Song:
Good old fashioned lover (Queen)
Dear Callisto,
I hope you are doing fine in your new school. We didn't use to talk that much outside school, but I feel like after what you did for me, I can call you my friend. Truth is, I'm not doing well. All my old friends have abandoned me, people I don't even know call me a slut and even the professors give me these dirty looks whenever I pass by. The only person standing with me right now is Nicholas, yet I can't help but feel that he's only doing this out of obligation. Either way, he's been good to me; better than anyone in this hellhole. Your potion has really been helping me. You didn't ask for your usual payment, but I hope that I'll be able to thank you properly some day. After all, it's my fault that you got expelled in the first place. Anyway, I can finally sleep with no trouble at all and I've been talking to a muggle therapist about it twice a week after school. She says that it's going to get better with time as long as I try to be positive and surround myself with people that don't bring me down. It's hard, but I'm going to figure it out. I owe this much to you and to myself.
Love,
Antonia.
Callisto folded the paper, placing it back in its white folder and looked up to the board. Emilia Collins, the new DADA professor had already began explaining a detailed outline of this year's syllabus and even though the blonde had tried to keep up with the ridiculous amount of information the short woman was throwing, her mind was already struggling to connect names to images. If she was being honest, choosing DADA for her N.E.W.T.s was a poor decision and she didn't even understand how she got accepted in the advanced lesson, but it was too late now. Besides, DADA was a core subject and almost every job in the Wizarding world demanded a standard knowledge on it. It was like Math, only that DADA was even more nonsensical.
"We will also be revising different topics you've studied before throughout the previous years to refresh your memory. More specifically, we will cover werewolves, vampires, boggarts, defensive spells, counter curses and the three unforgivable curses. Taking into consideration the possibility of a war, the ministry has instructed that all of you learn how to resist the imperious curse. Of course, since this is a very sensitive topic for many wizards and witches, if anyone objects to this particular section of the course they will not be forced to participate. Nonetheless, I encourage you to think of it as a good opportunity to become stronger."
"Are you going to do it?" Narcissa whispered, not averting her gaze from Collins.
"No." Callisto simply replied, feeling an uncomfortable feeling spreading in her stomach as images of what had happened last time someone mentioned practicing how to resist the imperious curse flowed in her mind. No, there was no way this curse was ever going to touch her again.
"I have no reason to do it, but it sounds an awful lot like extra credit to me." Narcissa drawled, dipping her quill in the crystal blue ink pot. "What can I say? I'm a whore for good grades."
"You're a whore for success and it just so happens that it translates to good grades at the moment." Callisto observed, Collins' voice drowning in the background once again. "We're all on the same boat."
"Unhygienic..." Narcissa commented, her pale blue eyes averting to the tables next to them where four troublesome Gryffindors were sitting. She raised an eyebrow when she noticed that James Potter was already looking at them with his eyes narrowed. Sirius Black was as usual, exchanging notes with Peter Pettigrew even though they sat right next to each other and Remus Lupin looked like he was about to tear his hair out of his scalp as he eavesdropped an undoubtedly interesting conversation between Gilderoy Lockhart and Rex Brown. Against her better judgement, she nudged the blonde's leg and pointed at their direction with a subtle hand movement.
"You outsmart a group of baboons and their leader stays salty about it." Callisto snickered, tapping her fingers on the wooden desk. "I feel bad for Lupin. Poor boy has to put up with their antiques on a daily basis."
"Lupin? He's just as bad only that he makes an attempt to look more like a normal student and less like a joke."
"Please, one look is enough to understand that he's just an emotionally unavailable sweetheart with self-esteem issues." She noted, catching Remus' eye and sending him a small smile.
"Aren't we all?" Narcissa joked, leaning back on her chair to take a better look of the four boys in question.
"No, Potter is a living cliché out of a romantic novel with his undying love for Lilian Evans, who will eventually give in to his boyish charms and goofy personality. Black was troubled as a boy but he's now in a much better mindset, yet the remnants of his past linger in the form of a nicotine addiction and a thirst for affection and Pettigrew is an outsider in a group of popular misfits, whose deepest desire is to be respected. None of them are emotionally unavailable and quite frankly, none of them are as cute."
"You find Lupin cute?"
"You don't?" Callisto retorted, surprised by the disbelief in Narcissa's voice. "The lad is objectively fit."
