When Ophelia left the entrance of Gringotts, the first store she went was Magical Menagerie. It was right on the North side of where Gringotts was and it was very noisy- sounds of animals. A familiar hissing noise reached Ophelia's ears and she was immediately entranced. Captivated, she drifted towards the store and found that it was very cramped and noisy – as mentioned – with every inch of wall covered by cages or products. In fact, some products were kept within cages.
Ophelia looked at the saleswoman and smiled, "Good morning, madam, I was outside and couldn't help but overheard the sound of hisses."
The lady looked at Ophelia, as if assessing her worth before nodding, "JOHN! Get yer ase ou' 'ere!"
"Swallow your wails, woman, I'm coming." A gruff man came out wearing tattered clothing and had a very dirty beard on his face. Ophelia grimaced at the attire, the lack of hygiene disgusted her. She placed a forced smile on when the salesman and woman turned their attention back to her, "Hissing sounds? You can heard them, can't you... Come with me, lass."
Ophelia took a moment before she followed, eyes trained on the man in case he lashed out at her and kill her or maim her. Don't blame her, being in an orphanage makes you paranoid. Ophelia followed the man, back into the shop, the walls getting more cramp and lighting darkening, then there it was. A series of hissings, pleads of kills and for murder.
§Silly humans...§
§Let us out...§
§I'll kill you! Rip! Tear!§
Ophelia looked at the tank filled with snakes, one of them was a coral snake, one no longer than the length of her forearm and size smaller than her pinky. She leaned over and the hisses began to decrease, all of them looking at her in curiosity, distain and a little cautiousness. Ophelia glanced at the salesman who was looking at her with a look of utter wariness before back at the snakes.
§Hello,§ she hissed, ignoring the sharp intake of breath from the salesman, no, her attention was focused on the snakes who changed their looks to awe and amazement, §A speaker! Graciouss speaker!§
§Noble tongue.§
§Worthy... special...§
Ophelia merely looked at them, an amused tug upon her lips, §Yes, I am a speaker. From the reaction, I am correct to assume speaking to snakes are rare?§
§Ssspeaker does not know. Poor, ignorant speaker...§
§Speaker is a hatchling. Hatchling wants snakes?§
§Well, that would be why I'm here.§ Ophelia agreed, §I want a companion in Hogwarts.§
That made the snakes even more excited then they were before, §Hoggywasssh? The magic place for the King himself? Marvelous, you must bring I.§
§King? King of Snakes?§ Ophelia asked, aware and enjoying the uneasiness the Salesman was displaying. She wondered what the language of snakes were called, she wanted to know what caused such a huge reaction – and a negative one at that. It seems to be a good idea after all to conceal it from the professors that informed her of magic. The snakes rambled away of a snake that was hidden deep within the walls of Hogwarts, a snake who was bonded to one that bred it. Ophelia was captivated by the thought.
§As much as I would like to bring all of you, I am only allowed to bring on, if at all.§ Ophelia informed her newly made serpent friends, §Would you mind if I brought you, darling?§
Ophelia looked at the coral snake she had noticed first, the coral snake was in a skin of the most unique color. Instead of the usual orange, white and black color, this one was green and silver with a hint of gold. The cold lined around each silver strip that separated the green scales that was all over the body. The coral snake raised its head and looked at Ophelia, §It is an honor for I to have been chosen as your companion, speaker.§
§Of course, and what shall I address you as?§
§Anything my speaker wishes of, though I must conditioned to a masculine name to suit my status.§ The snake gave an affronted move as it stated the condition. Well, at least that cleared up the snakes gender, Ophelia smirked, §Very well, you shall be known as Aphophis.§
§Aphophissss. It is soothing to speak, what of its origin...§
§A spirit of evil, destruction and chaos§ Ophelia informed her new companion, stretching her arms forward, the snake cooked itself around her finger before slithering up her fore arm. It circled around her shoulders and managed to hide itself in all but the body which poked out of her collar. §Chaos... Dessstruction... Hatchling, you are most appreciated.§
§But of course, my darling.§ Ophelia said before turning to the pale salesman, "I would like to purchase this coral snake. Your price?"
