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AUGUST HAD FELL 

upon the world much sooner than expected. This also meant that a new semester at Hogwarts was about to start. Celeste was excited for this but she was also nervous with the OWLs coming up and it seemed that ever since the Battle of the Department of Mysteries ― she has been feeling a little under the weather. 

She knew that Sirius Black's death had something to do with her low spirits. 

Celeste didn't know Sirius Black well but she thought he was a nice man with good principles. But she knew the pain of loosing a parent and while Sirius Black wasn't exactly Harry's father ― he was close enough. 

The blonde witch, her family and friends were all spending the day in Diagon Alley. 

"Do you have all your books?" Asked William as he scanned the list of supplies in his hands. "And quills and stuff?"

Celeste grinned and leaned her head against William's arm. "Yes uncle Will, I have everything."

"Well that's good then because I have a little present for you," said William and glanced at his wife who was smiling from ear to ear. 

"A present..." started Celeste and before she had a chance to say anything, William pulled out the most beautiful book Celeste has ever seen. 

Celeste squealed loudly and threw her arms around her uncle. The loud squeal Celeste had made,  caught someone's attention.

Just some feet away, Narcissa Malfoy was waiting for her son, the boy had insisted on getting a new broomstick although he didn't really need one. Narcissa figured that it was just his way to process his father's absence. She heard the squeal of a child and turned directly towards the noise, noticing the American witch with her family. 

She observed the girl whom she hasn't seen since early spring. Her hair had grown longer but otherwise she looked the same. She was eagerly holding a large book in her hands, thanking the two adults in front of her over and over again. 

Narcissa remembers the woman who was with the girl― she was her aunt through marriage ― meaning that the man must be her uncle. There wasn't any resemblance between the uncle and niece but Narcissa knew genetics weren't everything when it came to family. 

She came from a family who disowned people for sports. 

The Malfoy woman had completely lost herself to her thoughts that when she scanned her surroundings again, she could no longer see the girl or her family. With a heavy sigh, she turned around to go and get her son. 

Celeste and her company needed to go to Madam Malkin's and get new school robed. She herself hasn't grown too much and was still able to wear her old robes but Nathan had grown several inches during the summer and was in desperate need for some robes.

Celeste, Beth and Nathanwalked into Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions where they ran into Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry. 

They happily greeted each other before walking further into the boutique. Hermione, Ginny, Beth and Celeste looked through the shelves and tried to find new clothes as Nathan, Harry and Ron decided to sit down on a couch. Celeste walked even further inside the store when she accidentally pumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized before realizing that the woman she had pumped into was Narcissa Malfoy.

Narcissa's eyes flickered when she saw the young girl staring at her. "It's seems that we attempt to run into each other," Narcissa chuckled. "It's quite all right, no worries". 

"Thank you," Celeste smiled and glanced at Beth and Nathan who were already by the entrance door. "Umm I must get going," she just said and walked away form Narcissa. 

Celeste didn't really have anything against her but now after witnessing the scene at the Department of Mysteries, her point of view had started to shift. She already knew that Draco was a selfish little thing but she never really had anything against the whole family, at least Narcissa but now she wasn't quite sure anymore. Though her sister did let her go but how could she not be sure that Bellatrix let her go just that she could finish her up later.

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AFTER THE LITTLE SCENE WITH

Potter, Granger and a Weasley boy, Narcissa retired back to the Manor. She kept thinking about the girl again. The girl was there, her husband was in Azkaban and her sister was on the run with the Dark Lord, how wonderful. For eleven years she had thought that her life was a mess, ever since her daughter was abducted but now, this might just win the battle. 

Narcissa walked to the library and closed the door behind her, she sat down on the armchair and threw her head against the back rest. She closed her eyes and tried her best not to get lost with her thoughts because at this very moment, her thoughts scared her. She wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. Maybe she really was crazy and that girl was a nobody. This was a mantra she had told herself over and over again ever since she first met her. Narcissa kept her eyes closed until she fell asleep.

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"Hey there," Narcissa smiled at her five days old daughter. "Oh Merlin you're so precious," she sighed and scooped the baby to her arms. "Yes you are, yes you are," she cooed. The little baby just stared at her mother with her big golden eyes as she took her mother's index finger to her tiny hand and wrapped her fingers around it. 

Narcissa walked around the nursery with Celeste in her arms as she gently rocked the baby from side to side. She walked closer to another crib where her son was happily sleeping, "That's your older brother, Draco," Narcissa smiled and pointed at Draco. "And he's going to look after you no matter what, and so am I, and daddy and auntie Bella. And we'll never let anything bad happen to you, or you brother."

Suddenly the nursery door opened and her husband walked in. "I figured that I'd find you here," he shook his head playfully. He walked next to Narcissa and gently caressed the baby girl's cheek. "She looks just like you," he smiled and kissed his wife and then his daughter.

"And Draco is a spitting image of you," Narcissa smiled and glanced at her sleeping boy.

"We'll be in big trouble with these two," Lucius laughed and wrapped one arm around Narcissa. "Draco is most likely going to be very commanding and as for Celeste, she'll be stubborn like you and so beautiful that I have to hex every single boy who ever comes more than five feet close to her."

"Aaah, so I'm stubborn," Narcissa laughed and snuggled Celeste even closer to her chest. "I love you my little girl," she whispered as the baby started to fall asleep in her arms. 

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Narcissa flinched and realized that she was once again dreaming about the good old days, and she hated that. She hated to dream and memorized the time when she had both of her children with her because now it seems impossible to have that again. Now her husband was gone, her son has started his new 'job' as a Death Eater, which was something that Narcissa never wanted to happen to her son.

At times like these, she was almost glad that her daughter wasn't in their messed up life. At least she was safe, perhaps. Or dead. Her daughter being dead was something Narcissa always tried to convince herself not to be true but who knows. She was four, maybe she died right away or maybe she lived for some years, miserably and died later. Or she could easily be alive and happy somewhere safe. 

Those were the thoughts that continues to keep Narcissa awake every night.

She thought about her afternoon ― seeing those two strangers with that blonde girl. It didn't make any sense. Narcissa herself came from a well respected family and married into one as well, and there were these two average people, looking happier than Narcissa has looked in eleven years.

Sometimes she thought that loosing Celeste was a payback for the things her family has done for blood purity. Her husband was a Death Eater after all ― just like her sister and brother in laws. They weren't the greatest of people, they were bad people but never, not even once has Narcissa nor Lucius been bad parents.

"Mother?" Draco asked when he entered the room.

Narcissa turned to look at her son, a small smile gracing her face when looking at her remaining child. "Yes darling?"

"Are you thinking of her?" 

The question caught Narcissa off guard. She and Lucius have spoken to Draco about his sister ― and he remembers her quite well. He was four after all when Celeste disappeared from their lives. 

"Yes," sighed Narcissa.

"Because father is gone too?" 

Narcissa swallowed ― no matter how broken ands scared she felt ― she wasn't going to let her sixteen years old son worry about her too.

"Yes."