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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALn67MIm8w
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“What is it, Minerva?” He asked, noticing her expression.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Ru8l1GKj
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She only handed him the letter and waited patiently for her colleague to give the announcement.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ0C4eChfH
Dumbledore read the letter slowly, his blue eyes not widening once at the containment.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDjNfrmbwv
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5RMAwpvXC
Dear Professor Dumbledore,1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzWRHdZjUL
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFJ3KRUEJN
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. 1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyftiML7KG
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I have returned what is not mine and I consider that is the best place to hide something so powerful. 1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLaprENLgN
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6KuXCyapj
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Please, don’t let her get entangled into his web. Ophelia should never know who her father is. Never. 1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxSXnKZ5eY
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lz2YCNOKr
Lillian Gaunt1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Am8KTiI8
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Once he read everything, Dumbledore rushed out of his office, Minerva following closely.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJd03sN6TE
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“What should we do now? The child, he can’t get the child.” She said in a hurry.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68ITamPRLD
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Dumbledore walked out and turned to her before he smiled sadly.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytMeyZZMrN
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhjLW8x3EI
“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10Tn7dvKZn
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWjglKNH1C
“What is that supposed to mean? Albus, he can never find her. She’s his opportunity for-“ She stopped, shuddering at the thought.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlQzBYsKVs
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRp0z6D5zj
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqCA2i8Dtq
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmqzmogpeC
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLSjHPblVq
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrJqEBB4UA
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nGihU9rmn
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“Ophelia, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I will help you but you have to promise me something.” He started.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx4euj73Tp
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Ophelia seized him up before nodding.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzLbJ8UEOZ
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“Forget the man you saw today. Forget everything and look forward to a better life. You have to trust me, alright?”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMozQdBDek
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbb8gYBA98
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtKezKm4IM
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThKj2dxboR
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhjPj7N4wv
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore looked down at her and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmji0LMQ3J
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“Trust me, alright?” He told her again.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzZxWJqCcm
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVeo4VtU40
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwPXCMp87t
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXwwTqa4fb
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Much like Dumbledore asked, Ophelia avoided thinking of the man that killed her mother and slowly forgot how he looked or sounded.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynsesREfwi
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo74DnY0My
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Then, during a fieldtrip to Aviemore, something happened.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoPIrgoCGZ
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“I bet you don’t have the courage to enter the forest.” One boy taunted his friend.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ05mxgicr
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“They say it’s haunted. Not even you can enter, Paul.” A slightly shorter and more fragile looking boy combated.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4HOd3dP98
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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.”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCU8He1Ame
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAg987jMCL
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGMPll1rMQ
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhexarIychh
Ophelia was worried, especially with her roommates whispering about the worst kind of stories.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBCtkToM2Z
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“Maybe the ghosts ate him.” Rosaline, the girl owning the bed next to the door, said.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzme1BcuCu
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“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZL6PHfz8b
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“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.”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WhibKDNdL
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc38Rw0pQ7
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“But-“She stopped when Miss Glenmore came over and ushered them towards the car.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHy9HvBhhj
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuXz7VVRyl
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCkwkuitYZ
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxWYtcZDmR
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUX61MkFgt
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“Pheli? Ophelia! How did you find this place?!” Paul screamed from a few feet towards left.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl5a2AeHZZ
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“I just walked and found myself here.”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCMo0h1gkx
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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!”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2sK1VxBEA
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“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.”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphhdaV0Xwf
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEQbejB61C
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnidL0uUCu
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkXIlDwZcK
“We have to go back. Miss Glenmore is probably searching for us right now.”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAh9d9X3CD
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“I don’t know how. I don’t know which way I came from.” Paul answered simply.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRgh65M35A
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMjhueDHUO
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“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9iVYAIXZ9
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakg6JoLBa1
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5H8c8gbAQ
“Maybe it’s Miss Glenmore?” Paul asked innocently.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsMsAW1wTh
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMLHpU8126
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“Wait! The scream came from-“She stopped, another scream coming from a few feet from them.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo97DqDjoGQ
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfH5o9ZEwQ
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“Maybe there are ghosts and fairies in here.” He mumbled, his face pale and hands shaking.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQS5iQx9P2
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVtGPPJ12Y
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupkEUMoF8i
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W6Wxc39un
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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlYaAQNakH
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“Ophelia!”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz13RfMJqZ
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxg0a1n3xo
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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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZelW49rglK
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9edo3Gmlk
“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIdWerq44I
1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCQCOyt7VN
“Dear child, you’re fine. Thank God, you scared everyone.” Miss Glenmore started relief all over her face.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeOF7vhWeO
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“What happened? Where are the others?” Ophelia asked confused.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr6Smsc537
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“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx2BJb8l0p
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“What man?”1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6SVJRMBsn
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“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.1351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCnsj5XVUv
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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.
