Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter character's or anything related to the works of J.K Rowling. I also do not own the classical music pieces listed in this chapter. I only own the plot and any original characters you might notice.
Guys, I am so sorry that I took longer than usual to update! I have an weird work schedule now where my hours have been so hectic lately and I only get one day off so far. Sorry about the wait! I have no beta-reader so if you noticed any errors, please let me know so I can fix them as soon as possible.
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December 15, 1943
Tom Riddle glared down at the two Slytherins in front of him. A scowl was on his face as his eyes narrowed with a harsh expression. "Repeat that again, now."
Abraxas Malfoy and Graham Nott had been talking about something they overheard from the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. They had forgotten Tom was in the common room, he'd been deathly quiet studying.
Malfoy steadily calmed himself before he addressing the Slytherin heir. "My Lord, I am sure those we were rumors we overheard." Malfoy kept cool and relaxed. "It really doesn't matter what some feathered brain wizards said."
Wrong answer. Tom turned his attention to the weaker link of the two. "Nott, speak."
When a dog is told 'bark' it will bark. When Nott is told 'speak' by Tom, he didn't even hesitate. Nott's mind did reel on where and when to start to appease the Dark Lord. "We were in the library and we overheard some chatter from a couple of Ravenclaws." Nott scratched the bottom of his chin. "They all seemed to be talking about studying like mad this week and one of them went on to talk about how nice a before winter holiday shag would be. Then Campion spoke up saying he already had his before winter holiday shag and Campion also said maybe if he was lucky enough, he'd even get a shag in during winter holiday."
Malfoy closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, but even with Malfoy's eyes closed anyone could tell they were rolling behind his eyelids. This idiot.
Tom Riddle listened carefully to what Nott has said and began to break it down slowly. Tom soon saw images of Edmund Campion's hands on Ophelia's body; the image of Campion's lips on Ophelia's; the image of Campion on top Ophelia.
A tight anger started to root in Tom's chest and soon rendered his limbs stiff. The heir of Slytherin slowly clenched his fists, and a rather primitive thought came to mind but he liked the idea.
Tom wanted to feel Edmund Campion's blood on his hands.
Peter Elwood got out of his Arithmancy tests feeling as if ten years worth of headaches decided to visit him all at once. Peter ran his hand through his brown hair and let a groan. He was glad though, it meant that his testing was over for now.
The sixth year Hufflepuff did have to make one final stop before he could claim his day was completely over: the kitchen.
Margo had promised that all Peter had to do was pick up a picnic basket worth of food before he went off to the Herbology greenhouse. The past two days the group of friends had been having dinner in the greenhouse.
Ophelia had been adamant on not eating in the Grand Hall (she didn't explain why-she just didn't want to). Margo didn't want to eat in the common room (the Blaine heiress didn't want to eat there because they're always in common room, it seems). While William was against eating dinner in the Divination room (Margo asked to eat dinner there and he just hated being in the Divination classroom.)
Peter Elwood had been the one to state (not suggest, but state) they gather to eat dinner in the Herbology greenhouse. Madame Roseweed wouldn't even mind nor would she notice.
"Oi," Peter called out as he carried the picnic basket filled with food towards a group of three Hufflepuffs relaxing on a large, thick, pale, apricot colored quilt. "I got dinner."
William had been sitting down with his legs crossed on the quilt. "Thank you, Merlin! I was wondering if you'd ever arrive."
Margo had stood up from the quilt and walked towards Peter, she offered a hand out to him. "Thank you, Peter. Let me set up."
The only friend who didn't react verbally to Peter was Ophelia. The half-blooded witch had made herself comfortable on the quilt, she had been lying flat on her stomach, pretending to read Hamlet. Ophelia lost interest and sense of direction of where the book was going when it emphasized mirrors and she hadn't even seen her name in the book yet.
A light yawn escaped Ophelia's lips as she continued to pretend to read the works of William Shakespeare.
"Pipa." Peter had noticed that Ophelia hadn't move to set a plate for herself. "Food." Elwood didn't want to make a comment on how the half-blooded witch hadn't been much the past few days, but Merlin, did he want to!
