I hurried past people of all ages, rushing towards the train platforms 9 and 10, checking my watch every so often. It was 10:56, and I was going to miss the train.

I stopped, right in front of the wall, in between 9 and 10.

[Well, here goes nothing.]

I closed my eyes, tightened my grip on my trolley, and ran into the wall, coming out on another side. Platform 9 3/4.

[No time to admire, it's 10:58, I don't want to miss the train.]

The train let out a high-pitched squeal, and I knew. I pushed past families in order to make it to the doors. A guy was standing there, closing them. "Wait, I need to get on" I call out to him.

He gives me a displeased look, but allows me on, helping me carry my trunk off the trolley. Just as we both got on the train, it started to move. I take my bag from the man and give him a weak smile. "Heh, thanks," I say. I pull my trunk behind me, with an animal cage in my right arm.

[Where to sit, where to sit.]

I manage to find an empty compartment, which I found to be quite odd, but I opened it, and put my trunk in the overhead. I placed my cat, Merlin, in the seat near the window, and then sat next to him. I closed the door and slid farther down the seat. I opened the cat cage and pulled out the lazy cat.

Placing him on my lap, I started to stroke his grey fur.

Moments later I heard a scratching on the window. I look up, surprised, and see and owl outside, flapping to keep up with the train. I stand up to pull the window open, causing merlin to jump off of my lap.

The bird flew in, landed on the table in front of me, and stuck out its leg. I recognized the seal on the parchment at once.

It was a grey wax, stamped with a calligraphy, capital C.

This letter was from my parents and five older sisters who don't leave for school until tomorrow.

I took the letter from the bird and opened it.

Dearest Callisto,

Even though we were against you going to Hogwarts, we do hope that you enjoy yourself, and the school. We are ever so sorry for not having been able to drop you off at the station personally, but your sisters needed to do some last minute school shopping. You understand, don't you?

We wish you the best of luck, even though we know you may not need it, you are a Ceaser after all!

With love and best wishes,

Mum, Dad, and the girls.

I finished reading the letter and crumpled it into a ball. I then tossed that to the floor, leaving it for Merlin to play with. I sighed and shooed the owl out the open window. Once the bird was gone I closed the window once again.

[Of course, the girls had to go shopping today, at that time, I mean they could have gone later...]

I was somewhat upset, but could not blame my parents. I sat in silence for a bit until the door was slid open. I looked up, only to meet eyes with someone far too old to be a student.

This man had a look of utter disgust on his face and black hair that framed it. He wore long black robes and seem to almost emit an aura of hatred and smugness.

"Can I help you?" I ask, giving him a once-over. The man partially rolled his eyes. "I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing in a professor's compartment?" His voice was deep and drawn out, but his tone was obvious; 'get the fuck out of my compartment.'

I gave him a mocking smile, "I was not aware that this compartment belonged to a teacher, there where no other places except for here."

The professor sighed and sat down on the seat across from me.

"What is your name? I assume you're a new student." Said the man as he swatted Merlin away from his lap. "Yes, I am a transfer student from Italy. My name is Callisto Ceaser." I could see the interest in his face as soon as I said my last name, but he didn't push it any farther.

"I am Professor Severus Snape. I am the potions master at Hogwarts." Merlin jumps onto my lap as the professor made his introduction. "Pleasure," I say as I scratch behind the cats ears.

I look out the window, the sky is darker and in the distance, I see a stop.

[Have I really been on the train for that long?]

"Well professor, seeing as we are nearing our stop, I think I should go change if you'll excuse me." I put Merlin on the seat next to me, pull down my trunk and pull out my school uniform. After placing the folded clothes on the table in front of me, I put the trunk back and leave to find a restroom.

I walked for a while, passing many compartments filled with students, some laughing and talking, others sleeping. I reach a restroom. Seeing that it is in fact not in use, I go in and change into my uniform.

After pulling on the last article of clothing, I open the door and walk out, stopped by a girl younger than me with bushy hair. "Oh, sorry," I say as I move to go around her. "It's quite alright. Are you new? You haven't got a house tie on." She talked with a voice filled with curiosity, equally matched with her facial expression.

"Yes, in fact, I am. Callisto Ceaser, you may call me Calli." I put my hand out with a smile. She returned the smile, obviously happy to see that I was being friendly. "Hermione Granger." She said as she shook my hand.

Before Hermione could say anything else, I walked off back to my compartment. Snape was no longer there, and the train had stopped. I put merlin in his cage and grabbed my trunk. I opened the door to the compartment and waited for the last person to leave. I walked out behind the person and got off the train. After walking for a moment I see a place to leave my bags, and I place them next to a black, fancy looking trunk with the name "Malfoy" written in silver.

