cause for every lie I tell them, they tell me three

°• ♔ •°

For a still moment, Celeste could only hear her heartbeat. She blinked. "A meeting?"

"Well what else would it be?" Evan snorted. He fixed an irritated look at her. "Go change. You have two minutes."

She glared. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Evan pointedly looked her up and down, his gaze feeling like it was crawling all over her. "It's too red."

Celeste scoffed and strolled into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Quickly changing into a usual black and gold gown, Celeste slipped her wand underneath a sleeve. Making sure that it was tight enough to keep secure, she gathered her courage and walked back out. 

Still waiting in the same spot, Evan extended his arm for her to take.

With a sigh and a grimace, Celeste gingerly slipped her arm around it and they apparated away.

When her eyes opened, Celeste felt her blood run cold. The morning air suddenly smelled of dread and bleakness. "Malfoy Manor," she whispered.

Despite the sky-high hedgerows that lined the drive, the towering manor that peaked above the trees could not be mistaken. As the menacing iron gates slowly creaked open before them, Celeste could have sworn the serpentine creatures engraved on them glared down at her.

The pair strolled briskly down the smooth stone path, the manor slowly coming into view. Hundreds of crystal windows blinked and gleamed down at them, singing in wealth and precedence. Malfoy Manor was in no way as large as Celeste's new home, but the intended message was very clear.

Evan approached the colossal double doors and loudly pounded his fist on the dark oak.

"You're supposed to use the knocker," Celeste said. "That's why it's there."

"Shut up," Evan hissed.

The flung wide open, a grinning witch waiting on the other side. "Rosier! There you are!" Her gleaming eyes raked over Celeste. "Brought your little wife have you? The poor thing might not be able to stomach being in a room full of killers. "

Evan sighed dramatically. "Well, she ins―"

"Lestrange, you'd be surprised," Celeste interjected, "at what I'd be able to handle."

A slow, wicked smirk began to spread across Bellatrix Lestrange's face. "Well then, do come in. The Dark Lord is most eager to see the new Mrs. Rosier."

Wielding her annoyance like a sword, Celeste flashed a vicious smile and pushed past Bellatrix, gliding into the manor as though it were her own. 

-

It had been many years since Celeste had last visited her cousin's home, but she remembered every twist and turn of the corridors. She had spent a fair share of her childhood here, though it was once much brighter and vivid. It seemed even the sunlight was afraid of entering, despite the endless count of windows and drawn open curtains. Sad candles and torches flickered across the walls. The once striking emerald and golden accents of the house had become dull and faded with age. 

She passed the drawing rooms, where she had once hosted a great many tea parties for her favorite dolls. Now, it seemed as though the whole place was holding its breath, waiting to see what would now become of the ghostly scene.

The scurrying sounds of Bellatrix and Evan's footsteps trailed her. Evan's voice called to her. "At the next door, you need to turn―"

Celeste turned left, pushing the wide double doors open with every ounce of dramatic flare she could muster. Evan and Bellatrix finally caught up to her, halting as they flanked both of her sides. Still, Celeste did not avert her gaze, looking dead on into the eyes of Voldemort. 

The deathly silent room did not dare to breathe, despite the dozens of deatheaters seated at the long dining table. At the head of the table, the Dark Lord smiled and raised a steady, pale hand, gesturing for them to sit. "What a surprise. I was wondering when you'd join us, Mrs Rosier. Have a seat."

Never lowering her head or her gaze, Celeste took a seat at the end of the table, Evan taking her left. Bellatrix scurried to the opposite end, taking her seat beside Voldemort.

Voldemort raised a pale hand. The silence somehow became even quieter. He flashed a horrifying smile. "Let's begin."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

double update! keep going!!