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Mia's sharp ears caught the sound of a tiny pop as she entered the library. Following the noise, she held a gasp in as she saw Callisto talking to Clarisse. 'She can't be telling her my secret, can she?'

As Callisto's eyes shone a molten gold and her hair took on the majestic red streaked with gold, all of the pieces fell into place in Mia's head.

'She's part phoenix! Oh, that would explain a lot, like how she was able to see thorough my Metamorphmagi magic. But how...she truly is a Potions prodigy. Transfiguration can't achieve that effect, and the talent she showed earlier...The big question, though, is will she reveal my secret?'

Mia grimaced as she realized what she would have to do next. She normally wouldn't be so tactless, but her secret was something that had to be kept from the entire school. If the unsavory pure-bloods heard about her abilty, she would be in big trouble.

Letting her magic pulse around her, Mia forced the silencing spell Callisto had put up to include herself. Clearing her throat slightly as she put up privacy and notice-me-not spells, she met Callisto's gold eyes evenly with her grey ones. "We need to talk."

---

Arashi had found the library as well, though he was not facing the direction of the part-phoenix student. As such, he was not witness to the revelation, being rather engrossed in the spread of books he'd located. He did not like to be shown up, and Mia's comment about boning up about the old families had stung. So, naturally, he had surrounded himself with tomes about them in the hopes of acquiring the knowledge that the average pure-blood would likely arrive at school with. He wasn't far from where the young witches were, but they were not within his view, nor could he hear them unless they got closer. Of course, if they did something striking, he might notice, but it was a library, and it was likely that the custodian of the books would intervene first.

---

Clarisse's bewildered expression quickly dazed off like the mist in the early morning. The bangs of her blonde hair brushed into her eyes (she was wearing a ponytail, so it made her a bit mad) as she thought about what Callisto said. If she did tell, the word would probably get to the Ministry of Magic. Everything got to the Ministry. Of course, that was why her mother was dead. ''Clarisse, the Ministry is good.
They help the Wizarding world. I'm sure those senses of yours are just your imagination,' Her father had said to her when she was five. Just two weeks before an auror burst through their door and... pain washed over her face. She wiped her eyes as if it were like wiping her memory, and looked at Callisto solemnly. "I won't tell anyone. I promise." She said. Because I'm not five anymore. I can do something. She added in her mind, and mentally promised that if anyone tried to endanger Callie with this secret, she'd charm his/her hair on fire. Or maybe freeze his/her fingers so they'd get frostbite. Either strategy worked.

"My mother had a freak accident that had one fact in common with your situation--the Ministry would... do something." She croaked. "My mother died because of the Ministry. They're not exactly what some people think. That's why I promise to keep your secret." Clarisse said to Callisto. A bit paranoid that the young Potions master would try to squeeze more information out of her, she looked at her schedule quickly.
"I'd best get going to the next class. See you later." She said quickly, and headed out of the library with a glimpse of that first-year boy--what was his name? Aasami? Acorn?--Arashi.

---

Bewildered, Mia watched Clarisse leave, before realizing the privacy and notice-me-not charms were put up around herself. Shaking her head mentally, Mia wove the charms around the silencing spell, before turning to Callisto expectantly. "What did you tell her?" she asked, her wand held loosely between her fingers as she watched the Slytherin leave, promising that she would keep her secret.

---

Callisto watched the blonde Slytherin heading out the library with a queer expression on her face. It disappeared as soon as it had appeared when she realized Mia was there.

Waves of magic was rolling off the auburn haired Ravenclaw, and Callisto quickly averted her eyes when she realized the girl's little disguise was melting off her. Callisto had realized already that her senses were growing with every passing second, and the more she practiced using them to their full extent, the stronger they grew. Already she could command her eyesight to go into what she called "phoenix vision", when her eyesight would sharpen and become so clear she could see those far away as clear as if they stood before her.

"I owed her," she replied evasively, her eyes doing their best not to meet the other girl's.

With a bit of willpower, Callisto forced her hair and eyes to return to their original states, the bright colors seeping out like water in a broken dam. She began to pack up some of her books, doing all she could to not make eye contact. "Nice spellwork there, by the way," she commented offhandedly about the wandlessly cast spells around them. "Could use some tweaking."

