The Quidditch pitch was shrouded in a thick blanket of gray clouds as the slytherin team approached, the heavens threatening to burst open at any moment. Celestia Malfoy stood on the field, her broom clutched tightly in her hand, her eyes fixed on the horizon as the first droplets of rain began to fall.
As captain Montague barked out orders, Celestia's attention snapped back to the present. She was one of the chasers for the Slytherin team, a position she had earned in her third year at Hogwarts. Despite the ominous weather, she was determined to make the most of their practice session. She couldn't afford losing to Harry.
Bletchley, the team's keeper, took his position in front of the goal hoops, his eyes scanning the sky for any signs of approaching bludgers. Crabbe and Goyle, the burly beaters, stood poised on their brooms, their bats at the ready to defend their teammates from any rogue bludgers that might come their way.
Montague's voice cut through the air, his instructions crisp and commanding. With a flick of his wand, the Quaffle soared into the air, signaling the start of their practice session. Celestia's heart raced with excitement as she mounted her broom, her muscles tense with anticipation.
As she soared through the air, Celestia felt the exhilarating rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. The rain fell in torrents now, soaking her to the bone, but she paid it no mind as she focused on the task at hand.
Montague led the team through a series of drills and maneuvers, each one designed to hone their skills and improve their coordination as a unit. Celestia threw herself into the exercises with gusto, her movements fluid and precise as she darted and weaved through the air, her eyes never leaving the Quaffle.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Slytherin team persevered, their determination unwavering in the face of adversity.
Draco Malfoy, the team's seeker and Celestia's brother, flew effortlessly through the storm, his silver-blond hair plastered to his head as he scanned the sky for any sign of the golden snitch. Celestia couldn't help but feel a pang of pride for her twin brother as he braved the elements in search of victory.
As the rain continued to pour down, soaking them to the bone, Celestia and her teammates pressed on.
As the practice session drew to a close, Celestia found herself trembling uncontrollably, her nerves frayed from the intense training. Desperate to ward off the chill that seemed to seep into their bones, Draco and Celestia hastily cast a heating charm over their clothes, Celestia hoping to soothe her shivering form. With a nod of farewell to the departing twins, she watched them vanish into the bustling corridors.
By the afternoon, Celestia sought solace in the sanctuary of the girls' lavatory, the sound of running water offering a semblance of calm amidst the chaos of her racing thoughts. It was there that Ginny Weasley found her, her presence a welcome distraction from the turmoil within. With a gentle smile, Ginny approached Celestia, her voice soft and reassuring as she relayed the details of their upcoming gathering for the defense group.
As the clock struck half past seven, Celestia's mind buzzed with uncertainty as she navigated the dimly lit corridors of the Slytherin common room. Debating the merits of attending the meeting, her thoughts swirled with conflicting emotions, torn between the desire to stand alongside her peers and the fear of facing the unknown. Each step felt heavier than the last, her footsteps echoing in the empty halls as she grappled with her indecision.
To her surprise, as she emerged from the shadows of the dungeons, Celestia was greeted by a sight that both comforted and unnerved her. Standing before her, bathed in the soft glow of candles, was Harry Potter, his familiar silhouette a beacon of warmth in the chilly corridors. Beside him stood Hermione Granger, her smile radiant with genuine affection, which surprised Celestia, she was a reassuring presence in the midst of uncertainty. And yet, casting a shadow over the trio was Ron Weasley, his demeanor cold and distant, his gaze flickering past Celestia as if she were invisible.
"Hey, you," Harry's voice broke through the silence, his footsteps quickening as he closed the distance between them. With a gentle smile, he reached out to her, his touch sending a shiver of warmth down her spine. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips, his affection a balm to her troubled soul. "I missed you," he murmured against her skin, his words a whispered promise of solidarity and support.
In that moment, Celestia felt her doubts melt away like snow beneath the sun. The weight of her uncertainty lifted, replaced by a sense of belonging and acceptance. With Harry by her side, she knew she was not alone, that together they could weather any storm that came their way. And as they stood together in the flickering wand lights, Celestia's heart swelled with gratitude for the love and companionship that surrounded her, a beacon of hope in the darkness of uncertainty.
"Hold it," Harry warned, unfolding the piece of parchment at the top of the last staircase of the seventh floor, tapping it with his wand and muttering, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Celestia remembered the parchment, Harry had used it on multiple occasions after curfew.
A map of Hogwarts appeared on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labelled with names, showed where various people were.
