HOGSMEADE WAS A PLACE THAT somehow always made Ophelia feel much better. The small wizarding village cheered her up immensely. There was always something special about entering the streets, with its narrow, cobbled pathways and quaint little houses.

The cold air always bloomed with magic, the moment she set foot into Hogsmeade, and always managed to bring up her spirits. 

The first Hogsmeade visit of the year was usually the best. After being at Hogwarts for nearly two months, visiting the village was a nice change of scenery for Ophelia.

Colin would be going with Abigail, of course. He had waved goodbye to Ophelia at the Gryffindor common room, before heading to the Ravenclaw common room to pick Abigail up. Ophelia was thrilled for her best friend, but her spirits had been slightly dampened at the thought of going to the village alone.

The good thing about all of this was the fact that Ophelia would be able to visit Mr. Harper, at H&M Establishment. All summer, she had written to him briefly, and he would send more books for her to read. Now, however, Ophelia was looking forward to seeing him in person. 

Stopping by Honeydukes Sweet Shop to buy a few of her favorite Sugar Quills and bubble gum, she bought a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, before setting off in the direction of the abandoned alleyway that lead to her favorite bookstore.

On reaching the old building, a smile crept onto her face. The windows were polished, and the building had been refurbished, having been painted a bright shade of dark, turquoise blue. 'H&M Establishment,' in gold, capital lettering was painted at the top, and Ophelia's lips parted as her grey eyes stared at the building in admiration.

Slowly, she slipped past the door, the bell chiming and informing the shop's occupants of her surprise arrival. 

Mr. Harper was sitting by the fireplace, and on seeing Ophelia, he stood up, closed his book, and gave her a warm smile. "Ah, Ophelia, my child!"

"Mr. Harper," Ophelia greeted fondly, reaching up to wrap her arms around him. 

"You've barely grown since last year," Mr. Harper chuckled, clearing his throat.

Ophelia noticed he had aged considerably. His beard seemed whiter, and his eyes looked greyer... "Everyone's said that," she laughed with a small smile.

"How have you been?"

"Okay," she nodded. "I've finished all the books you sent."

Mr. Harper shook his head with a small smile. "Ah well, there's plenty more to be read."

The bookstore had been refurbished quite a lot, since the last time she'd been in there. The books were arranged chronologically on the shelves, based on genre and author, and it had been thoroughly cleaned. 

"I love what you've done to the place," Ophelia commented.

"This is what my bookstore looked like, back in the day."

"It looks wonderful," she smiled. "I'd definitely spend all day here if I could."

"I did have a branch in Diagon Alley, but during the first Wizarding War, it went under attack, and I did not have the funds to repair it, so I shut it down and sold the plot."

"Oh," Ophelia said sadly. "Maybe someday we could reopen it?" she suggested.

Mr. Harper shook his head. "I think this is more than enough for me to manage, my dear."

Ophelia nodded, before buying some more books, and stuffing them into her bag.

Colin and Abigail were nowhere to be seen. They were supposed to be at the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer, but when Ophelia entered, it seemed almost empty. 

The blonde noticed that a lot of regular Hogwarts students were not present at the Three Broomsticks, and she couldn't put her finger on why it seemed empty.

Perhaps it was just the wrong hour.

After grabbing a butterbeer, Ophelia passed by Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, to buy a few quills and ink before she completely ran out.

"....anyway, you should have seen my brother when he saw me and Michael kiss, it was so hot," a familiar voice came into hearing range, as the bell of the quill shop rang.

"You brothers weren't mad?" a softer voice piped up.

"Nah, Fred and George were too busy trying to create new joke stuff items to bother scolding me. If Ron knew, though, that would be a proble— Oh, look who it is," Ginny said boredly, rolling her eyes. "The Ice Princess herself."

Ophelia was browsing for another eagle-feather quill, when Ginny addressed her. "Weasley," she drawled. "You'd better leave, because I doubt you'd be able to afford anything in here."

Ginny scowled, but said nothing, as Mariana browsed the books.

"So, Creevey went on a date, hmm?" Ginny said loudly. "And you're here alone?"

Ophelia refused to say anything. She knew Ginny was just trying to get a rise out of her.

"How come you don't have a boyfriend?" Ginny continued. "Are you seriously that cold? Personally, I wonder what Creevey sees in you—"

Ophelia had already whipped out her wand and held it directly underneath Ginny's chin. "One more word, Weasley, and I swear, you'll have no mouth for a week," she hissed, narrowing her eyes. 

