Celeste woke on September 1st just after seven in the morning. Too excited to wait, she got up and showered before dressing in her new robe. A dark purple long sleeved dress with collared sleeves, allowing her to put on feminine cuff links as she fastened them.
"Luli, will you fetch Mother? I think she'd like to do my hair one last time before Christmas Holidays." she asked her house elf as she settled the bed.
"At once, young Miss." was her only reply, disapperating once Celesta's room had been cleaned.
Narcissa strode into the room not long after, a smile on her lips. "You have Maera already in her carrier?" she asked her daughter, noting the fox and carrier to be nowhere in her room as she stood behind her in the vanity. "How would you like your hair?" she asked after a beat, brushing the snowy locks of her hair.
"Luli is making sure she gets her biological needs met before the long train ride," she replied to her mother, before closing her eyes as she debated her options. "If it's in a tight braid it'd give me a headache before I even got to Hogwarts. Can it be put into a half braid?" Celesta paused a little bit at the end of her question, before nodding her head. "With the rest of my hair in light waves it'll still be respectful and neat."
Narcissa nodded as she pulled back strands from her face, her fingers warm as they carressed her scalp. "Thank you, Mother." she said as Narcissa put on the hair tie, charmed to stay in place until it was removed.
"Your very welcome dear. Breakfast will be in a few minutes." Narcissa replied, stepping back to admire the young lady she'd raised.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, Celesta focusing on eating her fill, having been told they wouldn't eat again until the first of the year feast. Draco too, was making sure he had enough to eat, though Narcissa and Lucius conversed quietly, making plans for the weekend.
While both busy with their own jobs, Lucius with governing the school and both of them with seats on the Wizengamot seats, Narcissa being the last of Pure Black blood not currently imprisoned, they seemed to have a strong romantic bond. At least twice a month they left she and Draco to the care of the elves in their employ.
Finally, it grew time to leave, Narcissa giving them lasts hugs and kisses before Lucius remarked that they'd be late if they dallied any longer. Each of them gripping their pet's carriers, they gripped Lucius's offered arms, disapperating.
Draco rushed off almost immediately shouting that he was going to find Crabbe and Goyle. Lucius smiled fondly after him, before turning to Celesta. "Did you pack your parasol?" he asked her, leading her to the train. Loading the unshrunken trunks onto it, he helped her onto the train.
"Yes father." she replied, turning back to the mostly stoic man with a calm smile on her lips. He looked over her briefly, assessing her.
"Make sure you and your brother don't get into trouble. You know how your mother worries." he finally said, pulling out his watch. "We'll see you over the Holidays." were his last words before he nodded and apparated away, leaving Celesta to find an empty compartment.
While having grown with the 'proper' crowd, she hadn't exactly become more than acquantences with Daphne Greengrass or Pansy Parkenson. Even Millicent Bullstrode, a half-blood, wasn't quite the friendly sort. Celesta didn't mind exactly. She socialized when needed or required by her Mother, but she had much preferred the company of her Godfather when he was able to spare the time, or with her Mother.
Finding an empty compartment in the middle of the train, she set Maera's carrier down in the seat, letting the fox out and sitting by the window, watching the platform as the train slowly filled. Her eyes caught on the messy haired boy, once more escorted by the half-giant Hagrid, as well as a large family filled with red heads, the portly matriarch checking over the youngest boy as the other's boarded. Finally, the warning whistle blew, stragglers hopping on the train.
Jumping when the compartment door opened, her red eyes flashed to the doorway. "Mind if I join you? Everywhere else is full." spoke a girl with bushy brown hair with a slight overbite. Celeste nodded, nudging Maera's carrier under the seats to make room, assuming that soon her compartment would have others in it. "My name's Harmione Granger, and you are?" the girl asked after she got settled, already dressed in her robes.
At first Celesta didn't respond, too amused by the fact that this other first year was already in her school robes. "Celesta Malfoy." she finally responded with a polite smile. While Draco may have adopted their father's prejudices, she had not. "Excited?" she remarked calmly, stroking Maera's fur.
