Minerva McGonagall was preparing for her Transfiguration lesson when a cute white owl entered through the window and landed straight in front of her. The owl was familiar but it’s been a while since Minerva has heard from that particular student of hers. Nonetheless, the owl was there and he looked panicked. He jumped closer to the professor and looked up at her with what looked to be teary eyes. In that moment, Minerva knew something very wrong happened, snatched the letter from the owl and rushed out of her office. Her face was contorted into an expression of shock and pity and by the time she found Professor Dumbledore, she was already tearing up.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lwgqfRmEs
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7j4WEHKIQ
“What is it, Minerva?” He asked, noticing her expression.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3urdOlcgRF
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsLmD6blAq
She only handed him the letter and waited patiently for her colleague to give the announcement.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3JyUDVSMF
Dumbledore read the letter slowly, his blue eyes not widening once at the containment.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gq5afHp35
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbKHdHmG5l
Dear Professor Dumbledore,966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN9SnlmrZW
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeVdcjBGBO
By the time you get this letter, I will be already dead. I have lived a life under constant watch but I treasured it and treasured my family to some extent. 966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGLixlijZv
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gYOjDc1wx
I have returned what is not mine and I consider that is the best place to hide something so powerful. 966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0buUrklmCE
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0GQFH17Nw
I would appreciate if my daughter could be looked after by you not by my cousin. I’m sorry I couldn’t say my farewells in person but circumstances wouldn’t let me.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfFEGsHPpy
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGBZaV9LQu
Please, don’t let her get entangled into his web. Ophelia should never know who her father is. Never. 966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvffYYnIwtV
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uWW4Tkphp
Lillian Gaunt966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Bb1y4m4g
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKN39QmMMP
Once he read everything, Dumbledore rushed out of his office, Minerva following closely.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNw1y9Ylf2
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG2dv3U11W
“What should we do now? The child, he can’t get the child.” She said in a hurry.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUmAhNHRiG
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkidP7GuaBs
Dumbledore walked out and turned to her before he smiled sadly.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYMYoqot3P
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugLtV1ysmL
“Our priority is her safety. If Tom will ever find her, I’d like it to be at an older age when she can decide for herself.” He said softly, though very worried.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkiUdHEMIn
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWxjdNjKa4
“What is that supposed to mean? Albus, he can never find her. She’s his opportunity for-“ She stopped, shuddering at the thought.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXiiYRUl7Q
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLHF5dKpBn
Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before turning around and leaving.
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Before Dumbledore got to Ireland, someone else apparated in the house. Vernon Peverell found Lillian’s dead body first and gave a loud cry. He loved her more than she ever knew and seeing those beautiful eyes lifeless was breaking his heart.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ImiCfX7Wa
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcGTo6TwYT
His ears perked when he heard light movement in her room and pushed it open. He came face to face with a crying and scared Ophelia and followed her to her mother’s side. The young girl cried even more at the sight of her mother’s corpse and took refuge next to her body.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1TQdlyHVZ
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I3kBwKkjn
When Dumbledore entered, he found the house in a bad state. It was obvious someone searched wildly for something but he couldn’t find it. He looked up and licked his lips nervously. Dumbledore knew what was up there and that sentiment of anticipation was cringing.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fSeOuXpMA
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3l2JDlI1d
Crouched next to a dead body was a scared little girl who didn’t know who to trust. Dumbledore walked towards her slowly and bent in front of her. His eyes first fell over Lillian feeling conflicted with the way she died. However, she was such a smart and sly witch that she didn’t give him the stone but placed it back where she took it from. Next, he turned towards the child. Ophelia looked like a chubby version of her mother, extremely cute yet her eyes were giving off a different vibe. Dumbledore looked closely at the girl, a bit reluctant to help her. That was Tom’s child and there were high chances for her to follow her father later on; those eyes were a sign. But Dumbledore couldn’t find it in himself to leave her in misery.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRehQzGedWy
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kPOFk1nTz
“Ophelia, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I will help you but you have to promise me something.” He started.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g8yGc93jh
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBJP7w2SpA
Ophelia seized him up before nodding.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzE9pyOOIb
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXY1BGK1fn
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life. You have to trust me, alright?”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHnKpcslb5
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXpMlbDZLg
In that moment, Dumbledore’s comforting presence was the only light that she could see in the house. He was the only one there, helping her in her most miserable moment of her life. Dumbledore reached his hand out for her and she grabbed it tightly.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡighdI0tYqc
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiUu83CQEj
As Dumbledore disapparated with Ophelia, a black kitten with bright green eyes remained by Lillian’s side. That kitten watched Ophelia walk away from his life and he looked down at his paws, disappointed. The little glimpse of happiness he had left just vanished before his eyes.
