"It wouldn't hurt to send a letter to him..." Harry suggested, holding his sister's arms, and pulling her away from the crowd.
"What's the point?" She asked her tone flat.
"He's your father," The Golden boy said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Harry," Calypso hissed, her teeth clenched. "I don't know the man, for Merlin's sake! What has he done to be important to me? The only thing we have in common is the blood he oh so graciously spared for me."
𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟐
The Knights returned to their element for the first time in a long while. From their four am jogging sessions in the morning, Thursday sparring session, and their Saturday break. Everyone fell back into their regular rhythm of every day from the past year. But despite the routine they built for the last year, Harry was finding ways to get a hold of Luna while Calypso was searching for the diary victim. It was only a few days before they knew fatigue would take over their body and deem them useless for a short time.
Unfortunately, this morning, The Goddess of Creation and Chaos, found herself hunched over the sink splashing cold water on her face, after hurling whatever dinner she had the night before. She had hoped today's breakfast was something that could fuel her weakening body before she would collapse and harm herself. After staring at the mirror and trying to map out how pale and pasty her reflection looked, the girl pushed away from the sink gathering what was left of her senses, and walking to her room.
She painfully stripped over her sleeping camisole and pulled on a black cotton jumper that went down to her thighs and the red checkered pajamas she stole from her brother. She hobbled over her vanity grasping the cold metal clam she got from Harry, and pulling her hair into one place, securing it from ever falling down her back. She then walked over to the door rather slowly as she struggled to keep their head clear from the pounding headache she was having.
Mid-step as she exits her dorm, her vision obstructs itself, causing several shadows of the same wall, her unstable state causes her next step to slip and nearly fall. Her hands immediately went to the wall, supporting her as she fell back on her bottom. Anticipating the impact, she shut her eyes closed. But thank the heavens, her trusted steed, Malacus, his body halfway through his pearlescent portal, his two front claws snatched her from ever falling. The Great Beast sets her upright and keeps a tight but soft grip on her as he fully emerges from the portal.
He made a displeased noise which the girl had translated: "What on earth is wrong with you, human?"
"Jogging, four am," Calypso muttered to her six-foot-tall beast. Again, Malacus made several chirps, and noises which she again translated to: "Yeah, I don't care, back to bed."
"No, I won't." The master of the great beast countered. "My friends need me."
Malacus huffed out in frustration, grey smoke and light blue sparks escaping his nostrils. He picked her up like a doll and set her down on his back, snug and avoiding the sharp exoskeletons he had. Calypso sighed in contentment, pulling her hood over her head and leaning on one of the lesser sharp spine plates. The Beast went on all his fours before making his way up the castle through the halls and up the bridges and landing in the transfiguration courtyard where they all usually meet.
Upon arriving, Harry first noticed his sister, his eyebrows knitted together while tilting his head to the side. Concern shone through his actions as he spotted his immobile sister on her burly beast. He completely forgot about their new friends who joined, which consisted of Luna, Rain, and River. He sets them aside as he walks to his sister.
"What happened?" Was his first words, jogging towards her. "You should be in bed if you can't walk."
"I'm fine, Harry," The girl sighed pulling on the strings of her hood to conceal her pale complexion.
Harry gave his sister a sharp look, but before he could berate her, Blaise came in hot with Theodore by his trails.
"Lili! Have you-- oh! oh...what...er..." Calypso was close to slapping her best friend across the face with the reaction he gave her. Luckily, Theodore did it for her, smacking him away to Ron who was happy enough to shut down the dark male by shoving a grape in his mouth.
Theodore turned his attention to his best friend who was immobile. "You, need to take care of yourself. Merlin knows what would happen to you if Mal isn't there to escort you up."
"Gods, you sound like a father. Stop it, I'm perfectly fine, therefore I should be as good as I can get. Plus, I won't be jogging. I'll be with Mal the whole time." Calypso countered, leaving comfortably on Malacus.
"Whatever, just don't fall," The dirty blonde sighed walking away to get consoling from Hermione who waved her hand a few minutes prior.
"Alright! Let's go! Chop chop!" Harry announced as loud as he could in a place where he should be quiet. This gathered the new children's attention, as they spotted Harry first before seeing Calypso on top of what looked like a dragon with the skin of an amphibian. As weird as it looked, it seemed rather slimy to sit on top of that thing but the Slytherin made it look effortless. Their staring was cut off when the said girl pats the beast making it go towards them.
