She knew she’s been there before but never once did she imagine it so clearly. She could see the details as if she visited the cottage yesterday yet she wasn’t even sure she ever visited it.811Please respect copyright.PENANAyr9hTqT3Vg
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It was strange because she could see everything from a different point of view, a smaller point of view actually. Everything was big compared to her but nothing was intimidating or peculiar in any way. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAeKAIFhIq7b
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“How are enjoying yourself, Pheli?” 811Please respect copyright.PENANAMIbZDPPCgb
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Ophelia looked up into the marvelous eyes of a ginger man. He smiled widely, his eyes full of joy and love as he bent in front of her and ruffled her hair. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAaGzxe2HVrm
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“It’s been a while hasn’t it? How is our little witch?” He asked, making Ophelia blush without really having a reason why. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAHTVITMvt3a
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Well, maybe the reason was the way he seemed to emanate this boyish charm, making him attractive even for a little girl. Or maybe it was the dimples baby face of his that looked incredibly cute and friendly. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAVXabMPQkL0
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“She’s only six years old, Vernon. Don’t mess with my daughter’s feelings already.” An older woman spoke, her voice soothing and extremely familiar.811Please respect copyright.PENANAmfUx7xMWEZ
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Ophelia turned to look at the woman and her heart beat faster at the sight of her face. Lillian Gaunt was playfully glaring at the ginger, her whole face bright and happy. She was beautiful ad those amazing green eyes were pretty much the same as Ophelia’s only hers were wide and clear while Ophelia’s were slightly elongated, like a cat’s. Lillian was a tall woman with long red hair and a certain elegance that seemed to come from her not from the way she was dressing, which was very classy. She was feminine and her whole appearance was making Ophelia feel safe. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAnj7VLudIk5
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“I’m not doing anything! Don’t be a bugger, Mrs. Gaunt.” He spoke in a way that even the child could understand he was trying to annoy her mother.811Please respect copyright.PENANAlrfRnDnIo0
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“Don’t call me that. Just Lillian is fine.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAVDVd8i3Pe1
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“Whatever you say.” He mumbled before turning to Ophelia, “Then I will just take this little princess here and introduce her to my Patronus.” He said, smiling eagerly.811Please respect copyright.PENANApzFZ26n3MO
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Lillian chuckled when she remarked the confusion over Ophelia’s face. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAVL5IBEprHk
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“His Patronus is a dragon. He talks about him as if he were his pet.” Lillian partially joked because, seriously, partially she was right. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAI7I2gx3EVV
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“He’s my faithful companion, has always been. He represents my happiness unlike yours, Mrs. Gaunt.” He emphasized again that small detail that seemed to annoy Lillian but she only rolled her eyes.811Please respect copyright.PENANArD4KUjMOXc
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Vernon’s smile softened up as his eyes trailed from Lillian to her daughter and sighed. Ophelia could see just how happy was that man and she was curious if, by any chance, he wasn’t her her. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAiE0pHtRhPS
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Suddenly, the whole room emptied and it became cold. Ophelia grew back to her original size and looked around curiously. She was in a different house, one that she knew well but hasn’t visited in a while. The brunette witch looked up to the first floor and breathed out, feeling a chill go down her spine. She placed her hand on the railing and trailed it as she took a few steps up the stairs. The door suddenly closed and she turned around quickly, scared. No one was downstairs so she turned back towards the first floor. Ophelia looked up and saw green before she heard someone whisper.811Please respect copyright.PENANAFMS0hkrbbK
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“Not yet.”
