This all has to be some crazy dream that my demented mind came up with right? My family couldn't possibly be dead. They were known as the Halliwell Charmed One's for a reason! Their name struck fear in their enemies, making them cower away in fear! They all couldn't all have just collapsed dead! Even though Professor Dumbledore had told me that they fought bravely for their lives, it all seems too unreal. I was at their funeral right now, as he was sitting next to me. I just wish I had been there that night when this all happened instead of at American magic School. If that happened though, Professor Dumbledore says I would have surely met that same fate the rest of them did. Since my family was so big in numbers, we decided to have three different funerals for each different family. Today was thankfully the last day of funerals, it my families' day and this was the day that I would remember most. In each funeral I made a speech, in Aunt Page's family funeral, I was barely able to speak through the pain of the losses but somehow I managed to pull through. When it was time for Aunt Phoebe's family, I was able to speak properly and form some kind of a sentence. Today however, I have no idea how I was going to be. Saying goodbye to my mother, my father and older brothers was something I never thought I had to go through. If it wasn't for Professor Dumbledore nudging my side, I would have never paid attention to my cue to go up there. It was one of the Elder's that was making introductory speeches and what not. He was smiling looking down on me with a sympathetic look. I hated seeing that look at this point in time. I have seen it so many times throughout this whole week that I just wanted to scream at him and leave the Halliwell manner. But I didn't and braved a smile going up towards the front.
There were so many people here for the funerals. People that I never thought that would come or that we would never see again. It was mostly people that my family has saved through their time on this earth. They had helped so many people but it didn't dawn on me until today on how many there truly was. Looking in the audience I notice my three best friends, giving me encouraging looks as I debated on running for the hills. Hermione Granger's was one of encouragement but I had to do this kind of look, Ron Weasely's was yet again a look of sympathy, and my Charges Harry Potter's looked like he almost understood my pain. I took a deep breath and began my speech with a very shaky voice. I almost sounded like I wanted to cry again, I honestly wanted to.
"Today is one of the saddest days of my life. This is the last of my family that I am saying goodbye to." I began trying to keep my voice in check. "Saying goodbye to my beautiful mother Piper, to my overprotective father Leo Wyatt and to my older annoying loveable brothers Wyatt and Chris. There won't be a day where I won't be able to forget my mother's wonderful cooking; I knew I was home when I smelled something in the kitchen." I laughed a little and so did the audience. "There won't be a day where I won't remember the wise words of my father. 'Remember that your powers are attached to your emotions.'" People looked confused but to the front people in the audience they knew what I was talking about. Throughout the week my powers, which are only a few, but powerful nonetheless, have been out of control. "I am sorry to those who have endured my outrageous powers this week." When I noticed I was at the part about my brothers, my tears were silently going down my face. I took another deep breath. "There won't be a day where I won't miss seeing my brother's randomly at school, just to fight another demon. Or just to get me out of class." The tears were flowing freely down my face at this point, no longer controllable. I couldn't bear to look at the audience anymore. "There won't be a day where any of them won't be missed. I'll miss my family every single day for the rest of my life. It feels like I can't live anymore but I know I have to because that is what my family would want me to do. For that reason alone, I'll continue to live for them. I'll continue to love for all of them.." by now I was choking on my own tears and Mrs. Weasely had come up and begged the Elder to make me stop talking in front of everyone. The Elder complied thankfully as everyone dispersed throughout the house. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all rushed to me, hugging me. Harry hugged me the longest; I honestly didn't want him to let me go. I needed the support more than anything right now.
"Are you going to be all right dearie?" Mrs. Weasely asked me when Harry had let go from the embrace.
"No." I said honestly. She only smiled a little as she hugged me and then went to go talk to someone else.
"I didn't offend her did I Ron?" I worried.
"Nah, she's only worried about you. She'll be fine when you are." He tells me. Then she'll be worried about me for the rest of her life. Before I was able to say anything else, there was a person behind me. It was only Professor Dumbledore. He had a very saddened look about him. His frown was clearly noticeable as his bright blue eyes showed the same emotions. Over the years of my families' existence, he has been a great source for my family in helping defeating demons or finding certain Charges in England. He has been a great friend to our family and as of late to me as well.
