Veiled Hearts ~ HP Fanfiction (Harry Potter X OC)

Chapter 48: Hogsmead Date

"Oh, what did he say," Celestia exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm and a tinge of hurt, as if she had just discovered the latest fashion trend was wearing socks with sandals. She glanced at the trembling first-year hufflepuff, who seemed to have shrunk in the imposing shadow of the Slytherin prefect.

Celestia was decked out in a dazzling yellow dress, she had prepared for a date with Harry, a plan she now questioned more fervently than Professor Snape's potion-making skills.

As Ernie, barely audible, muttered Harry's flimsy excuse in a voice that could rival a mouse's squeak, Celestia's smile twisted into a bitter grimace, her teeth clenched so tightly they might as well have been practicing for a jaw-breaking contest.

"Oh, how thoughtful of him," she replied, her tone dripping with enough sarcasm to rival a barrel of Snape's patented Wit-Sharpening Potion. "And did he happen to mention where he galloped off? Was he gallivanting with someone else? Did you see anyone with him?"

Ernie, the unfortunate messenger caught in the crossfire of Celestia's disappointment, stammered out a feeble denial.

Celestia's nod was more of a self-affirmation of her own foolishness than an acknowledgment of Ernie's words. Of course, Harry would bail. It wasn't a genius idea, Celestia realized, to parade around with him in broad daylight, risking the wrath of not just Slytherins but potentially Dolores Umbridge herself.

Harry must have had an epiphany, a revelation of divine proportions, to spare her from such a catastrophe.

Celestia couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at the absurdity of it all, as she abandoned her romantic rendezvous for a decidedly less dramatic excursion to Hogsmeade with Daphne and Astoria, perhaps to drown her sorrows in a butterbeer or two.

As they reached the hogsmead village, Celestia's mood was uplifted, the Slytherin girls excitedly looked around the shops and purchased candies as much as they could carry. At last when the trio decided to take a break, Celestia's heart plummeted like a Bludger as she caught sight of Harry, not alone as Ernie had claimed, but nestled cozily in a corner of Madam Puddifoot's Café with none other than Cho Chang.

The café itself was a saccharine-sweet haven for the lovestruck, adorned with enough frills, lace, and heart-shaped decorations to make even Cupid himself cringe.

Celestia could practically feel the cavity-inducing sweetness oozing from every corner of the room, threatening to suffocate her in its sickly embrace, she quickly exited through the door before the said boy could spot her.

The journey from the heartbreak-filled confines of Madam Puddifoot's Café to the bustling streets of Hogsmeade was a tumultuous one for Celestia and her entourage of Slytherin cohorts. Each step felt heavier than the last, burdened as they were with the weight of unspoken disappointment and dashed expectations.

As they traversed the cobblestone streets, Daphne attempted to offer solace to her crestfallen friend, her voice a soothing melody against the backdrop of Celestia's internal turmoil. "You know, Celestia," she murmured, her words as delicate as the lace adorning the café's windows, Celestia hadn't noticed them following her, "perhaps it's for the best. Harry may not be the most... suitable match for someone of your caliber."

Celestia forced a warm smile in response, her thoughts swirling with doubts and insecurities. Was Daphne right? Was she destined for something greater than a clandestine romance with the Boy Who Lived? But before she could dwell further on such musings, Astoria interjected with her trademark innocence, her confusion palpable in the furrow of her brow.

"I don't understand," she exclaimed, her voice carrying the faintest hint of perplexity. "Why are we upset? Is the tea at Madam Puddifoot's really that dreadful? We liked it last time."

Celestia suppressed a sigh, her patience wearing thin with each passing moment. "It's not about the tea, Astoria," she explained, her tone laced with frustration. "It's about... well, it's complicated."

And complicated it was, indeed. For as they emerged from the quaint confines of the café, they were met with the chaotic energy of Hogsmeade in full swing. The streets teemed with students from every corner of the wizarding world, their laughter and chatter blending into a cacophony of sound that threatened to drown out Celestia's inner turmoil.

But Draco, ever the picture of composure, fell into step beside his twin sister, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Well, well, sister dear," he drawled, his silver eyes alight with mischief. "It seems our dear cousin Harry has a taste for the Cho Changs of the world. Who knew? I might actually vomit"

Celestia shot him a withering glare, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Don't be ridiculous, Draco," she retorted, her voice tinged with irritation. "Why do you keep up with his love life anyways? It's creepy."

But Draco merely chuckled, unfazed by his sister's rebuke. "Of course, Celestia," he replied, his smirk widening into a full-fledged grin. "It's called keeping an eye out."

And with that, they joined their fellow Slytherins for an afternoon of reckless abandon, leaving behind the tangled web of teenage romance for the thrill of pure, unadulterated chaos. With names like Blaise, Pansy, and Theodore echoing around them, they embarked on a whirlwind adventure through the streets of Hogsmeade, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the bustling village as they reveled in the freedom of youth and the promise of mischief yet to come.