Pipa's not a glutton like William but she usually loves dinner. Peter grabbed a dish of potted shrimps out of Margo's hands and placed it close to Ophelia; potted shrimps were Ophelia's favorite.
The brunette Hufflepuff didn't react to the potted shrimps. Instead she picked her wand out of her robe pocket and gave it a precise swish in the air. A plate with some grapes, a few apple slices, and two biscuits assembled together before floating towards Ophelia.
"Thanks, Pete." Ophelia mumbled as she started to chew on a few grapes.
Peter only rolled his eyes and decided to play dumb for a little while longer. He moved his interest to Margo. "How are the wedding preparations?"
Margo smiled and gestured to over to Ophelia. "Pretty good, Pipa taught me how to use the muggle wedding planner."
William Zolotov stopped munching on a turkey leg to cut into the conversation. "Summer wedding on the Blaine manor backyard." William rolled his eyes, "I told both of them a wedding on the countryside would be better."
Ophelia chuckled at that. "William, when you get married you can have your wedding on the countryside." She popped another grape into her mouth.
Easily, Margo then added in. "If you ever get married, that is."
"Ha-ha-ha." William looked in the picnic basket and narrowed his eyes. "There's no drinks?"
Margo sighed and rolled her eyes at Peter. "I thought I told you to get some refreshments, Peter."
The Elwood heir shrugged but straightened his posture out as he stood up. "I'll go to the kitchen and get some pumpkin juice." Peter looked over to Ophelia. "Pipa, give me a hand."
A small groan escaped a escape from Ophelia. "If I must." She picked herself up from off the ground and dusted off the imaginary dust that was on her.
Peter was going to get to the bottom of why Ophelia seemed less engaged and rather dodgy.
There was not even half a minute of silence when Peter started to pry.
"Okay," Peter went off. "Spill it, Pipa."
"Spill it?" Ophelia cracked something that was sort of a smartass reply (sort of-it was more corny). "Spill what, the pumpkin juice you didn't bring?"
Peter shot the half-blooded witch a side glance as he shoved an elbow into Ophelia's side. "If I didn't know you the way I do, I'd take that seriously but I know you too well."
Ophelia merely stuck her tongue out at Peter much like siblings would do to each other when bickering.
"Yes, very mature." Peter mocked, now he was rolling his eyes at her.
"There's nothing to tell, Peter." Ophelia lied to her friend as they continued on.
Peter knew full well that was bullshit. If someone, wasn't eating dinner and was in a piss poor mood: something was going on. "Pipa, don't lie to me." Peter's voice was a strange mix of firm demand while still being friendly. "I'll drag Will and Margo into this if you do want to play the lying game."
Ophelia narrowed her eyes at the Elwood heir. "You wouldn't."
Peter smiled at the Darwin girl. "You want to bet?"
No, no, I don't want to bet! Ophelia huffed and her face turned a slight red color. She was going to have to tell Peter. "I'll tell you, but this stays between us."
Peter nodded, "Of course, of course."
"No." Ophelia wanted to make sure her friend understood what she meant. "I mean this stays only between you and I. 'Us' in this instance not mean: you, me, Will, and Margo." Ophelia pointed to Peter, "Only you." She then pointed to herself, "and me."
Peter blinked at the very specific detail. "Okay, fine. Got it."
Ophelia sighed and closed her eyes for a brief second. Never did it occur to Ophelia that one day, she was going to have a conversation with Peter about sleeping with Margo's half-brother, but hey, there she was...telling Peter exactly that.
"So you and Campion slept together?" Peter had the common sense to keep his voice low; he didn't see why or how that would put someone in a bad mood. Sex was nice...Unless it wasn't enjoyable for both parties? Peter asked his next question. "Was it bad?"
Ophelia shrugged. "It was okay, I guess...He spoke a lot." Her initial hesitation to tell Peter about it faded away. It felt nice to tell at least one person what she'd done.
Ophelia never realized how little she actually told her friends about certain things that went on around and for a while, much to a point where all lies were just "little white lies" and guilt only lasted about for maybe half-second.
"Well, do you like Campion?" The Elwood heir asked. "We all just assumed you liked him because you went on a date with him, so maybe I should be asking is if you still like him?"
