Chapter 16: Facing HerselfChapter TextThe Second Task.
CW: Creepiness, Child abuse mention, Endangering the welfare of children
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
Facing Herself
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
February 26th, 1995
"Pardon, Mister Potter?"
Ophelia continued to dig her nails into her palm so as to keep calm. Her anxiety was already through the roof and her heartbeat going fast enough to power all of London for weeks. "I said I want the two-piece swimsuit. Please. I need the extra skin since I'll be using runes."
Bagman seemed more than a little flustered, "I, well– that's understandable, but–"
"Stop wasting both of our times and just give me the swimsuit already!" She hissed, trying not to draw the attention of the other Tournament Organizers. Bagman seemed to resign himself and handed her a black swimsuit that was two parts - shorts that would probably reach down a third of her thighs and a top that should at least cover her breasts. She snatched it out of his hands and made her way into the private changing tent.
She wanted to break down, but now was no time. Susan had told her that Hannah was missing - taken by Professor McGonagall the night before for the Task. She didn't know what was possessing her to move the way she was, but she didn't care.
A quickly engraved set of Norse runes on the tent with a flick of her wand and it was silenced and sealed. She cast a cleansing charm on her face to remove the makeup and immediately stripped. She didn't care for decorum and slipped her clothes into her bag, underthings and all. She set the bag aside and took a sharp breath before slipping the bottoms on first. A swift tuck and an engraved rune and she looked perfectly flat. Good, she wasn't about to put up with any more embarrassment than she had to. Hannah needed help.
She scowled at her chest. Contained in the swimsuit, her bust was impossible to miss. Any chance of disguising it was pointless. Besides…
You don't have to hide yourself anymore, Ophelia.
The words in Lord Abbott's most recent letter flashed before her eyes.
She took a steadying breath.
Fifteen minutes until the Task would begin. She heard Bagman begin to make announcements. That meant the others were already changed. She heard especially loud cheering and knew it was either for Krum or Fleur.
"... here we go," she said to herself in an incredibly small voice as her grip on her rosewood and dragon heartstring wand tightened to the point her knuckles went white.
She took another slow, shuddering breath.
"... Time to show them Ophelia."
She removed the rune and opened the tent flap.
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
"And here is our fourth and final champion! Mister Po– what in the–"
Ophelia pointedly didn't look at the Judge's Table and ignored the shock rippling through the crowd as she strode to the dock. She gave Cedric and Fleur brief nods, while ignoring Krum's look of visible shock.
"I– wha–"
Thankfully for Ophelia, Professor McGonagall gave a rather audible correction. "The fourth champion will henceforth be referred to as her chosen name, Miss Ophelia Potter. Carry on already," she remarked, glaring sharply at the flabbergasted Judge's Table and the still-whispering and chattering crowd, which featured a number of students pointing at her.
Ophelia saw Theo, Blaise and Tracey giving her supportive looks, and managed to get her lips to twitch when she saw Susan, Hermione and the Chaser Girls cheering. Though her cheeks did pink a little when she saw Daphne, blushing bright red and staring a bit low… Ophelia flushed deeper but turned her gaze forwards and focused on the lake.
Fleur gently leaned in, "I have to admit, you are stunning, Ophelia."
Ophelia flushed deeper and kept her gaze on the lake, "Thank you." She looked down at her body for a moment and grimaced, "The… scars… they don't…?"
Fleur gently touched her arm, "I meant what I said, Ophelia. You are beautiful, scars or no." She flashed Ophelia a brilliant smile, and the smaller girl couldn't help smile a little bit herself.
Krum, who was on her other side, seemed to study her carefully while Bagman stumbled through the rules. Ophelia tried to ignore him as she watched the magical timer count down, and noticed that magical projectors were set up and showed each of the Champions. So that was how they'd follow their progress. It made sense.
She felt her skin prickle with gooseflesh. The cold was biting, though she would be able to counteract it with a warming rune in a few moments. Though she also had a feeling the cold wasn't why she had the gooseflesh - Angelina's story of what a creep Krum was remained vivid in her mind.
She looked away from him and past Fleur, back at the stands. A lot of boys were staring, and to her embarrassment that included both Ron and Draco, as well as the more… creepy boys like McLaggen. She did at least get to see the vindicating sight of Hermione smacking Ron upside the head and berating him. She also saw Tracey snicker and push Daphne's jaw shut, which caused the blonde girl to turn even redder - a reaction Ophelia shared.
Fleur chuckled softly, "What did I tell you? Beautiful. Even your friend cannot take her eyes off you."
Ophelia made a noncomittal sound that was quite strangled, "Oh, well… she could've been looking at you. You're absolutely gorgeous."
Fleur chuckled again. It was an oddly throaty, husky and yet melodic sound, "Oh, non. She didn't so much as glance our way until you walked out, Ophelia. Perhaps it's more than aesthetic attraction? Could it be… mutual?"
Ophelia made another noncommittal sound as she flushed even deeper. She tried to make a reply but it came out as more of a nervous whimper. Fleur chuckled again and tapped her shoulder gently.
"Do not worry. Do your best, and if you cannot make it, I swear that Cedric and I will not let your partner-in-crime come to harm. Okay?"
Ophelia nodded as she made herself focus. Fleur gave her one last smile…
Boom!
The other three champions cast their spells as they dove into the water, and Ophelia began visualizing runes, murmuring as she pointed her wand at her throat, collar, arms, legs and even her belly. She knew the limit her body could withstand and she wasn't going to half-arse this. Hannah needed her.
And maybe she was just a little bit peeved at how the Tournament Organizers had thought it was okay to take actual, live hostages. The scum.
"And they're off!" Bagman announced, before he made a mild sound of surprise. "It seems Mist– er, Miss Potter is casting a number of runes on hi– herself!"
Madam Maxime made a comment of her own, then. "It would appear Mademoiselle Potter is utulizing Elder Futhark & Younger Futhark runes, Egyptian Hieroglyphs and what appears to be the Ancient Greek alphabet in tandem! To combine runic languages in such a way would require a great deal of magical mastery in both runes and arithmancy. Evidently there is more to her talents than there seems."
Dumbledore made a comment as well while Ophelia was beginning to slowly and intricately link the runes together so they would work as a functional system. "Her solution is indeed an ingenious one, though Mister Diggory and Miss Delacour have both evidently opted for the safer and simpler Bubblehead Charms - though if I am correct, much like Mister Krum's decision to partially transfigure himself into a shark, Miss Potter's runes will be resistant if not outright immune to being disrupted."
Ophelia finished her runes and then leapt into the water, thankful for the Spear Rune being able to be used to grant bravery. Otherwise the watery depths would have been unbreachable.
So, plunged into the abyss and silence, she dove.
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
Being able to breathe while underwater was strange. What was stranger was that she had actually been successful in adding runes to basically filter out any nastiness before it even entered her mouth. She was at least grateful for the eyesight enhancing runes as she transfigured her glasses into a hairband and put that on her wrist. Thankfully her transfiguration wasn't bothered, so she started to swim ahead when she could tell that the runes she used to negate any issues as far as darkness went were functioning. It may as well have been as though she were in broad daylight - unlike what the other champions were likely to suffer, she saw things crystal clear.
As she began to swim, she was thankful for how effective the strength runes were. Her legs kicked powerfully and easily propelled her ahead. Unfortunately that meant she needed to work on her control, because she nearly ran straight into a kelp forest. Her clear vision saw the grindylows, so she charmed a swath of the kelp and it began to wrap and ensnare the grindylows, giving them a taste of their own medicine. That was when she saw Fleur blasting a swath of them with her own wand.
Ophelia quickly transfigured a mass of the water around the grindylows and caused it to transform into chains. Transfiguring liquids into solids was a challenge, but one she'd figured out when experimenting with Vanishing, Conjuration and Augmentation. The steel chains animated with her charms and dragged the grindylows away while leaving Fleur unharmed.
Ophelia carefully waded over, speaking clearly thanks to a couple runes she'd added in case of emergency. "Are you okay?" She asked, gently helping Fleur right herself.
The french champion nodded, giving her a smirk. Her own words were a bit warbled at first, so Ophelia quickly added some runes to enhance and clarify her hearing before asking her to repeat herself. "Oui, I am fine. Thank you. That was impressive."
Ophelia shrugged, "It was the least I could do. Let's keep moving. Want me to give you some runes?"
Fleur shook her head, "Non. We must not waste our time. If you are faster, go on ahead - I won't let my guard down so easily a second time. Focus on your hostage, not me."
Ophelia hesitated before she nodded. She held out her hand and Fleur shook it once before the younger champion shot back off, leaving a bemused and amused french girl in her wake as she swam unsteadily yet swiftly through the rest of the kelp forest.
Somehow she ended up seeing what at first frightened her as a shark until she realized it was Krum, partially-transfigured… and seeming to be in some trouble with a kappa. Ophelia transfigured some of the stone and silt at the bottom of the lake into a stone hand and caused it to grab the kappa and tighten, trapping the Japanese monster and leaving it trapped. She didn't bother waiting for Krum's reaction - something told her that she didn't want to be caught dead around the man.
