Breaking The Mould (Lucius Malfoy)

talks and favors

"Thanks for coming," Celeste said. 

Harry, Hermoine and Ron sat in front of her, albeit a little nervously. 

They were ashamed of themselves, and honestly, Celeste took a little pride in that. They had been wrong and acted like assholes. No ifs and buts about it. 

Fred and George also sat there, arms crossed listening intently. Proud and happy that their group had been reunited again. 

"I have something pretty big to tell you guys" Celeste started. 

How do you tell a group of people that you were closely related to the darkest wizard of their time. A wizard who killed one's parents, and made it his sworn mission to see him dead. 

It's not something you particularly mention over afternoon tea. 

"Can we say something first?" Harry piped up. Celeste sighed, knowing it would be an apology. She was happy that they had come to their senses, but honestly, she didn't have time for apologies for petty bitchiness and childlike behaviors. But, she let him carry on. 

"We're sorry," Harry said. 

"So sorry," Hermione and Ron said in unison. 

"We were horrible and what we did and how we acted was short-sighted. We were just scared, and angry and-"

"Harry", Celeste said, giving him a small smile. "It was shit what you did. But, in a way I get it. Fear makes us do strange things". She noted. "And anyway, we have more pressing concerns to worry about". 

Her heart started beating fast again. 

It was like when you tell people bad news, and you ask them to sit down. Celeste practically collapsed in her chair in front of them all. But sitting down wasn't going to make this news any more digestible. She took a long breath in. 

"You OK Cel?" George said, stretching forward and resting a hand on her kneecap. 

"Um, not really no", she let out a tiny laugh, running her hand through her hair. "We all know that my family wasn't exactly a picture-perfect, warm bunch. Voldemorts followers and all", she extended an awkward cough. 

How to say this without shocking them all into the grave?

"Well turns out it was worse than that, far, far fucking worse". 

"What can be worse than being a follower of Voldemort", Ron said, almost joking. Celeste snorted, the ridiculousness of it all. 

Oh just wait, I can one-up it for sure. 

"Ah, don't tell us you're actually a Malfoy" Fred commented. Celeste laughed, Christ now wouldn't that be something. 

"My name isn't Celeste Caddel", she finally said. "It's Celeste Riddle". 

Celeste had never seen a crowd of faces drop so quickly. Fred and Georges's mouths went agape, Ron looked like he was going to be sick, Hermione like she was going to pass out, and Harry just sat frozen. 

"I know it's a lot to take in"

"It's a fucking bombshell," Ron said. 

"How do you know? Who told you". 

Celeste thought about it a moment. 

"Lucius" she admitted. 

"Lucius?" Ron asked. 

"Well, he surely can't be trusted," George said. 

"I know but then, Raymond-"

"Who is Raymond?"