"Oh yes! I just can't wait to get to Hogwarts. I've read all about it in Hogwarts: A History. I'm the first witch in my family, you see, so I just have to learn all I can." Hermione replied. She was animated, talking with her hands, bouncing in her seat. "Oh! Is that a Kumigo? I've read they're extremely rare to see in Europe!"
Looking down at Maera fondly, Celesta nodded. "Yes. She's friendly, so long as you don't threaten me. They're fiercely loyal to their owners, often adopting their lifespans even to protect them. She's just a kit currently, which is why she's so small, but apparently she's the runt of the litter, so she won't be much bigger even once full grown." she explained. "Right now she only has two tails, but when she's fully matured, she'll have nine."
Hermione nodded, letting Maera sniff her fingers before stroking her fur. "She's very beautiful!" she remarked calmly, smiling.
As the hours began to pass, Celesta and Hermione got to know one another, promising to be friends no matter the house should they be seperated after the sorting. An hour before they would stop at Hogwarts, a rather large first year knocked on their compartment, asking if they'd seen his toad, Trevor.
"No, but I'll help you look!" Hermione stated, Celesta snacking on a cauldren cake she'd gotten from the trolley lady making her return trip from the back of the train. Waving at Celesta, the bushy haired girl left, leaving the pale girl on her own once more. Finishing her snack and wiping her lips with a hankerchief, she sighed, setting Maera onto the seat and locking the compartment as she pulled her robes out of her bag. Changing was a simple affair, the girl pulling out a hand mirror and adjusting her hair almost nervously. She unlocked the door just as they got the announcement they were almost there.
"Time to go back into the carrier, Maera. The house elves will let you out in my dorm after I've been sorted." she replied, only to receive a growl. Laughing a bit, she nodded, setting the carrier down and letting the kit climb up, resting on her shoulders and blending with her long hair. "Just be quiet." she remarked as the train came to a stop, prefects advising first years to leave their things.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" She heard coming from the hairy half-giant, following along with the others to the boats. "No more'n four to a boat!" He ordered in his loud voice so all forty of them could hear. Both Draco's boat and Hermione's seemed to be filled, so Celesta found one with Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Susan Bones. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then-FORWARD!"
And then they were off, everybody ducking when they reached the cliff. Trevor the toad seemed to have been found at last, Hagrid pulling him out of his pocket and handing it to Neville Longbottom before they were led into the castle, stopping in front of a large oak door that opened immediately after Hagrid knocked. "The firs' years, Professor Mcgonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid, I will take them from here." the stern looking woman said, pulling the door open wide and leading the first years into the large entrance hall. Following Professor Mcgonagall into a smaller empty chamber off the hall, the students crowded in, pushing and shoving in order to fit, everybody peering about nervously. Celesta, having rather sensitive skin due to her condition, stayed towards the back, where there seemed to be the most space.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor Mcgonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the great hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room.
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Professor Mcgonagall finally stated, her eyes lingering on Neville's cloak and the youngest Weasley's nose. "I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." After those words, the Professor left the chamber.
Quiet murmurs spread through the chamber as new found friends helped each other with their robes and cloaks, straightening their hats. Suddenly, a muggleborn screamed next to her, causing everybody to jump as they turned to stare. Twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall, taalking to one another, hardly sparing them a glance, seeming to be arguing. Celesta didn't catch much of the conversation, her fingers loosening on her wand as she slipped it back into her holster.
"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony's about to start," a sharp voice commanded of the spirits. Professor Mcgonagall had returned. Once the ghosts had floated away through the opposite wall they came in, she turned to the first years. "Now, form a line and follow me."
Once again Celesta found herself at the back of the line, Maera's comforting warmth on the back of her neck filling her with courage as she followed her peers into the great hall, many students captivated by the floating candles above the four long tables filled with older students. At the top of the hall sat another long table, staff members and teachers sitting as Professor Mcgonagall led the first years to them, halting them at the head of the two middle tables.
