Mr. Evans dropped Lily and Celeste off outside the Leaky Cauldron on Sunday evening. The girls had a late tea before heading to the Potters. "Now, I'm sure you know how to use Floo Powder, Celeste," Lily began. Celeste nodded. "Ok. We're going to Potter Manor."
"Right," Celeste said. Lily went first. Celeste followed close behind.
When the girls came out of the fireplace, the boys were waiting for them. "We were wondering when you were going to get here," James said, hugging Lily.
"My dad had to go into the office," Lily told him. "We had to wait for him to get home before we could make it into London."
"Are you feeling ok, Celeste?" Remus asked.
"I am not so fond of Floo Powder," she said shakily. "It makes me sick. But I am better today than I was a few days ago."
"You two hungry?" Sirius asked.
"We had a late tea at the Leaky Cauldron," Lily said.
"Well, let's get you downstairs," James said. "Mum's got some tea, if you think you can stand another cup or two."
"I would like some tea," Celeste said. "I like to have a cup after coming out of the Floo Network." The five teens headed downstairs. Celeste was awestruck by just how beautiful James' home was. The floors were warm, honey colored wood and covered with bright patterned rugs. The walls were sheathed in the same honey colored wood. Paintings, tapestries, and other oddities decorated the walls.
Old fashioned gas lights lit the whole house, giving everything a glow of flame. James saw the look on Celeste's face and chuckled. "Never thought it would look something like this, did you?" he asked teasingly.
"It is like nothing I have ever seen," Celeste said. "My parents' house in France is not so beautiful, and Abigail's house is that of a Muggle."
"Well, mum will be pleased," James said. "She loves this old house, and she's always looking for someone to talk to about it. Be careful, or you'll be subjected to endless conversations on the origins of the Potter family manor."
"James! Are the girls here yet?" Mrs. Potter called as she stepped out into the hall. "Oh, hello Lily. How are you?"
"I'm just fine, Mrs. Potter," Lily said.
"Hello, Celeste," Mrs. Potter said, smiling at the other girl. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Celeste said.
"Good," Mrs. Potter said. "I've got a pot of tea waiting. You ladies look like you could use a cup of tea."
"That sounds lovely, Mrs. Potter," Lily said. They followed her back into the kitchen.
The next several days passed by in a blur. Remus helped Celeste decipher her dream, although it still didn't make much sense to either of them at the end. The full moon came and went, with only Remus noticing the addition of a beautiful snowy owl to the throng of animals watching over him. Lily, who had been given a sleeping draught by Celeste, never noticed anything unusual.
Finally, at the beginning of July, the O.W.L. results arrived. Five tawny owls glided into the house during breakfast and settled on the table. "One for each of us," Lily said, collecting her owl. Celeste claimed hers, although her hands were shaking so badly when she went to remove the letter that Remus ended up gently pushing her hands aside and doing it for her.
Celeste broke the seal on her letter and opened it up. "'Ordinary Wizarding Level results for Celeste Jeanne-Marie Elizabeata Winters are as follows: Potions – O; Transfiguration – E; Herbology – E; History of Magic – O; Defense Against the Dark Arts – E; Arithmancy – A; Astronomy – A; Ancient Runes – E; Care of Magical Creatures – O; Charms – E.'" Her eyes widened as she realized that she had passed everything. There were only two tests she hadn't done all that well on, and they were classes she wouldn't mind dropping the following year.
"Well?" Lily asked her. "How did you do?"
"Three 'Outstandings'," Celeste said. "Five 'Exceeds Expectations' and two 'Acceptable' marks."
"I got the same," Lily said. "What did you get your 'Acceptable' marks in?"
"Arithmancy and Astronomy," Celeste said promptly. "You?"
"Astronomy and History of Magic," Lily said, smiling ruefully. "Professor Binns still manages to put me to sleep."
"I got straight E's down the row, except for a 'D' in History of Magic and an 'A' in Astronomy," James said, ducking his head a little as his parents shot him a dirty look.
