Celesta was a little over a year and a half when the news that the Dark Lord had fallen. By then she was old enough to walk, babbling conversations leaving her lips. Her new father, Lucius, avoided Azkaban by claiming to be under the Imperius curse, her mother, Narcissa, claiming to only support the views of his followers. This much of Narcissa was true, for the most part. She did somewhat believe in the purity of blood status, and due to being pregnant, nobody had expected her to take part in such crimes.
Her Aunt Bellatrix was not so lucky in escaping the wizarding prison guarded by Dementors. 'Auntie Trixie' as Celesta had come to calling her naught but a few months after arriving on Narcissa's doorstep had been caught torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom, interrigating them to the location of the Dark Lord's whereabouts after not having believed He had been defeated by a child.
They were of the right, as it would come to pass nearly two decades later, but at that time nobody knew what to believe.
And so the years passed, she and Draco getting adored by their mother, showered in gifts as well as lessons. Endless ettiquette lessons for the two of them, close enough in age that they were in the same year of schooling. Tutors came and taught them to read and write, maths, history, and how to hold a wand properly. Severus Snape, their godfather, taught them rudimentary potions. Celesta and Draco both showed promise, though Celesta seemed more intrigued with the art, not able to go out as often in the sun without a parasol as Draco, who was most interested in flying lessons.
They were taught how to walk, head up, shoulders back, back straight, even steps. How to talk properly, how to eat properly.
But they were seperated for private lessons.
For Draco, Lucius pulled him aside and taught him the way to manage their family's wealth and books, allowances and the like. He also imparted his own opinion on those of dirty blood, or Mudbloods, as they were.
For Celesta, Narcissa would teach her how to follow the latest fashions in hair, clothing, and even some interior designing, whenever either female was asked what was being taught. In actuallity, Narcissa taught her daughter household charms at first, building up to the harder charms with Narcissa's wand. She was also told that while she could be in fox form when she was absolutely sure she wouldn't be caught, she was never to let anybody know that she was what was called an Animagus.
By the time they were eight, both children had a fondness for their lessons. Draco, wanting his father's approval, had come to immitate the man, reporting everything to him. Celesta similarily conversed with her mother about the recent lessons, as well as how Draco was really behaving.
They had a close bond to each other as well, despite their differences in opinion. They were each other's best friend, getting into childish tiffs that were quickly resolved.
It was after Draco's ninth birthday when Narcissa started their private lessons differently.
"Celesta, you know how we keep our real lessons a secret from everybody else?" Narcissa began, sharp eyes calculating her daughter's next words. Despite the cautious way she spoke those words, there was a warm smile on her lips, the parlor where they took their lessons already soundproofed, the elves knowing to never enter unless called.
"Yes, Mummy." Celesta responded, not having grown out of the habit yet but having grown into a rather pretty young lady. When younger, Narcissa had grown concerned with the color of her eyes and hair not changing, her skin pallor nearly as pale as her hair. It was when she was five that the healers finally had a word for it. 'Albino.' As such, the young woman before Narcissa had snow white hair, irises as red as rubies, and skin nearly as pale as her hair.
She was slightly taller than Draco at the moment, though Draco always seemed to grow a little more each day. Already Celesta was showing signs of her puberty, her chest slightly more pronounced, undershirts common in her dressing. Hair down to her waist, slightly curled towards the ends, her lashes long. Due to her age, make up was restricted to lip balm, or in case of formal events, a pinch of blusher and mascara.
"Today's lesson is extremely important not to share. Not until you're older, and only with those you trust with your life. Do you understand, Celesta Hecate Malfoy? Nobody must know about this lesson, or the following lessons. Not Dumbledore, not your godfather Severus, not your Father, and not Draco. You aren't even to write it down." Narcissa warned, gesturing towards the loveseat for Celesta to sit at.
To Celesta, this seemed important, the lesson starting with a lecture and what she assumed would be a lengthy chat. "Yes, Mummy. I won't tell anybody." she said dutifully as she took a seat, smoothing her skirt under her bum as she'd been taught to do. Gathering her loose locks into a swift braid fit to show how serious she was taking this, she took a deep breath, ruby irises tracking Narcissa's own.
Narcissa had followed her daughter, and once she secured the braid for Celesta, she took a deep breath. "Now...you know how you look different to Draco, and have seperate birthdays even though you're the same age?" she finally started, conjuring tea. She fiddled with the cup for several moments, debating her words. "You see...well. I guess first and foremost, I need to tell you that you are and always will be my daughter, do you understand?" she finally bit out, waiting for Celesta's nod before she continued.
"However, you did not come from my body. In fact, I didn't know about you until you were barely younger than a year old. You see, your birth mother was my twin. Eunomia was her name. She was much like you when she was your age, but once she got to Hogwarts...well. Our parents were distraught with her house placement and...open...association with those...less than deserving in their eyes." she started out, loosing herself in her story, not allowing Celesta's questions by holding a hand up. Occasionally she'd pause, her eyes still lost in the past as she took a sip of tea, though not once did she allow Celesta to do more than nod, to show she understood.
