She knew she’s been there before but never once did she imagine it so clearly. She could see the details as if she visited the cottage yesterday yet she wasn’t even sure she ever visited it.938Please respect copyright.PENANAQeMFuCgCCW
938Please respect copyright.PENANAW1Vxd07Lo7
It was strange because she could see everything from a different point of view, a smaller point of view actually. Everything was big compared to her but nothing was intimidating or peculiar in any way. 938Please respect copyright.PENANA6amaczRfDj
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“How are enjoying yourself, Pheli?” 938Please respect copyright.PENANAzyVNqfuZsR
938Please respect copyright.PENANAJlxybqHwUV
Ophelia looked up into the marvelous eyes of a ginger man. He smiled widely, his eyes full of joy and love as he bent in front of her and ruffled her hair. 938Please respect copyright.PENANAC5bpKiCPn0
938Please respect copyright.PENANA1uZ11pWzoy
“It’s been a while hasn’t it? How is our little witch?” He asked, making Ophelia blush without really having a reason why. 938Please respect copyright.PENANA9cOyX5tWch
938Please respect copyright.PENANAcfcjQHDybI
Well, maybe the reason was the way he seemed to emanate this boyish charm, making him attractive even for a little girl. Or maybe it was the dimples baby face of his that looked incredibly cute and friendly. 938Please respect copyright.PENANACQLzcNfecA
938Please respect copyright.PENANAHLpnrql6vK
“She’s only six years old, Vernon. Don’t mess with my daughter’s feelings already.” An older woman spoke, her voice soothing and extremely familiar.938Please respect copyright.PENANA9VAyqDHmeC
938Please respect copyright.PENANA1vr7iM0qQL
Ophelia turned to look at the woman and her heart beat faster at the sight of her face. Lillian Gaunt was playfully glaring at the ginger, her whole face bright and happy. She was beautiful ad those amazing green eyes were pretty much the same as Ophelia’s only hers were wide and clear while Ophelia’s were slightly elongated, like a cat’s. Lillian was a tall woman with long red hair and a certain elegance that seemed to come from her not from the way she was dressing, which was very classy. She was feminine and her whole appearance was making Ophelia feel safe. 938Please respect copyright.PENANA9X0D0rm5US
938Please respect copyright.PENANAljvO3j42QD
“I’m not doing anything! Don’t be a bugger, Mrs. Gaunt.” He spoke in a way that even the child could understand he was trying to annoy her mother.938Please respect copyright.PENANAQOMxdIfomv
938Please respect copyright.PENANArvZj9MpfN2
“Don’t call me that. Just Lillian is fine.”938Please respect copyright.PENANA6cStJT4zGq
938Please respect copyright.PENANAE0xksZunbK
“Whatever you say.” He mumbled before turning to Ophelia, “Then I will just take this little princess here and introduce her to my Patronus.” He said, smiling eagerly.938Please respect copyright.PENANA41IoAM9Iu9
938Please respect copyright.PENANAcZtbKwfTxM
Lillian chuckled when she remarked the confusion over Ophelia’s face. 938Please respect copyright.PENANANbStlmwaZi
938Please respect copyright.PENANA2myaCmBbYO
“His Patronus is a dragon. He talks about him as if he were his pet.” Lillian partially joked because, seriously, partially she was right. 938Please respect copyright.PENANAVjD7iCQoeS
938Please respect copyright.PENANAPmTCQAq00K
“He’s my faithful companion, has always been. He represents my happiness unlike yours, Mrs. Gaunt.” He emphasized again that small detail that seemed to annoy Lillian but she only rolled her eyes.938Please respect copyright.PENANAN8AkVxnsVT
938Please respect copyright.PENANAaebNoTGKum
Vernon’s smile softened up as his eyes trailed from Lillian to her daughter and sighed. Ophelia could see just how happy was that man and she was curious if, by any chance, he wasn’t her her. 938Please respect copyright.PENANAFCp8TEbgCS
938Please respect copyright.PENANAUahsOowozm
Suddenly, the whole room emptied and it became cold. Ophelia grew back to her original size and looked around curiously. She was in a different house, one that she knew well but hasn’t visited in a while. The brunette witch looked up to the first floor and breathed out, feeling a chill go down her spine. She placed her hand on the railing and trailed it as she took a few steps up the stairs. The door suddenly closed and she turned around quickly, scared. No one was downstairs so she turned back towards the first floor. Ophelia looked up and saw green before she heard someone whisper.938Please respect copyright.PENANA6p3EwApNhT
938Please respect copyright.PENANAi3b3n46qp0
“Not yet.”
