Into the Abyss

Chapter Forty-nine

Guess who's coming to dinner.

Fred was not sure how it came to this, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before things with Angelina got to this stage. She was not smiling like she usually was, her face impassive as she leant on the wall overlooking the large raveen.

"So, what are we going to do about the ball?" Angelina asked dejectedly. Fred thought for a moment - he had asked Angelina because he liked her and at the time, they were seeing each other - now, not so much. He knew how much the ball meant to Angie, she had been looking forward to wearing her dress, he had heard her talking with Alicia about it and she had a dreamy expression on her face. Now it was gone.

"We could still go together, if you want to." Fred suggested. Angelina smiled, but it did not light up her eyes. Fred felt like an arse.

"What other choice do I have? All my friends are going with dates and I'd be Billy-no-mates" Angelina admitted with a sigh.

"I am sorry, Angie-" Said Fred.

"Don't do this. Not now" Angelina said sadly. Her arms wrapped around herself as if to shield herself from him and Fred so desperately wanted to comfort her. But he knew that was the last thing she would want.

"I don't even know why I am asking this but...was there- is there someone else?"

Fred froze. "I-."

Angelina nodded sadly "I can see it in your eyes. I am happy for you."

"Angie-"

"Don't apologize, we can't help who we fall in love with" Angelina told him. Fred said nothing as she turned to walk away, she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before she spoke again "Just don't mess it up."

With that, she left. Fred stayed at the bridge for a little while longer, he had a lot to think about. Angelina and his relationship had come to end, and he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. After a few moments, he left, walking back towards the Gryffindor tower with his hands in his pockets.

He had royally messed things up with Angelina. She was amazing, one of his friends too but something just was not right with her.

She isn't Celeste - a voice in his mind whispered. Angelina's words echoed in his head. Was he in love? Was he in love with Celeste?

"Oh, Fred!"

He was pulled from his thoughts as he spotted Celeste, she was dressed in a black high neck dress with a black ribbon tied around her head rather than her usual blue one. The change was somewhat jarring to Fred, he was used to seeing her dressed in her house colours and he had the passing through that she would look rather nice in red.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"I should be asking you that," Fred said. Celeste smiled.

"I'm terrified. I just hope George and I can make this work" Celeste admitted. "My parents can be rather difficult people."

"I'm sure George will do great and so will you" Fred told her, she beamed at the praise. A light dusting of pink colouring her cheeks.

"Did something happen?" She asked.

Fred shook his head dismissal "Don't worry about it," Said Fred. Celeste frowned.

"You can tell me" Celeste whispered.

"I... Angie and I, we agreed to just be friends."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Fred shook his head "No, you go on and get ready for your scheme- I'll be fine."

"But-"

"Go on, Cell. I'll see you later at dinner alright" Fred told her.

"I'm here if you need me" Celeste murmured before giving his hand a light squeeze. Her fingers were warm against his own. Fred watched for a few moments as Celeste crossed the bridge before heading back to Gryffindor tower.

"Georgie, you in here?" Fred asked as he slammed open the door to their dormitory room, he received no answer as he bounded into the room and headed towards George's bed. There was a large lump beneath the covers and Fred surmised that George had overslept. "I just saw Cell and she's waiting for- you look like shit!"

George sniffed from his cocoon of blankets; the redhead coughed twice before sticking his head out from his warmth. His skin all except for his nose - which was a bright red - was pale giving him a sickly appearance.

"I feel shit," George coughed.

Fred ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Today was the day of Celeste's engagement dinner, if George was sick then the whole plan was going to go down the shitter.

What was Celeste going to do?

"Freddie, why don't you take my place?" George suggested.

"What?" Fred asked in shock.

"Pretend you're me. Celeste won't be able to tell the difference, and if she finds out she won't mind...well not much anyway."

"I don't know," Fred muttered.

"I can't let Celeste down and feel like shit. Please if not for me, do it for Celeste she needs this plan to work. Do you want her stuck there with those awful pompous prats?"

Fred sighed. His fingers tugging on his hair. He knew the ins and outs of the plan already and Celeste and George had already stated that there was nothing more to be done than a bit of hand holding. Of course, there was the matter of Angelina - his sort of girlfriend.

But she would not mind, should she?

"Alright. I'll do it" Fred agreed. George smiled despite himself.

