A/N: Wow! I can't believe we have just over 110 follows and 80 faves! I was so worried when writing this that no one would want to read it, since as my own experience as a fanfic reader, a lot of re-writes don't tend to do as well :(
Quite a few of my cute readers have said in their reviews that they think Celeste will find out about the stone since she naturally has a curious nature, well, we will just have to wait and see ( ´･ω･)
Also, I'm finally going through the chapters to check over the grammar and spelling mistakes (◠‿◠✿)
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for any original characters and plot. Harry Potter and Fairy Tail are owned by J.K. Rowling and Hiro Mashima, along with any affiliated production companies and studies.
Enjoy!
Into the Abyss
Chapter Twenty-five
The Scarf
...
It was a cold day in January when Celeste arrived back at Hogwarts, the blonde easily fell back into the usual routine of lessons, studying and hanging out with her friends. It was two weeks after the first day back when the blonde found herself tucked away beneath the tree overlooking the black lake with her latest book, Rueful Runes: An Advanced Guide, in her hands. The blonde was rather keen to get ahead in her Ancient Runes class since there was no time like the present after all.
Besides, Celeste was glad that she was officially taking charge of her education; however, her nerves were building at the sheer thought of disobeying her parents. More so, her father.
"Ahem"
Celeste quirked a single pale brow, her lips thinned as she placed a slender finger upon her page to save it, (lest she lost it for good) and then turned her mercury eyes towards whomever had interrupted her private reading session.
"Ah, Draco. What a surprise," Celeste drawled out with as much pleasantness she could muster. She made the notion to turn back to her book before her brother quite rudely snatched the book from her hands with a sneer.
"I heard you're getting cosy with blood traitors," Draco scowled.
"Whatever happened to polite greetings?" Celeste countered with a dreary sigh.
Draco rolled his eyes at her tone. "This isn't a joke, Celeste,"
Mercury eyes narrowed as Celeste stood to her full height, she was only a head taller than her brother, but she was sure that was going to change.
"You know, Draco, I am two years older than you," Celeste pointed out.
"Then maybe you should act like it," Her brother snapped, "It's hard enough with father breathing down my neck about Potter, but now I have to mind you also"
"Father's giving you a hard time?" Celeste asked in concern. Her brother huffed as he turned his gaze away from her, the boy literally closing himself off from her. Celeste noted that when he was like this, there was no getting anything out of him.
"Never you mind. Just stay away from those Weasley's before someone tells father about your strange choice in friends" Draco muttered out.
"You know they aren't all that bad, Draco," Celeste said with a soft smile. Her brother rolled his eyes once more.
"I'm going to pretend that I did not hear that," Draco told her with a shake of his head. Celeste chuckled lightly, her brother was rather stubborn, and it certainly did not help that he so readily adopted whatever thought their parents - or should she say, father - pushed into his head. His eagerness to please the cold and distant man had led to Draco becoming less of the happy child she knew, and Celeste worried of where such a path would lead.
She could not stand by and just let their parents mould them into terrible people who'd turn their noses up at anything they deemed 'unsavory'. Which was quite a lot considering that on many outings with their mother, the woman sported a permanent upturned face.
Her thoughts were halted as she spotted the few students milling around the courtyard gates scurrying back towards the castle and not wanting to be late to lessons, Celeste swung her satchel on her shoulder. She walked a few paces before tossing her head back and a smile formed at the sighed of her brother begrudgingly following.
"Come on, you're going to be late for class" Celeste chided.
"You are such a nerd," Draco teased with a smirk.
Celeste chuckled, "I suppose I am,"
ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʙʏss….ssʏʙᴀ ᴇʜᴛ ᴏᴛɴɪ
Muggle studies was a nifty class, and with his father's interest in muggle artifacts, Fred found this class rather easy. It was one of the few classes where both he and George could completely switch off, Professor Burbage was quite nice like that. She had a bit of a reputation as having a 'soft' class, which was why Muggle Studies was not one of the sought-after electives.
Fred and George sat at one of the benches at the back of the classroom whilst Burbage proceeded to hand out a strange metal rectangular device called a toaster.
At the front of the class, Roger Davis, a Ravenclaw gave the device a careful shake before handing it to Penny Haywood who was sitting next to him.
"Now, be incredibly careful Miss Haywood," Professor Burbage told the blonde Hufflepuff as she fiddled with the toaster, "Any magic mixed with a muggle artifact can be-"
BANG!
Everyone gasped, as the toaster started to emit sparks, Penny Haywood shrieked in alarm as she promptly dropped the toaster which started to erupt in flames.
"This is definitely what I signed up for," Fred whispered to George.
"Wait till Lee hears about this," George said back with a grin.
"Holy Merlin!"