While rolling up some parchment that held her half-finished Potions homework, she forced herself to look the Ravenclaw in the eye. "Did you need anything? I suppose you're here to talk about your being a Metamorphmagus," Callisto tread on the words as lightly as she could, not wanting to vex the girl.

Callisto began to buckle up a book with straps, breaking eye contact, but keeping her other senses sharp. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch the magic so obviously displayed. Ever since her "accident", she'd often seen magical folk of all sorts emitting the magic. She emitted them herself, but her magic had mutated as well...not exactly pure witch magic anymore. Something more ancient. Callisto had been afraid of what would happen if she reached out and touch those magic waves that the wizarding community emitted. She brushed past those everyday, every time she moved, but she had long since realized there was a difference between taking magic for granted and purposely messing with it. She could not touch anyone's magic, or there would be consequences.

---

Mia tightened her grip on her wand as she watched Callisto's hair and eyes revert to their normal color. Raising an eyebrow at her obvious attempt to avoid eye contact, she released her Metamorphamagi magic, feeling her hair lengthen slightly. She closed her eyes as she felt the tingle that indicated that they had returned to silver. "Yes," she replied tightly."How much do you know about Metamorphmagi?"

Mia now dumped her bag on the floor, flicking her wand at Callisto's book, sticking it to the table. "Also, understand that you are not going anywhere until this issue is resolved. This is not something to be taken lightly, much like your being part-phoenix."

---

(darn... recap again please...?)

Callisto blinked when her book stuck to the table, and glanced up at the now dark-haired girl's question. "No need for that," she replied, deftly plucking the book off the table with an almost inaudible pop.

Resisting the urge to smile and check for Mia's reaction, she stuck the book neatly into her schoolbag. The spell was easily reversed, especially now that Callisto herself could see exactly what held the spell in place and could counter it with a little brand of magic from her phoenix half. Callisto looked up and made eye contact with her, noting down with mild interest the different eye color. Her appearance no longer seemed to be melting off her, meaning...this was her true appearance.

"Let's see. Metamorphmagi. You don't need to be so tense," she settled comfortably in her chair. "Transfiguration has been a main interest in my family for generations. My dad's the Transfiguration professor here at Hogwarts and," she quickly checked the clock, "I believe that class is soon. I know a great deal about Metamorphmagi. They're dying out, and one of the last recorded was a Teddy Lupin after the Second Wizarding War. A few families used to pass on the gift from generation to generation, but I believe most of them have either Squibbed or died out."

She paused to catch her breath. "As for me being part phoenix, I must say you have excellent observation skills there. I'm not taking this lightly, nor do I plan to leave. Both of our species are dying out, and I know for a fact there are less than twenty phoenixes still existing," she ended firmly.

"Just because I'm acting like it, does not mean I'm taking it lightly, Miss Grey. My family's got contacts throughout the Ministry, and you know what I've heard? Things are happening. And they're definitely not in favor of any species dying out," she added for good measure.

Callisto leaned back in her chair, her molten gold eyes glowing defiantly, waiting for the girl's reply.

[Uh. Arashi, Mia, and Callisto are in the library. Clarisse just left, and I don't know about the other characters. Class is soon, then after that is lunch break.]

---

Mia looked unsurprised at Callisto's ability to reverse her spell. 'After all, phoenixes can heal wounds that include Basilisks' venom. It's not much of a stretch to reverse a simple sticking charm.'

"Indeed, so I'm making this quick. In addition to what you said, Metamorphmagi are highly sought after, due to the fact they re able to impersonate many people with ease and...for pleasure. When I was young, I had several unsavoury pure-bloods after me, seeking me as a mistress, completely disregarding the fact that I was not even 10 yet. That is partly the reason why I ask you keep my secret."

Mia paused now, fixing her startling silver eyes on Callisto's gold ones. "I do not intend for you to leave, either. It would be a shame to waste your potions ability, Ms. Rinestone. Also, I am well aware that your species is dying out. It would be a pity to see the extinction of such a powerful creature. As for the contacts, well, the Grey family had a reputation, and I've gained a few of my own. You're right, they're not in favor of any species dying out. That's why I need you to keep my secret, in return, I keep yours, with an extra condition."

---

Callisto raised her eyebrows at Mia's boldness. "She's pretty demanding. Ah, some things simply go with a pureblood's behavior," She mused to herself.

