Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 6 (Summer)- Ch. 155

The day had arrived for the departure of Hogwarts for the summer. Céline didn't know how to feel this time leaving, she honestly didn't want to leave, knowing that the world is much darker now that You-Know-Who's return is public. She felt worried that no where is going to be safe anymore.

She worried for Draco, and what will happened with him and his mother with his father detained. There's no doubt that he is likely to be furious with them. They failed to get the prophecy that she had accidentally smashed to the ground.

Everyone was at Hogsmeade Station, slowly making their way onto the train. Céline was with Draco, Daphne and Tracey getting onto the train, making their way to the back where the Slytherins always took claim. They find an empty compartment and enter.

"What a year." Daphne said, sighing as she plopped down onto the seat by the window.

Tracey sits down next to her, book ready in her hand. Draco sits down by the window across from Daphne and Céline next to him.

"And what a way to end it with Dumbledore going into the Forbidden Forest to retrieve Umbridge and Peeves chasing her out of the castle when she tried to leave quietly. Brilliant." Daphne smiles, looking out the window as she recalled the night prior during the feast. Tracey nudged her, she jumps a little from sting of her friend's elbow on her upper arm. And she looks at her, ready to complain, Tracey nods her head to Draco and Céline's direction.

Both of them were sitting there, not saying anything. Draco with a permanent frown on his lips, and Céline seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

"Oh." Daphne muttered, "sorry... er— so... what are the plans for the summer?" She said. Tracey looked at her in disbelief and surprised, her friend had always been really good at reading the room. Daphne could only shrug, because she also knew that it was a stupid question.

Céline looked at her two best friends, she knew that Daphne was only trying to lighten the mood. "I— er— will be returning to France for a little bit," she said quietly. Draco's head snapped to her with his eyebrows creased.

"You'll what? Why?" He asked, clearly displeased by her decision.

"I won't be staying for very long," she quickly said, "I just need to gather some thing's, then I'll be coming back to the UK."

"But is that a good idea, to go back to your home that is?" Tracey asked, expressing concern.

"There shouldn't be anyone home at the moment. At least I don't think." She could only hope that her mother would return while she's there.

"Are you going there alone?" Daphne asked.

"No, Professor Dumbledore said he'll have someone come with me to make sure I'm safe." Céline reassured them. She looked at Draco, hoping that it was enough to reassure him too, but he was still frowning. She placed a hand on his knee and squeezed lightly, "I promise, I'll be okay. My mother, though she was cruel, she was never as physical with me like my father. Either way, I believe she is still at Beauxbaton for a few more days."

"So where will you be staying?" Daphne asked.

"My family has a home in Gloucestershire. We use to live there when I was younger, but it was kept clean since my father traveled to London for long periods of time. I'll stay there, that way it's easier to travel to Hogwarts for when school starts again."

"Wouldn't it be better to maybe stay with someone— like the Weasley's— you've stayed with them before. Maybe you can write to them and ask." Tracey suggested.

"They offered, actually. But I told them I'll come on the last week before school starts again." Céline glanced at Draco. "I don't want to be a bother, especially with the twins withdrawing themselves out of school. I'm sure that the house is hectic." Céline said.