He sputtered before stalking towards the other door in the room. Ophelia followed after, she found herself in a darker counter room, the man fumbled around for something, occasionally sneaking glances at her and paling more with each time, "It'll be 5 Galleons."
Paying the stuttering fool, she left the place from a door she had not entered from. Walking outside, she glanced around in wonder, it was dark, cold and murky in this area. Unlike Diagon Alley.
She stopped before a shop name "Virgins Shrine." and stared, was this a brothel? Perhaps she could start a business with them, extend the run down shop and make it large. This must the darker parts, were there others? Which alley was this?
As she walked out, she advanced to where it was the brightest. She wasn't sure if her company was welcomed in the darker parts of this alley. Watching her every movement, Aphophis had followed her example and retreated under her clothes til only his eyes were seemed at the edge of her neck.
Ophelia scanned the crowd and was surprised to see a boy of her age, blond hair that was close to being white, pointed nose and dressed in an aristocrat manner. Beside him was a man, no doubt related, with long blonde hair of the same shade, sharp cheekbones and in his hand was a long, black walking stick.
Hello, future ally.
Walking towards them was easy, she wasn't singled out or anything, everyone was walking in the same direction she was headed, just not towards the area she was getting to. Ophelia laced her fingers behind her back and ran into them. She straighten herself, "Oh, my apologies. I haven't mean to run into you, sir."
The man and his son looked at her, Ophelia took the chance to place her smile on her face. He sniffed, "It is of no concern but I would appreciate knowing the name of the lady who ran into me."
"Oh, but of course, where were my manners," Ophelia smiled and reached a hand out, her etiquette lessons with the other girls had paid off. Her orphanage's matron had followed the belief of women being the ones who needed to be at home and take care of children. So girls were sent to etiquette classes every year during summer until they reach the age of marriage and then the matron would push the girls to get married. Ophelia has no wish to do so, she would burn the world before she is turned in as a Trophy wife whose job was to do nothing but look pretty besides their husband and spread their legs in private chambers. "Potter, Ophelia Potter."
The aristocrat immediately widened his eyes as did his son, their eyes snapped to her forehead, where the scar was hidden by her bangs. Ophelia, humorlessly, swept her bangs aside to reveal the scar before sweeping back to cover. The older man was the first to snap out of it, He reached and grasped her hand, only to bring it to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm, "My apologies, Heir Potter, I had not known who you were. Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, and this is my son."
Following after his father, young Draco dipped into a boy and had done the same to her hand, "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. It is an honour to be in your presence, Heir Potter."
"As it is for I to you, Lord Malfoy and Heir Malfoy." Ophelia smiled, lowering her hand. "It is my fault for running into you, perhaps I can accompany you to purchase items for Hogwarts?"
Lucius Malfoy positively beamed at that notion if he was a lesser man... which his son was, nodding excitedly. "It would be a pleasure, Heir Potter."
"Please, Ophelia would be fine." the young witch insisted, if the man was to agree, she had one alliance secured within her circle. Lucius inclined his head, "Very well. I must insist on being called Lucius in return."
"And I, Draco." Draco followed after, making Ophelia's smile grow even wider, "But of course."
The three of them walked out of Knocturn Alley, aware of the eyes that trained on them. Walking into the familiar light of Diagon Alley had Ophelia wincing a little at the change of scenery. Diagon Alley seems so neon now that she had experienced Knocturn Alley. "We are to buy Draco's textbooks first if the lady does not mind?"
Ophelia looked amused, "I'm sure I would not. In fact, I am in need of my own."
Pleased, Lucius led the two children towards Flourish and Bott's, a bookstore that was flooding with people. Ophelia looked disturbed, she had not wanted to mix in a large crowd. Biting down her displeasure, Ophelia walked in and recalled her book list. She grabbed the needed textbooks, fast, before looking for books that would strike her interest.
"The Wisdom of His Snake." was a book in the corner of the shop that was the most deserted, the cover was white and there was an image of a broken green globe. Ophelia picked it up and read the title, Imogen Slytherin.
Interesting.
