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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykD4R8xag3
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZxPXpUiZ4
“What is it, Minerva?” He asked, noticing her expression.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5kfLXsTk0
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO5KB2Twy0
She only handed him the letter and waited patiently for her colleague to give the announcement.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwtuQ3IEII
Dumbledore read the letter slowly, his blue eyes not widening once at the containment.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2LyMF45uf
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbdklLNBrn
Dear Professor Dumbledore,923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRcAUWUHa5
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0xeU9CssH
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. 923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu16kBJ1NKJ
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPJrLHjfmU
I have returned what is not mine and I consider that is the best place to hide something so powerful. 923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53WEB0I2fI
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p9Wqu4PQv
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2uX2I5Hqt
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Please, don’t let her get entangled into his web. Ophelia should never know who her father is. Never. 923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmwBXjoHEW
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXUM9UODAX
Lillian Gaunt923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaZGEYkyB0
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiqFtAW2hP
Once he read everything, Dumbledore rushed out of his office, Minerva following closely.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzcMj1taS8
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpEXse3XeU
“What should we do now? The child, he can’t get the child.” She said in a hurry.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMTpmJj0gg
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xfKi92RZ8
Dumbledore walked out and turned to her before he smiled sadly.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SMeq37RnU
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSN2r2G7r5
“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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXonrfloaD
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHwBQZkWm3
“What is that supposed to mean? Albus, he can never find her. She’s his opportunity for-“ She stopped, shuddering at the thought.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2l3jeMxyv
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsIDgf026v
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F0o5ybXnH
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX5eE7NTri
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gDu42FymH
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd3KPtgpW7
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmLoRVNgDm
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMluse6OULR
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wp1jIeYGy
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB61m4YBl9Q
“Ophelia, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I will help you but you have to promise me something.” He started.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmyooaGZjM
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Ophelia seized him up before nodding.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbzyllolWP
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJNoyoqyNA
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life. You have to trust me, alright?”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UNxmpXGP5
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zrqyyc96W
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek0PFkB5d3
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn76tDV6AK
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.
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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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP3jef2h9B
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRlDIZet01
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArTleuQQtL
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OTcle8KBI
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore looked down at her and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEjnwrSVJU
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj9DKWud43
“Trust me, alright?” He told her again.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gnNCcq94Q
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfadlr3Fi5x
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1smNNWrzg
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH1tN50XJT
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EiExZjk5L
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuSTPRoLWL
Much like Dumbledore asked, Ophelia avoided thinking of the man that killed her mother and slowly forgot how he looked or sounded.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHWlK6fQma
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpJdC7wxeh
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ495XC5w34k
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mVl2FxZ2i
Then, during a fieldtrip to Aviemore, something happened.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLNfgo3Sd2
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“I bet you don’t have the courage to enter the forest.” One boy taunted his friend.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUBO1gJLVJ
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg2PvBBHuf
“They say it’s haunted. Not even you can enter, Paul.” A slightly shorter and more fragile looking boy combated.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0VxQtP5wr
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBketWzsMl
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.”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6RP6qJ9WS
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fQGZBqS6z
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgi8pSmgUX
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIGgf91IA2
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Ts5SBTOx
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY5yQNOM2Y
Ophelia was worried, especially with her roommates whispering about the worst kind of stories.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjATfrCck4Q
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS2bFG9jxU
“Maybe the ghosts ate him.” Rosaline, the girl owning the bed next to the door, said.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmD6nnhiCn
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRlLORR2p9
“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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQdWgEinC5
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMOfVLeWvc
“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.”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRLX26RtVy
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkSQWjp20d
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqt2rHNCXI
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcPqdIitLm
“But-“She stopped when Miss Glenmore came over and ushered them towards the car.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3nDnw0OqJ
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNGTu5hjZr
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV13DEnlPp
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I8EEXgAgB
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2MkRl4bPs
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdt0RbKeW8
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj9hYvxR9y
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycQs7u0vvz
“Pheli? Ophelia! How did you find this place?!” Paul screamed from a few feet towards left.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB9SxsQf9m
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2qfWMBPIb
“I just walked and found myself here.”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAZkYCNEZf
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Paul’s eyes widened, sparkling with joy and curiosity, “Right?! It’s like a force leads you in here. It’s amazing!”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcQABa1GTW
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJp8GPVWo6
“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.”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF5SqtayIA
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvRJ2pTC4q
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtohyfqqJJ
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsLfzwqTdc
“We have to go back. Miss Glenmore is probably searching for us right now.”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpR0vKlGAi
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8ky6PpvlK
“I don’t know how. I don’t know which way I came from.” Paul answered simply.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjhHQv8qQY
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2AA1GkcUB
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF9ViMRWy8
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUW8q8wLId
“How do we get back?” She wondered out loud, fear crawling up her spine.
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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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BaEKyM9xa
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj6boCqe6y
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHJXCobkew
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gdXGEDNIG
“Maybe it’s Miss Glenmore?” Paul asked innocently.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sKnT4Df4k
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y4BUolC0X
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWPyKem5Fs
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNf8f1rVdy
“Wait! The scream came from-“She stopped, another scream coming from a few feet from them.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrv0FmkhES
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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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi7Atv4Vb3
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVyQxf5AGo
“Maybe there are ghosts and fairies in here.” He mumbled, his face pale and hands shaking.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79YmP0xBEx
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cFPCK6JH2
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0LfoLoT7v
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNIA9Aqbll
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ODmYZDtgr
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2V4xq8OAF
“Ophelia!”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJmXS7xoIv
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3vn3gHHrE
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m5EyEQjQ8
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR203U9LMd
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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWySsuJGvhD
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYvmKGap6D
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life.”
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Ophelia woke up in the hospital, in Stirling. She was dizzy and couldn’t remember what happened.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo7pjzph2B
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlEtTkJ5Mp
“Dear child, you’re fine. Thank God, you scared everyone.” Miss Glenmore started relief all over her face.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBRP9eFOPM
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeotOk8SwD
“What happened? Where are the others?” Ophelia asked confused.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ua8oP5Y8i
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ92SOqMH6S
“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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcARiy1MOqt
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeS5SF6RLW
“What man?”923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmaorhxuk9
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUFReL7AOi
“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.923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSmrdsbAih
923Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNdBZ7UjPs
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.
