Chapter 3: Changes
At first, Celeste thought the old man had lost his mind, but she soon learned that he had spoken the truth. While time passed in the outer world, the residents of Avalon were virtually untouched by it. Except for Celeste. Her pregnancy progressed with terrifying efficiency. In her rare moments of leisure, she dreaded the monster she would soon give birth to.
Most of her time, though, was taken by Merlin. He had taken her as an apprentice and was teaching her the wisdom of the old Masters—powerful ancient wizards who had mastered true Light Magic—of which Merlin had been the last. Now, it seemed that Celeste was to be the next to carry on the tradition. She was often amazed by the irony of that. How had a woman raised in the Dark Arts become apprenticed to the most famous Light Wizard of all time?
Eventually, she gave birth to a little girl. As she knew would happen, the child transformed at the next full moon. Celeste wanted to break down and cry, but Merlin wouldn't let her. "I have taught you to see through curses, child. Now see through this one."
Celeste did as she was told.
"Do you see it?"
See what? she thought. Then she saw it. There, hidden deep within the magic gripping her child was a lock. "Yes, Master."
"You have the key, child. Use it."
Pushing aside her skepticism, she wove the magic into a key which fit perfectly into the lock. The release of magical energy from the curse knocked her to her knees. She felt weak, as though she had run a marathon. She had only enough energy to look up and see her daughter. The infant was no longer a werewolf.
"Well done," she heard Merlin say. "Rest now. I'll see to her."
Celeste complied gratefully.
Memories arose, unbidden in her exhausted sleep. She was standing in a quiet grove in the country. Her father was at her side. At her feet was a young witch who had stumbled on to their stronghold, her eyes widened in terror. Celeste was sixteen. Her father had brought her here to initiate her into his service by killing this innocent young woman. She stood pointing her wand at the frightened stranger, her hand trembling. "Do it," her father whispered in her ear.
He heart was racing. She had been half dreading, half anticipating this moment. She didn't know what she was feeling only that she must obey her father no matter what. She tightened her grip on her wand, trying to steady her hand, and spoke the incantation. "Avada kedavra!" Green fire shot from her wand at the young witch. The woman screamed in pain as her light went out.
Lord Voldemort chuckled softly beside her. "Very well done, my dear."
Celeste woke screaming.
A few days later, Celeste was summoned to her Master. She knew it was time to make a decision about her baby's future.
"Ah, Celeste. You know why you're here?"
"Yes, Master. I know that Avalon is no place for a baby."
He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, child."
She shook her head, allowing a single tear to fall. "I've already sent Mina out to find a good home for her."
"It pains me greatly to separate a mother from her child."
"Raising a child takes all of one's energy. I need that energy to learn what you have to teach me. My daughter deserves parents who can love her with their whole hearts."
"I am sorry," he said again.
Mina appeared at her side to report she'd found a suitable couple—a Muggle couple who were unable to have children of their own. "So am I," Celeste said to him as she left to spend one last day with her daughter.
Celeste watched in shadow as the young Muggle woman picked up the infant which she had left on their doorstep. The man opened the note she'd left in the baby's basket.
Please take good care of my little girl. Her name is Hermione, and she deserves to be loved as I cannot right now. If she ever asks about her mother, tell her only that I love her very much and wish that we could have been together. CS
A tear slid down her cheek as Hermione's new mother held her close. "Mistress," Mina whispered. "We must be getting back to Avalon. It's not safe for you here."
Celeste merely nodded. With one last look at her baby, she left.
"Are you certain, Master Merlin?" Celeste asked nervously.
"Yes, child. You are ready to leave Avalon. You have learned everything we can teach you. It is time to go out and seek out your challenges. Only then can you truly be a Master of Light Magic."
"But where will I go? What will I do?"
He smiled gently. "You will be sent to America to live as a Muggle. Aside from your house-elf, you will live without magic. You will know when it is time to return to your former home."
"I will miss you, Master."
"I shall never be far from you. You know now how to open the mists."
"Yes." She took one last look at the enchanted isle which had come to feel like home to her in these last six years. "Good bye, Master," she said finally, hugging him. Then she turned and parted the mists. "Let's go, Mina. The outer world awaits,"
Celeste and Mina found themselves in a city called Minneapolis. With her small friend invisible, Celeste tried to get her bearings in her new environment.
Celeste had built herself a very comfortable life as a Muggle named Carol Smith. Her first day in Minnesota, she had met Martha Martin, a woman who was recently divorced with a seven-month-old daughter—Rebecca. Instantly becoming friends, Carol and Martha took an apartment together.
