Lounge After Class
The class started with a welcome and ended with reviewing what they studied last year and introducing what charms would be going over this year, the class was concluded and Cale stood up from his seat. “Where are you going Henituse?” Draco called out to Cale who was heading for the greenhouses, “I’m picking up Choi han” Draco scrunched his face up but shook his head.
“Why should you need to pick up… Choi was it?” Cale nodded, “Yes, and do I need to remind you he isn’t as familiar with this castle as you’ve been for the last 2 years?” Draco looked back to his group of Slytherins who followed him usually before looking back at Cale, “I overlooked that… then you’re in the same boat so I will accompany you” Draco smirked proudly.
He found a way to stay by Cale with a plausible reason, “Well then lead the way to the greenhouse” Draco nodded and turned to his group who seemingly waited for him. “I’ll catch up later, you all go on without me” The group murmured for a moment, and specifically Pansy seemed to be gritting her teeth and turning away leaving the group to their lonesome.
The rest of the group turned to Pansy and then turned back to Draco, “Yes we’ll see you soon” they respectfully said as they agreed to leave. Once they left Draco paused for a moment before taking Cale’s hand, “I’ll guide you to the greenhouse now” Draco puffed out his chest in pride.
Internally Draco was encouraging himself to be able to do something so bold, Cale was amused by him so he let him take his hand. “Henituse I have a question for you…” Cale blinked back as he reruns what Draco had said to him, “What is it Doll?” Cale unconsciously called Draco that nickname so easily.
It kind of scared him, was he supposed to feel this comfortable? It was supposed to be teasing the boy, not whatever… what he was doing. Maybe it wasn’t bad, “Well- please don’t call me that especially outside of the dormitory…” Draco whispered as he squeezed Cale’s hand, “My apologies. Go on” Cale mentally thanked Draco for putting some boundaries between them so he doesn’t have to have this debate with himself.
While with Draco he felt that Cale seemed upset with him and was giving him the cold shoulder for not accepting his embarrassing nickname. He felt like he just burnt an important essay in transfigurations due in an hour and the dread just settled in. “I was going to ask how you knew where you were going at first since you are new as well…” Draco had a twine of pathetic.
Cale doesn’t catch it, “Well I got a map and memorized it, I can only hope that it was genuine.” Draco furrowed his brow in confusion, “A map? I wasn’t aware that the staff offered maps to transfer students” Cale noticed that instead the stiff form that Draco adapted before was melted away as he looked back to Cale.
“No, I was given a drawn map and memories it” Cale noticed that they were almost to the greenhouse and discreditably released his hand from Draco’s. “You MEMORIED the entire castle…?” Draco looked at Cale he just said something disturbing and impressive, it was like Cale just said he could he took on a mermaid on land which would insinuate that the fight was unfair.
“Of course, my memory is what some would say impressive” Cale wanted to drop this questioning, he didn’t want to reveal his hand just yet. He had to keep his abilities on the down low to Albus and Tom, he didn’t need either trying to foil his plans of gathering the parts of Tom’s soul. He didn’t want either side to get ideas and try to pull him from one side to the other when it really didn’t make a difference.
Blood on both sides ran the same just for different reasons, and he wanted none of it. Draco stared at him in awe, “Henitus-” Before he could say anything a call interrupted him, “Cale-nim!” “Weak human!”
They both called and ran up to him and stopped in front of him as Raon jumped up and into Cale arms and almost fell. “Raon don’t do that…” Raon smiled up at him and meowed as he pawed at him, “Okay I will since you’re so weak, weak human!” Cale’s brow twitched at his insinuation but shook his head and let out an exasperated chuckle.
“Hello Choi han and Raon, how was class?” Cale smiled at them and took a step toward Choi han, “Yes Cale-nim, then shall we head to dinner?” Choi han held out his hand and arm as a gentleman would do for a lady, Cale stared at him for a second as he heard Raon whisper ‘Take it human!’ in his ears as the cat jumped down from his arms. Was this something he learned from a student?
