Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

(Summer) Year 5- Ch. 92

Céline wasn't sure how much time had passed, her sleep was all over the place, and there was no way to see outside. She tried to ask Telly when she came down one time, but she kept shaking her head saying she wasn't allowed to tell. She would come down three times, but in inconsistent times to throw Céline off, to bring her meals.

Telly also brought down a thick blanket, Céline wasn't sure if it was on her parents orders or if she truly felt bad about her being in a freezing cellar.

The sound of the door opening and footsteps descending the staircase had woken her up from whatever terrible sleep she was getting. She looked up to see her father coming down the last step, his nose scrunched up from whatever smell there may have been. She got up slowly from her blanket.

He began to unlock the cell door and then looks to Céline, "There are guests arriving tomorrow, important ones. Clean yourself up and make yourself presentable." He said, opening the door. Céline slowly walked out of the cell, unsure and nervously. As if waiting for her father to say just kidding and throw her back in.

When she went to pass him his hand gripped her upper arm tightly, causing her to flinch and tremble. He leaned in and glowered at her, "you will be on your best behavior." He said slowly. "Failed to do so will result in this place as your permanent living arrangement."

She shuddered at the thought of being stuck in that cell for the rest of summer. She nodded.

"Words." He said.

"Y-yes, father." She said quietly. They made their way the stairs to the outside. Céline hoped that the sun would be out and shining  on her, but was met with the black starry sky and the moon above them. She felt her father's finger jab her shoulder telling her to continue back into the manor.

She made her way up at to her room locking it behind her. She looked around and other than the bed being made, everything remained untouched how she left it, neat and organized. Céline had cleaned up her pile of fallen books after her father left the room.

She walked over to her closet on the left and grabbed a new pair of clothes and walked over to another door on the left side of the room; It was a small rectangular bathroom.

She went to her tub and started the bath with hot water, removed her grimy clothes and threw it in the garbage bin next to the sink. Her mind was running a mile a minute as she scrubbed her skin raw to get the grime and dirt off. She needed to figure out what day it was, and then she needed to figure out a way to escape from this horrible place before her father threw her into the dungeon again.

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Céline woke up to the sound of her curtains being pulled open, and the bright morning sun shining into the room. She wished she could sleep longer, since it felt like forever since she was able to sleep in her comfortable and fluffy bed.

She forced her eyes to open and saw her mother standing in front of her.

"Se lever." She said her voice void of any motherly tone. (Get up.)

Céline sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes to try and adjust to the brightness of the room. She hadn't seen daylight in who knows how long.

"Nos invités seront là dans l'après-midi." she said, (Our guests will be here in the afternoon.)

"Quel jour sommes-nous ?" Céline asked. (What day is it?)

"Sept août." Her mother said, before leaving the room. (Seventh of August.)

Céline watched the door close in shock. Seventh of August... her father had locked her in a cell for an entire week. What kind of person does that to their own child, she thought. While she was taking a bath the night before, all she thought about was Draco telling her to run away if something happened. That was exactly what she planned on doing, she only needed to figure out a way to escape undetected. Where she would go was something she could think of after she was far away.

She took this moment of privacy to search for some kind of small trunk or bag as quietly as possible, something she could carry as she ran or maybe hold if she was able to get to her broomstick. Immediately, she scrapped the idea of a broomstick, since underage wizards aren't allowed to use magic and that, much to her dismay, included riding a broomstick. She thought it was one thing riding it around the manor that was enchanted with an anti-muggle charm, it was another to ride it out in the open where any muggle could potentially spot her if she wasn't careful.

She didn't need much, just a few clothes, her uniform, hoping she wouldn't have to come back before school started, a couple of essentials. She went to her desk and opened her drawer and sighed in relief that her wand was still there. She quickly packed it into her small trunk. She grabbed her chair and carefully placed it in front of her bookcase and stood on it. At the very top shelf she grabbed the book with the thickest spine and when she opened it the inside had been carved out enough to fit a small pouch. Céline pulled it out of the book and opened it to find the pouch full of Galleons she had saved during her last couple of summers. She had about a hundred and fifty Galleons and she thought it might be enough to get her by for the rest of summer.

Céline quickly stuffed it in her trunk, in between her clothes. Once satisfied with what she had packed, she shoved the trunk under her bed to hide it from sight. She then checked the time and saw thirty minutes had past, if she took any longer, her parents might come in to see what was taking so long. She made her way to her closet pulling out her dark green pinafore dress and a thin white long sleeve top. As she took it to her bed she passed her long mirror, she did a double take at her reflection. She was surprised to see how she looked, her sun kissed skin, looked dull. Her round babyface was now a bit sharper on her jawline and her cheeks were slightly hallowed out.

Although, she had three meals a day while she was un the dungeon, she looked as though she had been starved. She looked at her long wavy hair, saddened to see it less shiney. Céline forced herself to look away and get dressed. She brushed her hair and tied it into a ponytail with a ribbon that matched her dress. She reluctantly checked herself once more in the mirror, then double checked that her trunk wasn't visible under the bed, before heading down stairs.

It was only after hearing someone knock on the door, that Céline started to panic. She hadn't thought about who it could be coming to the manor. They said it was an important guest. Céline's stomach churned at the thought that it could possibly be the DuPonts, knowing her parents, it was a definite possiblity.

"Remember. Best behavior." Her father said icily as he passed her in the corridor. It only made Céline more anxious of who was behind the door.

Telly quickly came to the door and pulled it open, showing three familiar platinum-blonde haired individuals.