"If I had to go for anyone in the group, it'd be Potter. He's annoying and I don't understand half of the things that come out of his mouth but he's-"
"Miss Claire and Miss Black!" Collins' stern voice interrupted her, making Narcissa snap her head to the front of the class. "I hope you don't mind sharing what you two were so deeply discussing during my lesson."
"Of course, professor." Callisto mused, a sweet smile etching on her lips. "I was just talking to Narcissa about how cute Lupin is."
Nobody really knows what was the most entertaining thing that ensued this sentence. Emilia Collins' expression changing from stern and professional to a dumbfounded one at the girl's words? Remus' eyes widening so much that they almost fell off their sockets as his face flared a deep crimson color? Narcissa slowly turning to look at her friend with her jaw dropped at the brutal honesty? The rest of the Marauders' snickers and wolf whistles at the comment? Or Callisto's unfazed state as she continued to look at the teacher, her smile never faltering?
"As I was saying, you will be working in pairs this year." Collins carefully enunciated, slowly turning back to the board. The commotion started to die down and Callisto turned back to her parchment, scribbling random spirals on the top corner of her notes.
"Next time opt for a simple 'I'm sorry, professor'." Narcissa hissed, trying to hide her smile.
"I didn't say anything bad, though. Where's the harm in finding someone attractive?"
"I'll either need a shot of vodka or ten more hours of sleep before this discussion so please, go back to your art." Callisto shrugged and sent her a cheeky smile before doing as Narcissa instructed. She was completely invested in drawing over a particular spiral again and again when a piece of paper landed gracefully on top of her notes. She put down her pen and opened it, coming face to face with an unfamiliar, yet very neat handwriting.
So, you find Remus cute? We might be able to help with that, Blondie.
She turned around, inspecting the classroom for the writer of the message only to receive a sly wave from Sirius. Sighing, she grabbed the pen from the desk and started scribbling down her response.
Who says I want your help, Black? Don't take this personally but everything you could do, I can do better.
She threw the paper back to his desk, the action immediately getting noticed by Remus who tried to take a peek. All embarrassment had now subsided and curiosity to find out what Sirius could be discussing with her had taken its place. Unfortunately for him, Sirius' frame was enough to hide the contents of the parchment from his prying eyes, but the young werewolf could clearly hear his snickers as he read the response.
Rather confident, aren't you? Here I was, trying to exchange our collective help with your little crush on Remus for a few background information...
I don't have a crush on him you delusional, deaf cow. I just find him cute and that's the end of it. Now about whatever information you plan on getting, I suggest you simply ask instead of having Jace stalk me.
In this case, why don't you study with us by the Lake? And for the record, I'm not a cow.
If only you could see the world through my eyes... And about the study group you're proposing, I'm in as long as there's dark chocolate with salt involved.
Questionable choice of desert, but sure. You'll have your chocolate...
At this point, Remus was more than fed up with the constant note passing between Sirius and Callisto. Sirius was becoming more amused with every response he read, showing the paper to James who was also entertained by the situation while in Callisto's table, Narcissa was free to pry as much as she wanted. The paper landed one more time on Sirius' desk but Remus quickly muttered "accio" and the note escaped Sirius' hand and flew back to him.
Lupin looks like he's about to murder you. So please, do humour me Black, how can we annoy him more?
He's curious. Just continue to reply and see how long it takes until he bursts.
I like your way of thinking. How's your day going so far?
Rather bad, unfortunately... I spilled honey all over myself during breakfast and the water making spell failed me miserably.
That's gross. Next time try "Scourgify". It should get it off right away.
Oh thanks, Blondie! You're not so bad when you actually try.
Glad to see my efforts being recognized.
Remus looked up from the paper at the blonde who was observing him as he read the note. He just rolled his eyes and subtly flipped her off with his middle finger but she ignored the gesture and winked at him, a smirk playing on her tinted lips.
"For our next lesson I want you all to study pages 5-37 in your textbook. You have covered the material before, so it shouldn't be too hard." Collins instructed, writing the pages down on the board. "Off you go!"
The class started to empty the moment the words left her mouth but much to everyone's surprise, the Marauders stayed on their seats observing as Callisto bid Narcissa goodbye and moved over to them. She shoved a small folder in the pocket of her robes, a movement that didn't go unnoticed by Remus.