"Same here," Sirius said. "Only I got an 'E' in Astronomy, no clue how I did that, but I only managed an 'A' in Muggle Studies."
"Moony?" James asked.
"I did all right," Remus began.
Lily stole his results. "Just as I thought," she said, laughing. "He's got a straight line of Outstandings all the way down except for History of Magic, and that's an 'E'."
"Well, we're N.E.W.T. students now," Sirius said. "So, what are you all planning on taking?"
"I will take everything except Arithmancy, History of Magic, and Astronomy," Celeste said. "I am especially looking forward to Potions and Transfiguration."
"Why aren't you taking History of Magic?" Lily asked.
"I will if I must, but I think the only reason I passed my O.W.L. so well was because of how much I have read," Celeste said.
"I'm planning on doing something similar," Remus said. "Except I think I'll drop Care of Magical Creatures as well as Astronomy and History of Magic."
"Well, these next two years are going to be very difficult for you all," Mrs. Potter said. "I hope you can keep up with your course work."
"Celeste, are they going to let you graduate with this lot as well?" Mr. Potter asked suddenly.
"Yes sir, they are," Celeste replied.
"They must have gotten a waiver for you, then," he mused. "I mean, you won't be of age when you leave Hogwarts."
"Yes I will," Celeste said, a little confused. "I turn 16 in December of this year, and I will be 17 when I leave Hogwarts."
"Wait a mo, Celeste," James said. "I thought you were a year younger than us."
Celeste shook her head. "At school in France, we start at twelve. Because we came from France, my sister and I were already a year older than the rest of the first years. But because we did not know any more than they did, we were placed with the first years."
"Your sister's going to be stuck in school until she's 18 then," Sirius commented.
"Only if she chooses to do her final year. If she is of age, they will not make her stay," Celeste said. "So I will not be needing the waiver. I have already spoken to Professor Dumbledore about this."
"Well, at least you'll be able to stick with us throughout everything," Lily said, hugging her.
"Ok, I'm finished here," James said. "Who's up for some Quidditch?"
"James!" Lily protested laughingly.
"I think I will come watch, but I am not a good player," Celeste said.
"Same here," Remus said. "I'll come watch you lot as well."
"I'll play," Sirius said. "How about you, Red?"
"I'll play, but we still need one more player," Lily said.
"Raven promised she'd be by after breakfast," Sirius said. "She can play too, if she's interested."
"Interested in what?" One of the Potters' House Elves had brought a black-haired girl into the room. It was easy to see that Sirius was completely smitten by her.
"Playing Quidditch," James told her. "You and Sirius against me and Lily."
"Sounds like fun," Raven said. "I don't have a broom, though."
"You may use mine," Celeste said. "I brought it with me. It is a Cleansweep. I bought it new last year, so it is not the latest broom on the market, but it is a good one."
"Thanks," Raven said, giving her a warm smile.
"Let's go then," James said. Celeste ran upstairs to get her broom for Raven, and the six teenagers headed out to a large field behind the Potter mansion. The two couples paired off and started chasing each other around the field.
"Celeste," Remus began.
"Yes, Remus?" Celeste's eyes were on the game, but her attention was actually on the quiet young werewolf at her side.
"Does Professor Dumbledore know about your gifts?" Remus was watching her closely.
"Yes," Celeste said. "But I have asked him to not tell the rest of the staff. I know Professor Slughorn suspects that I am more gifted than I show, but he does not know in what way." She turned to face him. "And I wish to keep it this way."
"Why is that?" Remus asked.