Ophelia managed to snag a few more books that interested her before paying, wanting to leave as fast as she could. Lord Malfoy was already waiting outside with his son when she came out, "Apologies, Lor- Lucius, Draco. I was preoccupied with a few books that caught my interest."
"It is no hassle, Ophelia. Come, let us get wands for both yourself and my son." Lucius waved it off smoothly before leaving. Draco snuck glances at Ophelia, which made the girl smile at him, "Yes, Draco?"
Draco flushed, "Well, I was wondering who did you come here with?"
"I came by myself, of course." Ophelia answered, "The place I was in would not have wanted anything to do with me."
"What? Why not? I can't imagine any witch or wizard who wouldn't want anything to do with Ophelia Potter!" Draco exclaimed, unknowingly announcing his cover intention. Ophelia laughed, her laughter sent chills down Lucius's spine, it was not like how a child's laugh should be, it was cold, humourless and filled with malice- Like the Drk Lord's. "Perhaps. But muggles want nothing to do with me and I want nothing to do with them."
"Muggles...?" Lucius backtracked, Ophelia Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World, Golden Girl, The Girl Who Lived, was living with muggles? Ophelia gazed at him sharply, "Yes, in fact, I was in a Muggle Orphanage."
"An orphanage!" Lucius shook his head while Draco choked in disbelief, "We were led to assume that you lived with prominent wizards!"
"Whoever made them assumption was clearly wrong," Ophelia spat out, "Please, Lucius, we have arrived at Ollivander's. Let's move on from this topic."
"Indeed." Lucius agreed and entered the wand shop, it was narrow and dilapidated, peeling gold letters over the door read "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382BC". Ophelia's eyes were transfixed upon the single wand that lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. As she walked in and the door opened, a tinkling bell rang somewhere within the maze of a shop, Ophelia's immediate reaction was to look at the door, only to see there were no bells like in muggle stores. She briefly wondered if it was a charm and which charm it was.
The shop was surprisingly small, there was nothing but a single chair and boxes stacked one after another right up to the ceiling. A chill ran down her spine, the very dust, silence and breath that took place in here seemed to be laced with unpolished magic, Ophelia lit up in excitement.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Ophelia snapped her eyes opened and flashed to an old man who appeared all of a sudden, she was pretty sure he was Mr Ollivander, he had pale skin and eyes that were glassy like the moon in the night. Draco must've been startled too if the sudden yelp and reprimanding tone of his father was any indication.
"Hello," Ophelia replied, "Good afternoon to you too, sir."
"Ah, yes," said the man, whom Ophelia was going to call Mr Ollivander from now. "Yes, yes, I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Ophelia Potter."
Ophelia blinked at that. It had been a statement, not a question or any of such. An amused smile tug her lips, "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
Ophelia titled her head, "First wand?"
"Yes, yes," Ollivander hummed, "Her second wand was of Alder wood and heartstring of an Antipodean Opaleye, acquired that from a friend I did. Your father, however, had been blessed by a mahogany wand. Eleven inches and pliable. A little more power than your mother's first and a little lesser than her second, excellent for Transfiguration. Well, the wand chooses it's wizard, of course."
"Wands.. are sentimental?" Ophelia questioned, she suppose it was, seeing how it was a heartstring of a species in her mother's second wand. "Of course, now... that's where..."
At this point, Ophelia realised Mr Ollivander had approached her so close that he and Ophelia were only millimetres apart. Ophelia could see the glassy eyes close enough to find her reflection in them, she had not even realised her bangs were out of place and scar in full view, "I must say, I'm sorry to have sold the wand that did it."
To her dismay at not getting more information, Ollivander spotted Lucius and Draco who had been silent since arriving. Ophelia was left to her musing as the man fitted the heir Malfoy of his wand. Ophelia reached a tentative hand to trace her scar, perhaps there was more to it then a remain of war.
"Well, shall we get started on your wand, Miss Potter?" Ollivander clapped his hand, snapping Ophelia out of her thoughts. She reprimanded herself internally for letting her guard down before smiling up at Ollivander, "Of course."