"Jace, if I end up with an evil eye case I will shove my quill so far down your throat that you'll only poop feathers and ink."
"Evil eye?"
"It's a common belief in some countries that if someone glares at you with the intention of harming you then you'll start feeling tired and sick." Remus explained, earning an impressed nod from Callisto. As far as she knew the evil eye was part of the tradition in Balkan countries while in England these kind of beliefs were considered outdated.
"I didn't think you'd know that Lupin." She admitted as they made their way out of the empty classroom.
"Our little Remmy is full of surprises." Sirius chimed in, raising his hand to ruffle Remus' hair.
"Our little smart, Moonpie!" James cooed, ignoring Remus' annoyed look.
"Moonpie? That's a stupid nickname. And where the fuck is my chocolate? We had an agreement."
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, blondie." Sirius responded, raising his hands defensively. "Answer our questions and you will get your stupid chocolate."
"I owe you no explanations, Black." Callisto tiredly responded, adjusting the strap of her bag so that it wouldn't make her sunburnt shoulder ache.
"Why did you get kicked out of Durmstrang?" He confidently asked, his eyes examining for the tiniest change in her demeanor that could betray her secret. However, no such thing happened because Callisto turned to Remus, her face a mixture of surprise and amusement.
"You haven't told them yet, Lupin? Everybody loves a man that can keep a secret."
"Stop flirting with him to distract us." James interjected, unconsciously messing his hair even further.
"I'm flirting with him because he's cute, not because I care enough to distract you." The blonde corrected, rolling her eyes at the overconfident gesture. She could practically sense the arrogance oozing out of him and mentally scolded herself for judging him since she wasn't one of the timid ones herself. Yet, she never ruffled her hair as a way to flex her muscles, she noted.
"You think I'm cute?" Remus was taken aback by the comment even though he had very much heard her response to professor Collins. However, he had decided to consider it a joke and not a sincere compliment because in his eyes, there was no reason for her to consider him attractive. He could be, he thought bitterly, had the scars not etched his skin in the most brutal way.
"Yes, Lupin. Didn't I make that clear already?"
"Why?" He blurted out, causing Callisto to raise an eyebrow.
"Are you blind, insecure or stupid?"
"Just realistic."
"All three it is then!"
"Why is it that you always have to insult me after a compliment?"
"Because you can't just accept it and shut up. Besides, why would I lie to you?" He had no idea. Honestly, there was no reason for her to lie if he thought long and hard about it, but this had to be it. Why else would she ever compliment him like that?
"Because you like hurting people?" James perked an eyebrow at his friend's response while Sirius and Peter mentally prayed to whatever holy power existed above them to grace them with a permanent memory gap. Yes, Remus was never the flirty one in the group but we can all safely say that this is going a bit too far. Callisto though didn't seem fazed by his persistent denial.
"Kinky." She noted, smirking as the werewolf's cheeks heated up.
"Shut up." Remus mumbled, avoiding her suggestive gaze.
"Oh, and dominant! Bravo Lupin!"
"Excuse me?! Can you two stop with the weird foreplay and tell us what you did and got expelled?" Sirius interjected, feeling like he was going to burst either in tears or laughter from the bantering and lack of game from Remus' part. The Gryffindor mentally noted to make it clear for the 100th time that Callisto Claire was actually flirting with him and that this wasn't casual friend talk.
"What is it to you?" The blonde retorted, trying to see how far she could go until one of them burst.
"I like knowing stuff." He immediately responded, blocking Callisto's way.
"Then go read a book and stop prying on other people's business!"
"Did you kill someone? Did you light the castle on fire? Did you beat someone up? Did you sell drugs? Did you smuggle in a dragon? Did you practice dark magic? Did you use a curse you didn't know before to a morally grey student with good hair? Did you try to kill a criminal only to find out that he was an innocent man? Did you sneak in the school with your two friends that are romantically involved and led an underground resistance group? What did you do, Callisto Claire? WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?" James finally shouted, his temper getting the best of him. The astrology professor shot him a warning look, her hand reaching for the small detention booklet in her pocket in case the loud Gryffindor decided to disrupt the peace and silence of her corridor again.
"Lupin, I'm scared..." Callisto mumbled, side glancing Remus who was equally dumbfounded.
"Yeah, that was oddly specific." He muttered, nodding in agreement. Peter decided that it was time to step in and diffuse the situation so he cleared his throat and they all turned to look at him, waiting for his input.
