THREE
' the view between villages '

☾⋆₊✧

SEPTEMBER
1993

THEY waited for the train to fill up for a good two hours.

The Hogwarts Express left at eleven o'clock every first of September, apparently. The Lupin's had gotten there a bit earlier, mainly to scope out the area, get comfortable, and allow Remus time to catch up on some much needed rest. They agreed on being in separate cabins for the ride, as tough as it would be. But they knew it was time for them to go their separate ways. Callie just hoped it wouldn't be too crowded.

As it got closer to departure time, it most certainly was.

She'd found a compartment close to the loo, should anything set her off. As the minutes went by, she tried to sleep, read the muggle book she'd packed along, anything to stay distracted, but she kept staring out at the platform and watching the other students go by, escorted by their parents.

The compartment door rattled open suddenly, and a loud group of older students spilled in, all laughing and talking over each other. They were dressed casually in jumpers and jackets, chatting about their summers, and didn't seem to care that Callie was already sitting by the window. One girl gave her a brief glance, but then turned back to her friends without a word, her attention swallowed by the easy flow of conversation.

Callie shifted in her seat, pulling her bag closer to her side. She could feel herself shrinking, unsure of what to do. Should she introduce herself? Leave? She didn't know the etiquette for situations like this. It wasn't like she had much experience with big groups of kids her age— most of her encounters back in the village had ended with awkward avoidance or snide remarks.

The train gave a slight jolt, signalling its imminent departure, and Callie clutched the edge of her seat. The other students didn't seem to notice the shift; they continued chatting, filling the air with talk about Quidditch, the upcoming school year, and a party someone had thrown over the summer. Callie's heart raced as the train began to slowly move, the platform sliding away outside the window.

Just then, one of the boys— tall, with tousled brown hair and a warm expression— caught sight of her from where he leaned against the door. His gaze lingered, picking up on her tense posture and the way she fidgeted with the strap of her bag.

"Hey," he said gently, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "First year?"

Callie hesitated before shaking her head. "Third, actually."

The boy's eyebrows lifted slightly, though not in a way that made her feel foolish. "Ah, transferring in?"

She nodded, unsure how much to say. "Yeah. First time here."

"I figured," he said, his smile deepening. "You looked a bit like you were expecting the train to take off without you."

A small, nervous laugh escaped Callie, and the knot in her chest loosened just a little. "I guess I did."

"I'm Cedric, by the way. Cedric Diggory."

He offered her a hand, which she shook lightly. "Calista."

"Well, Calista, welcome to the Hogwarts Express," Cedric said warmly. "You picked a good year to start. Third year is when things start to get really fun— Hogsmeade trips and all that."

"Hogsmeade?" Callie asked, her curiosity piqued.

"You'll see," Cedric replied with a playful grin, as if letting her in on a secret. "Don't worry, though— it's not as scary as it seems at first. Everyone feels out of place at the beginning."

The kindness in his voice settled her nerves a bit, and she managed to relax into her seat.

As the train rattled on, Cedric turned back to his friends, leaving Callie to her thoughts. For the first time since boarding, she felt a flicker of excitement underneath the nervousness. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a place here.

But after a while, the familiar weight of her nerves began to creep back in. She shifted in her seat, glancing out the window at the passing countryside. Was the draught beginning to wear off? Were her nerves just that strong? The thought of her father sitting somewhere on this train gnawed at her. She needed to see him— just for a minute, to make sure everything was okay.

Quietly, Callie rose from her seat, smoothing down her coat. Cedric and his group were still deep in conversation and barely noticed her as she slipped out of the compartment and into the corridor. She felt a little steadier on her feet now, her focus narrowed to one thing: finding Dad.

He had said he would be in the very last compartment. Typical. She tried rushing through the cars of the train as fast as she could, almost knocking over the lady with the trolley as she went. No one paid her much attention as she scurried by, except for a platinum blond who briefly sneered at her.

Finally, she reached the last compartment. She threw the door open, breathing heavily, and was about to call out to him when she froze.

Remus was in the corner, face hidden by his cloak and snoring softly. Sharing the space with him were three other students.

"Oh," Callie breathed, then gulped.

