Chapter Twenty
It was a few weeks after the first day the Gryffindors all had gotten detention together in the Great Hall. They were all angry now. Rebellion was already spreading by whispers. The whispers were growing between each house now. They were angry. There was no word from Potter yet. This was giving Celeste some hope after all. Ever since Hermione had told Celeste about their plans to defeat the Dark Lord, she told him right away of their plans. Hoping the Dark Lord knew exactly what to do. After all, Potter was just a stupid boy with only six years of education that depended on his friends to help him pass. He was lazy. Though, he still had many following him. They were stupid to do so. This was not a battle they could win. A battle that meant only one side could come out alive. The grounds outside of Hogwarts was quiet. Except Quidditch practice. Celeste had to beg the Headmaster to keep Quidditch on to use as a distraction for the students. It somewhat had worked. The grounds around the school was still untouched by the cold weather that threatened to come. The leaves were changing colors rather quickly. Summer was gone and it had felt ages since it was here. Autum came beautifully. The trees shone colors of orange, red, and brown to match the scent the wind gave off from the forest. The Whomping Willow shook itself off in the distance. Shaking off the last of the leaves it was holding. Winter was coming. The temperatures fluctuating, causing the students to get confused whether to wear sweaters or just their robes.
Celeste found herself inside of the Prefects private room they were using for meetings. The only ones who never showed up were the Gryffindor ones.
"Guess they are still angry?" Clint's voice spoke as the others nodded. There was a soft knock on the door as Clint went to answer it. "Hello Luna. Come in." He spoke as the white haired girl entered with a soft smile upon her face.
"Hello. I came to inform you guys that the Gryffindor Prefects have lost their titles." Lovegood spoke as whispers went around.
"Silence." Celeste spoke out as Blaise was leaning against the wall. "We need to take this opportunity and take over this school and put it in it's rightful place. These students are going to get out of hand. There are whispers of a rebellion. We cannot allow this." She spoke as each one of her fellow Prefects nodded their heads. New orders and information was given during the meeting as new schedules were made. Due to the fact of the Gryffindors rounding up more followers for Potter. Celeste had took matters into her own hands. As the others left, only Luna, Blaise, and Clint remained.
"So, why did you want to speak to us?" Clint asked.
"I trust in you guys. The Dark Lord informed me of his plans before I left for school." Celeste began.
"We know. He wants all Muggle borns out and pure blooded only." Luna began.
"No. Well, yes. We all know Potter is going to do what ever it takes so the Dark Lord decided to look at things differently." She spoke as the others looked confused. "Here. The Dark Lord wants all magic to survive but he wants only those who deserve it. Those who work hard and become powerful. Strong at magic. Those who fail in any years are kicked out of school, mind erased and thrown out. I agree to this. All those who have magic will have a chance at it." Celeste spoke as Luna's face lit up.
"So, that means we don't have to fight?!" She was beaming.
"Hate to burst your bubble my friend but there will be a war. Once Potter is out of the way, he will announce his new plans." She sighed a little. Blaise only grunted as Clint sighed a little.
"What about those who have a learning disability?" Clint asked. He was worried about his friends in Hufflepuff. Celeste frowned a little. She knew Milicent wasn't the best at learning either. "I am going to have a word with the Dark Lord about that. That way everyone will have a chance at learning." Celeste added.
"It sounds as if you want to be a professor." Blaise spoke and rolled his eyes. "I call this meeting to an end. We have patrols to do and if you haven't noticed, we are all on duty tonight." He added before sneering and left. Celeste rolled her eyes at him.
"He is right sadly. Let's go." She spoke. With that, they left the room.
Celeste was sitting in the Great Hall for the lunch hour. Most students decided to eat lunch elsewhere or watch Quidditch practice. So, there was maybe like twenty students or less. The young blonde was munching on a piece of chicken as her advance Transfiguration book was against her goblet. Savoring the taste of fried chicken as it seemed to be her favorite. Melon was next. Loving the juice hit against her tastebuds on her tongue. She was deep into reading as whispers began around the Hall. Celeste looked up towards the teachers table. Snape, McGonagall and Carrows were the only ones. McGonagall had gotten up and left quickly. The whispers began again. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand. Celeste caught the eye of her friend Luna before spells started firing around the room. Watching her friend mimic her as they drew out their wands and joined into the fight. Blocking hexes and jinxs. A curse was shot past her face as Celeste took cover under the Slytherin table. Shooting a stunning jinx back to the area it came from. She beamed at her friend when Luna shot down her attacker. The table Celeste was taking cover under flew up and smashed against the wall behind her. Blocking the green flashes and red ones before a jinx hit her squarely in the chest. Flying backwards against the wall and upon the smashed table. Quickly getting up and sent the curse at the sixth year Gryffindor boy. Watching him grunt in pain as she growled at him.
