The next year past bye in a blur for Celeano. The most memorable event however was when Celeano had discovered the Chamber of Secrets. The chamber of secrets had been opened and she had known it wasn't any of the Slytherins and as it was not her she had taken to researching. By all means there should only be two people able to get into that chamber. Herself and her father. As such she began to learn about her father's early life. Upon finding his plaque for special services to the school she dug deeper into how he earned it. Apparently he had caught Rubeus Hagrid amidst a murder. Hagrid sounded so familiar to the girl until it finally dawned on her that that was the gamekeepers name. Upon some snooping she found that the man was so kind hearted it was sickening and that he couldn't possibly have killed the girl Myrtle. She then realized that her father must have killed the girl and put the blame on him, he was a half giant so they would take a prodigy's word over that of a half breed. Connecting the last of the dots Celeano had visited moaning Myrtle and discovered the chamber of secrets and the Basilisk within. What she didn't understand was who was opening the chamber if not she until she saw the Weasley girl lying on the floor with a young tom riddle specter standing over her. The Dark Lord must have been possessing the girl Celeano realised with hope shining in her eyes. She hopped more than anything that this would mean that her father may be coming back soon. Before she could move towards the spector and make herself known she heard the sound of the Potter Brat coming down in the chamber. He must be here to save the Weasley girl. Celeano quickly hid behind a pillar and decided to simply wait and watch.
She waited for what seemed like forever until the boy reached the chambers, He had been arguing with somebody for something beforehand. It sounded as though it was the bumbling fool of a defence professor. She smirked slightly at that, the less people that can put up a fight the better. The boy stupidly ran straight for the girl without waiting to see the Basilisk until father came spiraling back out of his diary. Who knew he had a flare for dramatics. Eventually it lead to a fight between the Basilisk and boy and to Celeano's surprise the stupid brat one. He then took the Basilisks toth and rammed it through the diary. Celeano had to stop herself from shrieking no as the only thing she knows of in connection to her father other than some stupid plaque. A smoking black specter of a teen Tom riddle came fleeing out of the diary screaming in agony as it was destroyed. Celeano watched as the phoenix Fawkes brought him out of the chamber, she waited until the noise was gone before heading for the exit to make sure they were gone. To her surprise it was caved in and she was trapped for now. She ignored it as she instead went over to the Basilk. It was a shame that such a beauty was killed but she wasn't going to make it's death meaningless. She reached into her over the shoulder bag and pulled out glass jar and took a temporary shrinking charm on the Basilk and placing it in the jar. It should hold for the next month so that she can dissect it for potions ingredients when she's safe at Malfoy Manor. She then used a quick accio for her broom and flew out of the chamber. Sticking to the shadows she made it back to the Slytherin Common room and into bed.
Other than the chamber fiasco Celeano had a pretty calm year. Just like in her first year she got the highest grades of her year while only answering questions when called upon. She scored perfect O's in all of her classes while staying under the radar. Unlike the Granger girl Celeano didn't flaunt her knowledge in class so it was rather easy for her to stay out of the spot light. The only professor to even notice her perfect grades was her own head of house who seemed to never miss anything. When they had meet to decide what electives she would be taking she informed him she intended on taking them all. He had been surprised that she would be taking Muggle Studies, she was after all the only Slytherin in years to sign up for the class but she had been adamant that she intended to take everything.
Celeano however, even under the radar, was extremely popular among her fellow slytherins along with Draco. Celeano had even earned a spot on the Quidditch team as Keeper replacing Miles Bletchley. Celeano had not initially wanted to play but relented to Draco's persistence. She had actually earned her place however. She cared for Draco but it was no secret that Lucius had bought his son's way onto the team. Celeano could not have been happier as the end of the year came as she was able to dissect the Basilk from the chamber. Basilks where rare and the parts where restricted goods and monitored excessively by the ministry so for her to get them was truly great. She personally loves potions and can't wait till they get into the more advanced potions. She already could brew up to the seventh year potions by the end of the year, she was advanced in all the subjects taught at Hogwarts but Potions was her passion. She also had taken an interest in the Dark Arts early on but she honestly prefered the tranquility of brewing and the need to be precise since any one mistake could cause an explosion. She liked to play with fire, she just hoped she didn't get burnt to bad.
The summer started off perfectly and Celeano had taken apart the basilisk with ease. She had no qualms of dissecting it for ingredients, dead things just didn't bother her. Even better yet this year Lucius had informed her and Draco that The Manor had been specially worded so that they could use underage magic without the ministry knowing. This had made Celeano's day as she started practicing not only theory but the magic. By the end of the summer she could cast just about any spell up to fourth year and had read all of her course books and taken notes already. She just knew her parents would be happy to have such a capable young witch. She had even convinced Lucius to teach her how to apparate early. Unlike other magic the trace can not pick up on apparition since it's not taught till people are of age. Celeano was delighted by this as she couldn't be traced if she chose to disappear for a while. As the summer ended she soon found herself on the train once more headed to Hogwarts.
