Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch.126

Céline watched everyone leave in the carriages from the door. She sighed and went down to her common room. She could only hope that someone would come and get her soon.

Thankfully it was the evening after everyone had left that Professor McGonagall asked her to go to Dumbledore's office before she had a chance to sit down for dinner. She went up until she saw the familiar gargoyle that would open the staircase to his office. She spoke the password Professor McGonagall had given to her.

"Fizzing Whizbee." She said quietly and the Gargoyle moved aside revealing the spiraling staircase. She proceeded upwards and knocked on the wooden door.

"Come on." Professor Dumbledore's voices beckoned. She stepped through and looked around. Still the same as she saw it the year before. She found the headmaster standing before a large portrait of an older man with dark hair, pointed beard and thin eyebrows.

"Hello professor." Céline greeted.

"Go now, Phineas." Dumbledore said to the painting.

"If I must." The portrait said unenthusiastically, before walking out of frame. Céline looked around to see if he would appear in any other portrait like the other paintings do in Hogwarts, but he didn't.

"Good evening, Céline. My apologies for taking as long as I have to check up on you, especially with the summer events you've had." Professor Dumbledore said to her kindly. 

"It's.. it's alright, sir. Given everything that's going on, I'm sure you've been quite busy." Céline said politely, as she glanced around to the other portraits who were looking down at them.

"I appreciate your understanding, Miss Everhart." He said.

"Er— how is Mr. Weasley? Is he alright?" She asked nervously.

"I assure you he will be alright. I know you're anxious. You'll be meeting with everyone shortly via portkey. I take it you've used one before?" He said.

"Yes, I've used it a few times before, sir." She said.

"Good, your things will be taken to Grimmauld's place first thing in the morning. I've just sent Phineas to notify them of your arrival. I'm sorry that this is the only way to send you. Letting you go to Kings Cross, would have been too risky for you." Dumbledore said.

Céline hesitated for a moment before speaking up again. "Er- Professor.. May I ask... my father, was he there? At the station?" She asked anxiously.

He stared at her for a moment before nodding, "he was." He said, causing Céline to turn pale. "He was waiting for you at the station. Hoping to catch you there."

"I see... then it was good for me to stay here..." Céline said. She felt angry at herself for feeling disappointed for not going with everyone else. She knew he would have been there, but wanted to go with her friends anyway.

"Are you ready?" He asked after a moment of silence, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Yes sir." She said. 

Professor Dumbledore flicked his wand at a cupboard, pulling out a blackened tea kettle, he placed it on the table before casting "Portus." on it. The kettle shook slightly, emitting a blue light before becoming still again. He looked at her.

"When you're ready." He said. Céline nodded and before he touched it he spoke again, "when you're there, I do ask you watch over Harry. He's feeling a bit lost at the moment, and could use someone at his side. Regardless of your current company, I'm sure he would appreciate you there." He said.

"Of course." Céline said with absolute certainty, "always." She then grabbed ahold of the kettle and within seconds, her vision of the headmasters office swirled and twisted and was immediately changed into a dimly let kitchen, that was very familiar to her.