Two green eyes opened abruptly, scaring whoever was next to her. She rose on her bottom quickly and looked down at her hands.811Please respect copyright.PENANAMi4LaUM509
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“Are you alright, dear? You woke up so suddenly.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAzOmkQ2D6Z1
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Ophelia looked up and met the worried eyes of Madame Pomfrey, who was just passing by her bed. Seeing her, it made the girl remember that she was actually at school and she had a very bad meeting with what was called a Dementor. Then, she remembered one more detail-811Please respect copyright.PENANAkUKVZpe7n1
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“Where is Severus?” She asked, yet not moving from the bed. For some reason, she felt like she shouldn’t push the covers off.811Please respect copyright.PENANA8ljvpf28Zi
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Madame Pomfrey smiled softly, worry still in her eyes but something else too.811Please respect copyright.PENANAluRoLQEUmk
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“He’s fine. He’s been coming every two hours to check on you.” She said softly before her smile widened, “Such a friendship is hard to come by. Treasure it.” She said before leaving to mend to her own business.811Please respect copyright.PENANAtkqsVdz2UU
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All alone in the whole room, Ophelia looked down at her hands once again. She was sure someone tugged on her hand right before she lost consciousness and it was someone rather small. Slowly, Ophelia pushed the covers off and patted around, searching for something small yet firm. She couldn’t find anything until she started to search under the pillow. Every so often she would glance over her shoulder, just in case someone would spontaneously pop in. It was clear and she found it; she found the stone and it looked unimpressive.811Please respect copyright.PENANAfFyihvywBD
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The knob moved and being so large, the door cracked as it opened and Ophelia pulled the covers over quickly. She kept her hand under and lied down, looking still tired.811Please respect copyright.PENANAxTrGhd93bs
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Surprisingly, the one who entered was Professor Spinnard, whose face was pretty much the definition of an unpleasing, grumpy visitor who wanted to be anywhere but there.811Please respect copyright.PENANAzHOd4Ze8Qg
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“Glad to see you’re well, Molley.” He mumbled, his tone opposite of what he actually said, “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Trouble is written all over your face and you went so far as dragging Severus with you.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAFL0yEMH1Fy
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“I didn’t drag anyone with me. You weren’t there. You don’t even know what happened, professor.” She responded, annoyed that he could look down on her so much that he’d even think she would drag someone into trouble.811Please respect copyright.PENANA6n1wfFkKBd
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Professor Spinnard raised an eyebrow and seemed to scan her closely, as if he knew she was hiding something.811Please respect copyright.PENANAqfolf5yLUi
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“Did you hurt your hand?” He asked, his voice sounding a lot like her father when he knew she had done something bad but wanted her to speak about it.811Please respect copyright.PENANASaQBy9nWwQ
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“No.”811Please respect copyright.PENANACl9mb1JNIJ
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Professor Spinnard was only a professor so he shouldn’t look so deep into what his students were doing in their free time. Besides, she was from another house and he had no right to question her.811Please respect copyright.PENANA8iR32GRids
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“I would prefer if you would leave me alone to rest, prof-“811Please respect copyright.PENANAKwP2sQQImd
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“Have you finished your homework, Molley? The extra work too?” He interrupted, asking something irrelevant to the matter at hand.811Please respect copyright.PENANAUYYWjdAEVS
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“What extra homework?” She asked, taken aback by the sudden change.811Please respect copyright.PENANAuToIkSHJJe
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“For walking out into the Forest, which is strictly forbidden to students such as yourself, and for secretly learning spells high above your skill without a tutor. You wrote about defensive spells, haven’t you? Well, it’s time for you to write me about offensive spells and curses. Also, for the whole of the next semester you and your friend will be actively participating in my class.” He finished, walking two steps closer yet still keeping the distance.811Please respect copyright.PENANAKe2BfH0bex
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“Is that all?” She asked, knowing that it wasn’t such a bad punishment.811Please respect copyright.PENANAn2apR3OFOJ
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Professor Spinnard chuckled darkly, linking his arms behind him.811Please respect copyright.PENANA1McZA22Q4U
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“Believe me, that’s enough. I have prepared classes especially for you, Ophelia.” He added before he sneered at her and left.811Please respect copyright.PENANA0umIFTxWT4
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Hearing her name being spoken by someone so strange was only adding more questions to her list.