"Filch is on the second floor," said Harry, holding the map close to his eyes, "and Mrs. Norris is on the fourth."
"And Umbridge?" said Hermione anxiously.
"In her office," said Harry, pointing. "OK, lets go."
They hurried along the corridor, following Harry's lead, a stretch of blank wall opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to train trolls for the ballet.
"OK," said Harry quietly, while a moth-eaten troll paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be ballet teacher to watch them. "Dobby said to walk past this bit of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we need."
"Dobby? My old house-elf?"
Harry nodded, Celestia gussed Harry may be in contact with the elf as he was the one responsible for freeing him. "He works at Hogwarts kitchen now, he is a free elf" Harry said pointingly.
Celestia chose not to comment.
"Okay now imagine a place where we can practice defence" said Harry as they turned sharply at the window just beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-sized vase on its other side. Weasley had screwed up his eyes in concentration; Hermione was whispering something under her breath; Harry's fists were clenched as he stared ahead of him.
"Harry!" said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled around after their third walk past.
A highly polished door had appeared on the wall. Celestia was staring at it, looking slightly wary. Harry reached out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door and led the way into a spacious room lit with flickering torches like those that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below.
The walls were lined with wooden bookcases and instead of chairs there were large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors and a large, cracked Foe-Glass.
"These will be good when we're practising Stunning," said Weasley enthusiastically, prodding one of the cushions with his foot.
They looked around the room as Hermione excitedly discovers a treasure trove of books on defensive magic, convincing her that their pursuit is justified.
As more members arrive, Harry starts explaining the purpose of the room, which has transformed from a broom cupboard into a practice space.
Surprisingly, Celestia found that Henry Birch had also joined them. He explained to Celestia that he and his friends were notified late and consequently joined the group after its inception.
Cho praises the setup, while Fred reminisces about hiding from Filch there. Dean asks about the Dark detectors, and Harry explains their function cautiously. Hermione suggests electing a leader, but Cho insists Harry should lead, he looked proud by her words causing Celestia to hit Harry with a nearby book.
Hermione suggests that they should formally vote to appoint Harry as their leader, emphasizing the importance of giving him authority. Despite some reluctance, everyone agrees to Harry's leadership. Hermione then proposes the idea of giving their group a name to promote team spirit and unity.
Various suggestions for names are thrown around, ranging from the straightforward "Defence Association" to the more comical "Ministry of Magic are Morons Group." However, Hermione insists on choosing a name that doesn't reveal their intentions to outsiders. Cho suggests "Defence Association," which can be abbreviated to "DA" to maintain secrecy. And to Celestia's horror, Ginny adds a clever twist by suggesting they call themselves "Dumbledore's Army," striking fear into the hearts of the Ministry of Magic.
The group enthusiastically agrees on the name "Dumbledore's Army," appreciating the significance and secrecy it offers. Hermione, ever the organizer, officially declares the motion passed and pins a parchment with all their signatures to the wall, labeling it with the newly chosen name.
With the formalities settled, Harry suggests they begin practicing defensive spells, starting with the Expelliarmus charm. However, Zacharias Smith dismisses the idea, claiming it won't help against Voldemort. Harry calmly asserts that he has used the charm successfully against Voldemort before, silencing the room and earning Smith's begrudging silence.
Undeterred, Harry proceeds to organize pairs for practice, demonstrating his leadership and determination to prepare his peers for the challenges ahead. Despite initial skepticism and tension, the group begins to focus on their training, united under Harry's guidance and the banner of Dumbledore's Army.
In the midst of the chaos, Neville finds himself without a partner, prompting Harry to offer his assistance. As they practice the Expelliarmus charm, the room becomes a flurry of activity, wands flying in all directions and spells misfiring. Despite some initial mishaps, Neville successfully disarms Harry, much to his own delight.
Meanwhile, Zacharias Smith experiences an unusual phenomenon where his wand keeps flying out of his hand every time he attempts to disarm his partner. It soon becomes clear that Fred and George are behind the mischief, earning a scolding from Harry.
As Harry moves around the room, he offers guidance and encouragement to his peers, correcting their spellwork and boosting their confidence. Celestia, demonstrating her exceptional talent and skill, impresses Harry with her precise spellcasting and quick reflexes, he looked at her lovingly, proud.
'OK, stop!' Harry shouted after a while. 'Stop! STOP!' he blew a whistle.
Everyone lowered their wands.
