Orphic

Celeste sat in front of her vanity with a robe around her while Druella stood behind her, curling her hair with her wand.

She got let out of the hospital wing this morning and was now getting ready for Slughorn's party.

Sierra sat in the vanity next to Celestes, also getting ready for the party. Sierra was average at potions and was only in the slug club because her father was a high ranking ministry official and her brother was brilliant at potions.

“Celeste please let me do your makeup you looked so pretty last time” Anabel pleaded

“I swear makeup spells are the only spells you're good at” Druella mumbled and Celeste laughed.

“Well considering i won't be allowed to work and will have to sit at home all day and look after my children while my husband goes out and has all the fun i suppose i won't need to be good at any other spells will i” Anabel huffed.

“Your husband will also probably beat you,” Sierra added while applying lipstick.

“As long as he doesn't do what my father did to me to my children then i don't care if he beats me, i'll hit him right back if he tries.” Anabel scoffed.

Anabel mentioned things like that about her father often, none of them asked her to elaborate. They were scared to. They all had guesses, of course, and most of their guesses were close to the truth but they could never believe someone as carefree and happy as Anabel endured such horrors.

Anabel changed the subject quickly like she always did when she spoke about her father.

“Druellaaa when will you be finished with her hair i want to do her makeup” The blonde complained

“Im nearly done, stop whinging Anabel” Druella said

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After what seemed like hours of Druella fussing over her hair and anabel fussing over her makeup she was finally allowed to change into her dress.

It was a beautiful thing, she had bought it in Diagon alley this summer, with the obscene amount of money her father had left her in his will. She would have killed him sooner if she’d known how much money she’d gain from burning the old fuck into a crisp.

It was back velvet and floor length with diamond straps for sleeves which she paired with matching diamond earrings and necklace that she stole from a shop in muggle london. Just because she has money doesn't mean she has to spend it, plus the fact she loved the thrill of stealing. She and Tom used to do it all the time when they were younger. Stealing everything from packets of sweets to watches and wallets.

*insert pic*

Celeste then borrowed heels from Celina and a clutch from Anabel.

“Are you ready?” Celeste asked Sierra, turning to find her in a stunning green silk dress with her usual gold jewellery and a bag that she also borrowed from Anabel. That girl has too many bags for her own good.

*insert pic*

“Lets not keep the boys waiting” Sierra teased before turning towards the door

“Have fun! Sierra make sure Celeste doesn't drink too much and Celeste make sure Sierra doesn't leave halfway through!” Druella shouted as they stepped out into the staircase

“Honestly she’s worse than my mum” Sierra laughed

“She practically is my mum,” Celeste joked as they walked down the marble steps towards the common room and the boys waiting there.

Linus Flint, Tom riddle, Jacks Avery and Abraxas Malfoy stood in the common room looking impatient.

Orion and Leo were both previously in the slug club and both got kicked out for attempting to start a food fight in the middle of dinner.

“Hello, boys” Celeste said with a grin, walking to Tom and taking his outstretched arm.

“I must say you look beautiful Celeste” Jacks said before looking at Tom wearily. It was common knowledge Tom didn't appreciate people laying claims on what he believed to be his.

“Thank you, Avery,” Celeste replied with a small smile.

“Yes, yes, Celeste looks dashing as always. However, we are already 25 minutes late.” Abraxas said impatiently, motioning towards the door.

“You're such a stickler for rules Malfoy, have some fun. Late is on time and on time is late.” Sierra said as she walked towards the door, pale hand on Linus Flints arm.

“That is not the saying, and frankly makes absolutely no sense.” Abraxas grumbled as they walked out of the slytherin common room and into the cold hallway beyond.

Sierra stuck her tongue out at him.

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Tom was content. Or as content as he could be without the whole wizarding world under his control.

He had a band of loyal followers surrounding him and a beautiful possession currently on his arm as they entered the room that Slughorn's dinner parties were held in.

“Tom, my boy! How are you doing tonight? Are you feeling the dark and spooky aura of the night of the dead?” Slughorn beamed at him and Tom had to hold back a grimace.

“I must say, I am Professor, however that may just be the dungeons” Tom joked, wanting to throttle the old man but instead plastering his usual charming facade over his face, his favourite mask.

Slughorn laughed as if his jest was the funniest thing he has heard in years.

“And, Celeste my dear i must say you look beautiful tonight” Slughorn beamed.