"Well Celeste, I'm afraid I can't stay for any longer. As discussed you will be staying with the Weasely's for the rest of the summer yes? To attend the Quidditch World Cup?" Dumbledore asked. I nodded my head yes, not really looking forward to the game. Normally I'm all for the game of Quidditch, but lately nothing makes me happy "I'll see you four on the first then, have decent rest of the summer." He told me as hugged me briefly and then apparatted out of the room with a very loud pop. Ignoring the rest of the crowd I ran to the attic for privacy but instead Harry, Ron and Hermione all followed me up the three flights of stairs. When I reached the attic, the Book of Shadows was on its stand where it normally stayed. With one look to it I made it fly off of it, landing under one of the couches. Harry sounded annoyed that I did this.
"Why did you do that for?" Harry asked me as Hermione went to go grab the Book.
"Because it's a stupid book that's why. It's no good anymore." I told them.
"You don't mean that Celeste…" Ron began.
"Yes I do Ronald!" I yelled at him. He seemed a little offended that I did for no reason and afraid as well. "What use is it any more if it couldn't protect my family when they needed it? How can it help me?"
"Hermione, Ron can you guys leave so I can have a moment alone with Celeste?" Harry asked. They complied as Hermione put the Book of Shadows back on its stand. I looked down on it in hate and I just wanted it to be destroyed, too bad the book was basically indestructible. I sat down on the couch as Harry joined me. In the last four years, Harry had become one of my best friends, along with Hermione and Ron. With Harry however, since he was my Charge to protect, we had a different connection. If he was ever hurt or in any kind of danger, I was able to tell where why thanks to me being a white lighter. His protector in a sense. I only put my head on his shoulder as he put his arm around me. I never really said anything as he just held me. With Harry, I never really had to say anything since being his white lighter, he felt my pain to.
It must have been hours later since the next time I had woken up and I was in my bed. It was still pretty dark outside when I was hastily woken up by Hermione. What was she doing wake me up so freaking early? There better some kind of demon attacking or all hell will break loose.
"Celeste you need to get up now!" Hermione squealed quietly. I looked at her confused, rubbing my eyes awake. "I heard something moving in the attic!"
"It's probably nothing, now go back to bed!" I said as I pulled the sheets over my head.
"Celeste, please! I can't sleep soundly if you don't check! This place is demon central!"
"Fine." I moaned out of annoyance. I got out of my bed as Hermione lingered behind me, with her wand in her hand. I looked at her like she was mad or something. "You know the trouble you could be in for using magic right? I can since I have wand less magic, but you would be so screwed and expelled." I reminded her as we made the move upstairs. There was a man, who was wearing a mask that I didn't recognize but I clearly tell that his eyes were that of a very familiar color, a greyish blue. There was only one family that I knew had that eye color…
"Hermione go get the adults! Quick!" I yelled at her as he started throwing random curses at me. He seemed to be going for the Book of Shadows! When I looked Hermione had left under my orders. With a wave of my hand I had sent him to the other side of the attic. He was able to get up again after a very quick minute. As I was about to move him, he had thrown a curse that knocked me to the other side of the attic, and unfortunately it was by the window! My body went through it but I was able to hang on to the edge. The edge had broken glass on it, and it got buried deep into my hand. The man in the mask came back over to me and I could hear running on the steps to the attic. He was able to get me off of the edge and sent me flying. Before I could hit the ground I orbed myself back inside before he could leave the room. As I reentered the room, Mr. and Mrs. Weasely, rushed in the room.
"You leave Celeste alone you masked freak!" Mrs. Weasely yelled. "Confringo!" She yelled as she aimed her wand at the man. He was about to grab the Book of Shadows, but he was unsuccessful. The curse Mrs. Weasely yelled had reached him and his arm exploded into flames. He apparatted out of the room after that happened. Everyone gave a sigh of relief as Mr. Weasely examined my hand. It was bleeding pretty heavily at this point and glass was still in the wound. The pain was stinging in my hand so severely, it was becoming bothersome at this point. Mrs. Weasely rushed over to me and examined my hand. She held it gently in fear she would cause me more pain. I kept looking back to the book to make sure it was still there.
"What happened?" Mr. Weasely asked as he led me down stairs so they could patch me up.