"I've been avoiding Edmund since I've slept with him." Ophelia stated tiredly. I've also been staying clear of Tom, but you don't know anything about that...I'll spare you those details.
Peter sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, Pipa." They were inside the kitchen by this point. "I'm not one to judge and I am glad you told me this, but avoiding him might not make anything easier for you."
Ophelia grabbed grabbed some cups while Peter went ahead got a jug of pumpkin juice.
"I'd just rather not have to deal with anything extra today, Peter." Ophelia mumbled, she had to admit that Peter did have a point though.
"Fine," Peter knew he couldn't force Ophelia to do anything, not like he would ever want to force her into doing anything. He did see an advantage pop up from this conversation between the two of them. "However, when we get back to the greenhouse you need to eat more than just grapes. Put some real food into your system for Merlin's sake!"
Ophelia smiled. "Maybe."
"Oh, you little shite." Peter smirked.
The two had come to an understanding and not much else needed to be said. Though they should have planned their route better, the kitchen was directly under the Grand Hall, where two people Ophelia was avoiding would be present.
Edmund Campion looked over to the Hufflepuff table during dinner in the Grand Hall, no expression on his face gave away if he was sad, happy, or confused or irritated. He features stayed neutral.
He took note of the space where Ophelia and his half-sister usual sat and saw it was empty again. There was also no sign of Zolotov or Elwood either. Campion turned his attention back to his Quidditch team mates as the continued to review and quiz each other for tomorrow's tests.
For a brief moment, Selene Sharpe made eye contact with him and waved gently over at him from the other side of the Ravenclaw table. Edmund weakly waved back at her before turning his head to look in a different direction: towards the Slytherin dining table.
Edmund Campion easily spotted Tom Riddle. Finally a stern frown came on Edmund's face; it showed disdain towards the Slytherin prefect.
It was clear the Ravenclaw did not like the Slytherin and it was sure that the Slytherin did not care for the Ravenclaw at all.
Lestrange caught the Ravenclaw staring in their direction. "My Lord?" His voice was one volume too loud to be considered a whisper. "Someone from the Ravenclaw table is staring particularly hard in your direction."
"Is that right?" Tom's voice was rough and dangerous, he was still very irritable since Nott shared some interesting gossip with him. The heir of Slytherin turned around and locked his sights easily onto Campion. A string of Unforgivable Curses appeared in Tom's mind as he thought of hurting Edmund.
The French wizard was thinking the same thing. Campion hated how Tom acted he owned everyone; much more, Campion loathed how Tom even claimed that he did own Ophelia.
The two boys would have been glad to glare and wish death and harm on the other but a nudge on the shoulder pulled Tom out of it.
Nott pointed towards the doors of the Grand Hall. "Miss Darwin, my Lord."
Tom stood up without a sound as he saw Ophelia walk past and away from the Grand Hall; he didn't care that Peter Elwood was present with her. He needed to talk to that filthy witch now. The handsome young man stood up and made his way to the Hufflepuff witch.
Edmund quickly followed closely behind Tom when he saw what exactly he was going after.
"Ophelia!" Tom tried to keep his voice calm, smooth, and charming for appearances sake but his voice came out sounding angry, urgent, and heavy. "I need to speak to you now!"
Peter Elwood was shocked at the rather rough tone Riddle spoke. He was even more bothered by the fact that Ophelia's pace went from a walk to a slight jog at the sound of his voice. "Pipa? We can stop and talk to Riddle if you want."
"I don't want to talk to Riddle, Peter." Ophelia hissed calmly to her friend. "Please, let's just go back to William and Margo."
Another set of footsteps joined in. They were Edmund's. "Ophelia, we need to talk please."
A groan escaped from the half-blooded witch's mouth. "This is not happening to me right now." She almost broke into a run.
"Pipa," Peter was starting to worry. "Do we need to both stop and talk to them?"
"No." Ophelia nearly yelled her answer. "Let's keep going."
Peter sensed something was wrong but it was just Riddle and Campion. How harmful could the situation be? He rooted his feet firmly to the ground, with the free hand that didn't hold the jug of juice, he gently gripped his friend's shoulder and stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Peter." Ophelia's voice was trembling. "I want to keep walking!"
