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𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐌 ── ◦'𖥸'◦ ── 𝒜𝒞𝒯 𝒪𝒩𝐸
↳ ❛ i am not delicate! ❜︎
𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬 ╱ ╱ 🏛🧺 ˚◞𑁍ﾟ𝙿𝙻𝚄𝚃𝙾𝚂𝚆𝙸𝙵𝚃

The train opened and several students stepped out. Harry pulled Celeste along to sit beside him. "Are you sure you are alright?"

"I should be asking you that." Celeste retorted. The ride wasn't too bad despite the heavy rain.

A drawing delighted voice sounded in Harry's ear and the Potter wanted nothing more than to swing his fist against his nose. If he wasn't Celeste's cousin, he wouldn't have hesitated to tackle him.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up to the castle. Draco glared at the arm hoisting his cousin.

Feeling like the overprotective 'brother' he immediately stepped forward, "Hands off Celeste's waist you imbecile." his face glinting maliciously.

Celeste rolled her eyes and stomped on his foot which Draco yelled at. "Enough, Dray. I'm fine...and I'll have you know that I fainted as well."

At that, Draco paled. Before he could bombard her with questions Ron snapped at him.

"Show off, Malfoy," said Ron, whose jaw clenched.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" asked Malfoy loudly, drawing some attention, forgetting about his cousin for a second. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you too Weasley?"

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Celeste scolded. She never liked it when Draco belittled her friends.

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Professor Lupin got out of the next carriage. Malfoy gave the Professor an insolent glare. Celeste took notice of the way his nose scrunched at his robes.

"Oh, no ─ er ─ Professor." he then smirked at Grabbe and Goyle. He waved his hand lazily for the two to follow him,

Draco glanced at Celeste, "I'll see you inside. I can't stand the sight of dunderheads here." he scoffed.

Celeste scoffed and rolled her eyes. Once he was away she shot the group an apologetic look, "I am sorry about his behavior...honestly I thought he's changed over the summer like he promised he would."

"Potter! Black! Granger! I want to see you three!"

Turning around in surprise to see their House leader and Professor McGonagall wearing her usual stern look who wore her hair in a tight bun; sharp eyes framing her spectacles.

Celeste and Harry gulped. Their stomachs dropped as they maneuvered their way to Professor McGonagall with Hermione trailing behind them nervously.

McGonagall sighed, "There's no need to look so worried ─ I just want a word in my office." she said gently. "Move along there Weasley's." she ushered the group down the hall leading to her office.

Ron grumbled and followed after Ginny who was talking to a girl in the Ravenclaw house on their way into the Great Hall doors.

At the Hospital Wing Madam Pomfrey was doting on the Potter and Black, both looking a bit pale from the Dementor's attack.
"I am fine, Madam Pomfrey!" Celeste panicked immediately when Madam Pomfrey stared at her closely like a distinct fossil. "I suppose you two have been doing something dangerous again?"

Madam Pomfrey made Celeste and Harry swap places.

"It was a Dementor, Poppy," said Professor McGonagall, filling her colleague in. They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked her teeth.

"Setting Dementors around a school," she muttered, pushing Celeste's curtain bangs away to feel her forehead. "They won't be the last one who collapses, both are clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate ─"

"I am not delicate." Celeste snapped quite offended.

"What she said!" Harry gestured to his friend. He wasn't weak.

"Of course you're not," said Madam Pomfrey and the boy and girl droned on to Madam Pomfrey's check-up.

By the time they arrived back into the Great Hall, they missed the sorting.

Celeste made her way to the Slytherin table where she was greeted by Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini.

"Little star are you alright?" Blaise asked worriedly. He heard about what happened to Harry Potter and Celeste Black on the train from Pansy Parkinson. A girl that's completely infatuated with Draco.

"Just spooked that's all." Celeste tried to dismiss the pity expression on Theo. Whispers and glances of pity shot her way. And she absolutely hated it.

Theo pulled her into an embrace. "Cecily, I missed you! You will never believe the summer I just had."

