It was already evening time.
The Grand Duke sighed at the seemingly non-stop journey in the carriage as his eyes spotted a Manor a bit further away.
A wistful smile appeared on his face as he suddenly remembered whom it had belonged to.
Lord Potter.
The Lord Potter before the last one had been a good friend, and an even greater one to the king before he passed decades back.
It had been unfortunate, hearing about the death of his son years back.
He'd known the son left a daughter behind but didn't know much about her. Apparently some family from the wife's side had taken her in and raised her as one of theirs.
He hopes he'd run into her, If she still lived there that is, and wasn't already married.
The Potter line would be a great addition to the royal line, after all.
Once the carriage stopped in front of the Manor gates, the Grand Duke stepped down with a sigh of relief, a guard opening the gate and the group walked in while the crowd stood by the doors, anticipating if the new princess would walk through the doors with the duke, and quite a number of them chattering about one name.
Celeste.
Manor.
"Oh mother they're at the door!"
Charlotte screeched out and Abigail slapped her over the head.
"Shut up! They could hear you!"
Charlotte turned a glare on her sister, slowly advancing on her.
"Why you…"
"Quiet!"
Petunia coldly silenced her daughters, patting at their hair and making sure they looked as impeccable as ever.
"Now, remember to act like a lady and courtesy as soon as you're introduced. Understood?"
"Yes mother."
They promised eagerly when there was a loud knock on the door.
"Announcing His Imperial Grace, the Grand Duke!"
Petunia patted her hair down slightly. She might not have been young enough for the prince, but the duke was a single man still.
She put on a coy smile and opened the door to see some guards and the Duke in front, a young man holding a chest probably containing the glass slipper in it.
Petunia then courtesies rather low, showing some cleavage the Duke was certainly not interested in at the moment, rather, he just wanted to go home and soak in his bath and sleep for days!
"You honor our humble home, m'Lord."
The Duke cleared his throat, a tired look on his face as he walked in, the guard with the chest and two others walking in, Rolf being one of them, and two staying behind and guarding the door.
"Ahem. Quite so."
As he stood in the large living area, two girls walked over and Slughorn suddenly remembered them with a look of grimace.
"May I present my daughters, Drizella and Anastasia."
"Your Grace."
Abigail spoke in a seemingly timid voice as the sisters curtsey and Slughorn stifled another sigh.
"Yes. Charmed I'm sure. Are you the only ones who live here?"
He looked around the home as he suddenly remembered the Potter heiress again.
Petunia gave a demure smile.
"Of course your grace. My husband passed away over a decade ago and so it's just me and my beautiful daughters."
Rolf rolled his eyes beneath his helmet but the Grand Duke still wasn't done yet.
"And the Potter heiress?"
That drew Petunia short as her hands shook slightly, wondering how exactly he knew that name.
"Excuse me?... Sire?..."
Slughorn waved his hand around.
"I remember the Potters. Close friends with the crown. Their deaths had been a sad thing in the castle. But I do know they left behind a daughter. She should be slightly of age right now. Is she perhaps married?"
Abigail snorted, a sneer appearing on her face.
"Oh you mean potter head—"
"Yes! She's married!"
Petunia immediately cut in, panic in her eyes as her daughters turned to her, confused and Rolf's eyes narrowed as he suddenly knew something was up.
"She got married a few months ago. Happily married, see… moved to a small neighboring kingdom to be with her beau."
She feigned a laugh and Slughorn sighed rather disappointedly.
"Pity. She might have made a good princess… anyways, let's get to why we are here."
As the guard with the chest stepped forward, Rolf sneakily excused himself out the door, walking through the back and searching out the attic window, after all, he remembered when Luna and Hermione had mentioned Celeste's room.
Damn Dursleys!
Meanwhile, as the guard opened the chest, the three females gasped at just how beautiful and well detailed it was.
Slughorn immediately knew neither of these two girls were not the mystery girl from that night. Then again he'd already known that from their outfits that night too.
