Chapter Fifteen
"Stupefy!" Celeste shouted while pointing her wand at Draco. He easily deflected the spell. Of course. It was only a simple one at that. The blonde placed her hands upon her knees as did her twin. Both panthing from the pratice they were doing since this morning. Wiping sweat from her forehead as the sun was way past noon now. It was evening for all they knew.
"Come on! Battles don't take breaks!" The hissing came from the voice of Bellatrix.
"Can't we take a break?!" Draco shouted while throwing a silent curse towards Celeste.
"Protego!" She slashed her wand across in front of her to repel. Standing up straight now as she stretched out her back. Her brother had finally mastered the spells without speaking. The heat of the summer was getting to them. Draco was drenched with sweat as well was his sister. The crickets and birds singing their songs. Trees surronding them were silent due to no wind in the air. Instead, the air was dry. No moist told them there was no rain on the way. Throats dry along the air as Celeste tried taking a gulp of water the elf had brought her. She could see the family cat from the corner of her eyes bathing in the sun by a nearby bush.
"I said no breaks! CRUCIO!" Bellatrix screamed. The curse had hit Celeste hard against her chest. Falling to the ground as the pain had sliced her on the insides. Feeling thousands of needles stabbing her all over. Over and over again. Letting out an ear splitting scream. Her body shaking to fight off the curse. Hearing the cackling of her aunt while holding the curse.
"What's going on?!" The voice of Narcissa came out. "Bella! Stop!" Celeste's mother screamed at her sister. Feeling the curse lift as Celeste was gasping for her breath.
"Oh Cissy. I'm just training them." Bellatrix pouted. Getting to her feet now. Celeste raised her wand at her aunt before lowering it. There was a crowd now. The Carrows, Parkinsons, her father. Zabinis'. Even Greyback and Yaxley were all interested in the training now.
"Come to my command now." Celeste began at a low growl.
"Come again?" Bellatrix's voice asked with a curious look.
"I command you!" Celeste screamed raising her arms as a murder of crows rose from a nearby tree. The wind picking up rapidly. Circling just her and Bellatrix now. "Now!" She screamed as the crows dove all together. Attacking Bellatrix. Hearing the older witch scream before whipping her wand around her head in circles. Casting a rather large snake from her wand. Only the snake was fire.
"CUR!" Bellatrix screamed. Her stance hard with knees bent. Both hands grabbing tightly on her wand and aiming it at her neice. The firey snake roared that shook the ground. Hitting Celeste square on.
"Aqua Eructo!" Celeste screamed. The water burst not only from her wand but from the fountain nearby. Causing the firey snake put out with a loud hiss. Steam was surronding the two witches now. Celeste felt wobbly at her legs. Feeling her hair burned half way off as was her robes. Feeling the smoke overwhelm her. Nothing. Blackness.
"That was a good battle." A voice spoke out. Something was soft underneath her. She didn't want to move. Let alone open her eyes. Instead, she let the voices speak.
"I didn't agree with it. Bella is too strong." Narcissa's voice with concern.
"My dear, Celeste was powerful as well. In her own way." Her father spoke. Not knowing where he was in the room but guessing he entered by the sounds of his footsteps. "Did you see the crows? The water?" He asked. There was now silence. For a long while. Until a familiar voice had broke it. Her heart began to race again at the sound.
"Yes, that's not normal." Alecto's voice spoke.
"What do you know of normal?! Nothing you freak!" Lucius spoke.
"Don't talk to her that way." The voice of Amycus came in. "She may be dimwitted but she knows power." He added. Hearing a scoff from her father before muttering words.
"Enough!" Celeste managed to say weakly.
"You're awake." Her mother spoke.
"Long enough to hear you guys argue. It's time you stop. We're all on the same side whether we like it or not, we need to get along." The young blonde spoke as she rubbed her eyes and sat up in her bed. Wincing as she did. Feeling her shoulders fending off the heat that came from the fire.
"Careful. Nasty burn. Bella went too far." Her mother sat down. Waving her hand to dismiss the others. She could feel eyes upon her as she had her eyes find the ones starring at her. For some reason, she could feel a strong connection. Feeling her stomach have butterflies before looking down. Once the others were gone, the older blonde had pulled out her wand and starting healing the burns upon her shoulders.
"Why does father dislike her?" Celeste asked with a curious look. Feeling the burns sooth with cold air before they disappeared. Some left scars behind due to curses not able to be fully healed.
