Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 66

Majority of the students slept in on Boxing Day, Céline included. In fact, she didn't want to get out of bed if she could the whole day, but her friends wouldn't have it. A few emotions were swirling around in her dorm room that morning.

Céline, still feeling the embarrassment and guilt she had felt last night, Daphne and Tracey, excited to know what happened the night before when Céline and Cedric disappeared, and Pansy, who was incredibly upset and hostile towards Céline from watching her dance with Draco at the ball, when he pretty much left her by herself the whole night.

As soon as Pansy had gotten up, she left the room, unable to stand the sight of Céline. Daphne, on the other hand, was practically jumping on her friend's bed. When Céline finally sat up, she pushed her tangled hair back.

A gasp emerged from her friend's mouth, when she looked at her, Daphne wasn't looking directly at her face, instead she was looking lower towards her exposed neck where a couple of blemishes were showing.

"What are those?" Daphne squealed, pointing at Céline's neck. Céline's had immediately went to cover it, her cheeks burning. "Did you two—"

"No!" Exclaimed Céline, "I—I mean... maybe? Er— almost? I don't know.." She groaned, before taking a deep breath and explaining to the two of them everything that happened last night.

"Aw, Cél, you just panicked, it's alright." Said Tracey, patting her back. Céline was sitting on her bed with her face in her hands.

"Yeah, the bloke didn't exactly build up the moment with that prior conversation, did he?" Said Daphne, "and even then, you two have only been dating for, what, a month?"

Céline nodded, her ears burning.

"You see, these older boys just move faster. At least he respected that you weren't ready for anything." Continued Daphne.

Céline didn't really feel any better, she wasn't sure how he was going to look at her now. She felt like she ruined the night for the two of them. But everything was moving so fast for her, that she had panicked.

"Come on, let's get some breakfast, maybe that will make you feel better." Tracey said, tugging her friend's hand away from her face. Céline looked up to her friends who were giving her warm smiles. Daphne was already off the bed digging through Céline'a trunk for something to wear.

She pulled out a black turtleneck sweater and one of her plaid midi skirts.

"It's holiday break, so no uniforms thankfully. And it's easier to cover those up." Daphne said, placing the clothes on the bed.

Celine's face turned bright red.

They got dressed and headed to the Great Hall, quickly noticing that they weren't the only ones who got up late seeing the room was filled with students eating breakfast.

They went to their table and Céline saw Draco sitting in his usual spot. She subconsciously tugged her collar up to hide her little neck discoloration before sitting down.

"Morning.." she said to him. He looked over to her, holding a half eaten green apple.

"Morning..." he said unenthusiastically, "aren't you cozy?" He said as he looked over her attire. She shifted in her seat, worried that somehow he would notice something, he always did.

But he didn't say anything else, he continued eating his apple and talking to Theo who was next to him. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and began to fill her plate with her usual breakfast. Though, this time she wasn't all too hungry.

She casually tried leaving back on the bench and subtly looked over to see if she could spot her boyfriend at his table. She did see him, he was sitting down talking to and laughing with the person next to him. She couldn't see that persons face, but she had been around so much, she was able to tell who it was from the back of her head.

Cho.

The memory of a conversation with a certain Ravenclaw girl popped into her mind for a second. Since being approached by Hannah Dupont, she had noticed how close they were. But she tried to her best to think nothing more of it. A guy and a girl can be just friends... right?

———————

The start of the new term arrived quickly. Céline was able to spend some time with Cedric over the last few days of the holiday break. He acted as though nothing happened. She decided not to show him the marks he left her on her neck and collarbone, since that night was never brought up.

She thought it was going to be awkward between the two of them after how the night of the Yule Ball ended, but when she saw him the day after on Boxing Day, he gave her the same usually hug, kiss, and smile he always gave her.

Still caring, still sweet, still the same Cedric she was used to being around. Which only made her feel worse about how she reacted.

She was on her way to Hagrid's cabin, huddling close with Daphne and Tracey to keep themselves warm. The snow was thick on the grounds now and it was dreadfully cold. No one was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures lessons that day. But they arrived, instead of the cheerful Hagrid standing by his cabin, it was an elderly lady standing at his front door.

"Where's Hagrid?" Céline heard Ron ask behind them.

"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank." She said, "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Where's Hagrid?" Harry repeated the question.

"He is indisposed." said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly. "This way please." She began walking away from the hut, towards the Beauxbatons horses. They followed her passed the paddock towards a tree at the edge of the forest, where they saw a large and beautiful unicorn tethered to it. Many of the girls "ooooohed" at the sight of the unicorn.

Céline thought it was beautiful with it's bright white coat, it made the snow around look rather dull.

"Boys keep back!" ordered Professor Grubby-Plank, " They prefer a woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it"

One by one the girls approached the unicorn carefully, when it was Céline's turn, she slowly approached it with her hand reached out. As gently as she could the caressed the mane of the unicorn and smiles, as if any troubles she was carrying on her was lifted for that moment.

When it was time for another girls turn, she leaned in and whispered to the unicorn, "Thank you beautiful unicorn." and carefully stepped away. She turned around to walk back towards the boys she saw Harry and Ron speaking with Draco. Worried that the latter might start something again, she quickly strode off to them. Draco handed a newspaper of the Daily Prophet to him with a smirk.

Céline narrowed her eyes at him, as he looked over to her approaching. His smirk morphed to perplexion as she drew closer. Céline looked towards Harry and his face looked irrate.

"What do you mean 'we all hate Hagrid'?" Harry spat at Draco. Céline looked at him in confusion, "What's this rubbish about him"-- he pointed to Crabbe-- "getting a bad bite off a flobberworm? They don't have any teeth!"

Céline grabbed the newspaper from Harry's hand and skimmed over it. "Of course it's Rita Skeeter..." she grumbled to herself.