Studying?

[Calliope Riley]

Calliope had had her last lesson of the day, but wasn't finished working yet. Being in her seventh and final year, she still had NEWTs to worry about... and while Cal wasn't particularly anxious about achieving top marks; she was expected to at least pass. Charms would be fine - they were the enchantments that actually made sense and came in handy in day-to-day life, and the theory wasn't too exerting either. Divination would be fine, she'd convinced herself, because gazing into a crystal ball and predicting mundane details of other people's lives was a pointless, but simple enough activity (to fake). Potions and Ancient Runes would be on the verge of difficult, but Calliope had a little faith in herself, and besides, she was more preoccupied with Transfiguration. Why had she chosen to take it after the surprisingly high Acceptable she'd gained in her OWLs? Well, she supposed it was her only option considering the Dreadful in Herbology, and the Poor in History of Magic... But nevertheless, why, why?

So she'd positioned herself neatly at a desk, an armful of books dropped onto the wooden surface before her, before slumping over it ten minutes later in defeat. She would have to accept failure in this respect. Besides, which rich man needed an academic wife? Calliope was clever enough in the 'devious' and 'scheming' departments to be useful, and if that wasn't required, well, she was fair enough looking, she told herself. Repeatedly.

But aside from Transfiguration and her future, there was something more at stake for the seventeen-year-old. The Hogwarts Coming-Out Ball was looming on the horizon and Calliope wasn't certain she was ready and composed for such an event.

"Oh, what am I to wear?" She moaned.

  

[Evelyn Pendergast]

Evelyn herself had been looking for an empty classroom to study in, the library was getting to distracting and the common room always turned into socializing. But as she walked in to this classroom, she found another student. Calliope was a seventh year Slytherin, that much she knew. Her family wasn't as well placed as the Pendergasts, certainly, but she tried to keep up on the other Slytherins nonetheless. There had to be a reason for everyone to be sorted in the house.

After hearing Calliope's lamentation, all thoughts of studying were gone. "Are you worried about the coming out ball?" she said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice. She'd only been thinking about her own coming out ball since first year, after all.

  

[Calliope Riley]

"Oh, hello, Evelyn," Calliope said with a pleasant-ish expression on her face, brightening up considerably at the fact that someone had entered just on time to save her - unknowingly - from the disasters that were her studies. Even better, it was a Slytherin, and Calliope was glad, because at least it was less likely she'd have to find some way of shooing them out of the classroom if they annoyed her.

"Are you worried about the coming out ball?" Were the words that spurted out of the sixth year's mouth. Calliope smirked slightly at the mention - much as she had sounded distressed, she was, on the most part, looking forward to the event and excited to finally have some of the limelight she so deserved (in her own opinion, this was). She especially found herself tempted to gloat at Miss Pendergast's eager tone.

"Not worried, not exactly. I just... want everything to be perfect." She tried to phrase it as honestly as possible, aiming to understand her own thoughts while attempting to still make nothing but a good impression.

"And for that to be done, I need a suitable dress, and I cannot decide what that will end up being!" Calliope spoke precisely and with a slightly furrowed brow that signified she was deep in ruminations. After a moment, she lifted her clear blue-grey eyes to the other girl, as if allowing a response to be heard.