Petunia angrily wondered whether Celeste had been that girl from the ball, but she shook it away, after all, where would that poor little wretch have gotten such a beautiful outfit that stood out so purely that evening??
"Why, that's my slipper!"
Abigail gushed, as she stared at it in awe and Charlotte huffed, using a bony elbow to hit her sister.
"What she means is… it's my slipper!"
The two girls turned to each other with glares and Slughorn sighed wearily.
"How can she—"
"Girls, girls!"
Petunia chided her daughters, giving them a stink eye.
"Your manners. A thousand pardons, Your Grace, you must be quite fatigued. May we offer you some tea?"
Slughorn immediately shook his head, wanting this to be over and done with as quick as possible.
"What? Tea? Thank you, madam, no. We must proceed with the... the fitting—"
"Oh please! That would be rude of me!"
She laughed, already moving towards the kitchen.
"It'll only take a moment!"
After all, if her children could not fit the slippers, then she'd have to charm him with her kindness then.
Back with Rolf, he stared up at a window at the very top of the Manor, slightly opened but facing away from the main gate and secluded.
"Celeste! Celeste are you there??"
He whisper shouted, not wanting to alert anyone to what he was up to.
Sadly it was way too far for her to hear him and so he looked around for any pebbles, grabbing some from a flower bush and moving back just a bit.
And then he started throwing the pebbles as high as he could while hoping the windows didn't end up breaking.
He was already committing a crime with what he was up to.
Celeste sat on the floor of her room, resting by her bed and cleaning her tears.
She knew the Grand Duke was already in their home and as much as she'd banged on the door and screamed out for help, it was just too far for anyone to hear her.
So this was how her dreams would crash?
Tears fell down her face and her whole body shook with not just sadness, but anger as well.
Whatever had she done to face such hatred from her own aunt.
Her mother's sister!
Oh how she wished she could exact revenge right now, but… she was so weak. Her body had given up!
Clang!
Celeste blinked back into consciousness at the sound of something hitting her window.
She turned back slightly but looked away. It was probably a stray bird or something—
Clang!
This time, Celeste jumped startled as she got to her feet, looking at her window confused.
Clang!
Okay, this time she actually did see a pebble hit her window.
She rushed to it and opened it, looking down and frowning as she spots a guard staring up at her.
"Celeste! It's me!"
The guard waved and removed his helmet for a moment and Celeste's face brightened in joy as she immediately spotted her friend, Rolf.
"Rolf! W-what are you doing here?!"
She whisper shouted back and he scoffed.
"Making sure you get your prince!"
Immediately he said that, a feeling grew in Celeste's heart.
Hope.
Hope that she just would get her happily ever after.
Then she frowned.
"My door… it's locked. I can't get through…"
Rolf frowned, deep in thoughts.
He knew he couldn't just walk through the front and be granted access.
Perhaps though…
"Is there another door leading to the attic??"
Celeste brightened up at that idea.
"Oh yes! Yes of course! There's a back door by the kitchen with rickety steps all the way to the attic!"
Rolf nodded, quickly putting on his helmet again.
"Alright, hold on! I'll be with you shortly!"
"Be careful!"
She called out and stood back up, a small grin bursting through her face.
This was happening!
It was really happening!
Petunia walks back into the living area with a tray in hand, teapot, a cup and spoon, some pot of milk and sugar as well on it and she laid it on a table by the chair Slughorn sat, pouring him some as she sat on the arm rest and the Duke inched away slightly.
"W-well we'll start with the testing I guess."
He motioned to the two guards and the two sisters gushed.
"I'll start"
Abigail stepped forward to sit on a chair and Charlotte pushed her away, rushing to sit.
"Too late sister!"
She raised her leg slightly as Abigail glared at her.
A guard then kneels and takes the slippers out of the chest the other guard was still holding, daintily putting it on her leg but it stops only halfway.
"Exactly my size. I always wear the same size. As soon as I saw it, I said—Oh!"
Charlotte feigns a laughter and the Brand Duke sighs with relief.
