Severus Snape has never been too keen to spend time home and that won’t change anytime soon. His parents have always either neglected him or applied what they thought was a good lesson; he’d flinch only at the memory. Hogwarts was the best change in his life, the opportunity for a better future where no one would ever dare to sneer in front of him.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXDfIV4Qeo
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“Aren’t you going back home, Sev?” A young Slytherin asked his roommate.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxoLkH0BOc
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Aiden Mulciber was far nicer to his fellow Slytherins yet that could be debatable as his personality was very dark altogether. His sense of humor was different from others, special as he would call it.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK8HKD3aYB
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“No.”1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7DeRazfjC
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Severus’ short answers were not unusual thus it wasn’t strange to hear him give no other details about his life. Mulciber rolled his eyes and closed his trunk before a boyish grin appeared on his face as he remembered something.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC9GMMuUJp
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“Careful with your mud-blood ginger, Sev.” He obviously threatened before leaving while chuckling under his nose.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O14AKeBu0
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With the dormitory left empty, Severus couldn't help but crack a content smile. Having strange roommates like Mulciber, Nott and Avery was not what he had in mind when he entered the Slytherin common room and they seemed to have a particular dislike for mud bloods. He knew he had to be careful with Lily but Ophelia has already triggered Mulciber's attention.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhRtAPdNJm
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It wasn't just a farce when he threw the joke-balls at her feet; he knew exactly that she will step over them and wake them to life; he did the curse after all. It just so happened that it escalated into something more during Transfiguration. Severus heard the rumors and he couldn't help but feel amused.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSMPZXE4PD
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On another side, thinking about Ophelia he automatically remembered that incident in the Entrance Hall with Dumbledore and Professor Spinnard. It wasn't really what he would have wanted to witness that night but it happened and Dumbledore noticed him.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jJ4wmPNbe
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Actually, now that he started to think about it more, he could somehow use that information in his favor if he could actually understand. Severus only knew it had something to do with Ophelia's father but which one? Wasn't she adopted?
"So, I guess we'll see each other after Christmas." Cissney mumbled, hiding her face behind her hair.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3yWUFAHUD
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"Are you crying, Littlewood?" Sirius asked bemusedly.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh33oMQqZJN
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"Shut up, Black. I'm going to miss having so many girls around. I have 2 older brothers at home." She snapped, showing that indeed she was weeping.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk8jg29iq4
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Ophelia chuckled and surprisingly, being in a good mood and everything, turned to Sirius.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOxBM2zOOk
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"Aren't you happy to go home for a while too?" She asked.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Km9yIw9cU
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Black's smile faltered in a blink and his eyes seemed to have emptied of any joy.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaKO4BOhIu
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"No."1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWlSJizZor
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That answer was so cold and serious that it sent a chill down her spine. Seeing how she had no idea how to continue the conversation, she turned to Cissney.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTS5UtsCdq
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"It's only a few weeks." She mumbled. "It should be nothing if we keep in touch."1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyXqw5JgaE
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Ophelia said that but it was obvious even for Black that she was not the type to send letters and presents. Well, he was right and she only said it to be polite but that didn't mean Cissney had to know that.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XzAyih5IM
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Once the time came to go to the train, Ophelia realized there was a very small detail that wouldn't complete her luggage: her owl. Willy has been gone from the first night she arrived in Hogwarts and even though he probably just got lost, she couldn't help but feel paranoid.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtKEcxX7fs
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"Hey! Hey!" 1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YfOJEU2JX
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Ophelia raised an eyebrow at the whispering, not understanding where it was coming from. One pale cold hand wrapped around her and a familiar voice whispered Petrificus Totalus. In that moment, her eyes widened as she froze, unable to move an inch.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusglUMXWML
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Being dragged back into the castle was weird enough yet having no one notice it was even weirder. How could no one notice a small eleven years old drag another eleven years?1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOHhZz2mm3
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Once inside, he pulled her into the corridor towards the dungeons. She felt a tinge before she realized that he lifted the curse and she could move again.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38VOiTiDJ7
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"Are you out of your mind?!" She hissed.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVZzYj20Yb
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"It's too late to go back now. You lost the train." Severus stated, a wide smile spreading on his face. He would have looked innocent if it wasn't for the glint in his eyes.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer54G5brRN
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"Are you so desperate to retrieve that stone? What did Malfoy threaten you with?"1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpjf0oYPcQ
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Severus answered without a flinch, "He is the prefect. I am a half blood. You make the connection."1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg6AKKSxSg
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Ophelia threw him a look of utter disbelief before she sighed and leaned against the wall.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLhlZw4oZv
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"We only need a Patronus right?" She asked, Severus nodding eagerly. "Fine. But you'll have to make it up to me. I should write to my parents and-" She stopped when she remembered that her owl was missing. Another heavy sigh escaped her, this time for her own actions.
"Try again."1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLjS6r6Oi0
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Severus was nicer now than he has been for the whole few months they have spent together and it was suspicious.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCCkj3kNQl
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Ophelia sighed and did it again and again until a small fox was running around her feet for approximately...1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmW3itjEpg
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"10 minutes. That's good for a beginner." Severus mumbled, sitting next to her during dinner.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lb94NiIHz
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"Dumbledore will get suspicious if we stay together." She mumbled, still angry that her owl was missing and she lost the train home.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlyHOTPbCp
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"Do you want me to leave?" He asked, getting up.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYkTKflYbi
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"No." She answered right away, holding his hand.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYA0Yx1U4f
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Severus chuckled and sat back down, a sudden wave of achievement engulfing his body. It was nice to have someone get so attached to him.
