CHAPTER FIVE
DIRTY MONEY

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warnings: blackmailing/threats

Draco Malfoy knew deep down that Celena Leociadus was exposing his secrets. He watched silently as she whispered incoherent messages into her friend's ears and pointed at him from afar. He noticed every glance and gaze from across the room, every sharp deep breath she took whenever he got remotely close.

She was a snitch, and Draco Malfoy was going to silence her.

It had only been a month and a half since she heard what he and his father had to say, but the days were closing in and soon enough, Draco believed that all of Hogwarts would know the future that lies ahead of him.

After she punched him, it finally truly occurred that his time was running out. If she was brave enough to lay a hand on him, she was capable of exposing all him and his father worked for. This anomaly needed to be settled, and for Draco, it needed to be settled fast for his own sake. He sat quietly in the Common room, staring off at the fire as he thought to his father's words.

"Do whatever it is. Pay her, kill her, expel her. Whatever the task is, you do it."

Lucius Malfoy's voice echoed in his son's head, as if he stood next to him in that Common room. It was clear as day. What a task to assign a fourteen year old boy, especially your son. Draco's legs out stretched onto the scratchy carpet, his hand positioned over the bottom half of his face as he continued staring. Being a Malfoy was difficult, but being his father's son was even harder.

Draco craved to make his father proud, he craved the feeling of praise and appreciation. Narcissa, his mother, had never really stopped loving them, even when he grew tired of her as a whiny teenager, but not one drop had been offered from Lucius. He was too caught up in his own work, his own personal world he constructed for himself after Hogwarts. He built walls that Draco would have to tear down to get past. For the past few weeks they had been at school, there was not one letter from his father. Owls came and went, but there was no lined parchment paper sealed with his house crest awaiting him when he sat down for breakfast in the Great Hall.

Draco turned around to the sound of Celena's voice echoing down the stone stairs. Felix walked alongside her, offering to hold one of her books while they walked.

Draco turned, watching from the shiny leather couches, his arms stretched from side to side. He rolled his eyes, groaning and smacking the back of his head on the back of the couch. "Bloody hell." He cursed.

"Disgusting." He gagged, getting up and shuddering off the feeling. Celena Leociadus with a guy? Who could ever like her?

Draco Malfoy just felt bad for the ones that did, they were in for a real treat.

Shortly, the door to the Common room closed and out walked Felix and Celena. Draco took a sharp breath, sighing and then following after a minute or two. He was going to get her to stay quiet, he just needed to wait for the perfect moment.

His hand traced over the tall wooden door, hearing focused just down the corridor as she listened to Celena's incoherent conversation.

Draco followed the pair until they reached a classroom, he watched as Felix bid her goodbye with a bright smile and a wave. How incredibly stupid was he? Draco didn't want to know his thought process, as it was clearly messed up. Celena walked into Charms, but the blonde haired boy peered from the door, leaning on the door frame as other students started to walk inside.

He watched as she sat down with her friends, then to the bruise on her right knuckles. It was a deep purple, with hints of navy blue and red.

Good.

He might've been punched, but she suffered the same pain as he did. Deserved.

The bell rung, calling all students hanging outside the door to come in, including Draco. His feet carried him across the way to his seat, next to Pansy and Crabbe. Another bad part of this whole situation was that they didn't even know. His friends didn't have a clue that Celena Leociadus was practically on the verge of exposing everything his father worked for.

The problem ate at him like a parasite, slowly making him turn into a mad man.

"Settle down!" Professor Flitwick yelled from his spot on the books.

He stood facing all the students who began sitting in her respective spots. Celena sat next Cornelia, watching intently and awaiting Flitwick's first instructions. The blonde shifted her books, opening the one at the top as she gazed at the various drawings and doodles on the side. Celena noticed a drawing that stood out to her the most. The small indent between the words contained the intials, K.B. A heart was drawn around it in black ink but was enchanted to take the color of a soft pink. The doodle could've belonged to anyone. Hundreds of students attended Hogwarts each year, it could've been someone from the twenties, seventies or even the year prior. That was the funny thing about the textbooks, they held the memories of everyone who attended this magical place.

"Today we will be going over a simple but intermediate spell." The man began, holding the bottom of his wand in his left hand and the top in his right.

