human again / hp.

Chapter 71

The Great Hall buzzed with chatter as I stirred my porridge aimlessly, the events of the Yule Ball replaying in my mind like a vivid dream. I could still feel the cool night air from the balcony, the warmth of Harry's hand on mine, and the way his lips had brushed against mine—soft, hesitant, yet full of something unspoken. My heart ached, not just with the memory of the kiss, but with the uncertainty of what it all meant.

"Celeste, are you even listening to me?" Daphne's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and looked up to see her sitting across from me, her fork paused mid-air as she gave me a pointed look. "Sorry," I said, forcing a small smile. "What were you saying?"

She rolled her eyes but smirked. "Honestly, you've been off in your own little world all morning. I was saying that Ernie Macmillan was actually a decent dance partner. A bit stiff at first, but he loosened up after a while. Didn't step on my toes once, which is more than I can say for most of the boys here."

"That's good," I said, managing a more genuine smile this time. "It sounds like you had a nice time."

"I did," Daphne admitted, then narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. "But you—you disappeared halfway through the ball. Where did you go?"

I froze, my spoon hovering above the bowl. My heart started to race, and I glanced around the Slytherin table to make sure no one was paying too much attention to our conversation. Leaning in slightly, I lowered my voice. "I was on the balcony."

Daphne's expression shifted instantly, her curiosity sharpening. "The balcony?" she repeated, her voice laced with intrigue. "With who?"

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to brush it off, to keep the night to myself, but Daphne's penetrating gaze left little room for evasion. "Theo," I admitted reluctantly.

Her curious expression darkened in an instant. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the spoon. "He... he asked me to step outside for some fresh air. At first, it seemed normal, but then he started to push boundaries I wasn't comfortable with. He wouldn't listen when I told him no."

Daphne's face twisted in anger, her voice sharp and low. "That slimy git. Are you okay? Did he—"

"No," I interrupted quickly, shaking my head. "Harry showed up before anything could happen. He stepped in and made Theo leave."

"Harry?" Daphne's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

I nodded, my cheeks warming. "He was incredible, Daphne. He didn't hesitate for a second. And after Theo left... we talked. And then..." I trailed off, biting my lip as my cheeks burned hotter.

Daphne leaned in closer, her eyes wide. "And then what?"

"He kissed me," I whispered, barely audible above the clattering of plates and laughter around us.

Her jaw dropped, and for a moment, she stared at me as if I'd grown a second head. "Harry Potter kissed you?" she finally exclaimed, her voice louder than I'd hoped.

"Shh!" I hissed, glancing around nervously. Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed.

"Sorry," she said, though her excitement was still palpable. "But Harry Potter kissed you? On the balcony? After saving you from Theo?"

"Yes," I said, my heart fluttering at the memory despite the storm of emotions it brought with it.

Daphne sat back in her seat, shaking her head in disbelief. "That's... well, that's straight out of a romance novel, isn't it?"

I managed a weak laugh, though the weight of reality quickly settled over me. "It was perfect, Daphne. It felt... right. But now I don't know what to do."

Her smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "What do you mean?"

I sighed, stirring my porridge again more for something to do than out of hunger. "I'm a Malfoy," I said quietly. "He's Harry Potter. You know what my father would do if he found out. He'd disinherit me without a second thought. And Draco... he'd never forgive me."

Daphne frowned, her fingers playing with the edge of her napkin. "You're not wrong," she admitted reluctantly. "But, Celeste... what about you? What do you want?"

Her question hit me harder than I expected. I looked up at her, my throat tight. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Part of me wants to keep my distance, to avoid the trouble it'll cause. But another part of me doesn't care about any of that. I just..."

"You just like him," Daphne finished for me, her voice soft.

I nodded, blinking back the sting in my eyes. "More than I should."

She reached across the table, her hand covering mine. "Look, I know it's complicated. And I get why you're scared—being disinherited at fourteen is not exactly an ideal situation. But... you deserve to be happy, Celeste. And if Harry makes you happy..."

"What?" I asked, my voice shaky.

She hesitated, then leaned in closer. "Follow your heart," she said softly, her eyes steady on mine. "But do it in secret. At least for now. You don't have to shout it from the rooftops. Just... see where it goes. Carefully."

Her words settled over me like a soothing balm, though the knot in my chest didn't completely loosen. "You really think that's possible?"

"I do," she said firmly. "But you have to be smart about it. And if it ever gets too dangerous, you can always pull back. But don't let fear stop you from trying."

I swallowed hard, her words sinking in. The thought of sneaking around, of hiding something as simple and pure as a budding relationship, made my heart ache. But the alternative—losing my family, my home, my place in the world—was too much to bear.

"Thanks, Daphne," I said quietly, my voice heavy with gratitude.

She smiled, squeezing my hand. "Anytime. And if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

We sat in silence for a moment, the noise of the Great Hall fading into the background as I tried to process everything. Daphne's advice made sense, but it didn't make the decision any easier. The memory of Harry's kiss lingered in my mind, both a comfort and a torment.

I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: my life had just become a lot more complicated. And yet, as I sat there with Daphne, a tiny spark of hope flickered within me. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to have both—a piece of my family's legacy and the boy who made my heart race.

But for now, all I could do was take it one step at a time. And hope that somehow, everything would work out in the end.