Maybe a Hufflepuff passed on some pureblood knowledge to Choi han, it couldn’t help but admit that it was amusing to see and a little nostalgic. Nobility’s manners and none of the judgment, what were the kids going to do? Gossip? As if he would take anything from children no older than 17 and undeveloped brains seriously, he might actually find it entertaining.
Cale took Choi han’s arm and got comfortable, with the expensive robes and Choi han’s build it made for a nice headrest. Cale then remembered Draco’s presence who was politely standing away from them with an unsure smile. “Oh my apologies Draco, we’ll be on our way thank you for escorting me to the greenhouse” Cale bowed his head and smiled softly as Choi han took that as a sign to leave for the great hall.
“It’s fine… have a good meal.” Draco said as they walked away leaving him there, Draco would have to explain himself later. Maybe he could find Cale after dinner. Cale and Choi han left Draco to himself as they walked, “Cale-nim do we have to go to the hall for dinner? It’s not that I… dislike our- my dormmates but I would rather only see them when necessary…” Cale huffed in amusement.
Was Choi han really this uncomfortable with children? Maybe it was the fact that they had a weird culture that was based on racism and very loud about it and very uncaring about it, should he whisk Choi han away when they have breaks in between classes? Cale leaned his head on Choi han’s shoulder as felt Raon walking by their feet.
“Of course. We’ll head to the kitchen then, that’s just simpler” Choi han smiled at Cale brightly, “Perfect! I’m pretty sure I know where it is, Cale-nim!” Choi han took the lead as he headed towards the stairs and down a hall with the same painting of the fruit bowl and looked at Cale.
“What did you do again to enter Cale-nim? I forgot…” Choi han gleaned away in shame but Cale only sighed quietly and went up with Choi han to show him how to do it. “Look,” Cale lifts his unhooked arm to the painting as he tickles the pear and it opens swiftly. “See?” Cale lazily smiled up at Choi han who quickly nodded.
Raon went first jumping in and running into the kitchen, “Oh there goes Raon” Choi han quickly said in the spur of the moment and then looked to Cale, “Shall we go Cale-nim?” Cale nodded. “Yes let’s go” They both walked in as silverware and porcelain tableware rested on the table. “Nissi?” Cale called out letting go of Choi han’s arm and wandering away from Choi han’s side and towards the table, “Nissi is heres!” Nissi had popped in front of them and in a polite stiff posture.
“Hello Nissi we’re here for dinner you see I want something filling, I am quite hungry” Cale smiled softly at her and she nodded, “Come this way” Nissi led them to the tables where Raon was seated on top of the tale waiting for the food to arrive.
“Hurry weak human hurry!” Raon practically begged as Cale chuckled at Raon’s form meowing for attention. “We’re coming we’re coming,” Cale could tell Choi han was smiling behind him holding back a laugh, they got settled down quickly as Raon hopped onto Cale’s lap.
“What are we having? What are we eating? Is it steak? I hope it's steak-” Raon was rambling to Cale and Choi han who was unable to stop him physically so Cale decided to try. “What are we having for dinner Nissi? Maybe steak? Or soemthing similar?” Raon bounced in his lap as he waited for her response.
“Yes, Nissi thinks steak is parts of the meal for yous students” Nissi then popped away and soon their food came presented on their table with a wide spread of vegetables, meats, and grains. The scent of freshly baked bread caught Cale’s attention first and cut it into a few pieces and took a bite, he instantly hummed at the taste.
“Hmmm,” Cale’s face brightened as he took another bite, “Human! I want some I want some! It looks good! Can I have some!” Cale gave a small nod as he broke off a small piece of bread from the one he ate and put it on the empty space next to him and Raon instantly jumped down to get a piece of bread.