Ginny's eyes widened, before pulling out her own wand. "Oh yeah? Well what if I say that perhaps Creevey has finally seen you for the Death Eater's spawn you actually ar—"

But Ophelia was quicker.

A minute later, and Ginny was storming out of the shop with Mariana, angrily, as once again, Ophelia had hexed her mouth off.

Perhaps she could work on strengthening the spell to last longer.

But even the sight of a mouthless Ginny wasn't entertaining enough to put Ophelia into a good mood. She glumly strode out of the quill shop, slowly making her way across the cobbled street.

She couldn't remember exactly what Ginny had said, amidst all her fury, and she had tried not to react or act affected, but it had hurt, nonetheless.

She somehow found herself venturing deeper into the streets of Hogsmeade, until a dark building came into view. 

The Shrieking Shack.

She found a large willow tree overlooking the shack, and settling herself to lean against the trunk, she opened up one of her new books, and began to read.

A presence beside her suddenly felt, dragging Ophelia out of the book she was reading, and causing her to look up.

At first, she had thought it was Colin, but when she looked up, she wished she hadn't.

It was Theodore.

Gulping slightly, she turned back to her book, a shudder traveling down her back. Seconds ticked by, and his overpowering cologne slowly chained her senses.

And then she could smell smoke.

Coughing slightly, she looked up, noticing that he was smoking a cigarette. 

"Smoking kills," she said quietly, without looking at him.

"I know," he drawled, blowing a puff of smoke in her face.

Spluttering, she narrowed her eyes. "It's harmful to your health," she continued, determined to make him stop smoking. She slowly shifted her position, moving a step further away from him.

"Oh, how terrible," he remarked emotionlessly, before lifting himself up and sitting closer to her.

"Stop it!" Ophelia snapped. "Go sit somewhere else!"

Theodore let out a humorless chuckle. "How about no?"

"Then stop smoking!" Ophelia demanded. "I don't understand why you choose to sit beside me! Can't you go bother your girlfriend?"

"You think I'm sitting here for you?" Theodore scoffed. "Please, get over yourself! The world doesn't revolve around you."

"Then why?"

Theodore shrugged. "I feel like it."

Ophelia glared at him, before her eyes met the pages of her book once more. 

He had thrown away the first cigarette, and had placed a second between his lips. 

"Would you stop that?" Ophelia narrowed her eyes. 

"Stop what?"

"Smoking!"

"No," Theodore responded coolly, running a hand through his hair.

Ophelia had had enough. Slamming her book shut, she lunged forward, and plucked the cigarette from between his lips.

She was about to throw it to the side, but Theodore was too quick for her, and caught her wrist in midair, gripping it firmly, hard enough to make her wince. "Apologize," Theodore hissed, his dark eyes boring into her own.

Ophelia's eyes widened, and her breath hitched, as she stared at him venomously. She didn't speak. Not one word.

"I said apologize," Theodore repeated, grabbing her other wrist and gripping it harshly as he pulled her closer, his deep blue eyes staring straight into her grey ones, as if he were looking into the very depths of her soul. 

"For what?" Ophelia whispered, wincing in pain. She knew she'd have more bruises around her wrists the following few days. "You're hurting me," she breathed.

"For taking my cigarette," Theodore hissed. 

"You shouldn't have sat next to me," the blonde defended. "When I told you to stop, you didn't listen. You deserved it."

Theodore pressed her wrists strongly, and pinned her against the tree trunk. "You're so incredibly naïve, if you think your stupid little warning will prevent me from smoking." He chuckled dryly, before letting go of her wrists, snatching the cigarette from her fingers and taking a drag.

Blowing the smoke into her face, he smirked. "All alone here," he drawled. "Where's your pet mudblood?"

"It's none of your business," Ophelia scowled, rubbing her wrists, which had already begun displaying reddish marks in her pristine skin.

Theodore shrugged. "Like I care."

"You're such an asshole," Ophelia spat. "You literally just think you can come here, hurt me, then leave?"

"Yes," he replied bluntly. "You're a spoiled brat with no real personality. Someone has to teach you manners, don't they?" he remarked dryly. 

"Watch your foul mouth, Nott!" Ophelia hissed, as his words struck the deepest parts of her self-esteem. "I'm a Malfoy. Remember that. Watch how you act when you speak to me."

"And I," Theodore said, standing up. "Simply don't care."

And then, he walked away, leaving Ophelia Malfoy behind, with a very bruised and broken ego.

{ yesterday we were at 16k. today at 19.5k
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{APR 09. 2023}