Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 41

The sign in the entrance hall had become the talk and whispers through the school for the following week. Céline even noticed that the castle seemed cleaner, the grim in the portrait had been scrubbed clean, the suits of armor throughout the castle had a shine to them. Even the caretaker, Argus Filch, was acting more uptight than usual towards any student that didn't wipe their feet before entering.

The morning of the thirtieth of October arrived and Céline's anxiety was growing as the time passed, getting closer to the end of the day. Tracey and Daphne tried their best to comfort and reassure her that everything will be okay. They even reminded her of what Dumbledore told her, that if she needed help she could come to him.

When she entered the Great Hall with her friends she was amazed by the decorations that were put up overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts house. And behind the teachers' table was the largest banner of them all with Hogwarts coat of arms. A lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a letter H.

Céline sat down in her usual spot. Trying to focus on just having breakfast without the need to vomit from anxiety. She filled her plate with fruits and a toast with marmalade as she would usually eat for breakfast. But only picked at it, popping only a few grapes in her mouth.

"Please eat something, Cél." Daphne said. "You're going to make yourself sick with all that worry."

Pansy looked at Céline who looked a little pale. "What's wrong with you?" She asked.

Daphne gave Pansy a look. "Did you forget who's coming tonight, Parkinson?"

"Oh... right." She said suddenly realizing the situation. "They can't do anything to you while you're here, Everhart. And they'd have to get through us first if they do try something." She said, taking a bite out of her apple.

As much as she wasn't liking Céline at the moment, Pansy felt the need to put her feelings aside, because the situation between Céline and her old school was a bit more of a priority in her opinion.

Céline gave her an appreciative smile, "Thank you... I appreciate you guys being there for me. I'm sure everything will be fine." She said, more to herself in attempts to comfort herself.

"Even if we aren't there..." Draco, who was sitting next to her as usual, spoke up, "don't let anyone bully you..." he said in a stern tone.

"Thank you..." she said sarcastically, " that was... comforting, Malfoy. Truly."

"Don't be nice to them either." He said, ignoring her sarcasm, "they don't deserve your kindness..." he said in a low tone. She sighed and took a bite out of her toast with marmalade.

Classes went by quickly for most, but dragged on dreadfully for Céline. When the bell rang at the end of her final class, she trudged to the dungeons to the dorms with her friends to drop off all their things before heading back out to the entrance hall.

The heads of houses were ordering all the students into lines. First years being in the front, in order with the seventh years in the back. Céline reluctantly lined up, she felt nauseous. She stood there in between Draco and Daphne.

They all filed down the steps and lined outside of the castle. It was a cold evening and it sent a small shiver down Céline's spine. She looked at the clear sky and tried taking a deep steady breath to help calm her nerves.

Daphne checked her watch, "Nearly six..." she then looked towards the front gates. "How do you think they'll arrive?" She wondered aloud.

"Flying carriage..." Céline whispered between breaths. Draco and Daphne looked at her surprised. She looked at them, slightly shivering from the cold weather. Or from her nerves, she couldn't tell. "Oh, er— they have these winged horses that draw the carriage. I've seen it a few times, when I was there."