Cale giggled a little at Raon’s childish nature but just petted Raon who contently purred in comfort as he curled a little closer to his person. Cale soon felt Choi han’s eyes on him and he slowly turned to him to see him giving him the biggest puppy eyes he could muster practically begging for what? His bread.
Cale for the most part was, confused. What the hell would Choi han want his bread? Hell if he’d know. Cale eyed his bread before slowly taking it and moving slowly offering the bread to Choi han with a questioning gaze, Choi han lit up at Cale as he carefully took it as if it was a grand gift.
Cale squinted at Choi han’s expression before brushing it off and continuing his meal, though they did not finish the spread with the 2 of them (plus Raon but he just barely counts). They finished the meal that looked just as good as it tasted, “Thank you for all your hard work” Nissi preened and bowed, “Of course. Now goes, goes!”
Cale smiles and stands up, “Have a good night!” Cale waves as he leaves and Choi han bows to the house elves and quietly says, “Good night…” Raon meows enthusiastically as he runs along with Cale and Choi han. Cale was grateful that dinner didn’t take so long and had to be bothered with having to keep up the appearance of a Slytherin student.
Trying to not be in the way was difficult and antagonistic was hard enough as it was since there was something Cale wanted to show Choi han before lights out. Dinner was nice and quick, they left after 30 minutes and they left, “Cale-nim have you looked in your other suitcase?” Choi han seemed to be on the same wavelength as him and he shook his head.
“No, I was actually going to ask you the same would you like to look through our things together?” Cale tilted his heal inquiry as Choi han flushed a little but quickly nodded, “Yes Cale-nim! I’ll go get mine where shall we meet?” Cale thinks momentarily before replying, “You know where the ast- no never mind. You wait for me near my dormitory and then I will follow you”
Cale forgot that Choi han wasn’t as knowledgeable about the castle as Cale was so he decided to get his things and then get Choi han’s then head to the astronomy wing. “Okay Cale-nim!” Cale and Choi han headed down the stairs and to the dungeons, “This is where Cale-nim sleeps…?” Choi han looked around with his brow furrowed.
He was obviously displeased with Cale’s living conditions but Cale raised a brow, “No I live in the dorm on this floor, don’t worry I barely feel the cold down here.” Cale assured Choi han who looked at him skeptically but Cale stopped which caused him to stop as well, “Cale-nim?” Choi han tilted his head as Cale stopped.
“This is where my dorm is, stay here and do not talk to anyone. Okay?” Cale didn’t want Choi han to be spouting anything to any of the Slytherins that could out them or be manipulated. Choi han was naive and he could let him off on his own with the same breeds of manipulators as him, he could admit it he was trash and an orchestrator.
And that was completely fine with him. “Yes Cale-nim.” Choi han nodded firmly as Cale walked toward the entrance and whispered the password as it opened. Raon tried to follow behind him but he gently pushed Raon away with his foot and Raon quickly looked up and begged with his eyes.
Cale sighed and shook his head, “No no, Raon… I’ll be quick now you stay” Raon almost seemed to pout, “Fine! You better hurry weak human!” Raon sniffed as he sat on the ground for a second before going to Choi han and leaning on his foot to sulk. Cale sighed at Raon’s antics and stared for a moment before saying, “Choi han take care of him would you?”
Choi han smiled and shrugged, “Of course Cale-nin no need to worry about him” Cale sighed and nodded, “If anything happens the password for the dorm is Serpent.” Choi han waved his hand, “I will now go Cale-nim we will be fine” Choi han smiled as Cale hung his head and sighed before going in.
Cale didn’t want this to take up too much of his time so he quickly sped and walked into his dorm to be met with Theodore Nott who glanced up from his book to stare at Cale, “You didn’t go to dinner” Nott said as a solid fact.
There was no space for negotiation and Cale didn’t need to, he wasn’t a child that sputtered when caught in a simple fact. “Yes, I did, if you wanted to see me you could’ve just asked dear,” Cale thought it was endearing to see Theodore try to be a true Slytherin which is very smart.