"My shirts in my trunk, just put it on and don't mess this up" George ordered.

"Fine" Fred grumbled but nevertheless he acquiesced. He reached into George's trunk and pulled out the crumpled crimson dress shirt. As he turned to shrug it on, he missed the smug smirk George had on his face as he stuffed the remains of the skiving snack box beneath his pillow.

Those skiving snack boxes worked a great - George thought to himself.

INTO THE ABYSS

Carefully folding the parchment away, she made her way down the Ravenclaw common rooms. The sight before her caused her to pause in her tracks - George sitting on the sofa casually reading from one of the many books placed on the shelves. Dressed in a crimson dress shirt and black trousers, he looked rather smart. A black tie was tied loosely at the collar and the redhead ran a hand through his shaggy red hair before turning the page.

He had yet to notice her presence, but Celeste found herself watching him.

"Your boyfriend is rather intelligent to have made his way here,' Helena Ravenclaw said with an appreciative smile. Being the daughter of Rowena, she valued intellectual prowess greatly. Not many outsides of her mother's house could answer the riddles of the eagle knocker, so the ghost was rather impressed.

"Oh, we're just friends," Celeste answered.

Helena nodded; however, the beautiful ghost did not look convinced. Celeste always thought that she was one of the most beautiful ghosts at Hogwarts. With high cheekbones and long dark hair she was an ethereal beauty.

"I have seen many courtships and even had my fair share...let your heart guide you and not solely your head little eagle" With that Helena drifted away.

Pushing the ghosts' thoughts aside, Celeste joined George on the couch. Upon spotting her he placed the book down and grinned at her.

"Ready?" Celeste asked tentatively.

George nodded.

"Still time to back out, Cell" George warned. Celeste frowned at the nickname- George never called her that. She decided not to bring it up, perhaps George was testing out terms of endearment to further trick her parents - she needed to sell a loving relationship after all.

"As if. It's now or never."

She was glad for the relative silence as they headed to Flitwick's office. Thoughts at one hundred miles an hour, Celeste really needed time into think. After today there would be no more going home to the manor - she would be free. She dreaded to think what would become of her relationship with her brother, Draco, he had never understood her views and readily accepted their parents' ways. In another life she would have taken him with her, he would never allow that now.

Would he hate her like father? Would he bare to see her - his disowned sister - walking the school halls? These were the thoughts that plagued her mind and it scarred her.

George opened the door to Flitwick's office, allowing Celeste to step inside first. Her head of house smiled in greeting and quickly descended the step ladder from his bookshelf to greet the pair.

"The portkey is all ready for you, just remember that at 9 o'clock precisely it will activate to take you back to my office," Flitwick explained.

The portkey was a golden pocket watch button and George was the one to take it from the charm's professor. Celeste then placed her hand over George's own on the watch and For a few moments nothing happened. Then suddenly a sharp tugging radiating from her stomach occurred and the room began to spin. Celeste felt as if she was being pulled apart and thrown around at the same time. The wind rushed around her making her dizzy as Flitwick's office was quickly replaced with blue sky.

George was the first to land, he stumbled but quickly righted himself however was unprepared when Celeste landed on top of him with a yelp. They both lay on the floor for a few moments before Celeste clumsily stumbled to her feet. She was wobbly thanks to her heels; heels she was already regretting wearing.

"Sorry." She muttered.

"S'fine" George chuckled. Now standing he took in the sight around him, as far as he could see was green fields with neatly cut hedges and trees. A stone pathway lay before them and far off into the distance he could make out what looked to be a gothic looking mansion.

"The manors this way," Celeste said. She started walking down the path occasionally dusting off her dress.

"Nice park you got here" George commented.

"Um, these are the gardens, George. They're part of the estate."

They arrived at the front of the manor, a pair of large black doors which seemed to disappear into the skyline stood before them. George wondered what horrible things lay inside - maybe the Malfoy's had a torture chamber?

"Well, there are other properties" Celeste continued, she knocked three times with the serpentine knocker - typical Malfoys "A few in France I have inherited from Mother and then some in Italy".

'George' nodded in understanding, he ran a hand through his hair and Celeste watched the action carefully with narrowed eyes.

Fred does that a lot, Celeste thought with a frown. Fred also calls me "Cell". Celeste pursed her lips as she concluded that it was not George who was with her it all. It had to be Fred.

