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OLIVIA MARIN STARLINGย
waited forย Celeste in her office, she hasn't seen her since Celeste met her biological mother the other day. Olivia was confident that Celeste is alright but there was still a little flame burning her heart, making her extremely nervous and worried over her niece. Suddenly her office door opened and Celeste walked in.
"Honey," Olivia sighed and opened her arms where Celeste ran straight into.
"Liv..." Celeste cried to her shoulder.
"There there," Olivia sighed and rubbed Celeste's back. "Everything is all right?"
Celeste nodded, technically everything was all right. She had found her family, she found out how she ended up in the orphanage, and she found out how much they loved and missed her. But yet, it didn't feel as good as she thought. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that her family were Malfoys and she had fought against them at the Department of Mysteries and was partly a blame for Lucius Malfoy's, her father's, imprisonment.
"I'm glad that I know, but it's all very confusing," Celeste admitted.
"It must be," Olivia sighed and placed her palm on Celeste's cheek and smiled her bright smile. "How was Mrs Malfoy?"
"Happy, sad, happy," Celeste said and a single tear rolled down her cheek. "She's been heart broken for years, just because I was taken."
"It's all right. It isn't your fault, you know that right?" Olivia said softly and guided Celeste to sit on the couch.
Celeste nodded absentmindedly. "Yes."
"Now, would you like to talk about this?" Olivia asked carefully.
"Apparently I was the light of their lives, sorry Draco," Celeste chuckled. "I was the happiest, most eager little fille. I was obsessed with my parents, mother was my best friend and I thought that father was God."
Olivia watched her niece telling about her family and a flicker of light appeared on her face, a stronger flicker than the one she always has.ย
"Well of course," Olivia smiled warmly.
"But I don't know what to think," Celeste confessed and looked down on the floor. "I-I'm going to the manor on Friday. Narcโ- I mean mother, I guess, she didn't want to let me go after the infirmary so I sort of promised to go to the Manor."
"Well that's wonderful. Right?" Olivia asked.
"I suppose so," Celeste shrugged.
"Cele," Olivia sighed and wrapped her arm around Celeste, pulling her closer. "You aren't okay."
"I don't want to hurt her," Celeste whispered. "And I'm not saying that I will but..."
"...you aren't like them and you're not sure if it will work," Olivia finished Celeste's sentence. She caressed her niece's cheek and looked her straight into her eyes. "I've heard things about them as well but also what I've heard from you and Draco, they love you. And they aren't stupid ย to not to have you in their lives just because you aren't like them."
Celeste smiled shyly. "They were quite nice, actually really sweet. Draco and mother."
"Do you know if you are going to see anyone else from the Malfoys?"
"I don't know. Lucius, father, is in Azkaban and according to Draco, there aren't really too many Malfoys left. Just grandparents, Bellatrix and her husband and brother-in-law. But maybe at first I'll just stick with Draco and Narc---mother. Merlin, this is strange," Celeste chuckled softly.
"You'll do just fine, Celeste. And I'll be there, no matter what," Olivia assured her niece, with the most beautiful smile across her face.
Celeste smiled back at her aunt but a wave of discomfort and hesitation hit her. "But what if I can't?" Celeste asked quickly. "What if I can't take all this in?"
Olivia caressed Celeste's cheek, she understood that the teenager was confused and unsure. "Then we'll have an adult conversation with the Malfoys and explain them that this is too much for you."
Celeste let out a sigh of relief. She was happy to know that there was a way out as well, not that she thought that she needed it, but just in case.
ย "I'm going to give them a chance. I need to, for my and their sakes. I was taken from them, besides what I remember of my past, I loved them so much and they loved me."
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FRIDAYย
came more quickly than Celeste had anticipated. She stood next to Draco, in front of a huge manor. Celeste was more unsure of everything now, she had no idea what to think or say or feel. All she knew was that going in might be the worst idea or the best idea she ever has. She was quickly brought back to reality when Draco took her hand.
"Ready?" He asked, and deep down feared his sister's answer.
Celeste took a deep breath in and out before she turned to Draco. "Yes. I'm ready."
Draco smiled and thanked his lucky stars for Celeste's answer. He placed his hand on the big door knob and opened the huge dark front door. He held the door open for Celeste who walked in and her heart stopped for a minute. She knew that the manor was huge, she saw it from the outside but it was even bigger from the inside.ย
"Whoah," Celeste sighed. "You live here?" She asked the obvious.