Tap tap tap. I felt someone tapping on my shoulder.

I turn around to see a giant man with a giant beard. " 'ullo, 're you tha new student? Miss. Ceaser?" He asks, his accent very think. I smile and nod. "Great, you hav'ta follow me." He says, a smile on his face. I followed him to the edge of a lake and see a bunch of eleven-year-olds standing in front of it. On the lake surface was a bunch of boats.

"3 to a boat." Says the man. All the kids jumped at his booming voice but scrambled into the boats. I walked over and got into one of the empty boats, but was soon joined by a small girl. "Hullo." She says in a very small, Irish accent.

"Hi, I'm Calli," I say in the most friendly voice I could muster. The girl smiles, still somewhat scared, but she replies. "I'm Amie." I smile, but then turn and look out at the view as we ride along the water. In the near distance, I see the castle.

[God, that is so beautiful.]

We stop at the shore and get out. We all walk behind the guy to the front doors of the school. He knocked three times and then the door swung open. There stood a woman. She was wearing emerald green robes, and her hair was in a tight bun. "Hello, Hagrid." She greeted. Her voice was strict and serious.

She explained to us about the houses and how points work. "Miss. Ceaser, you are going the wait here, and I will come back to get you after the first years have been sorted." She led the first years out after saying that. I could hear something yelling the four different houses, and people cheering.

After a while, the professor, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, returned and had me follow her into the great hall.

There were 4 long tables and an even longer table at the front. In front of the table in the front, that I deduced to be the professor's table, was a three-legged stool with a very old, patched up, brown, wizard hat.

I sat down on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on my head.

Why hello miss Ceaser.

[You're alive?]

Haha, how did you think I chose your house?

[Honestly, I have no idea, I guess maybe this isn't the weirdest thing ever.]

Of course not, now you have great ambition, much like your grandfather of past.

[Please don't compare me to him, he was an egotistical jerk.]

that he was, but you do have ambition, as well as knowledge. Perhaps...

"Slytherin!"

The hat was taken off my head, and my tie and robes changed. I was now wearing a green and silver tie. I walked over to the table that was cheering and sat down next to a guy that looked the same age as me, then we ate.

He was stunned - the stranger in front of him looked exactly like the girl he'd been dreaming about. For months he had dreamed of this girl, her pointed ears, her dark, long hair, her tanned olive skin, and her eyes. Those eyes, how many times has he starred into them, he wonders. They were wide, and green. As green as the ocean, and as green as the lush forests back in his home country.

"Can i help you?" She asked, her voice demanding and curious. She stood in front of him, left hand on her hip, right hand holding an old wooden broom. The man straightened his jacket, the fabric soft and thin. "What is your name?" He asked her, wondering if she would answer him. She looked at him as though it was a stupid question. "I don’t get called by my name, most people just say 'hey, you.'" She sarcastically replied.

He gave her a questioning look, but before he questioned why, the thought dawned on him. "You're a slave?" He was hesitant, but looking once more at her attire, could tell instantly. She wore rags, brown and thin, thinner than the material he wore. His uniform was thin because of the fabric, and for fashion. His was meant to be worn with layers. Hers on the other hand was thin because it was old and worn, because the thin fabric of hers was cheap.

"What kind of question is that, yes im a slave." She was aggravated, she must have thought he was mocking her. He came into the kitchen, all grace and elegance, asking her, asking an elf in rags, if she was a slave.

"I-i am sorry" He stuttered, his hand flew to the back of his freckled neck, a nervous tick.

She stood there glaring at him, not moving. The door to the kitchens swung open with a slam. There in the doorway was his host, the Great Duke Harthouse. He saw that the girl wasn't doing her job, and he was upset, he huffed, his mustache fluffing out. He glared at her, and she squeaked, and hurried to do her job. The young man turned to look at her, to see her eyes once again but she was already gone.

Harthouse walked over to his guest, taking him by his arm with a gloved hand and guided him towards the sitting room. "I apologize for the girl. She is my most problematic slave. Has no respect. She should be thankful, i took her off the streets as a babe, and all i ask in return is that she sweep my floors. Ungrateful." His words made the young man across from him sick. He disgusted him, but he knew that correcting him would do no good, he was, after all here to get him to ally his forces with his fathers. "No, no im fine." He replied , as they settled down once more to talk politics.