They looked about her age, and if they had just been in the middle of a conversation. One was a red-haired boy with a speckling of freckles, mouth still hanging slightly open mid-sentence. Just next to him sat a girl with bushy brown hair, raising an even bushier eyebrow. And across from them, next to her father, was a boy with messy black hair and round glasses.

Her gaze lingered on him longer than Callie intended it to, but something about him seemed familiar. He stared back, eyes softening with curiosity as opposed to the guarded indifference she'd expected from a stranger. She knew she'd never met him before but there was some kind of pull towards him— that odd, gnawing sense that maybe they were meant to meet, somehow.

"Hi," the girl had spoken, and Callie's neck swivelled from the boy to her so quickly she felt as it could have snapped. "Are you lost?"

"Sorry, no, er-" she stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. "There was this blonde haired boy in my aisle, he was being disruptive so I needed to get away. I didn't think anyone would be here."

"Malfoy," the red head growled. The black haired boy rolled his eyes.

"Totally understandable," the girl responded. "Well, you're welcome to have a seat."

The only available spot was in between the boy with the glasses, and her own father. Without doing too much thinking, Callie slid into the seat, trying to make herself seem small between the two of them. She tucked her hands into her lap, glancing nervously at each face in the compartment.

"What year are you in?" the girl asked after a moment.

"Third," she answered, keeping her voice rather low.

The trio perked up at this, exchanging glances.

The red head was the first to speak up. "You're third year? I've never seen you before." His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Are you a Hufflepuff?"

Shoot, she didn't think she'd get interrogated so soon. "I'm a transfer, from... Ilvermorny," Callie said, grasping for the cover story she and Remus had agreed on earlier. The North American institute seemed to be the most reasonable. "I studied abroad."

"Oh, brilliant!" the girl commented. "I've read a bit about Ilvermorny. Their house system is fascinating! Which house were you in? Thunderbird? Horned Serpent?"

"Uh... Wampus," Callie replied, her smile slightly nervous. She wasn't sure how much they knew, but at least the girl seemed impressed.

"Where's that again?" the ginger asked, eyes drifting off as he pondered.

"What's that again?" the other boy asked, frowning.

"It's the American school," the girl said eagerly, taking it upon herself to explain. "It's located in Massachusetts, right? They're supposed to have an incredible curriculum." She glanced at Callie with a look of admiration. "I bet it must've been amazing to study there."

Callie gave a small nod, grateful for her enthusiasm but still uneasy about lying. "Yeah... it was good while it lasted."

The girl now had her elbows on her knees, leaning forward. "What did you say your name was?"

Almost too eagerly, she answered, "Calista Lupin."

Her jaw shut immediately. The trio exchanged glances again.

"Lupin? So you're," the girl pointed at her father.

Callie felt herself gulp, afraid her tongue would speak before her brain could regulate itself. "Uh... His niece. Yes, that's Uncle Remus." She felt herself cringe on the inside. Even saying Remus felt wrong. "He got the job offer, and my... parents thought it best if I studied a bit closer to home this year. So they, er, sent me with him."

The boys both nodded along as if it made perfect sense, though the ginger looked only mildly interested. The boy with the glasses gave her an encouraging smile, one that was more understanding than she expected, as though he knew what it was like to feel out of place.

The girl, however, still looked unconvinced. Her brows pinched slightly, a flicker of suspicion crossing her face. Callie tried not to let it rattle her, but her hands had begun to sweat, and she clasped them together in her lap, hoping no one would notice.

"Well, I'm Hermione Granger," she introduced. "That's Ron Weasley," Hermione turned to the redhead, who gave Calista a lopsided smile. "And that's-"

"Harry Potter," the boy with the glasses finished for her.

At first, Calista only blinked. Harry Potter? The boy from the stories— the Harry Potter. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the compartment. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. A rush of emotions hit her all at once— excitement, nerves, disbelief. This is The Boy Who Lived. The one my father never talks about.

Every time his name appeared in the headlines, she found herself deep in thought. Harry was her age, and had been through much more than she had already. Assassination attempts as a baby, more attempts once he got to Hogwarts... yes, he was already in the history books and a cemented topic in the Prophet.

Naturally, Calista thought about the boy, but much like the matter of her mother, Remus never talked about him. Not because he didn't know who he was, but because he refused to. Sensitive subject tragic children were.

