( chapter xxxiii. SO IT BEGINS )
so it begins

✦

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

The words mocked her on her skin – I WILL NOT SLANDER. They were a permanent fixture on the back of her hand, a permanent reminder that Dolores Umbridge terrorized the school; a permanent reminder that her place at Hogwarts is not safe. She could be thrown out at any moment of Umbridge so wished just because of her status. She could be outed at any moment because the lady in pink knew of her most guarded secret and didn't care if the world knew.

Just like the school – Severus Snape – had outed her father, it could out her too. Just like him, she could be forced to leave. Everyone would hate her. Not just for her name, but for her kind. The creature she became during the full moon without choice, because who would choose to have this curse plagued upon them?

Of course, Umbridge hung this above her head, casually reminding her of the fragile position she was in at the school, a threat looming in the air that one wrong move and she was gone. Everything would be exposed and she would become a pariah. That was when her hand burned the most, the lasting threat marked on her skin to remind her when she walked to D.A. meetings with Birdie and Lee, who now held hands and had lovesick smiles stuck on their faces. It reminded her of it when she talked to her parents, when she thought of her father.

I WILL NOT SLANDER.

Well, who was Calypso to break this curse? If Umbridge didn't want her to slander, she never would, but that did not mean she would be quiet – not like the woman wanted. It was easy to see what the pink lady wanted out of Calypso, her silence, her terror. She wanted Calypso to fear her and be quiet in a form of submission, proving that she had never once met another Black in her life.

No, the Blacks never stayed quiet – not unless it suited them. Not unless someone they trusted told them to keep their silence. But no one had stopped her. Her mother had not stepped in, neither did anyone else in her family. Birdie praised her, as did Lee. Maia stood by her side. The people she cared for, trusted, encouraged her so she would not be quiet. No, she would not slander but she would not be quiet.

She would help. Of course she would. Calypso Hope Black was helping lead a revolution at school and she would help bring it to the attention of the media, of the whole school and the world. Everyone would know the truth even if they did not accept it. Even if they thought it nonsense or feared it themselves, she would help bring it to them. And, if she did want to keep herself anonymous, that meant nothing.

Animosity was her friend. She was in a delicate position, after all. She was Calypso Black from the great and noble house with a long history of being distrusted by the rest of the wizarding world. No one would believe a word she said if her name was on the paper, she was a Black after all. A bloodtraitor to the dark the generation above her broke off from, a member of the dark to everyone else still.

So, she would keep her name private for the sake of letting truth ring out more, keep out of the paper for the sake of her position at the school and those who are counting on her, but she would not refuse to be there when she was called upon.

It was a hard matter. Trying to reach the public and have them believe. Realistically, Calypso knew that not many would trust the word of Harry Potter and his associates because he was simply a child even after the strange case of experiences he had suffered through. The people reading would be adults and why would they believe a child? But, Calypso could hope to gain allies with this. On the other side of the coin, they were creating many more. Angering the ones they were speaking out against.

Umbridge might say the words false (I will not slander), but Calypso knew they were not. So, she would speak against them and make the dark rue the day they fought against her family. She would make them pay for all they have done.

Which meant that she was sharing a booth with Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood (who she had never had a conversation with before this moment) and Rita Skeeter – the Daily Prophet writer who Calypso remembered wrote a very damaging report about Sirius' escape with many comments about how his beloved sister, Remelda, was the first suspect for hiding him.

Merlin, she hated the woman.

So the scowl that was placed on her face was not without reason and therefore no one could comment on it. She sunk further into the booth, looking around and wondering for a moment if it was even worth it to spend her Saturday here. Well, at least it beat third-wheeling on Birdie and Lee. No – she wouldn't do that. Birdie had kindly asked her if they could go on a date alone, which meant that Calypso would've stayed in the castle if it hadn't been for Hermione asking for her assistance there.

"Are we even sure he'll be here?" Calypso asked, annoyance leaking out accidently which made her regret temporarily even speaking.

Hermione blushed but glared at the girl. "Yes. He said he'd meet me here."

"That doesn't mean he'll show," Calypso shot back before easing her shoulders, "Sorry, that's rude. I just – I don't like her."

With a nod of her head, she directed the comments towards Rita who just rolled her eyes. Hermione nodded her own head in agreement, "I understand, I don't like her either. But don't worry. I have her under control."