"That wasn't bad," said Harry, "but there's definite room for improvement."
Zacharias Smith said "Let's try again."
Harry moved off around the room again, stopping here and there to make suggestions. Slowly, the general performance improved.
"I don't think you even need guidance" Harry said as he approached Celestia and Parvati, "brilliant Celestia, Parvati"
He moved on towards the back and Celestia became aware of a certain Ravenclaw, 'Oh no,' said Cho rather wildly as he approached. "Expelliarmious! I mean, Expellimellius't't I - oh, sorry, Marietta!"
Her curly-haired friend's sleeve had caught fire; Marietta extinguished it with her own wand and glared at Harry as though it was his fault.
"She's a sixth year, isn't she?" Said Celestia loudly to Parvati who sniggered, "can't even do a first year's spell, ha!" Parvati said.
Harry ignored the commenting, agreeing to it mentally.
"You made me nervous, I was doing all right before then!" Cho told Harry ruefully.
"That was quite good," Harry lied, but when she raised her eyebrows he said, "Well, no, it was lousy, but I know you can do it properly, I was watching from over there."
Cho laughed. Her friend looked at them rather sourly and turned away. "Don't mind her," Cho muttered. "She doesn't really want to be here but I made her come with me. Her parents have forbidden her to do anything that might upset Umbridge. You see her mum works for the Ministry."
"What about your parents?" asked Harry.
Celestia moved further towards Harry, eavesdropping.
"Well, they've forbidden me to get on the wrong side of Umbridge, too," said Cho, drawing herself up proudly. "But if they think I'm not going to fight You-Know-Who after what happened to Cedric -"
She broke off, looking rather confused, and an awkward silence fell between them; Terry Boot's wand went whizzing past Harry's ear and hit Alicia Spinnet hard on the nose.
"Harry!" Celestia hurries towards the Gryffindor, feeling betrayed by Harry's actions "I need you somewhere" she said, glaring daggers at the ravenclaw. Cho glared back.
"What for?" Harry asked.
"Feeling a sudden urge to hex the bespectacled boy right there, Celestia pointed at Cho "if I saw you with this Ravenclaw girl once again, Potter, and I do not care if you are just being friendly — I will kill you"
Harry's jaw dropped.
Cho's face was crimson, the room went suddenly silent as everyone's eyes turned on them. "How dare you—" Cho said. feeling a mixture of anger and fear, rounded on Celestia, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Who do you think you are, threatening Harry like that?" she demanded, her voice quivering with emotion.
Celestia, unfazed by Cho's outburst, met her gaze with a steely determination. "I'm just looking out for him," she retorted calmly, her voice tinged with a hint of superiority.
The room fell dead silent as everyone watched the confrontation unfold, Harry among them, his expression a mixture of shock and confusion.
Seeing an opportunity, Cho locked eyes with Celestia, attempting to assert dominance on the younger girl. However, Celestia seized the moment to delve into Cho's mind, probing her thoughts with a subtle non-verbal, legilimency spell. Cho, suddenly overcome with a sense of vulnerability, stumbled on her feet, her eyes widening in terror as her own thoughts echoed in her head loudly.
With a gasp, she lost her balance and fell awkwardly onto her backside, the impact jolting her to the core. "What... what did you do to me?" Cho stammered, her voice trembling with fear and disbelief.
Celestia remained composed, her expression unreadable as she silently withdrew from Cho's mind, leaving her shaken and unnerved. she had read enough.
As the tension dissipated, the room erupted into murmurs and whispers, the other members of Dumbledore's Army exchanging glances of uncertainty. Celestia's actions had unsettled them all, leaving them to question her motives and abilities.
Meanwhile, Cho struggled to regain her composure, her confidence shaken by the unexpected encounter. With the confrontation resolved, albeit uneasily, Harry whispered to her "we need to talk" and left to supervise other members.
As the practice session progresses, Luna Lovegood interjects with her eccentric theories about Minister Fudge's corrupt practices, drawing both amusement and curiosity from those around her. Amidst the chaos, Hermione reminds Harry of the time, prompting him to conclude the session and bid farewell to his peers. Cho left first with her friend, she wasn't shaking anymore but her face was pale.
As the last of Dumbledore's Army filed out of the Room of Requirement, Harry lingered behind, his mind swirling with questions and doubts.
Celestia remained in the room, her posture rigid and her expression unreadable. Harry couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that something was amiss, especially after witnessing the tense confrontation between Celestia and Cho Chang earlier. He knew Celestia did something right before his eyes.