Celeste went back to watching the game. "Remus, savez-vous que le Ministère me ferait s'ils savaient que je pourrais faire?" she asked in a very soft voice. (Remus, do you know what the Ministry would do to me if they knew what I could do?) She didn't wait for him to answer. "Ils me transformeraient en esclave. Je ne serais pas capable d'aller n'importe où, ou faire n'importe quoi. Je serais piégé, en utilisant ma capacité de forcer d'autres. Je ne peux pas le faire. Pas même si cela signifie certains d'entre ceux qui font la magie sombre en amateur vont libres. Je ne peux pas juste le faire. Je n'irai pas faire. Si le Ministère apprend de mes cadeaux, je vais être dans le problème sérieux. Je rembobinerai en France avant que je me permets jamais d'être mis sous clé par le Ministre de Magie et de ses gens." (They would turn me into a slave. I wouldn't be able to go anywhere, or to do anything. I'd be trapped, using my ability to hunt others down. I can't do that. Not even if it means some of those that dabble in dark magic go free. I just can't do it. I won't. If the Ministry finds out about my gifts, I'm going to be in serious trouble. I'll run back to France before I ever let myself get locked up by the Minister of Magic and his people.)
"You and I are very much alike, you know," Remus said, turning his attention to the game. "Both of us would be hunted by the Ministry of Magic if they knew about us, and neither of us likes cages."
Celeste found Remus' fingers. She interlaced her fingers with his. "I am not so fond of being alone," she said, her voice just as soft. "I am alone because I must be."
"You're not alone anymore, Whisper," Remus said. "You won't ever be alone again, if I have anything to say about it."
"What is that you called me?" Celeste asked, amused.
"Whisper," Remus said. "You're always so quiet, you never speak up very loudly unless you absolutely have to – and you make no sound when you come to sit with me during the full moon."
"I do not think that it would be all that hard for the others to know who the owl was if they saw me," Celeste said. "My feathers are not white, but pale silver, much like my hair. And I do not have golden eyes but silver ones. Even Peter would know who I was, and he is not so very clever as James and Sirius."
"Heads!" Sirius called as one of the Bludgers flew out of control towards the two on the ground.
Remus pulled Celeste against him, and the two of them narrowly missed getting hit. "Watch it!" Remus called as the Bludger headed back up to the sky.
"Sorry!" James called. "That one got away from us."
"I think I'm ready to go inside now," Celeste said.
"Me too," Remus told her. They went back into the house.
The rest of the summer passed quietly enough. Raven and Sirius spent a great deal of time off on their own. Sirius finally admitted that Raven's family was moving to the United States, and that this was their last summer together. James and Lily began plans for their wedding, which would take place after they left school.
Celeste and Remus often found themselves alone together. They poured over old books that the Potters had, took long walks in the forest that was on the property, and could be found sitting together talking about things that were obscure enough to confuse everyone who wasn't in on the conversation. It was assumed that after graduation, the two of them would also be getting married.
Hovering as a grim spectre over them all was the ongoing war between the wizarding community in general and the self-styled Lord Voldemort. His Death Eaters were stepping up their attacks. The Daily Prophet was full of names of people who had been killed, suspected Death Eaters, and witches and wizards that had gone missing.
One morning, Lily was perusing the Prophet during breakfast. As she flipped to the middle of the paper, she froze. "What is it, dear?" Mrs. Potter asked anxiously.
Her hands shaking, she cleared her throat and began to read. "'The wizarding world was rocked by yet another series of attacks last night. Death Eaters descended on the home of Frank and Alice Longbottom, a recently married couple who graduated from Hogwarts only two months ago. The Longbottoms escaped, though Mrs. Longbottom was seriously injured. Mr. Longbottom, already in Auror training, was able to hold off the three Death Eaters long enough for his colleagues to arrive. Two Death Eaters – Bram Parkinson and Dorian Grigio – were killed during the fight. The third Death Eater – an as yet unnamed and, according to one Auror, unrecognized woman – managed to escape with the help of Rodolpho Lestrange, a long-suspected associate of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Mrs. Longbottom was treated at Saint Mungos and released. Only a few hours later, Rodolpho Lestrange and four other unidentified Death Eaters descended on the Surrey home of a Muggle family.'" Here Lily's voice broke and she began to cry.
James took the paper and continued reading the article. "'Henry and Rose Evans were attacked in their home. An unknown individual in the area alerted the Ministry to the trouble when they saw a flash of green light through the broken door. Aurors Apparated to the scene, but were unable to prevent the murders of Henry and Rose Evans. Their younger daughter Petunia is away at camp. A local family, long time friends of the Evanses, will be taking her in. The location of their older daughter Lily is as yet undetermined. It is believed she is spending the summer with a wizarding family, and is asked to contact the Ministry as soon as possible.'"
