Friend/s
There is a saying that only you will know who you truly are. In fact, Cale Weasley believed in it because of how many times his mother kept telling him that whenever he had a nightmare about a vampire-like guy, large monsters, and dark old places.
Cale never knew why she would say that to a child who just had a nightmare, but he knew that she just panicked whenever she saw him cry like that.
Cale was an unusual child who only cried when it was necessary or out of control. He didn't even tell them that he accidentally got caught by a man-eating-mud until they discovered the muddied clothes that he wore.
Anyway, as mentioned, Cale believed in it until the day he remembered something about his past life. Cale Henituse had a wonderful family.
Cale protects and does anything for that family, but he's still trying to convince them that he's just using them for his own selfishness.
Cale wanted to ask himself why, but he didn't bother to. That Cale is just too dense for Cale's liking. Even if he's too intelligent for everyone to handle, according to Glutton, is he still that dense?
However, whenever he keeps telling glutton how dense that guy is, she just retorts with, "Like you're not."
He really is not. They are quite opposite to Glutton's description of him. Unlike how 'Cale' yearns for a lazy life but still sticks his nose in every problem, he will obtain it by having some serenity in mind first.
And for him to obtain it, he needs to have no Annoying, Bothersome, and Troublesome things in his environment.
and he'll start it... tomorrow.
"Are you really Cale?" Cale heard the voice, which may or may not be the reason for him breaking the 'no-ABT policy' today.
He turned back to the owner of the voice. He could already guess who that may be because he never really talks to other people unless they'll be able to raise his fund in the Gringotts.
"Ah yes, who might be you?" He ask. He looked at the person who gasped his hand really hard—or so it seemed for him—and thought it might end up as a bruise later on. platinum-white hair and grey eyes. He really is.
"Draco, Draco Malfoy. You remember my face from last year, right?" Draco asked. Yes, he really is that kid.
He nodded slightly as Draco's smile widened for a second. "I'm glad; I mean, that's good! I thought you wouldn't recognize me at all."
"Your white hair stands out. I remember it well." He meant it. That's mostly what he could remember at that time, even after being known as the child who remembers almost everything.
"Your red hair also stands out! Whenever I look at something red, I remember you. I'm honestly shocked that you're a Weasley. You're shade is clearer red."
"Is that so?"
"Of course! But don't worry, I promise I won't hate Weasley anymore. My father keeps saying they are a bunch of blood traitors, but there's no way, right? That's what you said, right?" Draco keeps shooting him questions, eager to make him agree.
'This kid, I didn't think he took all those things too seriously'
To be honest, Cale was just as excited to have a friend like him that day. One day, he just received a letter from someone, and he didn't think it would be until now.
That's why, when that kid told him that he was a Malfoy, he almost fainted. He never knew his first friend would be the son of his father's enemy, Malfoy.
Instead of stopping sending letters, he bombards him with a lot of advice from his mother and the book he bought, '100 magical ways on how to stop being a bitch' by Shawn Bellford, in desperation that the kid would not end up hating him, which he thinks is a dumb decision.
-That kid, where have I seen him before? I think I'm imagining it, but that kid looks a bit familiar. -
Cale tensed up a little bit. He looked at the person again. "Alright? Something's wrong?" Draco asked.
"Ah, no. I need to use the bathroom." Cale clarified as Draco nodded, then released his arm out of his gasp.
"I'll wait here."
'Don't' Even with different thoughts, Cale gladly went to the toilet and decided to wait here until Draco get bored and leave.
However, minutes have passed, and the kid is still outside. He never knew Draco was this sort of pushover. But, after a while, he got tired of standing, felt guilty, and decided to meet the horror outside the bathroom again when he heard footsteps towards them.
"Draco! I heard that, Harry Potter, that Harry potter is here! I bet he'll be honored to meet you!" A chubby voice called.
"Draco?" Another voice asked after realizing that the person they were talking to was not responding.
"So what?"
"eh?"
"I have something more important to do. It's not like he'll explode if I don't talk to him. However... he..." The voice became so low that Cale couldn't hear it.
"Alright! We'll wait for you at the compartment. " The former chubby voice spoke as Cale heard loud footsteps walking away.
Cale sighed. He thought that it might not be bad to hang out with Draco for a little while.
He opened the bathroom door and saw a glimpse of Draco's eyes. What was that, green? However, he shrugged it off, thinking it was just because of the reflection.
"Done?" He nodded as they both started to walk.
Not far away is Ron, along with Fred and George. They couldn't find Cale around and decided to look all over the train.
They stop after seeing a white-haired kid waiting on the bathroom's door. The door opened as they saw their precious little brother.
Their eyes burned, and immediately, they -
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As Cale and Draco started to walk, Cale felt hands wrapped around him and gasped as they pulled him away from Draco.