The smirk on Hermione's face and the knowing glint in her eyes made Calypso's skin want to crawl, though she refused to let it. She was a Black; she wouldn't be intimidated by Hermione Granger.

It was then that Harry Potter came into the pub, looking around before his eyes narrowed and he walked over to the booth where they sat, the suspicious look present on his face as he acknowledged the presence of the journalist.

"What's this all about?" he asked. His eyes were still trained on Rita but it was clear that he meant the question for Hermione.

Still, Rita decided to answer for the Granger girl. "That's what Little Miss Perfect was about to tell us."

Harry gave a glance to Hermione who cleared her throat. "Right, well, I figured that with all of the negative press out about Harry, he should have a chance to defend himself," she paused as if waiting for an objection and when she didn't receive one, she continued, "All of the details. What happened last summer. The truth about Sirius Black and Voldemort, not to mention the names of all the Death Eaters still on the loose."

Only Rita flinched at the name of You-Know-Who but Calypso too found herself uncomfortable at the mention of her uncle.

"No," Calypso said, causing everyone at the table to look at her, "Not Uncle Pads, he stays out of this."

Harry looked anger at her willingness to continue the lie that kept her uncle in chains, that got her a detention with Umbridge (I will not slander). "Calypso –"

"I said not. I don't care about the Death Eaters or Voldemort, say all you want about them, but leave him out of this. The public could misconstrue it, use it against my family. Mentioning him in an article that's also about Death Eaters will only lead them to one conclusion. I don't want that. Uncle Pads wouldn't want that either," Calypso said with a tone of finality that left Harry with nothing else but to agree to her terms.

He sighed, nodding. "Alright. Okay."

"The Prophet will never publish that," Rita brought up, "Goes against the public mood."

She smirked, a smugness to her at the belief she had torn their dreams down. But Hermione defeated her once again by saying, "Well, it doesn't matter. We've found a publisher for the article."

Rita looked shocked and almost appealed. "Who?"

Luna, who had been staring out the window, finally entered the conversation. "My father. He's the editor of The Quibbler."

The journalist laughed at them, "The Quibbler? You think people will take Harry Potter seriously if he's published in the Quibbler? It's nothing but a conspiracy theory, cock-and-bull story tabloid!"

"Some won't believe Harry, that's true. But very person we do convince is one more ally," Hermione told her.

Calypso added, "And it's not like everyone would believe him if he were in the Prophet anyway."

Rita shrugged at that, taking out her quill from her bag and staring intently at the boy. "So, Harry. Ready to tell the public the truth?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably at her gaze. "Yeah, I guess so."

The Granger girl sat back as if all her work was done. No, it was far from it but Calypso didn't bother mentioning it at the moment. "Fire away, Rita," Hermione told her.

So it began.

✦

WHEN THE INTERVIEW was over and they left the Three Broomsticks, Harry and Hermione went to join Ron to look around Hogsmeade some more whereas Luna wandered away and Calypso headed back to the castle. There was no other reason for her to stay around the small village, her friends were on a date and there was no reason to disturb them.

While she loved that they had finally gotten together after dancing around their feelings for over a year (and over a year too long in Calypso's opinion), she couldn't help but feel left out now. Where before they would always break apart when things got too comfortable an include Calypso back into the conversation, they reveled in those moments and they multiplied, leaving Calypso to shift and cough to gain back their attention.

She was left out of the equation and it felt terribly lonely. Of course, she hated that she felt this way and wished that she could just be happy for them without the feeling, but that was not how it happened and she was just alone.

Turning around the corner, she went into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom for a moment maybe to let some tears fall. It had been a while since she had a good cry and her mother always said it was necessary. But, when she got in there, she heard the unmistakable sound of sniffles as the person in the bathroom tried to cover up their sounds.

Calypso frowned, sad for the person who had the same idea as them, looking around more to the other side of the sinks before uttering, "Cho?"

The said girl looked up and Calypso could see the tear streaks on her face as her cheeks puffed out and her eyes held red. Still, she cracked a small smile. "Hey, Calypso..."

Immediately, she sat down to take a closer look at her old friend, care taking over her. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Cho shook her head, waving off the matter. "It's nothing, nothing really. I just – it's fine," she tried to say but her voice cracked in the middle.

Calypso's frown deepened as her concern for the girl did too. "No, it's not. Come on, you can tell me what happened. I'm here for you," just like old times, but she didn't say that part.

