Veiled Hearts ~ HP Fanfiction (Harry Potter X OC)

Chapter 18: Secrets and shadows

The crisp autumn air rustled the leaves outside the windows of Hogwarts Hospital Wing as Celestia lay on a comfortable bed, her mind foggy and her body weak. The events of the previous night felt like a distant dream, shrouded in mystery and pain.

She remembered wandering into the Forbidden Forest with Harry, a sense of curiosity mingled with excitement driving her forward. But then, darkness enveloped her, and the next thing she knew, she was waking up in the forest.

Her parents, worried and frantic, rushed to her side as soon as they received word of her condition. Their faces were etched with concern, lines of worry etched deep into their brows.

"Celestia, darling, what happened?" her mother asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Celestia struggled to find the words, her memory still hazy. "I... I don't know," she murmured weakly, reaching out for her parents' hands.

Her father's eyes narrowed with suspicion as he turned to Professor Dumbledore, who stood at the foot of Celestia's bed with a solemn expression.

"What happened to our daughter, Dumbledore?" he demanded, his voice carrying a hint of anger.

Dumbledore sighed heavily, his gaze filled with regret. "It seems Celestia encountered a dangerous situation in the Forbidden Forest. Someone stunned her, but the details are still unclear."

Her parents exchanged worried glances before turning back to Dumbledore. "This is unacceptable, Dumbledore. We sent our daughter to Hogwarts expecting her to be safe," her father said firmly.

Dumbledore nodded, his expression grave. "I assure you, we are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our students Mr Malfoy. But sometimes, unforeseen events occur."

Her mother's eyes filled with tears as she looked down at Celestia, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "We should take her home, Lucius. Draco too, Hogwarts is not safe anymore."

Before her father could respond, Professor Snape entered the room, his dark eyes fixed on Celestia. "I understand your concerns, but I assure you, Narcissa, Hogwarts is the safest place for Celestia right now," he said in his usual cold tone.

Her parents hesitated, torn between their desire to protect their daughter and the reassurance offered by Snape. Eventually, they reluctantly agreed to leave Celestia at Hogwarts, under the condition that extra precautions would be taken to ensure her safety.

As her parents prepared to leave, Celestia reached out to them, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise I won't go near Potter again," she said, her words filled with determination, although she felt bad about lying.

Her parents exchanged a knowing look before embracing her tightly. "We just want you to be safe, darling," her mother whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.

As Celestia watched her parents leave, a sense of determination filled her heart. She may not remember what happened in the Forbidden Forest, but she was determined to uncover the truth and ensure that nothing like this ever happened again.

As the night settled over Hogwarts, casting the castle in shadows, a soft voice woke her up . Celestia stirred from her fitful sleep, her heart fluttering with anticipation as she recognized the familiar sound.

"Harry" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Harry's silhouette illuminated by the dim moonlight filtering through the windows. Celestia's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, a warm smile spreading across her lips.

Harry crossed the room in quick strides, his eyes filled with concern as he took her hand in his. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with worry.

Celestia nodded, her fingers intertwining with his. "I'm better now that you're here," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Harry leaned in close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I couldn't stay away," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

Harry explained how they haven't found Crouch, and re-explained the entire incident in detail which Celestia too remembered.

They sat together in silence, their fingers entwined, as the night stretched on. Celestia felt a sense of peace wash over her in Harry's presence, as if nothing else mattered but the two of them together.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Harry reluctantly stood from the chair beside her bed. "I should go before anyone sees me," he murmured, his gaze lingering on her face.

Celestia reached out for him, her heart heavy with longing. "Stay," she whispered, her voice filled with desperation.

Harry hesitated for a moment before nodding, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay," he said softly, settling back into the chair beside her bed.

And so they remained, entwined in each other's arms, as the first rays of morning sunlight bathed the room in a warm golden glow. In that moment, surrounded by love and warmth, Celestia knew that as long as they were together, they could face anything that came their way.

Few days after Celestia was discharged from the hospital wing, Celestia lounged in the opulent confines of the Slytherin common room, her expression a mask of indifference as she idly flicked through the pages of a dark tome. The flickering fire cast eerie shadows across the room, illuminating the smirking faces of her fellow Slytherins as they plotted and schemed in hushed tones.

Suddenly, the heavy silence was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps, and Celestia looked up to see her brother Draco striding towards her with a determined gleam in his stormy gray eyes.

"Celes," Draco said, his voice low and urgent. "I need to talk to you."

Celestia raised an elegant eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What's got your wand in a twist, Draco?" she asked, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

*It's Potter," Draco replied, his voice barely more than a whisper. "He fainted in the middle of class today in divination, clutching his scar and yelling like a banshee."

A shiver of unease raced down Celestia's spine at the mention of Harry's name, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and concern. Though they had kept their relationship a closely guarded secret, the thought of Harry in distress sent a pang of worry coursing through her veins.

"What do you mean, he fainted?" Celestia demanded, her voice tinged with urgency. "Is he okay?"

Draco shrugged nonchalantly, though there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Who knows," he replied. "But it's certainly raised a few eyebrows, especially among the Gryffindors."

Celestia's mind raced with possibilities as she struggled to make sense of the news. Harry's scar had always been a source of mystery and intrigue, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked just beyond the walls of Hogwarts. But now, faced with the reality of his pain, she couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards the boy she loved.

"Well, we can't just sit here twiddling our thumbs," Celestia declared, her voice tinged with determination. "We need to find out what's going on with Potter, and fast."

Draco nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Agreed," he said. "But we'll have to tread carefully. We don't want anyone getting wind of our little... arrangement."

Celestia's lips curved into a sly smile as she rose to her feet, her mind already whirring with plans and strategies. "Don't worry, Draco," she replied, her voice dripping with confidence. "When it comes to secrets and shadows, no one does it better than a Malfoy."

Draco's lips curled into a smirk as he rose to his feet, amusement dancing in his stormy gray eyes. "Don't worry, Draco," he mimicked, his voice laced with playful sarcasm. "When it comes to secrets and shadows, no one does it better than a Malfoy."

Celestia shot him a playful glare, though there was a hint of laughter in her emerald eyes. "Oh, hush, Draco," she retorted, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "You know it's true."

With a shared chuckle, the pair set off, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.