Two green eyes opened abruptly, scaring whoever was next to her. She rose on her bottom quickly and looked down at her hands.938Please respect copyright.PENANAYrLM42TQyh
938Please respect copyright.PENANAkcwV9CrTYZ
“Are you alright, dear? You woke up so suddenly.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAGbK6CmE0Bt
938Please respect copyright.PENANAhOBaZcoTGH
Ophelia looked up and met the worried eyes of Madame Pomfrey, who was just passing by her bed. Seeing her, it made the girl remember that she was actually at school and she had a very bad meeting with what was called a Dementor. Then, she remembered one more detail-938Please respect copyright.PENANAkWgk7Y0b3z
938Please respect copyright.PENANAEfkgGhxZo6
“Where is Severus?” She asked, yet not moving from the bed. For some reason, she felt like she shouldn’t push the covers off.938Please respect copyright.PENANA3iWdMlG6Fo
938Please respect copyright.PENANA4SCuItBnYh
Madame Pomfrey smiled softly, worry still in her eyes but something else too.938Please respect copyright.PENANAxRcADQMJtc
938Please respect copyright.PENANAxb5IAHj5x6
“He’s fine. He’s been coming every two hours to check on you.” She said softly before her smile widened, “Such a friendship is hard to come by. Treasure it.” She said before leaving to mend to her own business.938Please respect copyright.PENANAfYUDw9t3h2
938Please respect copyright.PENANAEqbrY26lsn
All alone in the whole room, Ophelia looked down at her hands once again. She was sure someone tugged on her hand right before she lost consciousness and it was someone rather small. Slowly, Ophelia pushed the covers off and patted around, searching for something small yet firm. She couldn’t find anything until she started to search under the pillow. Every so often she would glance over her shoulder, just in case someone would spontaneously pop in. It was clear and she found it; she found the stone and it looked unimpressive.938Please respect copyright.PENANAc4CNUhUECC
938Please respect copyright.PENANAUU43MhhPcZ
The knob moved and being so large, the door cracked as it opened and Ophelia pulled the covers over quickly. She kept her hand under and lied down, looking still tired.938Please respect copyright.PENANAjIM0dmDGJk
938Please respect copyright.PENANAfLlEvT0yEj
Surprisingly, the one who entered was Professor Spinnard, whose face was pretty much the definition of an unpleasing, grumpy visitor who wanted to be anywhere but there.938Please respect copyright.PENANAjqAXdgRQVb
938Please respect copyright.PENANAa5B6AzR7Bh
“Glad to see you’re well, Molley.” He mumbled, his tone opposite of what he actually said, “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Trouble is written all over your face and you went so far as dragging Severus with you.”938Please respect copyright.PENANA0SZJonmNWc
938Please respect copyright.PENANAnLmloMwktT
“I didn’t drag anyone with me. You weren’t there. You don’t even know what happened, professor.” She responded, annoyed that he could look down on her so much that he’d even think she would drag someone into trouble.938Please respect copyright.PENANAsCSfH4RIIp
938Please respect copyright.PENANAOZqunfjvpz
Professor Spinnard raised an eyebrow and seemed to scan her closely, as if he knew she was hiding something.938Please respect copyright.PENANAW5GUq8jFLX
938Please respect copyright.PENANA2ouX4hTfWn
“Did you hurt your hand?” He asked, his voice sounding a lot like her father when he knew she had done something bad but wanted her to speak about it.938Please respect copyright.PENANAR3T7SJdNZA
938Please respect copyright.PENANAG1iGHUEj4P
“No.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAIqz1bUNc8d
938Please respect copyright.PENANA0Xm7ETHrXR
Professor Spinnard was only a professor so he shouldn’t look so deep into what his students were doing in their free time. Besides, she was from another house and he had no right to question her.938Please respect copyright.PENANAggVr5mXucO
938Please respect copyright.PENANAu9xstWEvYX
“I would prefer if you would leave me alone to rest, prof-“938Please respect copyright.PENANAjVbV8A0mlh
938Please respect copyright.PENANA5I7KZVcXFS
“Have you finished your homework, Molley? The extra work too?” He interrupted, asking something irrelevant to the matter at hand.938Please respect copyright.PENANADuCRIRHuHo
938Please respect copyright.PENANAcgzZMF1Xb4
“What extra homework?” She asked, taken aback by the sudden change.938Please respect copyright.PENANAM2j521oitr
938Please respect copyright.PENANACQF9gtxubv
“For walking out into the Forest, which is strictly forbidden to students such as yourself, and for secretly learning spells high above your skill without a tutor. You wrote about defensive spells, haven’t you? Well, it’s time for you to write me about offensive spells and curses. Also, for the whole of the next semester you and your friend will be actively participating in my class.” He finished, walking two steps closer yet still keeping the distance.938Please respect copyright.PENANAAuBwn4bZmR
938Please respect copyright.PENANAZXuVvUvhOe
“Is that all?” She asked, knowing that it wasn’t such a bad punishment.938Please respect copyright.PENANAXNz9k8zg2u
938Please respect copyright.PENANAbFaPkoOWZ7
Professor Spinnard chuckled darkly, linking his arms behind him.938Please respect copyright.PENANAzuBJOtq1cO
938Please respect copyright.PENANAxlCpTaSCsy
“Believe me, that’s enough. I have prepared classes especially for you, Ophelia.” He added before he sneered at her and left.938Please respect copyright.PENANAws3519ZDUP
938Please respect copyright.PENANAVPlzMWreG3
Hearing her name being spoken by someone so strange was only adding more questions to her list.