They were alike in that way. Shaped from tragedy. She thought she would never meet him, but if she ever did then she wanted to tell him of how much she admired his strength and courage.

But presently, she was tongue-tied. There was no way those words were leaving her mouth.

After a few more moments of awkward silence, Callie forced a smile and gave them all nods.

"So," Ron had somehow pulled out a jelly slug when she looked at him again and was in between bites, "What's that thing around your face?"

Hermione jabbed her elbow into Ron's side.

"What? It's just a question."

"That's so rude, Ronald," she whispered back, glaring at him.

Callie gave a small laugh, trying to brush it off. "Oh, it's a breathing tube, that is. Muggle invention. Helps me... breathe?" She shrugged awkwardly, hoping that would be enough to satisfy him. "Does wonders."

Ron swallowed another bite of his jelly slug. "Huh."

"Ron's from a pureblood wizarding family. He doesn't get out much," Hermione quipped.

The ginger faced her, crossing his arms. "I don't get out much? And what about you, nose buried in books all day?"

The two began to bicker, their banter surprisingly light-hearted. It was clear they were used to this kind of back-and-forth.

Harry, ignoring the squabble, turned to Callie with a kind smile. "Are you hungry?"

"Oh, no, thanks, I'm fine." She smiled gratefully, just as her stomach gave an embarrassingly loud rumble. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she wished she could sink into the seat.

Harry grinned and reached into his bag. "Here."

He pulled out a chocolate frog, its little legs twitching inside the packaging. "It's not much, but it'll tide you over until the feast. We should be close by now."

Callie hesitated, her fingers brushing the edges of the wrapper. She wasn't used to kindness from strangers, let alone kids her own age. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Harry said warmly.

She gave a small, genuine smile. "Thanks."

Chocolate, at least for Calista herself, had been another rare food back home. As she unwrapped the frog and took a bite, the familiar sweetness soothed her nerves the slightest bit.

"Oh, Calista?" Harry asked, and she paused munching on the snack. He gave her another one of those small, easy smiles, the thing offering her the most comfort right now. "Don't worry about all of this. You'll get used to it."

"Let's hope," she replied.

As the others began to grow quieter, Calista turned her attention to the view outside. She hadn't really been paying attention to the actual trip, she'd been so distracted. It was raining, and only worsened as the train sped further north. The windows were now grey, glistened with rain drops, and it was hard to make out what was beyond them. Dad was still passed out, and it didn't even look as if he had moved an inch since she had gotten there.

It soon began to darken, causing the lanterns along the corridors and over the luggage racks to flicker to life. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, and Callie started to grow uneasy once more.

"We must be nearly there," Ron said, pressing his hand against the now black window. The words had hardly left him as the train started slowing down.

"We can't be there yet," Hermione responded, and checked something around her wrist.

Callie had started fiddling with her tube again. "How come we're stopping?" she spoke up, unfamiliar with the train ride's routine.

The train was only getting slower and slower, the sound of the rain coming down harder and harder. Harry, who was nearest to the door, got up to look into the corridor. Callie began to consider poking her father to try to wake him up, but she was still within Hermione's eyesight. If only that girl could turn her head a little more to the side...

The vehicle came to a stop with a jolt. Without warning, all the lamps had gone out and plunged the students in darkness.

"What's going on?" Ron was asking.

"Ouch!" Hermione gasped. "Ron, that was my foot!"

"D'you think we've broken down?"

"Dunno..."

"So this isn't part of the protocol?" Callie whispered, and before she knew it she was grabbing a fistful of her dad's cloak in her hand.

"Not in the last two years, no," Harry replied as he sat back down.

The next minute was a blur. There was so much commotion, and Calista found herself becoming detached from reality. The train's windows frosted over, the temperature plunging as if summer had been stripped away in an instant. She shivered violently, drawing her cloak tighter, though it did little to warm her. The cold wasn't just in the air— it seemed to seep into her bones, into her very heart...

There was a soft, crackling noise and a shivering light filled the compartment. Her dad had finally woken up— a handful of flames in his palm. It illuminated his tired grey face, but his eyes looked alert and weary.

"Stay where you are," he told the children, voice sounding hoarse, and he slowly got to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him. He glanced down at his daughter, just for a moment, and Calista knew that whatever was going on was serious.