"He doesn't like her at all. The reason is unknown. Though, he is upset because the Dark Lord wants you to marry now that you're of age." Narcissa's voice spoke. There was a hint of sadness in it.
"Why? Draco's of age too." Celeste added. Sighing and shook her head.
"Yes, Draco already has someone. He's due to marry Greengrass."
"Yes! I knew it! Ha to you Pansy!" Celeste laughed and hugged her mother then pulled back. "Wait. What does that make me?" She added.
"Well, Antonin, Greyback, Amycus, and Yaxley all have eyes on you. Zabini boy also wants you. You're young, beautiful, and a pure blood. Any pure blooded wizard will want you." Narcissa spoke and hugged Celeste gently.
"I do not want any of them." She pulled her sleeve back with the Mark upon her arm but also to reveal the first burns.
"Where did that come from?"
"Ministry of Magic. Fifth year when the group and I went. Dumbledore and the Dark Lord fought. I got caught in the middle of it." She explained as her mother had cast a healing charm upon her arm. Healing everything but the Mark. Celeste had no words as of now. Instead, she hugged her mother tightly. First time, she had not wanted to let go of this woman. Who she looked just like. "I'm not marrying any of them." She spoke to break the silence.
"It's not up to you. It's up to the one who chooses you first." Narcissa spoke. As she did, the mark upon Celeste's chest had burned. She ignored this and leaned back against the wall the bed was against. She was in deep thought, not noticing her mother had left the room.
Celeste had ate her dinner in silence along with her brother. There was much tense in the air. The attack on Potter would be tonight. Celeste would stay behind with Draco and their job was to gather information for the upcoming school year from the others. Celeste had her mind on other things as the elf cleared off the table.
"Dismissed." Narcissa's voice spoke as Draco and Celeste both left rather quickly. The blonde took a turn to the library. Not knowing her brother was following her. Closing the door behind them as Celeste sat on the floor by the fire. Hearing voices as the others had left for the mission.
"Some year it's going to be." She broke the silence. Draco nodded his head in agreement. "Why are you not going back at the start of term?" She asked with a frown.
"I'm marrying Astoria during that time. I want to have our honeymoon soon as possible. Mother and father had agreed to this. We'll be back by Christmas time comes around. I have good grades. We'll keep up with the homework during." He explained.
"I'm happy you finally chose her. She's really good for you Draco." Celeste smiled.
"I know. It's not me that I am worried about. It's you. I overheard Greyback and Antonin talking after we left you with mother. They intend to woo you in anyway they can. They don't care about your well being." Draco spoke quickly. Celeste felt her heart drop. Aching as she sighed. Knowing she would have to marry who ever was fit.
"No. I don't care. I will not marry any of them. I'd rather die." She spoke back.
"Dark Lord's orders. It's to make sure you stay true to your word." He added.
"And I will. Don't worry." Celeste pulled out the letters they got from school. She was admiring the Head Girl badge she had gotten. It had HG on it with a Slytherin snake behind it. It was an interesting crest she would be wearing.
"You're in charge now Celeste. Lead them well." Draco spoke and hugged his sister. Celeste hugged him back tightly and sighed. Pulling back before leaning against the wall by the books.
"Now. We need to figure out things. I think I will start with who gets what patrols." The blonde pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write names down. It seemed Luna and Ginny had both been promoted to Prefects. Zabini was the Head Boy. Celeste had growled at this.
"I am growing weary of him." She spoke while writing down some instructions she remembered Snape had spoken to her about on the new rules.
"I hate that Muggle Studies is required now. Along with Dark Arts?" She raised a brow.
"Yeah. We are to learn to actually fight now. I'm looking forward to that. Plus, most girls are going to swoon over Amycus. Well, at least from our House." Draco chuckled as Celeste rolled her eyes at her brother. "Alecto is teaching the other class. Snape is keeping Slughorn as the Potions Professor."
Night went on for a while as Draco and Celeste shared stories with small laughter. Wiping a tear away and rubbed her side while taking a couple deep breaths.
"I'm serious! Crabbe took a blow to the head and didn't even say ouch! We swear he is part troll!" Draco added as Celeste busted out laughing and was now laying on the floor before breathing hard. Shaking her head and sighed. She was going to miss this. Just sitting by the fire with her brother. Sharing stories of their adventures at school so far. Taking a deep breath and let it out and smiled at her brother.
"So, I can what happened with the fight. What exactly happened though?" Draco asked as Celeste raised a brow. "Don't play dumb Cel. I know you well now. You're more powerful than you think." He added.