"Well… it… it may be a trifle snug today. You know how it is… dancing all night. I can't understand why. It's always fit perfectly before. I don't think you're half trying! Mother, can you—"
"Are you sure you're putting on the right way, young man?"
Petunia glares at the guard as Abigail chortles uncontrollably by the side.
"Oh, it's the right foot, but it must have shrunk or something. A glass shoe isn't always reliable."
Charlotte glares at the slipper, slapping the guards hand away and trying to force it on but the guard quickly snatches it back and stands up, glaring at the girl under his helmet.
"It would seem you're not the one, young lady."
Petunia stands up, rewarding the Duke with a smile.
"But your grace—"
"No ma'am, we can hardly wait anymore. The skies are already darkening out and I must reach the palace soon."
He said and Petunia gritted her teeth before hear head snapped to her other daughter.
"Abigail!"
She snapped and Abigail smirked as she pushed her sister off the chair and flopped on it, her weight causing the chair to creak slightly.
Meanwhile…
Rolf reaches a wooden and slightly creaky door which he guessed to be the attic door and banged at it.
"Celeste?! Are you in there?!"
Celeste's eyes widened at his voice and rushed to the door, pressing her ear to it.
"ROLF?! Yeah it's me! But the doors still locked though! However will I come out??"
She shouted out urgently and Rolf looked at the door.
It was slightly old, and his strength should be enough to crash it down.
"Stand back Celeste."
He called out and she frowned but listened to him, moving towards her bed.
Told then pushes his body weight against the door at first but it doesn't budge.
The second time though, he uses his leg to hit it open and Celeste jumps slightly as the door opens with a very loud force and Rolf walks in with a slight puff.
"Hey Celeste! Ready to claim your slipper??"
Celeste beamed as she threw herself at her friend in a hug and pulled back.
"Come on! Let's go quickly!"
He held her hand but she paused, looking at her bed.
"Hold on…"
She moves to her pillow, raising it up.
"I have something to grab."
Rolf sees the item and smiles.
Petunia's head snaps up at the sound of a bang and she frowned.
"Alright then. Let's have this over with."
Slughorn sighed as he motioned to the guard who knelt on one knee, trying to put the glass slipper on Abigail's feet.
The guard frowns.
"My lord, it doesn't—"
"Move away! I'll do it myself!"
Abigail snarls, pushing the guard from her and forcing her leg into the shoe, wincing.
The Grand Duke spluttered, standing up to his feet, fear in his eyes at what the king would do to him if the slipper got damaged before he found it's owner.
"Unhand that slipper at once! Guards!"
He gestured towards Abigail with flailing hands but before a guard could reach her, Abigail crowed in satisfaction.
"There! It fits!"
Petunia gasped, jumping to her feet in joy.
"It fits!!"
"It fits?"
Slughorn let out, confused.
He could remember the maiden at the dance… and it certainly hadn't been this… person.
Oh, the poor prince.
"It fits mother!"
Abigail screamed out in glee, moving to stand as Charlotte let out a woeful cry.
But as her leg hit the ground, Abigail let out a pained shout.
"Arrgh! If hurts!"
She winced, and the shoe slipped off her foot, as she raised her leg, but… perhaps it was fate… perhaps it was karma… or want for the Dursleys to be punished, the slipper fell on the tiled ground… shattering.
"No!!!"
Slughorn cried out in pain, falling to his knees, even as a guard rushed to him.
"Your grace!"
"The slipper!!"
He cried out, Petunia letting out a shocked gasp, Abigail scampering back in fear as a guard brought out his sword, pointing it at her while Charlotte hid behind her mother.
"What have you done??"
Slughorn roared out, anger clouding him and Petunia knew she had to calm him down, else he turned his ire on her and her children.
"Y-your grace, please… it was only a mistake."
"A mistake! The king will have your heads for this!"
He turned to her and Petunia's skin turned white.
She'd forgotten about the king!
"Wait!"
Petunia's face darkened at the voice.