Ophelia was perfectly fine, except the shock of having to face a Dementor. Madame Pomfrey offered her some chocolate and advised her to eat a lot in the next few days. Of course the first place she went to was the dungeons where she met Professor Slughorn.938Please respect copyright.PENANADsAjwd4q6S
938Please respect copyright.PENANAUckcGjEQiI
“Oh, dear! You scared me…”938Please respect copyright.PENANA2DcbyD0L7B
938Please respect copyright.PENANAnz8EACoomb
He looked genuinely scared for some reason and she knew she wasn’t exactly terrifying.938Please respect copyright.PENANA3AxO9J4LId
938Please respect copyright.PENANAvdJOfKaHAB
“I’m sorry, professor. I was in a hurry to see Severus.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAzkycH80vPq
938Please respect copyright.PENANA01t3BcnvSq
“Oh, yes, yes. Severus Snape, such a gifted potion maker. Of course, it’s still too early to give an honest opinion but he’s a fast learner, that boy.” Slughorn added, complimenting Severus with a bright expression, “I’m sure you will try harder this next semester, am I right? You must not fall behind your friends, Molley.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAeRp1LhTSKU
938Please respect copyright.PENANA51uWOfYtIw
“I’ll try my best, professor. It’s not going so well for me now so I’m not sure I’ll improve.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAQXn6mJRCmm
938Please respect copyright.PENANAyuO0fqNDfU
Slughorn was surprised for the mere fact that she looked genuinely worried and angry with herself. She was so pitiful, especially because Slughorn has seen how bad she was at potions compared to other classes.938Please respect copyright.PENANAZsm6hVZXd3
938Please respect copyright.PENANAjXQAvrS3cl
“Yes, well you may need a miracle for that to happen.” He trailed, his smile cracking in the corners.938Please respect copyright.PENANAwRyhRR69Ax
938Please respect copyright.PENANA7026fSfbhp
Ophelia could feel her eyebrow twitch at that subtle commentary but decided to shrug it off since he was a professor and she was just a first year. She still had a lot to learn and do and showing Slughorn that she could master the art of making potions was just another thing on her list.938Please respect copyright.PENANAARAxr6x2Eo
938Please respect copyright.PENANAfWFehpKTG2
“Well, I’ll be off then. Nice seeing you, professor.” She said with a polite smile before rushing past him towards the Slytherin common room.938Please respect copyright.PENANAawUan5tUcH
938Please respect copyright.PENANAMrCRnR1ipS
It was only when she passed a certain dusty classroom that she realized she didn’t know where the Slytherin common room was. She wandered around the dungeons for an hour before she finally found someone that could help, if he wanted to.938Please respect copyright.PENANATyyGnyf61I
938Please respect copyright.PENANADNQobWyCnr
“You should be upstairs, little girl. The festivity will begin soon.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAydOhNpntN9
938Please respect copyright.PENANA6EmUwgZZPq
He was a ghost, the Bloody Baron of them all, and he was terrifying. Of course, it was because of the blood on his clothes and the stories she heard from other students but he himself seemed to be very secretive and firm.938Please respect copyright.PENANAGexohpsZbQ
938Please respect copyright.PENANA9oRA3TikX9
“I am looking for Severus?” She asked, taking a few steps back when the Baron flied closer. “Greasy black hair and dark wide eyes. He looks like a squirrel really…” She added chuckling to herself but the Baron was poker faced.938Please respect copyright.PENANAuapcZwpkeO
938Please respect copyright.PENANAvMT9pIa6oN
“The festivity will begin soon. It’s Christmas, Miss Gaunt.” He added, staring at her closely.938Please respect copyright.PENANAll4LNWF6eE
938Please respect copyright.PENANApGXQuVu0xG
“Miss Gaunt?” She asked, completely taken aback by that name. “I have heard that name before…” She mumbled, scratching her cheek thoughtfully.938Please respect copyright.PENANAOatJHCAsPx
938Please respect copyright.PENANA9AW2fq7CsQ
“Daughter of Lillian Gaunt, aren’t you?” The Baron asked, already knowing the answer.938Please respect copyright.PENANAlwyJ4tRHGd
938Please respect copyright.PENANAPpiqW2dSRv
Ophelia nodded mouth agape as the ghost flied through the wall towards the Potion classroom.