She passed by the Giant Squid and gave it a wave. The magical squid waved back with a tentacle, the eye she could see blinking once. She smirked - she'd always wanted to see it. She briefly wondered whether the rumor that it was Godric Gryffindor's Animagus form had any merit? If only her own could be of any use…
She was shaken out of her thoughts when she heard what sounded like… singing.
Mélusines.
She shot off in the direction of the music, and it wasn't long before she arrived in what looked like a settlement of sorts. One populated by the ever-beautiful Mélusine fae. Two fish tails, wings that resembled fins, long hair and wielding tridents and other polearms - the warriors, anyway. They were all quite beautiful, she had to agree, but living underwater had left their skin pale and almost transluscent - maybe bluish-green even. She grimaced a little and passed them, noticing they eyed her warily but not wanting to idle.
Not with Hannah in danger.
It wasn't long before she reached what could only be described as a central plaza, in which several of the fae were singing softly. At the center and held in place by thick ropes were four people.
Zhou Qiū - Cedric's girlfriend, who was almost assuredly his 'captive'. She grimaced at a memory of Zhou asking her to the Ball. She wasn't telling Cedric about that on threat of death.
Roger Davies - the boy she recalled as being Fleur's date to the Ball. She remembered how the french girl had been pleasantly surprised at how relaxed and kind he was - it made sense. He'd always been among the kinder Ravenclaws she'd spoken to, probably because Phoebe was his adopted sister.
There was another girl she didn't recognize but could only guess was Krum's hostage. Her eyes easily slipped past the fairly pretty girl and onto the only blonde of the lot.
Hannah.
She sped over to her best friend, knowing tears of relief would be sliding out of her eyes were she not underwater. She checked Hannah's pulse and was relieved to find it - slow, but there. She also saw a number of runes on Hannah's neck and hands that she recognized. Hannah was put into stasis, and apparently would awaken the moment her head broke the surface of the water. But… she was cold. Not dead-cold, but far too cold.
Had she been out here all night?!
Ophelia swiftly cut the ropes holding her best friend and then transfigured them to wrap Hannah to her back like a blonde backpack with attitude - sans the attitude due to a case of being comatose. She gave the other hostages nervous glances until Cedric and Fleur both arrived. They both gave her broad grins before they set about saving Zhou and Roger.
"They'll wake up when their heads go above water," she told them. "Wait until you're close to shore, okay?"
Cedric seemed a bit surprised to understand her, but both he and Fleur nodded before waving their gratitude. Ophelia gave one last glance to the last girl, but decided to head back.
Hannah needed medical attention immediately, and much as Angelina disliked Krum, Ophelia knew that the Bulgarian berk was a capable wizard. Transfiguring himself into a shark was evidence enough of that.
She shot off, kicking her legs swiftly while carefully avoiding kicking Hannah's own legs. Thankfully she had a rough estimation of where the shoreline was, so she knew the direction she had to go.
Less-thankfully, she ran into a couple rogue hippocampi. They charged at her, and she didn't want to hurt them badly - usually they were very mild-mannered - but she also didn't have time to waste. She waved and flicked her wand and caused the water around the hippocampi to wrap and constrict around them as it transfigured into rope and tied them to one another. She added a couple Sleeping Charms and the two creatures swiftly fell asleep, sinking below. She untransfigured the ropes back into water before resuming her course.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw what looked like a snitch but with tiny propellers instead of wings, and an eye in the center. Was that how they were watching her? It was clever, but mildly irritating to be on display like this.
She swam faster, and it wasn't long before she was passing the kelp forest - tangling more grindylows for as she did so - and then at the shoreline. She didn't want Hannah to potentially draw in water in a slower ascension, so she pointed her wand to herself, grabbed the ropes tightly, and cast a Banishing charm - aimed upwards.
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
A mid-air cushioning charm made the landing on the dock plenty soft, and at Hannah's coughing behind her, Ophelia vanished the ropes. She spat out the water in her own lungs, the fluid easily coming out due to the magic in the runes. Then she focused on drying Hannah off with a single charm, followed by herself before she drew her best friend into a tight hug.
"You're okay," Ophelia whispered as Hannah quickly reciprocated the hug. The black-haired girl felt herself finally relax as her legs gave out beneath her and the tears finally fell. "You're really okay. We made it. You're okay."
Hannah hummed as she held close, "Thanks, Ophie. I knew you had it in you." She pulled away gently, a broad grin on her face. "You're the best. Looks like you looked pretty damn cute while you did it, too."
Ophelia's face burned but she smiled weakly, and then Madam Pomfrey was upon them.
"Oh! You're already dry– well, come along. You must be freezing, Miss Abbott - you too, Miss Potter. Come on," the Matron fussed as she wrapped towels around both girls in spite of their dryness. They were quickly ushered into the medical tent without a chance to really see much.
"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey - really. Can you check Hannah? She was ice cold when I found her. They left her there all night," Ophelia told the Matron, not wanting to be fussed over when she really was in good condition. Madam Pomfrey's expression tightened but she nodded and hurried over to Hannah, who was indeed shivering - her lips were even blue. She watched Madam Pomfrey cast warming charms and give Hannah a couple potions before she focused on using her wand to carefully dispel the runes all over her body.
While she did that, she heard two dinging bells. Madam Pomfrey pointed to a couple other mediwixen and they headed out, probably to retrieve whoever had just arrived.
Ophelia managed to move to sit next to Hannah, who was now bundled in blankets rather than towels and looking a little better. Madam Pomfrey gave them tight smiles and gestured to the nearby bag - Ophelia's - before she went to address the newest drenched arrivals of Cedric and Zhou.
Ophelia summoned her bag and withdrew just the long-sleeved shirt she'd been wearing, leaving the binder inside. She slipped the shirt on and didn't bother with pants. At Hannah's raised eyebrow she gestured to the runes that remained on her thighs. "Warming runes. Until I dispel them they'll keep me at a comfortable temperature," she explained, a sigh escaping her lips as she leaned against Hannah, the strength leaving her body.
Hannah wrapped an arm around Ophelia, blankets and all. "Thanks for saving me," she murmured.
Ophelia smiled wanly as they rested their heads against one another. "You're my best friend. I was going to save you no matter what," she replied, only to be a little startled when two people charged into the tent.
Daphne and Susan.
Daphne barreled into them, drawing them into a massive hug that Ophelia returned. Hannah did as well before she extricated herself and hugged Susan, who for their part just seemed to sag into their dormmate, relief visible on their face as they hugged Hannah incredibly close.
"You were really cool," Daphne murmured as she squeezed tightly. Ophelia squeezed back.
"Thanks for helping me prepare for this. Knowing how to swim really came in handy," Ophelia replied, grateful for the support of the first person who'd truly helped her feel safe being herself.
Daphne pulled away and had a small smile on her face, "You looked pretty scary until you got to Hannah. Hermione said it was the first time she'd ever seen you get angry."
Ophelia had the decency to blush, "Well, you know…"
Hannah grinned, "Aw. My best friend got angry for me." She hugged Ophelia again, who huffed but couldn't help smiling at her antics. It was good to see her doing okay - safe.
Still, she had a good feeling that Hannah's nearly-dead look was going to haunt her nightmares for a while…
She shook her head clear and sighed, looking nervously at Susan and Daphne. "So… what's the consensus? What are they saying about me?"
Susan grimaced, "Well… there's good news, really good news, bad news and really bad news. Which do you want first?"
Ophelia blinked as she stared at them for a moment. "Uh… bad news?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, "You were checked out by basically every guy there, and they started making gross comments. Though at least Hermione started hexing a couple of them. In the meantime though you're not allowed to be on your own. At all."
"But–"
"Nope," Susan interrupted her. "She's right. You've escaped it thus far Ophie, but guys can be creepy. Scary, too. I bet if you asked Fleur she'd tell you just how scary. It's a good thing her allure can be a defense mechanism." They shuddered and crossed their arms in front of themselves, "I don't wanna imagine how bad she's had it."
"Very," Fleur's voice came from behind them. Ophelia saw that she was steaming - literally, there were curls of steam coming off of her. "You are a beautiful young lady, Ophelia - and forgive my crudeness, but quite well endowed as well. Do not go alone, understood?"
She grimaced, "Okay… Susan, what's the good news?"
They grinned, "Nobody really misgendered you. Looks like they don't care about that all too much. A couple seemed skeptical, and yeah there were some bad comments mixed in, but they didn't seem grossed out by it. The girls, anyway." They frowned at first and then it twisted into a grimace, "Can't say about the boys. They kind of avoided the sections with all the girls after Hermione and Tracey started throwing hexes. Maybe Theo or Blaise know?"
Ophelia blinked in surprise, "I… wow. That's… really good." She felt lighter, as if a weight had lifted from her chest and shoulders. She leaned against Hannah again and let out a sigh of relief as some tears slid down her face. "Glad my worries weren't totally on the mark," she half-joked, managing a weak smile.
Daphne snorted, "Trust me, if they start misgendering and deadnaming you, I'm hexing them until they can't walk. At least Skeeter isn't here - you know she'd start a horrible article about you. Percy Weasley and the Prophet reporter they did send seemed to be on your side."