"Celestia, we need to talk," Harry began, his voice tinged with urgency as he approached her. Celestia turned to face him, her eyes betraying a hint of apprehension beneath their steely exterior.
"What about?" she replied tersely, her tone guarded.
"About what happened earlier with Cho," Harry pressed, his brow furrowing with concern. "What was that all about? Celestia, what was that back there?" Harry's voice was strained, his brow furrowed with concern. "You can't just go around threatening people like that."
"Are you really asking me this?" Celestia said, annoyed, decided to be straight forward she hesitated for a moment before sighing heavily, her shoulders slumping with resignation. "Harry, I... I don't want you seeing Cho anymore," she confessed, her voice firm but tinged with vulnerability. "As I've said earlier, I don't want you to be anywhere near her"
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind reeling with confusion. "What? Why not?" he demanded, his voice rising with frustration.
Celestia met his gaze evenly, her expression unreadable. "I was just trying to protect you, Harry," she replied, her tone firm.
"Protect me? From what?" Harry's frustration mounted, his patience wearing thin. "Cho is my friend. Why can't you see that?"
"Because she's more than just a friend, Harry," Celestia snapped, her eyes flashing with intensity. "She likes you. And I don't want you to see her anymore."
Harry's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What? That's ridiculous, Celestia. Cho and I are just friends."
"Are you blind, Harry? Can't you see the way she looks at you?" Celestia's voice rose with emotion, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.
"She likes you," Celestia told him bluntly, her gaze unwavering as she met Harry's incredulous stare. "And Harry just admit it, you like her too, I've seen it"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry retorted, his frustration mounting. "And even if she does like me, that doesn't give you the right to dictate who I can and can't see."
Celestia's eyes narrowed, her resolve hardening. "I think me being your girlfriend does give me the rights to expect exclusivity from you. besides I'm not dictating anything, Harry. I'm just telling you how it is. I can't stand the thought of you being with her."
Harry's anger flared, his temper rising as he struggled to make sense of Celestia's behavior. "And how do you know how Cho feels? Are you reading her mind or something?"
The words hung in the air, the truth of them sinking in with a heavy weight. Celestia's silence spoke volumes, confirming Harry's suspicions.
"You... you're reading her mind?" Harry's voice was barely a whisper, his heart sinking as the realization dawned on him.
Celestia hesitated, she could tell he has no idea what Legilimency means, her gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to meet Harry's eyes. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "My father taught me. Legilimency."
Harry's jaw dropped in shock, his mind struggling to process Celestia's revelation. "You can read minds?" he repeated incredulously, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Celestia nodded, her expression somber. "It's a skill my father taught me, using Legilimency. I can only do it when I'm in direct eye contact or with a wand, but non-verbally, I haven't mastered the art of reading someone's mind without them noticing. Cho knew I went through her memories, that's why she was scared"
Harry's mind whirled with a tumult of conflicting emotions, his heart heavy with the weight of Celestia's admission. "So you've been... reading people's minds this whole time?" he asked, his voice tinged with accusation. "Mine too? Oh right, that's how you were always there, always knew what was going on around you, that's how you believed me immediately last year about voldemort's return — it all makes sense now"
Celestia flinched at the accusation in Harry's tone, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I-I didn't mean to, Harry," she stammered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I just... I wanted to protect you, to make sure you were safe."
Harry's anger flared at Celestia's words, his sense of betrayal overwhelming him. "Protect me?" he exclaimed incredulously, his voice laced with bitterness. "By invading my privacy? By manipulating me?"
Celestia recoiled at Harry's words, her heart breaking at the pain in his eyes. "No, Harry, that's not what I meant," she protested, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you, I just... I didn't know how else to keep you safe."
But Harry's resolve had hardened, his trust shattered by Celestia's deception. "I can't do this anymore, Celestia," he declared, his voice hollow with resignation. "I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me."
"Doesn't trust you?" Celestia exclaimed, throwing her arms around her "you want me to trust you when you were day-dreaming about that ravenclaw girl the entire time I was your girlfriend?"
Harry chose not to answer.
Tears welled in Celestia's eyes as she watched Harry turn away, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty room. She knew she had lost him, the consequences of her actions weighing heavily on her heart. With a heavy heart, Celestia sank to her knees, her world crumbling around her as she grappled with the devastating reality of her choices.