Ophelia was perfectly fine, except the shock of having to face a Dementor. Madame Pomfrey offered her some chocolate and advised her to eat a lot in the next few days. Of course the first place she went to was the dungeons where she met Professor Slughorn.811Please respect copyright.PENANAvDl4oWVBz9
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“Oh, dear! You scared me…”811Please respect copyright.PENANAHzj7XYsPJq
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He looked genuinely scared for some reason and she knew she wasn’t exactly terrifying.811Please respect copyright.PENANAefEcWhUXtv
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“I’m sorry, professor. I was in a hurry to see Severus.”811Please respect copyright.PENANA1Uyw2y9wtm
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“Oh, yes, yes. Severus Snape, such a gifted potion maker. Of course, it’s still too early to give an honest opinion but he’s a fast learner, that boy.” Slughorn added, complimenting Severus with a bright expression, “I’m sure you will try harder this next semester, am I right? You must not fall behind your friends, Molley.”811Please respect copyright.PENANA44QLggBv6C
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“I’ll try my best, professor. It’s not going so well for me now so I’m not sure I’ll improve.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAkLPiTOVu2I
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Slughorn was surprised for the mere fact that she looked genuinely worried and angry with herself. She was so pitiful, especially because Slughorn has seen how bad she was at potions compared to other classes.811Please respect copyright.PENANArhVctbVYaI
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“Yes, well you may need a miracle for that to happen.” He trailed, his smile cracking in the corners.811Please respect copyright.PENANAuxAMdx99uc
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Ophelia could feel her eyebrow twitch at that subtle commentary but decided to shrug it off since he was a professor and she was just a first year. She still had a lot to learn and do and showing Slughorn that she could master the art of making potions was just another thing on her list.811Please respect copyright.PENANA0YLeg06AFS
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“Well, I’ll be off then. Nice seeing you, professor.” She said with a polite smile before rushing past him towards the Slytherin common room.811Please respect copyright.PENANAkZdWImJCmT
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It was only when she passed a certain dusty classroom that she realized she didn’t know where the Slytherin common room was. She wandered around the dungeons for an hour before she finally found someone that could help, if he wanted to.811Please respect copyright.PENANAnEcdYDoiFw
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“You should be upstairs, little girl. The festivity will begin soon.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAG1Zn8Pa56h
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He was a ghost, the Bloody Baron of them all, and he was terrifying. Of course, it was because of the blood on his clothes and the stories she heard from other students but he himself seemed to be very secretive and firm.811Please respect copyright.PENANAkLmCShVgAX
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“I am looking for Severus?” She asked, taking a few steps back when the Baron flied closer. “Greasy black hair and dark wide eyes. He looks like a squirrel really…” She added chuckling to herself but the Baron was poker faced.811Please respect copyright.PENANA6xRNCyJxtJ
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“The festivity will begin soon. It’s Christmas, Miss Gaunt.” He added, staring at her closely.811Please respect copyright.PENANAndunzM9PBN
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“Miss Gaunt?” She asked, completely taken aback by that name. “I have heard that name before…” She mumbled, scratching her cheek thoughtfully.811Please respect copyright.PENANAf0PITEWjy8
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“Daughter of Lillian Gaunt, aren’t you?” The Baron asked, already knowing the answer.811Please respect copyright.PENANADmKqpFGUqL
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Ophelia nodded mouth agape as the ghost flied through the wall towards the Potion classroom.
During dinner, Dumbledore was sure to transform the ceiling into a night sky, full of bright stars while snow was swaying beautifully around the room. It was Christmas and the students that remained at Hogwarts were definitely enjoying themselves. Severus was nowhere to be found so that left Ophelia all alone at the table, munching on whatever she could find that wasn’t greasy. The tarts were delicious so she even hid some in her pockets in case she would like a midnight snack. 811Please respect copyright.PENANAbt1pL1ZXSI
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Taking one long glance around the Great Hall, Ophelia fumbled with her pants’ front pocket before taking out the stone. She looked down at it, turned it in every way but from any angle she’d look at it, it was nothing but a stone. She took a peek at the staff table and noticed that Dumbledore was not there so with a little bit more confidence, she put her hands on the table and placed the stone into the light.811Please respect copyright.PENANABacyqed1rh
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“How did I get you?” She mumbled, wondering just how exactly the stone ended in her grasp.811Please respect copyright.PENANA0VhPH194uF
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Well, someone did tug on her arm and probably forced it in her hand but that person must have been pretty small for that to happen. Also, how exactly did Severus get rid of the Dementor? Did professor Spinnard follow them or maybe Hagrid saw them? It was still so mysterious.811Please respect copyright.PENANAxOZKSmrFeW
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“Enjoying yourself, Ophelia?”811Please respect copyright.PENANAlsHQVqwkGW
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Hearing that low tone, Ophelia’s eyes widened and she hid the stone in her palm; she grasped it tightly before going back to choosing tarts.811Please respect copyright.PENANAavAk8tYWlN
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“Headmaster,” She barely said before grabbing a tart with her free hand, “I’m fine, yes. It’s a bit lonely but I enjoy the silence and peace.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAEDINZGDUk0
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Dumbledore’s careful eye caught sight of the stone from the moment she pulled it out but it felt like she wouldn’t give it to him if he were to ask her about it. Ophelia was a secretive child, just like her parents, so he had to be careful.811Please respect copyright.PENANA2dRdOp2T16