Although Martha and her ex-husband, Nathan, were never again lovers, they did eventually resume their friendship. Martha was continually trying to find ways to set him up with Celeste. Nathan was a good man, but Celeste shied away from having a relationship with him. Partly because he was a police detective (and, she suspected, a wizard in disguise) and she was still wanted for her past crimes, but mostly because she was still in love with Remus.
Celeste knew that Nathan had developed feelings for "Carol" and she felt guilty for hurting him with her rejection. In order to ignore the guilt, she threw herself into the company she and Martha had built after going to school together to become software engineers—Magic Star, Inc., which produced educational software for children. Most of their profits were given to children's charities.
Seven years after leaving Avalon, Magic Star was an enormous success. "Carol Smith" was known as a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist who never allowed herself to be photographed. Through Mina, Celeste was able to hear news from the wizarding world from time to time. After all these years, she didn't believe that Voldemort was truly gone, and so, she wished to stay out of sight.
Mina had changed too. Over the years, Celeste had offered her small friend her freedom several times, but Mina had always refused. Eventually, Celeste got the idea of giving the house-elf money as a reward for her good work. At first, Mina had sniffed at the gesture, but over time, used it to dress herself as stylishly as any Muggle professional.
One sunny afternoon, Celeste was sitting on the balcony of the apartment that she still shared with Martha and Rebecca. Mina was sitting with her while she read an old copy of the Daily Prophet. On the front page was a photo of a pleasant-looking family who had won a sweepstakes and were visiting Egypt. Celeste smiled as she read the article about the Weasleys. They seemed like good people who deserved such a lucky break.
The people in the photo moved slightly, and Celeste noticed a rat sitting on the shoulder of the youngest son. It looked very much like a rat she had known nearly fourteen years before. Then she saw that it was missing a toe on its front paw. "Pettigrew!"
"Mistress?"
Celeste handed the newspaper to the house-elf.
"Oh no!" Mina cried. "What will you do?"
Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door. Making sure Mina went invisible, Celeste opened the door. It was Nathan. He stood in the doorway holding a rolled up parchment in his hand, wearing wizard's robes and a murderous expression on his face.
"Nathan? What's wrong?"
He handed her the parchment. She opened it and saw a miniature of herself sneering and making rude gestures at her. She read:
WANTED!
Celeste Stargazer
Follower of You Know Who
Wanted for murder and mayhem
Special powers: Animagus, Siberian tiger
If seen do not approach.
Contact the Ministry of Magic immediately.
She invited him in and closed the door before she spoke. "Where did you get this?"
"I found it when I moved in to my new office. I'm the new chief of Magical Law Enforcement for Minnesota."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to start by asking you a few questions."
"Have a seat," she said, gesturing to the couch. He sat on the edge of the cushion as she settled into her favorite easy chair. "Ask your questions."
"Tell me what you know about the break-out."
"What break-out?"
His expression soured. "You mean you haven't heard that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban prison?" He spoke sarcastically.
Celeste sat erect in her chair. "No, I hadn't. Are you sure?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Celeste Stargazer. I'm an expert at detecting bullshit. A notorious Death Eater has escaped from Azkaban prison. You're going to tell me everything you know about it."
She sighed. "Sirius Black is no Death Eater."
"Oh, please! They caught him red-handed."
"The way I understand it, they had only circumstantial evidence, and never properly investigated the crime scene."
He stood, pulling out his wand and pointing it at her. "You will tell me."
Mina appeared between them. "You will not hurt my mistress!" she screamed and popped away, taking Celeste with her.
Celeste found herself in her office at work. "You heard, Mina?"
"Yes, mistress. What now?"
Celeste thought for a moment, staring out the window at downtown Minneapolis. "It's time to go home."
"But, mistress! It's not safe for you there. The ministry, And your father."
She looked down at the little creature. "I know. But we have no choice. Peter Pettigrew is at Hogwart's with Harry Potter."
"And Hermione."
Celeste swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. "Yes. Her too." She turned back toward the window. "We'll go in disguise. Can you insert yourself into the house-elf crew at Hogwart's?"
"I think so, mistress."
"Good. Then do so now. I'll be there as soon as I figure out a way in."
"Yes, mistress."
Before she left, Celeste had to tie up a few loose ends. Martha had already left to head up the new offices in London, so she had to find someone to run things here. Once that was done, she Disapparated.