"Not so strong now are you?!" She hissed at him. The fight left quickly as it started. Celeste grabbed the boy by the scruff of his robes and dragged him across the floor to the front. Taking her place by the teachers as did Luna.
"Never in all my years of teaching at Hogwarts have I seen such rebellious behavior from students. Explain yourselves." Snape sneered at them. The attackers looked at each other then to the ground. "Now, Amycus I assume you have it taken care of from here." Snape spoke as Amycus' wheezy voice turned into laughter as he marched the troublemakers out of the Hall.
"Now, Miss Lovegood and Miss Malfoy, I will personally see to it that you both are rewarded for standing up as leaders of this school and taking control of the situation. Now, off you both go." He spoke as Celeste followed Luna out of the Hall.
"Could have at least had some pudding before all that happened." Luna's voice broke the silence as they were sitting in a courtyard. There were no students around now that the word had spread like wildfire. The rest of the students had either taken refudge in their Common Rooms or the Quidditch pitch. The air outside was still warm but hinted cold weather coming in.
"I'm sorry Luna. That you didn't get to enjoy the pudding. Though, I do thank you for doing your job." Celeste smiled at the younger witch.
"Of course Celeste, after all. What friends are for. I am joining this fight. I choose my best friend's side. Harry hasn't treated me like a friend at all. You did. All these years you've been there for me." Luna spoke softly with that smile upon her face. She hugged Celeste before leaving. "I'm going to the kitchens for pudding now." She answered Celeste's confused face. When Luna was gone, Celeste sat down on the bench and sighed.
"I assumed you would have gone to the Hospital wing but Pomfrey said you didn't show." A voice spoke out as Celeste turned towards it.
"Why do you say that?" She spoke as Alecto came into view.
"Your face is bleeding. I thought Lovegood has told you?" She asked as Celeste shook her head. "Here, let me." Alecto pulled out her wand and cleaned the blonde's face and fixed her nose. Wincing in pain as Celeste rubbed her nose. She hadn't known it was broken.
"Thank you." Celeste spoke and leaned against Alecto. Feeling the protective arm around her shoulder and smiled. Closing her eyes while just enjoying the company of the dark witch. It felt as if the moments were stolen as the bell began to ring.
"Come my Rose. Time for class. You have Amycus." Alecto spoke out as Celeste nodded. She hated not being around her favorite witch. Feeling a kiss planted against her cheek then to her forehead, Celeste hugged the woman before watching her quickly leave as the students began to chatter into the court.
"Curse the Gryffindors! They always get what they want!" A younger Slytherin girl spoke out. A fist fight had broken out.
"Silence!" Celeste shouted as the students stopped and on lookers circled them. "I had about enough of this bickering! Get to class! Sue, stay behind." Celeste spoke to her fellow Slytherin.
"I'll be late to Muggle Studies!" She frowned.
"I'll take care of it. You won't get into trouble. Now, what's going on?" Celeste asked.
"We have only one Beater. The Gryffindors want to play the match anyways." She frowned.
"Aren't you a player?" She asked the black haired girl who nodded.
"Yes, but I'm not exactly small." She spoke as they began walking towards the classroom.
"I will speak to Blaise. I am appointing you as a Beater for Slytherin. Sorry, she was with me Professor." Celeste spoke to Alecto who nodded and continued. "Now, get in some practice. I believe in you." She spoke as the younger girl nodded and went to class.
Arriving into the Dark Arts classroom and saw the rebels that attacked during lunch all linded up in front of the class. Amycus gave Celeste a look before rubbing his left arm. Celeste felt it too. It must have been the Carrows sending each other a message. He nodded at her before she took her seat in the front next to Clint.
"Now, as I was saying, these students have seemed to think it was okay to attack innocent people when ever they thought it was okay. Today's lesson, we will be performing the Cruciatus Curse upon them as their punishment and as your lesson. Who would like to go first?" He asked as Celeste shot her hand up as did Clint. "Miss Malfoy and Mr. Smith. Forward you two." The professor spoke as they got up and went to the front of the room. "Now, this curse is to not be taken lightly. You have to mean it. The pain you want to inflict upon your target." He spoke as Clint raised his wand at the boy their age. Celeste raised a brow.
"Crucio!" Clint spoke. It managed it light but weak pain.
"Good start. Sit down." Amycus spoke as Celeste raised her wand to the sixth year boy who broke her nose.
"Crucio!" She shouted. Feeling the anger swell up inside as the boy screamed out in pain. He began to feel his arm cause spasms now.
"Enough Miss Malfoy. Ten points to Slytherin. As you can see. She performed the Cruiatus curse perfectly. You can sit down. Next." He spoke. As the class began one by one, performing the curse upon the troublemakers. Seeing them all laying on the floor catching their breaths as Amycus gave an essay to do about the curse. Celeste was even more curious now. Once the class was gone, Celeste smiled and headed out towards the library. Not needing a teacher's note anymore for the restricted section. She simply went in and browsed the books. Finding a book about curses. Pulling it from the self and found herself a small table and began to work.