On the night before Christmas, alone and shuddering from every corner of their bodies were a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, sneaking out a few minutes after midnight.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2x4LTs4ZD
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"Come on!" Severus whispered, reaching out for her to grab his arm.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlWzxAZe1T
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"I can't see anything." She whispered back.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPdIKjdQlE
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They were a few feet from Hagrid's Hut, a place Ophelia has only caught glimpses of because she had literally no time for anything.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngzLEU6r5Z
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Being there, in the dark during winter was not particularly nice but it felt calming. She looked up at the sky and smiled, seeing so many stars even if it was December.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUugOcdaytc
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"Come on."1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBgNmeYfnD
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Severus' hand was cold on hers and rough once he pulled her after him. Two children were about to enter the Forbidden Forest on their own and for some reason, they were both eager not scared.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCLbuiu2Pp
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Once they passed Hagrid's Hut and entered the forest, Severus let go of her hand and drew his wand. It was enlightening only a bit so they could watch where they were going but it was also affecting their minds. Shadows could turn into monsters in a blink.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22AiWejYvA
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Sensing that something was stranger than before Ophelia kept close to Severus. It wasn't safe for him either since he was just a kid but he seemed to be more confident than she was.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafLJ4uh0uH
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"Are we close?" She asked, feeling the need to glance over her shoulder more often than before.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5ZYIMDCuV
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Severus had no idea how to respond until he looked at the snow and saw it was starting to melt yet it was getting colder.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp6ErbreRO
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"We're here." He said as he stopped. "Draw your wand out and look for the tree. It should be thick and look a bit different." He said before he went to check the trees on the left.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JdeKngx9A
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That left her alone in the dark. Ophelia sighed and whispered Lumos, enlightening more than Severus. With slow and steady steps, she turned towards the first tree and stared at it hard. It looked normal and so did the rest.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYtQh8RCH4
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"I can't find it. Damn tree." She mumbled, kicking the trunk of a random tree. Surprisingly, it shifted and made what sounded like a groan. "Damn luck." She mumbled groggily, hitting the trunk again.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7qLzA1EXR
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The second time, she kicked it higher and felt it echo which was strange indeed. Since she wasn't sure exactly where the stone was, Ophelia started to touch the trunk for anything that would open it yet there was nothing. Then, she remembered that maybe Malfoy knew that and especially told Severus about it because he was good in potions.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5D4LwHqzw
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"Which means we came here for nothing." She whispered, glaring at the trunk. "Useless." She added, kicking it for the third time.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9IjPQdXZi
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As she was standing there, focusing on the task at hand, with how cold was outside she didn't feel the sudden change. Something was lurking in the shadows and it was coming closer. She sighed and turned around, taking one step before she looked up.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcFqlH6fyJ
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Swallowing nervously, her eyes widened as she remembered where she had met what was flying in front of her. It was back in Aviemore and that monstrous thing approached her without a sound.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMOdTVXNaV
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Grasping her wand, she took a step back and pointed it at the creature. She could barely remember the spell before she found herself feeling the same dizziness come over her.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNTOYM0mjM
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"Expecto-" She couldn't say it all because she suddenly remained without air in her lungs.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFhYjFJkF3
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"Ophelia, did you find it?" She heard Severus ask and her eyes widened even more.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBjtzE0BDQ
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The Dementor looked towards the direction the voice came from before turning to Ophelia. Having regained some of her breath, she screamed.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvoqrfxiak
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"Expecto Patronum!"1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM54KikDDk
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She could only think about Severus and their lessons for the past year. It wasn't anything amazing but it made her happy. The fox squirmed out of her wand before it landed in front of her. The Dementor didn't seem affected by the Patronus and only swayed from side to side. The fox looked scared and ran past the Dementor, into the dark.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWViB7o4Aab
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Remaining all alone in front of the Dementor, she had no idea what to do. She watched him crawl closer; showing her what was hidden behind the cloak. A hole enlarged as it flied closer and leaned in, forcing every dark corner of her mind to open up.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM6Pz6SUvH
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Memories of her childhood surfaced, memories of her mother and the way she would let Ophelia do anything she wanted, especially magic. Lillian was a wise woman and very pretty too, also very tall. She had a friend that stayed with her when she needed, a ginger with a Scottish accent but Ophelia couldn't see his face. And then, there was him. He came suddenly and killed Lillian without a second blink. She was very young back then and could hardly register what happened to her mother but she never forgot those words.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr1VLOAKOl
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"Rest assured, Ophelia. Your place by my side is irreplaceable." 1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezISCRhKQG
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That cold voice was so familiar. She felt a chill crawl up her skin before she heard a faint Ophelia! and everything went dark.1198Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRiHyUjnUl
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However, before she fainted, she felt someone tug on her arm, placing something in her hand. She wasn't sure if it was Severus or someone else but she knew they have underappreciated Malfoy and his schemes.