Her third year was started with a bumpy ride to Hogwarts. The train was stopped by dementors. When she felt the train stop she had left the other slytherin third years in their car and walked down the carriage until she came face to face with a dementor exiting a train car. Looking curiously at the black creature she couldn't help wondering why it wasn't affecting her like she had read they were supposed to. Little did she know being born in the high security end of Azkaban with several dementors nearby for the hour she had been their rendered her immune to their effects. All this happened in a split second before a homeless looking man came out of the carriage and cast expecto patronum as a silvery wolf leapt out of his wand at the creature. He then saw Celeano standing there and immediately sent her into the train car he had just excited telling her to stay until he returned.
Celeano looked around the car he had shoved her in and she had to hold back a scowl at realizing the potter brat was in this car. Just her luck. He was on the floor and seemed to be passed out and the Granger girl and Weasley boy helped him up onto the chair as he came to right as the lights came on. The man soon came in afterwards and handed out chocolate bars to all four of them saying that it helps to eat it. Celeano held the bar in her hand but silently refused to eat it. There was no telling what the man could have put in it and she wasn't taking any chances. He looked at Potter with concern in his eye's making sure he was alright before turning toward Celeano asking "Why aren't you eating the chocolate, it will get rid of the coldness and absence of happiness faster." Celeano simply shook her head placing it back in his hands "No thank you, I'll be fine." She decides not to admit to not having felt anything from the dementors before adding "I don't eat foods given to me bye strangers I have just meet." He nodded his head accepting the bar back before introducing himself to the four students "I'm Remus Lupin, the new Defence Professor, And you are?" he asked to the group in general. "I'm Hermione Granger, this is Ronald Weasley,this is Harry Potter." She said while pointing to the boys in turn "and this is… umm I'm sorry I don't think we've met before, are you a first year?" Celeano has to hold back a scowl, she is only eleven so it's not surprising the girl would think she was a first year but honestly she had been in classes with them for two years now. Even if she does stay under the radar you would think the know it all would know who the only person with a higher grade on the class rankings. "I'm actually a third year like the three of you, My name is Celeano Black and I can understand you wouldn't know me" She said as civilly as possible before adding "I'm a Slytherin. It's a pleasure to meet you." She noticed that the new professor's eyes had widened at her last name. Interesting, she would have to remember that. The three Gryffindors were focused more on the fact she was a Slytherin however. "A polite slytherin, I didn't think one existed" exclaimed the redheaded boy. "Ronald" admonished Hermione, "Well it's true" She didn't bother to correct him on that Celeano noticed. In a split decision Celeano decided to try and befriend the golden trio, It would make it all the better when they found out who her father is. She smiled a genuine smile as she thought that before responding with her smile still in place. "We are a rare breed indeed" Ron Snickered at that before asking "If we're in the same year how come we've never met you?" Celeano easily tells a half truth "I've always been more focused on studying that making friends." She then continues with a sob story that would be sure to win them over along with the professor who seems to obviously care for Harry. "I've also kind of always believed I don't deserve friends, I mean my mother was a terrible person and she was a slytherin, in fact the hat didn't even hesitate before placing me. I suppose it has to do with the traits of a Slytherin though. I've had to be cunning in order to Survive at the Malfoy's, They were my mother's closest living Relatives so I was brought to them after I was born. My mother Bellatrix Lestrange gave birth to me in her cell in Azkaban. I always had to hide in order to avoid them. They aren't really the nicest people and I couldn't stand their views on blood purity. I guess I don't see why everyone can't get along. And then I guess I've been resourceful in finding ways to avoid them while not letting them know I don't support the stupid blood purity spiel, I mean I play on the Slytherin Quidditch team just so nobody will notice that I don't support the same belighs as most of them. Ambitious I know I am, It's why I work so hard, I want to prove not all Slytherins are bad." Celeano looks down at her feet before mumbling "I don't know why I'm even telling you this, you'll probably just make fun of me for it, or you might tell Malfoy and make my life at the Manor a living hell, IF- I should go." Fake tears well in Celeano's eyes as she quickly turns on her heel to run from the room. She figured she would slowly get them to like her but to her surprise she felt someone's hand on her wrist pulling her all the way back in the car.