At the same time, the door to the compartment slid open with a grating sound.

Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Dad's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden, but its rotting hand had slid from the cloak, protruding as if it were reaching out to Harry and Callie.

Callie's breathing hitched, her chest tightening painfully. The hum of the breathing tube was suddenly loud and ragged, each inhale a struggle as panic closed in. A wave of memories crashed over her— lonely nights in bed, wracked with fever; her father's worried voice saying everything would be fine, though she knew it wouldn't be. The suffocating weight of believing she wouldn't make it.

Her vision swam. Somewhere beside her, Harry gasped, and she felt him fall to the floor. As he began twitching, she could vaguely make out her father's towering form as it stepped in front of him, facing the creature.

It sounded almost muted, maybe just to the young girl, "None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."

"...Sirius," Calista felt the name roll of her tongue so quietly no one, not even she could hear it.

An image of a man passed through her mind. Sirius Black, the madman from London. She'd seen his face from twelve years ago, the picture taken before he was sent to Azkaban, but this image in her mind seemed different... like he was looking right at her, something of... guilt in his eyes?

There was a blinding light— in the next few moments the lights began to flicker back on, the warmth returned, and the creature had gone.

"Hey, back to me," Callie focused on the familiar warm pair of eyes suddenly in front of hers. "There you are."

She nodded, her breathing slowly evening out as her dad's steady gaze held hers, anchoring her. The tremor in her hands started to fade, though the memory of the chilling darkness and the regretful face of a maniac still clung to her.

Her dad, holding her steady, led her gently out of the compartment, his arm a reassuring weight around her shoulders. She glanced back over her shoulder at Harry, catching his own shaken expression as he stared back at her. She couldn't help but feel a pull of understanding to him— for whatever reason.

☾⋆₊✧

"You're sure you're okay?"

Remus had brought Callie into an empty compartment, recently abandoned by other frightened students. She was still pale, trembling slightly as she rubbed at her nose.

"Yes, Da— uh, sir," she stammered. There was no one around, but she couldn't risk being overheard.

"What was that thing?" she asked after a moment, her voice thin and shaky.

"A Dementor," he said grimly. "They guard Azkaban. Some of them have been sent to patrol Hogwarts this year."

Her brow furrowed as she shuddered. "That's awful."

"Yes, it is," he agreed, searching his pockets. "I don't have any more Calming Draught, but— here. Eat this."

Callie blinked, staring down at the chocolate bar he pressed into her hand. "Where did you even get this?"

Remus didn't answer, simply broke off a piece and shoved it into her hand. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. I've got to check on Harry. Just eat it," he said firmly.

Callie hesitated, then popped the chocolate into her mouth. The warmth spread almost immediately, a faint comfort easing the lingering icy knot in her chest. She didn't even catch the fact that her father was already able to identify Harry Potter.

The train came to a stop ten minutes after, and once it did nearly everyone had scrambled out in an instant. Remus motioned for Callie to go out first, and he directed her to a stagecoach that seemed to be guided by some kind of invisible creature. She did feel a bit better since the chocolate, but her mind still seemed to be swaying. She couldn't make sense of what she had seen or felt, and she didn't know if she wanted to. She didn't pay much attention to the scenery neither, even as a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates came to view, especially not when they were being flanked by two of those same creatures who had hijacked the train. She was still caught up in her own head once the carriages had come to a stop, and her father helped her jump down from the stairs with a steady hand on her back. Callie knew it would be a while until she felt his touch again.

But all her uneasiness seemed to slip away once she caught sight of the castle— or at least, its front entrance. The sprawling towers rose against the dusky sky, silhouetted by a faint glow that seemed to promise warmth and mystery all at once. It was more magnificent than any description she'd heard or any book she'd read. She felt a flutter of excitement, like a small spark kindling in her chest, and in that moment, all her worries of the day faded into the background. Hogwarts was real, and finally within reach.

As they stepped inside, the warm light seemed to wrap around her like a familiar embrace, filling every corner of the grand entryway with a soft, golden glow. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting shadows that danced over the stone arches and highlighting intricate details she hadn't even imagined. The murmur of voices and faint laughter drifted down from distant halls, mingling with the crackling of fire and the faint smell of old parchment and polished wood.