Susan grinned even brighter than before, "Which brings us to the really good news! They're opening an investigation on getting you exempted from the Final Task! Your name isn't a match, so they're starting to think you might not be bound!" They looked really giddy, and so did Daphne.
Ophelia blinked as that settled in, but for some reason she didn't feel happy. She felt… different. Hot. Something bubbled in her chest. Something she wasn't sure she had a name for. "That's… huh," she mused as she worked her jaw. That bothered her. Why did that bother her? She shook her head when she noticed her three friends giving her worried looks. "Well… hopefully that pans out. I'd rather not deal with being sucked into a third challenge. Especially if it involves another hostage," she replied, surprising even herself with how sharp her tone was.
Daphne and Susan traded identical looks of concern, "Uh… yeah." Daphne frowned and sat next to Ophelia, "You okay, Ophie? You seem… tense."
Ophelia shrugged, her leg bouncing as she adjusted her bag and slung it over a shoulder. "Yeah… yeah, I think I'm fine, I guess. I dunno." She shook her head and untransfigured the hairband on her wrist back into glasses, slipping them back on and dispelling the eyesight runes to busy herself. "You said there's really bad news, too. What is it?"
Susan grimaced as they summoned a chair over and sat in it, running a hand through their hair. "How do I put it? The judges aren't… happy," they began, interlocking their fingers. "Maxime is on your side, at least - she's angry at the others. Karkaroff is saying you helping the other champions is cheating, and Bagman's siding with him. Dumbledore's taking a neutral stance, which is infuriating in its own right - Percy's got your back, I think. Though he's busy with the reporters."
Ophelia frowned, her eyes flicking upwards as she saw Krum being brought in. A bit of glancing around saw Cedric and Zhou still damp, but being warmed up. Fleur had sat back next to Roger and was helping warm him up while they chatted amicably. Krum's hostage seemed to be scratched up a bit, but otherwise alright - though Krum was looking around and on-edge. His eyes flicked over to where she sat and she quickly returned her gaze to Susan.
"Okay… I mean, if they think I'm cheating, then they can disqualify me. I forfeited last time anyway. Besides, I didn't want to do this - I only did because Hannah was in danger," she replied, sitting up as the tension began to return. Her eyes narrowed at Susan's grim look. "What? There's more, isn't there? What is it?"
Susan sighed and buried their head in their hands, "Karkaroff and Bagman want to redo the Task."
Hannah looked aghast, "They WHAT?!"
All the other champions and hostages jumped, looking in their direction. Fleur, Krum and Cedric came over, looking worried.
"What happened? What is it?" Cedric asked, visibly concerned as he sat next to his fellow badger - opposite Ophelia.
Susan grimaced, "Karkaroff and Bagman think Ophelia cheated by helping you all, and want to redo the Task."
Fleur scoffed and looked immensely agitated, "They what? Those… those… idiots!" She began swearing softly in French before she looked sharply at Cedric, "We cannot! We must not!"
Ophelia felt something boil inside. Her hand twitched.
Cedric nodded his agreement, "Absolutely. This is… no. Absolutely not. Qiū's had enough, I've had enough." He shook his head, "Viktor? I doubt you want a re-do."
Krum scowled, "No. I vould have preferred to succeed on my own, but I vould rather not do that again, da?"
Cedric nodded and then everyone turned to Ophelia before they all physically recoiled. They looked afraid.
She stood up, her motions smoother than they'd ever been before. She tapped her wand to her side, tilting her head thoughtfully. "A redo… huh?" She mused, her voice… flat, yet simultaneously a perfect sign of how she felt.
"Uh… O-Ophelia?" Susan asked gently. They stood up, and unlike Krum who was moving swiftly out of the way, they took a half-step in front of her. "H-hey, Ophelia, don't worry. We won't let them do this again. You know that, right? They're not going to be able to. I think they need unanimous support to redo a Task, and neither Percy or Maxime want that."
Daphne was also on her feet, gently and almost hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder. "Ophelia… Hannah's not going back in there. She's not. Nobody is, o-okay? Ophelia?"
Ophelia adjusted her grip on her wand. Blood roared in her ears. She rolled her shoulders a little and took a slow, deep breath. Her heart pounded rapidly. It was both silent and deafening.
She looked at Hannah, who met her gaze. She looked at her best friend, and it wasn't long before the memory of the panic she'd felt seeing her best friend looking far too pale - her lips blue - came back to mind. Hannah gently reached up to touch her arm. Her hand carefully found hers and held it. It was cold, and the fingers pruny.
"Ophelia… I'm safe, okay?"
She hummed, and carefully pulled her hand away. She knew what to call the hot, bubbling feeling in her chest. She knew the name for the blood roaring in her ears, the heart pounding in her chest. She knew the name for the burning pulse of fire coursing through her veins. For the desperate itch to fire off the most painful array of curses, hexes, jinxes and spells she knew.
She knew what to call the emotion inside of her. She hadn't felt it in ages. She'd had… flashes. Brief ones. When Angelina told her how Krum treated her. Whenever Malfoy called Hermione 'mudblood'. Whenever Ron dismissed his friends and argued with them over pointless things. She had felt it on occasion with the Dursleys before having it beaten out of her. She'd seen it a little in others. A bit. Whether it was as bad as what she felt in that moment, she didn't know.
She adjusted her hold on her wand again and tilted her head enough in either way that her neck cracked. She looked at her friends, and their eyes widened. Mutely, Susan and Daphne stepped out of her way. Fleur was already sitting with Roger again - he looked in Ophie's direction and paled. Zhou was actively looking away from her.
Madam Pomfrey took one look at her expression and froze. "Miss Potter…?"
Ophelia started to walk towards the tent flaps, and didn't look back as she said two words as she left.
"I'm angry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ophelia is angry, people. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.
Discord (we have popcorn): https://discord.gg/w5k4TfFRGG
Next Chapter: The Anger in action!
Chapter 17: Witness to FuryChapter TextOphelia is angry.
~~~~~Hermione~~~~~
Witness to Fury
~~~~~Hermione~~~~~
Hermione felt her blood run cold when she saw the look on Ophelia's face as she walked out of the medical tent. Her expression was… relaxed, and oddly poised. Her normally timid green eyes - usually resembling summer leaves - looked sharp and cold, almost bluish. Like ice. She walked in an impossibly fluid way, which seemed uncanny and terrifying considering her old wounds usually caused a slight limp.
Hermione shivered as her breath fogged, the cold settling in much worse than it had been all morning. It… was still around early-afternoon, wasn't it? She felt it a bit difficult to reconcile that truth with the freezing cold that settled in, and how oddly dark everything felt in spite of the glaring sunlight. Something was off about all of it. Something… cold, terrifying and incomprehensible. She didn't like feeling like this - not one bit.
Despite the fact that Ophelia only wore a dark gray long-sleeved shirt and black swim shorts that were barely visible, she didn't seem cold - she also looked… regal,somehow. Ophelia at that moment reminded Hermione of Professor McGonagall, but a thousand times scarier.
She did not like it.
The barefoot girl strode her way up to the judge's table and Hermione scrambled to get down the stands. She didn't know why, but she had an extremely strong feeling that Ophelia needed her. She noticed the expressions of the judges with a great deal of trepidation. Dumbledore had paled and actually looked his age, Maxime visibly flinched, Percy looked up from the reporters and a look of true fear crossed his face. The idiots who had probably actually been the ones to earn Ophelia's ire - Karkaroff and Bagman - were stupid enough to look annoyed.
"You won't be getting scored at this time, Miss Potter," Hermione heard Bagman say dismissively. "We'll likely be–"
Hermione watched in shock as Ophelia almost lazily waved her wand and Bagman's chair grew branches that forcibly dragged him down before binding and gagging him. She rushed further down the stands, cursing her earlier decision to go for the higher stands for a seat. Several people began to whisper and mutter amongst themselves, but Hermione ignored that. Ophelia was angry.
She didn't know how or why she knew that was the only word she could come up with to describe her sort-of-sister's state of mind, but that was the truth of it. Ophelia was angry. Impossibly so.
"I don't care about my score, Mister Bagman," Ophelia replied to the terrified-looking man. Hermione felt ice run through her veins at the sound of Ophelia's voice.
That tone was the single most terrifying thing she had ever heard in her life.
It was cold, detached and deceptively calm. Hermione was starting to get an understanding of what Ophelia's anger - her real anger - was like. She'd seen Ophelia be upset, irritated, agitated and frustrated. But now she knew that despite previous delusions she had never once seen Ophelia be truly angry.
"I hear that you and Headmaster Karkaroff have… reservations regarding my actions in the task today," Ophelia continued, lingering on the word 'reservations' to show how much she did not like the fact that they had 'reservations'. Hermione saw Karkaroff and Bagman actually seem to shrink in the face of the small girl's anger.
To be fair, she wanted nothing more than to do the same. Still, she forced her legs to keep descending even as they trembled and shook. She realized that there was ambient magic in the air. Vibrating. Ophelia's anger had actually caused her to develop an aura - one that made things seem darker and oppressive.
'When Lily got angry, you got out of the way. Plain and simple. The alternative wasn't pretty.' Sirius' words to Ophelia from one of his letters she'd shared with Hermione came to mind. She wondered if this was what Lily Potter was like… and if so, how were the victims of her anger sane?
