Insight

This is a collab by Yellow and Hope.

## Prologue (Obscure)

His cold, pale fingers clutched the stem of the wilting flower. It crumbled in his grip, turning black and falling. By the time it reached the ground it was nothing but ash. He turned, snake eyes glinting and black robe shimmering with deadly promise as he made his way back into the room. Malfoy Manor, it was his again. With Draco turned to the side of the Potters, he had claimed the Manor. It was now in it's rightful Masters clutches. He glided to the wooden table, the people around it immediately stilling. There was perhaps twenty individuals at the Manor, his other Death Eaters residing further South. He smiled, his thin, pale, lips curving into a grotesque grin. A snake, thick-bodied and menacing, slithered across the marbled tile.

*Nagini,* he flickered in her native tongue, *Come to Master.*

The snake's thick body made a metallic scrape as she slid across the marbled tile.

"Lord," A thin, weaselly man coughed, "Lord Voldemort, I have news."

Voldemort's red gaze turned to him, a menacing gesture in itself, "Yes, Randolph?"

The man squirmed under his Masters gaze. He coughed again, "Potter's granddaughter has made it to the train. G-Gregor's team was late."

Voldemort stilled, his rage carefully concealed, "And Randolph, why is that?" his voice was cool as ice, as one might step to far and break it.

"We tried, Lord," the man squeaked, his eyes round with fear. Every being in this room knew the wrath of their Lord. Oh, they knew. Voldemort sometimes regretted the loss of some of his followers, but they had to go. They jeopardised his very being. *Oh, how they could have been useful.*

"Yes, Randolph," The Lord said smoothly, "You *tried.* That, is the problem. You tried and *failed.* What I want you to do," he paused, a slow smile creeping over his harsh features, "Is lead the Death Eaters to *victory."*

"W-what?" Randolph stuttered, his eyes bulging.

"Do you defy me?" Voldemort hissed, snake-like.

"N-no!" Randolph whimpered, his hands shielding his face.

*Foolish man,* the Lord growled in Parseltongue, *Nagini... Dinner.*

Randolph's screams rang out through the night, and then were abruptly cut short.

*He could have been useful,* the Lord sneered.

He turned to the woman at the end of the table, her black curls falling around her pale face.

"Bellatrix," Voldemort's face contorted into a thin smile, "How did you go?"

Bellatrix seemed to sit up straighter, "Lord, the girl escaped, aided by Potter's granddaughter."

Voldemort could tell she had more to say, so his expression remained still.

"Lord, you will not regret bringing me back," she announced, her blood-red lips moving with the words, "I will not fail again. I will not!"

Voldemort hissed, "Bellatrix, you always have been ambitious."

The woman's eyes darkened, "Oh yes, Lord, but I would never dream of taking your place."

"Of course," The Lord sneered, "This time, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix sank down in her seat, visibly relaxing, "Thank you, Lord."

Voldemort turned away, "Take care of them. They cannot jeopardise our plan."

"Yes, Lord."

He sighed deeply, his hands stroking the dark table. Voldemort's slitted eyes glittered with greed as he reached towards the silver wand lying on the mantelpiece. He picked it up in his hands, the wand glittering.

*Master,* it called.

Voldemort fingered the wand thoughtfully, his pale hands reaching for the glinting tip. He brought the weapon out and pointed it around the room, slowly letting it rest on one man. Kallahan.

The blond-haired man froze, "Lord?"

"Kallahan," Voldemort said smoothly, "I volunteer you to test the Mortum Wand."

Kallahan's eyes widened, "Lord, I don't think-"

A jet of fluid green light filled the room. Gasps punctured the room. The man lay dead in his chair. *Gone.*

Voldemort's fingers twitched as he lay the wand back on the mantle, wrapping the satin around it. He turned back to the table, his face a mask of calm.

"Find them. Find the girls, or you will all be punished."

## Chapter One - Celeste (Hope)

Me, Magic?

I can't be?

Is it true?

I am a witch. Well at least that is what the letter said.

Could I tell Collin?

No, I can't tell anyone according to my parents.

Collin would get worried if I suddenly disappear from school. What am I going to do?

Collin and I have petty crushes on each other. I do like him but we aren't a couple or anything. His curly brown hair is bouncy and one of the things he always make sure looks good. He is one of my friends and always has been. His brown eyes seem to follow me wherever I go and I blush every time he complements me.

See, petty.

Hogwarts.

That is where my mother went.

Rose, the daughter of the famous Hermione and Ron.

Hermione is my hero.

Always has been and always will be.

She is a true hero. Proving that girls can do anything.

