Chapter Twenty-Four.
Crunch. Crunch. Each footstep pushed snow under her shoes as she was walking down the path towards Hogsmead. As the air was freezing which warned that Christmas was a lot closer than she thought. It was the day of the Ball and Celeste was actually excited. Her heart racing with the excitement in the air that shared along with several other students. She had agreed to go with Blaise as a friend. Just like last year but something seemed off around him. It's as if he kept trying to get with her. Not only him, though Antonin was sending her love letters. She only kept them unopened in her trunk. Remembering what her brother told her about the wizards trying to woo her. Her mother even sent her a letter reminding her about having to marry. In fact, it had to be done during the break. Now, even more worried, Celeste went into a shop that had necklaces and other jewlry to take her mind off of things.
"Find anything you like dear?" The witch asked as Celeste nodded.
"I like this one." She pointed to a red diamond silver ring that had leaves and vines engraved into it. The diamond was blood red but shaped into a rose.
"Are you sure? The wearer of this ring is meant to be bound by soul to the giver." The witch warned. Raising a brow at her before smiling again.
"I am sure." Celeste smiled as she paid for the ring and hid it into the cloak she had been wearing non stop. Next, she had to go dress shopping and she wanted Luna with her. It was going to be hard to find that blonde in the snow. She wrapped the cloak around her tightly as it was big on her. The scent of lavender was overwhelming still as it filled her nose.
"There you are!" Luna's voice called out as Celeste jumped. She hugged Luna and smiled.
"Dress shopping!" Celeste piped up. She couldn't hide her excitement from her best friend. Luna nodded and pulled Celeste into a nearby shop. It had dress robes and dresses. Browsing through to find the perfect dress. Luna picked out a frost blue as Celeste chose a light emerald dress that hung to her knees. It was strapless.
"You look beautiful!" Luna beamed as Celeste put the dress into a package box as the ring fell out. "Oh. It's so pretty!" Luna smiled as she looked at the ring. "Wait, are you?" She asked as Celeste nodded. "Ah! You have to invite me!" Luna cheerfully hugged Celeste.
They entered the Hog's Head for a quiet drink. Celeste had ordered butterbeer for the two of them as Clint entered. Looking up as the doorbell jingled. A cold wind broke through and filled the bar. Shivering as Celeste wrapped the cloak around her again until it died down.
"Sorry you guys." The voice of their was easily heard over the chill as he then looked up to see them. "There you guys are. I was looking all over for you!" He beamed and sat down.
"Another butterbeer please." Celeste smiled as the man placed one on the table.
"I swear, he looks just like Dumbledore." Clint spoke as Celeste sighed. They both looked at her then to each other.
"You never told us why you didn't like him anymore after your fifth year." Luna spoke. She was right. Celeste adored Dumbledore until the ugly truth came out. She shook her head telling them it wasn't the time to be discussing this. Instead they came onto the topic of the Ball during dinner. Her mood rose as Celeste and Luna showed Clint their dresses. He beamed and clapped his hands once. Celeste got up and walked over to the counter to pay for their drinks and smiled at the man.
"Thank you sir. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!" Celeste smiled as the man only grunted.
"They are beautiful! You girls will look so stunning!" He spoke as he took out his dress robe and showed it off. Celeste gasped as did Luna. His robes matched the theme as it had glitter snowflakes along the collar with a tie in silver and gold.
"You will look amazing. I so cannot wait to see you in that!" Celeste beamed as she took a drink of her butterbeer! Oh! Yum! The best drink ever! If she could live off this drink, she would but knowing her mother, she would never heard the end of it.
"Come on guys. We need to head back." Clint was smiling non stop again as he packed her robes up carefully. "Hot date tonight as well!" Chuckling as Celeste looked at Luna was an 'ooooh' kind of look. The snow was coming in hard now as they put up their hoods.
Once in the Great Hall for lunch, Celeste was with the group of students that were doing the finishing touches on the decorations as the teachers watched. Celeste had her wand raised as she was decorating the Yule trees and smiled at her accomplishment.
"Alright everyone! Ball starts at dinner time! Be sure to dress formally and nicely!" Celeste shouted as the students all left the hall. Well, they bascially ran out of the hall. Celeste was smiling non stop as she left the Hall as well. She hadn't heard from Clint but shrugged it off as she entered the Slytherin Common room.
"Well look who it is." Pansy's voice came out. She was half was dressed when the blonde entered the dorm room.
"At least your face healed but still look like a pig." Celeste snapped. There was a giggle from the other girls in the room.