"We live here, or you lived here," Draco stuttered, he was still very confused on how to treat the situation or what to say to his twin sister. "Come, mother's waiting for us," he said and guided Celeste to the main drawing-room.
They walked to the room and stopped by the doorway, when they noticed their mother. Narcissa turned around when she sensed someone's presence. Her face lit up by the sight of her children, both of them, standing by the doorway just like they did when they were little. She was also slightly stunned that Celeste had come. There was nothing she wanted more but she knew that the girl must had her reservations.
"You came," Narcissa breathed and leaped across the room, wrapping her arms around both of her children. "I'm so glad," she sighed and kissed Draco's cheek before turning to Celeste, hesitating should she kiss her or not but the nod she got from the girl assured her that it was all right.ย
"Hey," Celeste said shyly.ย
"Hi," Narcissa smiled brightly. "I hope you had a pleasant trip, and that the school didn't give you hard time on leaving for the weekend."
"Oh, they were quite all right with it." Celeste said with a nervous voice, which she did try to hide.ย
"Mother," Draco said rather quietly. "Is she here?" He asked and looked around the drawing-room.
Celeste realized that the she Draco was talking about was Bellatrix Lestrange, their aunt. From what Draco had told her, Bellatrix adored little Celeste but a lot has changed, Bellatrix has changed. And meeting her quite mental aunt wasn't in Celeste's to do-list for the day.
"No, she isn't," Narcissa sighed and turned back to Celeste. "Would you like us to show you around?" She asked from the young girl. "It really hasn't changed that much since, you know..."
Celeste bit her lip but turned her nervous act into a smile. "Sure, I don't really remember anything of the house," she said, flinching when she noticed Narcissa's, her mother's, facial expression, pain.
Narcissa swallowed by the thought that Celeste didn't remember her own home, but then again she didn't even remember her family. "Marvelous," Narcissa managed to say.
After showing the Manor it was already time for bed. Celeste was very glad after the day she had, she really could use some sleep. She was guided by Narcissa to one of the guest rooms.
ย "If you don't mind staying here for the night," Narcissa sighed. "Y-your room is still fit for a four years old, not a teenager," she said with a sad smile. "But I'll fix it tomorrow".
"Oh, it's okay," Celeste said kindly and took the clothes Narcissa had given to her to change. "Umm so I better get changed," Celeste stuttered.
"Of course," Narcissa smiled. "I'll be back shortly then. If that's alright with you?" She added the question quickly after realizing maybe Celeste didn't feel too comfortable with her yet.
"That's fine," Celeste said before Narcissa closed the door and gave Celeste some alone time.
Celeste was already in bed when Narcissa knocked on the door. She let herself in after Celeste called her in and walked next to her bed, and sat down on the bedside. A enormous wave of emotions rushed over Narcissa as she looked at the young blond girl in the bed, her golden eyes staring straight at hers. Narcissa tried to hold her tears but it didn't work as she felt hot tears pouring down her face.
Celeste felt awful when she saw Narcissa crying, she must have been in so much pain since she was taken. Celeste pushed herself back to a sitting position and threw her arms around Narcissa's neck.ย
"Please don't cry, I'm home now," Celeste whispered to her.
Narcissa immediately wrapped her arms around her daughter's torso and squished her against her chest.ย
"My sweet sweet beautiful girl," she murmured. "I've missed you more than you could ever imagine," she cried to Celeste's shoulder. "I'm so scared that this is all just a dream and I'll wake up, and you're not here."
"I am here now" Celeste assured Narcissa. "I'm here now."
Narcissa pulled away slightly so she could still hold Celeste's arms. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall apart like this," she apologized with a small chuckle.ย
"Please, finding your long lost daughter is a perfect reason to fall apart," Celeste smiled warmly and sank back to her bed. "Do you want to stay?"ย
"What?" Narcissa asked in confusion. There was nothing she wanted more than to snuggle with her daughter like they used to when Celeste was little.ย
"A-are you sure? You don't have to do that for me. I'm fine," she tried to assure Celeste but failed miserably when her voice broke.
Celeste took Narcissa's arm and pulled her to lay next to her. "I'm sure," she smiled brightly and placed her head slightly on her mother's shoulder. She thought about how she felt just few days ago but now, her feelings had completely changed. She really wanted the Malfoys in her life, she missed her mother.
Narcissa bit her lip and fought against her fresh tears, she didn't want to cry. She felt like she had cried for the past twelve years nonstop and now her daughter was here, so no more tears. But it was easier said than done. She carefully turned her face towards the shoulder where Celeste had placed her head and gave a soft kiss on the top of Celeste's head.