"It's a shame that George couldn't come, was he busy?" Celeste asked softly.

George's jaw tightened, his hand coming to awkwardly rub at the back of his head.

"Er what are you talking about, Cellie, I am George."

"Nice try, Fred" Celeste said with a smirk. Her arms folded over her chest as she took a step towards him "I know it's you."

"No, you don't," Fred responded as he took a step closer towards her. Celeste's eyes narrowed, her irritation bubbling.

"Yes. I. Do."

"No. You. Don't" Fred said fighting the urge to smile at her annoyance.

"Well, I know it's you-" Celeste hissed, but at that moment the large door to the manor creaked open.

"Darling!" Mother cried as she appeared through the open doorway.

Fred was surprised to see the woman with an emotion on her face other than disgust. Seeing the Malfoy matriarch this way made him realise just how much she looked like her daughter.

"Mother," Celeste said softly. She wrapped her arms around the older witch before stepping aside. Now, Mother's features instantly changed. The smile vanished and her nose wrinkled.

"And just what is this?" Mother asked with a sneer. Fred grinned and instantly wrapped his arm around Celeste's waist and pulled her close to his side.

"Not what, who," Celeste responded with a sweet smile. Deciding to ramp up the facade, the blonde grasped a hold of Fred's hands - an action Mother did not miss causing her eyes to widen. "Mother this is the friend I was telling you about. My boyfriend- Fred Weasley"

Mother went pale.

INTO THE ABYSS

"What is the meaning of this?" Mother hissed as she pulled Celeste and reluctantly, Fred into the manor. Fred took the opportunity to gape in awe at the simple foyer- it was huge. A large marble staircase stood just in front of him, it twisted up into another two floors above.

He had never been to the Slytherin common rooms before, but he supposed that the Malfoy home was as close he could get. There was no homely feeling, no portraits of the home's inhabitants or evidence that children had even grown up here.

"He's my boyfriend, you said I could invite someone-" Celeste hissed.

"A friend that your Father would approve of! Not this!" Mother snapped.

"This what, Mother?" Celeste hissed out in warning.

Mother grit her teeth "You know full well what your father will think about this" Mother whispered back darkly. Fred did not like this tone, it hinted it something much more sinister.

"I know." Celeste said quietly "But he means a lot to me and I wanted you all to meet him."

"You must be insane!" Mother hissed "Leave now- forget this dinner and go- take this blood traitor with you!

"Now hang on!" Fred cried out "I came here to meet you both so at least give me a chance."

"How dare you speak to me!" Mother hissed, sounding much like a snake.

"And who are you?" A quiet yet dark voice asked.

Fred glanced upwards to see a man dressed in expensive black robes glaring down at him from the top of the staircase. Behind him was a man who looked much like a troll whom Fred assumed to be Marcus Flint's, dad, seeing as the younger troll-faced boy was standing behind him.

"Fred Weasley. Charmed" Celeste instantly ran to Fred's side and grasped his hand.

"I see," Mr. Malfoy said, turning his gaze from his wife and then to his daughter.

"Lucius, what is the meaning of this?" Mr. Flint asked.

"And get your hands away from her!" Marcus shouted.

"My daughter thinks herself to be a comedienne, Marius," Mr. Malfoy answered "She appears to have brought...a friend."

"Boyfriend," Fred corrected with a cheeky grin.

Mr. Flint turned purple, and Marcus sneered down at Fred.

"I must say, Lucius, does your daughter usually disobey you so openly? She is hardly wifely material for my son" Said Mr. Flint with a haughty sniff.

"Rest assured I'm sure your son enough to reign her in" Mr. Malfoy Responded.

"Reign her in? She's not a bloody horse" Fred cried out. Celeste giggled from beside him.

"No. She's a disrespectful harlot!" Marcus snapped hotly.

"And you are a troll!" Celeste hissed back.

"How dare you!" Mr. Flint shrieked.

"I dare!" Celeste snapped before childishly sticking out her tongue at the older wizard.

"Celeste, that's enough" Mother whispered. Celeste shook her head as she stepped next to Fred.

"I can't marry Marcus, Father." Celeste said. She turned towards Fred with a soft smile "Because I love Fred."

"OUTRAGEOUS!" Mr. Flint cried. He lurched forward as if he wanted to separate the teenagers with force, however Mr. Malfoy's large frame stopped him.