"We wouldn't tell Malfoy that. We've been bullied by him for years and we wouldn't make your own house hate you along with the people you're living with. I know what it's like to live with people who hate you and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Not to mention I've been picked on by Malfoy for my scar, Ron for his family and Hermione for her looks. We wouldn't make you live like that." Hermione and Ron soon voiced their agreement and Celeano's eyes widened in shock, she had never been spoken to in such a caring way and with anyone so concerned for her and her safety. Her whole life she's been working towards making sure her parents would be proud of her, but are they really the type of people she wants to grow up like? Celeano shakes her head as her tears continue to fall but this time for real. A little bit of her resolve to make her parents proud dissolved right then and there. Harry took her into his arms in a slightly awkward hug rubbing the younger girls back until the tears stopped flowing. "Thank you, do you guys mind if I go grab my things and join you in your train car?" They all nodded and soon Celeano is in the train car she shared with Draco and the other Slytherins.
Draco wasn't in at the moment and she would later find out that almost immediately after she left he had went into his car to pick on Harry. He however got back into their train car as Celeano was just grabbing down her things. He immediately noticed her tear streaked cheeks and pulled her into his warm embrace and stroking her hair like he used to when she was little and couldn't sleep, back before she had read the letter from her mother that would make the girl desperate for the parents she never met's affection. "What's wrong Cel?" He asked as he hugged her. She desperately wanted to tell Draco about her parentage and confide all her conflicting feelings with her cousin but knew that she shouldn't, he wouldn't understand. Instead she used all her slytherin cunning to make her facial expression into a small smile as she responded "Don't worry Dragon, I'm alright, they aren't real tears. I came to grab my stuff because I'm going to trick the stupid Gryffindor trio into believing I'm their friend so I can spy on them." Draco looked confused for a moment before responding "You've been in the same year as them for two years, they have to already have you figured out to be one of the most popular of the Slytherin"
Celeano responded "I don't really talk in class unless called on and even the brains of the group couldn't come up with my name. I know it will be hard to act like we don't like eachother but I think it would be best to have someone on the inside of all their shenanigans. If They trust me they'll let things slip and you know how much your parents dislike Potter." Draco nodded before pulling her back into his arms and whispering in her hair "Alright Cel, but we'll talk about this latter in the common room, All right?" Celeano smiled up at him and responded "Yeah, oh and I want to make my story seem more believable so tell the rest of the Slytherins not to talk to me and when I sit down at the Great table to leave just enough space between me and you guys that it looks like to anyone noticing that you guys don't really like me all that much. So sort of like you put up with me or ignore me but not enough to look like you guys hate me or anything." Draco node before releasing Celeano from his grasp. She left with her stuff and before heading back to the Gryffindors car changed into her uniform and cleaned herself up. Draco's always been so nice and caring even though she knows his parents and her own aren't the best people but at the same time those three had shown her kindness when she tried to deceive them. She knows her father wants the Potter brat, no Harry she resolved to call him, dead but could she really support trying to kill a boy who despite whatever horrible childhood he had to face without his parents was kind to her. Shaking her head to clear it she decided that in her own way she would protect those she cared about while not giving up the chance to make her parents proud. She would protect Draco from almost anything if she could along with Fred and George and Lee, the Gryffindors that were nice to her despite her last name and continued to be her friend in secret, well know it wouldn't have to be a secret anymore since it would just look like she had been trying to find a way into the younger three gryffindors circle. The people she would protect unfortunately for her now included the three Gryffindors she had avoided since first year. She quickly left the stall to go sit with the gryffindors before her mind could worry about it all even more.
Sliding the door open she set her stuff with everyone else's and took a seat next to Hermione. She sat a little awkwardly at first until the new defence professor resumed the conversation they were having before she came back. He was telling them about the effects of dementors. He then looked over at Celeano before asking "Are you sure you wouldn't like some chocolate, you're still a little pale." Lupin had decided that he would help this little girl whose words reminded him of the same ones Sirius had said so many years ago. He knew in his heart that there was no way Sirius had really given up there other best friend and killed another but he had no proof. Even if he did nobody would ever listen to a werewolfs word. He looked at the small girl who reminded him of Sirius and she shook her head no before saying "Maybe just a square" He opened up the bar of chocolate and split it in half just like he used to do with Sirius "How about halfs?" She nodded her head with a slight smile on her face as she accepted half the bar. Celeano eyed the bar a little wearily but as soon as she saw the new teacher take a bite of his half she started to nibble on the chocolate. "Thank you Professor Lupin she said with a small smile on her face, she wasn't really a big sweets person but the chocolate was a bittersweet flavor that put a smile on her face. The Professor smiled happily before telling the Gryffindors in the room that we were almost to school so they best change. They left with a pair of robes in hand and Celeano was left with the odd new Professor. She looked over his things and noticed that they looked almost as raggedy as the man's clothes. She looked up at him and noticed he caught her eying his things and she quickly blushed as she looked away knowing the man knew she was silently judging him even if she hadn't said anything about it. She muttered a quick apology as she looked away.
