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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4FANAs5lC
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdESLOhX8RG
“What is it, Minerva?” He asked, noticing her expression.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RjEpMROsy
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXpSrNzjAU
She only handed him the letter and waited patiently for her colleague to give the announcement.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyqTjRTyMV
Dumbledore read the letter slowly, his blue eyes not widening once at the containment.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUjB4ywKY2
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FIHId7wFo
Dear Professor Dumbledore,944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnsxVuiPky
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwcdQsY5N4
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. 944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2llTpblUpD
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidOcLprx4z
I have returned what is not mine and I consider that is the best place to hide something so powerful. 944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5ES2PL7jh
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3rSbsuFIR
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXHag5gVqD
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9c9RGb7ze
Please, don’t let her get entangled into his web. Ophelia should never know who her father is. Never. 944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAtqVAFSiD
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoPY1Qml04
Lillian Gaunt944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuyFHGrWq6
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGkaNJWKgq
Once he read everything, Dumbledore rushed out of his office, Minerva following closely.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMiRNnxkdT
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDaD6vmxfB
“What should we do now? The child, he can’t get the child.” She said in a hurry.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3M8CVd2E0
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s7ujeN2Pm
Dumbledore walked out and turned to her before he smiled sadly.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cAJYWCaVM
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22DnVBvzqD
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaW5WotY5K
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABmzpNybtH
“What is that supposed to mean? Albus, he can never find her. She’s his opportunity for-“ She stopped, shuddering at the thought.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VrV9TbKaJ
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUqCEtK9Q6
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ853DJouuo
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0EBv8M16P
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiEPg8p82j
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglj4mbZx94
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg5Fzf72X7
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlkbaJp9Tt
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXLju1GtYt
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Fcw1BQO3
“Ophelia, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I will help you but you have to promise me something.” He started.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp843i9dkA
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfG9kRUMVd
Ophelia seized him up before nodding.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1ELgnuhYz
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxwTa2x2NV
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life. You have to trust me, alright?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIdwHHjHD1
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZgHhqJfRd
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU6oBJY44C
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkFCS5IUqE
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx50irrfhs
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Z5ZaHUk0
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQzNILeBHE
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4i3hOPxHM
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore looked down at her and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMh2JBb4pk
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVqGfUwoAX
“Trust me, alright?” He told her again.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcuiXdV89t
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ug7GkTiTQ
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCfkwV5Aik
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NjglXwue2
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsBcVhc0Ui
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GQ0yhME4L
Much like Dumbledore asked, Ophelia avoided thinking of the man that killed her mother and slowly forgot how he looked or sounded.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMnRfu9pSp
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHNiILfUFC
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyf5Zannmi
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsfWG98Eti
Then, during a fieldtrip to Aviemore, something happened.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR4nktvRv0
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“I bet you don’t have the courage to enter the forest.” One boy taunted his friend.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoThL32pmm
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcRiTCh562
“They say it’s haunted. Not even you can enter, Paul.” A slightly shorter and more fragile looking boy combated.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENaYUkg1ul
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2FJvRf4c4
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4QtQtMf86
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOo0Z5J0Lj
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh0XUuixpg
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVln4kdpL9
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRSzWES2H4
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi2t2PAn2F
Ophelia was worried, especially with her roommates whispering about the worst kind of stories.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVDnnDBzoS
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYp2E3iC3G
“Maybe the ghosts ate him.” Rosaline, the girl owning the bed next to the door, said.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbO1HSk4i5
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vVC7kThvF
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHYGkvPRYx
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLIEfbxxmA
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u0v8kEi8M
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R4MENWp9M
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnO9jlsVjg
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs8dRUbW7H
“But-“She stopped when Miss Glenmore came over and ushered them towards the car.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFbarTnx8T
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv856BzYNG
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMvNTPrR0x
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38dJFQyLce
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS064p2FJIY
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaHFEHaKYI
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa2aP70VRt
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9klAyn9kE
“Pheli? Ophelia! How did you find this place?!” Paul screamed from a few feet towards left.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cch1zlADF
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd3yQVxL2y
“I just walked and found myself here.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUThnkfRN36
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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!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetJ5IPbiOS
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5hPTxO10T
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK9xmacdSN
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QxUoXCzZ8
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAoiZXU17K
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtCC0ojUrA
“We have to go back. Miss Glenmore is probably searching for us right now.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxnZSEtq41
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOD128wQj1
“I don’t know how. I don’t know which way I came from.” Paul answered simply.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU4U5HkrEt
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqdYnrWH6N
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi4qsj0Nq6
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsYpRHUSZJ
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmGPAlcovx
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6USRHUvDVK
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp3xGBUKdS
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSNAFWkz1u
“Maybe it’s Miss Glenmore?” Paul asked innocently.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcvU6f0BhZ
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkVYGYIset
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTOaVoY40l
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl29Sna9Y4O
“Wait! The scream came from-“She stopped, another scream coming from a few feet from them.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIsy4SbRKU
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZY4cLkyxd
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh4kzqhMUu
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkIr04tOaa
“Maybe there are ghosts and fairies in here.” He mumbled, his face pale and hands shaking.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5jcW6Xf2m
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzYyORmx0m
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAMihK9JrM
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRMjc4uQvj
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd15erx5G1
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRgnD56VVd
“Ophelia!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRn5zR4lhR
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP73o8ZYXez
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCREQkzh42f
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLIi4UtXpA
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiVnQQ3dse
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzPaEwqbh
“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life.”
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ923JvGamxt
Ophelia woke up in the hospital, in Stirling. She was dizzy and couldn’t remember what happened.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcOsa8fA2i
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZenE9IAx9F
“Dear child, you’re fine. Thank God, you scared everyone.” Miss Glenmore started relief all over her face.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhlJNC1QSo
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6i36etNju
“What happened? Where are the others?” Ophelia asked confused.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIllnz8e2EL
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF8Cu5fCav
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp92p7ZHu0h
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSaWq9vr9n
“What man?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFYOc6PMZK
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdjQC34U1r
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLodFa9nbz8
944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmD4KBidVv
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.