"Two years before the Dark Lord was defeated, your mother...she had lost your birth father, the last of his family, when she found out you were due. She was being hunted by the Dark Lord, to see if she would join him, you see. She may have been disowned by my family, but by marrying your father...she was redeemed in all other pureblood families save the Blacks. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, she refused to come back into the fold. To align herself with Him." Narcissa had to pause there, a knot in her throat.
Celesta, however, had already let her tears drip down her cheeks, occasionally sniffing. She mourned the woman she'd never known while her Mother in all but blood mourned the sister she'd lost. Refilling their tea, Narcissa slowly began once more.
"You came to me just over a year before He Who Must Not Be Named was defeated, and I loved you at once. Do you understand? You are not my -real- daughter, but I have loved you as if you were because as far as anybody is concerned, I am. You will -always- be my daughter." Narcissa stopped there, pulling Celesta to her chest, caressing her hair. "I tell you this now, because these next lessons were requested by Eunomia, for your safety. They will be harsh, my darling, but you must learn this magic. You must, and your real mother insisted on you learning this. If you do well, I will show you a memory of her, alright darling? Learn occlumency, and you will see how your mother looked, once upon a time." she begged of Celesta, kissing the top of her head.
Celesta, her pale cheeks stained with tears as she sobbed quietly, slowly nodded as she calmed. She'd learn this new magic, this Occlumency, for the woman she never knew, for her Mother holding her so tenderly as they mourned together. "I will, Mummy." she finally spoke, pulling away once she'd composed herself, a conjured tissue cleaning her cheeks of any evidence of their tears as she finished her tea.
With a nod, Narcissa pulled the books on Occlumency out, as well as handing her daughter a bag with an undetectable extension charm on it. And so their lessons began. At first it was hard, but after a year Celesta had strong barriers in her mind, even while asleep they didn't budge. Even Severus Snape couldn't get through, he'd remarked to Lucius and Narcissa, assuming the child to be a natural occlumens, never thinking that she was taught.
So in 1991, when Celesta turned eleven, the Malfoys were overjoyed to see the owl carrying her letter. Narcissa, for knowing her daughter would be safe, was proud of her daughter's progress, hidden pictures in the bag she'd gifted her daughter of her Sister. Luli became Celesta's personal elf, and Lucius even gifted her enough allowance for a familiar. Being the govenor of Hogwarts, he had a bit of pull in the decision of her familiar.
"You'll get your supplies with Draco, Celesta. I have time on the first of August to take you and your brother." Narcissa had remarked that morning, reading over the list with a critical eye. "Now darlings, go get dressed. Today we're to visit the Crabb's tea party. I hear the Greengrass and Goyle families will also be attending." she remarked, kissing Lucius sweetly as he finished his morning tea and left to the ministry.
"Yes Mother!" the children replied in tandum, finishing their breakfast before pushing their plates away, Narcissa hiding a smile as she watched them go. They had grown so well...she was proud.
Celesta, after returning to her room, chose a blue tea dress fit for the occasion. While her brother was already 5', she had seemed to not yet hit her puberty growth spurt, having stopped at 4'7", so her dress, meant to grow with her, stopped at just halfway down her lower leg. When she was taller, it'd fit at her knees, she'd been assured. Hair pulled back by Luli into a half-pony, she slipped a bit of pale pink lip tint onto her already pale lips, grabbing her matching parasol and slipping on her shoes. She met her brother at the top of the stairs, both showing a bit of excitement at the chance of seeing their friends.
"I hope they have better tea cakes." Draco remarked to his sister as they made their way down the stairs. "Last time they were positively dreadful." he continued on, Celesta's tinkling laugh leaving her smiling lips as she nodded.
"Remember when Lady Greengrass had that horrid tea? Oh Mother was so embarrassed when she had to explain why nobody was drinking it!" she had remarked, her eyes twinkling. While Lucius was home, Draco had to be careful of his words and actions, but when he was with Celesta...he was so kind. He had even promised his mother the night before that whatever Celesta did at Hogwarts, no matter who she befriended, he would not judge her. He wouldn't belittle his sister, and he'd support her choices, even if silently or needing to lie to his father.
He had been slightly confused, but had accepted the promise nonetheless.
August 1st of 1991 began as any other. The children putting on their day clothes, Celesta grabbing the bag she never left her room without, and slipping on their shoes before heading to breakfast. They were excited, however, neither child able to stomach more than half their porridge before asking their mother if it was time to leave yet. Luli appeared with a loud 'POP', and all four of them, after double checking their possessions for the moment, headed towards the fireplace.
Crowding the children and Luli into it, Narcissa grabbed a handful of floo powder, and with a loud shout of "Diagon Alley," they were off.
Author's Note: OMG! I got my first follower. THANK YOU! For those reading just casually, or just joining us on this journey, WELCOME! So, as you've noticed, this story is mostly in third point of view, but I might move that into first person, or a mixture of third and first. These first chapters were meant to let you get a feel for how Celesta was raised, how she's developed and such, but starting here on out, it'll be more about her, her thoughts and feelings. So therefore...please enjoy!