06. Yellow Flowers
Calliope let out a discreet giggle as she gently fell onto her bed in the Hufflepuff girls' dormitory, hugging the soft pillow before letting her eyes wander over the ceiling. Everything was so beautiful.
The House's common room revealed itself as a warm refuge, a cozy extension near the kitchen. The walls, in soft shades of yellow and black, came alive with the yellowish lighting from lights delicately hanging from the ceiling. Wide seats with comfortable arms formed inviting circles, creating ideal spaces for gatherings among friends. The soft carpet, where the Hufflepuff emblem rested, made Calliope hold back from lying on it and feeling its softness, but prefect Gabriel Truman pointed the way to the dormitory before she could succumb to the tempting comfort.
There were also plants carefully placed in corners and shelves, adding a quiet vitality, and Lovegood could hardly wait to talk to them, as it would make them happy and grow even more. The crackling fire in the center of the room provided warmth, adding a gentle soundtrack to the atmosphere.
Upon reaching the dormitory, the charm only intensified. Shades of yellow and black embraced the walls and tapestries, creating a serene atmosphere. The beds, arranged in circles, offered duvets and pillows adorned with the Hufflepuff symbol. Delicate curtains allowed for privacy when needed, while the built-in shelves accommodated personal belongings. Small firefly-shaped lamps scattered a delicate light, completing the enchanting scene of the girls' dormitory.
The girl, still enthusiastic, got up to take off her uniform. Although sleeping in her clothes was tempting, she wanted to be as presentable as possible for her first classes.
After putting on light clothes, she sat on the duvet and began to untangle her golden hair, where small flowers had been skillfully placed.
“Do you need help?” one of the girls in the dormitory offered kindly.
“Oh, how kind! I would love that,” she smiled broadly at the girl in front of her, who sat down next to her. The other girl had delicate hands and nails in a light shade of blue. “I’m Calliope Artemis Lovegood!”
“Wendy Rutherford,” the other responded with an adorable smile. “There you go!” she finished releasing the strands that fell over Lovegood’s shoulders, some over her beautiful blue eyes.
“Thank you, Wendy!” she said with a giggle, swinging her now bare feet and throwing herself back against the mattress.
Gwendolyn had chosen the bed next to hers, allowing them to whisper about their new home even after the others had turned off their lights.
“Hey, Wendy, have you ever read The Quibbler?” she asked with a touch of excitement, but received no response.
Sitting up, Lovegood noticed that the other girl had fallen asleep, and with a caring look, she got up to cover her and turn off her lamp.
“Sweet dreams, may they be happy and keep the Wrackspurts away... new friend.”
[...]
September 2nd, Monday.
The curtain opened, and Wendy smiled at Calliope, who responded with a sparkle in her eyes that made it seem as if a ray of sunshine had decided to camp out on her face.
"Good morning, Calliope," greeted Wendy, already dressed in the uniform with the Hufflepuff emblem.
"Good morning!" Calliope returned cheerfully, lovingly closing the envelope that contained her letter. Although she didn't have her own owl, she knew she could soon use her father's when he wrote to her, which certainly wouldn't take long. "What is that?" Calliope pointed to the shelf where Wendy was placing a small frame, tilting her head gently towards her shoulder.
"Oh, it's a photograph of my brother."
She rose gracefully when Wendy invited her to take a closer look at the picture.
"How peculiar... why doesn't it move? Did you color it yourself? How interesting, it looks so vivid!"
"Um, no, it's just... a normal colored photograph? It's common for Muggles."
"Oh, are you a Muggle-born?" Calliope asked, with no malice in her tone, only genuine curiosity. "How interesting! Tell me, what do you call that, um, postman?"
And so, the day began. Calliope made sure to feed her black cat, Jude, before leaving, and soon the two were crossing corridors and stairs that, unexpectedly, seemed to move, to the sound of laughter and conversations from the first students leaving their common rooms. Having the advantage of waking up early, they could afford to be late for breakfast without hurry. Occasionally, they stopped to exchange ideas with the portraits, asking for directions and diving into fascinating stories. Calliope, in particular, found herself genuinely interested in discovering what had inspired Barnabas the Barmy to try teaching trolls ballet.
Later, during breakfast, Calliope was thrilled with the buzz at the tables; Hogwarts was undeniably full of life.
She was enjoying her breakfast when something unusual caught her attention. A small frog, in shades of green and with curious eyes, sat near the edge of the Hufflepuff table. Instead of surprise or disgust, the golden-haired girl let out an excited laugh.
"Hello, little friend! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, leaning closer to the frog. Gently, she extended her hand, allowing the little amphibian to settle on her palm.
Her peers watched, some with curious expressions, as Calliope talked to the frog as if it were an old friend.
"It must have an owner, right? Where's your wizard or witch, dear?" she asked with a loving smile. The search for the frog's owner became a joyful mission for Calliope, who kept the little creature close as she moved around the table, asking her fellow Hufflepuffs if they recognized the small green adventurer.