"Now, has anyone here heard of Stupefy?" His eyebrow quirked.

Celena glanced to the tall window, resting her chin on the palm of her hand and her elbow balancing against the wooden seats. Outside, the trees swayed with leaves beginning to fall from its grasp. They crunched and settled softly on the floor. She liked to listen to the wind, especially when it whistled.

Flitwick redirected his attention to a Hufflepuff girl in the top row of the seats. "It's a stunning charm, but it is only temporary." She ruffled her pages and fixed the glasses sitting on top of her button nose. "Very good."

"Just like Ms. Violette said, this is only meant to stun your opponent, not injure." He shifted his weight alongside the books, looking over the students carefully. "If you look to your left and your right, you will see mounds of pillows." He started.

"They are put there to ensure the safety of everyone in this classroom, and I mean it. You will follow my instructions, and for the love of Merlin, do not injure each other."

Celena silently laughed at the tone in his voice. Professor Flitwick was smart, but introducing a stunning spell to a bunch of fourteen year students was not the brightest move, especially a bunch of fourteen year old boys. Especially Draco Malfoy.

"Who is up first?" He asked.

Celena watched as Cornelia's hand shot up, but she was not alone in that. The entire class decided that they wanted to send someone flying back as-well. The girl sighed, taking a deep but sharp breath and trying her best not to slouch in her seat. "Well, seeing that Ms. Leociadus and Mr. Malfoy are the only ones not interested, they will be first." Celena's head shot up at the mention of her name. Cornelia groaned beside her.

Suddenly, she made eye contact with Draco from across the room who had the slightest bit of a smirk on his face. Merlin, how she wanted to wipe it off.

"Come on down, don't be shy you two." Flitwick stood back on his books, watching the two blondes make their way down to the middle.

If this worked, Celena would be the happiest person ever to see Malfoy knocked on his ass.

"Don't go easy, Malfoy." She smirked as she passed him, almost near his ear so only he could hear it. "Wasn't planning on it." He returned her snarky remark.

"Whenever you are ready." Flitwick's voice echoed as the class went silent. It was so quiet that a pin could drop and everyone would hear it. Everyone watched closely, eyes sliding back and forth waiting for one to make the move. It was like a war. Draco quickly glanced up to Flitwick who stood tall behind Celena, but she used this as the best opportunity to use the charm on him. "Stupefy!" She yelled, pointing her wand towards him. Malfoy ducked.

Luck. Pure luck.

Of course he had played her, he knew the tactics she'd use on him. "Good try." Flitwick smiled, already looking over other students to pick.

However, Malfoy didn't stand down. The hair on the back of Celena's neck stood up as she began to turn around. "Stupefy!" Malfoy shouted, but Celena was quicker. She ducked low, low enough that the spell couldn't reach her. Luckily, it went no where in Flitwick's direction, and instead shot to the floor toward a thin book. Celena scoffed, looking towards the boy with her mouth open. "Stupefy!" She yelled back.

It was beginning to become back and forth. "Celena and Draco!" Flitwick yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the groans of annoyance between the two. "You had one try, you don't get another!" Draco yelled, ducking behind a part of the long desks. "You tried it twice on me! How is that fair?" Celena huffed. "Children!" Flitwick yelled as students began ducking under their own desks.

"Yeah? Maybe a third time will do it right!" Draco shouted over the gasps, angling his wand towards her as she stepped from behind the wooden structure. "Do it then!" Celena shouted, letting the tip of his wand touch her chest while she stood with hers down by her side. "Gladly!"

Before Draco could do anything, Professor Flitwick's voice caught them by complete surprise. "Detention! Both of you!"

Celena looked back in horror. She had never gotten detention before. "Are you joking?" Draco laughed, a hint of disbelief in his tone. "Far from it, Malfoy." Professor Flitwick stood up taller on the books, a sickening expression written on his face. "Tomorrow night, you will be forced to sit here and write an apology to one another. I will be reading them." He scorned.

Celena's body nearly dropped as she scoffed. She wasn't a bad or misbehaving student, but this was downright awful.

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Celena huffed, walking out of the classroom with a sour face as Cornelia tried to catch up with her. A month into third year and she had landed herself in detention, all thanks to Draco. It was unbelievable. She, of all people, getting detention? Even worse, getting yelled at by a teacher? It was unlike her. Celena Leociadus was always a good student, she never had any problems with others, nor would she ever dare to start a duel with another student.