"Hermione told me that she heard some noises and told me to investigate. I was glad she did. My parents would be so mad if the Book of Shadows was ever stolen…" I trailed as I realized what I was saying. My parents were dead. They wouldn't know if the book was gone or not or any of my aunts for that matter. I shook my head as they led me to the kitchen, turning the lights on. As they were looking for things to help with my wound, I heard feet running down the stairs again. I only rolled my eyes knowing who it was. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny were all in the kitchen entrance eyeing my hand. Harry was the most worried. I only smiled and it seemed to calm him down some, the others however were a different story.
"I told you there was something going!" Hermione told me.
"Okay that time I'll admit you were right." I smirked as Harry tried to hold his laughter.
"Who was it? Did you see his face?" Ron asked. I only shook my head no.
"Unfortunately I didn't, he was wearing a mask. Would you two know anything about that?" I asked Mr. Weasely. Mr. Weasely almost looked a little reluctant to tell me for some reason but he did so anyway.
"That was a Death Eater, one of You-Know-Who's followers." He explained. That confused me tremendously. Over the last four years I have been attending Hogwarts and being Harry's white lighter, they have only been after Harry, never have they been after the Book of Shadows.
"Why would Death Eater's be after the Book of Shadows? They never been before my family passed." I flinched as Mrs. Weasely was taking some of the glass out of my hand.
"Maybe that's the reason; it's more vulnerable or something like that." Ginny suggested.
"Ginny could be onto something about the book." Harry agreed as I looked at her like she was crazy. "Maybe Voldemort knows it's your weakness now that they're gone." He explained.
"True idea Harry. Celeste, your family was a major protection for you as you went to school and guarded Harry in the meantime. No that your family is very sadly gone, the book and you are vulnerable."
"Like I said it just doesn't make sense as to why they would want the book though! The book has never been an issue! If it was an issue, they would have been after it since they found out I was Harry's white lighter four years ago!" I explained. Mrs. Weasely was bandaging my hand up now as I was trying to figure this out. This is one of those times where I wished I could heal myself…stupid white lighter rules.
"I still say the book, I agree with Harry and Ginny for once. It looks you're going to have to look at it extra carefully this year." Hermione said as she and the others went back to bed but me and Harry. My hand was still hurting like hell, but thanks to the magic of Mrs. Weasely it was oddly enough starting to slowly feeling better. I must have been silent for a while before Harry had to gently nudge me back to reality.
"You don't believe the idea huh?"
"Not all. Why would they now be interested in the book after only going after you for so many years? I get that they are trying to bring down your defenses and all trying to get to you but it doesn't make sense at all." I told him as we started making our journey up the stairs to our rooms; his was Wyatt's old room. I tried not looking in there knowing I would start crying like crazy.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out, you always do. If not I'll try to help you." He smiled. I couldn't help but do it back. Through all of this mess, he was the only one who has been able to make me smile willingly since I have found out about my family.
"How are you the only one who can make me smiling willingly anymore?" I randomly asked him. It just came out without me meaning to ask him. His green eyes were confused for a second and then his playful smile came back. The only thing giving me comfort.
"That's because I'm the only one who understands what you're going through." He told me. I didn't say anything as I started going back for my bedroom which was right next to his. He made me stop by grabbing my hand and pulling me in for a hug. We stayed like that for a while before he pushed me back in the direction of my room. I laughed a little as I did so. "Goodnight." Harry told me.
"Goodnight, Harry." I told him as I went back to my room. Turning off the light I went back into my bed and tried going back to sleep but I wasn't so lucky in sleep.
Ever since I had found out about my family I haven't been sleeping all too well. I kept thinking about how each of them must have died. It must have been a brutal killing. Professor Dumbledore tells me it was a group of wizards did it. It doesn't add up onto why wizards would want to kill my family at all. Unless they were Death Eaters like the one that tried to steal the Book of Shadows. They were found dead and cold, fear struck in their eyes. No blood flowing in their veins anymore…I tried thinking of something else instead like what tomorrow would be brining. Tomorrow was the Quidditch World Cup and Mr. Weasely had invited me, Harry and Hermione to go along with his family. I promised myself tomorrow would be a day of fun and not worry about the stupid and Death Eaters. Hell, it's only a game of Quidditch played by international players, nothing could horribly wrong with that right? One could only hope...