"Whatever." Pansy rolled her eyes and left. Watching her go as the girls all roared with laughter. Celeste smiled as she wrote a note on a piece of parchment and attached it to the ring. Hiding it in the cloak Alecto gave her a while back. Stuffing the cloak into her trunk. Smiling before getting into the shower. Her mind was opened and wandering around. Singing softly as she blushed. Washing herself with soap and stopped when she realized what she was doing. Quickly getting out and dried off. Her hair still wet when she took the chance and put it up. It was a formal like bun that had small diamond sparkles in it. Slipping on her emerald dress that brought out her eyes a bit. Gold bracelets on with her green shoes. Stepping out of the room and heard gasps.
"You look so cute!" Daphne said as the blonde shook her head with a smile.
"No, beauitful." Pansy spoke and sighed. "I admit it. Okay. I'm sorry." The pug faced Slytherin spoke as everyone went silent.
"Hey, it's okay. It's the holidays. Train leaves tomorrow after all because parents want their kids home sooner." Celeste shrugged her shoulders. The girls were chattering non stop when the time came. She left the room to find Blaise waiting for her. He held out his arm for her as Celeste took it.
"You look beautiful." He spoke with a smile. Celeste rolled her eyes at him. They left the common room with their housemates and headed up the stairs to the Great Hall.
The oak doors were already opened as they gasped. Snow was falling from the ceiling as icicles were enchanted to give off a blue glow to fit the mood. It was beautiful. Silver and blue was everywhere as the choir was singing a tune to warm up. They began Carol of the Bells as dinner was served. Celeste couldn't stop smiling when they joined Luna and Terry. She felt a pair of eyes on her again. The teachers were all in the hall. Some of them left to patrol the halls. Celeste smiled and waved at Alecto who seemed to be speechless at the moment. The blonde giggled before returning to her friends. The Gryffindors were no where to be found. Then there was a gasp. Celeste looked and saw Clint with someone else. A wizard to be exact. Celeste felt her eyes widen. She wasn't alone after all!
"I never knew!" Luna beamed.
"Me either!" Celeste was smiling so wide that her cheeks were hurting. They couple joined them as they began to eat. Blaise kept trying to take Celeste's hand but she brushed it away. The choir sang more christmas songs before the band came in it's place. They began the real music. Rock music. Celeste grabbed Luna's hand as they entered the dance floor along with several others. This was the most fun they had this year. Hands were felt on her hips as Celeste turned to find Blaise trying to pull her close. She could feel rage coming from someone. Of course! 'Does he dare?!' Alecto's voice rung in her head. Celeste however moved out of his grip and took Clint's hand and did a twirl with him. Blaise looked angered. Giving him a weird look before Luna dragged her off to the side.
"He likes you Celeste." She said softly.
"I already told him not interested. You know why." Celeste spoke as her friends nodded. They both went back to the floor. The music was drowning out everything now. The floors vibrating from the music. It was dark outside as the ceiling was dark but still snowing. She could see all her fellow students happy and distracted. That's exactly how things were supposed to be as the Dark Lord was working on his plans. Hours passed as the clock struck midnight as the students groaned. Torches were lit to light up the room more.
"Off to bed. Train leaves in the morning." Snape spoke over their voices as the teachers used their wands to clean up the floor and anything else. The Yule trees would be left up for the rest of the break until they returned.
"What a night!" Luna beamed as Celeste nodded her head in agreement. She was busy looking for someone. She couldn't find Alecto anywhere. Her heart ached a little. Luna was still talking away as they boarded the train. Snow was falling more and more now. The wind brought an icy chill in the air. Even the dementors made the air much worse. It looked like the entire school was heading home for break. Not that she blamed them. After all, everyone needed a break from lessons and of course, the punshiments. They did indeed need to stop breaking the rules. Over half of the Gryffindor House was no where to be found. They have caused too much mayhem over the past few months. Longbottom was actually exspelled. He went into hidding apparently from last she heard from Ginny who was trying so hard to keep the D.A going. She took a seat in a compartment with the Ravenclaws except she was only with Luna and Clint.
"What was Blaise's deal last night." He asked.
"He has a thing for Celeste. Though, Celeste likes someone else!" Luna shook her head.
"He seemed angry. Said that it was the worst night of his life. I don't see how that happened because I had a blast!" Clint was still day dreaming about last night. Luna laughed soflty as Celeste shook her head. The train began to move. It slide to start to get the wheels going from the ice the snow caused. That was a rough start. Celeste's mind began to wonder.
'Alecto? Can you hear me? Are you alright?' She asked hoping she would hear. Nothing. Something didn't seem right. At least she would see the woman when the train arrived at King's Cross station. Hours passed as Luna and Clint were chatting away about the upcoming exams they would be having before Luna left to use the restroom. Night had fallen as the train came to a stop. Luna was still not back.
"Did she get off already?" Celeste asked as Clint shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I will write to her." She spoke as she got off. She saw the familiar face of her brother and smiled. Draco's face however looked horrified. Celeste raised a brow before everything went dark. The last thing she heard before her body went numb was her brother screaming her name.