"Please, wait!"
"Your grace!"
Rolf Scamander ran down, a maiden behind him, startling the Grand Duke from his anger.
"What is going on here?? Heir Scamander! How—"
"This is Lady Potter! Lord Potter's daughter. She's the maiden from the ball!"
Slughorn's jaw dropped as Petunia let out an angry shout.
"No! She can't have been! She has no—"
"You told me the Lord Potter's daughter was married!"
Petunia closed her mouth.
"Mother! You can't let her!"
Charlotte whined!
"It's a lie! She wasn't at the Ball! She's just a stupid servant girl!"
Slughorn's eyes narrowed the more he tried to gather information, even as Petunia tried to shush her daughter.
He turned to Rolf.
"What is going on here?"
"She was the maiden, your highness. Look for yourself."
He gently pulled Celeste forward and Slughorn looked right at her, studying her features.
Those eyes… while she had the Potter hair and pale skin… those emerald green eyes… much like the maiden from the ball.
"How…"
"You can't prove it!"
Petunia's shrilly voice resonated around as he dark smirk grew across her face.
"The slipper… you all forget it has been destroyed."
She points at the slipper that was surprisingly… broken into 4 different pieces.
Slughorn sighed sadly but Celeste smiled, clearing her throat.
"Sire… perhaps I could help out."
"No… no you can't. This is horrible!"
He bemoaned, slumping into a chair with a sad face. Then he sat up, fearful.
"The King! What will he say? What have we done?"
Celeste raised a hand with a small smile.
"But maybe, if it would help—"
"No, no. Nothing can help now, nothing. It's doomed. I'm doomed."
"But you see, I have the other slipper…"
She pulls the other slipper out of her apron, causing Petunia to fall to the ground in shock, Abigail and Charlotte letting out a gasp, pointing at the glittering second pair as Celeste let out a winning smirk.
The Grand Duke's eyes popped out for a moment before he let out a celebratory whoop, some guards letting out a sign of relief as their seeming search had come to an end.
"Quick! My lady, sit down!"
Slughorn helped her to his now vacated chair and Rolf knelt on a knee, helping her out on the slipper, and to the relief of most… it fit!
"It's perfect!"
The Grand Duke shouted out in glee and Celeste grinned happily.
Things were finally looking up for her.
Slughorn turned to Petunia with a glare.
"It would seem that you and your daughters have a lot to answer for… not just for the careless handling of a royal item… but lying to the Grand Duke about the whereabouts of one of the king's subjects. One who comes from a family closely acquainted with the king."
Petunia struggled to her feet.
"Y-your grace! Please, I—"
"Guards! Escort them away!"
He turned away from them, ignoring their protests and turning to the soon to be princess.
"Lady Potter… what is your name?"
"Celeste, your grace…"
She then hesitated.
"What's… what's going to happen to them?"
Slughorn grimaced.
"They will be brought before the King and his council. But that will be a while… I am sure he'd love to meet his future daughter-in-law."
He winked and Celeste blushed.
"And the prince?"
Slughorn smiled.
"Waiting to welcome you home."
Celeste teared up at that.
"Home… yes… yes I think I'd like that very much."
Rolf helped her remove the slipper as another guard packed up the shards of the other broken slipper.
Celeste got to her feet, idly wondering how she could get in touch with Hermione and Luna.
"I know what you're thinking."
Rolf absentmindedly said with an amused grin.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'd be allowed visitors later on… at least before your wedding."
He grinned and Celeste huffed with a smile.
"Oh. You!"
And as Celeste is escorted out by the Grand Duke and guards, the crowd waiting outside immediately knew… she was the girl from the Ball.
It would spread out and into the kingdom before the day was out and by the morning, everyone would know wedding preparations were to be in place.
But… that was a story for another day.
Wow!!
It's been a couple of months!!
But as you all can see, I definitely didn't forget this fic.
I still have a chapter left and I'm done but yes!!!
Please comment!!!
Thanks for reading!!