No one said anything. Finally, Celeste moved over next to Lily. Lily buried her face in Celeste's shoulder and sobbed harder. Mr. Potter took the paper away from his son and read through the article again. "Lily, I know this is hard, but I think you'd better come into the Ministry with me today," he said gently. "I'll let them know that you are more than welcome to continue staying with us."
"Celeste," James began. "That Squib you were living with is in here too."
"What?" Celeste asked, turning her head slightly to look at him. Horror flooded her features. "They did not – they killed her too?"
James nodded. "It says that they found the Dark Mark above her home, and that from all evidence she'd put up a good fight before they managed to finish her off," he said, skimming through the article.
Lily sat up with an obvious effort and nodded to Mr. Potter. "Let me just wash up and I'll come with you."
Celeste snagged the paper from James and read the part of the article dealing with her former guardian. They'd found Catherine, and she'd informed the Prophet that Celeste was staying with another wizarding family as she had been all summer. Catherine had refrained from stating where her sister was, on the chance that the Prophet tried to find her. "'Celeste is not fond of the spotlight,'" Catherine was quoted as saying. "'Besides, she would most likely hide behind her friends and ask you to leave. She does not like being questioned.'" Celeste didn't know whether to be irritated or amused.
"Celeste?" Remus put a hand on her shoulder.
"I did not like her, but she did not deserve to die," Celeste said.
"Maybe you'd better go in with my dad too. Just so they don't get all panicked and start searching for you," James said.
"I will send them an owl," Celeste said. "My sister knows where I am, and she would have told the Ministry if she thought that there was danger. We do not get along, but she would not cause too much trouble at this time."
"'At this time'?" Sirius asked.
Celeste grimaced. "Catherine feels the same as the Death Eaters, that those with Muggle parents should not be allowed," she said. "She also believes that those of us who have friends that are Muggle-born are blood traitors and should die as well."
"Lovely," Sirius muttered. "Sounds like she's a bloody good candidate for the Death Eaters then."
"She is," Celeste said. "She is, as I am, a pure blood. I do not believe in the fact that pure bloods are the only ones who should be allowed, so to her I am a blood traitor." Celeste shrugged. "I suppose I am such to the Death Eaters as well."
"Glad to have you along for the ride," James said ruefully. "My family isn't exactly well-liked either, especially since it's well known I'm marrying a Muggle born witch."
"There are not so many pure blood witches that you are not closely related to," Celeste said.
"Yeah," James said. "That's the problem."
"Celeste, I'll drop in at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and let them know you're here," Mr. Potter said. "James, do you want to come in with me and Lily?"
"Yeah, I think I'd better," James said. He dashed upstairs to change his clothes.
"I'm going to run home for the day," Sirius said. "I think I'll have a word with Regulus. He's rather fond of Lestrange and my cousins, but he's not fast enough to keep up with them."
"Give me your lists," Mrs. Potter said. "I'll go in with you, dear, and when the children are done at the Ministry, I'll take them to Diagon Alley and we can get all the school supplies."
Everyone scattered to their various errands, leaving Celeste and Remus alone in the house. They spent the morning mending a few things and playing Wizarding Chess. After a light lunch brought to them by the House Elves, they retreated upstairs to Celeste's room to discuss a book the two of them had read.
It only took a few minutes for the book to be cast to the side. The conversation had turned to Lily, James, and the all-too-serious issue of the rise of Lord Voldemort. "There are not enough pure blood witches and wizards to keep us alive," Celeste said.
"I know," Remus said. "But I don't think that's occurred to any of them just yet. If they go on with this, they're going to breed our kind out of existence."
"That would be bad," Celeste said. "What would this world be without magic?"
"It would be a very poor place indeed," Remus commented. Celeste leaned against him. "Especially if it meant that it would be a world without you."