He looked at the penetrator and saw his siblings glaring at nowhere (Draco). He wanted to ask why they did that, but remembered that they have dislikes for Malfoys, especially their dad.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked sharply at Draco.
"We are walking." Cale answered, but Ron shut him up. "Shut up, Cale. It is an older brother's business."
"Who are you?" George asked with the same voice as Ron.
Cale, on the other hand, looks at them blankly, asking himself why they would fuss when they don't know that he's a Malfoy.
It might be his other imagination, but a small smirk perks up on Draco's lips, "I... am his FIRST ever mate and may be the last."
'Is he saying I'll never have any friends at Hogwarts?' He asked, gaining another sigh from glutton.
Fred, who's been quiet all this time, spoke, "Yeah.. and is going to be 'was'."
Cale inwardly shudders at the angry tone. Smelling a conflict, he removed Fred's hands from his waist and coughed to catch their attention.
"Are you alright?" The previously sharp tone became gentler.
"Yes. Anyway. Stop glaring at all the people I'm acquainted with. It'll be troublesome." Cale pointed out.
Fred didn't look amused at all. He then looked at his other siblings, who just shook their heads.
"... Alright. But, we'll go now. Leave your little ACQUAINTANCE be with his friends." He said this and snatched Cale's left hand.
"Alright. See you later." Cale waved a hand at Draco, which he returned with a smile.
"A'right, Bye"
After they left the 'scene' George began to complain about how Cale should've told them where he was going and how they searched every compartment to see where he was sleeping (because he usually sleeps at random places when he's sleepy).
"Anyway, you shouldn't acquaint yourself with any Slytherin-like people. Those bunches are sly. I nearly broke my leg last year."
"Broke your leg?"
"Ah, no. I mean nearly. Don' worry." George sweats and turns his gaze upward.
"How'd you know he'd be Slytherin?" Ron asked. He just went along with them earlier, thinking that the boy was bullying his baby brother. which he'll never let happen again.
"Well, 've seen a bunch before. They are all the same. Mostly." George said, barely mentioning 'mostly' because of Cale's glare.
"Oh. I thought you knew that he's a Malfoy." A mistake. Yes. Cale is a human who makes mistakes. That's why-
"A Malfoy?!" Three voices almost broke Cale's ears.
"Ah."
"No! I won't allow it! Do you know what Malfoys are? Those dodgy-full-of-themselves-wizards, they are death eaters!"
"I know but-"
"No buts. Malfoy means he's a Slytherin. Perfect match for crimina-"
"Stop."
Not just the words, but all of their steps stop from the world. It's not because of the word, but because of the look Cale is making right now. It's the first time they've seen him like that right now.
"Stop judging my friend just because he's someone with a bad reputation. Although I understand your point; as far as I know, I have full control over my own opinion, don't I?" Cale asked, not leaving George's squirming eyes.
Cale heard a sigh on his side and felt a hand over his head. He looked at Fred, who forced a smile.
"Sure. We won't stop you from becoming acquainted with him. But make sure to beat him up to death after you've found his dirt, 'kay?" Asked Fred.
Cale smiled slightly. They have always been understanding of him, even though he's mentally older than them.
- You're still our child, Cale. Always. - said Glutton.
'I guess.'
Cale doesn't know when he will regain the memories of his past. However, he knew that when that time comes, not everything will stay the same—not even this. That's why he decided to at least treasure this moment while it lasted.
which may or may not be soon.
"And who knows, maybe I will be at the same house as him." He joked.
"Hahaha. That's not funny." Ron said, letting out a dry laugh.
After some time, they've arrived at Ron and Cale's compartment. They saw Harry Potter with a girl by his side.
George and Fred slammed the door open, startling the two. "Who's that little girl, Harry, your girlfriend?" asked George, looking at them suspiciously with a sly smile.
"No. And, Hermione, Hermione Granger not 'little girl'. You are?" The girl named Hermione asked.
Fred pointed at George with all his palms and said, "He's Fred, and I'm George. You can also call me Fred. But, your choice!" He grinned, with George repeating what he'd said with switched names.
Hermione just looked at them and decided they were idiots, so she turned her gaze to Ron and Cale.
"Um. I'm Ron Weasley. They are Alfred, or Fred, and George Weasley, but you can call them idiots." Ron said, gaining 'hey!' from the twin.
It is now Cale's turn to say his name. However, he's too sleepy to say anything. He'd used all his energy earlier to speak. That's why, he looked at Ron. With their not-so-secret language, Ron began to speak again in his stead.
"He's our youngest brother. Cale Weasley. He's pleased to meet you... maybe." Ron hesitated after seeing Cale's annoyed face.
"He doesn't seem like it."
"His face is always like that, don't mind it."
"Is he.. you know... Mu, I mean, does he have an Aphasia?" asked Hermione, hesitant that she'd tick the hidden bomb.