Something was terribly wrong...Peter didn't know why Ophelia was reacting this way. "Look, I won't let them overwhelm you. Let's just see what they want to talk to you about, eh? Calm down."
Ophelia was not going to calm down but she supposed if she could trust anyone's words or promise, she could trust Peter Elwood.
"Riddle, Campion." Peter was the first to acknowledge the Slytherin and the Ravenclaw. "Good evening."
"Elwood," Edmund was quick to get to the point, as he usually was. "Could I have a minute to speak to Miss Darwin?"
Peter carefully threw a side glance at Ophelia; he wasn't her keeper. He could talk to her directly, why doesn't he? Peter directed the conversation towards Ophelia. "Pipa, do you want to chat?"
Tom couldn't roll his eyes, he instead looked at the female Hufflepuff and to rub salt into Campion's ego; Tom gently lifted a hand to Ophelia's face and laced his fingers carefully into her hair. "Ophelia, could we have a moment?"
What the fuck?! Peter's eyes widened at the sight of Tom practically caressing Ophelia's face. Wait…. Peter then saw the look of anger bubble up to Campion's features; then snapped his gaze back to Riddle and Ophelia. Wait...What?!
"Now isn't a great time to talk you guys." Ophelia took a step back from Tom; she saw the angry look on Edmund's face. "Sorry, Edmund. I'll have to catch up with you later."
Tom didn't like how Ophelia said that. You'll catch up with him later? Him? The heir of Slytherin didn't relent. He also took a step closer to her, "Ophelia, I need to talk to you now."
"No, Riddle." Ophelia was leaving Tom, Edmund, and even Peter behind her as her jogging pace started to accelerate. "I have to go."
You are not going anywhere! Tom would have went on, walking after Ophelia like an animal in pursuit of its meal, had someone not yank his shoulder back and landed a punch square on his jaw.
A loud crack echoed through the hall, it caused Ophelia to whip her body around and look at the commotion going on behind her.
Peter's eyes went wide. Someone just hit Hogwarts' golden boy! He didn't know if he was supposed to cheer 'fight, fight, fight' like a usual teen or if he was supposed to be rational and grab a professor. Peteris! Be responsible! He placed the jug of pumpkin juice gently to floor before running off in search of a Professor.
"She said she had to go." Edmund spat out. He was a slight disappointed when he realized that his punch didn't leave any bruising. "Stop acting like you own her!"
Tom didn't say anything to Edmund. No witty come back with a dark meaning; no promises of harm; nothing. Instead, the handsome young man balled his fist up and returned a favor. Tom landed a punch square on Edmund's left eye.
"No!" Ophelia screamed. Merlin, look what you've started Ophelia! Her palms started to feel sweaty as she tried to process what happened.
Never did it ever occur to anyone, Ophelia specifically, that Tom would ever retaliate with physical strength in a fight.
Edmund stumbled back, hands over the left side of his face. "Enculer!"
Ophelia might not have known French, but she had a good guess as to what Edmund meant. She had no good guesses, however as to what would happen next. "Knock it off! Both of you!"
They either weren't able to hear Ophelia's yelled command or they ignored her. Edmund pulled out his wand and pointed it at Tom.
The urge to run and hide blossomed in Ophelia's senses-but instead she decided to stay put. She yelled again, louder than the first time. "I said knock it off! Put your wand away!"
"You'll regret living if you really dare point your wand at me." Tom snapped as he then pulled out his wand and steadied it towards the Ravenclaw student.
Edmund was brilliant and quick but he didn't have a real fighting chance against Tom.
Tom knew it, Ophelia knew it.
Ophelia's heart slinked down from her chest, down and deep into the pit of her stomach; she immediately dropped the cups that she held in her arms and her eyes widened in fear. She had to do something.
It happened in slow motion. It happened unexpectedly. It happened without any thought on Ophelia's part.
"Bombarda Maxima!"
A loud boom whipped violently through the halls; the glass jug of pumpkin juice on the floor shattered into crude, jagged shards. A great force of pressure surrounded the two young men to a point where it rammed both of them violently into hard and sturdy walls of the hallways. A crack at least twelve feet long and two feet wide was now decorated on the floor; not to mention there were slight dents in the walls as well.
