When Lupin left his friends, he didn't go just anywhere. For some reason, he wanted to speak to someone that strongly believed in Ophelia and possibly could answer some of his questions. It wasn't easy searching for Snape and that because Slytherins occupied a whole wagon just for themselves. When he reached it, very few people were passing by and that because this wagon did not have closed compartments. Once you walked in, every fourth year Slytherin and above had his eyes on you.
"Oh, Lupin!"
Remus jolted, surprised by the strength of the boy that touched his shoulder. He wasn't sure if he should be worried or not but the person behind him was Goldstein.
"What are you doing here?" Remus asked sighing in relief.
"I just saw you in the corridor and wanted to talk to you about, you know, our club." The blond said glancing at the wagon full of Slytherins. "What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Snape. But it's alright, I can talk to him later."
"Snape? I saw him lurking around a compartment just a few wagons down. I heard Longbottom's loud voice from inside so..." He didn't finish because Remus was already on the move. "But I had a question!" He shouted after Remus.
It wasn't long until he reached the said compartment, thanks to the very loud giggling coming from Alice who seemed to be very cozy with Frank Longbottom. The problem was that Snape was not there.
"Remus! You won't believe what joke I heard this morning!" Frank begun but the brown haired boy just shrugged it off.
"Another time, Frank. I'm actually searching for Snape. Tim said he was here."
Lily nodded slowly and got out for a bit, pointing towards the way she saw her friend go.
"Is there something wrong?" She asked since she knee Severus and Remus weren't exactly friends. "Is it about Potter and Black again?"
"No. I just have something to ask him about the summer homework on potions."
Lupin's answer didn't seem to fully convince Lily but it did sound like it could be real. She watched as her colleague rushed to find the one person that wanted to be found at the moment.
Truthfully, Snape was just walking around. He did want to see Lily just to feel at ease but then once he left her sight, he started to think about unnecessary thing again: such as, for example, Ophelia or even worse, her father.
The Slytherin party this year was especially festive and that because the Lord himself attended it. Severus was surprised by the building itself which was actually the Rosier mansion. It screamed murder and chaos but it didn't seem to phase anyone.
"So you came again, hm?" Asked Nott who seemed to be in a grumpy mood. "All by yourself?"
"Ophelia won't come if she has a choice. She doesn't want to be a Death Eater or have any connection to this." Severus spoke fully aware that Nott was the jealous type. The idea that so many people knew so much about her while he knew so little was always a trigger for Nott.
"I heard something different, though." Was the voice of Mulciber who, for the first time, did come to the party. "I heard that she was tortured by Bellatrix and ran away. She's probably hiding."
"Where did you hear that?" Asked Severus feeling like there was more to it.
"Bellatrix herself. She's been parading around, telling everyone who wants to know. Also, you know that rumor that went around Hogwarts about Molley being the alleged daughter of Lord Voldemort? They say it's true." Mciber said and took a sip from his drink.
"Who's they?" Asked Nott.
"Everyone."
It wasn't any better when Voldemort walked inside with the Lestrange brothers behind him as if they were his guards. It was obvious even for the dumbest Slytherins that Rabastan looked like he has been through hell. Snape was curious what happened but he froze when the Dark Lord started to speak.
"I am truly happy to see how our number has increased each year." He said, his eyes wandering around the room. He seemed to stop a little bit more on Snape, who felt a chill go down his spine. "I am convinced that new and old Death Eaters will work hard in order to cleanse this world of weakness. Blood has to be spilled, unfortunately, because there are still wizards who cannot see the truth."
"They will, my lord." Said Evan Rosier, his eyes just as dark and cold as Voldemort's. "We'll make sure of that."
"I know, Evan. There is a second problem that troubles me greatly and I am certain you, out of everyone here, will be of great help to me. My daughter, Ophelia, has been missing." The way he said the last word, as if the thought alone annoyed him, made even Evan swallow nervously. "Some of you know her, you go to school with her and you study together in the library. It would flatter me if you could keep an eye on her, on my behalf. She is just as cunning as was her mother and she can easily perturbe those around her." He finished, his eyes still set on Severus. "Isn't that right, Rabastan?"
That was a clear hiss at the youngest Lestrange brother. Rabastan was trying his best to remain calm although he wanted to walk away from all that bullocks. But he couldn't. He was not brave enough to turn his back on Voldemort.
"Anyway, I hope all of you will pass the test tonight and I am looking forward to welcoming more of you to my side." He said with a gallant yet distant expression. His eyes were just like a snake's and he did have a serpent crawling at his feet, hissing at nearby students. However, the atmosphere became lighter when Voldemort walked upstairs, into the study.
Rabastan could finally breath and relax when Severus appeared next to him.
"What happened? And why did he reveal to everyone the truth about Ophelia?"