"Let me be clear. I understand that you had… intentionswith the Tournament. You wanted things to be perfect. I think we can all agree that the fact I ended up as fourth champion is evidence of how things didn't go as planned?" Ophelia gave a pause, as if for them to nod. Nobody did, possibly because they were too terrified to end up like Bagman. Hermione wasn't certain if even Dumbledore could outspeed Ophelia's reflexes - or if he had the nerve to stand against her.
It was one thing to stand against an Evil Lord. It was another to stand against a teenage girl who had every single ounce of moral high-ground possible.
"My best friend - and the other hostages - suffered a lot due to your… machinations, you know. Her lips were blue," Ophelia mused, tilting her head and studying her wand thoughtfully. Hermione felt another shudder run through her as she reached the bottom of the stands. She tried to take a step towards Ophelia, but her legs felt like jelly as they buckled. Thankfully Professor McGonagall was there to brace her.
Hermione tried to thank the woman, but her voice wouldn't come. Professor McGonagall just gave a tiny shake of her head and turned to look at Ophelia with grim resignation written on her face. Hermione had a feeling her own expression was the same as she watched the scene continue to unfold.
"There will be no 're-do'. I've read the rules cover to cover, when I was doing your job for you and trying to hunt for an out to the Tournament. Or don't you remember what I said during the First Task?" She gave Bagman a pointed look and the man strained against his restraints, but they didn't so much as creak. Hermione wondered if Ophelia had placed a subtle strengthening charm on the wood - a grown man should be able to break or at least crack the restraints… right?
"The rules don't bar champions from collaborating, you see. That's why I didn't mind helping them - honestly, if I hadn't then who knows what could've become of Fleur or Krum?" She lightly shrugged, but the usually casual body expression looked surprisingly elegant when she did it. Hermione wondered if the anger in her friend was guiding her actions, and at this point it wouldn't surprise her.
Ophelia as she was in that moment was… winter. Ice cold, unforgiving, and yet impossibly beautiful. Stole breath away, brought people to their knees, and soundlessly demanded both awe and respect. Her anger was ice cold and sharp, painful and silent.
Maybe it was all the books she read, but Hermione couldn't help seeing Ophelia as carrying what the novels called 'cold fury'. Her expression hadn't changed once throughout the entire time she spoke, and her volume was actually quite controlled - but everything else was dead silent. The only sound being made was whenever Ophelia spoke. She was angry, and it was genuinely terrifying enough that everyone else was afraid to draw her attention.
Afraid. Of a 147cm girl wearing nothing but a long-sleeved shirt and swim shorts, her hair a mess and her glasses almost lazily propped on top of her head. She'd dispelled her eyesight runes, Hermione saw - she couldn't even see the judges from the distance she was at and she'd effortlessly dealt with Bagman.
Once again, an ice cold shiver ran through Hermione's body.
"So… there won't be a re-do. At all, in any sense of the word. If you try… well." Ophelia shrugged again, gave a thoughtful look in Bagman's direction, and gave one last wave of her wand. The chair returned to normal, but the man didn't budge. Hermione realized with a bit of grim satisfaction that the front of his robes were wet.
Ophelia turned around, and in that moment it felt like the spell was lifted. Hermione rushed over to walk beside her friend, but wasn't sure if she should say anything. Then Ophelia turned to her and gave the barest hint of a smile.
Hermione let out a deep sigh of relief and flung her arms around Ophelia. The smaller girl returned the hug, though she didn't say anything. Hermione let go after a moment and managed a weak smile. "Let's go back to the castle, okay?"
Ophelia nodded and they walked back together.
~~~~~Hermione~~~~~
"Are you… okay?" Hermione asked softly as she and Ophelia sat alone in the Gryffindor Common Room. After the display back by the Lake, the rest of the house was giving them a rather wide berth.
Ophelia shrugged. She'd changed into jeans and a different long-sleeve, but she seemed better now. No longer hunching her back, and without the binder and makeup she seemed both vulnerable and yet stronger. "So-so, I think. I'm sure I'll crash at some point, but…" She shrugged again. It was back to looking like a normal gesture, though Hermione still felt as if something was different about Ophelia. She didn't think she was looking at her friend differently… but all the same, something felt different.
She wrapped an arm around Ophelia and the smaller girl didn't object. "How do you feel about being… 'out'?"
Ophelia hummed a bit. "I guess… it doesn't feel as different as I thought it would. Maybe it's because the Task had me distracted, but… it doesn't bother me so much. I'm okay with it. Certainly beats having to hide everything, you know?"
Hermione nodded, surprised at the rationality. Then again, Ophelia always was relatively rational. Just… usually not when the situation involved herself.
"You looked… a bit scary back there, but also kinda cool," Hermione admitted, a small smile on her lips. "The Task itself was awful and so were those judges, but apparently they were no match for Ophelia Potter," she teased.
Ophelia's cheeks pinked a little, "Well… you know, just making sure they knew it wouldn't be tolerated." She sighed a little, and there was a pause before she continued. "I'm going to be having nightmares about Hannah, you know. Seeing her all… pale and cold, underwater…" She shuddered and pulled her legs close. "If not Hannah, I'll probably see you… Daphne… Tracey… the others. That's how it's been with Quirrell, the Basilisk, the Dementors…"
Hermione felt her chest tighten as she pulled Ophelia closer. "Have… have your nightmares always been like that? Seeing the people you love… d… dying?"
Ophelia rested her head on Hermione's shoulder, and when she replied it struck Hermione quite painfully how immensely tired her sister sounded. "Sometimes. Sometimes it's… well, my relatives. I don't always have nightmares, but… usually, I guess?"
Hermione winced, resting her head against Ophelia's. "I'm so sorry… is there anything that helps?"
Ophelia smiled a little, "One night I was having a nightmare, and then I felt warm and it went away, bit by bit. Turned out Angie had crawled into the bed to snuggle with me."
Hermione smirked, "I can bet that Daphne certainly wouldn't mind doing that."
Ophelia grimaced a bit, "Even after all that? You said it yourself. I was scary. I saw it on her face, too - she was scared. Of me."
Hermione hummed, "Well… that's not the worst thing in the world. Tracey scares me sometimes when she gets angry, but I know it's never directed at me. When I get scared like that, it's because I don't want her to get hurt by being so angry."
Ophelia was silent for a moment as she seemed to think about that. "How are things going between you two, anyway? Have you made it official yet?" She looked up at Hermione with a warm smile.
She shook her head, "Not yet. Still taking things a little slow. I do like her, but we're still learning a lot about one other." She pursed her lips and felt her cheeks warm, "And I'm still trying to knock some self-esteem into her. She keeps saying she isn't pretty enough for me. How nonsense is that? I'm not particularly pretty."
Ophelia giggled a bit, "I think she's probably trying the same with you, then. Hermione, you're genuinely gorgeous. Of our entire friend group, from an objective standpoint? You're without a doubt the prettiest - I'll never admit to saying it, but even above Daphne. A bit."
Hermione blinked, "I… r-really? Wait, no, that can't–"
"Hermione, I had a crush on you up until last summer," Ophelia told her bluntly.
Hermione froze, "You… w-wait, really?"
Ophelia nodded, "Ever since the Troll, really. You'd been nice to me since before, and when I realized you were in trouble, I panicked." She shrugged, "It kind of evolved from there. I was vomiting and sick for a while after you were petrified. Why do you think I agreed to use Time-Turners? I wanted to be around you - to protect you and just… be with you. I decided I preferred friendship - sisterhood now - back in summer, but it wasn't easy to tamp the feelings down." She smiled a little ruefully, "Hannah teased me about it for the entire time. She knew before even I did."
Hermione leaned back into the couch as that sunk in. Ophelia used to have a crush on her. Her! Hermione Granger, the buck-toothed bookworm! It made no sense! Ophelia was so beautiful, sweet, kind and intelligent on top of that - not to mention powerful. But she used to like Hermione? It boggled the mind.
She shook her head to anchor herself. "Wow… I never noticed. I… I'm sorry, I just never really felt the same. I always saw you as just… my little sister." She shrugged a bit weakly, "Not sure it'd be a good idea to apologize seeing as I'm seeing Tracey."
Ophelia waved her off, "No, it's fine. You two are cute together. Besides…" Her lips quirked a bit, "I'll admit, I like Daphne a bit. But it'll be a while before I actually try to make a real move. I don't want to have so much… baggage, you know? I have good days and bad days, but more bad than good. I don't want to wait too long and squander my chances, but…" She sighed a little, "I also don't want to muck our relationship up, if that makes sense."
Hermione nodded, "It does, and it's very mature of you, too. I'm proud. Don't worry, I think you're recovering quickly - it helps that you've got all sorts of people supporting you. You also have a better home environment waiting for you come summer." She squeezed Ophelia in a little side-hug, "You're getting there. It'll just take some time. I think you'll still have a chance with Daphne, so don't worry. Okay?"
Ophelia huffed a bit and smirked, "Did you really just tell me not to worry?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Prat." She poked Ophelia's belly and earned a little giggle. "How about you get some rest? You've had a long day. Feel free to sleep on my shoulder. If snuggling helps prevent nightmares, snuggle away."