ย "I saw your father after you left the infirmary," she said, breaking the silence.
Celeste's eyes flickered but she didn't move anywhere, she didn't want to move from her mother's warm embrace. "Y-you saw him?"
"Yes, I went to see him and I told him about you," she said softly. "And he was so happy, he was so happy that his little princess' back."ย
Celeste smiled warmly and snuggled closer to her mother.ย
"Princess," she whispered and wrinkled her nose playfully. "That's an very obnoxious nickname," she chuckled, causing her mother to laugh with her.
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CELESTE WOKE UP
the next morning, still in her mother's arms. Her mother was already awake but didn't want to disturb the girl so she just gently stroked her blonde hair. When Narcissa saw Celeste opening her eyes she placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Morning sleepyhead," she chuckled lightly. "It looks like you slept well."
Celeste grinned, she hasn't seen her mother this easy going since she met her few days ago. "Morning," she managed to say before a yawn escaped from her mouth.
Narcissa was about to say something when the bedroom door bursted open, revealing Bellatrix Lestrange. The witch looked like she had seen a ghost. She stormed closer to the bed, scaring Celeste who moved closer to her mother. Bellatrix stopped just in front of the bed and narrowed her eyes, observing her niece.
"You should had told me she was here," Bellatrix finally said after several minutes.ย
"I know Bella, but you were busy," Narcissa said calmly and pushed herself to sit, Celeste still in her arms. "But now that you're here, maybe you'd like to officially meet your niece. Again."ย
Bellatrix looked at her sister and then back at Celeste, who started to feel more comfortable with the crazy haired lady. Celeste bit her lip and carefully got up from the bed and walked to her aunt. And throwing her completely off guard, Bellatrix wrapped her arms around her niece, hugging her tightly.
"Hi," Bellatrix whispered to Celeste and tightened her arms around the girl. "You grew up."
Celeste was stunned by the affection she got from Bellatrix, but was somewhat grateful that her aunt's feeling towards her hasn't changed over the years.ย
"Yeah," Celeste smiled.
"Now let me take a good look at you," Bellatrix chuckled and took few steps back so she could see Celeste better.ย
"Mmm just like Cissy," she stated proudly. She was proud but sad, she had not only missed Celeste's life because she was kidnapped, but also because she herself was put to Azkaban when her niece was only young child.
"Cissy?" Celeste frowned and looked over her shoulder to see her mother who had got up from the bed as well.
"I'm Cissy," Narcissa chuckled and walked to Celeste and wrapped one arm around her shoulder. "It's a nickname Bella gave me when we were children," she explained.
"Aaah, I see. It's definitely a better nickname than princess," joked Celeste, wrinkling her nose.
Bellatrix smirked. "I told you she wouldn't like that," she said knowingly to her sister. "I tried to make Lucius stop calling you that, it's very obnoxious."
Celeste laughed warmly. "That's what I said."
"Now I need you to tell me everything," she said enthusiastically and took Celeste's hand and guided her to sit by the table near them. Narcissa shook her head amusingly, Bellatrix really still adore the girl more than anything.
Celeste started to tell her story; America, orphanage, her adoptive parents and their deaths. Her best friends and Ilvermorny, everything. But when she mentioned Nathan, Bellatrix rose up from her seat and narrowed her eyes.
"Nathan? That's a boy's name, isn't it?" She asked in horror and turned to her sister. "Cissy!"
"No no, he's my best friend. I don't have a boyfriend," she assured her aunt. "Trust me my uncle and aunt won't let me have one until I'm at least thirty."
"Aunt?" Bellatrix repeated and turned back to her niece. "Aunt?"
Celeste bit her lip. "Umm yes. I was raised by my uncle and then he married Olivia, who is like my aunt..." she only then realized that she had forgotten to mention Olivia.
Bellatrix 's eyes flickered with an emotion Narcissa hasn't seen in decades, sadness. "You have an aunt?" Bellatrix asked again, her head slightly hanging low.
Celeste looked at Bellatrix with soft eyes. She got up and went to hug her. "I can have two aunts can't I? She asked and looked up to face her aunt.ย
"I'm sure you'll like her. She's feisty as well. And doesn't like when boys looks at me," she teased Bellatrix.ย
Bellatrix sighed loudly but nodded. "You can have two aunts," she said, admitting her defeat.