During dinner, Dumbledore was sure to transform the ceiling into a night sky, full of bright stars while snow was swaying beautifully around the room. It was Christmas and the students that remained at Hogwarts were definitely enjoying themselves. Severus was nowhere to be found so that left Ophelia all alone at the table, munching on whatever she could find that wasn’t greasy. The tarts were delicious so she even hid some in her pockets in case she would like a midnight snack. 938Please respect copyright.PENANAMYUz43hR6P
938Please respect copyright.PENANAUQ2QnMvDPd
Taking one long glance around the Great Hall, Ophelia fumbled with her pants’ front pocket before taking out the stone. She looked down at it, turned it in every way but from any angle she’d look at it, it was nothing but a stone. She took a peek at the staff table and noticed that Dumbledore was not there so with a little bit more confidence, she put her hands on the table and placed the stone into the light.938Please respect copyright.PENANAcfl3UNs17W
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“How did I get you?” She mumbled, wondering just how exactly the stone ended in her grasp.938Please respect copyright.PENANAThTzPehpGm
938Please respect copyright.PENANAsKe7LY7G8w
Well, someone did tug on her arm and probably forced it in her hand but that person must have been pretty small for that to happen. Also, how exactly did Severus get rid of the Dementor? Did professor Spinnard follow them or maybe Hagrid saw them? It was still so mysterious.938Please respect copyright.PENANAiio4eK1WQP
938Please respect copyright.PENANA3xhYovEqfQ
“Enjoying yourself, Ophelia?”938Please respect copyright.PENANAZSaVvMZgRR
938Please respect copyright.PENANAfpRX28CL7p
Hearing that low tone, Ophelia’s eyes widened and she hid the stone in her palm; she grasped it tightly before going back to choosing tarts.938Please respect copyright.PENANAtJmg2LbaNA
938Please respect copyright.PENANA69mxVSEbRZ
“Headmaster,” She barely said before grabbing a tart with her free hand, “I’m fine, yes. It’s a bit lonely but I enjoy the silence and peace.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAyM1ZAKS8tl
938Please respect copyright.PENANA9t8bMozYOy
Dumbledore’s careful eye caught sight of the stone from the moment she pulled it out but it felt like she wouldn’t give it to him if he were to ask her about it. Ophelia was a secretive child, just like her parents, so he had to be careful.938Please respect copyright.PENANAgps5nc8kBI
938Please respect copyright.PENANATNGg9enF3x
“I thought you were rather eager to go back to Birmingham.” He started, knowing exactly what route to take with her.938Please respect copyright.PENANAhAgChteoRB
938Please respect copyright.PENANAEd6qBL69dO
“Um, yes. I lost the train and decided to spend Christmas here. Besides, Willy has been missing ever since I arrived to Hogwarts.” She grumbled, still having a hard time because of her owl.938Please respect copyright.PENANAsBJVm4MxyN
938Please respect copyright.PENANAZXnFmTvju6
Dumbledore’s usual warm blue eyes seemed to have darkened as his whole posture stiffened; it was barely noticeable, but being right behind her, she could help but feel tension surround her.938Please respect copyright.PENANA0cSnI8hWvv
938Please respect copyright.PENANA1RAl3lxE3P
“It would be better to have someone look after him. I’m sure he will return but until then, use one of the owls from the Owlery.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAWbtX6ofyve
938Please respect copyright.PENANAFhN6F5Il1B
Dumbledore advised her softly yet there was a tinge of firmness in his voice; it actually made her feel like she might have been the one ordering Willy not to return.938Please respect copyright.PENANASW8WH3sJ8U
938Please respect copyright.PENANAUuBCXVM0kJ
But there was something even stranger and that was the sudden information that there existed an Owlery. She kept that sudden enthusiasm to herself but her eyes were shining in hope that she could write to her adoptive parents.938Please respect copyright.PENANAmLLUnTFtMV
938Please respect copyright.PENANAzFF4gfjXyl
“I assume you don’t plan another escapade to the Forbidden Forest?” He asked as if he already knew everything, making her tighten her grasp on the stone. “Have you found something of interest on your last adventure?” He added.938Please respect copyright.PENANA2MZJTlJae9
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“No, of course not. Except maybe a Dementor.” She mumbled, feeling suddenly tensioned with the headmaster questioning her.938Please respect copyright.PENANAe3PsRbVjV3