"Guys, can you all just relax and sit back for a moment? James, nobody did any of that because half of it is just bullshit. Sirius, go fetch the girl some chocolate. Callisto, please excuse the blind loser over here and Remus, you're doing amazing, sweetie. Keep on being your wonderful self."
~ ~ ~
"Blue-blue, can you please pass me your notes?" Callisto questioned, motioning to take a piece of chocolate. Her eyebrows furrowed as she realized that the small packet was empty even though she could swear she had at least half of it left.
"You have good taste in chocolate." Remus mumbled, flashing her a grin.
"What the fuck, Lupin? Since when is my chocolate yours?"
"Since you left it unattended."
Peter extended his arm to give the notes to Callisto, but James immediately snatched them from his hand and put them in his bag. Peter let out a cry in protest when he saw the perfectly straight paper getting crumpled in his friend's messy bag, but James didn't even notice.
"Claire, please." He began, exasperation lacing his voice. "Why did you get expelled?"
"I poisoned someone." James blinked, disbelief clouding his features as he slowly turned to Sirius and Peter and burst in laughter. This seemed to spark a chain reaction and the three boys started rolling as they chuckled loudly. Yes, they were wary of the blonde Slytherin but even they had to admit that this was a perfectly hilarious response. Poor Gryffindors didn't know that all laughter would be cut short not long after that.
"I love the poker face, Claire, but please, tell us for real this time." James managed between chuckles.
"She's not kidding, mate." Remus stated. All laughter seized and Peter slowly turned to his two friends, trying to mask his panic but Sirius and James still didn't look convinced.
"Yes, that's what happened." Callisto confirmed. "Just some good old tampered moonseed poison in his water."
"You two make a great comical duet, but I'm serious...in every sense of the word."
"No, she really did poison someone." Remus insisted.
"Well shit, Claire..." James mumbled, taking the notes out of his bag and handing them to her.
"I bet he deserved it." Peter chirped, getting over the initial shock of the revelation. Callisto turned to him, eyeing the boy up and down. She expected this kind of reaction from Sirius, who looked positively terrified, but certainly not from the quiet Gryffindor. What she had failed to notice was that even though he wasn't as eccentric as his friends, Peter was still a Marauder.
"I like your spirit, Blue-blue." She complimented, opening her DADA book. "We should go out for coffee sometime."
"As long as you're not the one making it, count me in."
"Touché." She sighed, slapping Remus' hand away from her book. "Use your own book."
"I don't have it with me and I just want to check something." He huffed, crossing his arms under his chest. "It'll just take a moment."
"I don't know what kind of crappy, 'sharing is caring' shit you're on about, but you're not laying a hand on my book."
"Hello? Is anyone going to question the fact that blondie poisoned someone or am I the only sane person in this group?" Sirius exclaimed, disrupting Remus' and Callisto's bickering. Even though James was usually particularly nosy (as if it wasn't obvious by his desperate tries to find out why Callisto got the sack), he had decided to simply nod and smile.
"What happens in Bulgaria, stays in Bulgaria." She retorted, looking up from her book. "Now shut your ugly mouth. I'm trying to concentrate."
"My mouth is not ugly." He huffed, receiving a smack in the back of the head from an overly eager Peter.
Remus, Callisto and Peter were engrossed in their homework, occasionally making a comment about the material or James' constant fidgeting while the last two Gryffindors were planning yet another prank. This time, they used code names to outline their shenanigans, having decided that there was no way in hell they would ever owe Callisto another favor in the near or distant future. Almost two hours had passed when Callisto started gathering her stuff and got up, dusting the grass off her robes.
"Goodbye, Lupin and Blue-blue." She smiled, lifting the bag off the ground.
"What about us?" James protested. "We brought you chocolate."
"No." She responded, waving at Peter and Remus one last time before she took off.
The boys and Callisto didn't notice the small folder falling from her pocket, but Remus sneakily picked it from the ground and put it in his bag. I guess someone should remind Mr. Lupin that if curiosity can kill the cat, why the hell should it hesitate to kill the werewolf?
~ ~ ~
Not to toot my own horn but I love the interaction between Remus and Callisto so much. Her flirting with him gives me so much serotonin, it's unreal!
Anyway, stan Callisto for clear skin.