Ophelia grinned and adjusted a bit, wrapping an arm around and behind Hermione while she snuggled close indeed, tucking her legs in as she did so. "Mmm. Nice and comfy."
Hermione smirked and tapped her nose, "Get your rest. I'll wake you when it's time for dinner, okay?"
Ophelia hummed a bit, and within moments she was sound asleep. Being a toss-and-turner herself, Hermione was rather jealous of that. But it was good - she'd really earned her rest.
She smiled to herself as she opened her book. She really had one hell of an amazing sister, didn't she?
~~~~~Hermione~~~~~
"Uh… Hermione?"
Hermione looked up and saw Ron standing in front of her and Ophelia, visibly nervous. Her eyes narrowed a little and she gently closed her book. Ophelia was still asleep, her expression actually relaxed. She'd never seen Ophelia look so relaxed and comfortable, and had even had Colin take a picture for her earlier. She hoped Ron wasn't about to raise his voice during whatever conversation he wanted - Ophelia needed the rest.
"Yes, Ronald? If you can't tell, I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment. This better be important," she replied, forcing herself to be calm. If Ophelia could berate a group of adults without so much as batting an eyelash, she could handle Ron without raising her voice or losing her temper.
No matter how much the memory of him gaping at Ophelia's body irritated her.
Ron grimaced and he gave a nervous glance at Ophelia before looking at Hermione again. "How long have you known? About Har–... her."
Hermione pursed her lips. "Ophelia only told me a couple weeks before Yule," she replied. A half-truth. She'd of course known for much longer, but Ron already had an inferiority complex around the girls.
She waited for the swell of indignation but Ron actually seemed to deflate. He sank into another chair and buried his face in his hands. Hermione watched as he seemed to take a few minutes to steady himself. "...I've been a right berk, haven't I?"
She didn't let her surprise at him owning up to it show. "Yes, you most certainly have," she confirmed. "I wouldn't have helped Tracey and the others pull you aside and threaten you if you hadn't."
Ron grimaced at that, "I guess I deserved that… and Hannah's thrashing." He put his hands on the back of his neck, his back hunched and his elbows on his knees. "...I'll leave you both alone from here on. You don't need me mucking things up for you anymore."
Hermione's expression softened, and she actually felt a bit bad for him. "...She didn't want to break it off with you, you know. It's just…"
Ron managed a weak smile, "I never got my head out of my arse and apologized? Yeah, I kinda figured. Har– she's always been pretty shite at it. That's gonna take some getting used to, blimey." He ran a hand down his face and grimaced, "Hopefully she'll do better with the next berk… I know if I ever wanna be your friend again, I'll need to do a lot of work on myself. Everyone's been pretty clear about that."
Hermione felt her cheeks warm as she remembered the rather harsh comments she'd given him, not to mention the various unkind things the Slytherins and others had said about Ron. She'd probably ask them to ease up after telling them about this.
She managed to keep her tone civil, but couldn't help letting her irritation at her earlier observation show. "You were staring at her… figure quite a bit earlier."
Ron had the decency to blush. "Yeah… I guess I was," he admitted. "I've always had a rough go of it trying not to fall for pretty birds. Merlin, I only lasted so long against you 'cos you always kept berating me."
Hermione reeled a little bit, "You, too?"
Ron rolled his eyes, a smile on his lips. "Hermione, I know I can be pretty damn thick, but try not to let me rub off on you, yeah? I had to peeve you off so that you'd get angry at me so I wouldn't make a total fool of myself. You're drop-dead, and Ophelia ain't far behind. 'Bout the only girl anyone might think is prettier than you two is Greengrass, and seeing as she's got the hots for Ophelia…"
Hermione smiled a little, "Ophelia thinks Daphne won't like her after she got so angry at the judges."
Ron shook his head in visible disbelief. "Cor, but she's got a ways to go, hasn't she? An angry bird is just hot, no other way about it. Well, as long as it isn't aimed at you specifically. Otherwise my plan woulda backfired, wouldn't it?"
Hermione smiled sadly, "I wish this is how it could've always been."
Ron winced, clasping his hands together. "Yeah… me, too. 'Course, that would've meant I'd needed to have it beaten into me a lot sooner. Mum actually sent me a couple Howlers a few weeks ago - separate, straight to the dorm. Ginny must've found out and ratted on me - though in this case I'm not peeved about it. Mum set me straight. She didn't know about Ophelia's… er, particulars at that point, but she certainly put the third nail in my head." He snorted in a bit of amusement, "It's a bit different having all of Mum's ire aimed at me instead of the Twins."
Hermione's mouth twisted into a bit of a smirk, but it fell as she realized something. "Ron, your present to Ophelia, it…"
He waved her off, "Hannah told me what happened to it. I wouldn't worry much - it was a cheap book about the Holyhead Harpies, Ophelia's favorite team. She might've already had it, I think. Idunno, last I saw her mini-library my eyes glazed over."
Hermione smirked a bit, "She does have a couple books on them, yeah."
He grinned and shook his head, "Ron Weasley. Number one idiot, at your service." He sighed and looked a bit mischievous, "She still read all those trashy romance novels?"
Hermione felt her face warm as she grinned, "Yeah. She showed me her full library-trunk the other day. She bought five more. Some of them seem like actual romance, but Merlin if she isn't hopeless. Where did she even pick up the first of those books?"
Ron grimaced at that. "That, Hermione, is a question for your roommate Parvati. Ophelia saw her reading one back in first year and asked her about them. She's been hooked ever since."
Hermione glanced across the room to where Parvati and Lavender were sitting. Both girls gave her polite waves and Hermione waved a tiny bit in reply before gesturing for them to come over. They seemed confused but after a couple moments complied.
Hermione looked at Parvati, "Please tell me Ron's lying. Please tell me you're not the reason Ophelia's addicted to romance novels."
"Trashy ones, specifically," Ron interjected with a teasing grin.
Parvati seemed a bit surprised before she grinned, "I had a feeling she liked it. She didn't say much about the first one I lent her, but every Christmas and birthday we send each other some really steamy ones. She always likes the lesbian stuff - which makes sense, considering how bad Greengrass has it for her."
Lavender rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I was really banking on you and Ophelia getting together, Hermione," she told the bookworm reproachfully. "Honestly, she was smitten with you! Clearly she has a thing for the prettiest girls in school."
Hermione felt another bubble of warmth appear inside. "If people keep telling me I'm pretty like this, I might actually start to believe it," she half-protested. It was rather nice being complimented on her appearance.
"Good," Parvati said playfully as she sat on an opposing couch. She looked at Ron thoughtfully, "Done being a berk, are we?"
He shrugged, "Hopefully?"
Parvati hummed, "Well, we'll call you a work in progress for now."
Ron nodded as a pleased smile crossed his face, "I think I can live with that." He noticed Ophelia start to stir and got up, "That'll be my cue. I'll see you all 'round." He gave a little half-wave and left.
Hermione looked after him thoughtfully before she turned her attention to Ophelia. She gently began to stroke the smaller girl's hair, and rather than wake up she fell back asleep - visibly comforted by her touch.
Parvati looked at her and smiled while Lavender sat by her best friend. "Will she be joining us in our dorm? I hope so. It'll be nice to have someone who shares my preferences as far as books go."
Hermione tilted her head thoughtfully, "I… don't know, honestly. She's been spending her nights with the fifth year girls ever since Christmas. She likes us, yeah… but she was also really anxious at that time. She seems better now, but it's only a matter of time, you know?"
Lavender nodded at that, "Makes sense. Hannah's her best friend - always has been. It's no surprise she'd have a bit of a one-eighty with Hannah's health and safety at risk, you know?"
Hermione nodded and blew some air. "Hopefully Daphne can help her out. They'd be good together. Plus then I don't have to worry about either of them stealing Tracey from me."
Parvati grinned, "You know, those Slytherin girls are pretty smitten with the two of you, aren't they? First it was Tracey not taking her eyes off you even once at the Ball during your dance…"
Lavender giggled, "Then there was Daphne not taking her eyes off Ophelia until she dove into the water today. Then again, most people didn't. She has a killer figure. Yours isn't half-bad either, Hermione."
Hermione flushed at that as she studiously brushed a curl away from Ophelia's eyes. "I may or may not have noticed that Daphne was looking… lower than most people when it came to Ophelia," she admitted, smirking a little as the other girls squealed softly.
Parvati's eyes lit up brilliantly, "I heard Ophelia was nowhere to be found on Valentine's. Could it be she and Daphne…?"
Hermione hummed a little, "Ophelia might have used a bit of Polyjuice to look like Hannah while she and Daphne spent the day together. Maybe."
Lavender grinned, "They'd be pretty cute together. I'd be worried normally, but with what we saw today…"
Hermione frowned, "What do you mean?"
Parvati snorted. "And she calls me the pervert," she muttered before lightly shoving Lavender, who giggled. "Let's just say that up until today, we were under the impression Ophelia and Daphne wouldn't get together because neither has a very… er…" She sighed and gestured for Lavender to go ahead.
The other girl beamed, "We thought they were both bottoms, but clearly little miss Ophelia has much more to her than meets the eye."
