Celeste || Sirius Black

Chapter 14: Drowning Stones

Free period finally came at the end of the day's classes for the Hufflepuffs, which made Celeste storm down to the Great Lake, which she refused to call by its other name. She did not want to think about him. Either of them.

There was something about learning to throw stones with Hagrid when she was younger that helped her collect her thoughts together. The stones ricocheted against the water as it travelled towards the end, disproving the theory that nothing floats on water, until ultimately falling into the dark abyss of endless water.

What was Regulus going on about the Black family? Had Sirius really run away from his home? Was that the boy behind the cocky attitude? Was it someone that missed his home and the possibility of a normal family?

Celeste knew that the Black family were one of the pure-blooded wizarding families; all of them Slytherin. The gasps that spread through the dining hall when Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor was unforgettable. The look of disappointment on the faces of the children that were of other families was inevitable, but Sirius had no care for them as he sat next to James Potter. He had made his way into the society on his own terms.

Regulus needed help. She could see that. "I'm long past saving. But you're not." What had he meant by that? No one was past helping, but he had used the word 'saving'. What was he a part of for him to feel so guilty? And what had he meant about her not being past helping. Did he know about her powers....no. Absolutely not. If he had, the Headmaster or her guardians would have warned her.

Or had they thought that the Slytherin student would not interact with her even if he knew?

"My brother has a tendency to destroy everything in his path. You seem to be the bridge that he hasn't been expecting. So be careful. Celeste Rajput."

A bridge. That was what he had called her. But a bridge for what?

And why did Regulus Black assume that she could not take care of herself? She had gone two years without any of her classmates finding out the truth about what had happened to her. So why would he give her that warning?

She was onto her tenth rock when she gathered her breath together but was distrubed by none other than the person that she was collectively avoiding. "Cool trick!"

Celeste looked up at him, rotating the stone in her hand to absorb its coldness. Maybe that would help her temper. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She asked, throwing her eleventh stone.

"Because...." he bent down to pick up a stone for himself. "You haven't talked about your secret." He threw his stone, but it drowned inevitably.

She shook her head. "Leave me alone, Black."

He walked closer to her. "I'm trying to help you-"

"No one asked for your help." But when she looked at him, he was standing right next to her, which made her look up. Sirius was wearing a black leather jacket and a certain cologne that made her eyes water. It smelled really great! And Celeste really liked leather jackets in general, especially this one. She wanted one for herself but....wait where are you going with this train, she scolded herself. She could not get distracted.

"I never said that I wouldn't help you any way."

Can I help you?

Is that why Regulus had warned her off? Because she was similar to Sirius that they would destroy each other in the end? But that was inevitable too. She would scratch his eyes out if she got the chance.

"Look." She dropped the stones and wiped her hands on her coat. "We both know that you are trying to prove a bet. Well, it's too bad that you are going to lose because there is no way that you can make me like you. And you don't have to secretly warn me off of it either. I'm not that stupid to not see what you four truly are."

Sirius' eyebrows shot up. He was speechless. "What are you going on about?" He asked as she picked up her books from the floor.

"Leave me alone, Black." She started walking back up the hill and Sirius followed pursuit.

"Alright, what is this about a bet?" He asked, burying his hands deep into his pants pocket. The weather had been getting really chilly these days.

"Isn't that what you do?" She asked, keeping her gaze straight ahead. "Pull pranks on other people for your own fun without thinking about the consequences?" She scoffed. "You don't have to lie, Black. It looks awful on you."

"So you think a smile looks good on me." She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Did we do anything to you?" He asked as they reached the castle grounds.

"You didn't have to," she said, pulling the straps of her bag closer to her. "Not everything revolves around you."

"Hey hey hey wait." Sirius placed his arm on her shoulders to make her stop and face him. But that was where he had made a mistake.

"Don't touch me!" She pulled back sharply, slapping his hand away. "Just....don't."

"I'm sorry." He was so used to it that it had completely slipped his mind. "But the least you could do is tell me what it is that I did that has made you hate me so much?"

Celeste looked back and forth between his eyes, contemplating what to tell him. "You know what? Hear me out clearly, Black. I do not need your help. I'm not yours to save." She repeated her words from back at the tower. "Besides, why would you want to be around me if not for the popularity that it will get you? The alone girl that doesn't date would easily be a great score for you to win-"

"That's enough." He clenched his jaw together, which was all too similar to Regulus Black.

Something about looking at Sirius so vulnerable before her made her wonder if she had it all wrong. "Your brother is concerned for you. You should try to get closer to him rather than me. We've been accidentally getting into each other's paths for the past four months. It's better if you go your way and I go mine."

The bell rang, indicating the time for the end of the way. "Goodbye Black."

But it was not a goodbye. Certainly not to Sirius. He watched her walk away from him so many times in the four months since the term started and not once had he stopped her. And he wouldn't do it either.

Because bet or not bet, he would get to know her.

No matter what.

*****
Hey everyone! Wow I can't believe I haven't updated in a month. I'm glad finals are over, which means that I can make my announcement officially here

I will not be continuing this fanfic as a series. I only want to write a story and improve my writing in the process but I realised that this would be like sending a message that I support the author, which I do not want to do. 

But fear not. The plotholes that I've left in this fanfic are easter eggs for the future of this story. I hope I can receive the same support in the original series that I will be writing as I do with this. The title is ready but I won't be revealing it just yet.

The last chapter of this fanfic will reveal everything about the original series that I'm planning (hopefully). For now, I hope you are enjoying the plot so far.