"Slimer! There you are, buddy! Where did you wander off to?"
"Oh, you must be the lucky owner of this charming little frog!" Calliope expressed a warm smile upon finding the boy in front of her. His red hair shone as if capturing the natural light of the hall, and his light amber eyes seemed almost golden, highlighted by the freckles that dotted his face.
"That's right, he just jumped off my head and went... well, I don't know where he went, but he went that way."
The blonde let out a light laugh, rising on her tiptoes to gently place the amphibian back onto the boy's red hair, almost like a crown.
"There, back to your post. Does he always stay there?"
"Always! He loves the view and, I think, the breeze too."
"Ah, that makes total sense," she replied, petting the pet. "Slimer, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"A great name. Unlike reptiles, amphibians have moist skin and tend to be a bit sticky."
"I thought he was special…" the boy seemed disappointed, the sparkle in his eyes dimming suddenly with the information.
"But he is, of course he is!" the girl quickly assured, not wanting to hurt the redhead or his little animal. "I'm sure the pattern of spots on his skin is unique!"
"Actually, I thought could see the future... I named him that before realizing he was slimy!"
"I like divination," she admitted.
"I don't, but I thought it was cool to possibly know what was going to happen next."
"Um... Calliope Artemis Lovegood," she introduced herself, extending her hand kindly.
"Kurt Wilson!"
It seemed she already had something to add to her next letter.
[...]
The first Herbology class arrived early in the morning, filling Calliope's heart with joy.
Greenhouse Three presented itself as a sanctuary of greenery and vitality, a space where magical plants blossomed and students explored the secrets of magical flora. The diversity of species there greatly surpassed that of the Lovegood garden but maintained the same pleasant smell, an explosion of herbal aromas that created a rejuvenating atmosphere.
The blonde girl attentively observed every detail; the walls of the greenhouse were covered with lush climbing plants, while the glass ceiling allowed natural light to bathe the rows of work tables. On each table, students found a variety of tools, such as magical shears, enchanted watering cans, and special fertilizers, ready to assist in practical lessons.
Various flowerbeds spread throughout the greenhouse housed a wide range of magical plants, and the girl could bet that some would be used in Potions classes. Some of them displayed bright flowers, while others emitted soft magical sparks at the touch, eliciting giggles from her.
Next to Calliope, her classmate, Gwendolyn, shared the same enchantment in the presence of the botanical wonders. The two, curious and excited, clung to every word spoken by Professor Sprout, who lovingly explained the peculiarities of each plant.
As they advanced through the greenhouse, the students uncovered the secrets of the magical nature, absorbing knowledge like enchanted sponges. The atmosphere pulsed with the energy of nature, while Calliope gently touched the leaves of an enchanted plant that responded with a soft murmur. The harmony between the blonde and the plants seemed natural, as if she shared a special connection with the green world, and the girl knew that by the end of the lesson, she would feel renewed, as if she had absorbed the very essence of Greenhouse Three.
"Alright," Sprout announced with a gentle smile, "let's pair up for an exercise, shall we?"
The professor moved through the rows, pairing up the students, and Calliope felt her heart light up when she saw that Wendy and Kurt, her new friends, were blessed by the chance to be paired together, with Slimer peeking curiously through the boy's red hair.
"Hello, miss, it seems I'll have the pleasure of accompanying you in this delightful activity," a voice with a distinct accent sounded next to her, and the girl gave a small jump.
"Oh! Oh, hello!" she laughed, while the boy in front of her deeply apologized for startling her. "It's alright, I was just distracted."
The boy radiated an elegance that seemed almost ethereal. He had long, white, silky hair that fell gracefully over the Hufflepuff uniform.
His red eyes, shining like rubies, possessed an intensity that captivated, and his posture, despite being tall for his age, was impeccable.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself," he extended his hand, which Calliope promptly took, but to her surprise, the albino brought it to his lips. "I am Damian Smethwyck."
The gesture, which seemed to come straight out of a fairy tale, left Calliope momentarily speechless. Her expression was a mix of surprise and enchantment, and she couldn't help but blush slightly at the unexpected courtesy.
"Calliope Lovegood. It's a pleasure, Damian," she finally managed to respond, with a captivating smile.
Damian smiled back, a warm smile that softened the initial formality. Together, they began working on the exercise proposed by Professor Sprout. The task involved the cultivation of a peculiar magical plant.
As they handled the soil and tended to the plant, Damian shared stories about his family, an ancient lineage of wizards, and his German ancestry. Calliope, in turn, spoke about her father's articles in The Quibbler.
When the class ended, Sprout praised the pairs' performance, and Calliope realized that the experience, besides cultivating a magical plant, had also planted a seed of friendship between her and Damian.
As they said their goodbyes, Damian once again gently took Calliope's hand and placed a light kiss on it, maintaining the aura of enchantment that seemed to surround him. The girl, now with a sparkle in her eyes, felt grateful that Slimer had chosen that moment to jump onto Damian's head.