Silently, Professor Mcgonagall set down a four-legged stool in front of the first years, setting a pointed wizard's hat on top of it. The hat was ragged and slightly dirtied, Celesta turning up her nose slightly, before gasping with the other first years as it seemed to split at the seems, spouting the start-of-term rhyme it always did at the Sorting Ceremony.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
After it's song, the hat bowed to the applauding hall before going still once more, Professor Mcgonagall stepping forward with a long parchment.
"Abbott, Hannah." she called. And so the ceremony began, the students called alphebetically. Celesta didn't pay much attention until Hermione was called, the girl getting placed in Gryffindor. All too soon it was her turn. "Malfoy, Celesta." drawled Mcgonagall, the albino girl pushing her way past her brother, the Patil twins, Potter, and Weasley. Calmly, she turned to face the crowd, the sorting hat soon covering her eyes.
"Ah, another Selwyn. Oh don't worry so, child. I am made of goblin magic, and as such I'm able to pass the magic placed on you. Now where to put you...you're extremely loyal, yes, but also very studius. I see a cunningness in you as well. Must be cunning, to keep those secrets safe. And yet...oh yes. I know exactly where to put you. Better be..."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Hat removed, the red and gold table burst into shattered applause, shocked that a Malfoy was joining their house, she presumed. Nodding to the professor, she made her way to the table, her pale cheeks pinkening slightly at the whistles a red-headed pair of twins gave for her, the two of them winking at her from down the table. Sitting next to Hermione, she grinned a little bit, though her hands shook as she set them in her lap. Her mother wouldn't care, but her father...she was not looking forward to owling him. However she was already penning the letter she'd send in the morning in her head, pausing and clapping with the Slytherin house when her brother was placed there, and clapping with the rest of her house when Weasley and Potter joined them. At least her first year would be eventful, she surmised, missing Dumbledore's words and smiling as food appeared on the table.
Filling her plate, she conversed with her new friend politely as she ate, sneaking Maera bites of ham. By the time she and the others were led to Gryffindor Tower, her eyes were drooping and she was ready for bed. Classes would begin the next day, they were told once they made it into the common room, so they should get some rest if they were able.
Finding out she and Hermione shared a dorm with three others, one of the Patil twins, a Sally Smith, and Lavender Brown, came as a relief to Celesta as she sat at the end of her bed, the second from the door. A window seperated Hermione's bed and her own, a chest of drawers to the left of each girl. Maera found herself settling to the right of Celesta's pillow as the albino made polite conversation, unpacking her trunk quietly before grabbing her parchment, a pot of ink, and her quill.
Her first letter was to her mother, hoping she'd be able to calm her father at the news of her sorting.
'Dear Mother,
I'm writing to you from my dorm in Gryffindo tower. I know that you do not care what house I am in, for you've assured me you'll love me no matter what. However I know father will be at least displeased, and at the most very furious. Please know that I will not bring shame to the house of Malfoy however. We receive our schedules tomorrow.
Love,
Celesta Hecate Malfoy'
Rolling up the parchment, she sealed it with was over a ribbon before asking to borrow Lavender's tawny owl. The others joined her in asking, all five of them penning letters to their family swiftly after making sure that Cyrus was up to making five trips. Letters sent, pleasentries exchanged and pajamas on, the five of them went to bed, Celesta drawing the curtains closed before finally closing her eyes, asleep before she hit the pillow.
Author's Note: From here on out, I will be using some of the book and some of the movie's lines at least in regards to the lessons. As Celesta's friendships grow, and obviously as both the movies and books follow Harry and not Hermione, some lines will be changed and/or omitted. Keep in mind Celesta is a quiet child, doing as she was told growing up while also following her own passions. She'll most likely be friendly to Ron and Harry, best friends with Hermione, but otherwise she'll keep her head down. It is her first year, and she's somewhat terrified of her father's reaction to her House placement. That in mind, this is a slow-burn Weasley twin triad fic. SPOILER: Fred will live. So expect some interaction with the twins.