"So basically you don't want a bunch of you-know-whats using you for their personal needs. I understand that. I've got fifteen male second cousins," she summed up bluntly.

"And seeing as you've mentioned my little talent for cooking up magical nuclear bombs," Callisto continued dryly, "I'll be assuming this condition of yours involves that."

Before the other girl could reply, Callisto hastily added on to her sentence. "And yes, I believe at this point I can possibly whip up such a destructive potion. My dad burned all the potion-making contest invites I got for a reason," she let out a snort of laughter. "He was afraid that the next thing I'd whip up would cause the city to implode. I don't blame him for that."

"A secret for a secret sounds fair, either way," she ended nonchalantly.

One reason she was in a hurry was because of class. The other was because if she stayed there any longer, she'd be tempted to reach out and touch those waves of magic. They were certainly more powerful than the typical wizard or witch, and Callisto did not want to blow up the library by accident. Blowing up things were more of a last resort thing.

---

Mia gazed at Callisto. "You do understand that I was very young then, don't you? They were less than blunt about it, and I do not want that happening again. Before I somehow come across as demanding-though I suspect I already have-I do not want to repeat that experience again."

Mia glanced at the clock, her Metamorphmagi magic changing her appearance again. "I also did not mean the extra condition as to be used for nuclear bombs. I was hoping for you to tutor me in Astronomy, in exchange for my help in Herbology. Remember, fire and nature do not mix."

She now picked up her bag, dispelling the spells around them with a wave of her hand. "Ready to go to class?" she asked now, as if the conversation earlier hadn't happened.

---

Honestly, Callisto was surprised. Most students would have jumped on the chance to get a potion that one couldn't just buy in Diagon Alley. "Then again, Mia isn't like most," she thought.

Callisto felt her fiery hair simmer down to its usual black, and her bright eyes darken. With a half-shrug, she slung her schoolbag over her shoulder. "Class? Yes. My dad? Nope," she answered promptly. "Let's go."

Silently spinning on her heel, she headed out the library without as much as a sound of breathing, giving her presence an eerie effect. Callisto had had practice, so as much as overrated ninjas were, she guessed she was quite close to their stealth.

Weaving through hordes of students, Callisto didn't pause to check if Mia was following her. If she was smart, which she was, she'd follow Callisto to the classroom. Callisto knew the way to the Transfiguration classroom like the back of her hand, her father's stories hinting too much at the secret passages in between and such. Also because it would be hell to find a classroom during rush hour.

Keeping her pace silent and steady, Callisto quickly disappeared through the classroom door, where a few students had already congregated. Revealing her secret to two people in the same day had taken a lot out of her, and Callisto was really not in the mood for dilly-dallying. Slipping into a chair unnoticed, she listlessly finished her Potions essay with several strokes of her quill, before packing it up again. Now where was her father?

Speak of the devil, the man who shared her black hair entered the room.

---

After a while, Arashi had become aware that some of his classmates were in the library with him, but he'd mostly tuned out their presence. While he might have been a curious sort, he wasn't about to risk getting called out on snooping when he could be researching. He did take notice when they left, though, as he didn't want to miss their next lesson. Being as Mia was in the same House, and therefore most likely to be going to the same lesson as him, he chose to follow her rather than pulling his schedule out and risk losing sight of her. After all, he was still figuring out where everything was. He was aware that following her might make him seem suspicious, but he liked a bit of intrigue now and again - even if it was unfounded.

---

Noting Arashi's presence behind her, Mia quickly ducked into the secret passage Callisto had taken, casting a disillusionment charm as she went. She had no idea why he was following her, but she did not want to find out what his ambitions were alone, especially since he knew when she casted wandless magic.

As she neared the classroom, she took off the charm as she took a seat just behind Callisto, sliding her textbook on the desk just as the professor swept in. 'Well, well, they certainly do share similarities,' she thought, her hand resting on her wand as she pulled out a quill.

---

She vanished? She vanished?! How does a first year know how to vanish?! Arashi thought, torn between incredulity and frustration. Biting his lip, he searched the area until he found someone else to follow, seething internally as he did so. He supposed he ought to have anticipated evasion, but he hadn't thought it would be of this level. When he managed to sit down in their next classroom, he narrowed his eyes as he noticed someone appear slightly too abruptly to have simply been amid the throng. It could have been paranoia, but he doubted it.