The girl made her way out of the kitchen and quickly headed towards the library, where she knew she would find her friend. Once in the grand room, she made her way up the elegant stairs to the second floor. Weaving in and out of the shelves, she looked for her read headed friend. “Kali!” She called out, knowing it was only them in here at this time. She made her way towards the older tomes, and spotted her friend at the end of a tall shelf, dusting the leather bindings. “Kali, you will not believe what just happened.” She looked up at the older girl and smiled. Kali was 10 years her junior, and they shared a very close bond. Having known each other for quite some time. They had been smuggled into the country on the same boat, and then sold to the Duke at the same time.

“What is it Elvira?” Questioned the red head, as she continued dusting the books. “You know how I have been having those strange dreams ever since I found that book?” Responded Elvira, her voice no less then a whisper. “Yes, I recall you telling me of them. What of it?” Says the Kali. Elvira looked around, as to make sure no one was around to overhear their conversation. “Well do you remember what I said I saw once, the freckled boy with brown eyes? Well, I saw him today. Here!” Kali paused her dusting to look down at the girl. “Here? Like a solder or something? A servant?”

Elvira shakes her head, strands of her dark hair falling into her face. “No, he was a guest of the Dukes. Really regal looking fellow. Asked if I was a slave.” Elvira saw her friends eyes go wide. “El, be careful. You know that dreams like this are usually omens or signs from the mother or father. Just pray it’s the mother who grants you this magic.”

“Yes, I know. I’ll be careful. I should consult that book more before doing anything. He’s still a guest until tomorrow evening.” Kali released most of her worry that was building up, with a sigh. “Anyways, I have to go. I have other chores to attend to.” Elvira smiled at her friend before making her way to the nursery, where she was tasked to help the nurse with the Dukes children.

‘Just a few more hours, then I’m free until sunrise.’ She thought as she quietly made her way through the mansion.

--

He didn't want to go out on such a night but he had to find the girl. He knew that Great Duke Harthouse didnt allow his slaves to sleep in the mansion or even the guest house, they all lived outside the estate. It was pouring, but he used his magic to deflect the rain. He wore clothes much better for trekking through the mud, thick and leather. No longer the satin uniform he was wearing earlier when he first met the girl in person. He couldnt get her out of his mind, it had distracted him this afternoon while he was talking with the duke. The duke of course didnt seem to mind, he was more than willing to continue talking.

He looked around, trying to find the number above the door. He was looking for 765, it was the shabby building that housed the Harthouse slaves and servants. He kept to the walls and shadows, not needing to deal with bandits or smugglers. He gripped the dagger under his coat, and knowing he had more ways than one to protect himself, should the need arise, comforted him.

He continued his trek, until he came across the door he was looking for. It was hard to see at first, as the door was far from the nearest lamp post. But as his eyes adjusted he say the number 765. He gently knocked on the door, not wanting to attract the voices that were closer now. When nobody responded he considered turning back and returning up the roads to the top of the hill were the dukes estate was located. But the feeling in the air changed, and he knew something was wrong, he tried the handle, and found it to be locked. Using a basic unlocking spell, he managed to open it. The long hallway was dark and cold. He held his left hand to the wall and walked a few feet until he saw candle light from inside a room on his right. He stopped and stood silent. Perhaps he had been mistake and nothing was wrong, then he heard it. A shriek.

He ran to the door, and pushed it open. The room was small, hardly an furniture, but that was not what concerned him at the moment, it was the fact that two burly men were holding the girl on the floor, the girl with the sea green eyes. She was kicking, and fighting, the men held her arms, trying to get her to drink some sort of potion, one he didn’t recognize. He held out his left hand, and with the flick of his wrist, sent the first man flying into the wall. It shook the entire building, but left him stuck in the wall, unconscious. The second man looked up at him and growled. He left go of the girl, who took this as an opportunity to race towards the window. With a quick movement she opened the glass, and jumped out.

‘Damn,’ he thought. ‘I save her from these men, only to loose her in the rain.’ He didnt bother thinking more as the man barreled towards him. He stepped to the side, and the man ran face first into the wall. The man flicked his wrist once, and he turned to dust. With the two men taken care of he, turned to the window. Looking out, he caught the girl darting through the barren streets. He followed after her through the window, not even bothering to cast a spell to keep himself dry. He just needed to find her. He raced after her in the rain, down uneven streets and through multiple dark ally ways.

As she searched, her movements were frantic. She was afraid, the man had almost drugged her, and then they would have been able to find what they were looking for. She searched for where she had stashed the box. Is was iron, but she had a friend place a concealing charm on it, so most people overlooked it. She ran towards the docks, her hand up, shielding her eyes from the rain. She wore only a thin dress, and she was soaking.

