AS MUCH AS OPHELIA DID not want to watch the third task that night, she decided she would, since Colin would want to watch it, and it was the least she could do for her best friend, who'd defended her honor. 

Playing the piano had washed away all her pain and hurt, and she was eventually back to normal, after playing her fingers numb enough that she couldn't feel them.

By the time she left the Room of Requirement, it was almost time for the first task. Ophelia first decided to stop at the hospital wing to check on Colin. Madam Pomfrey had managed to heal all his bruises and cuts, and now, only the faint imprint was left, contrasting madly against his pale skin.

"How do you feel?" Ophelia asked worriedly, her brows furrowed.

"Relax, Malfoy," Colin rolled his eyes. "I just got a few punches, I didn't fall off a cliff."

"A few punches?" she echoed. "He beat you to the pulp!"

"Please, if I had more muscles, I'd have won him," Colin rolled his eyes. "Stupid Slytherin."

"You didn't have to do that for me," she said softly, a light blush coating her cheeks.

"Yes, I did," Colin said firmly. "We're friends, aren't we? And friends stand up for each other."

"You're a great friend, Colin," Ophelia remarked, smiling at him softly. 

"So are you, Malfoy," Colin gave her a cheesy smile. "Are you okay? You look like you have been crying.."

"I was," she said quietly. "Draco and I had another fight."

Colin instantly understood and pulled her into his arms. "He's not worth it, Ophelia," he said quietly. "You deserve a big brother that will love you and care for you."

"He said he wished I would have never been born," she whispered, her eyes glazing with tears once more. 

"If you weren't born, I wouldn't have had a best friend. I wouldn't have gotten to know you, and my life would have been hell," he told her firmly. "Think of your father. He wouldn't be the same if you weren't there."

He knew exactly what to say to calm her down, and exactly what to do to get her to calm down. 

"Ophelia don't ever try to take your life," Colin said quietly, after a long while of silence. "No matter what happens. Promise me this."

Ophelia, who hadn't been expecting those words, looked at him with shock. "What? How could I? I wasn't even thinking about ta—"

"Promise me," Colin interrupted her. "Please."

"I... Promise," she swallowed nervously. 

Without saying another word, the pair went to where the other students were sitting at the Quidditch stands, waiting for the third task to begin.

They sat on the Gryffindor side, all the way at the back, unnoticed by everyone.

Ophelia looked at the four champions, nervousness bubbling through her. They were to go through a maze with obstacles, and the first one to retrieve the cup would be crowned champion.

As she looked at the maze, and its dark, eerie interior, she couldn't help but feel frightened.

Deep down inside, she had a feeling that something would go horribly wrong. What exactly, she couldn't tell.

The four champions each entered the maze from a different direction, and the hedges then closed behind them.

That was it. 

Ophelia didn't see them after that.

Everyone sitting in the stands was looking at the hedge, as they quietly chatted amongst each other. 

Ophelia didn't talk, and neither did Colin.

Yet they seemed to be having the greatest conversation, somehow, words being exchanged between them, and them understanding each other perfectly.

They were both nervous.

Red sparks flew from the center of the maze, after what felt like hours of waiting; and Fleur Delacour was found unconscious, her body covered in thick, twisted vines.

Ophelia's eyes widened with horror, and it felt like a weight was dropped into the pits of her stomach.

Not long after, Krum was found, bewitched, and wild, completely feral. He had to be restrained, and stunned, until he was unconscious.

There were strange things inside the maze, she concluded.

An hour later, there was a blinding blue light, and the Triwizard cup came into view. All Ophelia could make out was the screaming of the Potter boy, and Cedric Diggory lying on the floor lifelessly. 

Dead.

She was struck with horror. Eyes wide, a hand clapped through her mouth, she knew there was a deeper answer to all of this.

Colin held her hand. 

The students' cheers soon turned to screams as they realized what was going on. 

Cedric Diggory was dead.

Everyone was instantly ushered back to their dormitories, by their house prefects, and as they all put forth their theories on what exactly had happened to Cedric, Ophelia stayed silent. She entered her dormitory, and, after closing the blinds around her bed, drifted off to sleep.

That morning, Dumbledore gathered all the students in the Great Hall and spoke words that Ophelia didn't think was capable of ever forgetting.

He told them Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort.

He told them Lord Voldemort was back.

He told them all of Lord Voldemort's old followers were back.

Instantly, Ophelia knew what that meant. Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater once more. Ophelia didn't hate her father for his choices.

He made those choices when he was younger, even though some of them hadn't been very good.

She knew that she now had to share Lucius with the Dark Lord.

And she knew the Dark Lord was going to punish her father.

And she knew that her childhood was over. She knew she was never going to be the same again.

Her life had changed its course for ever.

The rest of the term passed in a blur. She had once again, finished at the top of her year. Her teachers all lacked enthusiasm when they taught, and she too no longer enjoyed her lessons.

The only thing that kept her sane was her hours with Colin. He seemed to understand her. They would go for walks outside, and when anyone would make a comment about her father being a Death Eater, Colin would distract her with something trivial, and escort her outside.

For that, she was grateful.

She didn't recall packing her trunk. 

She didn't recall boarding the Hogwarts Express. 

Her mind was occupied by her father. Was he okay? She hadn't seen him in so long. He hadn't written to her in so long.

Her heart had clenched so tightly around his memories, afraid that something would take away those memories from her; afraid that she no longer would have any time with him.

All throughout the train ride, she was deep in though. Suddenly, the thought slipped into her brain and she understood why he had been keeping his distance, and why he had told her he wouldn't always be there for him. 

He had known all along that the Dark Lord would return. 

He was scared.

Scared for himself, and most of all, scared that if the Dark Lord found out how close she was to him, he'd hurt her.

Lucius was afraid of losing his daughter.

It all made sense.

And it made her cry.

Because the Dark Lord was not to be trifled with.

Lucius was in danger. The Dark Lord would hurt him, or send him on a dangerous mission.

And she too was afraid of losing him.

But if they were both afraid of losing each other,  and spent all their time away from each other to keep the other safe, what would happen if they lost each other without making more memories?

Without saying goodbye?

She didn't want to think about it.

The train stopped, at Platform Nine and Three Quarters. 

Colin gave her a hug, and said goodbye, and made her promise to write to him whenever she could. 

She dragged her trunk behind her, stopping beside her pillar as she waited for Draco.

But he didn't come.

She saw Harry Potter exchanging hugs with the Weasleys, before parting ways.

She felt strangely lonely. 

Until Lucius Malfoy was standing in the distance, watching her carefully, stiller than a statue. 

She blinked. She couldn't believe her eyes.

She looked again. Clearly, he was there; she wasn't hallucinating. 

He was real. And he was coming towards her.

The next thing she knew, she was running towards him, as fast as her legs would carry her. Into his arms.

She only stopped when his familiarity engulfed her. When she felt his protective arms around her.

When she felt him mutter under his breath, "Welcome home, Ophelia."

Because although technically, there weren't home yet, but Ophelia had already found her home.

And it was in his arms. 

{ hey dudes and dudettes ! here's the next chapter; the last chapter of the goblet of fire. i hope you guys enjoyed it. it's been one hell of a ride so far. what do you think? 
i can't wait to start writing ootp ! 
favorite drink?
mine is coffee ,, boba tea ,, soft drinks ,, and water !
stay safe luvs , take care. go study before reading this book. your education is important?
seriously though; i bet most of you have more important work to do than read this-
anyway ,, love, jasmine.  }

{MAR 19. 2023}