For a moment, Callie just stood still, taking it all in— the towering ceiling that stretched high above, the tapestries that hinted at ancient stories, and the grand staircase spiralling upwards to who-knew-where. It was unlike anything she'd seen before, a place that felt both immense and cozy, grand yet welcoming. She glanced at her father, his face softened in the amber glow, and saw in his eyes the same amazement. He suddenly looked so much younger, as if stress hadn't greyed his hair and face, that he was just as young as she was, so small and hopeful.

"Professor Lupin," a woman's voice called out, and Callie spotted a stern-looking witch making her way toward the pair. She wore her hair in a tight bun, sharp eyes framed by square spectacles. As soon as she reached them, her eyes softened, and she grasped Dad's hands. "Welcome back. It's good to have you with us again."

Remus gave a small, warm nod in return. "Thank you, McGonagall— Minerva. It's... quite something to be back."

"Yes, well." She tilted her head toward the hall, where voices and laughter were growing louder. "You'll want to take your place at the staff table before too long. The Headmaster's quite looking forward to formally introducing you."

Remus hesitated, glancing down at Callie, who was lingering a bit nervously by his side. Professor McGonagall's gaze followed, her lips twitching in what looked like approval when she took in Callie's wide eyes and awed expression as she gazed around at the towering arches and walls.

"And this must be... Miss Lupin, I presume?" McGonagall's voice softened slightly as she looked down at Callie.

Callie straightened, offering a shy smile. "Yes, Professor. It's nice to meet you."

"Well, I daresay the pleasure is all mine," McGonagall said with a twinkle in her eye. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Lupin."

Callie's shoulders relaxed a little, and she managed a more confident smile. Professor McGonagall took a moment to study her, noting the nervous excitement in Callie's eyes.

"Now, Miss Lupin, I'll be taking you to join the first years," she said, gesturing toward a nearby corridor. "They're waiting to be sorted, and as a transfer student, you'll be joining them for this part."

Callie's eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly, glancing up at her dad for one last reassuring look.

Remus reached out, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I'll be right here when it's done," he murmured. "And I'll be watching from the staff table. You'll do brilliantly."

She nodded, taking in a deep breath. "Right. See you soon."

As Professor McGonagall led Callie down the hallway, she offered her a small, reassuring smile. "Now, it's all quite simple," she explained. "When your name is called, you'll step forward and sit on the stool to be sorted by the Sorting Hat. It won't take but a few moments."

Callie nodded, feeling her nerves return. "Thank you, Professor."

McGonagall gave her a look of encouragement. "You'll find your place here, Miss Lupin. I'm certain of it."

With that, she opened the door to the chamber where the first years waited, ushering Callie inside and leaving her with a final, reassuring nod before she disappeared back toward the Great Hall.

She was barely there for a minute with the first years before they were being escorted into what Callie presumed was the Great Hall. It was great, indeed. A cavernous room lit with hundreds of floating candles that cast a warm, gentle light. The enchanted ceiling stretched high above, resembling the night sky she loved so much, dotted with shimmering stars against an inky blackness. Long tables stretched across the hall, each filled with students in black robes and pointed hats, their faces turned expectantly toward her and the line of first years. The whole place had a magical hum to it, a presence, as though the castle itself was welcoming them all.

The golden plates and goblets sparkled, untouched, while the teachers at the long table at the head of the hall watched her with interest. Her heart thudded in her chest as she tried to take it all in, but before she could absorb any more of the details, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, unfurling a long scroll.

"Lupin, Calista."

Oh, Merlin. Why did she have to be first?

She felt her stomach flipping, as if the small amount of chocolate she had eaten was about to come right back out onto McGonagall's feet. She forced her legs to move, feeling dozens of eyes on her as she approached the stool. She could barely hear the whispers that followed her, words like transfer and new student drifting in the air. Her hands shook a little as she sat down, and she wasn't sure where she was supposed to be looking. At her feet? No no, she didn't want to seem afraid. Up? No, that would look strange. Maybe straight ahead? No... she knew she would look out of focus.

As she eyes wandered trying to find a place to rest, they landed on a familiar face in the crowd. She wasn't sure how she found him, but watching her intensely was Harry from the train. His eyes seemed to widen as he realized hers had found him, and he gave her an odd sort of smile- but enough for her heartbeat to ease. The same words he'd told her earlier played again in her mind. Don't worry about all of this. You'll get used to it.