‘Great,’ she thought as her eyes darted around. ‘Im cold, tired, sore and now im going to be sick.’ She finally spotted it, she ran towards it and frantically opened it. Inside was the book, wrapped in a thick lether. "Hey, wait!" She looked up, behind her. It was the man from before, the one who helped. She quickly held the book behind her body. Once the man caught up to her, she sould see he was was the man she saw at the dukes palace today, and he was the one who saved her. She thought back to what he had down, using flicks of his wrist to deal with the two men.

‘Must be a kinetic mage,’ she thought.

He looked down at her, seeing as he was over a head taller than her. "Wait, are you okay?" He asked, his breathing quick, nearly a pant. "Yes, thank you." She replied, she tried to sound confident, but her fear had clearly shown through.

The man looked down at her questiongly, and the looked behind her. "What is that, why did you run off?" She cursed to herself, of course he could see the book. It was large, and very old. It must have seemed as though she stole it from her master. She looked up at him, with her elf eyes she could see the worry painted on his face. The before she could reply, she fell to her knees, and blacked out.

The man sighed, and lifted the girl off the ground, making sure he grabbed the book as well. He made his way up to the dukes palace.

Once at the guest house, he called for a servant. An older lady came in to help change the girl, while he sent another servant to call on the Duke. Once the girl was dried and changed, he had her placed in one of the rooms. He was left to pace the floor outside of her room, waiting for the duke.

He showed up half an hour later. He was in plush robe, and seemed to be very upset. He was fuming at the servant who was guiding him to the room where the girl slept. “My lord, need I remind you that you are a guest of mine. I do not tolerate such inconveniences.” The servant who had guided the duke, had shied off, leaving the Duke and his younger guest. The young man glared at the duke, “Sir, would you have me return home to explain to my father why this alliance didn’t work out? That you must obviously be incapable of leading an army, if you cannot even care for the servants of your household?” The young mans voice was laced with a subtle poison, but it was effective. The duke cleared his throat and gestured for the younger man to continue. “Your servant was attacked this evening, and she seems to have gotten sick from the rain.”

The duke didn’t seem to truly care that his servants life was endangered. “I understand you said she was a very problematic servant, so I ask that you give her into my service. I will have my father compensate you handsomely, or even better yet, allow it to be apart of our alliance talks?” The duke gave the younger man a look of disgust, how could he even consider giving his slave to this spoiled lord. But then again, he did need the younger mans good graces. After all, he would soon be king of Corso. “Very well, my lord. You may have her. I don’t recall her name, but she is yours.”

With a final snarl of disgust from the Duke, the young prince was left alone in front of the elven servants room.

--

She woke up, lying on a plush surface. Her clothes had been changed, and she was dry. How did i end up here, she thought as she sat up. She had a pounding headache, and it was light outside. The room she was in was elegant, and she was lying on a bed. She sat up, raising a hand to her head. next to her was a glass table, it held a glass of cold water, which she downed eagerly. She looked around some more, hoping to find some sort of clues as to where she was. Finding nothing, she decided to look down at her self. She had no evidence that anything had happened to her, save the fact that she was wearing a new dress. It was silk and a light pink.

This must be worth more than all my dresses combined, she thought, feeling the smooth fabric between her fingers. As she admired the dress, she heard the door open, and footsteps upon the plush carpet, as someone made their way towards her. It was the man who had saved her, he was wearing a white uniform, dawned with golden buttons and clasps. "I see you're awake." He sat down in a chair on the other side of the glass table, and studied her. She felt all her memories from the night before flood her mind. "How did i end up here?" She placed the glass back on the table, and sat up straight, her hands clasped in her lap.

The man studied her for a few minutes longer, his piercing brown eyes calculating her every movement. He was handsome, his features chiseled and perfect, his skin was light and freckled. He chuckled, a perfect sound that graced her ears. "I brought you here. The duke knows you're here, and that you wont be returning to his service." He studied her, waiting for a response, one that she gladly gave.

"Why were you at my house in the first place, also what do you mean i wont be returning to his service?" It was obviously the answer he had suspected, because he hadn’t even thought of what to say before he responded. "I made a deal with the duke, he released you into my service, and he gets my fathers undying gratitude, not that that truly means anything."

She couldnt possibly think of who would be able to convince the duke to give up any of his slaves. Who could this man be? "Who is your father, who are you?" It was the question that voiced her thoughts.

"I am Prince Ivy Collier of Corso, my father is King Lucious Callier of Corso." Replied the man, smiling gently. “But, please,” He continued. “Call me Ivy.”