"Hello," Calypso crooned as Malacus smiled at the three of them, his teeth missing as he retracted them.
"Hello, Lili." Luna greeted, placing a delicate hand on the beast and stroking its intricate scales. "What a beauty this beast is."
The Immobile girl grinned. "Don't let him hear you say that often, his ego would skyrocket."
Luna chuckled before giving her a sharp eye which the older girl wasn't fazed about. "And how are you?"
"I'm fine," The Goddes lied as she took River's hand and guided it towards Malacus' smooth face plates. Her twin already was stroking the beast.
There is no need to lie, Luna said telepathically, still offering a smile. Everyone gets tired. I do, every day.
Calypso gave a stiff smile then said, "I'll be with Malacus, walking, I don't feel that great."
"Yeah, you don't look good," Blaise said, across the courtyard. The girl raised game him a flick with a spark eliciting a yelp from the child.
"Alright," Harry nodded, getting everyone's divided attention. "Let's only take one round, no Knights left behind."
Calypso looked over to the Eryx twins and motioned them over. The pair walked towards the girl with no qualms and began walking, while her friend jogged to the route they had taken for the last year of this little endeavor.
"How was your sleep?" Lili asked, the twins, deciding to get them comfortable around Malacus, odd, they could see him, but the rest didn't.
"It was fine," The Gryffindor, Rain said. "My roommates are nice; I think one of them is related to Ron."
"Ginny Weasley?" Calypso inquired, suppressing a yawn by using the back of her hand.
"Yeah, her, she's beautiful." Rain chirped.
"You're beautiful too," River uttered, nudging her sister.
Rain looked abashed and said, "Thank you."
Calypso chuckled softly, these are the reasons she loved to have a sibling, then again, she has nine, a couple of sane ones, several unhinged ones, and one that had no blood of her whatsoever.
"Are you guys comfortable enough to say hi to my golden retriever?" She asked, looking over the pair.
"He doesn't look like a golden retriever," River giggled.
Calypso playfully rolled her eyes and broke into a small chortle. "He acts like one."
Malacus made a deep rumble of disagreement.
"See what I mean?" The Goddess jokingly said. Her beast huffed.
"Mal meet, River and Rain," Calypso said while nudging him back.
"Hi," Malacus grumbled.
"Hello," River and Rain greeted back. They let out a small laugh when Malacus used his smaller set of wings to shake their hands.
After an hour, her condition had gotten worse. Her skin felt like the sun and her clothes radiated heat, although she was grateful that Malacus was cold enough to stop her from overheating. The Jog finished a while ago, it was now early morning, and the sun was rising from the horizon when they re-group by the Great Hall's courtyard, lounging on the cold stone and floor.
Beside her, Theodore checked her condition by placing a cooling charm over her forehead and neck, hoping it would stop her fever. He was adamant about letting her rest for the day and sending her the notes she would miss.
"You need to take care of yourself better," Theodore scolded his best friend, pulling the strings of her sweater and covering her face. The girl made a disgruntled noise before unlacing herself from the misfortune her best friend put her in.
"What's the point with taking care of myself...." Her words stopped abruptly. Her ears perked up hearing a ticking sound. Across her, Harry made a sound and his head darted to the stairs going down to the dungeons. The Knights all collectively shared a look. Calypso whistled which brought malacus forth to the sound. Her brother followed in tow and wordlessly motioned his court of friends to follow.
Rain and River looked confused but followed.
Calypso reached the opening of their little safe space and entered with Malacus in front using himself as a shield if anything was to happen. Her ears thundered with the migraine clawing at her head and that horrid sound was not helping her current state of mind. Her body told her to run away from the ringing but she knew better. The same overgrown land is the familiar path to the castle of the Knights. Castle stood reaching the heavens, turrets still magnificent as they first saw it. The ticking had stopped when they all set foot on the uneven ground, even she had opted to walk. still there, but the ticking sound stopped when they all stepped in. Harry and Calypso shared a look and kept going inside. Everyone stood around the empty grand room.
"It's too early for this," Blaise yawned as he set himself down on the nice grass.
Hermione gave him a sharp look.
"Ignore him." Calypso sighed, holding onto Malacus for support.
"It seems like we have an explanation for the new trio." Harry sighed, looking at the new blondes. "Knights, we have the master of life, Luna, and the new knights."
"Oh dear," Draco breathed out. "Not this again."
"Why is that?" River asked uncertainly, gripping her sister's hand.
"Malacus nearly got barbecued last time," Neville said, reminding everyone.