Celeste blushed. "Remus, you told me at the Yule ball that you loved me," she began.
"I meant it," he told her, his voice rich with the love he felt for her. Celeste looked up into his golden eyes. He bent forward and captured her lips in a sweet and gentle kiss. Celeste hesitated briefly, and then wrapped her arms around his neck. Soon clothing was lying on the floor, and the kiss had rapidly become something else.
Remus collapsed beside her. Celeste curled up against him. Her hair had pulled free of its plait and was now clinging to her sweaty body. Remus moved slightly and brushed some of her hair back. "It will be a hopeless tangle now," she said softly.
"I'll help you brush it out," Remus promised. They laid there in complete contentment for a few minutes until Remus reluctantly broke the silence. "We'd better get dressed before the Potters come back."
"Yes," Celeste said. "It wouldn't look very good for us to be found like this." The two of them got dressed. Remus kept his word and helped Celeste brush out her hair. He braided it for her. Two quick charms and there was no sign of their recent activities.
"Sirius will know," Remus said with a rueful smile. "His sense of smell is incredible."
"That is because his other form is that of a dog," Celeste said. Remus looked startled. "Remember, I have watched over you on the full moon this past year."
"I didn't think you knew who was what," Remus said.
"It's not that hard to figure out, Remus," Celeste said. "If you know what to look for."
Remus smiled, but his smile faded as he heard voices. "I think they're back."
The two of them went down. Lily looked very pale, and her eyes weren't very focused. "She's in shock," James whispered. "She got to see her parents, and what was done to her house." He hesitated, and then added, "She also got to see Petunia."
"It's not my fault, is it?" Lily asked, her whole body shaking. "It's not my fault they're dead, is it?"
Celeste took Lily's hand. "Come with me," she said softly. Lily didn't argue. She followed Celeste upstairs. They went to Lily's room and Celeste sat her down on the bed. "Lily, dites-moi, pourquoi croyez-vous que c'est votre faute?" (Lily, tell me, why do you think it's your fault?)
Lily blinked, as Celeste's reversion to her own native language forced her to think. "My sister," she said finally. "She said that it's my fault mum and dad are dead. If I wasn't a witch, they'd never have been killed."
"Et elle le sait comment? Lily, je doute que les Mangeurs Mortels sachent même qui ils tuaient. Pour tout ils savaient, ils étaient juste une autre paire de Muggles," Celeste said. (And she knows this how? Lily, I doubt that the Death Eaters even knew who they were killing. For all they knew, they were just another pair of Muggles.)
"But what if I'd never gone to Hogwarts? Would they still have attacked my family?" Lily asked.
"Probablement. Mais vous et votre soeur seriez fort probablement morts aussi," Celeste told her. (Probably. But you and your sister would most likely have died as well.)
"I'm supposed to stay with the Potters from now on," Lily said quietly. "Petunia is going to stay with the Brandt family."
"Then you are staying here with the one you are to marry," Celeste said. "This is not so bad a thing." She gave her friend a light push. "Why do you not have a rest?"
"I don't think I can sleep," Lily said, but she obediently curled up on the bed.
Celeste headed down. "She will be all right," she told James. "It will take a while, but she will be all right."
"Thanks, Celeste," James said. "How are you doing?"
"I am not so hurt as Lily," Celeste said evasively. "I'll be fine."
"Celeste, your parents contacted the Ministry," Mr. Potter said. Celeste turned white. "Don't worry, dear. I've got it fixed so you and your sister are staying in England. Apparently there were quite a few people in Calais that didn't approve of how your parents treated you. The Ministry in France cleared the two of you to remain with your current host families. Since those families happen to be us and the Blacks, you are quite welcome to stay here. If not, the Ministry here in England will arrange for another wizarding family to take you in."
"If you do not mind my being here, I will stay," Celeste said.
Mrs. Potter smiled sadly. "I think it'll be better for Lily if you stay here," she said.
"Speaking of Lily, do you have anything to help her sleep?" Celeste asked.