A few gasps and giggles sounded out as Professor Burbage began uttering spells to douse the flames, before taking the now charred toaster aside.
"Turn your textbooks to page thirty-five and answer the following questions about-" Professor Burbage began before a loud knock sounded from the door. The professor swung her head back and bellowed out, "Come in!"
The door slowly creaked open, revealing Celeste Malfoy stood sheepishly in the doorway. Her wide mercury eyes peered around the classroom momentarily before Professor Burbage loudly cleared her throat.
"How can I assist you Miss…"
"Malfoy. Celeste Malfoy" Celeste blurted out. She cleared her throat before continuing. "Is this Muggle Studies?"
Professor Burbage beamed, "Ah yes, Professor Dumbledore informed me of your interest, though I was not aware you would be joining us so soon" The professor glanced around the classroom, "Take a seat next to Mr Diggory here at front- you don't mind do you? Good"
At the back of the classroom, Fred watched the interaction with curiosity "Did Celeste tell you she was taking Muggle Studies?" Fred asked with curiosity.
George shook his head, "No. You?"
"Nothing." Fred whispered back, his eyes never straying from Celeste and Cedric with chagrin. He was unsure as to why he felt this way at the two sitting so closely, whispering and giggling as they did - Fred knew that Celeste was good friends with Diggory, so it should not have bothered him, should it? Not wanting to keep watching them any longer than needed, Fred turned away and instead focused back on his classwork with the intention of pushing away his rising feelings he could not place.
ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʙʏss….ssʏʙᴀ ᴇʜᴛ ᴏᴛɴɪ
"So, what did you think of Muggle Studies?" Cedric asked as they left the classroom. He was nice enough to wait for her as she stayed behind to talk to Professor Burbage along with two other Slytherins, Patricia Simpson and Mercuria Montague.
Cedric politely held the door open for the Slytherin girls from their class, they bashfully thanked him before scurrying away in a bout of giggles. The action had Cedric smiling awkwardly, and Celeste being the kind person she was chuckled at his expense.
"It was…informative" Celeste said. She knew truly little about the civilians, or muggles of this world as they were called. They had a completely different way of doing things and Celeste was rather curious. She could not believe that they used an entirely different device powered by a strange energy akin to lightning to cook bread (which was already cooked by the way)
"I'm glad you joined. You do seem to be on top of things and it was your first lesson" Cedric told her with a grin.
"Well, you did help me out quite a bit," Celeste told him with a grateful smile.
"Are your parents worried about the course load?" Cedric asked with furrowed brows.
Celeste blushed. She certainly did not want to reveal the real reason why her parents did not want her to take Muggle Studies, but a small part of her knew it was only a matter of time before her father found out. The man had eyes everywhere.
"Something like that…" Celeste murmured.
"Hey, Celeste. Diggory!"
She smiled at the familiar voice and spotted Lee heading towards them. Lee was not in the Muggle Studies class, but Celeste did share Divination with him. He always made classes rather interesting and his endless commentary tended to get poor Professor Trelawney in a tizzy.
"Hello boys," Celeste said politely.
"Word is that you're dropping ole Divination," Lee pouted, "I thought we had something special"
Celeste giggled "I just don't find it stimulating. Besides, I can go to Madam Puddifoot's and learn the same thing- just without the excitement of predictions of death,"
"Sorry, mate," Cedric said apologetically, "I've kind of sold Celeste Muggle Studies"
Lee shook his head with mock sadness, and for good measure dramatically wiped away an invisible tear.
"At least I've lost you to a worthy competitor, Celeste," Lee cried out. Celeste rolled her eyes with a small smile as she wondered how her friends had the nerve to call her dramatic.
"You know, I'm still in awe over that feint you pulled last year. No one's dived like that since"
Cedric chuckled awkwardly at the praise, "Thanks. I find myself getting lost in your commentary at times, you always know how to get the crowd going"
Lee grinned in response, "I knew there was a reason I liked you, Diggory" He turned back to Celeste, "Fred and George are looking for you. Something about…a toast?"
"Toasters" Celeste corrected, she turned to Cedric with an apologetic smile, "I'll catch up with you later?"
The boy nodded, "Sure. See you later Celeste. Good seeing you, Lee"
"You too, Diggory!" Lee called back as the other teenager walked away. Once he was out of earshot, Lee promptly placed an arm around Celeste's shoulders and proceeded to usher her towards the direction of the kitchens. The place had become their hang out and Celeste certainly was not one to argue, not when the house elves made the best pumpkin pie.
"So…" Lee drawled with a wiggle of his dark brows, "You and Diggory, eh?"
Celeste squeaked in alarm, the sound causing Lee to chuckle "There is no 'me and Diggory" Celeste muttered, with a frantic shake of her head.