"Impossible," Father said coolly. He descended down the staircase and cleared the space between himself and the teenagers so that he was invading their personal bubble. "You're only doing this to spite us aren't you. As if you could love someone like him."

He spat the last part; his blue eyes cold as he watched the couple stiffen. Celeste turned towards Fred, worry clear in her eyes, fear filled her - had the plan failed?

Mr. Malfoy smirked, thinking he had won. He turned his back to the pair ready to convene the details for the wedding with Mr. Flint before a strangled cry pierced the air. His head snapped round to the source - his wife - and spotted Mrs. Malfoy standing, stark white with her hands covering her mouth and eyes wide.

Following her line of vision, Mr. Malfoy's eyes widened at the sight before him. His daughter was kissing a Weasley.

To say all hell broke loose would have been an understatement. Mr. Malfoy in his shock was unable to move for a few moments. His wife screamed louder as the Weasley ran his fingers through his daughter's hair, his other hand draping lower to her waist-

Seeing enough the older wizard grabbed a hold of the boy by the scruff of his neck and wrenched him away from his daughter. He whirled round to the traitor herself and grasped a hold of her wrist and pulled her away.

"Let go of me!" Celeste shouted.

"Lucius, you're hurting her!" Mrs. Malfoy cried as she pushed past Fred to follow her husband and daughter. Celeste tugged on her arm, but the man's grip was tight, his fingers biting into her flesh as he pulled her reluctantly into the family room.

"You're disgusting. And I absolutely want nothing to do with you or this family" Celeste hissed.

"There's nothing you can do about that. My blood which you despise runs through your veins."

"I may have your blood, but I am nothing like you!"

"Now you listen, and you listen good!" Father began, his voice a low whisper. Celeste was silent as father spoke, his fingers bit into her arm and she fought the urge to wince.

"You think this is all some game? Whether you like it or not war is coming, and you need to be on the winning side. That half-blood Potter, your little mud blood friend and that Weasley and his entire family will be nothing but a distant memory when the dark lord returns" Father hissed.

"You think I'm cruel? I'm merciful compared to the dark lord" Father hissed.

"So what? You're just going to roll over for Voldemort? I would rather die!"

Father released her; his eyes ablaze as he stared hatefully at her. "Then he shall see to it."

Celeste should have expected it, but her father's retort left her feeling cold and broken inside.

"Cell!"

Celeste smiled as Fred appeared. He stood glaring at her father with the fiercest expression she had ever seen. She had a passing thought that he looked rather handsome with his eyes ablaze with righteous fury. Then the feeling of his lips on hers flashed in her mind.

"Get your hands off her".

She felt her heart flutter in her chest as Fred stepped up to her father, the redhead did not quiver as he pointed his wand at her father. Then to Celeste's surprise her father trapped her and pulled her in front of him.

"Go ahead, boy" Her father spat "I know you're underage, you wouldn't dare hex a wizard in his own home".

Fred did not falter, then to Celeste's shock he lowered his wand. Father smirked, ten before she even knew what was happening, Fred hand had balled up into fist and he punched Father right in the jaw. The action combined with being caught by surprise had Father staggering backwards until he fell into the bookcase behind him.

Celeste gasped, stunned in the sight of her father sprawled out on the floor. She pushed past mother, a chuckle escaping her as she tugged on Fred's arm and pulled him out of the family room before Father could retaliate.

"I can't believe you did that!" Celeste cried as they ran to the door.

Mr. Flint screamed from the top of the stairs whilst Marcus ran down with his wand raised. Fred instantly stepped in front of Celeste; his arm jotted out.

Then to their shock both Father and son crumpled the ground as light snores left their lips. Celeste turned to Fred in confusion.

"Don't look at me," Fred said. If he had not cast the sleeping charm, then who had.

"You always were a free spirit," Mother said softly. Her wand was between her fingers and Celeste's eyes widened.

"You? But why? I thought-"

"You're my daughter first before a pure blood" Mother spoke, her eyes were wet with tears as she stepped towards the couple and carefully, she cradled Celeste's face in her hands as if she were the babe, she birthed all those years ago "As your Mother, I want you to be happy."

"Mother...I... thank you" Celeste said with a choked sob.

Mother smiled "When I first held you in my arms, you did not cry. Did you know that?"