It made her heart clench to think about how she had lost contact with Cho. How the quiet girl she once considered one of her greatest friends became such a stranger to her. How she didn't even think very often about her or Angelina...

It was sad. She once cared so deeply for Cho and loved her so much and now she had barely spoken to the girl in two years. A conversation here or there, ones that cut deep and others that proved just how Cho still cared for her as well. Yet, now there were here; sitting on the floor of a bathroom as Cho cried and Calypso didn't know why. How the times had come and gone, changing endlessly.

Cho sniffled but it was easy to see the tears swelling up in her eyes again. "I just, I had a date with Harry today," she started off and Calypso didn't know how to respond to that.

"Um, isn't that good? Didn't you go the Yule Ball with him last year?" Calypso asked, trying to remember even though she tried so hard to forget that night even existed. She was such a fool back then.

"I did, yeah. And I thought – I thought the date would be good. I mean, we kissed before Christmas break and I was so happy," Cho choked up, "But then, I just – we went on the date and it ended horribly."

Calypso frowned again. Harry didn't look distraught at all when she saw him at the Three Broomsticks, as if he didn't think it as such a travesty as Cho did. She tried to find a way to defend him, using that Cho has always been a more emotional human being, but even that doesn't cover it. She decided that she'd have to ask Harry about it all later.

"What exactly happened?" Calypso had to ask even though she knew it probably wasn't the right thing to say, looking at the current state of the girl before her.

"He was just terrible!" Cho cried then, "I kept trying to tell him something but it was like he would never listen! And-And he never really responded, I couldn't have a conversation with him!"

"Oh, Cho," Calypso said to her sympathetically, "He was just nervous...so he was being really awkward."

Cho nodded at that but still didn't look satisfied, "I just, I was trying so hard and it didn't seem like he cared at all. And I really thought he did, you know? I thought – I thought that I was finally going to have someone. George has Kiara, Marietta has a fling with Cormac McLaggen, and-and Fred is getting close with Sloane..."

"Sloane? As in Sloane Clarke?" Calypso asked, a frown pulling back on her face again.

"Yeah," Cho nodded, "We're sorta friends now, she's nice. Angie doesn't really like her but that's alright. She's been hanging with Alicia lately and has been obsessed with trying to salvage the Quidditch team."

Right, because three players were banned from ever playing Quidditch again. Which, in Calypso's opinion, she didn't have the right to do and it wasn't like she would always know when they played Qudditich. They could be going onto the pitch every night and she would (probably) never know.

Calypso nodded at the information, trying not to think much about Angelina. "Well, that's good for all of them, but I – I understand. Birdie's with Lee now and they're the only thing that exist in each other's world."

"I've seen them together," Cho commented, "They look cute together."

She couldn't help but agree with the compliment, it was true. "Yeah," Calypso slid back to sit beside Cho, back against the sinks, "They are. But it never ends and it's like I'm not even there. Like I don't even matter to them."

Cho frowned, "That's not true, you're Birdie's best friend and Lee's friend too."

Calypso laughed dryly, "Really? Doesn't feel that way sometimes, but it's alright, I guess."

Before she even realized what she was doing, she leaned her head down on Cho's shoulder for comfort. Her mind flashed with memories of doing that before, when they were younger and her uncle hadn't escaped from Azkaban and they had all been friends. The four girls against the world. Oh, how times changed.

Cho didn't say anything about it and leaned her own head against Calypso's. While some things change, others never did.

✦

THE QUIBBLER WAS outlawed at Hogwarts, not that it surprised Calypso since the contents – to Umbridge – were lies. Slander, even. She smirked to herself at that. She had acquired her own copy from Luna soon after the publication hit and she read it with a grin on her face. Some parts, of course, she didn't like because had, of course, briefly mentioned her uncle even though she told him to leave her Uncle Pads out of it.

But whatever, she could work with that. She looked at all the names Harry had listed for the night at the graveyard; the night when Cedric Diggory and Maverick Holloway had died. All of the Death Eaters and her relation to some of them. The Malfoys were there and while she was not close with her younger cousin, she still sympathized with him and wished him and his family well.

She couldn't understand his situation. Her parents were nothing but loving and had brought her up to look at the true facts of a situation, not just someone's word because it was influenced by their opinion on the matter. Draco, however, had been taught to believe everything his parents told him which included that he was superior to everyone and the Dark Lord is good. He has your best interest in heart...liars.