Of course, he had dragged her right on into his world of mischief.

"That was something!" Cornelia poked as she struggled to keep her books all together. "Why is it that he hates you that much?"

"I wish I knew, C. I've been asking myself the same question for three years." She wanted to curl up in a ball and stay still for the rest of her life. "Him and his little crew can go pitch themselves off the Astronomy tower if they continue their little jokes." Celena shook her head, blinking softly to try and ease her racing mind.

How could he even duel? He was in a sling for Merlin's sake!

"Well look on the bright side, now you can check 'getting detention due to Draco Malfoy' off your list!" Cornelia joked, trying her absolute hardest to soothe the raging mess that was her best friend. Celena shot her a look that said 'really?', Cornelia took it as a sign to stay quiet.

"My parents are going to kill me." She realized, continuing to walk down the hallway. Maybe she should pitch herself off the Astronomy tower before they found out. In the back of her mind, she could already hear their voices. "Celena Leociadus, you are better than this."

"Draco is your friend, why would you ever start a fight with him?"

Her parents had tried their hardest to get Celena to like him, but something stuck to her tooth like it was rotting, there was something about him that she found extremely unlikeable. Yet, the Malfoy's and Leociadus' were family friends, but it didn't stop the teens from hating one another. Between them, was a thick line. They both knew there was a shared hatred, reasons unknown, but still very present.

She looked back, looking at the blonde who looked like he was going to kill her. Their eye contact broke when students walked through, straining them from the death stares they sent each other.

Soon, Cornelia waved her friend goodbye and went her own separate way. Celena walked by herself, observing the arched-stone windows of the courtyard as she tried her best to find a spot to sit at. Unfortunately, she turned a wrong corner and walked in on some seventh years snogging.

She groaned in disgust, nearly throwing up and walking somewhere else.

Celena had a free period, and she needed to study for Astronomy before her class in the late afternoon. Finding a spot free of freaks, she sat against the stone, her feet planted on the small platform and her back against the pillar. Her hands dug through her bag, searching for her Astronomy notes and star-charts. She let the cool breeze grace her face as she squinted out into the distance. The Black Lake, as hauntingly terrifying as it was, looked quite beautiful in this light. It was nearly mid-day and the sun set perched right above the sky.

Celena looked through her notes, jotting down constellations she needed to memorize on small flashcards. Scorpius, she drew a picture of the constellation next to the name. She scoffed at the next one, silently cursing Professor Sinistra for making her memorize the 'Draco' constellation.

Merlin, it must've been a joke. A silly, stupid joke.

He was everywhere. His name, his stupid unnoticeable blonde hair, that oddly loud laugh that she couldn't escape. Celena shuddered at the thought of him, especially now, he had landed her in detention, and she had every intention to get him right back. Out of nowhere, a voice pulled her from her plotting thoughts, a sweet but smooth voice. "Celena?" A girl asked.

The girl looked up with a soft "Hm?"

There stood Hermione Granger, holding her books close to her chest as if they'd grow legs and run away. Her curls cascading down her shoulders, much different from last year, where it was extremely brushed out and frizzy.

"I would just like to say that you are brilliant. You went against Malfoy like it was nothing," She began.

"He doesn't scare you?" Hermione stood closer to the wall. "I've learned to not live in fear of him, he's nothing but a wuss behind all that strong persona." Celena smiled, then gestured to the girl to sit down, moving her feet so she was sitting shoulder to shoulder with the brown haired girl. "But, thank you. Someone has to keep him on his toes sometimes, he sure does it to me." She joked with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Well, he's not the nicest, but you seem to handle it with grace."

"Fifty-percent of the time, the other half is what you saw in Charms." Celena corrected, laughing alongside the girl. "I'm sorry that you have to suffer in detention, though." She gave her a half smile, placing her books flat on her lap and adjusting the hem of her skirt. "That's alright, it's not like you could've done anything to help me. Besides, i'll find a way to get out of it." The blonde stated.

"I wish you the best of luck on that endeavor." The smart witch smiled brightly.

Celena replied with nothing but a smile.

Hermione was surprisingly very sweet. She wasn't what Celena thought she was, but instead, was the complete opposite.

