( chapter i. ONE
HELL OF A YEAR )

― 🌙 ―

The warmth of the cup heated her hand to almost an uncomfortable temperature but she didn't move it. There was a breeze around her, reminding her how late into August it was as it caused her hair to brush into her face which she moved back carefully. The sweater she had on was not thick and definitely not suited for the cold that was causing chill bumps on her hairs under the clothing, but she kept it on after seeing the disapproving look of her mum. Anything to spite that woman after she made spaghetti last night, which she knew that Calypso didn't like.

Looking down to her hands as she waited she noticed the little scars there. They were fresher than other ones, happening last month which reminded the teenager of the full moon coming in only a few days – the night before she was supposed to return to school. She hated when that happened – it happened twice out of her four years – and it meant that she would return to school absolutely exhausted and having to be more careful with her body at first.

Her friends were always suspicious but never said anything about the little scars, she knew they thought ill of her mother and family in general, but they never verbally spoke about it because if they did, Calypso would be down another friend. It wasn't like she had too many in the first place, though.

Because of her enhanced hearing, one of the only good things that came from her 'condition', she could hear a group of girls behind her. They were probably around her own age and were quite loud anyways and it seemed that they were well acquainted with the server that worked at the café as they always had comfortable conversations, usually laced with a lot of flirting.

"Yeah, Tommy said he's taking me bowling on Thursday," one of the gushed, "Ugh, he's so amazing!"

"Oh my god, that's amazing! I wish Patrick would take the hint and ask me out. But are you sure that bowling's a great date night choice?" another one, who was most heavily flirting with the waiter – Patrick – asked.

"Um, yes? I already told him that I don't go to movies on the first date. He'll just wanna hold my hand and expect a kiss," the first girl explained, "And while I totally want that, I want him to work for it. Be a nice gentleman and everything."

"Well, if you're going bowling, make sure to pretend not to know how to," the third and final girl commented.

"Wait – why would Jessica do that?"

"Isn't it obvious, Eve? If she pretends not to know then he'll have to show. All up close and everything," the third girl explained, "It'll be so romantic and a great way to surprise him with a kiss or something. Oh! Or leave him wanting more."

"Good idea! I love your thinking, Sarah. I'm totally going to have and try that now," Jessica complimented.

They continued to talk through the date and what Jessica could do and Calypso listened as she continued to wait and then, her cousin sat down with little to no grace and smiled at her. "Sorry about the wait. The line was longer than I expected."

Calypso smiled at Leo, it had been so long since they had seen each other and the two had always been close. Calypso was fascinated with the muggle world, which her Aunt Nadia always loved to explain through Disney and other films, and Leo, who was actually a muggle (squib if you wanted to really get technical), was in awe of the wizarding world. The two helped each other learn all about the two different worlds but it had been more dangerous lately. Well, not dangerous to Calypso, but to others in her world.

"It's alright. I was just listening in on a conversation between those three girls," she motioned her head back to the giggling group behind her and Leo took a peek, "Isn't the one of the left cute?"

Leo eyes bored into hers before rolling them, "You know I'm not interested in looking for a girl."

Calypso shrugged at that, "Just tryna to help. Nothing personal, Leo. But anyways, they were talking about bowling. What is that?"

"Oh," Leo searched for the words to explain it, "It's kinda like a sport but then again not really? I don't know. It's fun, I guess, but also really boring. It's just something to do when you have nothing better."

"Sounds fascinating, I wanna try it."

"But I barely even explained it," Leo then shook his head, "You know what? Never mind. Knowing you, you'll love every moment of it."

"Great. I'm glad we decided," Calypso smiled brightly, "Think you'll be free on Saturday? Oh – and can mum come along? She'll probably like it as well."

"I mean, I guess? How do you even know she'll let you leave the house? Mum was about going mad when I said I was leaving," Leo asked.

"Because my mother knows that there's no harm in leaving. Aunt Nadia's just paranoid," Calypso shrugged it off without another explanation and Leo didn't question it.

Unlike his twin, Maia, Leo didn't tend to question things or badger people. He just let things happen, especially if it involved wizards or witches. Now, he was fascinated by the muggle world, though. Always questioning science and maths...whatever those are.

"She just doesn't know what to do if he shows up at the house," Leo said, and they both knew who he was referring to, "I mean, he doesn't exactly know about us. He might flip and, well, do something."

Calypso's grip tightened on her mug as she heard the words that left his mouth. Her Uncle Pads wouldn't dare kill someone – she knew that for a fact – but she didn't say a word. Leo didn't know any better; he had been told a lie his whole life and didn't even know it, but she couldn't blame Nadia either, she didn't know what really happened that night either. Only four people in the world did, well who were alive; Sirius, Remelda, Peter (that fucking traitor), and Calypso herself. And she only found out when she was eleven for other reasons.

