Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Yea 6 (Summer)- Ch. 160

The Everhart Manor in Glouchestershire was nothing short of an enourmous properties. It had belonged to her grandfather, who was a wizard with a lot of money.  A man of power, connections, and a wizard  with great power and not to be reckoned with.  At least that is how Céline's father had described him when she was younger.

From Céline perspecitve, though she'd never met her grandfather, he seems liked like a wizard with a lot of money, arrogance, greed, and pretty much the same personality of her father. That is what she can gather from the large portrait that hung above the fireplace of the grand living room. She'd seen the portrait daily in her childhood up until she moved to France. He always looked at her as if she were inferior. His portrait had glared down at her, Lupin and Tonks when they had arrived through the fireplace the next afternoon, since they had decided it was too late to travel and it was best to just stay the night in Giffon Buveurs.

Céline thought for a moment that he would start yelling at them, just like the portrait of Sirius's mother, but he just huffed in disapproval.

"This place is huge... are you sure you'll be alright on your own here, Céline?" Tonks asked as she looked around the grand living room. She casted the Cleaning charm throughout the room to rid it of any collected dust. 

"Yeah, I think I'll be alright..." Céline said politely. She felt exhausted. She hadn't slept all that well the night before as her sleep was taken over by night terrors.

"Show me your room, so I can get it cleaned up for you." Tonks said. Céline nodded and led her through the corridor to the second floor. Tonks couldn't help but look through the windows as they passed them. The property was large and it looked like it was a secluded area as well. "What did you use to do with all of the land?"

"Nothing really. Maybe just fly my broom. This manor is in a rural area with not really any muggles nearby, not that any muggles would be able to get a good look at the place. The road to enter the manor is very long and surrounded by trees.

"You must have been quite lonely..." Tonks mumbled. Céline wasn't sure if she was meant to hear her say it,  but when she did, she felt the lump in her throat. She stopped at a door and opened it. When she entered, it was as if stepping back in time. The room was untouched since she last was in it.

It was a medium to large room with a fireplace against the wall on the left with a small sitting area and across from it was a queen sized four post bed with a canopy hanging from the ceiling above it. On the far end of the room was a set of French doors that led to a balcony. It was exactly as Céline remembers... simple and cute.

"I thought with the house being as extravagant as it is, that your room would also--"

"Be fancy?" Céline gave her a glum smile, "My parents made sure I only looked the part of a proper pureblood daughter, despite how they felt about me. We used to have small gatherings and invited other families my parents deemed worthy, and they made sure I showed a room with extravagance of a pureblood with money and power to other kids my age. There's another room on the left side of the stairs that they liked to show off as 'my room' . That room is an eyesore. I didn't understand as a child, quite frankly, I still don't get it." Céline said as if answering an unasked question that seemed to be in Tonks mind.

"Well, as you know, my mother's family had a very similar mindset as your parents. So I can kind of understand." Tonks said. Céline looked at her, she remembered that Tonks's mother was in the Black family before being disowned for marrying a non-pureblood. Tonks gave a her a sad smile. "I think that's why Sirius care so much about you. Harry, of course he care for, because that was his godson. But you... I think he saw a bit of himself in you and what you've gone through. I'm sure he would've known exactly how you felt."