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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO9zJ59int
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFW0Nkfn6Q
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FBCtx2DDS
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGOqKdEbIa
“Pheli, come! There’s a family here! They want to adopt you!” Rosaline whispered, urging for her roommate to follow her.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTQGOXkeyQ
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRsHyRYo3z
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviUNbA547f
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKvhD1vtad
“Are you sure you want to adopt her? She’s a bit peculiar.” The director whispered to a man who was twice her height.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR1GBqSK3e
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhpI4DnZpX
The man nodded, “We’ve seen her at every visit and my wife fell in love with her.”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTp3POnbIp
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0XMU2Zw5V
“Are you sure? Once you adopt her, she will get attached to you and your wife. She’s not a toy, Mr. Molley.”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYMRnbIX9N
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIXDpMJkft
“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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbTLOllWPO
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx39RWhjvu
“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.”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYwRyT1dG
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFK2fbSwHW
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw22yJjLwl
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4obtbsjugk
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PnWnVHv74
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dKs44mMOt
“You should be happy. You’ll have a family.” Rosaline started, playing with her cherry blonde hair.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsXjgO6bsK
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRjVKpt5CH
“It feels like I’m being tossed to some strangers.” Ophelia mumbled, leaning her chin on her knees. “Besides, I do have a father.”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI16rX7RxO
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQmGi7laQh
“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.”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3794GxQ3QD
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWvsL8C7nG
“But I don’t want to leave.” Ophelia mumbled, feeling lonelier than ever before.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRod0VCAFI
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvg6P8Yqio
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEwPdR4WRp
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jU1nSJyn0
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyvnLq0uNc
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sgXFsAbMe
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF3klZMG5k
“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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiZBRoG1uB
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxJeFjp053
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpwRL4dHyC
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8QNiV7UFl
“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!”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIT6hphD8U
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfs8v6uHfb
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOtnCHGcYW
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQV2khCBLB
“Then, let’s change this a bit!” His smile cracked a bit but he agreed anyway, “You, what’s your name?” He asked Ophelia.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65AwDePhVF
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoJCcYtYCP
“Ophelia.” She answered with no enthusiasm at all.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOa0niXsCd
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVAYZfo1CT
“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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEJiksICtb
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAZO1rlAQr
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhU6myIkon
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gh7fqY4GS
“Bravo! Now, let’s get our birthday girl back!” He said.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtADX4Wy3Lt
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEBZEpB2B9
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Oz7iI615y
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9PD6GTPWR
“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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3sAzAC6o4
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLr6FKx1iu
“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?”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w1lKwtzrZ
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNNEFHUURK
Richard Molley was a detective so he knew first if there was something wrong in Birmingham.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDNEpXBHJX
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkUOdeZDJh
“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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVOw78xxse
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPBRQkDsWw
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmM0ZaIErF
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoq3VJUhj0
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V14Sk3c6W
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yMIRRGi9d
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlGFLuxS6o
The two girls were in the park behind Elena’s house when she noticed a man standing a few feet from them.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql6KfQyLx2
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrktcuD0yNg
“We should speak to strangers.” Elena whispered.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNk5G5LrRa
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGtWvbEmre
“Something about him seems familiar, though.” Ophelia said tilting her head to the side.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezT79RpprV
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4CLwyr4oH
She got up and got lured to the mysterious man.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgJcPkQa4S
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJQ47ToQRX
“Do I know you?” Asked a ten years old Ophelia.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7wlq8X1EZ
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49tTNOjCk4
He beckoned her closer and smiled suavely.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSoDMV79ky
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcdemp8pcG
“You don’t remember me, do you Ophelia?” He asked softly.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaJ6x6srxS
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CSisiqGJT
The girl shook her head, confused. “Should I?”1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsMXoVKWBL
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXWJ24ZYN6
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9F9X4kZ1V
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ev4PxNLe1
Tom's smile shifted into a smirk and he said something that earned Ophelia’s curiosity.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oo5CgZ25I
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2pZcyoAy6
“You can do great things, can’t you? Things that your friends or parents can’t do.” He whispered, her green eyes widening.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCtdbBd0cv
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefdySy6lYI
"I don't know what you mean, mister."1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEAH56kefo
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMNBUp85SO
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.1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmoVvotjcA
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYCwd2gfwv
"I can teach you how to do it too but you have to keep it a secret. When time comes, your guardians will understand."1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX0E1VukKU
1022Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMdoRCOTjl
A year later, Ophelia finally understood what that man meant. On the morning of her eleventh’s birthday, Ophelia Molley got her Hogwarts letter.