"It's because of me. She ran because I hurt her and Voldemort, well, he's pissed with her. Very pissed." Rabastan answered feeling his heart get heavier.
Now that he could analyse every word from the Dark Lord, he understood what he meant. This was Ophelia's punishment, her own father wanted her to be marginalised by her fellow students.
Remus didn't get to the greasy haired boy in time and not because he didn't try but because Ophelia found him first. Actually, Snape was in between the two Gryffindors with Remus in one corner and Molley in the other. It was silent for a few seconds until Remus decided to take matters in his own hands.
"We need to have a chat. All three of us."
Finding an empty compartment proved to be harder than expected but not impossible. They were somewhere in the very back of the train and none seemed to know what to say first.
"Why am I here?" Severus asked feeling slightly annoyed with Remus. "We have nothing to talk about."
"What about Ophelia then? Isn't she a common friend?" Remus asked sounding just as bitter as he looked. "I assume you also know about her family relation with Voldemort?"
From the gasp and wary look that he threw to Ophelia, Remus figured he was right.
"So even Snape knew. Who else?" He asked.
"Everyone." Was the surprise answer from the Slytherin. "The Dark Lord made sure that everyone who came at the Slytherin party knows." He said and glared at Ophelia. "I told you we shouldn't meet anymore. Your father knows about our friendship."
"And? Did he threaten you? Or even better, he gave you Rabastan's role of a guardian/spy." She said with a snare.
"Is that why Rabastan said it's his fault you ran? What did he do, break up with you?" He asked and the answer was all over her face.
"You were in a relationship with Rabastan Lestrange?" Remus asked still very shocked by all the information he heard.
"Where did you go?" Snape asked but for some reason, just the way he looked at her made her decide to keep that secret.
"Just around." She said vaguely which made Remus glance suspiciously between the two friends. "You don't have to worry about me."
"I'm not but I do worry about how the castle will react when Slytherins and not only will start pointing their fingers at you."
"You don't have to bother with my safety. I know you probably need to do slave work for your master."
Her answer ticked Severus off, particularly because he was the one she always went to when it was hard. He scoffed, got up and left.
Remus and Ophelia stood there in silence until the werewolf boy opened his mouth.
"Why didn't you tell him where you're staying? He seems to be your best friend, he would have understood."
"Appearances can be deceiving." She replied looking down at her hands, feeling like she had to reinforce the barriers around her mind. "My father is very good at spying on me through the eyes of my friends. He probably took a quick look through Severus' memories, searching for me."
"What about me then? And James, Sirius and Peter?"
Ophelia looked up at him with a smile.
"You cannot be tainted by him. That's why I told you the truth."
The Gryffindors reunited for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts. Ophelia could finally relax and Remus had a lot of questions and theories about her family past. For some reason, she still kept certain details for herself, like the involvement of Vernon Peverell. In the end, the response from these four boys was far beyond her expectations.
That was why, when they arrived at Hogsmeade Station, Ophelia started to feel paranoid. She was walking with her classmates and yet there were glances and peeks from students she had never talked to. Some third years were whispering among themselves and Katie Rosier found it vital to pass Ophelia and loudly cough 'traitor'.
Sirius grabbed Ophelia's hand and smiled at her. It was hard to block the world for her because Ophelia has grown a lot, she was almost as tall as James. Besides, Sirius has witnessed her angry state and he was sure nobody could interfere if she wanted to truly hurt someone. That was oddly reminding him of Bellatrix.
When they wanted to get into the carriage, Cissney suddenly decided to take Pettigrew's place.
"Ride with Frank. I need to speak to Pheli." Was her explanation and she sat right across her victim.
"Came to gloat about powerful wizards and whatever, Littlewood?"
"I'm sure you already know that mantra by heart, Black." She spat back with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, where have you been, Ophelia? Rumour has it that your house is now under the watch of Dementors." She whispered as if the boys couldn't hear.
"Aren't you super informed?" Sirius couldn't help himself but be ironic. "Were you at the Slytherin party too?"
"No, but I heard that-" she stopped and glanced at Remus and James.
"Say it. Everyone in here knows already." James said coldly, leaning back with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "What? His majesty made an announcement?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, he did. Rumors aren't rumors anymore. Besides, my father said that we should be careful at school this year. Voldemort is creating his own army inside Hogwarts." Cissney continued feeling a shiver.
"Is he also sending us a DADA professor?" Potter asked trying to be funny.
It was unfortunate but when they got at school and Dumbledore gave his usual welcoming speech, he also informed his students of a few changes around the castle. One of those changes was, indeed, the DADA professor.
"I think you're kidding me." Whispered Ophelia as she stood in her seat, mouth agape and heart thumping like crazy.
"You had to open that big mouth of yours, didn't you?" Cissney asked with a glare at the glasses boy.
Everyone was stunned because they have never seen a student return to teach. It just had to be a Lestrange...
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