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat gently on her head, and the instant it touched her, she heard a voice speaking inside her mind.

"Hmm... an interesting one," it murmured thoughtfully. "Quite a mind here, and a loyalty that runs deep. Courage as well... yes, indeed, very much courage."

Callie held her breath, waiting, her hands gripping the edge of the stool.

"You're eager to prove yourself, I see. And, yes... you'll find your home best among the brave."

With a firm finality, the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

A rush of applause sounded from the Gryffindor table, and Callie felt her heart leap as she stood, relieved. She kept her eyes on Harry, who was applauding loudly with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. There was an open space next to Hermione, which she motioned for Callie to sit down on.

"I knew you'd land here!" Hermione exclaimed as she sat down, and Callie blushed.

Ron gave her a friendly thumbs-up. "Blimey, I thought for sure you'd be Hufflepuff. What's Gryffindor's gain, I s'pose," he muttered with a grin.

Harry gave her an encouraging nod, looking pleased. "Welcome to Gryffindor," he said warmly, a slight smile on his face. She smiled back at him from across the table, before they got to listening to all of the first years being sorted.

Her dad was far away at the end of the room, and she couldn't really make him out— not that she was worried. She knew he was proud. As she looked around the table at the other students, she could feel her smile growing wider. Hogwarts, her new home, and Gryffindor, her new people.

Soon the ceremony was over, and Dumbledore was standing up to speak. The hall started to quiet down as he took the podium, and Calista was glad that everyone seemed to respect him. Perhaps she'd try to go say hi before they were sent off...

"Welcome!" he began, the light from the candles surrounding him shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become too befuddled by our excellent feast..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

Callie shivered just thinking back to when they had entered their compartment, all the intense feelings she buried deep that were beginning to fill up her heart once more. To have them all around campus all year was more than nerve-wracking.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."

Mostly everyone at the Gryffindor table glanced at a red headed boy who was seated just a few spots down from the group of third years. He was puffing his chest out proudly and staring around like he had a new sense of authority. Callie frowned, and Hermione whispered, "That's one of Ron's many siblings. Once you meet the others, you won't believe they're related."

"On a happier note," Dumbledore carried on, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Calista instantly sat up straighter, starting a scattered applause throughout the Hall. Hermione, Ron, and Harry made sure to cheer as well. She could tell her father was nervous- and he looked a bit out of place amongst the other professors in his tattered robes— but he gave a slight bow and tight-lipped smile.

"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear, loud enough for Calista to notice. She glanced at the staff table, and though she didn't know exactly which teacher they were talking about, she could make an educated guess. A thin man with a sallow face and long, greasy black hair looked as if he were scowling at her father. She remembered back when Dumbledore had visited in the summer to offer Dad the teaching position and had mentioned a professor Snape, who her father didn't seem too sure about... nor had he about what Snape thought about him. Her heart did a flip in her chest. If he knew that Dad was a werewolf and was the one supplying him with the Wolfsbane every full moon, she hoped that if there was still some tension, Snape wouldn't be a problem.

Dumbledore proceeded to announce the tenure of the second newest professor— a half-giant named Hagrid who Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to know well. The headmaster then announced that the feast had begun. The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Callie had been waiting for this moment.

Her tiny hands grabbed whatever she could reach, stomach rumbling louder than the thunder she thought she heard outside. She'd never seen so much food on one table before. Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, carrots and corn, boats of gravy, even the familiar Yorkshire pudding— and other things she couldn't quite name.

It was a delicious feast; the Hall echoed with talk, laughter and the clatter of knives and forks. Callie was introduced to some of the other Gryffindors that were sitting around them, including boys named Seamus, Dean, and Neville, as well as Ron's siblings Ginny, and Fred and George.

"New Gryffindor, eh?" Fred had said, giving her a playful wink. "Welcome to the finest house Hogwarts has ever seen. Not that we're biased, of course."

George, grinning just as wide, added, "You've just entered the realm of legends, Calista Lupin. Legendary pranks, that is. We'll teach you everything you need to know to survive here— and then some."

