Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 3- Ch. 8

The next day all the students who were going home for the holidays rode the Hogwarts Express back to King Station.

Céline was in the compartment with Daphne, Tracey, Pansy, Theodore and Draco, when the sliding door opened revealing a couple ravenclaw girls smiling at Céline.

"Would you guys mind if we borrowed Céline for a moment?" One of the girls asked everyone who was there. Céline smiled back at the girls before getting up to step out of the compartment. Daphne grabbed her hand before she left with a look of concern.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Daphne asked. Céline just laughed, releasing her hand from Daphne's.

"No, don't worry. I'm just going for a chat, I'll be back shortly, Daph." She reassured her friend and stepped out of the compartment closing it behind her.

Draco raised his eyebrow at her, "are you worried they're going to steal your friend away or something?"

Daphne's look of concern didn't waiver, "No. it's just something that feels a little weird."

Theodore laughed, "Relax will you, Greengrass. You're acting like a worried mother."

She sighed and looked down at the cute dainty silver bracelet Céline gave her a couple nights before. "Hmm, I suppose you're right."

Draco looked back at the door for a moment before looking back out the window.

About 20 minutes later, the compartment door opened again, with Céline walking back in. Her expression is unreadable. She closes the door behind her and sits back down by the window next to Daphne.

"So?" Daphne questioned her friend, "what did those ravenclaw girls want?"

Céline looked at her for a moment before smiling at her, "oh nothing in particular. They asked me if I could help them with some transfiguration spells when we come back. And then they asked about Beauxbaton."

Draco was watching her. He for some reason was bothered about that one moment before she smiled. A smile that didn't even reach her eyes, when it usually does. Daphne also felt like something was weird, so she narrowed her eyes, staring the girl down, searching for a hint that she was lying. When she couldn't find anything she just sighed and let it go.

Céline looked out the window, letting her smile falter for a moment. Draco, who never stopped observing the girl in front of him, caught it. He looked down to see her left hand clenching a bunch of her coat. He felt a twinge in his chest, but ignored it.

When they finally arrived at the station all the students stepped off, saying their goodbyes and happy holidays to their friends. Céline said goodbye to Daphne and the rest, seeing Hermione and Ron down a couple carts she waved at them and then waved back before going to look for their parents.

"Come one." Draco said irritated. Céline turned to him confused.

"What do you mean come on?" She asked with a frown. She was still upset about their interaction they had the evening before in the common room.

"Our fathers are over there talking." He said, nudging his head in the direction of their fathers who were in fact having a discussion. Céline's face paled a little, before they started walking to them.

"Ah, so this is the famous Everhart, my son has been sending letters about." Draco's father said in a dry less than happy tone.

Céline stood next to her father, sending a questioned glance to Draco. Then smiling politely to the man with long neat platinum blonde hair. Truly the older version of Draco. "Hello, Mr. Malfoy. I'm Céline Everhart. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Her father placed a hand on her shoulder. None would be the wiser, that at that moment Céline's heart fell to the pit of her stomach.

Draco looked at Celine's father, he was tall with short neat black hair. And a very stern expression on his face that almost gave him chills. He suddenly remembered the first day of class when he had Céline up against the wall and her telling him 'there are other things I'm more afraid of than a boy my age.' He had this tiny gut feeling that she meant her father.

"As I was saying to you Lucius, I will handle my business, do make sure you handle yours." Céline's father said in his deep 'only business' tone, glancing at Draco. Then tightens his grip on Celine's shoulder, causing her smile to falter as she flinches.

"You must come over during the holidays for dinner, I'm sure Narcissa would love to catch up with Gevenieve. It's been so long, Charles." Lucius said as he looked down his nose at Céline. 

"Yes, I'm sure they would. I'll speak with my wife and I'll send you an owl. Now if you'll excuse us, it's a long way back to France. We must get going." Charles said as he started pulling Céline back by the shoulder.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Malfoy." Céline said as politely as she could, trying to hide and pain coming from her shoulder. She looks at Draco and gives him a quick glare, before she's being turned away.

As soon as they were out of sight Draco heard his father scoff, "What an insufferable and stubborn man." Lucius looks down to his son, "and you Draco, stop picking childish fights with that girl. Unfortunately, I'm unable to do anything to her father, much to my dismay. Come. let's go, your mother is waiting for you."