't always get what we want Fred, I certainly never have."

Fred's hand tightened around Calliope's, but he didn't seem to have anything to say in response to this statement.

"I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow morning," Calliope squeezed his hand and the released it, "sleep well, Fred."

********

"Where did you go? I lost you in the crowd," Natalie asked, as Calliope walked into her dormitory to find Natalie getting ready for bed.

"I had to speak to Fred before heading up to bed," Calliope made her way over to where her trunk lay beside her bed and opened it. She began to pull out her toiletries and pyjamas.

"Hey Callie, that rhymes!" Natalie laughed as she pulled a pyjama top over her head, getting herself stuck as she couldn't find the head hole. When she emerged from her top, she was laughing.

"What's so funny?" Calliope asked with a frown.

"You're already writing him love poems!"