"Ignore them," Harry said. "Rain, River, I know your brother will not accept this but, you're bestowed to be protectors. See the weapons on the ground?" He motioned to the throwing knives on the ground, identical throwing knives, perfect for close combat. "Pick one of these up, and you will be granted gifts."
"They're safe, don't worry," Hermione assured the twins.
The twins nodded at the reassurance and Calypso's encouraging smile. River picked up the silver dagger while Rain picked up the baby blue one. Everyone paused for a moment, all motionless waiting for something when nothing did, the twins breathed out in the process their weapon was moved. Two flurries of metal-like liquid were shot from the daggers and went straight towards Malacus. Calypso calmly raised her hand and erected a white barrier to stop it.
The twins looked sheepish and tucked away their weapons. Luna softly chuckled and shrunk the weapons to fit as pins.
"Well, that was a great morning." Draco yawned, leaning on the staircase. 10/13. "Can we get some sleep?"
"I vote this," Neville lazily said, waving his hand sluggishly and he leaned back-to-back with Ron.
"Okay, everyone up," Hermione said, motioning everyone up their feet.
The three gods trailed behind their friends as they all walked back to the surface.
"Hebe told me all the shenanigans you've put yourselves through." Luna chirped, her platinum hair swaying behind her.
"Of course she did," Harry scoffed. "She's petty."
Calypso frowned at this. At least her ward was an animal.
"Very," Luna chuckled. "I do hope you know where my crown lies."
"We do," The older girl hummed. "By the forest, at the edge of the wooden bridge."
"Oh, thank you."
"No problem,"
"Hurry up!" Ron called from over his shoulder. "I'm hungry."
"When were you not, mate?" Harry grumbled.
Ron shrugged. Hermione sniffed in distaste. Neville sighed.
That morning after jogging, Calypso forced herself to wake up after a thirty-minute rest, she slipped on her uniform and made her way to the Great Hall. She turned to the corner and bumped into someone; she was prepared to catch herself when a hand shot to her shoulder gripping tightly and pulling her on a balance.
"Black, be careful," That familiar voice said, it wasn't snarky nor arrogant it was humble and scolding.
"Sorry," Calypso exhaled looking up to give Odysseus a curt not. "I wasn't looking."
"It's fine," The boy dismissed, letting go of her shoulder. "Are you heading to the Great Hall?"
"Yes, I am, care to join me?" Lili suggested.
"Of course," Odysseus nodded with a small smile. He offered his arm to the girl which she took thankfully, and they made their way to the Great Hall. Calypso's head inclined to the side when she noticed her friends occupying Ravenclaw's table, even the Eryx siblings were there. She tugged her friend's sleeve and walked toward where her friends sat.
She sat in her usual spot, next to Neville while tugging Odysseus to sit beside her. Harry already knew she was there, and so did Luna who gave her a cute wave.
"Fancy seeing you here, Sisus." Regan greeted with a smirk.
"Ray," Odysseus addressed back with a stiff smile. "Finally broken from the daddy dearests' chains?"
"Very," Reagan smiled back stiffly.
Calypso blinked away the shock and turned to her friends to also see them blinking away because ignorance is bliss. Neville passed a fruit bowl to the stubborn girl with a fever. She took the bowl with appreciation.
"I'm not prepared for D.A.D.A," Ron sighed excessively, taking another bite of his bacon.
"Don't we have D.A.D.A after lunch?" Hermione quizzed, taking her timetable.
"We have it with the serpents," Neville informed. "After breakfast."
Collective disapproval noises were heard from the said group. The 1st years looked very curious, and the older pair of boys just was listening amused.
"Kill me," Calypso grumbled, taking a bite of strawberry, the fruit crunch echoing.
"With pleasure," Theodore said, taking a butter knife in his best friend's direction with no qualms.
Calypso smoothly caught it with her left hand and used it to take a piece of mango. A playful smile played on her lips when Theodore's lips pursed and a scoff escaped.
"Okay, that's enough," Harry scolded, chastising his friends.
"Let's not traumatize the children," Hermione sighed, her hand over the Eryx twins' eyes.
"We're old enough," River grumbled, taking the girl's hands off.
"I don't think I want to know what Theodore threw at Calypso." Rain uttered, also taking Hermione's hands off.
"A butter knife," Neville and Calypso said.
"I would've used a knife," Luna uttered from beside Harry.
Calypso coughed and Harry choked on his water. The circus is growing.