Calira trudged out of the Ravenclaw common room, head hung low. Silent tears dripped down her cheeks as she made her way down to the Hufflepuff common room to get ready for bed. Cali sighed as she entered the common room, sharp hazel eyes bleak and dull. She lowered her gaze as she slogged up the stairway that lead to the girls’ dormitories. As she flopped onto her bed, the tears began to pour down her face, landing on the bed covers. Cali’s shoulders began to shake violently as her sobs echoed through the dorm. Heads turned in her direction, but no one approached her. Cali had a bit of a reputation for being cold and cruel, despite her true self. 

However, one girl dared to approach the weeping figure. The sweet-faced girl with honey-blonde hair and rosy cheeks cautiously walked over to the bed. She smiled warmly as she knelt down next to Calira. The other girls’ eyes widened, but said nothing. Cali turned her head away, shoulders still shaking violently. The girl put her hand on top of Cali’s, squeezing gently. “It’s okay, Calira.” The sobs suddenly stopped. Cali looked up, eyes puffy and red. 

“How do you know my name?” Cali’s mouth was pressed into a thin line. 

The girl’s smile remained. “Everyone knows you. You’re the girl that dared to approach the Slytherin Queen that evening in the Great Hall. No one’s ever had the guts to do that.” The girl blushed slightly. “And… you also have a reputation for being very cruel and merciless.” 

To the girl’s surprise, Cali chuckled slightly. “Well, they aren’t wrong.” 

The girl smiled, relief written all over her sweet face. She squeezed Cali’s hand again. “I’m Faith,” the girl whispered, still smiling. “And I’m here if you want to talk. About anything.” Faith’s coffee-brown eyes were soft and warm as she studied Calira. Cali smiled slightly. 

“Thank you.” She ran a slender hand through her chocolate brown locks, sighing deeply. Soft footsteps approached the bed, and another girl, tall and fair, sat down on the edge of the bed. 

“I’m Bree. You can talk to me too, if you ever need to,” she whispered, smiling broadly. Soon enough, a throng of Hufflepuff girls were crowding around Cali’s bed, listening to her as she explained what had happened and why she was so upset. The girls nodded, occasionally whispering to each other. When Cali finished her tale, Faith raised her hand. 

“Yes Faith?” Cali smiled, giggling slightly. 

Faith’s eyes were open and understanding. “So, you love Jace, but he and Zelie are already together,” Cali’s lips tightened at the name, “and he practically spat on you earlier? Before you came in here?” Cali nodded. Faith cocked her head to the side slightly, thinking. “Well, I think a good solution would be to try to win back his trust somehow.” Faith looked back at Calira, waiting for her thoughts. 

Cali’s brows furrowed. “How would I do that? He would never even let me near him if it weren’t for Zel.” Cali shivered, lips tightening once again at the mention of her little sister. Bree, the tall girl, suddenly straightened, a smile spreading across her fair face. 

“Well, that’s easy! Get back on Zelie’s good side, and then Jace will fall in line.” Bree’s smile spread as the other girls began nodding, Cali among them. 

“That might just work! Then maybe, after Jace can tolerate me, I can make him love me. And then I can finally get what I deserve, and Zelie will be left heartbroken, and I will finally get what I should have had from the very beginning!” Cali laughed, jumping up and running down the stairs to exit the common room “Thank you!” Cali called, the sound of a shutting door following after the smooth voice. The girls exchanged glances. 

Calira Shacklevolt was no Hufflepuff. 

· ┈┈┈┈ ꕥ ┈┈┈┈ ·

Alexander Thornwood was feeling rather smug when his housemates returned from their detention. Nicholas Parker sent a glare in Alec’s direction, but the handsome Slytherin didn’t pay any attention. Alec simply continued reading his new favorite book, The Art of the Dark Arts, his snake curling around his shoulders lovingly. Alec smiled as he put the book down and stood up, winking at Brittany Wendall as he passed her. 

