Celestia Malfoy lounged in the grand library of Malfoy Manor, her favorite spot to escape the summer heat. The summer holidays started nearly a month ago and Celestia exchanged letters with Harry Potter almost everyday, she eagerly opened Harry's latest letter, which arrived via Hedwig, feeling a pang of excitement mixed with worry.
"Hey Celestia,
Hope you're doing good. I'm stuck here at the Dursleys' place, and it's driving me nuts. It's like living in a desert of boredom. How's life at the manor? Wish I could swap places with you for a day.
I'm kinda frustrated with Hermione and Ron. They're being so vague in their letters, not telling me much about what's going on. Feels like they're keeping secrets or something. And you mentioned that prophecy in your last letter. It's been bugging me. Can we talk more about it?
I really miss you, Celestia. Your letters are like a breath of fresh air in this suffocating summer. Can't wait for the holidays to end so we can see each other again.
Take care,
Harry"
Celestia smiled at Harry's familiar handwriting, but her heart sank at his frustration. She could understand his longing for something more exciting than the dull routine of summer at the Dursleys'.
Quickly jotting down a reply, she reassured Harry about the prophecy and promised to share more details in her next letter. She also poured out her own frustrations about the summer monotony and vowed to find ways to keep each other entertained through their letters until they could reunite.
With a sense of determination, Celestia sent off her reply with her trusty owl, hoping to bring a bit of brightness to Harry's otherwise dreary summer days.
The next day, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across Privet Drive, Celestia Malfoy strode confidently down the familiar suburban street. Despite the neat rows of identical houses and the meticulously manicured lawns, she stood out with her silver-blonde hair and impeccable style.
Reaching number four, Privet Drive, Celestia approached the door with purpose, her heart pounding with anticipation. She rang the doorbell, and after a moment, the door swung open to reveal Petunia Dursley, her thin lips pinched into a disapproving line. Celestia recognised her from the king cross station.
"Good evening, Mrs. Dursley," Celestia greeted with a polite smile, undeterred by the woman's icy demeanor. "I hope I'm not intruding. I've come to visit Harry."
Petunia's eyes narrowed as she took in Celestia's appearance, her disdain thinly veiled. Mr. Dursley soon joined Mrs Dursley "who is it Petunia dear" he said, and as his eyes meet Celestia's, he froze. He too seemed to have recognised her.
Celestia's cheeks turned pink as she remembered her kissing their nephew goodbye "Mr dursley, good evening,.I came to see Harry"
But before Mr Dursley could utter a word, Harry appeared behind her, he seemed to have taken a stroll around the neighborhood, his expression lighting up with surprise and relief at the sight of Celestia.
"Celestia! What are you doing here?" Harry exclaimed, his eyes shining with genuine delight.
Harry Potter was a skinny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who had the pinched, slightly unhealthy look of someone who has grown a lot in a short space of time. His jeans were torn and dirty, his T-shirt baggy and faded, and the soles of his trainers were peeling away from the uppers.
"I came to see you, of course," Celestia replied with a warm smile, her hands extending a bag filled with new clothes and a pair of shoes towards Harry. "I couldn't resist indulging in a bit of shopping, and as I perused the racks, I couldn't help but think of you and your wardrobe in need of a little rejuvenation. So, I picked up a few items that I thought would suit you perfectly."
Harry's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he shook his head. "I can't accept this, Celestia," he protested firmly, though he couldn't deny the warmth in his heart at Celestia's thoughtfulness. "I appreciate it, truly. But you didn't have to go through all this trouble for me."
Celestia waved off his protests with a dismissive flick of her hand. "Nonsense, Harry," she insisted, her tone resolute. "I enjoy shopping, it's one of my favorite pastimes. Consider it a token of our relationship. If anything doesn't fit quite right or if you don't fancy a particular item, just let me know, and I'll gladly exchange it for something more to your liking."
With a gentle smile, she nudged the bag closer to him, her eyes urging him to accept her gift. "Come on, Harry," she urged softly, "Think of it as a small gesture of appreciation for all the fun times we have together. Please, just take it."
Ignoring Petunia's disapproving gaze, Celestia reached into another bag and produced a tin of homemade looking cookies, she had purchased them from diagon alley, offering them to the Dursleys with a charming smile. "I brought these for you as well. I hope you enjoy them."
The Dursleys stared at the cookies with a mixture of suspicion and bewilderment, clearly unaccustomed to such gestures of kindness from anyone of Harry's knowing. But before they could respond, Harry took Celestia's hand and led her inside, eager to escape the tense atmosphere.
"Come on, Celestia," Harry said, his voice tinged with excitement. "Let's go up to my room. It's much more comfortable up there."
As they ascended the stairs, Celestia couldn't help but feel a twinge of awkwardness at the palpable tension left in their wake. But as she entered Harry's room and caught sight of his grateful smile, all thoughts of the Dursleys melted away, replaced by the warmth of their shared affection.
And as they spent the evening together, laughing and chatting like old friends, Celestia couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to be with Harry, even if it meant enduring the disapproving stares of the Dursleys and their rigid suburban existence. After all, love knew no bounds, not even the confines of Privet Drive.
The walls of his room were painted a soft shade of blue, adorned with posters of Quidditch players and a single photograph of Harry's parents. There was a single bed at the corner and small a cupboard. At the corner stood hedwigs dirty cage.
