Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 6 (Summer)- Ch. 158

Céline felt a hand squeeze her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder to see Tonks looking at her.

"We'll go in, if you'd like us to check to see if it's clear." Tonks offered.

"No, it's okay. If my mother isn't here, then it'll probably just be Telly." Céline said. "We can go in together."

They nodded and followed her lead. They climbed up the stone steps to the large wooden entry door. Céline lifted a closed hand to it and just as she was about to knock she froze. She could feel her body begin to tremble.

So many things happened in his home. So many unpleasant memories, that still give her nightmares and will probably always give her nightmares. Her mind kept thinking about the unlikely scenario of her father waiting for her on the other side of the door, ready to put an end to what he couldn't finish in the Department of Mysteries.

"We're here, Céline." Lupin voice broke through her panic.

"We won't let anything happen to you." Added Tonks. She turned to look at them, her breathing slowly steadying. They gave her warm reassuring smiles, that made her feel better. She looked at the door again and took a deep breath again. I can do this. She thought to herself.

She knocked on the door firmly and then look one step back. Just moments after the door was pulled open. Looking straight ahead it looked like no one was there.

"Miss Céline!" A small squeaky voice squealed in front of her. They looked down to see Céline's house-elf Telly holding the door open. Her eyes were as big as saucers and watery at the sight of her. "Oh! Miss Céline has returned!"

"Hello Telly." Céline said. There was a calmness in her voice, and if there was someone there who really knew her, they would almost be able to detect a slight coldness to it too. She had trusted Telly, but failed to realize who she really worked for. Ever since the night she ran away, she saw Telly a bit differently. "Has my mother returned yet?"

"Oh!— oh, no she hasn't, Miss Céline." Telly said.

"Good. We're only here for a little bit. I've only come to gather my things." Céline said as she started for the staircase, then paused to look at Lupin and Tonks, "if you don't mind, can you wait here in the foyer. I'll try to be quick."

"But— but— Miss Céline." Telly said more panicked. "Telly must tell you—"

"You will tell me if my mother comes home, immediately, Telly." Céline said. She quickly made her way up the stairs, trying not to think about the night her father dragged down the steps by the ankle.

"But— Miss Céline!" Telly cried, following her up the stairs. Céline ignored the house-elf and continued to her door.

Just as she was about to open the door, Telly jumped in front of her blocking her way.

"Miss Céline! Please! Y-you shouldn't go in there." Telly stuttered. Tonks had ended up following Céline up the stairs, worried about the house-elf's behavior.

"Why?" Céline asked her, still trying to be calm as possible.

"W-well, Master—"

Céline's heart sank. "My father? Is he here?" She asked.

"No," Telly said sadly, "Master isn't here— but a-after Miss Céline left.. the M-master came into her room and—"

Céline moved Telly aside and pushed open her door. Tonks gasped at the sight and Céline stood there, shaken, taking in her bedroom

"Master was very angry." Telly cried, "He came in and broke everything. Telly wanted to come and fix it, b-but Master forbade Telly..."

Her room, one of her favorite places in the entire house— despite all the physical and verbal abuse that has happened in there— was destroyed; Her bed was overturned and lying upside down on the other side of the room, her bookcase, that stood on the right side of her bed, was blasted into bits. Her desk had been destroyed and charred. There were parchment papers, scrolls, all of her trinkets and accessories thrown about the room, some completely shattered.