That did not mean she condoned any of his actions at Hogwarts. How he treated Harry and his friends was terrible and if they were closer and Draco didn't sneer down on her family for their separation from the bloodline, she would definitely talk to him about his behavior. However, she wasn't and therefore she let him do as he pleased. It probably wasn't the right attitude for the actions, but she barely even considered him family and he thought of her as a disgrace so she didn't lose sleep over it.

Calypso placed her hair in a ponytail, looking at her reflection in the mirror of the empty room. Her face was fair, the freckles she once proudly showed faded as they did with her father when he was younger. She didn't think much about her appearance since it was just another parallel with her father and she loved it.

The door of her room creaked open and her head turned quickly to see who it was. She wasn't worried if it was something from the D.A., seeing as it meant they would be accompanying her to the meeting that night, but if it wasn't...well. But, then again, Calypso wasn't close with any student that wasn't apart of the D.A.

But it wasn't a student, it was a cat. Calypso suppressed her groan at the sight of him, going to close the door he nudged open. While she loved her Uncle Regulus, and really she did, she didn't want to miss the meeting she was leading to talk with him.

As her back was turned, Regulus transformed from the ginger cat to his grown appearance. She saw the growing beard on his face and couldn't help but say, "Mum would have a field day if she saw your face like that."

Regulus smiled at her, a light in his eyes as he chuckled at his niece. She felt herself relax, always loving the sight of her family being so open. "Well, it's a good thing Remelda's not here right now," he replied.

She shrugged. "Fair enough," she agreed, "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Regulus said with an air that he was going to continue and it wasn't in fact nothing. He moved around, going to her trunk and taking the quills she had left on top, fiddling with them. "Except that I heard something interesting on my way here."

Calypso felt herself tense again. Fuck. "Oh? What?" she still played innocent even though they both knew she was guilty.

He stared at her for a moment before going along with her façade. "They said something interesting about a meeting – oh, what was it about? Yes, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Said that they couldn't wait for what Harry and Calypso had in store," he then paused, "Now, at first I thought I had misheard them. Harry and Calypso? My niece and – practically – nephew leading a club?

"Then, I thought about it some more. It's not that hard to believe, right? You're a lot like Sirius, you know? Such a Gryffindor – that's always been my problem with them. And, of course, Remelda always did defy those attempting to control her after she broke," Regulus continued, "So it makes sense that her daughter would do the same."

"Uncle Regulus –"

He put his hand up to silence her. "But still, I thought, they wouldn't be that reckless, would they? Especially because your position here is so fragile, didn't you say that yourself? And yet, you would engage in this? No, not engage; lead this?"

"Uncle Regulus, please, let me explain," she pleaded moving closer to the man, "I have to."

He stared at her. "Everyone has a choice, Calypso. If I did what I had to, I would be a Death Eater, just as your mother would be. You would never know Sirius and you –"

"Alright, I get it!" Calypso cut him off, "I understand, but I couldn't just not help. I have the advantage here, the others don't. And...and even if it means I might get kicked out, I'm gonna help them."

Regulus softened, a point of understanding in his eyes as he looked at his niece. "Oh, Cal..." he closed the gap between them and gave her a hug, "You're so young..."

"No younger than you when you faked your death," Calypso shot back without heat, arms wrapped around him as well.

He made a noise. "Those were different circumstances and you better not do that, alright?" Regulus took a step back, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to meet his eyes.

She nodded, "I'm not. I like everyone knowing that I'm alive, thank you. But I have to do this."

There was a moment of silence as he searched her face, her eyes, for any hesitation and only finding that she would always stay firm in her word. Even if he told Remelda or Umbridge herself, she would continue to fight. There was no stopping Calypso Hope Black. So, he didn't try.

"Promise me that you'll be careful, alright? I don't want even the possibility of something to happen to you," Regulus firmly told her and Calypso relaxed under his acceptance. Under his understanding for why she would continue to fight even if it was dangerous for her.

"I will," she promised him.

He gave her one last sigh, releasing her shoulders, "What is it with you Gryffindors and placing yourself in danger?"

Calypso went to reply but he had already transformed back into Ginger. She sighed to herself, a fond smile on her face as she opened the door, allowing them both to exit. He went down the hall to where Hermione's room was and she went down the stairs. She had a meeting to attend, after all.