"Not really," Mrs. Potter said.
"Celeste, I still have half a dozen vials of the Draught of Living Death," Remus reminded her.
"Will you give one to Lily?" Celeste asked. "She really needs to sleep right now."
"I can do that," Remus said. He vanished into his room and got a vial of the pale lavender liquid. He took it up into Lily's room. A few minutes later, he returned. "She's asleep, and will be for probably around twelve hours or so."
"That'll be good for her," Mrs. Potter said. "Celeste, Remus, we got your books. I hope we have everything. If we missed something, we'll go back in a few days."
Remus and Celeste inspected their parcels. Both had all the books they needed for the classes they wanted to take. Remus also had two new sets of school robes. "Um," he said, at a loss for words.
"James told me that your school robes were looking very worn," Mrs. Potter explained. "He brought a set of dress robes for Mme. Malkin to use as a basis for the size."
Remus shot James a look. James managed a half-hearted smile. "I didn't want you going back to school with robes that were falling apart, Moony," he said. He kept glancing up the stairs. "I think I'll go sit with Lily, if you don't mind, mum."
"Go ahead, dear," Mrs. Potter said understandingly. James dashed back up the stairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter retreated to their sitting room to talk about the current events. Sirius cornered Celeste and Remus. "Enjoy your afternoon?" he asked, in a heavily significant voice. Both of them blushed slightly. "Thought so. Just please keep the rest of us in mind if you should decide to continue the physical side of your relationship."
"We're not that insensitive, Padfoot," Remus said. "We're not going to do anything that could upset Lily. Well, at least not intentionally."
"All right," Sirius said. He wandered off. Remus and Celeste went outside to sit in the garden, taking their schoolbooks with them. Remus selected his copy of Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, while Celeste chose Advanced Potion Making. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon and on into early evening reading.
The deaths of Lily's parents shook the small group of friends even harder than they'd anticipated. Peter, after pushing at his mother a bit, appeared at their doorstep with flowers for Lily and Celeste. He too chose to stay with them until the end of the summer holidays. As the time to return to Hogwarts got closer, Lily seemed to perk up a little bit. The idea of going back to school cheered her up. She had changed her desired classes to those that were necessary for becoming an Auror: Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Charms.
Celeste and Remus both set their schedules to match. The two of them decided – at the urging of their friends – to take the exact same classes, so that Celeste would always have someone to protect her. "So you're taking what?" Sirius asked, looking at their pile of books.
"Ancient Runes, Potions, Charms, DADA, Herbology, and Transfiguration," Celeste said promptly. "We are only taking one more class than the rest of you." James and Sirius were also taking the classes to become Aurors. Peter had been required to drop Transfiguration due to the fact that he only had an 'Acceptable' in it, and was instead taking Astronomy.
"I don't mind, really," Peter told Sirius when he asked. "I like Astronomy more than I liked Transfiguration."
A few days before the start of the term, the six teens decided to head out for one final round of Quidditch. Now they played three on three, since Celeste had become a much better flyer over the summer. Lily, James, and Peter were against Sirius, Remus, and Celeste. Peter and Celeste were both fairly poor players, so the teams were evenly matched. As night fell, the friends settled to the ground but didn't return to the house. House Elves brought them their supper, and they watched the stars come out.
Finally, James stood up and dusted off his robes. "Come on," he said. "My parents will most likely be getting worried."
The others stood up and they headed towards the house. Suddenly, Celeste froze. "Wait," she whispered, her eyes wide and scared. "There is something wrong."
"What is it?" Remus asked.
"There are people in the house that should not be here," she said. "Unless your parents were expecting company, that is."
"No," James said with a frown. "Mum and dad always tell me when they're going to have company." Suddenly, the whole group heard an agonized scream. "That's my mother."
"Death Eaters," Sirius snarled.
"The Cruciatus curse," Lily gasped.
"Wands out, let's go," James snapped.
"Someone needs to go for help," Peter said in a fearful voice.
"You go," James ordered. "Get the Ministry here as quick as you can." He looked over at Celeste. "Celeste, maybe you should go with Peter."