---

As her father put his rather hastily organized things on his desk, Callisto's eyes followed him curiously. After pushing his glasses up, Elijah Rinestone peered sternly at some chattering students, instantly shutting them up. Despite his scattered belongings, Elijah clearly was not a scatterbrain, exuding dominance in his classroom.

"Hello, class," He greeted once all the chatter had died down.

Some students replied back with a dull hello, but Callisto leaned forward eagerly. "Hi, Dad," she said out loud.

Several students nearby shot out of their sleepy stupor, deliberately edging away from her as if she was a bomb about to go off. Elijah turned his dark eyes to his daughter, expression softening rather subtly. With a curt nod of acknowledgement, Elijah began the lesson, ordering a nearby terrified Hufflepuff to distribute the matches among the students.

The poor girl scampered about the desks as quickly as she could, nearly even dropping the whole box on some Ravenclaw kid's head, all while under the scrutinizing gaze of Professor Rinestone.

The task was simple and straightforward: Turn the match into a needle. With an indolent flick of her wand, the deed was done. Callisto resorted to watching some other students struggle with the spell as her father flitted with inhuman speed among them, correcting wand movement and halting any wayward matches which could still poke your eye out.

One particular match shot away from a nearby student's table and nearly hit Callisto in the forehead, but she deftly willed it away with a look. Thankfully, nobody seemed to deem this certain incident odd, as they were all busy with either performing the spell or watching others fail spectacularly.

---

Mia's eyes lit up in silent amusement as Callisto greeted her father eagerly. Catching the softening of his face, she closed her eyes, thinking about the family she had never had. Her parents had been true supremacists. She was still thinking about it when the match was dropped on her desk.

Silently acknowledging the task given, she raised her hand, only to stop at a mental warning from Felicity.

'Mia! Professor Rinestone is watching!'

Mia's eyes shot open as she shook herself out of her stupor. She now flicked her wand, transforming the matchstick flawlessly. She watched Callisto transform the match as well, before turning her gaze onto her father.

She merely switched her gaze to her needle, before flicking her wand again, transforming it back into a match. She now started to practice the transfiguration, watching the wood shift to metal and back again.

She was so engrossed in her task, she didn't notice Professor Rinestone watching her transfiguration.

"10 points to Ravenclaw," he said, before staring at her furtively.

Mia started, before turning to the Professor, who raised an eyebrow. She merely nodded slightly, before starting the transfiguration again, this time changing the color of the needle as she did so.

She watched the others out of the corner of her eye, particularly Timmy. He hadn't shown up to the library, and she wondered why.

She looked at her matchstick now, desperately wishing she could practice this wandlessly. She sighed under her breath, before practicing changing the size of the needle.

---

After the class had been set their task, that was what Arashi concentrated on. Sure, he thought that the Callisto-teacher parent-child interaction was kind of sweet, and he was still suspicious of Mia, but he had magic to do. A lot was riding on him attaining magical proficiency, given his family's current status. As such, he thought hard about what he was trying to do before applying any spell - he wanted to be sure he knew what he needed to say, how to say it, and how to wiggle his wand. He couldn't take too long about it, in case the Professor thought he was slacking, but he felt that he'd be able to produce better results this way than by rushing into it. Sure enough, he didn't fail miserably, which was the important thing. He'd managed a needle - the problem was that it was the same size and density as the match it had been. Ah, well... This is still early days. He mused, a little tickled by the sight of his odd needle. Seeing as there was still plenty of time, he pressed on.

---

(Uh... Recap, please?)

---

{Well, Mia and Callisto have agreed to keep the others' secrets, and they are currently in Transfiguration class, where Mia and Callisto are watching the others. Arashi is currently paranoid of Mia, who managed to evade him successfully using the secret passages Callisto used.}

---

Mia flicked her wand listlessly at the needle. 'Wood, metal, glass, wood,' she thought, resisting the urge to groan in boredom. She ducked her head as a matchstick flew past her head, her eyes now tracing the patterns in the wood.

'Felicity, please tell me you feel better.'

'Actually, I do. Meet you for lunch in the Great Hall?'

'No, I'm coming up to the dormitory first, so you can rest there for..half an hour,' Mia thought, mentally groaning.

'What's wrong?'

'I'm currently stuck in Transfiguration class, transfiguring a match into a needle and back again.'

'Oh.'

---