[Celestine's POV]
I am wearing robes after five long years. I remember the first time I wore my Hogwarts robe and danced in glee around the shop only to be scolded by my mother. The first time I wore my dress robe to the Yule ball. The first time he tore off the robe. The first time I discarded it to live a muggle life. I am a weak woman. I have already accepted the fact that I am weak. I have always been a puppet in a man's hand—my father, brother and Tom.
I never questioned these men. They pulled my strings and I danced to these pulls. I feared them. I feared that my own father would cast me out of the family. I feared that my brother would hit me. I feared that Tom would never love me, even in the twisted way he does.
Yet, five years ago, for the very first time, Celestine Bell defied these men. She left them. She ran as fast as she could to protect the little thing she had inside her stomach. She did not want that little thing to be attached by strings of the cursed blood she had. She wanted her baby to live a happy life. She was still running when her baby was born. She had become slow as time progressed, but she could not stop. Yet, I could not give Amelia the life she deserved.
Today, though I bumped into a big barrier and could not run. I have to face what I was running away from, today. I have always been weak and naive. I feared things which never existed. My father saw me as a means to increase connections, power and influence. He would have sold me once I came of age. My brother saw me as a competitor for inheritance. How stupid was he! As if the father would ever give his wealth to me. Tom, I was scared of not receiving love from a person who did not even exist. He was always Voldemort. The ruler, the emperor, the feared, the protector of wizarding kind.
How stupid I was!
The only good thing that happened to me was Amelia. I need to protect her.
Now, I know, nothing good will ever come from running away from my problems.
I am going to be strong this time.
I will fight for Amelia.
I will fight for myself.
I will fight for justice.
Even if I die, I will die gracefully. I refuse to die as a coward. I refuse to be weak. I refuse to be a mere puppet in the hands of those men.
If Lord Voldemort is the villain in my life, then I am going to be the villainess in his life.
He might throw me into Azkaban. He might order the Dementor's kiss on me. He might execute me. He might publicly shame me. But until the last moment, I am going to be a pain in his ass. I am going to break him the same way he broke me. I am not going to give up ever.
I looked down from the stairs. The guards were standing behind Tom. Amelia was in Mrs. Robinson's arms. She looked terrified. Mental note to myself, do not make Amelia as weak as I am or was.
Hog stood at the corner trembling. He must be thinking that I am the emperor's past mistress or something.
"Ms. let's go" the female attendant was guiding me towards Tom.
I suddenly stopped.
"Any things the matter Ms.?"
"Yes, I need to take care of something before I go. Mrs. Robinson, would you please consider closing Amelia and Jax's eyes?"
"Yes-s" she stuttered.
I threw a muffliato charm silently over the three.
I walked to Hog and smiled in a sweetly sarcastic way.
"Ms B-Bell," he said with nervousness evident on his face.
"Mr. Hog thank you for letting us stay here. If not for you I am sure we would have frozen and starved to death. I will be sure to put some good words about you to the wizarding world."
"Thank-k" He could not finish when I added "Although I am not sure if anyone would listen to my words anymore. Heck! I don't even know if I will live! It all depends on our 'kind' emperor." I added mockingly.
"Will punish me harshly my lord?" I asked with a fake innocence. I could see the people around me twitching in fear at the way I was addressing our short-tempered emperor.
Tom glared at me before answering "That is something we are not going to discuss here and do not make me wait any longer Celestine."
I pouted at Tom and said "I am sorry my lord. I was just curious you know."
"Curiosity killed the cat, Ms Bell," Tom said annoyed.
"But satisfaction bought it back!" I exclaimed.
I could hear gasps all around me. I was challenging the emperor. I saw Tom's mouth curve a little up but then it set to its usual handsome frown.
"Oh! Did I say anything wrong?" I fake gasped. "I was just completing what our Tommy forgot to complete."
I could swear everyone's eyes would be on the floor if they popped it a bit more.
"Celestine you are making this worse for yourself," Tom added in a threatening voice.
"This is not fair! Professor Slughorn got to call you those cute names while I don't?"
"Celestine!" Tom looked like he would just use the killing curse on me. Enough of pulling his legs. Now, it's time to pull someone else's legs.
"I was just about to give Mr Hog here a nice present and go," I said smiling.
Hog was still in shock from the way I spoke to Tom. Hearing his name being called out did not bring his attention.
I threw the stinging jinx at him nonverbally.
"Ahh!!" Hog gasped.
I took the spell off him. "Sorry, Mr. Hog that was just to catch your attention."
"Confringo" I yelled with my wand aimed at Hog. Hog flew up and hit the wall. Blood gushed out of his head as he laid down on the floor with a painful consciousness.
"Never mess with a girl Hog," I smirked.
I saw a glitter in Tom's eyes.
I went to Mrs. Robinson to get Amelia. I lifted the charm off them.
"Mum, who is he?" she said pointing towards Tom.
"Sweetie, I will tell you later" I smiled at her.
I lifted her in my arms as I walked to Tom.
[Tom's POV]
Celestine has changed and I like it. It is going to be even more fun to break her now.
The things she said to me were the purpose of irking me. I can't say she did not succeed.
When she called me Tommy, I wished for nothing else but to take her over my lap and spank that attitude out of her.
When she pouted, I wished to kiss her brutally.
Hell! When she came towards me with her daughter, she looked like a temptress. I so badly wanted her under me on the bed.
"Celestine," I said as we got in the car. I looked at her daughter who was looking at me with her big eyes filled with curiosity.
"Who is she?" I asked Celestine. I put a muffliato charm over the girl. Celestine looked annoyed that I put a spell on her daughter.
"Amelia, my daughter" she replied.
"I meant who is the father."
"Well, my lord you should frame your question properly before speaking. You just wasted 0.2 seconds of my life! Considering that I might not be alive tomorrow it's a huge waste!"
I glared at her.
"Does it matter who the father is?" she said in a dismissive tone.
"It does matter," I said.
"Why?" she asked with a small smile.
Because I am going to kill that bastard. "Your emperor ordered you, that is why it matters," I said.
"I am going to be dead anyway tomorrow. So, why not do the paternity test tomorrow? But I swear you won't be able to harm my daughter. I am going to give her to someone she can remain safe with."
"Stop the car" I roared.
"Get out Celestine."
"Are you letting go?"
"Don't joke with me." I got out of the car and pulled Celestine out of the car.
I dragged her to a secluded spot nearby. We are going to require our privacy.