Thanks to their little adventure, Ophelia and Paul got back to Birmingham two days after the rest which automatically meant the other orphans would ask questions. They didn’t. They were eager to ask but director Blair was ready to punish whoever dared speak a word about that unfortunate event. That was the code name: unfortunate event. If children wanted to speak about it, they’d call it that or the fairy event. The girls were sure that fairies kidnapped Paul and Ophelia and they let them go when more people entered the forest. The boys wanted to believe it was the Tree Monster, character made up by Paul.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBDEVOy1GY
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mUHMVfxao
It was very strange for the next months. Paul could vaguely remember things from the forest but Ophelia’s memories about that incident were completely erased. She tried to make something in order to remember but it was in vain. All the peculiar stuff around her intensified to the point she almost caught fire in her own bed. By the time director Blair came in, the children were confused and the fire around Ophelia vanished. Moments like that followed in the next year until something amazing happened.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Iwu7p8Ips
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKErUA3Gy7l
“Pheli, come! There’s a family here! They want to adopt you!” Rosaline whispered, urging for her roommate to follow her.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KEV1UplZ6
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvSwCHtudw
There was a family, a man and a woman, looking very posh. The door to director Blair’s was closed but there was a certain crack in the wall, a small hollow made by Marcus and the other boys. Ophelia peeked inside and listened.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZpoTqYk5A
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkINyibLcrr
“Are you sure you want to adopt her? She’s a bit peculiar.” The director whispered to a man who was twice her height.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWVenmhgh5
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJazsTe8iX
The man nodded, “We’ve seen her at every visit and my wife fell in love with her.”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvuLZo0GTl
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkEJkvTI06
“Are you sure? Once you adopt her, she will get attached to you and your wife. She’s not a toy, Mr. Molley.”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79ajdSm2vY
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKTpPzyJcu
“I am very much aware of that, Mrs. Blair. I want to raise this child as if she’s my own flesh and blood.” Mr. Molley answered coldly, a bit offended.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjlwHirtE
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1Ke9B1ZVX
“Very well then. You have to know that Ophelia’s mother died during a robbery and her father has been missing for a while. From what I know, he doesn’t want anything to do with her.”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvawPSzKns0
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q4ACScKXg
That might have been correct but Ophelia frowned. She’s never met her father but she wanted to; she wanted to ask him where he has been all this time.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBexjuklK3
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4uAvmNwSl
Mrs. Blair continued to give more details about the custody process but Ophelia retreated into her room. Rosaline and Evelyn followed her and sat down on her bed.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59paLtZqNw
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE4fVF9iKQ
“You should be happy. You’ll have a family.” Rosaline started, playing with her cherry blonde hair.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSl4iC3b7S
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgbw3lrmra
“It feels like I’m being tossed to some strangers.” Ophelia mumbled, leaning her chin on her knees. “Besides, I do have a father.”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMFGnyThSh
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9vU4hctD8
“He doesn’t want you. You’ve been here for three years and he didn’t visit once.” Evelyn mumbled sorrowfully, “My mother is the same. She gave me away just to run off with a French man.”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavm79qTGcV
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjxvzJpNyI
“But I don’t want to leave.” Ophelia mumbled, feeling lonelier than ever before.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6mPT90rfY
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VkfaB4sek
But it wasn’t her choice. Richard and Gloria Molley adopted the 9 years old Ophelia and after a few months, she moved in with them. Unlike what she imagined, life was happier. There were a lot of things Ophelia didn’t know and Gloria Molley was delighted to teach her daughter everything. But peculiar things were still happening to her; she just kept them hidden from her new parents.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDegGcrMmq
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvzZTkDEXm
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1ZzvhqLHZ
During a birthday party in the neighborhood, a magician came over to perform. A bunch of ten years old children were enjoying themselves with parents watching over them from their little table.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQbxDcMBiX
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5t8bMmLrP
“See this topper? I can make funny things appear from it!” The magician told the children. “Abracadabra, mini moo!” He chanted, swaying his hand over the topper. He walked in front of a boy and pushed the topper closer to him.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYttquUPI5l
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfK3p5uFOv
The boy pulled a colorful scarf from it. Next, the magician asked for another one who pulled a rabbit. Ophelia was a bit offended, knowing those were easy tricks. She grabbed a jelly bean and watched from the side.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxasjre3vfZ
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoTWPUGFZ4
“Now, let’s make someone disappear! Here, this magical cloak will send you to another world, full of chocolate and magic.” He said, grinning wildly at the children. “What about you?” He asked Ophelia. “Come, come! Don’t need to be shy!”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4R7Mfcl5r
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE5mW6OP5f
She couldn’t believe she had to go in front of everyone. Ophelia glanced at her mother but Gloria only urged her to go and have fun. Well, she wasn’t the one covered, it seemed. The birthday girl came up as well and asked to be sent to this wonderful place for children.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfP2HCNxh7