Celestia's eyes roamed over the room, taking in every detail with a sense of wonder. It was clear that this room was more than just a place to sleep; it was a sanctuary, a refuge from the harsh realities of the Dursleys' household. However, she couldn't help but notice how small and cramped it felt compared to the spacious chambers of Malfoy Manor.
"Wow, Harry," Celestia said, forcing a smile despite her reservations. "Your room is... cozy."
Harry grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Yeah, it's not much, but it's home, I guess."
Celestia nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that settled in the pit of her stomach. She longed to whisk Harry away from this stifling environment, to show him a world filled with luxury and opulence that she lives in.
But as they settled into the room, Celestia pushed aside her own misgivings, determined to make the most of their time together. And as they spent the evening laughing and chatting like old friends, Celestia knew that despite the less-than-ideal surroundings, being with Harry made even the smallest of rooms feel like home.
As the evening wore on and the laughter faded into a comfortable silence, Celestia and Harry found themselves drawn together, their eyes meeting in a moment of unspoken understanding. The air crackled with anticipation as they inched closer, their breaths mingling in the confined space of Harry's room.
Celestia's heart raced as she felt Harry's hand gently cup her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Without a word, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a fervent kiss that ignited a firestorm of passion between them.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the world outside fading away as they surrendered to the intoxicating allure of desire. Celestia's hands tangled in Harry's hair, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss, her heart pounding in her chest.
For a moment, all that mattered was the sensation of Harry's lips against hers, the heat of his body pressed against hers as they melted into each other's embrace. It was a moment of pure bliss, a stolen fragment of time in a world that seemed determined to keep them apart.
But as reality intruded upon their idyllic bubble, Celestia reluctantly pulled away, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she gazed into Harry's eyes, a silent promise passing between them.
"We shouldn't," she whispered, her voice barely a breath against his lips. "Not here, not now."
Harry nodded, his eyes dark with desire as he reluctantly released her, his hand lingering on her cheek as they both struggled to catch their breath.
"Right," he said hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion. "Not here, not now."
And with that silent agreement hanging in the air between them, Celestia and Harry settled into a companionable silence, their hearts still racing with the memory of the passion they had shared, a tantalizing taste of what could be in a world where their love knew no bounds.
As the echoes of their passionate kiss lingered in the air, Celestia and Harry found themselves nestled into the comfortable cocoon of Harry's room, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavy between them.
Harry furrowed his brow with concern as he broke the silence, his voice hesitant. "Celestia, something's not right. Ron and Hermione, they're not replying to my letters properly. It's like they're avoiding me. There are no attacks, nothing, as if Voldemort had gone on vacation to celebrate his return."
Celestia smiled, "I can imagine the Dark Lord in trousers, lounging at a beach, sipping cocktails," she chuckled lightly.
Harry laughed too, but Celestia's heart clenched at the worry in his voice. Her fingers instinctively reached out to intertwine with his as she searched for the right words to ease his concerns. "Harry, I've noticed something strange too. It's not just Ron and Hermione. The whole wizarding world seems to be... treating you differently."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze flickering to the pile of newspapers stacked on his desk. "I haven't seen anything in the papers. What do you mean?"
Celestia took a deep breath, her mind racing as she struggled to articulate the unsettling truth that had been gnawing at her since their return from Hogwarts. "Harry, it's not what's in the headlines that worries me. It's what's missing. There's hardly any mention of you at all. Read between the lines. They're making you out to be a silly joke."
Harry's eyes narrowed in confusion as he sifted through the newspapers, his brow furrowing as he realized Celestia was right. "But why would Ron and Hermione ignore me? They haven't told me anything about it. What's going on?"
"I don't know about them Harry " Celestia's expression darkened with concern as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as she shared her suspicions. "The Dark Lord isn't behind it. It's the Ministry, Harry. I think they're trying to discredit you, to make you seem like... like a silly joke. No one believes you. They think you're lying about the Dark Lord's return. To seek attention. Meanwhile, this is the perfect opportunity for the Dark Lord, he doesn't have to do anything to make you weak, the Ministry is doing it for him, besides the Dark Lord is more concerned about the prophecy currently, I heard my father speaking of it with Mr. Nott the other day, they are trying to fetch a prophecy, but I don't know what exactly it is, my father told me to not speak of it ever again when I asked"
There was silence after Celestia's statement, Harry's stomach churned with unease at Celestia's words, the weight of her revelation sinking in. "But why would they? Dumbledore supports my statements -"
Celestia frowned at Harry's naivety. "They're boycotting Dumbledore too, calling him an old fool and such. I think the Minister of Magic believes Dumbledore is after his job or something. The elite society is supporting the Ministry."
"But that's crazy," said Harry in disbelief. "Why would he think Dumbledore's after his job? Has he gone mad?"
Celestia stared at Harry in worry. "I don't know, Harry. But returning to Hogwarts is going to be hard," Celestia said. "I just want you to be mentally prepared."
As nighttime approached, Celestia informed Harry that she had to return home before dinner as her father would be returning soon. She sadly explained that she wouldn't be able to write to him frequently as she was visiting Paris for Fashion Week with Daphne Greengrass and their friends from France.
With a heavy heart, Celestia bid Harry farewell, knowing that their time together had come to an end for now.