Unfortunately if only it wasn’t Cale he was trying with this trick he probably would have succeeded. “What-” Cale took this chance to tap both trunks and tuck the shrunk trunks into his pockets as he leaped forward to lean over Theo inches apart, “It’d be nice to keep this between us right?” Cale didn’t need rumors about him going around even more than they probably are.
Theo dumbly nodded as he flushed and Cale stepped away with a small smile, “That’s a good boy” Theo sputtered as Cale sped and walked with an elegant air out of the dorm. Theo buried his face into his book as he glanced up at the fleeting burning blood-red hair that quickly disappeared.
Cale glanced around as he walked to the entrance to see only one or two students in the common room which he was grateful for. He walked out to see Choi han holding Raon in his arms and raised his head to look at Cale in his eyes and he instantly brightened. “Cale-nim! We go to my dorm now?” Cale nodded, “Yes. Now it’s your turn to lead me”
Cale smiled as Choi han nodded and smiled, Choi han took off up the many stairs of the castle as they made it to the Gryffindor tower. “Cale-nim would you like to come inside?” Choi han tilted his head like a puppy but Cale didn’t want to be hounded by prideful Gryffindor so he would rather stay outside for Choi han.
He almost pouted at Cale but nodded, “You know how to shrink your trunk right?” Choi han paused before shaking his head, “Okay use your wand and focus your mana into your wand and simply tap them and they’ll shrink, look” Cale took out his trunk and placed it on the floor and took out his own wand.
He did as he said and showed Choi han, “Ah thank you Cale-nim I will keep it in mind” Choi han nodded as he headed into the dormitory leaving Cale outside. Once the entrance closed the painting looked at him skeptically, “I never thought I would see a snake and a lion in the same click…” Cale raised his brow at the Fat lady but just sighed.
“He’s in servitude to me for a few years that’s all…” Cale said off-handedly and rolled his eyes as he waved his hand, “You’re quite young to have a human being as a servant…” Cale was thinking that the Fat lady was judging him but he really wanted to leave. He started fidgeting with his hands, rubbing his fingers together and tapping his foot.
What the **** is she insinuating?
What’s her problem?
Sob… don’t- don’t let it get to you, Cale…
I don’t like her.
What can she do? She’s a ******* painting what is she going to do?
Ignore her, do not engage. It will only cause more problems.
That spread was good…
Hush you glutton.
How rude. Hmft.
Just tell her off, she doesn’t need to know a damn thing about you.
Yeah, don’t give her ****!
How disrespectful of her to be asking such personal questions.
Shame on her!
Cale relaxed slightly at the ancient powers’ intervention, it was even comforting since they were being quiet most of the day. Cale sighed as he looked back up at the Fat lady with a blank expression, “It’s quite disrespectful to be asking an underage boy his business. I do not owe you an answer, I owe you nothing.”
Cale glared at the pretentious painting of the Fat lady who seemed to pale at that moment. She was about to speak with a pitiful expression before the entrance opened with Choi han and Raon bursting out and spotting Cale in an instant before running towards Cale with a bright smile, “Cale-nim!” “Human!”
Raon jumped down from Choi han’s shoulder and rubbed his body on Cale’s legs while purring and Choi han practically buzzed in place in front of Cale as he waited to be noticed, “You have everything Choi han?” Cale picked up Raon as he asked Choi han who nodded.
Cale hummed and took the lead in heading toward their destination, “Where will we be going Cale-nim?” Choi han asked as he caught up next to Cale, “We’re heading to the astronomy tower but not for that class” Cale said as they crossed a bridge to the other part of the castle. Choi han was about to open his mouth to speak but paused and after a moment then asked.
“What’s in the astronomy tower Cale-nim-? Well, besides the class that is there. Is there a space appropriate or private for us to look into everything that our family has sent us?” Cale hummed as they continued down the hall that seemed to have passed before and smiled, “Yes I wanted a lounge for us. A nice and large lounge” Cale continued to walk and a door seemingly appeared to their left.