"No," she said, drawing her own wand. "He flies faster than I do. If he had to fly at my speed, we would not get back in time."
"All right then," James said. Peter hopped on his broom and sped off into the night. The others made their way towards the house.
Mrs. Potter's screams went on and on, but were now accompanied by the hoarse shouting of her husband. As they got close enough for everyone to hear what was going on, they heard Mr. Potter say, "What do you want?"
"We want the Mudblood and the blood traitors you're sheltering," came a sneering voice. "Give them up and you can live out what's left of your life."
Apparently whoever was casting the Cruciatus Curse stopped, because Mrs. Potter gasped out, "We'll never let you have the children."
"Ready?" James whispered. The others nodded. "Now!"
The teens burst into the house, and all five voices cried in unison, "Stupefy!" Stunning spells flew from their wand tips. Three Death Eaters went down, but two others dodged.
"Ennervate," one of them shrieked, reviving one of the fallen Death Eaters.
"Petrificus Totalus," Remus yelled, diving to one side. The newly revived Death Eater collapsed, rigid as a board.
A Death Eater slashed their wand in Celeste's direction. Hot, searing pain cut across her face and she screamed. "Stupefy," she managed to gasp out, and her attacker hit the ground.
"Silencio!" Lily silenced two of the Death Eaters, but this didn't help much. One of them waved his wand and another one of the stunned Death Eaters got up.
"This isn't working," Sirius called from his position behind the now overturned dining room table.
"All at once," James growled.
Again, all five wands pointed at the Death Eaters. This time, they all shouted, "Expelliarmus!" This time all the Death Eaters lost their wands. "Stupefy!" Those that were still standing fell to the ground.
"Celeste, are you all right?" Remus was at her side instantly.
"No," she said. "I am not all right."
"She's bleeding pretty badly," Lily said, joining them. "I don't know anything to stop the blood. Diffindo." Lily cut a portion of her robes off and tried using them as a bandage to stop the bleeding.
"Incarcerous." Sirius was busily tying up the Death Eaters. They didn't want to run any risk that they could get loose.
"Mum, dad, are you all right?" James was at his parents' sides, helping his father get his mother to her feet.
"James, look out!" A sixth Death Eater emerged from the shadows.
"Avada Kedavra," he snarled, pointing his wand at James. Mr. Potter pushed his wife and son out of the way just as the bolt of green light struck him. He fell to the ground.
"Stupefy!" Sirius stunned the remaining Death Eater and bound him too.
But the damage was already done. James and his mother knelt beside his father's body. "Damn," Remus said, noticing just how pale Celeste was. "Lily, we're losing her."
"Where the hell is Peter?" Sirius said, half in panic.
"Here I am," Peter said, bursting into the room. He was being followed by several Aurors.
"What's going on?" Rufus Scrimgeour, one of the top Aurors in the department, demanded.
"Death Eaters attacked us," Sirius said. "What does it bloody look like? Mr. Potter was killed with the Avada Kedavra curse, and Celeste is over there bleeding to death." At this point, Celeste's tenuous grip on consciousness failed and she slipped into blessed darkness.
Two days later, Celeste was awakened by a rather loud discussion going on in her room. "We are her parents. You cannot say we cannot see her," a heavily accented male voice was saying.
"She doesn't want you anywhere near her." Remus was obviously staunchly defending her. "So bugger off, why don't you?"
"Now, dear, I'm sure that your friend wouldn't want her parents to worry," a new voice was saying soothingly.
"Mes parents peuvent aller au diable, pour tout ce que je me soucie. Je ne veux pas les voir," Celeste said, her voice weak but firm.
"What did she say?" the mediwitch asked, noticing the looks of fury on the faces of M. and Mme. Hivers.
"'My parents can go to hell, for all I care. I don't want to see them,'" Remus translated helpfully.
"Oh," the mediwitch said, a little surprised at Celeste's response. "Then we must honor her wishes. Sir, madam, you will have to leave."
