Author's Note: I do not own Harry Potter. The things you don't recognize? That's mine. Everything else? J. K Rowlings...despite the mixed feelings about her. Awful person, fantastic author, her.

Celesta woke up early for classes, and when going through her uniform, she found the note she'd been slipped. Seeing the other girls still asleep, she didn't read it just yet, instead finishing up her preparations for the day. Taking the potion that would allow her to go outside without issue, she collected her History of Magic, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures textbook along with parchment and quills, made sure she had another potion for right before her last class, and her wand, before heading off to breakfast.

Celesta,

I've let the Slytherins know you're not to be touched. Beyond that, I can offer no help, as you know. They know, of course, of Father's decision, but I've informed them that to keep appearances they are to behave no differently from before, as per Father's wish. As far as they know, it's simply because of your chosen House that you were disowned, but they are aware it is also your friendship with Granger.

I've been told to only converse with you if absolutely necessary, but we have our parchment, don't we? We can arrange times to meet there, if needed. Due to Father's...proclivities, I fear that parchment may be needed in the coming years. He's up to something.

I'm sorry I couldn't say more at the World Cup, but I'm glad you're alright.

Draco

And so a schedule was made, Celesta filling her time with classes and homework, preparing for her O.W.L's, apprenticing under Snape. She'd managed to get a decent stock of healing potions for Madam Pomfrey, as well as burn relief, pepper-up potion, and other remedies. The twins stole her for dinner on most nights, and they'd often be seen sneaking kisses in the common room afterwards.

September passed in such a fashion. Even the nights she stretched out in her fox form exhilierated her, and she'd return to the dorms tired, but happy. Perhaps this year would be uneventful. Fun, even.

Of course, with Harry Potter, no school year would ever be uneventful. No matter how one might wish, something would always come up to ruin it.

October arrived, and two weeks before Halloween, they were informed that on Friday, October 30th, the Durmstrang Institude and Beauxbaton Acadamy's students would be arriving. Classes were to be let out thirty minutes early, and students were to be lined up in the courtyard in clean uniforms.

That Friday, it'd been too harsh of a sun for Celesta to participate in Care for Magical Creatures, so instead she was writing the essay Hagrid had told her would be assigned instead, the albino already dressed and waiting in the Entrance Hall by the time the other students were heading to the common rooms to change.

Draco had kept to his word, most Slytherins giving her either a simple polite nod of acknowledgement, or flat out ignoring her, even when she was studying with Daimon or Harmione. Even when she was with Harry! Though their gazes had gotten more cold and assessing than socially friendly. At least Snape hadn't changed his way of treating her, so for the classes she helped with that had Slytherins spread the word that in Snape's eyes she was still the 'Malfoy Princess' and should be treated as such.

The Beauxbaton's Acadamy of Magic students arrived first, large Abraxons leading a carriage. Celesta waited inside the Entrance Hall, and upon catching a glimpse between her classmates at their uniforms, began conjuring blankets. When they came inside to warm up, the potion's apprentice was there to greet them, Snape introducing her as his apprentice shortly before going back out to wait for the Durmstrangs.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I understand that the weather in France is much warmer climate, so I've conjured some blankets for you to use in the meantime. If anybody is in need, I can take you to Madam Pomfrey for Pepper-Up potions." she said in French, her ruby eyes glancing at all the students. Madam Maxine had dismissed the albino instead, and with a nod, Celesta went back to waiting.

She didn't have to wait long before Durmstrang appeared, Headmaster Karkaroff leading the cold-ridden Krum inside. A brief widening of her eyes was her only sign she recognized the quidditch player before she bowed and offered to lead the way to Madam Pomfrey for the Pepper-Up potion.

Dinner that evening was to be a special occasion, and so after appeasing Fred and George with kisses on their cheeks, the shortest of her class made her way in her formal uniform to the Staff's table, taking her seat next to Snape. The Beauxbaton's appeared first, and while Celesta was appreciative of the butterflies, she found the display a bit foolish.

She was glad to note Fred and George didn't appear to appreciate the girls, her pale cheeks coloring a little at her jealousy, however unfounded.

The Durmstrang boys came in next, and she found the fire dragon much more impressive magically, the fourth year garnering looks from the exchange students. Looks that were rewarded by glares from her twins that went unnoticed by the melanin-deficient girl. Only once the students made their way to tables, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, since they were on the sides of the Great Hall, did Dumbledore stand up and introduce the Goblet of Fire.

Dinner was interesting, for the foods not included normally in their diet. A nod to the students that would be studying alongside them all year. Personally, Celesta quite enjoyed the bouillabaisse along with some potatoes. After dinner, the other students were dismissed to their dorms, Celesta having been asked to stay behind with the staff so she could have a learning opportunity with her Apprenticeship. Likely, over the next couple of days, she'd be needed to brew potions for Madam Pomfrey, should somebody brew and Aging Potion. She'd even been the first to test out Dumbledore's age-line, just so she'd know which potions would be needed. Experience was, after all, the best teacher in these cases.

AU: This chapter was hard to write, and I apologize for that. It likely shows...in any case, I'm doing my best to write when I can. Feel free to check out my newest fanfiction if you'd like!