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRGOvDc0dG
Dumbledore apparated in a dark alley, encouraging the little girl to walk into the street. He led her to an impressively decorated building called Bread of Life Orphanage. It was intimidating, especially when a woman dressed in a blue and white uniform walked to greet them.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2IKggBkS0
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzh6NrC4GB
Dumbledore talked for a while with the nurse and the woman peeked once or twice at the child. It was a bad day and Ophelia felt it in her bones; her father was very angry.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa1uubijtv
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa8IHlLI2g
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore looked down at her and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYaGQP6pPk
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9JjAnURER
“Trust me, alright?” He told her again.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qKeDo3WZ1
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2uH1iWMmD
The nurse smiled to Ophelia and grabbed her hand, leading her inside the orphanage. Dumbledore remained outside, watching Tom’s heir enter the building. He felt his heart cringe, knowing Ophelia’s life was never going to stray from dark magic. It was all around her, the snake.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjYUxmOYcv
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL0N8rjw11
Ophelia Gaunt has lived her 7 years of life secluded in her mother’s bubble. Safety would always come first, next secrecy and happiness was last. She always found joy in the smallest things: the wind’s breeze on a fresh morning after raining, flowers blossoming under her watch and the little tricks she could do.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZRgKKCmhr
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUTremotUQ
Much like Dumbledore asked, Ophelia avoided thinking of the man that killed her mother and slowly forgot how he looked or sounded.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk3yJY1Y37
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4A7ijhE2c
Unfortunately, peculiar things were happening to her: from time to time, lights would licker in her room or fire would arise from nowhere. It depended a lot on her moods and the way she was treated. The nurses were nice women but very strict while the other children were always messing around. That was how one year passed for Ophelia. Eventless.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1DaRtN9GA
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYtKa7oL8X
Then, during a fieldtrip to Aviemore, something happened.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygHrmGohMa
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMOlMsg4ZK
“I bet you don’t have the courage to enter the forest.” One boy taunted his friend.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS5FbTRb71
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPrM88KV33
“They say it’s haunted. Not even you can enter, Paul.” A slightly shorter and more fragile looking boy combated.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OfvBl36mW
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9iukx7UvL
Paul raised an eyebrow and bloated with pride, “My father was an archeologist. He died in an expedition in Egypt. Bravery is a family trait, Marcus.”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JDLHnCma5
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrTKLUT9J6
The other children whispered to each other, eager to see who will go in the forest. It wasn’t every day such a competition would arise in Bread of Life orphans. In the end, Paul entered Rothiemurchus Forest alone.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDrLKHmGhK
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4SzD43xoG
The orphans waited fifteen minutes but no sign of Paul. They waited another half an hour yet nothing. The nurses were already gathering the children to go back to Birmingham and Paul was still gone.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1GRoMztYW
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7ZO7ZA4Yt
Ophelia was worried, especially with her roommates whispering about the worst kind of stories.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hY27lAQbK
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh8VBzfD8A
“Maybe the ghosts ate him.” Rosaline, the girl owning the bed next to the door, said.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UCkQ1wGrE
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yiKvheIPq
“Or maybe the faeries of the forest. I heard this is their favorite spot in Britain.” Evelyn, the girl owning the bed across Ophelia’s, added.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOFvBNeaTG
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHHva0NxKM
“Or maybe he got lost.” Ophelia finally said, being more realistic than the others. “We should tell Miss Glenmore about him. She’ll know what to do.”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh4X0CgvBU
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6hUzOl9jt
Marcus came over and grabbed her hand, “Don’t. We’ll get in real trouble and we won’t get dessert anymore.” He said, his widened eyes looking at Ophelia with fear.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSak2BLXu9
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyUCYI516K
“But-“She stopped when Miss Glenmore came over and ushered them towards the car.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnkoXN7L8p
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA92oMJsaD
They had to get in line in order to get counted. Ophelia knew sooner or later the nurses will notice Paul’s disappearance but what if it was too late by then? She looked at the forest over her shoulder and felt cold air brush her ankles. Scared yet at the same time worried, Ophelia slipped away from the group and ran into the forest.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkDdny4sKZ
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvNH27ikn5
It was definitely not what she imagined. With all the stories about ghosts and fairies and horror, the forest looked just like any other. Up close, the vegetation was wilder than in other parts but still under human control and the trees were amazingly tall yet not out of ordinary. As she was walking deeper into the forest, she noticed slight changes that weren’t making much sense. The trees looked like they were growing as she was passing them and their trunks were getting larger and darker. Light was dimming and the vegetation seemed to rarefy. It felt like she was entering a different side of the forest, one that was shifting right in front of her.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI4iiT3soy
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84KX0hhTJ3
She walked over one specific branch and the darkness vanished. It was brighter than normally in Britain and it looked beautiful. Her eyes widened as she spun around, gawping at the perfectly sculptured trees and flowers that were sparkling.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNhbKVPFHp
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE7JnT5ldb
“Pheli? Ophelia! How did you find this place?!” Paul screamed from a few feet towards left.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvRnRXMVwX
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMq0Kwuemx
“I just walked and found myself here.”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds2YAAmUnw
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4J1AIfNmG
Paul’s eyes widened, sparkling with joy and curiosity, “Right?! It’s like a force leads you in here. It’s amazing!”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGBwB4iG8b
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkXlFVXqdK
“But what if it’s the fairies? This looks like a perfect spot for them.” She whispered, her eyes narrowing at everything. “It looks like a place from a fairytale.”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHHYO9FD5p
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnAeUuMDQa
But Paul wasn’t listening. He was explaining everything he found out in that hour he was gone. Now that she thought about it, Ophelia remembered why she got in in the first place.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM2Y1IjBo8
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkQpBEfKHt
“We have to go back. Miss Glenmore is probably searching for us right now.”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjbyvKFsdd
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqj11xhybQA
“I don’t know how. I don’t know which way I came from.” Paul answered simply.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1gZrY02n4
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pCJmTDVt1
Ophelia looked around and realized she forgot too. She walked back towards the sparkling flowers but there was a tree now, impossible to pass. The forest was so quiet and the sun was so bright that it looked like a painting from the side.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlAfwTZieB
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn8Ff20qjN
“How do we get back?” She wondered out loud, fear crawling up her spine.