"Okay. Promise not to tell?" She asked as Draco nodded. "Okay. I did some research not too long ago. I'm what you call an Elemental Witch. I have normal powers like you and everyone else. Though, I also control the elements around me without my wand. That's how I was about to not get burned alive." She spoke. She could feel the mark upon her chest burn again and rubbed it gently. "Why does it keep burning?" She asked and frowned a little. Seeing her brother shrug his shoulders. They began to talk about classes as the sun was now touching the edge of the window that they could see out from the window. Draco began to talk about Quidditch when voices came out of no where again.
BANG!
A loud shout was heard from the front doors. Bother Celeste and Draco had jumped up and ran towards the sound with both wands at the ready. Hearing cheerful cackles from Bellatrix before the Dark Lord ordered them to be silence.
"I expect better next time! Potter has escaped!" He shouted before he disappeared.
"What happened?" Draco asked while Lucius stepped into sight as he took his mask off.
"We managed to get the date correct thanks to Severus. We also killed Moody. One crazy Auror out of the way." He spoke. Celeste could feel her heart beating rather fast at the news. Potter had escaped. Of course he did! They would had to have switched things around for them to get confused on things. Celeste was confused and raised a brow. She looked around as the others began to leave.
"Draco. Celeste. The mission did not go as we wanted it to. The Dark Lord had asked for you two to take part in the mission for the Ministry. I suggest you prepare yourselves. We leave tomorrow." Their father spoke before leaving. Celeste watched Draco do the same. Celeste however turned and left through the front door. Seeing the tall figure and short one leaving towards the gates. Running to catch up to them.
"Why?" She asked loudly enough for the two to hear.
"Why what?" The tall one spoke as they turned to face her.
"Why does father not like you?" She asked. The Carrows looked at each other before back at her. "Well?" She asked again.
"It's best to keep things such as this quiet. Some things should not be spoken about or brought up back from the past." Amycus spoke.
"He called her a freak! I'm not okay with that! Family or not." Her heart began to race. She could feel Alecto's eyes upon her.
"I admire you standing up for my sister, but as I have said, it's best to not bring up the past." He spoke again. Celeste felt frustrated and grunted.
"Fine. So be it. I won't prowl where I'm not wanted." She added.
"Celeste..." Alecto spoke as she gently touched Celeste's hand. Celeste moved her hand quickly and turned. Storming off back to the Manor. Something was going on and she needed to find out.
Draco and Celeste had spent hours together going over the plans for the attack they would be going on with the others. She rubbed her head at her desk in her room. The elf had brought her breakfast before sighing. The attack would be tonight now. She sighed and groaned. Looking out the window as black smoke slythering in the sky, landing in front of the gates up head. Returning after resting and ready for the mission in only in a few hours. She decided to lay her head down on the desk. Muttering useless words before her eyes had closed. She woke up only to find something odd and different. She was no longer in her room now.
"Celeste, come out dear!" Her mother's voice spoke. She turned around and saw a tall mirror. Celeste didn't look like herself. Instead, she was in pure white dress. Frowning at the sight before her door banged opened. Seeing her father standing there with glossy eyes. Trying to prevent himself from crying.
"What's going on?" She asked with a confused look. Her mother came into sight as did Draco. He was smiling at her before leaving as did Narcissa.
"Come my little love." Lucius spoke as he took Celeste's arm into his. Leading her out of her room and down the stairs rather quickly. Feeling her heart race. She looked around quickly as her father pulled her. They had entered the scene out to the backyard. The garden was in full bloom of flowers of every kind you could think of. Roses lined the ground, creating a path to the front. Hearing the song. The wedding song. 'Here comes the Bride' was playing. Feeling her father pulled her along with him. Celeste had tried very hard to not fall on her face or any where else. She looked around at all the smiling faces that were starring back at her. One pair of eyes had caught her. The familiar eyes of the blue-grey starring at her. They had sadness and hurt in them. It had ached Celeste's heart to the point where it felt as if a knife had pierced her heart. Not once, but several times over. She could feel her own blue eyes swell up. Her heart aching too much for her to bear. She could feel the tears fall from her eyes as she reached the front. Feeling her father take her hand and placed it into another's. She turned and looked. To find none other than Antonin. Her heart began to race.
"NO!" Celeste had screamed on top of her lungs as she had woken up from the nightmare. Her heart was still racing as she wiped her forehead of sweat. It was cold. A nightmare. She hadn't had one of those in a long time. A very long time. All of her memories were now back.