“Thank you professor you look exceedingly handsome tonight as well” Celeste said with a soft smile on her face, Tom loved seeing her in her element. Manipulating people. Her charm and manipulation tactics rivalled his, he would say they were even better than his if he hadn't had her under his thrall for the 10 years he had known her.

“Oh, Celeste you do know how to inflate an old man's ego” Slughorn chortled, motioning them to sit next to him on his immediate left. Completely ignoring the others.

“Tom and I brought you a gift professor,” Celeste said, smiling fondly at the old man.

Tom thought this little ‘tradition’ of him and celeste bringing slughorn candied pineapple every dinner was extremely stupid. He never played any part in it but Celeste said it was from both of them every single time.

It was a small thing, her saying it was from both of them but it showed how much he had her wrapped around his finger.

“I wonder what it is this time” Slughorn guffawed, holding out his meaty hand to take the gift, even though they got him the same thing every damn time.

“You’ll have to open it and see,” Celeste grinned. They said the same exact thing every second weekend and Tom had to resist the urge to slap both of them.

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The first course of the night was brought out by the house elves and the idle chatter died down as the potato skins and garlic bread was laid in front of them.

“McGonagall is using the wrong fork- what the fuck she just picked the garlic bread up with her fingers!” Sierra whisper- shouted to Celeste and Celeste stifled a giggle with another bite of her potato skins.

It had taken Celeste and Tom approximately 3 seconds to adapt their mannerisms and eating habits to match the high class purebloods surrounding them, neither of them wanted to be called classless which -aside from mudblood and blood traitor- was most purebloods favourite insult.

Celeste listened in on the boring idle conversations around her which mostly consisted of the weather, school and pureblood supremacy. Tom was involved in a conversation about the latter with Abraxas and Orion, which Celeste found funny considering he wasn't even a pureblood, of course he deluded himself into thinking he was one and spent hours in the library looking for any sign that his father was a wizard

“These dinners are so boring, the only reason i still attend them is for the food and to judge McGonagall” Sierra mumbled

“I quite like them,” Celeste replied, placing her knife and fork atop the left side of her plate to show she was finished. It was one of the many things she had copied off her friends' immaculate etiquettes when it comes to eating. Most of those things had become habit by now, however it sometimes took an elbow in the ribs from Celina to remember to put her napkin on her lap before eating.

“Don’t lie Celeste you hate these dinners even more than me” Sierra laughed, careful to make sure Slughorn didn't hear.

“Maybe” Celeste replied

She didn't though. Not really, growing up in near poverty she loved every single reminder that she had left that life behind her at platform 9 ¾ four years ago. Loved every reminder that she was better than those muggles that had beat her down and made her feel worthless because of the magic in her veins.

She would make them pay for it.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

After everyone had finished dessert, which was a delicious apple crumble. The tables were moved with a flick of Slughorn's wand, the lights were dimmed and music began playing.

Celeste was at the edge of the dance floor with Tom, sipping champagne and swaying to the music while most of the others were dancing.

She turned her head slightly to look at Tom, leaning her head on the wall behind her and taking in the beauty of him, such exterior beauty and such a decaying soul, the same could be said of Celeste but she chose not to acknowledge that.

“Are you sober” Tom said and Celeste startled, she hadn't even realised he was looking back at her

“Im moderately functional” Celeste replied and tom let out a breathy laugh

“I'll take that as a no,” Tom said.

“Care for a dance?” Celeste said dramatically, holding out her hand to him.

Tom took her hand and led her onto the dancefloor where a slow tune was playing and couples were swaying with their arms wrapped around each other.

Celeste placed her hands on Tom's shoulders and Tom's hands snaked around her waist as they bagan swaying to the music.

“You look beautiful tonight Celeste, truly mesmerising” Tom said, looking down at her

“Thank you Tom, you look exceedingly handsome yourself” Celeste breathed looking up into his beautiful brown eyes and for a man so adept at harming others his gaze was remarkably soft as he looked at her.

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Tom was looking down into the bleary blue eyes that looked so enamoured with him and couldn't help the smile that graced his mouth. This girl would die and kill, torture and be tortured, for him. He had her wrapped around his finger and he loved it.

He was drunk on the feeling of her loyalty, drinking down her pure devotion to him like fine wine. She truly was his favourite toy to play with.

As Tom looked down at her he saw a possession, a weapon, a piece of clay he could mould into whatever he liked. His dark lady.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

As Celeste looked up at him she saw her friend, her potential lover, a boy she would one day rule the wizarding world with, together.

Oh how naive she is.