The Hivers muttered something rude under their breath, but they left. Remus came and sat down beside her. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I hurt," Celeste said simply. "But I will live. How long have I been unconscious?"
"Two days," Remus said. Anticipating her next question, he added, "And the school term starts in two days."
"Will I be able to leave in time to go?" Celeste asked.
"Yes, dear," the mediwitch said, coming into the room. "We'll be releasing you in the morning." She bustled around and poured a measured dose of a potion into a small glass.
"I would really like to be awake now," Celeste said, recognizing one of the many sleep potions that Mme. Pomfrey gave her on a regular basis.
"Very well," the mediwitch said. She set the little glass down on a bedside table. "When you're ready to sleep again, go ahead and take that. If the pain gets too much, call me."
"Thank you," Celeste said. The mediwitch left the room. "How are James and Lily?" Celeste asked.
"James is spending a lot of time with his mother," Remus told her. "She suffered a heart attack after what happened to her husband. Lily pretty much stays with him. Peter and Sirius are alternating between here and the Potters house. They're moving as many of the things as possible into a flat. Mrs. Potter doesn't think she can go back to the house."
"I do not blame her," Celeste said. She looked over at Remus. "And you? How are you?"
"Very worried about you," Remus said. "But happy now that you're awake." The two of them talked until the pain got too bad. Instead of calling the mediwitch, she took the sleeping potion. Remus remained at her side as she drifted off to sleep.
The next two years at Hogwarts flew by, marred only by the death of James' mother only a few months after the start of their sixth year. The friends graduated, and plans for James and Lily's wedding swung into full gear. Celeste, much to her surprise, was asked to stand as one of Lily's bridesmaids.
"Why so surprised?" Lily asked. "Remus, Sirius, and Peter are James' attendants. Raven is coming back from America so she can be one of my bridesmaids." She sighed. "And I gave in and let Peter's girlfriend Martha be my third bridesmaid."
"Is she not that short and plump brown-haired girl?" Celeste asked curiously.
Lily nodded. "I wouldn't have thought to let her be one, but since you and Raven are attached to Remus and Sirius, I just couldn't refuse Peter when he asked," she said.
"I am sure it will turn out all right," Celeste said. "Have you heard from your sister?"
Lily nodded. "I sent her invitation via Muggle post," she said. "Petunia's pretty much washed her hands of me. She says that she doesn't want me at her wedding, which is next summer, so I shouldn't expect her to attend mine."
"Do you know who she will be marrying?" Celeste asked.
"Vernon Dursley, a true and complete Muggle," Lily said wryly. "They're perfect for each other. Neither of them wants to admit that magic exists, although Vernon does know what I am. I met him over our last Christmas holiday, when I went home briefly to get the rest of my things." She shook her head. "At least they'll be happy in their mediocrity." Lily gave her friend a shrewd look. "What about you? When are you and Remus going to get married?"
"We have talked, and we will think more after you are married," Celeste said evasively. No one, except for Remus, Sirius, Raven, and herself, knew the actual truth. The four of them had gone off while James and Lily were busy one day and gotten married in secret. There were some rather shocked looks when she and Remus began living together, but their excuse had been that Remus needed a keeper and Celeste needed a protector. They claimed it was more in the nature of necessity than anything else.
"Celeste, I know that you guys have been spending a lot of time together," Lily began. "I also know that you've gotten yourself a little cottage out in the countryside that you share." She raised her hand. "I also know the reason you're giving everyone else, but you don't really think that James and I buy that, do you?"
"We are living together because we need each other," Celeste insisted.
"Yes, and you lot sneaked off and got married without telling anyone," Lily said bluntly. Celeste looked startled. "Come off it, Celeste. James has known Sirius and Remus for a long time now. And I've been around you enough to know when you're hiding something as well."
"Remus and I, we knew our wedding would be looked on as something terrible," Celeste said in a small voice. "Though not everyone knows what he is, those that do might somehow say something to make things bad for us. So we felt it would be better if we just went and did it without fuss, and made it look like our life was only to keep each other out of trouble."