She just shook her head, "Don't worry. He's not dumb enough to show up at your house. And I'll get mum to convince Aunt Nadia to let you out. And you'll have to teach how to bowl first. It'll be fun."

Leo nodded, "Sure." And there was pause as he took a sip of his drink, "So when do you go back?"

"Don't you already know this? I would think Maia would be over the moon about going back to school," Calypso rolled her eyes slightly thinking about the younger girl.

He scoffed, "Don't get me started. I mean, I love my sister but sometimes she gets on my nerves with what she says about our neighborhood. Isaac's a great guy and she doesn't have to be so rude to him whenever he comes over. But I just don't understand why she doesn't like my world so much."

It hurt Calypso's heart how he referred to the muggle world as his own, feeling so unwelcomed by the wizarding one. While he wasn't exactly a wizard at all, he still belonged there because of his family yet he didn't feel like. And she could only imagine how he felt. Calypso knew she would be struck with envy as she saw people casting spells but there would also be a sense of loneliness as she knew that she was different from everyone else around her.

Oh wait; she felt like that every moment. Maybe that was why her and Leo got along so why. Maia was different from them; she was smart and the perfect, little wizard they both wanted to be. Leo was a squib who was picked on by others because of how strange his family was and constantly beleaguered with questions as to why his sister and cousin get to go boarding school and he doesn't. And Calypso...well, she didn't get that kind of bullying because no one else outside her family knew of her secret.

The world didn't know that she was a werewolf.

Like her father, that amazing man, she turned into a monster every full moon, leaving her mortal body drained and littered with scars. And Calypso hated it. Even though her mum tried to tell her she was loved and accepted, she knew she faced the same problem as her own father; the feeling that no one could ever love her and at times she couldn't even bring herself to love who she was. It was hard when you could see the lasting effects of this curse on her body, brought to her by the beast inside her she could never get rid of.

But he didn't know. No, Remus Lupin didn't know that his own daughter faced the very same challenge as him. She triggered the curse when she was eight and by then her parents were already divorced and she was living with Remelda and she decided that it was best if he didn't know. Remelda knew enough to help her daughter but Calypso always wondered when she was younger why her own father couldn't know this about her. Though now, at fourteen, she understood and would never dream of telling him.

It was for the better.

"Well, you know that Maia's never been accepted by muggles," Calypso weakly attempted to defend her cousin, "So it makes sense she wouldn't like that."

"And whenever I go with you guys to Diagon Alley I get looks and sometimes called names, but do I turn against wizards and hate them? No, no I don't. So why can't she do the same?" Leo bitterly asked, the word which described his sister perfectly.

Calypso sighed and looked at him, "Look, just be patient with her and try to show her how amazing muggles can be, alright?"

Leo nodded but didn't seem convinced. The older one leaned back into her chair, bit her lip, and launched into another conversation about Star Wars with him (the two loved the films more than anything) to try and distract him.

And she smiled brightly. Oh, how Calypso would miss him when she was at school.

― 🌙 ―

TWO HOURS LATER and many more conversations, while two other hot chocolates to warm her, Calypso started him by foot since the café was only fifteen minutes away from her house. She hummed to herself a song from The Beatles, which brought an extra pep to her step, and walked passed the different houses, smiling at those who were out.

And, reaching her house, she noticed the swarm of people gathered there. There was two people holding cameras and many more with quills and parchment in their hands along with another notable figure. Cornelius Fudge, also known as the Minister of Magic, was at her doorstep looking rather impatient along with what she suspected to be his body guard in case anybody tried anything.

"Holy Merlin, you've got to be kidding me," Calypso muttered to herself and thought of how she could sneak to the back, but she was caught by the press as the started to come up to her and badger her with questions.

"Where is Sirius Black?"

"Has he been here?"

"Do you have anything you'd like to say about the recent breakout?"

Calypso ignored them all and went up to the door with her keys out already as Fudge continued to stand there. She started to unlock the front door when he cleared his throat and she looked up at him. "Anything I can help you with?" she asked quite rudely.

He brushed off her distaste to him, "Yes, is your mother home? Miss Remelda Black?"

"Well, seeing as you haven't been invited in yet and these bozos are still here, I would say no," Calypso went back to the lock.

"Do you know when she'll return?"

"Nope."

"Well, can I wait inside? It's very important, I need to discuss –"

"You need to discuss Uncle Pads with her, yes I know. You want answers as to whether he's stopped by or if we know anything – which we don't. So goodbye because I have nothing further to say about the subject," she sent a fake sweet smile and Fudge was nearly fuming at her disrespect for him.

He opened his mouth to say something else but by then Calypso had already opened the door and walked inside, slamming it in his face when he went to step in front of it. Calypso sighed quite dramatically and closed the curtains to all the windows, which only two were open in the first place, and went to the kitchen where she took off her bag and heard the voice of her mother.

"Well, thank you for getting them away. They've been swarming here for hours. Fudge only fueled the fire," Remelda said as she took down her hair from the bun it had been in.