“I knew this wall was fishy human! What is this weak human? The magic here is different… it feels weird! But not bad weird…” Raon said as Cale walked towards the door that seemed to want to open, “A lounge” Cale opened the double doors that gladly opened swiftly.
The magic buzzed in the air that greeted them all and when the doors opened it revealed a grand room with intricate gold carvings while the ceiling had a grand painting that looked to be of beautiful vibrant watercolors that seemed to be done a few hours ago.
In the middle of the room was a long mahogany wooden table with legs at the ends of the table, a tablecloth was draped over the table that had beautiful designs with flowers and vines that complimented the dark mahogany wood. Around the table were two couches of red and velvet fabric and pillows that covered the couches.
Then to the side of the couches was a sole chair that was at the head of the wooden table, under everything were rugs of a lighter red with gold touches that seemed soft to the touch and smooth edges. In the middle of the mahogany table was a vase with gold vine designs, in the vase was overflowing with white wisteria flowers overflowing from the vase.
Right above the vase was a chandelier of gold with candles burning brightly like a halo above the lounge. Candles on the walls and in between the couch side tables, “What is this Cale-nim…?” Cale strides forward into the room and sits down on the velvet couch with plush pillows.
Cale turned to Choi han and smiled, “A comfortable and lavish lounge for 3, now sit down you two” Choi han nodded as Raon sprinted towards Cale. Raon ignored the sole chair that seemed made for him and instead jumped on the couch and got comfortable on a velvet pillow next to Cale.
Choi han smiled softly as Choi han took the other couch the opposite of Cale, “Let’s see what our family got for us Cale-nim” Choi han smiled up at Cale and Cale nodded. “Yes, let’s do that” They both reached into their pockets and put the shrunk trunks on the mahogany table. They tap their wands and they turn into their original sizes.
Both pairs of trunks were laid on the mahogany table and Choi han looked up to Cale as if asking permission, Cale blandly said. “Open it Choi han…” Cale opened one of his trunks and was greeted by expensive clothes that he knew Ron would pack in for him. He took out a stack of his clothes and put them to his side and dug deeper in the trunk to find what the God of Death was mentioning.
The deeper he dug in mountains of uniform clothes, casual clothes, and winter clothes and he felt something getting closer to the bottom so he continued until he found a large satchel filled with mana stones. “YES!” Cale was pretty sure it was Rosaline who put them in here, but he was grateful either way.
Choi han looked at Cale with a raised brow, “What is with all the mana around you Cale-nim?” Choi han looked visibly confused and Cale was not absolutely sure how he knew (which definitely had to do with being given the mana of a dragon) that he had mana stones and there wasn’t any reason to lie so he said it.
“Rosaline gave us mana stones,” Cale said with a grin as he took out one and raised it in front of Choi han who looked enamored with it, Choi han inched closer before looking at Cale who dropped it in his hand, “Did you find anything Choi han?”
Choi han smiled and hurriedly dug into his trunk and pulled out an array of spears, swords, mallets, a bow, and more. Choi han held them all up proudly as he stated, “Weapons” Cale blinked there unmoved for what felt like moments and years at the same time.
“Human! Human! Can I have a mana stone too!?” Cale was so thankful for Raon at that second and turned his attention to Raon, “Of course Raon here” Cale took a stone from the satchel and gave it to Raon who meowed in excitement as he messed with the mana stone.
“Cale-nim I found a large compartment with a lot of books, I’m thinking it's for school?” Cale nodded and thinking he found everything he could find moved onto the other trunk on the mahogany table and opened it. Cale flinched almost violently as he opened the trunk which caught Choi han’s attention and went over to Cale, “Cale-nim are you okay-!”
Choi han and Cale blinked at the trunk before saying, “Cale-nim are suitcases in this world able to do that?” Cale shook his head slowly in a very firm no.