Hermione felt her face warm and shook her head in disbelief, "The two of you are terrible. Absolutely terrible." There was no heat to her words, though. She smirked a little bit, "I'd ask which I am but knowing Tracey I can guess."
The girls grinned again, with Parvati looking a bit thoughtful. "D'you think they'll get together soon?"
Hermione shook her head, "No. Daphne's waiting for Ophelia's mental health to improve. Ophelia wants to work on herself first as well. Which is good - they should be able to get a really healthy relationship out of it."
Lavender hummed and nodded, "That makes sense. Hunter and I only started dating once he had gotten a handle on his anxiety."
Hermione's eyebrows rose, "Hunter? Hunter Knight?When did this happen?"
Lavender flushed a little, "Oh, you know. A couple months ago. When he worked up the nerve to ask me to the Ball, I… might have snogged him silly."
Parvati snorted, "Yeah, and then you dragged him to a broom closet when the Ball was over and snogged him more."
Hermione gaped in surprise while Lavender turned redder than ever. "Lavender!" She exclaimed softly, a broad grin on her face. "Don't tell me that's why Hunter wore a turtleneck every day that week?"
"Maybe," Lavender replied, obviously embarrassed. Parvati cackled and the other girl swatted her before looking mournfully at Hermione. "If I'd have known love-talk was all it took to befriend you, I might've told you sooner."
Hermione's cheeks warmed as well, and not for the first time that evening she was grateful for her darker skin making it harder to tell she was blushing. "Admittedly, Ophelia might not be the only one with a romance section in her library." She frowned a bit, "Though I think what I read isn't as… inappropriate, I also just got titles that caught my eye from Ophelia's library."
Parvati beamed, "Yes! Even if Ophelia doesn't join us, I can still talk to someone about it!" She cheered a little, though at an appropriate volume since Ophelia was still out cold.
Hermione looked at them thoughtfully. "It really doesn't bother you two that she's a girl? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but…"
Parvati seemed a little surprised, but gave her a warm smile, "Of course not. My twin's a girl, after all."
Hermione blinked in confusion and her brow furrowed. She tried to figure out what Parvati meant and then it hit her. "O-oh. Um… you're… not identical?"
Parvati shook her head, "No. We've always looked alike, but that was just luck of the draw, I think. She chose the name Padma because she wanted our names to start the same. But yeah. Lavender's been our friend since we were little, so she knew from the start. Honestly we even had suspicions about Ophelia back in second year."
Lavender nodded at that, "Yeah. Back when she had what I can now safely bet were cramps around Yule. Remember?"
Hermione smiled ruefully, "Yeah. She had the same look of horror on her face that I did when I had my first bout." She snorted and shook her head a bit, "I'd had my suspicions before then, myself. Mostly because when I hugged her once she made a face like it hurt."
Parvati looked at Ophelia with visible envy. "I wanna know how in Morgana's name she hid those. I mean, seriously. She's bigger than… well, all three of us!"
Hermione snickered a little, "You know, that always seems to be what bugs people the most. How she hid them, I mean. There was more than that to her disguise. Voice charm, makeup, stuff like that."
Lavender studied Ophelia's sleeping face thoughtfully, tilting her head as she did so. "You know… I did think her voice used to sound a lot deeper. But the way she sounds now just fits better. The makeup… I think I can remember being there? But she just looked so natural like this, I…"
Parvati smiled and rested her head on her hands, "She looks better like this. Happier. I definitely prefer 'Ophelia' over 'Harry'."
Hermione smiled as well as she gently hugged her sleeping sister. "Yeah. I do, too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your Kudos congratulate Ron on accepting his throne as King of the Idiots while your Comments cheer for Ophelia finally standing up for herself.
Discord: https://discord.gg/w5k4TfFRGG
Next: Something long awaited...
Chapter 18: The First SessionChapter TextAfter so long… finally… finally, she's getting some fucking therapy.
CW: Discussion of Trauma, Mention of Torture
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
The First Session
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
March 4th, 1995
"Hello, Ophelia. I'm Healer Frederick Grapelock. Though," the dark-haired man gave a rueful smile, "This isn't our first meeting, of course. I'm glad that Lord Abbott was the one who organized our sessions, rather than your old caretakers."
Ophelia managed a weak smile. She'd ultimately chosen to sit - albeit a tad restlessly - in the provided leather armchair. Using Madam Pomfrey's private Floo to Healer Grapelock's office had been an… experience, but then again she'd never liked Flooing anyway. "It's good to see you, Healer Grapelock," she greeted him politely.
He gave a gentle wave of his hand, "Frederick, please. I find that a more casual environment makes it easier to handle these things. Now then, to start with, I want you to know that anything and everything we discuss here will be solely between us." He did pause for a moment before amending his words, "Unless you seem likely to bring harm towards yourself or others - in that case I'd have to take actions to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Okay?"
Ophelia nodded, clasping her hands together a little nervously. She let out a shaky laugh. "I've, uh… never done anything like this before. Um, therapy anyway. I… I've talked about my feelings a bit with my friends… a bit, anyway."
Frederick nodded in understanding, his violet eyes betraying nothing. "Of course, don't worry. Therapy isn't totally dissimilar. I'll be giving you a safe and secure outlet for your feelings while also doing what I can to help guide you on the path of healing and recovery. We can start wherever you like, but if it helps, why not tell me a little about your friends? From what I hear you've made more than a few."
Ophelia hummed a little, "Well… Hannah's my best friend. I was being pretty… thick, not noticing that sooner than I did. She's always stuck by me, helped me be better, and just done… a lot for me." She smiled a bit, "I don't think I could ever repay her. She's just done… so much, you know?
"And Hermione… well, she's just brilliant. Basically my sister, she says." Ophelia flushed deeply, "I want to feel the same, but I just don't feel like I deserve to, sometimes. She's so… so… larger than life, you know? She's gorgeous, intelligent, powerful, and not to mention she's done a load and a half for me.
"The Gryffindor Chasers… I don't know that I can ever really tell them how thankful I am for them. They let me dorm with them, you know?" She smiled a little ruefully, "Felt a bit out of my depth. I don't think I can ever thank them enough. They make it seem so… easy letting me in. I know it can't be, but it's nice to see them do that.
"Phoebe and Susan are great, too. They're, er… a bit like me. They've been really supportive, and while we're not as close, they've given me support. I'm really grateful for it - for them. Susan especially. We barely know each other, and they don't mind backing me at all. It feels a little… surreal, I guess?"
She fidgeted in her seat as her mind drifted to the Slytherins.
"Blaise and Theo can be… a little scary sometimes, but they mean well. They've been gentler as time goes on. I think they just didn't know how, er…" She grimaced, "... easily scared I am. I'm really just a ruddy coward, but it isn't their fault - it's mine. I'm a mess, you know? They're good guys, though. Have my back and all.
"Tracey's a little… different? She and Hermione like each other, which is great. Tracey's fond of teasing people. Scared me a little the first time, but I'm used to it now. She isn't… mean, not to me. Just… intense? Definitely a great match for Hermione. She's asked me about Hermione's likes and dislikes a few times. I helped her out, but I don't know if I did enough. They deserve to be happy, you know?"
She felt her chest tighten as her mind then thought of Daphne. "Daphne, she… she's…" She sighed and drew her legs close, "... Flawless. She's gorgeous, intelligent, sweet, protective, cute and funny… she stands up for me, she gets angry on my behalf, she… I don't think I've ever seen someone care like she does. She cares about me. That's just…" She sighed, unable to help the sudden smile on her face, though it fell just as quickly. "Well, out of my grasp."
She gripped her legs a bit tighter, "I used to be friends with Ron, but… not… not anymore. He, uh… washed his hands of me." She shrugged and felt her skin crawl. Talking poorly of Ron just… really didn't sit well with her.
Frederick listened to her words mostly, not giving input while she spoke. Even when she finished, he simply seemed thoughtful - though Ophelia did notice him occasionally scribbling notes with a pen. A very much non-magical pen, not a quill.
He looked thoughtful a moment before he spoke, "It sounds like you have a wonderful amount of friends indeed, Ophelia. I'm glad you have so many people that care about you. However… may I ask a question?" She nodded, which caused him to smile a bit sadly and forge on ahead. "You seem to feel a lot of guilt. As though you have to repay your friends. Why is it you feel that way?"
Ophelia blinked in surprise. She went to answer, but frowned. Why did she feel that way? She'd never really thought about it. She did just that for a moment, before eventually giving a tentative answer, "Well… I know it can't be easy dealing with all the troubles I bring. I'm not really a positive or interesting person. I don't do much. I'm… a burden."
Frederick nodded as she spoke, "I see… well, may I take a pragmatic approach here?" She nodded so he continued. "Have your friends - those you've not had falling outs with - ever said you were troublesome? Have they ever called you negative, boring or burdensome?"
Ophelia thought about it hard for a moment. "I… no, I suppose they haven't. Theo and Blaise called me a coward and a jerk for a while, but that was before they really got to know me."
Frederick hummed thoughtfully as he wrote some more notes. "Have they apologized for or rescinded those words?"
"Yes, they did. They said they didn't know enough about me, but that it wasn't really an excuse." Ophelia shrugged a bit weakly, "I waved it off. They weren't wrong."