✦

"I SAW THE article," Birdie mentioned as they walked to the Room of Requirement together, "You know, before the ban and everything. It's good. I like it. Finally getting out the truth and everything."

Calypso nodded, "Yeah, it's good that Harry's getting a chance to tell his story."

Birdie made a noise and a silence fell over them before the girl sighed and turned slightly to her friend. "I couldn't help but notice that one big piece of the puzzle was missing."

She thought for a moment about feigning ignorance as she had done with her uncle only minutes before, but she couldn't bring herself to. Birdie already knew the truth, she just wanted confirmation from Calypso, and she honestly didn't feel like lying again.

"Yeah," Calypso agreed, "Harry wanted to talk about him but I told him he couldn't."

"Why?" Birdie asked as they approached the wall where the room was located. "I mean, if it isn't anything too personal."

"It's not. It's just, no one would believe him. Not that I think everyone will believe everything else, either. And associating his name in an article with other Death Eaters...it's not the best look, even if Harry has nothing but praise for him," Calypso told her.

Birdie nodded and didn't say anything else on the matter which Calypso was thankful for. The door appeared for them and they walked in, finding the room empty except for Harry and Ron. The two of them smiled easily at the younger boys and approached them.

"I was thinking Patronus this time," Calypso told Harry, "We've already covered some basic blocking and attack spells, but Patronus is a good spell."

Ron frowned at that, "I didn't know you knew how to cast the charm, Calypso."

The girl shrugged easily. "My dad taught me the year he was teaching here. I never had a reason to use it, though, seeing as when Harry got his chance I was out of commission. Never came up after that."

"I think that's a good idea, but are you sure everyone can get the hang of it? We've got some second years in here and I'm not sure if they're up to it," Birdie offered.

"I got it in my third year," Harry countered.

"Yeah, but you also had an amazing professor who really knew how to teach a class with a lot more experience than either of you," Birdie pointed out before pausing, "Sorry, that's a bit rude, but it's also the truth. I don't know, I just – it might not work for everyone."

Calypso agreed with the notion, nodding but adding, "Well, we can work more personally with those kids and I'm sure that some of the older ones will help them out. We're all here to help each other, right?"

The others nodded at that and it was agreed. More people started to show up until everyone in the group – with a few exceptions – appeared and were ready to learn. Facing them, Calypso and Harry stood tall. She took a glance down at her hand (I WILL NOT SLANDER) and smirked. Maybe Umbridge didn't like the fact she was defying her rules, but what Umbridge didn't know couldn't make her angry.

"Alright," Harry started off, "We're going to be starting with the Patronus spell today. I think we're all advanced enough to at least try today, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't come easily."

"Think of your happiest memory when you cast the spell," Calypso offered, picking up right where he left off, "I'm not talking about a funny joke you or someone else made, I'm talking about what fills you with so much joy every time you think about it. That's the memory you need in mind to be able to cast the spell."

Calypso remembered when she was learning. Her father was so patient with her even though she couldn't just get it and it frustrated her endlessly. Then, as she thought of her mother, a spark appeared. Remelda, her wonderful mother. She thought of when she was younger when Remelda taught her daughter how to ride a bike. The endless laughter and praise that spewed from her mother's mouth. She thought of the voices her mother made when reading to her, she thought of baking with her mother.

Everything was so kind, so completely different than what Calypso knew her mother grew up with. She tried so hard for her daughter and it showed, causing Calypso to love her even more.

And as she thought of the woman, the sparks appeared and Calypso Hope Black had casted a Patronus. She remembered looking back at her father and seeing the proud look on his face as he congratulated her, saying how proud he was of her. Her heart was practically bursting with joy...

Calypso moved around, seeing everyone try and cast the spell. It was hard, maybe too advanced for some of them, but with time and practice Calypso had faith they would get it. Birdie partnered with Lee and had the biggest smile on her face despite being left with only some sparks; the beginning.

Maddox produced none at first and her heart clenched for the girl. And, finally, when she had started to produce something it all fell apart, dying away, and sympathy poured into her because she knew why.

"They're doing good," Calypso commented when she stopped to stand by Harry, peering at everyone.

Harry nodded, "Better than I expected, honestly, some of them are almost there."

No more words were exchanged before Calypso left his side to go spectate near Birdie and Lee. Her eyes wandered to where Cho was with Marietta, softening at the girl who was clearly trying to be happy when all she felt was cold.