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“I thought you were rather eager to go back to Birmingham.” He started, knowing exactly what route to take with her.811Please respect copyright.PENANAFa1Z48ivei
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“Um, yes. I lost the train and decided to spend Christmas here. Besides, Willy has been missing ever since I arrived to Hogwarts.” She grumbled, still having a hard time because of her owl.811Please respect copyright.PENANA7MdUW1RgRY
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Dumbledore’s usual warm blue eyes seemed to have darkened as his whole posture stiffened; it was barely noticeable, but being right behind her, she could help but feel tension surround her.811Please respect copyright.PENANApNgG8IwEPM
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“It would be better to have someone look after him. I’m sure he will return but until then, use one of the owls from the Owlery.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAQDq7mRQAJf
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Dumbledore advised her softly yet there was a tinge of firmness in his voice; it actually made her feel like she might have been the one ordering Willy not to return.811Please respect copyright.PENANAMg2BeYttEp
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But there was something even stranger and that was the sudden information that there existed an Owlery. She kept that sudden enthusiasm to herself but her eyes were shining in hope that she could write to her adoptive parents.811Please respect copyright.PENANA8lBnq1c96Z
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“I assume you don’t plan another escapade to the Forbidden Forest?” He asked as if he already knew everything, making her tighten her grasp on the stone. “Have you found something of interest on your last adventure?” He added.811Please respect copyright.PENANAUGIz6CCXqQ
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“No, of course not. Except maybe a Dementor.” She mumbled, feeling suddenly tensioned with the headmaster questioning her.811Please respect copyright.PENANAuEypXaRuEw
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“Do you know who saved you, Ophelia?”811Please respect copyright.PENANAoUEciXwvR1
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She sighed and turned to fully look at him while he moved a bit to the side. He was very tall and quite intimidating from her seat yet there was something else that was making her feel angry.811Please respect copyright.PENANAKXFuqaMgaR
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“I don’t know. Professor Spinnard? Or maybe Severus?” She asked trying to sound innocent. “My Patronus, even if it ran away?”811Please respect copyright.PENANAf7M10pmlSo
Dumbledore raised one eyebrow elegantly and shook his head.811Please respect copyright.PENANAVyMbBW6rbU
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“When Professor Spinnard arrived, the Dementor was already gone and Severus was unconscious. He left right before you woke up so then, who saved you? I do have my own theories but I would like if you could give me an answer of your own.”811Please respect copyright.PENANA4cFFuS39sQ
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Under Dumbledore’s watchful eye -and it looked like nothing would pass him, not the smallest information about the students of Hogwarts (and even beyond the grounds of the school)- Ophelia was just a child, maybe innocent maybe not, that was trying her hardest to hide from his view. Well, that was impossible at the moment and she knew she had to come up with some theory of her own.811Please respect copyright.PENANAKV3SZV25RT
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“Someone else heard us and came to help. Someone who was already in the forest, watching.” She answered hesitantly.811Please respect copyright.PENANAKjQPFIg7Tu
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Dumbledore chuckled and nodded before he leaned in a bit.811Please respect copyright.PENANACBIM3ZORoo
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“Maybe. You may be right and if so, then someone has been watching you and Severus secretly. But I don’t think that person was there, I believe that your Patronus did not have enough power to push the Dementor away so based on your memories, it went in search of that particular person.”811Please respect copyright.PENANA4H61KogHNp
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“What person?” She asked, getting confused even though Dumbledore’s eyes seemed to get darker.811Please respect copyright.PENANAx1ig9IrU2C
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“The person that makes you happy,” He said, looking at her with those intense blue eyes from behind his half-moon spectacles. “He must treasure you just as much as you treasure him if he did come in your help.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAKg4Ru4YA9E
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“But then-“ She stopped, knowing that she was going to give herself away if she’d speak more.811Please respect copyright.PENANAqyliSBWhpC
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Instead, she thought about that supposed person that makes her happy; her mind could only surface memories with the pale man and the way he introduced her to a new world, one that she belongs in.811Please respect copyright.PENANAPrbYkfEFbQ
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“Ophelia, be careful in whom you trust both inside and outside these ground. Hogwarts can only help you if you ask for it but it can’t protect you from yourself.”811Please respect copyright.PENANAmbft8GZdn8
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Those words were meant in more than one way and understanding them was far too complicated for Ophelia back then. Seeing the black hair of Severus Snape, her attention shifted quicker than the dark glint in Dumbledore’s eyes.811Please respect copyright.PENANAymzLaqE1tf
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Feeling like she was at a loss of words, Ophelia said a quick Merry Christmas, headmaster! in which Dumbledore nodded and smiled softly at the child.811Please respect copyright.PENANAKlpHkZunWT
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The tension dispersed and Dumbledore grabbed one tart before winking at the brunette and moving towards the staff table. While the girl was focusing on the Slytherin boy, having to tell him many things, the headmaster was growing curious just who exactly saved her; was it the same man as in Aviemore? If that was the case, he should have a word with Professor Spinnard and Professor McGonagall.