Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 6- Ch. 190

**T.W.-Death**

Céline had been particularly depressed this day, she spent the whole late afternoon and evening in the astronomy tower. At some point she fell asleep in the storage area under the observation floor with her hand cradling her silver serpent, Argent.

When she came to, it was dark, well past curfew. She hadn't realized that she had slept for so long. Her legs were numb from having them tucked under for so long. As she stood she held her silvery snake in her hand. She was surprised that Mrs. Norris or Fitch hadn't found her through patrols.

She made her way up the steps from the storage area underneath the main floors of the observation room. But once she hit the landing, she gasp in surprise to see Dumbledore also landing on a broom from through the large. They make eye contact,

"Ah, miss Everhart, you are out of bed.." Said Professor Dumbledore, his voice coming out a bit faint. That's when she immediately noticed how incredibly pale he was.

"P-Professor, are you alright?" Céline asked worriedly as she quickly made her way to him. "You look sick, let me help you to the hospital wing."

Just then she felt the wind blow next to her and she sees a second broomstick fall to the floor next to Dumbledore. She looked it it wide eyed and confused.

"Harry, go wake Severus, tell him what happened and bring him to me." Dumbledore said. "And bring Miss Everhart with you."

"Harry?" Céline said confused until she realized that Harry was there, under his Invisibility cloak.

"But, the Dark Mark, was it fake? And you need Madame--" Harry's voice spoke in the empty space next to them.

"You swore to obey me Harry-- Go!" Dumbledore said.

Before Céline could even ask what was happening she was pulled under the Invisibility cloak, where Harry was now standing with her. He looked shaken and like he'd been through hell. She wanted to ask what was happening, but before she could he pulled her hastily with her towards the door that led to the staircase. In doing so, causing her to drop her serpent bracelet that she had still in her hand.

Just as he was going to put his other hand to the doorknob he heard the booming footsteps approaching quickly. He looked at Dumbledore, who gestured for him to come back. So he did. Harry pulled Céline by the arm back towards the wall, pulling his wand out, and then pulling her behind him as if to protect her from anything. Seeing this alarmed Céline who was confused by all of it, but she also pulled her wand out just as the doors burst open.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry and Céline felt themselves go rigid and immobile, backed against the wall underneath the Invisibility cloak. In the dark dim glow of the sky, they saw Dumbledore's wand fly out of his hand and onto the floor. That was when Céline finally noticed that the dim light that illuminated the room had a dim green hue. She could see that it came from the sky.

Dumbledore stared calmly across the room to his disarmer. "Good evening, Draco."

Céline's eyes dart to the other side and there, wand pointed to Dumbledore stood Draco, almost as pale as the headmaster. Draco slowly stepped forward, his eyes darting everywhere around the room to ensure it was only them alone in the room. When he sees the second broomstick on the floor he frowns.

"Who else is here?" Draco demanded, a little out of breath.

"I may ask you the same question. Or are you alone in this?" Dumbledore asked calmly, slightly leaning back onto the thick iron railing.

Draco's pale grey-blue eyes look back to Dumbledore. "No. I have backup. There are Death Eaters in your school tonight." He said.

Céline's heart dropped, she wanted to move, yell, anything to Draco, to demand to know what he meant by this.