"If you'd like, and you can say no, you are very welcome to join me, Harry, and Ron on our next trip of Hogsmeade."

The invitation was strange, almost out of the blue. She had rarely interacted with any of them, this time being the first with Hermione. Celena furrowed her eyebrows but smiled, "Thank you. I'll have to think about it, hopefully I don't get whisked away by Cornelia and Dalton." The corners of her mouth tipping upwards as she waved Hermione goodbye.

Celena sat there for a moment, it had been an hour since she stepped outside, and soon, her next class was going to start.

The girl started walking towards the entrance, letting the warm air from inside bathe her in goosebumps. Strangely enough, the cold and hot gave her goosebumps.

Celena walked up a flight of stairs, then walked down an almost vacant hallway ( other than the occasional first years looking back and forth in each direction, wondering where to go. ) It was almost silent, but soon noise was filtering through the hallways while the bell rung. The blonde walked happily, trialing behind a pair of Ravenclaws. Suddenly, something or someone gripped onto her wrist, yanking her into an empty closet.

The hand remained on her mouth until she looked up.

"Are you kidding me?" She silently huffed in her thoughts.

Draco Malfoy stood there, standing tall in front of her in the tiny space. "What is wrong with you?" She nearly shouted, but his finger quickly shut her up as he brought it to his lips. "Quiet, stupid! You're going to make people think we are snogging in here!" He fought. Celena gagged, wanting to escape. The room was so small, and she could barely move around. "Isn't there anyone else you can torture?" She tilted her head.

"Probably, but I choose you." He sent her a fake smile. Celena debated flicking the top of his nose where she had punched him, which had a small bandage sticking to the bridge, it was barely noticeable until they were up close.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke up. "What do you want, Draco?" She rolled her eyes. "I think the question is, what do you want?" He responded. Celena looked up at him like he had three heads. "Me?" She questioned. "Yes, you. How much?" He kept looking towards the door, making sure Filch didn't walk in and torment them with even more detention.

"How much what?" Celena was entangled in her own thoughts, what was this boy even saying? Suddenly, he pulled out a large pouch of coins, probably gifted from his parents. "What's this for?" Her expression fell into a disgusted one.

"Whatever you heard that night, forget it." He spoke, looking down at her, even though he was only a few inches taller.

"Are you serious? That is what this is about?" Celena scoffed, about to fall over herself from laughing so loud. Draco, on the other hand, was not amused. He had to have been golding about a hundred galleons. "I don't need your dirty money, Malfoy." She tried to push past him, but he quickly turned her back. "Don't play the spoiler rich card, we both know Mommy and Daddy aren't funding you anymore." He spat. Celena looked up, extremely angry now.

She scoffed, fighting his grip from her shoulder and brushing it off.

"At least I don't need them to, unlike you who just lives off your own parents." The blonde returned his nasty remarks. "Whatever. I know you're telling them what you heard." Draco accused the girl. "How would you know, it's not like you can hear our conversations?"

"Yeah? Well you seem oddly suspicious half the time." He brought his hand up to his forehead, narrowing his eyes to match her sharp look. "Oh! I'm sorry, did me talking to my friends hurt your sad little boy feelings?" She fake pouted, crossing her arms and rubbing her hand on his bicep in attempt to make him even madder.

"Shut it, Leociadus!" He shouted. "Uh, uh, I thought we were supposed to be quiet?" She interrupted him, mouth open with a small smirk. Goodness, how badly Draco wanted to jump off the Astronomy tower right now.

"Well, If you're done being extremely weird, I'd like to get to my class, thank you." She pushed past him, this time he let her.

The closet door opened as she stood in the doorway for a moment. "And if I hear one peep back to your friends, I swear, I'll make sure the rest of your days here are miserable." Draco threatened.

Celena turned around, gripping her books tighter in her hand as if she was holding herself back from throwing them at his head. "I'd like to see that happen, Malfoy." She gave him a bright smile then walked away

Draco thought it was over, but he heard her shout from down the hallway. "Have fun in Azkaban, freak!"

Merlin, this was going to be a terrible year—for both of them.

✶ AUTHORS NOTE ✶

did he just threaten her? 👀👀
(me acting surprised as if i didn't giggle while i wrote this.) but yay, the plot is finally moving 😌

wc: 3,582