Calypso gave her mother a blank look, "They've been here for hours yet you've done nothing to get rid of them?"

"I didn't want my face in the press and I thought they'd leave quickly, and then when they didn't I thought it was already too late to say anything."

The teenager only shook her head and went to the fridge to bring out a soda, "You're impossible, mum."

"I know," she went to the curtains and peeked out before turning back to her daughter, "But I am getting worried."

"About what?" though, the young girl already knew the answer to the question. Still, she asked it.

"He hasn't been around all summer and he said he'd come. He always does and I don't like that he's breaking his promise, has me worried that someone found him," Remelda explained.

Calypso rolled her eyes and took a sip of the drink, "You worry too much, mum. He's fine. Probably just visiting the Bahamas or Hawaii. You know he loves tropical places."

Remelda sent her a glare without any actual heat behind it. "He promised he would be here but it's getting late. You go back in what, two weeks?"

"Week and half," Calypso then noticed the empty bowl of her cat, Nala, who she had gotten in early July and named after The Lion King which came out a month earlier. "Nala!" she called while filling the bowl.

The cat meowed and jumped up to the counter to eat her food happily as Calypso pet her. "I still don't really like her. She's bitten me four times just this week," Remelda commented.

Calypso rolled her eyes, "Oh, shush, mum. She's precious and I love her so it doesn't matter. And you won't have to look after her when I go back."

"That's true," Remelda nodded.

The young girl continued to stroke her cat and thought about the winning argument she presented so that she could finally get Nala. It had been in June after she returned home and begged her mum for an animal but Remelda always refused. Finally, though, when she brought out the point that people (her friends, mostly) were getting suspicious of the cuts on her arm and a cat would perfectly explain them without any other suspicions.

After that, Remelda couldn't fight her anymore and got her the kitten right before her. Calypso then turned her attention away from her precious baby and to her mother to ask a question, "Oh, is it alright if I go bowling with Leo on Saturday?"

"What the fuck is bowling?" Remelda immediately questioned as she looked at her daughter with a confused look.

Simply, the girl shrugged, "Don't know, really. He said it was like a muggle sport or something. Heard it from a group of girls at the café so now he's taking me on Saturday. I think it'll be fun. You can come along if you want."

"You know, as much as I would love to I actually don't," Remelda went to the fridge, "And how does Nadia feel about all of this? Oh, is French dip good for dinner?"

"Sounds great, actually. And he'll ask her either today or tomorrow," Calypso took her drink and was almost out of the kitchen, "I'll be in the living room watching some X-Files. Call me when dinner's ready."

Remelda nodded, "Okay."

And the young girl navigated to the living room as she went to the curtains for a second to see if anyone was still there, letting out a breath of relief when she didn't see anything. Turning on the TV, she changed the channel to her favorite TV show (besides classics like I Love Lucy or Gilligan's Island) and settled into the couch.

Her hair, which was long, got into her face as she settled and she brushed it back. Like her mother, it was dark black and incredibly thick and irritating. Though, Remelda's was much shorter now than her own. Her skin too was pale, but not an unsettling pale like Draco Malfoy's and that family, but fair. That was a word to describe it.

But the freckles on her face came from her father. Although, Remus only had those when he was a child (thank you Grandma Hope for those pictures!) and when he spent a bit too much time in the sun. For Calypso, she just naturally carried them. The scars on her arms and legs also came from him. Or more accurately the werewolf side that she shared with him. She did not blame him, knowing exactly how this was the last thing that he wanted for her, but she knew that if he wasn't her father than she wouldn't be like this.

Calypso Black was a lot like her mother. They were both smart and hated Herbology was a burning passion (really, why did she need to take that class?), shared the same last name (Remus convinced Remelda to change it back to Black after their divorce, along with Calypso), and didn't see the point in surrounding herself with many people. Since the arrest of her brother and deaths of two friends, Remelda was only close with Nadia and everyone else was merely a passing neighbor. Her motto was that if she wasn't close to them, they couldn't hurt her.

But, Calypso did dimly resemble her father. They were both Gryffindors (though no one knew her secret that the Sorting Hat had originally planned for her to be Hufflepuff but Calypso convinced it not to), were easily angered, and absolutely scared shitless at the prospect of telling anyone that they're a werewolf.

Even though Calypso trusted her friends so much, there were only four of them (she really didn't become close with anyone), she could never dream of telling them. The fear of being hated for something she couldn't change about herself keeping her from saying anything.

She was like a lone wolf in that sense; literally. Even though Calypso had those around her that loved her and she loved them, she felt like she placed on a mask for everyone. The Calypso they saw versus the real one; the one living with a beast inside her that took control once a month.

And as she looked out the window, thinking about the press that had just been there asking for Sirius Black, she knew one thing; it was going to be one hell of a year.

calypso and leo are the true brotp here just saying