She is also my grandmother, which I still find heard to believe even though my mother tells me everyday how much I look like her!

On the day I received my acceptance letter I was at my grandma and grandpa's house. I heard and owl call and I was confused because owl's are nocturnal. I looked at my Grandma and she noticed it too. The suddenly a white flash flew into the fire place. I walked over and realised it was a piece of paper.

I noticed that my grandad laughed and had a huge smile on his face.

"Open it," my Grandma gestured excitedly.

I grabbed my brown hair tie off my wrist and tied my loose curls of brown hair off my face. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the letter closely. I said Celeste Granger-Weasly. I slipped my thumb under the top flap of the envelope and pulled out the letter.

"Read it aloud," suggested my Grandpa.

"Dear Miss Granger-Weasly," I read aloud.

I looked up to see my grandparents grinning with joy.

"We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment," I read.

"My granddaughter is Hogwarts," announced Ron.

Wow, that was a huge day.

Did going to Hogwarts mean I was special?

## Chapter Two- Aster (Obscure)

I hummed, my fingers deftly plugging my earphones into my ears. I flicked to a song I like- The Man by Taylor Swift. I'd often wondered about this concept- if I'd been born a man. I smiled as my cat, Nevermore, slinked into my room. Nev (as I called her) was a pretty Nebelung cat with pale green eyes. I offered my hand to Nev and the cat purred, rubbing against me. I lifted Nev to sit on my lap. When the purring recommenced, I grabbed my phone and texted my friend, Cathy. She was a witch too- and going to Hogwarts as well.

**Hey, Cath!**

**Hiya, Asti!**

**I can't wait** texted Cathy.

**me either. Nev is ready!**

Cathy's laugh seemed to tinkle on the other side of the screen, even though it is impossible, **So is Belle!**

**Oh! I have to go- Dad is calling me. Bye! See you there! I hope we get put in the same house, Cath!** I texted quickly as James called me from the stairs.

"Hi, Dad," I plonked her phone down down on the table. James rushed in, his eyes sparkling.

"My little witch!" He whispered.

"I'm excited too!" I grinned, my worries decidedly shoved to the back of my mind.

*This is gonna be great.*

I stroked Nevermore as the grey cat purred, rubbing her face on my hand. Asti blinked and realised she hadn't packed- at all!

"Dad, I gotta pack!" She gasped. He widened his eyes dramatically, grinning.

"I'll send Sam in to help," he told her. Sam was Aster's nearly step-dad- James' boyfriend. His full name was Samuel, but we called him Sam. James disappeared into the next room and I heard Sam laugh, before coming in.

"Hey, Asti," he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges.

"Sam!" I grinned, showing him my empty trunk.

"Let's get packing, shall we?" He raised his eyebrows.

Aster nodded. She began to gather her books but Sam swept his hand over them and they sailed into the trunk. She smiled again, letting Sam get her trunk ready. She picked up her wand- it's wood was acacia (ollivander had said, "that's highly unusual- the acacia wand will withhold it's true power unless it's owner is very powerful." And he had looked at her closely, "which is what I think you are.") With a Phoenix feather core. Supposedly, the flexibility is sturdy and almost inflexible (on the powerful end of the scale). I grin, waving it, and seeing sparks trail from the tip.

## Chapter Three- Celeste (Hope)

"Arial!" I call.

My fluffy ginger cat comes rushing around the corner, purring like a tractor.

"You would never survive in the wild." I laugh to her.

"You ready?" my mother asks.

"Yes!" I called back.

"Really?" says my mother as she leans against my door.

I giggle and Arial jumped on my lap.

My mother walks up to me and stroked Arial on the head.

Arial and I have known each other for two years now. I named her after Ariel from the Little Mermaid, my favourite movie of all time.

"Your grandma had a cat just like Arial." explains my mother.

"It was Crookshanks, wasn't it?" I ask.

I heard Grandma talking about her adventures at Hogwarts. Hermione, the famous witch from Hogwarts is my hero and my grandma. I never knew that I was magic until I got the letter from Hogwarts. I was overjoyed and terrified.

"Text Collin." my mother says.

"What do I say?" I asked.

I had been dreading this moment. But it had to happen.

"Tell him you are going on camp." my mum says.

"Okay," I sigh, with my fingers trembling.

Once I had finished writing the message I couldn't press send.

"Can you do it?" I beg my mother.

"Sure," she laughs.

It wasn't funny. She grabbed my phone from my loose grip.

"Done!" she exclaims.

"Thank you." I say gratefully.

When I go to Hogwarts, I will be leaving everything behind.

Everything I love.

My home.

My family.

And Collin.