Dark Beauty *Newly Updated Chapters*

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Chapter Eight: Hogwarts Year Two

Dobby had failed once, but perhaps his next attempt would be successful. Calli sighed as she sat in the empty compartment on the train. She knew that only First Years, unknowing ones, would bother to try to sit with her and that was fine with her. She had plenty to think about while she waited for the train to start its journey.

She’d been certain that if Harry thought the Granger girl and the Weasley boy had forgotten about him, that he had no friends to go back to, that he wouldn’t want to go back to Hogwarts. Dobby had told her that Harry said that Hogwarts was his home, that he had to go back. Well that’s how Calli felt about the school and she couldn’t let Harry’s presence ruin the peace of that home. She looked out the window at the Weasleys saying their goodbyes. The youngest boy, Harry’s friend, wasn’t there. She checked again and smiled. Neither was Harry. Unless Dobby’s plan didn’t work and they were already on the train. The smile turned to a worried frown. The plan had to work. Something had to keep Harry from returning to the school. Then maybe whatever her uncle had planned wouldn’t take place.

Calli focused on being optimistic as the train started rolling out of the station. Dobby wouldn’t fail. He’d be sure that Harry didn’t make the train. She didn’t let herself worry about someone helping him get to school some other way.

Professor Severus Snape was gloating. He looked down at the Evening Prophet and felt in his bones the tide shifting. Finally proof that Harry Potter was nothing more than a show off just like his father. Surely when Potter and Weasley showed up on campus, even Dumbledore wouldn’t be able to overlook the flaunting of the Magical Secrecy Decree. He waited in his office for Filch to bring them to him. If nothing else, he’d be able to verbally torture them both until McGonagall and Dumbledore stepped in. He heard something hit the Whomping Willow and smirked to himself. Perfect.

Days later

Calli was worried. Nothing, it would appear, could stop Harry Potter from attending Hogwarts. She’d never guessed that the Weasleys, of all people, would own a flying car. She didn’t have to imagine what the consequence of her ordering Dobby to seal the gateway from Harry did to the Weasley family. She’d heard only too well when the boy, Ron, received the Howler. She felt a little guilty about that, and the fact he broke his wand, but she really wanted Hogwarts to be safe. It was her haven after all.

She set about settling back into the routine of classes and ignoring the rest of the student body. Unfortunately the pug faced girl, Pansy, had decided her in to Draco lay in befriending Calli. She shadowed Calli and tried to talk to her regardless of what she was doing. She’d even followed her to the bathroom. Fortunately Calli was making more progress in controlling her temper, so Pansy still had her facial features in the appropriate places. Although she did let her daydreams bend to all the things she’d like to do to Pansy, including adhering her to a toilet.

Potions was still the most calming of her classes. DADA fast becoming one of the most loathsome. Dumbledore almost made her uncle correct in his assessment that he was an imbecile with the appointment of Gilderoy Lockhart. If she had to take another quiz about his favorite color, scent, and greatest ambition, she might not be able to control her temper and he might find himself bald.

At first it seemed her uncle’s plan had backfired. Then Filch’s cat was petrified. And the messages in blood started. She remembered her uncle telling stories to herself and Draco about the Chamber of Secrets, how he made it sound like purging the castle of “filth” was right. It was dangerous for Muggleborns and what her cousin called Mudbloods. She crinkled her nose at the term. It was so...rude.

She’d watched from the sidelines when Draco made a show at his father’s gift to Slytherin. Honestly, could her family be more repugnant? She saw him use the foul term on Granger and watched as Weasley tried to defend her honor with the broken wand. Pity the curse hadn’t worked. She would have enjoyed watching Draco cough up slugs for awhile. If she’d thought of it at the time, she could have helped make that possible. Unfortunately everyone saw the spell backfire.