Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 6 (Summer)-Ch. 165

Céline asked if they could wait a moment before going back, so that she may try to collect herself. She didn't want to worry everyone when they return.

"I must apologise, Miss Céline. I know it must have been very difficult to come here to face your father. In trying to help you face this, I'm afraid I might have made you feel worse." Dumbledore said in a regretful tone.

"No, Professor. Please don't apologise. At the end of it, we got him sent away." Céline said politely, they had been standing on the side for a few minutes. "I needed to do this. Otherwise I don't think I would have ever truly gotten away from them." She let out a deep breath, her heart had calm down a little.

"Are you ready?" He asked her. She nodded and followed him to the Atrium.

When Dumbledore and Céline returned to the manor, they found everyone waiting for them in the living room. It warmed Céline's heart to see her friends be there in support.

Dumbledore spoke for a moment with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before leaving.

"So now what?" Harry asked. He was sitting in the arm chair in Céline's room. He was playing Wizard's Chess with Ron who was sitting across from him. Hermione was standing by Céline's bed trying to decide between three thick books to bring with her. Ginny was helping Céline pack her trunk with anything she would want to bring with her back to the Burrow.

"What do you mean?" Céline asked, as she folded a blouse and set it in the trunk.

"Are you going to keep coming back here for holiday breaks?" Harry asked.

"No mate, you really think mum is going to let Céline be on her own?" Ron said, as he watched his knight destroy one of Harry's pawns.

"I think mum will insist on you coming to live with us." Ginny said. "And I don't think she'll take no for an answer this time, but I would be fine with that. I've always wanted a sister." She nudged Céline.

"What do you mean, Gin. You're about to have a sister." Ron said, rolling his eyes.

"Pardon?" Céline looked at them wide eyed. Ginny groaned and gave her brother a look of distaste.

"Phlegm isn't going to be my sister." She shot back.

"Phlegm?" Céline asked quizzically.

"Fleur Delacour is marrying our brother Bill." Ron sighed. "She was staying with us for a few days to get to know the family... but--"

"Mum hates her. I do too. She aggravating." Ginny said.

"Fleur as in the one who competed in the tournament?"

"The one and only." Hermione spoke up. She also seemed to have a dislike towards her too. "She always acts with a better-than-thou attitude."

"But I know Fleur, somewhat at least, and she seemed like a decent person." Céline said, trying to defend her former schoolmate. She had never really interacted with Fleur Delacour actually. At least not a full conversation before. Unfortunately, the better-than-thou attitude that Hermione spoke of was a common personality at Beauxbaton.

"She's a pompous airhead." Ginny argued.

"I'm sure you just need some time to get use to her. Will she be there when we return this afternoon?"

"Sadly." Ginny said.

Céline finished her packing and was ready to go. All five of them headed down to the living room with Harry and Ron carrying Céline's trunk.

"All set, dear?" Mrs. Weasley said giving her a smile.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."

"What about Telly? What will you do with her?" Hermione asked, looking at Telly who was standing there with watery eyes. "Maybe you should.. you know."