She just sneered at him before turning her attention back to the boy she was currently sitting in the lap of. Alec rolled his eyes, frowning. Brittany was so annoying, it was almost comical. 

Just as Alec was about to leave his common room, a mane of wild red-gold curls appeared in front of him. Jinx looked up at Alec, pine green eyes even greener in the light of the common room. She snarled, making to push past him. “Get out of the way, Thornwood. I’m not in a good mood.” 

Alec smirked as he grabbed her shoulder. “Hey, play nice.” Jinx bared her teeth, but Alec just grinned, winking. He let go of her and swaggered out of the common room, whistling a light tune as he did. 

He and Jinx had gotten off on the wrong foot, to say the least. Alec had accidentally spilled pumpkin juice all over her on the day they arrived, and Jinx had hated him ever since. She had been acting extra crabby lately, though. 

Alec was walking up the stairs, still whistling, when he flew back into the stair rail, knees buckling. “Oh, sorry. Here,” a smooth female voice chimed from beside Alec. A pale, slender hand hovered in front of him. Alec took it, and was helped up. When he looked down slightly to see who had knocked him over, his heart stopped. Stopped, then started again. 

A beautiful girl stood before him, with chocolate brown tresses and sharp hazel eyes. The girl reminded Alec of a queen, beautiful and powerful. The girl looked up at him, lips curled into a faint smile. 

“Um, thanks. Who-what’s you name?” Alec stuttered, trying his best not to slap himself for it. 

The girl giggled slightly. “I’m Calira. But you can call me Cali,” she added with a small wink. 

Alec blinked furiously. “Well, I’m-uh, I’m Alexander. But I prefer Alec.” Alec ran a hand through his golden brown hair, trying his best to impress Calira. 

Cali smiled, fluttering her lashes. “Well, Alec,” Alec tried to contain his grin, “why don’t you come down to the grounds with me?” She began to walk down the stairs, Alec following her like a lovesick puppy. Cali flounced out of the castle, long tresses flowing behind her. Alec’s forest green eyes were bright amidst the evening light. 

As Cali studied the surrounding scenery, goosebumps began to form on her skin. Something wasn’t right. However, she continued to lead Alec through the grounds before stopping in front of a tree. Cali turned to the handsome boy, flashing a small smile. She curled her finger, and Alec strutted over to her, hands in his pockets. 

Cali’s mind was racing. She needed a distraction. She needed to take her mind off of all that was going on in her head and think about something else. Cali twined her hands around Alec’s neck. “So,” she breathed “who are you?”

A corner of Alec’s mouth quirked upward. “I am Diversion and Pleasure, should you want it.” Cali smiled. She brought her lips to Alec’s, soft and sweet. Alec’s mind was racing. He was kissing the most beautiful girl in the school, and she wasn’t shrinking away. When they broke apart, Alec’s breaths were fast, as were Cali’s. She smiled up at him, flirtatious and pleased. Alec wrapped his arm around her waist and guided them both through the grounds. “That was-” Alec struggled to find the right word. 

Cali smirked. “Pleasurable?” Alec chuckled. Cali looked up at the castle, seeing only one light on. Her smile faded as she figured out what room's light was on, and who was in that room. Zelie could be seen reading in the library, no doubt pouring over her favorite fantasy nonsense. Cali school her head, looking back at Alec, to find him staring back at her. She frowned slightly. “What?”

Alec didn’t look away. “You’re gorgeous.” Cali blushed, looking away. Alec looked back ahead of them. “It’s true. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

Cali looked up at the moon, glowing bright amidst the night. “I would take those words back immediately. Before you regret them.” Calira rushed back inside the castle, leaving Alec on the front steps. The poor boy was shocked and confused, but captivated by the mysterious girl, whoSE shoulders would soon collapse if the burden weighing on them was not lifted and shared by someone with as strong a will as she.