It wasn't her day and Calypso didn't think this was helping. Passing just a couple partners away from her was Angelina with Alicia. They had a mirthful look in their eyes, no sleep lost that Cho – Angelina's supposed best friend – had been crying only days before. Calypso tried not to be bitter and twitch with anger at the girl.

Maia was with another boy from Ravenclaw that Calypso didn't know the name of. She seemed fine for the most part even though Calypso knew she had changed. She was different from the girl she was last year, she was changed from the girl she was before Christmas break.

Change was inevitable, Calypso knew that, but she hated that it was attacking Maia this year. She hated even more that Maia was more drawn back than ever before.

Calypso swallowed, diverting her eyes from her cousin. It wouldn't lead to anything good.

Only, everything went to hell when Harry yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!"

She looked around, confused, eyes meeting with Harry's before seeing the house elf near him. She rushed towards the younger boy as others ran for the exit. "What's going on?" she asked the boy.

"You need to go, Umbridge knows and she's coming here," Harry pushed her out, "You can't get caught."

Calypso gulped, rushing more outside. She wanted to stay, to fight back, to be with Harry because if he went down she wanted to go with him. They were a team. But she knew that she would suffer harder consequences for the fall. Both of them knew that. While Harry would suffer, she would be sent away from the school and everyone would know. No one could know.

She caught up with Birdie and ran for the Gryffindor tower, booking it as many others did. They stopped running after a while, not wanting to look too suspicious in front of the paintings, but eventually they all made it to safety.

Most of the Gryffindors went straight up to their room, not wanting to be caught in the common room in case Umbridge accused them of being apart of the D.A. Calypso, however, waited downstairs for everyone to rush in.

Even after everyone was gone, she recounted who she had seen inside before stopping herself. Harry never showed up. She paced the room for what felt like eternity, heart racing. Her mind was going through every piece of information she could, trying to put together a story of how Umbridge could know about the D.A.

But she couldn't. She couldn't think of anything except someone ratting them out (a traitor) or someone overhearing a conversation about the club. Her mouth was dry but she couldn't stop. She knew now that most people would be preparing for bed or already sleeping, trying to cover up their tracks but she stayed outside.

She had to wait, to make sure that Harry was alright. And what felt like an eternity later, Harry walked inside of the common room only to be immediately enveloped into a hug by Calypso.

"Are you alright? What happened? What did she do?" Calypso rushed the questions out like rapid fire. She pulled away took at him, taking in his appearance to judge what happened.

"Someone told her or her protection squad about us," Harry told her, leading her to the couch where the both took a seat, "She got the Ministry involved – they were furious. Wanted to arrest Dumbledore for creating an army to be used against them."

Calypso frowned, "But that's not what it is at all."

"I know, but the Ministry was spinning any lie they could. Fudge always thought of Dumbledore as a threat – it's why Umbridge's here – and how he had the perfect chance to arrest him," Harry said.

"So that's it? Dumbledore's going to Azkaban?" Calyspo asked, dread pooling in her. With him gone, Umbridge would have complete control. There would be no way for the D.A. to continue; there would be way she could still be here. She had to leave, to flee immediately.

Harry shook his head, "No, Dumbledore got away. I don't know where he is, but he escaped. Magic, you know? Fudge is probably sending people to look for him, calling him dangerous and a threat to the wizarding world."

Calypso frowned, processing the information. While she didn't think of Dumbledore as a threat to the wizarding world, she could agree with the notion that he was dangerous. He had a lot of power and many people just waiting to do his bidding; that was a lot of power. After all, he was able to take down Grindelwald. Not just any ordinary wizard could do that.

"Which means Umbridge has control of the school," Calypso concluded, not mentioning her apprehensions about the former Headmaster.

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault at all, Harry," she tried to smile, "I just – I think I need to get some sleep. You too."

He didn't say anything, just nodded his head again and the two of them stood up. "Goodnight, Cal," he told her and she returned the phrase.

Heading upstairs with a heavy heart, she could only think that it was the beginning of the end; one they probably wouldn't come out victorious.

authors note
only two more chapters left in this act!!!

like guys, i am so proud of myself because this is about 5,700 words and it's the longest chapter i've ever written for this book! it took me like a week to write because i've had zero time lately but it's okay because it's so worth it for this end result.

also yes, cho and calypso are mending their friendship because i genuinely love cho and wanna see her happy.

i wanna finish this act by the end of the month so let's hope that i actually have time to write!!