"Ah, you mean mute? I guess when he's sleepy. He won't say anything at all unless you're ready to create your own Hogwarts." Ron said.
Hermione and Harry couldn't understand what it meant but didn't ask further after seeing Cale glare at nowhere.
"Just let him nap for a few hours, and he'll talk to you then. Just don't wake him up without any sweets to feed him." George handed Harry a bag with pies in it.
"George, Fred, I've been looking for you. Where were you?" Another one appeared. It is the friend of George and Fred who visited their house last month.
"Oh! Jordie! We were looking for Cale. Wella- gotta go!" The twins raced from there, dragging their friend with them.
Then, Cale has finally achieved his heaven called sleep.
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Ancient yet extravagant castle; gloomy, but full of life. Those are just a few impressions the first-year students had of Hogwarts the first time they saw it.
However, to our dearest Cale, who sees beyond beauty, all he can see is a "hunted, full of ghosts and trouble - where he will probably get lost most of the time," huge castle.
And that certain castle will be their 'home' for seven years. Just thinking about it makes him sick.
"Are you alright?" asked a boy behind Cale worriedly. They are currently inside a boat with three people. Cale is in the middle.
"Most likely."
"That answers nothing. Your names, by the way?"
"Cale."
"Cale...?"
"Cale Weasley, Nice to meet you." Cale said, trying not to be rude. He won't want trouble right before entering his misery.
"Nice meeting you too. I'm Anthony Goldstein. You can call me Anthony or whatever you'd like."
"I.. I'm Hannah Abbott. Please call me Hannah." The girl in front of him smiled.
'Hannah' Cale chuckled. It just felt amusing somehow.
- Oh my. She's the exact opposite of our Hannah! They look quite similar, though. Cale, you think so too, right? -
'Maybe.' Although he can't put in why, he knew that the name was his past life's acquaintance.
"Is there something wrong with my name?" asked Hannah, who seemed nervous.
"No, I think it's a beautiful name." Said Cale. He isn't lying about that. His mother said that all names are beautiful in their own way.
"I-I-Is that so? Thank you." Hannah immediately looked in front of her, trying not to appear flustered.
"Ahem. So, is my name beautiful too?" Anthony 'seriously' asked.
"Sure."
The brief answer made the two blondes laugh, which the red-hair smiled at.
"Um.. I don't want to be rude, but... are you a boy or a girl?" The same blond girl asked.
Cale looked at her with, 'why are you asking the obvious' expression, but he still decided to tell them, "I'm a boy. Obviously." He said, pats away his long red hair that is caught on his cheek.
After doing the action, he noticed that the two kept looking at him like they'd seen wings grow on him. He asked, "What?"
"Y-you're a boy?! Well, I shouldn't have judged you based on your feminine appearance, your petite posture, your girlish name, and your angel-like face, but you're a boy? Is this what they are calling a trap?" Anthony ranted.
"Well, my name is actually Mikhael, so I am a boy."
"Oh my angel. I can't believe it. But sex/gender doesn't matter, right? I mean, we can still be friends."
"Yeah. I'd like to be friends with you too." Hannah took out her hands for a handshake.
Both of them accepted it, and the two become his first friends at Hogwarts.
On the other hand, "Achoo!" Draco sneezed out of nowhere.
'There's someone forgetting me.'
"By the way, which house do you think you'll be in? I bet I'll be at Hufflepuff." The topic is brought up by Anthony.
"I hope we'll be housemates. They said I might be a Hufflepuff, too. How about yours, Cale?"
"House.. huh. I want my home."
"We're not talking about your house, Cale. I bet you'll be Ravenclaw, though. Maybe Hufflepuff too."
"Anywhere out of noise and trouble, I guess."
"Well, better not be Slytherin." Anthony casually bubbled.
"Why? Does everyone really hate Slytherin?" Cale asked. Although he knows what's up with that house, they can't be all the same, right?
"Well, they are famous for being, err, you know. But I don't think all of them are that bad." Hannah hesitated but still gave her opinion.
"Ah, no. I'm not against that house—well, maybe a little—but someone I know there keeps telling me how many Slytherins keep bullying them there. So it's better for you not to be there because it's full of trouble." Anthony cleared his throat as Cale nodded slightly.
"Trouble, huh."
- Yeah, Cale. You don't need trouble. All you need is yourself. -
Feeling insulted somehow, he ignored Glutton to keep his innocence.
"Trouble can't stop me from achieving my peace, right?" He smiled.
He looked at the full moon on the water. The field is quiet without acknowledging the noisy children chitchatting around them.
'If trouble happens. I just need to run before it does, right.'
He smiled in satisfaction with his thought. Although it does not seem like that to his boat-mates, who felt iffy after they saw his 'satisfied' smile.