Ophelia's dull green eyes scanned her surrounds; Tom was down and Edmund was down. The sound of a crowd rushing to the source of the commotion echoed through the hallways.
A mixture of loud clamouring flooded into Ophelia's ears but she wasn't exactly listening.
"Is that Tom?"
"Campion! Campion! Mate, are you alright?"
"Who spilt a jug of pumpkin juice?"
"Why are Riddle and Campion out cold?"
"Wait...Is that Darwin?"
"Her wand is out."
"She's only a half-blood, you know. Maybe a spell went wrong on her part."
"Such a half-blood thing to do."
"Pipa!" That was Peter's voice, it was frantic. "Pipa! What happened?"
Peter's voice brought her out of a daze. The gears resumed to work in her head and something 'clicked' back to work.
"I...I…" Ophelia lost her grip on her wand; she brought her hands to the sides of her face and gripped at the roots of her hair. There were no answers pouring from her mouth. No little lies to tell. She didn't even try to tell the truth, because who would believe her?
"Pipa?" Peter was worried. He searched around the crowd, it was getting bigger. Peter wondered if grabbing the first adult he found was a bad idea.
Armando Dippet stood out among the students trying to piece what was going on. Two of the most promising students of Hogwarts knocked out in the middle of the hall, and one Hufflepuff.
Armando Dippet already knew who was to blame and in his mind, it was the pretty brunette who just happened to be a half-blood.
Ophelia closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She doubted Dumbledore or anyone else could help her out of the mess she created in order to avoid the even bigger mess that would have been had Tom and Edmund kept on.
December 16, 1943
Expulsion means to deprive someone of either a place, an organization, or of a membership. Expulsion in Ophelia Darwin's case meant leaving Hogwarts before the week was out.
The brunette witch had all her belongings packed and ready; she only needed two suitcases as she only taking what she needed. Save of course her Hogwarts uniform. Her daffodil colored shoes were on her feet. A thick, floor length, pale butterscotch dirndl skirt covered Ophelia's legs; Ophelia paired it with a white utility blouse and yellow spots.
"Thank you, Margo." Ophelia whispered to the Blaine heiress who combed and pulled her brown hair into a low, braided bun.
"You're still coming to my engagement party, right?" Margo's voice was braking. "Or even if you can't come, you'll still be in contact with me?"
"Of course!" Ophelia frowned at the notion of falling out of touch with her best friend. "I'd never want to lose contact with you."
Margo couldn't say much else on that. She wanted to focus on something happier. "If you do manage to come to my engagement party, I'll have a custom made dress for you. I'd even let you take a dip in the Blaine family jewelry chest." The platinum blonde witch sighed. "We better get you to Hogsmeade on time."
Peter and William helped Ophelia by carrying her suitcases.
"If your Poppa is running late," Peter started. "You can hang out in my grandparent's shop."
"I have a running tab at the Three Broomsticks." William added on. "If you and your Poppa want a grab to eat before going back to Muggle world."
"No." Ophelia shook her head; her arms were linked with Margo's as they walked. "It'll be fine. Thanks though." The half-blooded witch really had no appetite now. Facing the possible wrath of her mother had that effect on her.
The group of friend's walked over to the town square of Hogsmeade; an elderly man sitting on a bench with a canary red winter coat and a matching canary red Bowler hat.
The old man waved at his granddaughter and stood up to greet her friends. "Peter and William, you're two are getting fat. Margo, always a pleasure." Gregory Darwin sighed and looked at his granddaughter, "Say your goodbyes, Pipa."
William was the first Ophelia hugged. "Loser." He said as they hugged.
Ophelia felt a sinking feeling pool around her. "I know, William. I'm sorry."
Peter was next but neither he nor Ophelia spoke as they hugged. The former Hufflepuff's eyes started to burn as a few tears ran down her cheeks.
By the time Ophelia went to Margo, both girls broke down into sobbing messes.
"Alright," Gregory Darwin urged. "Time to go. You three best be off so you don't get late for your classes."
Heavy tears ran violently down Ophelia's face as she watched her three friends walk away. No more Hogwarts...No more magic...No more of anything..
Ophelia didn't take notice of a young man, who sneaked out of the infirmary to see her leave.