Cruiatus Curse. Also known as the Torture Curse. Once inflicted upon the victim, each reacts differently. Almost all die within minutes from the curse. The only known survivors have lost their memories completely. Never to be returned. Side affects from surviving the curse includes; twitching, short term memory, spasms of the muscles in arms or legs, and or death if not strong enough.
Celeste smiled as she gained the new information. Remembering the boy from class was now facing the twitching of his musceles from the pain she inflicted upon him. Feeling her heart beat as it raced against her chest. She could feel the blood in her veins rushing. Feeling her head become high from the feeling she caused another. Wondering if this was the feeling her aunt felt when she caused pain. It felt good. It made her feel alive. Shaking her head as she pushed the feeling aside and began to write her essay.
Night had fallen across the grounds. It had been an eventful day today. Her essay was actually completed. Not having anything else to do was definitely a benefit for her to complete her homework. Celeste had packed up her things and headed back to her common room. It was going to be a long night. Dropping off her things before heading back out.
Only her wand in hand as she tucked it inside her robes. Walking down the stairs before taking her route towards the Great Hall. Seeing no students in sight. Instead, something caught her eye.
"DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY! STILL RECRUITING!" Was shining bright in red on the stone wall. Celeste raised her wand to erase the message. It was not coming off. Instead, she caused an explosion. The ground shook as she fell to her knees. Rumbles of stones were covering her and everything.
"What the hell is going on?!" An angry voice spoke. Celeste stood up and brushed off the dust from her robes. Amycus came into veiw. Seeing stones broken and all over the place.
"Sorry professor. There was writing on the wall and I tried cleaning it off. It must have been a prank." Celeste frowned.
"I see. Get this cleaned up." He spoke and left. Celeste raised her wand and cleaned up the mess. Using magic to repair the broken wall. The words were gone. Now she knew, if anyone tried cleaning up the writing, it was cause this to happen. Once done, she pondering the hallways now. Taking extra careful of the area around her. Entering a silent hallway as a whisper spoke out between two people. Celeste had quickly pulled out her wand. Ready for what ever was about to happen. Then the Gryffindor boy came into sight.
"We have unfinished buisness." He spoke.
"I think you need to leave and go back to your dorm." Celeste spoke in a low voice.
"Have you no idea? What's going on around here? The Carrows and Snape took over! It's like Umbridge again! Why aren't you helping us?" He demanded.
"Haven't you heard? You're being stupid and breaking the rules." Celeste added. Seeing the boy smirk at her. "Wipe that smirk off and go back to your common room or there will be action taken." Celeste warned him. He glared at her before firing off stunning spells at her. Celeste skillfully blocked each one. Knowing he can't win.
"Hello freak!" Pansy's voice spoke out. Celeste looked at her before feeling a sharp pain and blackness.
"What happened?" A voice spoke out.
"I don't know. I found her like this Headmaster. Her wand was broken by her side. It's like someone is out to get her." The nurse spoke. "I was lucky that I found her when coming back from the grounds. She would have been dead." The nurse spoke. Celeste felt her arm being touchedd and wrapped.
"Find the one who did this. I want them punished!" A new voice spoke.
"Alecto, I assure you it will be handled. Properly." McGonagall's stern voice spoke.
"And where has that gotten you? One of your best students was attacked and you did nothing!" Alecto's voice had anger in it.
"I assume there's something going on between the two of you then?" McGonagall asked with a raised brow.
"That is none of anyone's concern! My concern is why haven't you put a lease on your House?!" She shouted. Wands were raised at each other's throats now.
"Enough! I will not have this in my hospital wing!" Pomfrey shouted. Celeste mumbled and leaned up. Rubbing her head. "Now look what you have done. Out! The lot of you!" The nurse shouted and handed Celeste a potion. Snape remained behind.
"What happened?" He asked. His voice was soft. It was new. She had never heard him like this before.
"Why do you care?" She asked.
"Because I am your Godfather." He spoke. Celeste looked at him with a raised brow. She knew Snape was Draco's but hers as well? "I understand you are not well Miss Malfoy. Your mother has been informed. You were supposed to be taken to St. Mungo's. As Madame Pomfrey had said, she found you in time. Though, the Dark Lord spoke that you are to remain here. You'll be back in health in no time. In mean time, rest. I would like to know who attacked you." Snape spoke.
"It was uh. That sixth year Gryffindor boy who attacked in the Great Hall. If you are going to punish him. I want to be there." Celeste spoke.
"Very well. I will see to it that no one touches him until you are ready to move." Snape spoke. With that, he got up and left. His long black robe whipping behind him.
"Drink." Pomfrey spoke as Celeste drank the potion. She was out light a light bulb. Feeling the soft bed under her take her into a deep sleep. It was a nice feeling. To be able to sleep. Sleep seemed like a rare thing now these days. Celeste was not going to take this one for granted.