Lee hummed in thought, "So um, what's with the scarf?"
"Scarf" Celeste repeated, her fingers drifting to the scarf around her neck. Cedric's scarf.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Malfoy, but when a girl wears another blokes clothes, it sorts of screams out to all the hot-blooded blokes out there that 'this hot piece of action' is taken"
Celeste stared blankly at her friend. "Do you hear yourself when you talk?" She said dryly. Lee chuckled in response.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, blondie. Gossip spreads like fiendfyre round here" Lee warned. Celeste silently pondered his words as he reached out to tickle the pair. The door to the kitchens promptly revealed itself and Celeste beamed at the sight of Fred, Georg, Angelina, and Alicia already sitting in a circle on the ground. Placed in the middle of the circle was the metal toaster from Muggle Studies.
"Look who I've brought!" Lee announced as he carted Celeste into the room.
"Hey, Celeste!" Angelina greeted, the girl shuffled closer towards George allowing Celeste to sit between herself and Fred.
"Please tell me, you two did not steal the toaster" Celeste groaned.
Fred grinned in response "Nope. We just borrowed it"
"That's the same thing," Celeste hissed.
"Don't believe it is, Celster" George pointed out, "You see, we have every intention of giving it back"
"Right after our toast party of course" Fred added before turning to one of the elves stationed behind him. The small creature practically jumped to life as she shook with joy as if eager to once again be given orders. "Get us some bread will you Tilly?"
"Tilly would be delighted" The pink house elf gushed with a low bow. Moments later, Tilly returned with a rather impressive stack of bread and placed the plate in the middle of the circle. Fred thanked the house-elf, who in turn gushed under the praise before scurrying back to the gaggle of elves stood off to the sides whilst relaying 'how kind master Fred was'
"Alright, so we just put the bread in here…" Fred muttered. There were six slots in the top of the toaster and Fred popped in six slices of bread. He sat back and all the teenagers watched eagerly as they waited for something to happen.
"Uh, Fred, we need to plug it in" Alicia pointed out as she gingerly picked up the three-pronged device attached to the toaster. Alicia, who was a half-blood witch, was the only person in the room who knew how to use a toaster effectively and safely.
"I don't think we quite thought this through" Angelina added with a slight frown.
Celeste gingerly poked at the bread "We could always cook it with a heating charm, my mother has taught me a few household spells" Celeste offered.
The teenagers nodded avidly as Celeste pointed her wand at the pile of bread.
"Lacarnum Inflamari" Blue flames shot out of the tip of Celeste's wand, they twisted outwards and wrapped around the bread, effectively singing all the slices. Celeste flicked her wand a second time and the flames ceased, revealing a charred stack of toast.
Celeste reddened profusely, the spell certainly was not meant to do that, and the blonde surmised that perhaps she had put a little too much power into the flames.
"Nice one, Celeste," George chuckled. He picked the first slice. He then passed the next plate over towards Angelina who gratefully took the jar of marmalade from Tilly who was standing behind her.
"I like my toast on the crunchy side," Alicia told her with a grin.
"What spell was that?" Fred asked with curiosity.
"Bluebell flames" Celeste told him, "They're not as dangerous as an Incendio charm and they can be wielded in many ways. Mother often uses them to cook"
"Bit crunchy. Gets the jaw working" Lee gushed. He quickly swiped another slice, and this time slathered it with jam.
"I've been meaning to ask you, Celeste" Alicia started with a slight mischievous smile, "Are you and Diggory dating or something?"
Celeste paused, "Um, no. We're just friends and our fathers are pretty close"
"Thought so," Alicia surmised with a nod, before quickly adding "I didn't mean anything by it…it's just the whole scarf thing-"
"Ah- the scarf! - Ow" Lee cried out before a quick jab to the ribs courtesy of Angelina silenced him.
"I was cold, so he gave it me last week and I haven't-"
"Last week?" Angelina interjected in shock, "So you two even spent the holidays together?"
"Well, I…."
"All this gossip is making me hungry" Fred promptly interrupted, "Cel, don't you know any spells that can toast these boys?" Fred asked as he pulled out a bag of marshmallows. Lee's eyes promptly lit up before he lunged across and wrapped his arms around Fred.
"I think I'm in love"
Celeste giggled before offering Fred a grateful smile, "I'm sure we can think of something"
A/N:
In the film adaptation of the Philosophers Stone, Hermione used the 'bluebell flame' spell to light Snape's robes on fire, however, in the books the spell has no name. After searching through potter wiki, I decided to take a few liberties and use this spell as a household spell, since a charm which makes fire able to be held is probably a kitchen must have.
Question time!
Will Celeste stop being so oblivious to her ever-growing harem? And what's up with Fred?
Reviews are a girl's best friend
Until next time, ja ne!