Frederick hummed, "I see. But overall, your friends don't disparage you? Would you say they try to compliment you at all?"
Ophelia nodded, "A lot, actually. It's a bit uncomfortable, if I'm being honest. The praise is always so unearned, you know? I'm just an idiot, really."
Frederick's expression tightened, "I see… Ophelia, do you trust your friends?"
"I– yes, absolutely."
"Then… why not trust that they're being honest? Ophelia, have you ever heard the phrase 'We are our own harshest critic?'" When she shook her head, he gave a wry smile, "I had a feeling. It means that, more often than not, an individual will be harder on themselves than others. Our opinions of ourselves aren't objective - our emotions pick up on so many perceived faults and magnify them, rather than focus on the good. It's normal human nature, so don't other yourself for that - I wager even great people like Dumbledore and McGonagall have similar hang-ups. I certainly have, and I don't doubt your friends might even feel the same." He leaned forwards as he rested his left ankle on his right knee, balancing his elbows on his left leg, "In your case, I can see you are an especially harsh critic of yourself. Are your rebukes to compliments verbal, mental or both?"
Ophelia let his words sink in a little, her insides churning with a bit of shock. What he said sounded… believable, actually - but hard to swallow. "Um… b-both, I think. Out loud I just… er, deflect, I guess? Downplay it, because it… uh, doesn't make sense to me. Internally, I'm… harsher." She wasn't sure why she was being so honest about it. Maybe she was just disoriented.
Frederick nodded diplomatically, "Okay. Well, maybe going forwards we can make one of our goals be that we combat these thoughts and behaviors. They seem to be quite negative, and from what I know, you're a remarkable young woman, Ophelia. It also seems to me like you have very low self-esteem, and considering your achievements that's a little worrying."
Ophelia nodded mutely, still a little shocked at how… both small and yet gargantuan that task seemed. "I… that sounds, um… okay, yeah."
Frederick smiled again, his eyes still full of a little sadness, "I know it sounds small, but I'm guessing to you it feels… well, quite the opposite?" She gave a sheepish nod, and he returned it with an understanding one of his own. "It's okay, Ophelia. I want to take things slowly. Professor McGonagall gave me access to your academic records - Lord Abbott signed off on it, actually. From what I saw, you have a tendency to take on a very challenging courseload. You've scored tremendously well, but your Professors seem to worry about whether it's overwhelming you. I want your opinion as well, of course - how about you tell me about school? How are classes, from your perspective? How do other students tend to treat you?"
Ophelia shook herself to get her mind off of the suddenly-daunting task of - out of all things - taking compliments. "Um… classes aren't bad. Herbology and History can be a bit dull, but mostly because I've never been fond of gardening and Professor Binns tends to drone. I usually just put in extra effort studying and it tends to pay off? I feel pretty out of my depth when I'm studying, but I manage the classes alright.
"Defense is… well, a mess. Professors Quirrell and Lockhart were… well, I mostly did self-study with them. Professor Lupin wasn't… bad? But he had a focus on magical creatures, so I had to supplicate with the hexes and jinxes. Professor Moody… he…" She grimaced at the thought of mentioning it but did so anyway, "I don't like him, so I usually take advantage of the class-exemption privilege given to Champions. I've skipped most of his lessons and just studied on my own. Hermione and Hannah say I'm actually ahead, so…" She shrugged and moved on while Frederick continued to take notes.
"I… I don't like Potions," she admitted, curling her legs up close again. "My first three years, I did my absolute best and Professor Snape was…" Her face screwed up and she felt tears prick at her eyes, "... A monster." She sniffled a bit and continued, "I try not to speak ill of him, I really, really do. Headmaster Dumbledore trusts him, you know? But… he's just…" She shuddered and sniffled again, "He's mean. He takes points away for nothing… he made fun of Hermione's teeth, even though it's barely noticeable that the front ones are a smidge larger… he says so many terrible, terrible things about me…"
She felt a gentle hand on her back and started, only to see Frederick looking at her with warm concern. "How about we take a moment, okay? Clearly Professor Snape is a distressing topic - something we call a 'trigger' - so let's take a moment for you to breathe, okay? You said a lot about your friends earlier, so how about you think about them to ground yourself."
She nodded shakily and took some shaky breaths as she tried to fill her mind with images of Hannah, Hermione, Daphne, Tracey… after a little bit, she felt a bit steadier and gave another nod as she dried her eyes.
Frederick smiled weakly as he sat back down. "Ophelia, do you know what the term 'trigger' means, in a psychological sense?" She shook her head and he nodded, "Perfectly understandable. A 'trigger' is a topic or event that can cause an extreme emotional reaction - usually distress, but it can also be anger, sadness or even happiness. There are some good triggers. For example, when I had you think about your friends, it 'triggered' a positive reaction, correct?"
She nodded again, "Y-yeah. Thinking about them makes me feel happy. But Pr–"
She stopped at Frederick's hand, "Try not to say his name, okay? You're in an emotionally vulnerable state right now, so while that alone might not trigger you usually, it might do so now. For the time being we can see what can be done to minimize your stress caused by the man in question. Hogwarts students are always availed the right to private tutors, you know. I would recommend penning a letter to Lord Abbott regarding that particular topic, okay?"
Ophelia nodded and he gave her another of his warm smiles. "Good. Now…" He glanced at the clock, "We've got about fifteen minutes left - I know, there's a lot more you've probably got on your mind. But doing too much at once can be unhealthy. Too much of any medicine can become counterproductive, Ophelia - even that of the mind. I think for the time being I'll want to do two sessions a week, if that's amenable to you?"
Ophelia hesitated a little, "Saturdays and… what other day?"
"I believe you have time in your schedule on Tuesdays?" Ophelia frowned, she didn't and was about to say as much, when– "I think that letter to Lord Abbott will do quite nicely to free up plenty of time after your lunch period."
Realization dawned, but she hesitated, "Is… is that really okay?"
Frederick's smile became a little conspiratorial, "Oh, of course. Medical requirements, and all that." He looked a little more serious after that, "Besides that, your mental health is just as important as your physical health, Ophelia. More, in many cases. You have a lot of stress on your shoulders, and I have a lot I need to learn about you before I can even get an appropriate grasp on what traumas and more you have to deal with. As a licensed Mind Healer - one who has also studied extensively in psychiatric practices, I assure you - I can make diagnoses. I'm certainly not comfortable making any yet as we've had only one session, but at the very least I am concerned that you have at the very least a good deal of issues to deal with. Mind, so does everyone - but yours require help, and that's not something to be ashamed of. It's why I'm here, and I'm happy to provide it."
Ophelia nodded as she let that sink in. "Um… is it… normal? To be like me?"
Frederick smiled sadly again, "Ophelia, normal doesn't exist - to an extent. Every single person is different. That aside, comparing yourself to a perceived normal would be unhealthy and dangerous. Whose to say what normal is? Me? You? Your friend Hermione? Dumbledore? Everyone is going to have a different definition, don't you think?" He shook his head a little, "Sorry, bit of a tangent, that. Regardless, everyone has difficulties, Ophelia. A number of people in the magical and non-magical world either seek out or have need of therapy. It's very effective and helpful - I should know. As a Healer of both Mind and Body, I've seen a great many disturbing things. I myself have sought therapy in the past whenever I fear my struggles have negatively affected my work or my home life."
Ophelia thought a little about something, then she realized something. "Heal– er, Frederick? Do you have a daughter at Hogwarts?"
Rather than seem surprised, he beamed, "I certainly do. Zelda. She's in her seventh year now, I believe - a Gryffindor. She's mentioned you a couple times. Says you're quite talented." A small alarm went off, and Frederick waved his wand to silence it. "That would be time. It was wonderful meeting you again, Ophelia. I expect I can see you here again on Tuesday? Say, fifteen minutes after the end of your lunch break?"
She nodded as she stood, wincing at the stiffness in her legs. "Um… yeah– yes. Yes, of course."
He smiled and extended his hand which she shook tentatively. "I think it would be a good idea to do something that helps you unwind. Maybe spend time with your friends, read a book, play a game of wixen chess. If running a mile is a physical exercise and a duel is a magical one, consider this a mental exercise. As with all exercise, the best thing to do is rest. Hmm?"
Ophelia smiled wanly as they released hands, "Yeah… Yeah, I think I can do that."
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
Ophelia was exhausted. She grumbled a bit as Hermione sat next to her on the couch.
"Knut for your thoughts?" Her sister-of-sorts asked kindly.
Ophelia hummed a bit and sighed, "Therapy's exhausting."
Hermione snorted softly, "Yes, well, I imagine being Ophelia Potter is exhausting in general." She gave her a thoughtful look, "Hopefully this helps. I'd quite like to see you doing better, rather than… than you have been." She drew her legs up close, looking thoughtful. "You deserve to be happy, you know."
Ophelia blinked in surprise and frowned at Hermione, sitting up a bit straighter. "Um… where did that come from?"