Celeste shook her head in a negative. Mother smiled sadly "We thought you dead, your father and me. I was distraught- inconsolable and I thought that this was punishment for the life I chose…. I prayed to Circe to give your life and then you opened your eyes and screamed as if you were so angry with the world."

Mother was crying now as she held her, and celeste felt tears of her own fall as she took in her mother's words.

"I promised to treasure the gift from the heavens that Circe had given, it's why I named you Celeste- not for some silly tradition but to always remember what could have been taken from me"?

"I am sorry Mother" Celeste whispered.

"It is I who should apologise...Now go- leave and don't come back."

"Goodbye, Mother." Celeste whispered. She grasped Fred's hand and they left the manor whilst Mother quietly sobbed.

He kept throwing side glances towards Celeste as they walked down the impossibly long path leading away from the manor. Fred was glad to see the back of that place. Celeste sniffled quietly, grey eyes hard and stony as she stared ahead as if afraid to turn back.

"Thank you for coming with me Fred. I do appreciate it."

"What gave it away?"

Celeste hummed in thought "Well when I saw you in the common room, I had doubts and then you called me 'Cell.'"

"Sorry. We didn't mean to lie to you."

"I know," Celeste said "So... back to Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts it is."

Celeste pulled the pocket watch from her purse. Fred laid his hand atop hers. Both teenagers blushed at being so close again but neither one of them made any effort to move apart.

Flitwick jovially greeted the teenagers once they returned, and they left his office with strict orders to return to him at once if anything worse happened. Celeste was glad to have such a caring head of house. There was only half an hour before curfews ended and the two teenagers made the journey back down to the main corridor in relative silence.

I can't believe that we actually kissed. A voice whispered in glee. Celeste smiled as she placed the tips of her fingers to her lips, she could still feel his lips on her own- a soft, gentle pressure and a warm caress. Fred really is a good kisser- Celeste thought, her face promptly turned red at that.

"So, um...what's your plan now?" Fred asked.

"Oh...um...I've spoken with my cousin and he's agreed to let me live with him and Harry for a while" Celeste said with a smile "Of course, if my parents wanted, they could forcibly have me removed but I hope they won't want be back under their roof now."

Fred nodded in understanding. After meeting her parents, he still could not understand how someone like Celeste could come from a family like the Malfoy's. But then there was the fact that she was not a true Malfoy through and through. She had been someone else before and from her telling, her previous family- or at least her father - had been a piece of work too.

He surmised that perhaps good people could come from dark upbringings.

"Fred, I... I'm sorry I kissed you" Celeste murmured "I know it was not ideal seeing as you're with Angelina and I understand if you don't want to be friends anymore."

"I would never want that," Fred told her earnestly. The truth was that he did not want to be just friends with her. He wanted more but he was willing to take whatever she was willing to give. She stepped closer, eyes lighting up and she stared up at him. Fred could not find the words; his mouth had dried up as his heart fluttered. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him. How he loved her smile, loved when she rattled on about the new books she read. He loved her.

"But it still isn't fair on her," Celeste said, "I feel horrible about what we did."

Fred nodded in understanding; Celeste was always thinking about others. It was one of the many things he loved about her.

"Celeste...about the kiss, I-"

"I know, it was just to fool my parents. It meant nothing" Celeste said quickly. Fred was silent. He had hoped that maybe Celeste had felt something when they kissed, because he sure as anything did.

"Oh. Alright" Fred murmured dejectedly. He turned away from her, missing the regretful look on her face "It meant nothing.

Celeste slowly nodded, her throat feeling tight. But neither of them said anything.

"Hey, Celeste!" Cedric Diggory called out.

Fred could have punched something- he could have punched Diggory. Celeste promptly stepped away from him as she greeted the Hufflepuff with a sweet smile.

"Am I interrupting?" Cedric asked. Celeste turned back to Fred expectantly. Fred shook his head.

"No. She's all yours, Diggory" He responded. With that he stood back and watched as the Triwizard champion led Celeste away. He watched as Diggory walked a little too close next to Celeste. Watched how she giggled at something he said and how she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.

Fred walked away.

A/N: Can these two get a move on?!

Thank you to everyone who had reviewed, followed and favorited this fic so far! It makes me smile knowing that you enjoy this little fanfic ^^

Stay tuned for the next chapter where the ball begins.