He couldn't help but simply smile at the girl sitting there. She seemed so innocent yet like she wears a mask at the same time. Celeano could feel her eyes on her and she stared at the floor before asking "So… are you excited to be teaching at Hogwarts for the year?, you do know it's a cursed job and that nobody's lasted more than a year for a long time?" The man chuckled slightly before saying "I am aware that no one's been able to hold the position for long and I am very much delighted to have the job at Hogwarts, I had always wanted to be a teacher." Celeano's curiosity was immediately piqued at this. The man obviously hasn't got a lot of money based on his clothes and luggage yet say's he's always wanted to teach implying he's never been able to get a job. Is he another bad teacher like the past to making the only job teaching he can get be a cursed one or was there something else. "You say you have always wanted to teach, Why haven't you before?" The man had a pained smile as he responded "I'm afraid I've just never had an opportunity." Changing the subject in an obviously Gryffindor way, no subtly "Enough of me, How about you are you excited to be going back to hogwarts?" Celeano let the topic change go as she responded "I suppose, I wish it was more challenging, I've already got the theory and magic down to just about everything through fourth year and I've already taken notes for the entire year from each chapter of all my books. I've even memorised the instructions for all of the potions up through third year and am pretty sure I can brew just about anything through seventh year. I actually want to do something with potions when I'm older but I probably won't get to if my parents ever… er get out" She trailed off with the sentence her face filled with worry, at one point that thought would have filled her with hope but now she's not so sure. Shaking her head once again she strengthened her resolve once more. She would make her parents proud, one act of kindness from Harry, no it was a foolish thing to decided to call him that, the potter brat shouldn't affect her this much. She just had to make it through the year. She decides to brush past it with a joke "I only hope Defence isn't a complete waste of time this year." She put a slight smirk on her face so he would know she was joking and to her surprise he chuckled slightly. Little did she know just how much she reminded the man of Sirius. "I will try not to disappoint." With that the door opened back up and Hermione joined them soon followed by Harry and Ron. They ended up having a great conversation and she had to keep reminding herself that she wanted to make her parents proud and that specifically meant not actually being friends with potter. Besides he's the reason her parents were locked away or, practically dead, or at least that's what she told herself.
When they got to the school Professor Lupin waved a goodbye to them and they got in a carriage pulled by therestals. Celeano couldn't see them but she knew they were there. She had been fascinated with them when she was four or five after having read about them. In fact she had even contemplated murder in order to be able to see them. She opened the carriage door and hopped in before sliding over. Hermione once again sat next to her while Ron and Harry sat next to one another. When they reached the castle she waved goodbye as she took her seat at the Slytherin table. She noticed that they had listened and they sat just a little away and purposely didn't include her in the conversation. She sat quietly watching the sorting and half heartedly clapped for the new slytherins to make it look as though she was sort of out of the loop yet not enough for anyone else to notice. Dinner went bye in a drag and when they finally made it to the confines of the Slytherin common room her and the rest of the third years sat together after Professor Snape's welcoming speech and announcing the party. Draco immediately filled everyone in on everything and i added to it here and there and they all agreed to only talk like friends in the common room.
The next few weeks proved to be hard balancing her life out, she hated only being able to talk to the Slytherins in the common room but her new Gryffindor friends wouldn't understand and she had to make all her Slytherin friends believe she was solely hanging out with them to spy. It was also hard when she had decided to start up tutoring the younger Slytherins because she had to make sure they only approached her in the common room. She wanted to keep in touch with all her housemates though and keep her popularity in her house. She did end up finding a delicate balance. She would spend have the time in the slytherin common and the other half with her Gryffindor friends, no that's not the word, aquanetics? She had told the three Gryffindors about how she had been friends with Fred, George and Lee since first year in secret but that she decided she didn't care anymore if she was seen hanging out with Gryffindors and that she was tired of feeling lonely, a half truth at least. She didn't care anymore that she was seen with them since all the Slytherins believed she was solely spying on them. Hermione and Celeano had both bonded over the fact that they were both taking each elective. After the sorting feast both had been called to Dumbledore's office and met with him, Professor McGonagall and her own head of house Professor Snape to discuss if they would truly be able to take the work load. With both girls wanting to take all the electives they had rearranged the schedule so that they could take them all without any of the electives conflicting. Celeano had found it easy to keep up with the classes as she had already taken notes over the summer where as Hermione had only read all of the books. Celeano felt slightly smug at the fact that she knew she was having an easier time. She had been spending time with her parents so she hadn't had as much free time as Celeano. Celeano also unlike Hermione did not pay attention in class unless it was practical lessons, test or quizzes or that all of her homework was already done. She had already read the books and taken notes so she saw no point in paying attention when she could be finishing her homework so she could spend time with her housemates and the gryffindors.