Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch.27

**T.W. Topics of physical abuse**

The rest of the week went by quickly. Everyone was boarding the Hogwarts Express, excited to return to school and to see their friends on board.

Céline sat in an empty compartment reading her book of poems. Her hair was let loose cascading in waves of dark brown down her back. Pinning back one side of her hair with her set of emerald gem hair pins. She wore a dark green plaid pinafore dress that reached just below her knees. And a long sleeve black turtleneck. And her favorite black ankle heeled boots.

The sliding door opens and just as Céline looks up to check who entered she is engulfed in a hug from a familiar long blond haired girl. She restrained herself from wincing, smiling at her.

"Cél! Oh how I've missed you!" Said Daphne excitedly. "How was your summer?" She pulled back to look at her best friend as she sat down next to her. 

"It was fine, mostly uneventful." Céline shrugged, still smiling, happy to see her best friend.

"Mostly?" Her friend raised an eyebrow, playfully nudging her.

"Ah, yes mostly." Said Céline. "I was at the Quidditch World Cup..." Daphne's smile dropped as she gasped.

"Oh Merlin! Céline! How are you? Are you okay? That must have been so frightening!" She exclaimed as she grabbed Céline by the shoulders checking her for injuries. She could really see anything with her covered up.

"It was terrifying. But I'm fine." Said Céline with a small reassuring smile as she gently removed Daphne's hands from her shoulder.

As much as she appreciated Daphne's worry over her, she could risk her noticing any bruises that may be peeking out. She had to triple check in the bathroom of the train to make sure she was well covered.

The slap on the cheek her father had given her at the Weasley's was just the beginning of the punishment she had received, when they returned home. Her parents were absolutely livid. Her beating was so severe she was bedridden for most of the week. Céline was finally able to stand with bearable pain around her body just two days before she had to leave for Hogwarts.

Even that day as she sat on the train, she felt very sore on the upper half of her body. Some places still hurt more than others, but she was always good at hiding her pain.

"How was your summer, Daph?" Asked Céline, hoping to change the subject and distract her friend.

"Oh, it was great!" She beamed, "Mother and I spent a lot of time shopping and we went to Switzerland for a couple of weeks."

Céline listened to her friend go on about her summer, after a couple of hours, when Theodore and Draco stepped in. Theodore sported his usual grin as he sat next to Daphne, and Draco with his usual indifferent look, except when he looked at Céline his mouth formed a frown. She looked at him, watching him sit across from her like he always did. Once seated, he scanned her body searching for anything.

"Damn, Draco, you look like a predator eyeing his prey before eating." Theodore laughed as he watched.

Celine's cheeks flushed a little and then she sighed sharply, "Ça va, Malfoy." She said as she shifted nervously under his gaze. He furrowed at her sudden French. (I'm fine, Malfoy.)

"Did you get hurt?" He asked, which surprised Theodore and Daphne for his sudden act of concern.

"... Pas vraiment."  She said back. (...not really)

There was a moment of silence for Draco as he pondered for a moment before speaking again, "Avez-vous eu des ennuis?" He spoke in French this time. Theodore and Daphne's mouths were agape. They've never heard Draco speak in another language before. They only found out last year that he understood French, let alone speak it. (Did you get in trouble?)

Céline looked at him a little surprised not only for him speaking the language, but for his question. His icy-gray eyes looked intently at her emerald green ones. Making it difficult to lie, especially when he insisted she stayed with him when they saw each other in the woods.

"Oui..." she said quietly. (Yes...)

He paused for a moment again, "Est-ce qu'il t'a fait mal?" He asked again. Her eyes furrowed a little. There was something in the way he asked it, as if he was nervous to know. She looked away toward the window. He watched her jaw tick as she clenched her teeth. (Did he hurt you?)

"... Oui..." her voice came out almost in a whisper. He looked at her profile intently, taking notice of the hair pins in her hair,  before sighing and looking out the window, his face turning cold and indifferent again. (...yes...)

"Je vous ai prévenu. Vous auriez dû écouter." Her head snapped at him, slightly hurt from his words. She knew he was going to say something, she doesn't know why she was hoping for something more comforting. (I warned you. You should have listened to me.)

"I don't need an 'I told you so' right now!" Said Céline. She got up and walked out of the compartment. "Abruti!" She huffed before slamming the sliding door shut behind her. (Jerk!)

Daphne and Theodore both flinch at the loud door shutting. Then they both looked at Draco who was frowning at the window.

"Did you want to possibly translate that for us, mate?" Theodore said after a moment of silence as he looked back to the door. "she seems a bit angry."

"No." Draco said simply as he looked down at the empty seat across from him and picked up the book Céline had left behind. He opened the book and started reading, "just let her cool off... she'll have to come back later for her bags anyways." He told them without looking up.

As much as Daphne wanted to run after her best friend, she decided not to because she thought that  Céline might need some time alone.

Céline had stormed off to the back of the train, stepping to the side momentarily for the trolly lady to pass through. She continued until she heard someone call her name.

"Céline!" She turned around to see who called her, that's when she saw Ginny taking quick strides over to her. Just as she opened her mouth, Ginny pulled her into a tight hug, making Céline's jaw clench to keep a whimper from slipping out.

When Ginny released her she took a step back and checked her over with a very concerned look on her face, "thank goodness you're here! We were all so worried about you."

Céline's cheeks turned red, she felt too embarrassed to face the redheaded girl. No one had ever seen her father hit her. So when he did it in front of everyone at the Weasley's home, she felt ashamed. She didn't know what to say to them.

"Are you alright?" Asked Ginny when she didn't say anything.

"Oh.. I just don't know what to say..." Céline said without looking into Ginny's eyes, as her hands fiddled with the sides of her dress. "I'm rather embarrassed you all had to witness that."

"Are you kidding?" Ginny looked at her incredulously, "we were all infuriated with what he did!" Céline quickly shushed Ginny, waving her down as she looked around to see if anyone heard her. No one was paying attention to the two girls much to Celine's relief.

"Can you keep it down, please? I don't need rumors of me going around." She pleaded.

"Oh! Sorry.." Ginny said sheepishly. "But it really bothered us. Everyone was moping around for the rest of the day after you left."

"Sorry.." Céline looked down.

"No! Please don't apologize, I'm just glad you are here!" Ginny patted her shoulder, noticing the brown haired girl stiffen a little. "You are okay, right?"

Céline gave the polite smile she gives to everyone, she was good at pretending she was fine. She nodded at her, "I'm fine. Thank you for worrying about me. I appreciate it, Ginny. And again I'm sorry you had to witness my father's wrath." She chucked. Ginny stared at her for a moment before deciding to believe her words. She smiled at her, they talked for a moment more before Ginny walked back to the compartment that her friends were in.