Hermione smiled in an oddly knowing way, "Ever since you came to Hogwarts… you've had it rough. Don't pretend you haven't - I did, too, but even I kept thinking 'glad I'm not her'." She wrinkled her nose a bit, "At first I stuck by you to see what all the hubbub was, then it was a bit of… well, pity I suppose." She gave Ophelia an apologetic look, "Then you had to go and make me feel bad by saving me from a Troll." She shook her head and gave a little laugh, "I tried to take you under my wing like a bossy mama bird. Honestly, I was terrible - clearly your crush was real, otherwise you wouldn't have stuck by me."
Ophelia frowned, "That isn't true. I liked you as a person. My crush was a lot more than your looks, Hermione." She managed a weak smile, "Bossy mama bird? Maybe a little, but you're also one of my best friends. I'm sure Hannah can live with sharing the spot, as long as it's you."
Hermione shook her head and grinned teasingly, "No, I heard what she said to Ron. I'm happy playing big sister, thanks - though clearly she's trying to usurp that position, too." She wrinkled her nose a little before breaking into a full-on smile, "Somehow I think she might be willing to share duties, though."
Hermione sighed a little and leaned back into the couch, looking pensive again. "You've been through hell and a half, Ophie," she mused, her use of the affectionate nickname not going unnoticed by the smaller girl. "You've duelled Voldemort - twice." Ophelia was mildly surprised at Hermione's unflinching (albeit shuddering) use of Voldemort's name, while Hermione trucked on and counted every feat on a finger. "You slayed a Basilisk. You've endured a shite tonne of pain. You underwent the Cruciatus at Pettigrew's wand - don't deny it. I know he managed it for a few moments before Professor Lupin saved you." Ophelia's cheeks pinked and she looked down at her lap - she'd never said it, which meant Remus was blabbing. Despite the fact he wouldn't even exchange letters with her - just let her use his name as an excuse to talk to Sirius. "You cast a Patronus strong enough to banish a hundred Dementors when I tried to bring you - bleeding out from a werewolf scratch, might I add, and suffering aftereffect-convulsions from the Cruciatus - back into the castle. Lastly and most recently, you saved Hannah's life in the Second Task and showed the Judges what for."
Hermione wrapped a gentle arm around Ophelia and drew her into a hug, resting her head on Ophelia's shoulder. "I cannot begin to tell you how amazing you are, but you've suffered an extraordinary, heartbreaking amount of trauma, Ophie. Promise me you won't lie to Healer Grapelock. Please. I want you to feel better - you deserve to feel better. I love you as surely as I do my family, Ophie." She squeezed tightly and drew Ophelia into her lap, wrapping her arms about the smaller girl's middle. "Please?"
Ophelia felt her cheeks get a bit wet as tears slid down her face. She had to fight to get the single word past her throat. "O-okay." She couldn't say more, and just snuggled into the hug. Hermione didn't protest and continued to hold her close, the two just spending a few long moments in silence.
Not for the first time, Ophelia couldn't help mentally remarking how brilliant and observant Hermione was. Normally she'd cringe away from having her - as Frederick would likely put it - 'trauma' addressed so directly. But then again, she trusted Hermione unconditionally… and knew she'd never mean to upset Ophelia. With Frederick she logically knew the same, but her heart didn't have the same affectatious link as it did with Hermione.
Her big sister… that really was the most apt way to put it. She'd always felt safe in Hermione's arms - a rare feeling. Hermione… cared about her, and certainly didn't make that a secret or mystery. Plus, as awful as her experiences had been, after actually talking about her feelings a little bit for once with Frederick… maybe she'd just taken complete leave of her senses, but it at least made her feel comfortable, hearing someone she trusted talk about her life.
That wasn't to say she was unaffected. She'd cried, after all. Remembering what she'd been through was bound to be upsetting - especially the Cruciatus. She didn't have nightmares about it, but she didn't need to. The memory was more than enough. Besides, her nightmares seemed to think it would be more painful to show those she loved under the throes of the Torture Curse.
Her mind was a cruel one indeed. Not that she wasn't used to it.
You shouldn't be.
The voice that said that sounded like Daphne, Hermione, Hannah… really, all of her friends at once. Frederick, too.
…Well, she'd just have to see how things went on that front.
~~~~~Ophelia~~~~~
March 5th, 1995
Hannah seemed thoughtful as she practiced transfiguring one of the desks in the abandoned classroom into a flamingo. Professor McGonagall had taught them that in their third year, but clearly Hannah seemed fond of the spell. Ophelia did recall the blonde girl gushing over the beauty of the birds.
Ophelia blushed a little as she recalled turning her own desk into a peacock - one with rather pristine plumage. It had earned Gryffindor a neat twenty points.
"What's the matter?" She asked Hannah, repeating the past endeavor just to see if she could. She smiled a little as the newly-transfigured peacock shifted its feathers and gave her a reproachful look.
Hannah smirked a little before she looked thoughtfully at Ophelia. "You've not met Grandfather yet. You should."
Ophelia was a bit surprised, but found that internally she agreed - if a tad nervously. "I suppose I should, yeah," she replied before rubbing the back of her neck a little. She blew some air and sat atop a very much normal desk, watching the peacock and flamingo eye one another suspiciously. "He's making me see a therapist - or, rather, helping me. I'm not really against it. I… I know I'm a mess, and Frederick - Healer Grapelock - seems intent on helping me, er… not be."
Hannah nodded a bit tersely, "Good. You're far too important to me to be a mess." She gave a conspiratorial grin, "Besides, I have it on good authority that you like Daphne."
Ophelia flushed, but didn't deny it. "I do… but I've got so much baggage. Idunno if it'd be a good idea, even after I'm at a point of being stable."
Hannah hummed, "Maybe. Maybe not. Who's to say? In my opinion, you're a good person who was dealt a shite hand. Daphne seems to be intent on sticking around anyways. Maybe she sees more than the pain?"
Ophelia frowned, "There's more than pain?"
Hannah gave her a reproachful look, "Plenty. You're…" She chuckled and shook her head, "Has anyone told you you're kind of a ditz?"
Ophelia frowned, "A… ditz? What's that?"
Hannah shook her head again and ran a hand through her hair, "Oh, Ophelia. Whatever shall I do with you? It means you're oblivious as can be about a lot of things." She strode over and sat on an adjacent desk, watching with a little amusement as the peacock displayed its gorgeous plumage to intimidate the flamingo, which squaked indignantly. "You're bloody amazing, you know. I think Grandfather will love you when he finally meets you."
Ophelia fidgeted a little with her wand, "He's really nice in his letters. It's a bit… unnerving. He barely knows me."
Hannah arched an eyebrow, "Really? You do know you've been the topic of at least two paragraphs for every single letter I send Grandfather? Not to mention all the ways I talk about you to him when I'm home."
Ophelia was a little stunned, "I… you talk about me?"
Hannah gave her a look that said 'obviously'. "Of course. You're one of the most important people in my life, and so is Grandfather. I happen to like it when those people get along, you know."
Ophelia blinked in surprise, before she offered an abashed, nervous smile. "Thanks… you're important, too. To me, I mean. I dunno where I'd be if you hadn't said hullo to me when I was sitting under the staircase."
Hannah got a bit of a misty-eyed look, "That was a while ago, wasn't it? Gods, feels like a lifetime. So much has happened in the meantime…"
Ophelia hummed thoughtfully as she slipped her hands under her legs. She was still wearing jeans, and her uniform was still the masculine variant. "Hey… think we could go to Madam Malkin's at some point? Get me a new uniform, at least? My old one doesn't quite… suit me."
Hannah beamed, "Shopping? Thought you'd never ask. Was planning to drag you, really. A skirt would look nice on you. You've got good legs, even if they're short." She dodged a light swat from a scowling Ophelia, "What? You're tiny– well, 'cept for your chest."
Ophelia blushed and opted for a Stinging Hex this time, earning a yelp as it hit Hannah in the side. "Knock it off, you pervert."
Hannah looked affronted, "Me? The pervert is me?Awfully hypocritical of the girl who keeps buying trashy romance novels."
"They're not trashy!" Ophelia replied indignantly, "They're steamy and mature."
"So porn with plot," Hannah replied crassly, earning another Stinging Hex for her troubles. This time aimed at her bum.
"It isn't porn. It's love," Ophelia replied primly. "And they're perfectly lovely books. Well-written and everything."
Hannah snorted, rubbing the surely-red bits where she'd been stung. "Perfectly lovely porn, you mean. Never took you for a pervert. Then again, at least the girl you like's of a mutual disposition." She grinned evilly, "I caught Daphne staring at your arse."
She squealed and cackled in delight as Ophelia chased her around the room, hurling stinging hexes and defenses about her choice of reading material. Hannah of course kept teasing her about the 'porn' and earned a new red mark every time she did. Both birds squaked and fled the room while the two girls antagonized each other.
Eventually they ran out of breath, of course. Ophelia sweating from the exertion while Hannah was the same, albeit also wincing and cursing at the stinging hexes as she slowly tried to dispel them. It certainly was taking her a bit, since Ophelia had tried to made sure they'd linger.
"Hey Hannah?"
"Yeah, Ophelia?"
"Thanks. For everything. For being my best friend, and just…" She shrugged a little, but gave the blonde girl a genuine smile, "Being you."
Hannah smirked in return, "It's what I do best." She said haughtily, earning another stinging hex for her cheek, of course.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Next: Ophelia has a new nickname.