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0VD3KspYr
An hour passed and two 8 years old orphans were lost in the forest. Miss Glenmore called the police and the locals paired up in two searching groups. But for some reason, they couldn’t find the orphans. Two hours passed and Paul’s stomach was grumbling so loud that even Ophelia felt hungry. Three hours passed and Ophelia swore she saw something move from the corner of her eye.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CqvuMmNfN
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkJi85hBju
The brunette girl got up and went back in front of the sparkling flowers. She crouched in front of them and plucked one off. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously when the bulb coughed pollen on her shirt and fell limp. Paul walked behind her and gasped. The flowers lost their sparkles and closed their petals. A loud scream filled the forest, coming from distance.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE1qPlZLDb
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSuVsbZilp
“Maybe it’s Miss Glenmore?” Paul asked innocently.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiwqnhgJ8C
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyDNauOl1m
Another scream filled the forest, this time closer than before. The wind picked up and the sunlight dimmed. The two children turned towards a particular tree with a dark red trunk. It trembled right in front of them before another scream filled the air. The two glanced at each other before Paul grabbed Ophelia’s hand and ran the other side.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C7Eojj5DL
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xxXhXDSZz
“Wait! The scream came from-“She stopped, another scream coming from a few feet from them.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TT3aS0gCx
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n5Ma5MK4V
Paul froze in fear as he searched for a way out. The trees were blocking the paths and flowers were falling limp while the grass became yellow.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcOH9FdtjM
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8lNj3Gp0S
“Maybe there are ghosts and fairies in here.” He mumbled, his face pale and hands shaking.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxBJyhfkbG
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWv98IRwHs
Searching for the course of the screams, Ophelia noticed something a few feet obliquely to where they were. She took a few steps and moved the branches aside, aware she might come face to face with something dangerous. Ophelia walked into a clearing that looked pretty much dead. The vegetation was dead and the leaves were rotten, giving off a nasty smell.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4OBfF0zl1
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2cBkEfQSl
Another scream filled the air but it was coming from another side completely. She turned around, ready to run back but something appeared in front of her. Something dark, cloaked, deadly. The air around her became so cold that she could see the vapor from her breathing. Looking at the creature, she felt like she was back in Ireland, hearing her mother die. Then it struck her: the scream was very familiar.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsjyCkowWU
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO0FNReQUM
“Ophelia!”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc1Z5LFXi9
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lKPlwuRxJ
Paul’s voice was faint as the creature flied closer to her and opened a mouth that looked like a hole. She felt the pain surface from the corners of her mind and heart and felt her soul being ripped apart. She opened her mouth and screamed as loud as she could but she couldn’t hear anything.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXISKXW0DuL
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQZnUOZj6M
The pain stopped abruptly when something bright entered the clearing and chased the dark creature away. Her savior was unknown. Ophelia fainted, Dumbledore’s words coming into her mind.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCclG5ZtZ0H
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXmbkYGVqN
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life.”
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QHrKN6QyR
Ophelia woke up in the hospital, in Stirling. She was dizzy and couldn’t remember what happened.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo06PFP0zW6
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV21iKGLWTE
“Dear child, you’re fine. Thank God, you scared everyone.” Miss Glenmore started relief all over her face.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXfndFdT1q
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9P93PuBIo
“What happened? Where are the others?” Ophelia asked confused.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS6OcF2HnS
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK49QiuD41
“Director Blair took them back to Birmingham. This was supposed to be a fun weekend in Scotland, not a searching party.” She spoke firmly yet softened up when she looked at Ophelia’s drowsy eyes. “Paul is fine. He’s a few doors down, resting. You’re lucky that man showed up. He knew exactly where you two were.” Miss Glenmore added, rubbing Ophelia’s forehead fondly.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpw5b2s2sz
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHSz0nLMeK
“What man?”966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAGZgDrRU9
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrInBgf2TM
“I don’t remember his name but he was very helpful. He led the officers to you and left shortly after. Ah, he did say something! He told me to tell you that he’s concerned for your well being. He advised us to keep a close eye on you.” She continued.966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvxdQhLv0d
966Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHFmGOxIko
Ophelia frowned before leaning back and letting her mind wander. Something happened in the forest but she couldn’t remember what or the reason she fainted.