"Which is your wand hand, Miss Potter?" Ophelia knew the aristocrats were watching her and smiled, "I'm ambidextrous. I prefer my left, if it helps."
Ollivander smiled, "Of course, hold out your hand, yes that's it..."
Ophelia eyes were fixed on the tape measure that was measuring between his nostrils, when Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down one box after another. She occasionally tuned her hearing to listen to Ollivander –"No two Ollivander wands are the same, and of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand!" –but her attention was more on the measuring tape. How was it possible, of course it was magic, but what worked behind it? Ophelia licked her lips in anticipation, she really could not wait to go to Hogwarts –or back to the Orphanage to read her books.
"That will do," Mr Ollivander said as the tape measure came crumbling down, "Right then, MIss Potter, let's find you a wand. Here, try this one, Beech wood, dragon heartstring. Nine inches, nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Ophelia took the wand, eyeing it curiously before waving the wand down, there were sparks but Mr Ollivander snatched it out of her hand, "Hm, not quite. Here, take this one, Maple and phoenix feather, seven inches and surprisingly whippy –"
Ophelia waved it and something exploded, Draco yelped undignifiedly and Lucius wisely chose to take multiple steps back. The wand was taekn out of her hand, "Oh, dear, here – Ebony and unicorn hair, eight and half inches, go on."
Ophelia felt a tingle but it had not been quite right, so the wand was taken away yet again, Ophelia merely tried another, and another, the boxes stacked up. Ollivander looked at her, "Perhaps that one would do, but I do have my doubts. Here, Holly and Phoenix Feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Ophelia waved this one down harsher than she had before, two rows of wands exploded and tossed all wands apart. Ollivander flinched back in shock, "Oh, dear, I knew this one didn't quite fit you when Ebony and Beech nearly had, now how bout this one – yes, Aspen and Phoenix Feather, very powerful, twelve inches and bendy, go on."
Ophelia held the beautiful white wand and flicked her hand, she felt a warmth explode from the tp of her fingers and surrounded her entire body, she waved it a little more and flowers exploded out of nowhere and soon the shop was raining flowers of all types, along with gold, silver and bronze flakes. The Potter heir widened her eyes in astounishment and lit up.
Mr Ollivander was smiling brightly, "Oh bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good, but well, curious, very curious."
He placed her wand back into the box and wrapped it up with brown paper, chanting "Curious" over and over again. Slightly irritated, Ophelia questioned the older man, "Tell me, what's could possibly be so curious about my wand, Mr Ollivander?"
Mr Ollivander fixed Ophelia with his dead stare. "I remember every single wand I've sold, Ms Potter, every single wand. Coincidentally, the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another, just one other. I had wanted to match it with a Holly wood, but it would be difficult and another wood had called for me –which is your wand wood, Aspen. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for such a wand when the brother gave you that scar you try so hard to hide."
Ophelia grinned internally, she could hear the muffled shock of Lucius Malfoy and a distinct gasp of Draco Malfoy. How very interesting, she shared a connection with her parents' murderer, perhaps next they could hear each other's thoughts?
" – He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things, terrible, yes, but great." she heard Ollivander finish his speech. She was liking this wandmaker more and more. She paid seven galleons and left with Lord Malfoy and His Heir, Aphophis peeked his head out to lick her neck, before disappearing from sight. It was beautiful experience indeed...
OMG! I'm so sorry, I'm on my senior year and there have been loads of homework being stacked up and I end up having completely forgotten about my books. I'm sorry, I'm such an awful author ಥ_ಥ
This chapter will probably the shittiest among any because I only started on this several hours ago, it's a rush thing since I don't want to drag the delay of update any longer. Usually I take two to three days to write a chapter properly, I'm so sorry but I don't think this chapter would have the same quality as the previous ones.
Previously on Marked as an Equal, many of you gave me very cool answers on what Ophelia's wand wood would be. I must admit, I was beyond impressed. Some of you even explained why you think it is suitable, which I appreciate. And I'm chnaging the schedule, it's too hard to cope.
Anyways, no doubt this chapter was bad but nevertheless, I hope you find yourself enjoying this chapter. （・・）