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“Do you know who saved you, Ophelia?”938Please respect copyright.PENANAuUZcqAHkI8
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She sighed and turned to fully look at him while he moved a bit to the side. He was very tall and quite intimidating from her seat yet there was something else that was making her feel angry.938Please respect copyright.PENANA7XoRCKRdLz
938Please respect copyright.PENANAq5xbvsr0lH
“I don’t know. Professor Spinnard? Or maybe Severus?” She asked trying to sound innocent. “My Patronus, even if it ran away?”938Please respect copyright.PENANAqajaAWc5Pq
Dumbledore raised one eyebrow elegantly and shook his head.938Please respect copyright.PENANAGWfqrMDAyj
938Please respect copyright.PENANANxVspF12X2
“When Professor Spinnard arrived, the Dementor was already gone and Severus was unconscious. He left right before you woke up so then, who saved you? I do have my own theories but I would like if you could give me an answer of your own.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAXLTgY174hS
938Please respect copyright.PENANAMV2LDObbNY
Under Dumbledore’s watchful eye -and it looked like nothing would pass him, not the smallest information about the students of Hogwarts (and even beyond the grounds of the school)- Ophelia was just a child, maybe innocent maybe not, that was trying her hardest to hide from his view. Well, that was impossible at the moment and she knew she had to come up with some theory of her own.938Please respect copyright.PENANAjiqpqpPum8
938Please respect copyright.PENANA2tr3Ngripf
“Someone else heard us and came to help. Someone who was already in the forest, watching.” She answered hesitantly.938Please respect copyright.PENANAMAinf3hSqB
938Please respect copyright.PENANA83BkXtqPIL
Dumbledore chuckled and nodded before he leaned in a bit.938Please respect copyright.PENANAlvFHtoI5Fb
938Please respect copyright.PENANA39e87vkA2O
“Maybe. You may be right and if so, then someone has been watching you and Severus secretly. But I don’t think that person was there, I believe that your Patronus did not have enough power to push the Dementor away so based on your memories, it went in search of that particular person.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAikWCdhk7a4
938Please respect copyright.PENANAY1epYtlNvD
“What person?” She asked, getting confused even though Dumbledore’s eyes seemed to get darker.938Please respect copyright.PENANALtBSgg38Bi
938Please respect copyright.PENANAxbH4J7vZW0
“The person that makes you happy,” He said, looking at her with those intense blue eyes from behind his half-moon spectacles. “He must treasure you just as much as you treasure him if he did come in your help.”938Please respect copyright.PENANAFeJlwk0ckY
938Please respect copyright.PENANA8FTVQDtKbO
“But then-“ She stopped, knowing that she was going to give herself away if she’d speak more.938Please respect copyright.PENANAUterGRFzJP
938Please respect copyright.PENANAp8LrijIdeH
Instead, she thought about that supposed person that makes her happy; her mind could only surface memories with the pale man and the way he introduced her to a new world, one that she belongs in.938Please respect copyright.PENANAs1pW14IuwN
938Please respect copyright.PENANA8i52DvxKfF
“Ophelia, be careful in whom you trust both inside and outside these ground. Hogwarts can only help you if you ask for it but it can’t protect you from yourself.”938Please respect copyright.PENANA9kD7LlO7IJ
938Please respect copyright.PENANAejZatGOy79
Those words were meant in more than one way and understanding them was far too complicated for Ophelia back then. Seeing the black hair of Severus Snape, her attention shifted quicker than the dark glint in Dumbledore’s eyes.938Please respect copyright.PENANAkx1Hr4O4dl
938Please respect copyright.PENANAx28Uy2Vhe9
Feeling like she was at a loss of words, Ophelia said a quick Merry Christmas, headmaster! in which Dumbledore nodded and smiled softly at the child.938Please respect copyright.PENANA2k2LnGhZ60
938Please respect copyright.PENANAsVohyuJpu4
The tension dispersed and Dumbledore grabbed one tart before winking at the brunette and moving towards the staff table. While the girl was focusing on the Slytherin boy, having to tell him many things, the headmaster was growing curious just who exactly saved her; was it the same man as in Aviemore? If that was the case, he should have a word with Professor Spinnard and Professor McGonagall.