Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 6 (Summer)- Ch. 159

Through all of her thoughts, she heard her mother mumble something behind her and then, nothing. Céline stood in the middle of the living room still. All of her worries seemed to have disappeared and a lightness overcame her.

Regardez-moi, Céline. a female voice echoed in her mind. She complied and turned around to look at her mother. (Look at me, Céline)

"Le jour du procès, tu diras à tout le monde que ton père est innocent." her mother said calmly to her. (On the day of the trial, you will tell everyone that your father is innocent.)

Céline tilted her head ever so slightly. Her mind felt so weightless, as if she didn't have a care in the world.

The two of them heard quick footsteps approaching from the corridor. Céline turned around to see Lupin and Tonks appear into the living room with their wands out.

"Céline, are you alright?" Lupin asked her, but before she could ever respond-- though she didn't really look like she was going to-- her mother spoke.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in my 'ome?" She said coldly.

"I can assume you are Céline's mother?" Tonks said, eyeing her suspiciously. "We are here for Céline. She said she no longer wished to live here."

"Nonsense." Her mother said. She looked at her daughter to continued to stand there, looking at the two. "Céline, iz zat what you said? Please, tell zem zat you are fine. Zat you no longer want to leave." She glared at Lupin and Tonks. "Zis iz 'er 'ome. Now, kindly leave. She no longer needs you."

Lupin and Tonks look at Céline waiting for her to say something.

"Céline? Is that what you want?" Lupin asked softly.

Céline's head tilted a little, almost like a twitch and her mouth slightly opened and closed as if she struggled to speak.

Dites-leur de partir. Que vous êtes bien ici. The woman's voice echoed her command in the back of  Céline's head. Did she want to tell them? They just said that she wanted to leave. Did she? Dites-leur de partir. Que vous êtes bien ici. The voice echoed again. But I don't want them to leave... a different, softer, female voice echoed. (Tell them to leave. That you are fine here.)

"Céline?" Tonks said, looking at her closely. "Are you alright?" Her eyes narrowed at Céline's mother. "Something's not right.... What did you do to her?"

"I zon't know what you mean." Her mother said calmly.

Dites-leur de partir, immédiatement! The first female voice rang out in her mind, more demanding. No... I don't... want to. The other voice said. Dites-leur ! (Tell them to leave, right now! Tell them!)

"No.." Céline breathed out. Her mind became heavy again and stumbled a little as if the weight was physically made her lose her balance. She rubbed her temple as everything became clear again. Lupin and Tonks tightened their grip on their wands at the realization of what just happened.

Tonks grabbed Céline's arm and pulled her behind them, just as a red jet of light came from the tip of her mother's wand.

"Protego!" Tonks shouted.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Lupin said simultaniusly. Her mother wasn't quick enough and was hit. Her arms and legs snapped together at her side and then fell stiffly to the floor.

Céline looked at her mother in utter disbelief. "She... she just used the Imperius Curse on me..." Céline felt anger starting to bubble up. She couldn't believe that her own mother actually tried to use an unforgivable curse on her, but then again, shouldn't she have seen it coming? Céline shook her head, unable to control the tears well up in her eyes.