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXKYR2DfRJ
“Then, let’s change this a bit!” His smile cracked a bit but he agreed anyway, “You, what’s your name?” He asked Ophelia.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkKC20NdYQ
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN2pQFHxx2
“Ophelia.” She answered with no enthusiasm at all.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlQr5YJXTH
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzfQOXeaRC
“Take this cloak, Ophelia, and cover your friend with it. Say the magic words Abracadabra and we'll see what happens.” He said, sweating already.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvd7uuDhMb
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdMGapg3YJ
Ophelia covered the girl and said the magic words but something was different. She felt her hands tingle and quickly pulled the cloak off. The girl was gone.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2EPks0XQZ
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6JBpag4ST
“Bravo! Now, let’s get our birthday girl back!” He said.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSclJmBHGB7
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXurLySfm72
They couldn’t. No matter how much they tried and how much they checked, the girl was gone. While parents got up and ran to their children, accusing the magician, Ophelia felt guilty. That tingling in her hands made the girl disappear. It was her fault.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYqfcnuPzP
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSecF1i5TZo
“Mom, I swear. I did it! I made her disappear and now, I don’t know how to get her back!” Ophelia continued like that for the whole way home but Gloria didn’t even consider it.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RNW0F1mVW
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCida3u3zXI
“You’re a child. You did nothing wrong but went along with that so called magician. He probably kidnapped the poor girl. Did they announce the police, Richard?”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0u0a5dOdr
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEYcTjaBC6
Richard Molley was a detective so he knew first if there was something wrong in Birmingham.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpe5jKe3El
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLlaAHZY2d
“I called Martin and he’s got that magician at the station already. If he doesn’t recognize tonight, I’ll make him say everything tomorrow morning.” Richard said in an authoritarian tone.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PaYFsxyNo
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LeneNb2Bh
Ophelia tried to say something but Gloria’s glare made her run into her room and hide under the covers. While standing there, in silence, she opened her palms and moved them side to side. Nothing happened. She closed them in tight fists and opened them again, this time something amazing forming in her palms. Her eyes widened and decided to keep that a secret.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiwnhdquAX
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFL2Wm9Qjj
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PVZn9tRfo
Next day, Richard went to work without having breakfast. Gloria had a meeting and Ophelia was supposed to stay over at a friend, Elena. For the whole morning, Ophelia kept her hands on her lap or behind her back, afraid that her mother would find her secret. Nothing happened, even at Elena’s place.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HSmpHZJGm
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLsS8ovOtV
The two girls were in the park behind Elena’s house when she noticed a man standing a few feet from them.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhYoQS0qz1
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhIKZBZiSn
“We should speak to strangers.” Elena whispered.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELsxphiBnt
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHbmqXByUa
“Something about him seems familiar, though.” Ophelia said tilting her head to the side.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdk6lkzA6n
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZTXleivQq
She got up and got lured to the mysterious man.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDIsloh4bF
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eugByzjYt
“Do I know you?” Asked a ten years old Ophelia.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDMUegjlzD
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoklBfw9Db3
He beckoned her closer and smiled suavely.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCQwB3E7PJ
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhHIOz1Omf
“You don’t remember me, do you Ophelia?” He asked softly.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDQaAKtycN
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmE3ZUOFZy
The girl shook her head, confused. “Should I?”1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFcY8czHDz
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGVtmiZHUe
Those empty eyes of Tom Riddle Jr softened only a tiny bit at the sight of his daughter. Ophelia was definitely different from what he imagined her to be: she was witty, stubborn and held a desire to control everyone and everything around her. She was much more like him than she was like Lillian and it pleased him. He could see it in her eyes, the desire to affirm herself.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8yfpyUSDZ
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD3i0tvysh
Tom's smile shifted into a smirk and he said something that earned Ophelia’s curiosity.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgi1ABka5y
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83phHEdgCG
“You can do great things, can’t you? Things that your friends or parents can’t do.” He whispered, her green eyes widening.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO57JQYZ9rO
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoJyOkFQFV
"I don't know what you mean, mister."1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIRSS6gU9X
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGNJwYIYhN
But Tom grasped his wand and made flowers appear around her. She squeaked in delight and looked up at him with those green eyes of hers.1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49AVRjx1Mz
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCU4rPxSGl
"I can teach you how to do it too but you have to keep it a secret. When time comes, your guardians will understand."1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uyJr0skw4
1014Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9QY2Xszwb
A year later, Ophelia finally understood what that man meant. On the morning of her eleventh’s birthday, Ophelia Molley got her Hogwarts letter.