"I missed you too Theo...I missed you both very much over the summer. It's been ─ "

"With an uncle like that on the loose, I can't say I am surprised at all. This is why you need to stay away from the Gryffindors." Theo addressed pointedly. Celeste and Harry are known for getting in trouble. Their streak of first, second, and now third year.

Blaise pursed his lips, "I don't see what you see in them, Celeste. They are a bunch of trouble makers."

"I am a troublemaker as well," Celeste said defensively. "Besides, we don't try to Blaise...trouble finds us."

"Enough of that, you got hotter over the summer." Theo grinned cheekily earning a swat on the back from Celeste.

"Shove off Theo!"

The boys sighed in sync, exchanging knowing looks. Celeste Black was right, it's not like she wished for all those things to happen. First-year she faced Voldemort and this time she faced the past of Voldemort became who he was, Tom Riddle.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.

Blaise and Theo glared at anyone who looked Celeste's way.

The Blackgulped and avoided any contact of another wave of frightened and sorrowful faces.

He paused, and Celeste recalled the moment where Arthur expressed his disliking of Dementors.

Draco seemed to have shrugged off Parkinson and sneered at her for a comment she made about Celeste.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds. And while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises ─ or even invisibility cloaks or charms." he added blandly.

Across the table, Celeste darted her eyes over at Harry, Ron, and Hermione while fiddling with her bracelet.

The charm bracelet belonged to her mother which was gifted by her deceased mother who passed it to Dumbledore for safekeeping. It consisted of a feather, doe, stag, dog, wolf, and rat. All she had to do was whisper, 'invisibilia' to become invisible. The bracelet also repels dark magic, a possibility of what saved her on the night of Halloween.

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excusing. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no students run afoul of the Dementors."

She could see Percy puffing out his chest, showing off his page making her snort.

"On a happier note." Dumbledore continued. "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."

"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

There was some scattered applause.

Professor Lupin looked rather shabby compared to all the other Professor's Robes but Celeste did notice something rather odd and amusing.

Professor Snape, the Potion's master, was staring along with the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was known that he was after the DADA job. Harry and Celeste who were awfully disliked by him noticed the twisted look of loathing towards their new Professor.

It was the same one he gave to Celeste.

Hagrid got appointed as the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher and Celeste was the only one who cheered loudly at her table despite the sneers from Parkinson.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"

The delicious feast finally came. Celeste happily chatted with her two friends in Slytherin.

"Oi get off you leech!" Draco yanked his robes away from Pancy and made his way over to his cousin and friends.

"Did the squib sign your permission slip?"

Celeste scoffed, "Her name is Arabella, and yes she signed it. Though she probably regrets it now."

"Mother thinks that you going to Hogsmeade is an awful idea. Father agrees to it as well."

"It's a good thing I don't care what they think." Celeste sighed, remembering last year's troubles when Lucius Malfoy supposably slipped Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny's cauldron.

Draco glared at Celeste, "They are worried, you should get over what happened last year ─ "

"Well if they treat everyone with kindness and respect then maybe I will. He's responsible for what happened to Ginny last year. I don't think it's best to visit. Oh and his discriminating ways against anyone that's not a full wizard or witch ─ Ginny could've died and you are telling me to get over it?"

Like father to daughter both of them shared their stubbornness.

When Narcissa found out she couldn't stand the sight of her husband nor talked to him. Not because of the girl Ginny, but the fact that Celeste was dragged into the mess.

"I get why you don't want to visit father...but don't drag mother into this. Mum has been wanting to know you since you were discovered on the night of Halloween."

"Mrs. Malfoy is really nice...you should give her a chance." Blaise rubbed Celeste's back.

Celeste doubtfully swept her eyes to each boy, all wearing gentle faces except Draco, silver eyes pleading with the brunette.

"Fine I'll think about it...that doesn't mean I'll accept the invitation of visiting...."

"I'll ask mother and father to write to you. Otherwise, you can meet them officially when you are ready, Cece."

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╭ ╮
✎↷... 𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒂 ✉️
➩ 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢!
╰ ╯

Hi everyone! Happy thursday! I hope you enjoyed the tenth chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I ran out of pre-written chapters so updates might be a bit slow now.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Remember to vote & comment because it makes my day to know what you think!