She'd tried to answer before questions came flooding about her father and just about everything she'd fabricated before coming here. She told them what she'd told the trio on the train- that the professor was her uncle and it was time for her to study at home. Hermione finally shooed them all away so Callie had the chance to finish the quarter of her plate she was still working on. She was much enjoying herself, but began to feel a bit overwhelmed and as if another headache was on its way.

Luckily Dumbledore finally gave word that it was time for bed. The trio had gone over to talk to Professor Hagrid, and Callie didn't want to wait, so she found herself trudging alongside the boy named Neville. He didn't talk much or really make eye contact at first, but once she asked him about his summer he couldn't seem to keep quiet. It was a nice way to occupy the time as they went up various marble staircases, along more corridors and up more stairs, yawning and dragging their feet. Callie hadn't done this much cardio in her life and she wasn't sure how early she would be able to wake up the next morning. Finally they arrived at the hidden entrance to the Gryffindor common rooms, where a large portrait of a fat lady asked them, "Password?"

"Coming through, coming through!" the head boy Percy called from behind the crowd. "The new password's Fortuna Major!"

"Oh no," Neville Longbottom said sadly. Callie figured that this was not his forte.

The students scrambled through the portrait into a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs. Percy was directing the first years where to go as Callie stood in the middle of the room, fiddling with her breathing tube.

Percy frowned when he saw her, then quickly made his way over. "Calista Lupin?" She nodded. "McGonagall's informed me you'll be rooming with Granger over there. There's an extra spot in her dormitory. Granger!"

Hermione immediately turned around from where she was with Harry and Ron and came over, looking surprised but pleased. "Yes, Percy?"

"Get this one settled in, will you?" he asked, gesturing toward Callie with a brisk nod. "She's joining your dormitory. Show her where things are, and make sure she knows the rules." He gave Callie one last assessing look, as if sizing her up for her place in Gryffindor, before nodding approvingly and heading off.

Hermione gave her a warm smile. "Shall we, then? I'm exhausted."

Callie smiled back. "Please."

They waved goodbye to Harry and Ron, and Hermione led Callie up a spiral staircase into their dorms. Three other girls were already there, unpacking their trunks which had already been brought up. They briefly said hello but didn't seem to care too much. Neither did Calista. She just wanted to digest and then sleep.

The walls were red and there were five windows, each between the five beds. The beds had four posters and were draped over with velvet curtains. A large carpet with Gryffindor's crest, the lion, sat in the middle of the floor. The lights were dimmed but they were calming, and all Callie wanted was to jump into the bed, close the curtains, and wake up in a few days time. She knew she'd have to unpack though, because tomorrow, as classes began, she'd probably have no time afterwards.

After an hour, Callie sat on the edge of her new bed, surrounded by her trunk, books, and clothes, which she'd been unpacking one by one. The room felt strange, a mix of warm and unfamiliar. She glanced around, taking in the tall windows and plush curtains, but it didn't feel like home just yet. She wanted to tell herself she'd get used to it— but really, all she could think about was Dad. She hadn't even been able to say goodnight to him. She didn't even know where he was staying in the castle. Was this really their new reality? Being more than a few footsteps apart, diverging on different paths, not able to truly be the versions of themselves that they were at home. She wanted him to ruffle her hair and tell her that the night would pass and that the dawn would come again.

Her eyes stung as she tried to focus on her things, smoothing out her pillow, folding her scarf. Then, to her surprise, Hermione was suddenly by her side. "It can be hard," she said gently, almost as if she'd read Callie's mind. "The first night. It took me a while to feel at home here too."

Callie managed a small, grateful smile, taking in Hermione's reassuring presence. She nodded, comforted by the quiet. Hermione gave her a soft smile in return, patting her shoulder before getting up and returning to her own bed. The orange cat sitting on the edge of her bed gave a subtle purr of agreement.

As Callie lay down, she let herself sink into the warmth of the blankets, slowly letting her eyes close, and whispered a quiet, "Goodnight," hoping somehow her dad would feel it too. Moments later, she drifted off, wrapped in the quiet comfort of Gryffindor Tower.

^ basically callie at the feast

chapter 3 how we feeling! callie finally meets her future besties and gets to hogwarts. hopefully the dementors won't be a big problem for her this year 🥴

i don't have too much to say about this chapter, idk my brain just isn't functioning right now. but any thoughts or theories and whatnot are always appreciated <3