IF OPHELIA FOUND LAST SUMMER to be the worst summer of her life, then this one was abominable. So abominable that in fact, it hardly clarified as summer in her eyes. Realistically, she would gladly face a thousand summers of last year instead of a single day in the current summer.

These were the darkest days of her life. There was nothing good about these days at all. While she had been looking so forward to come back home from Hogwarts, now... all she wanted to do was go back to Hogwarts, even though she hadn't had a very good year. 

Because this didn't feel like home anymore. Lord Voldemort lived in the dungeons, and Death Eaters were swarming in and out of the royal doors of Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa was reduced to a timid, quiet woman, being ordered around to serve the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord with hospitality.

Ophelia knew that if Lucius was here, he would never take it. 

But Lucius wasn't here, and so, the death eaters pranced around like royalty in the rich halls of Malfoy Manor while Narcissa slaved away after them.

Three days. It had been three days since she returned home to find Lucius gone. She hadn't moved since Narcissa and Draco had brought her to her room. She hadn't eaten. She hadn't drunk anything.

Her eyes were red and swollen and her cheeks were puffy from crying so hard. She didn't sleep. She just stayed in the same position, in the same clothes, without saying a word.

Day in. Day out.

The ache in her chest never ceased to heal. Not even when Narcissa came to hold Ophelia. Not even when Draco tried to get her to move.

In fact, Ophelia was mad at both, Draco and Narcissa for not telling her. She refused to look them in the eye.

Finally, Narcissa had no other choice but to ask Little, Ophelia's house elf to step in and try to comfort her.

It took another six hours of coaxing from Little to get Ophelia to move. And all she did was change her position. 

Instead of lying upside down, she now lay the right way up on her pillows, curled into a fetal position as she hugged Princess Cleopatra.

For now she felt lifeless, her heart churning and fragmenting into a million pieces, each piece slowly disintegrating with every minute that Ophelia spent without her father.

He was her protector, her defender...

Her home.

Indeed, she only ever felt at home in his arms; in his presence.

But now? She felt like she was in a home with no walls or furniture.

Which was to say; she felt homeless.

All day and night she moped. Finally, Narcissa could take it no more. On the fifth day after Ophelia's arrival from Hogwarts, she mustered up the courage, and went down to the dungeons to speak with the Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord refused Narcissa's request to free Lucius.

But he did allow her one visit, since he was staying in her 'gracious home', as he put it.

Just one visit.

Narcissa entered Ophelia's room, gently knocking on the door and letting herself in. 

"Sweetheart," Narcissa began, placing her hand on Ophelia's back.

Ophelia said nothing. She merely stared into space, dark circles underneath her red eyes.

"I have good news for you," Narcissa continued, feeling rather strange; it felt like she was talking to a wall. "The Dark Lord gave us permission to visit Lucius."

Ophelia's eyes widened at her father's mention. 

"Do you want to come with me?" Narcissa asked softly, stroking Ophelia's blonde hair.

"Yes," Ophelia croaked, speaking the first word she had in days. She looked up at Narcissa with her gray eyes. A little of the spark had returned.

"Then get ready, my love, we leave in an hour," Narcissa replied gently, before leaving the room.

Little drew a bath for Ophelia, who brushed her long, blonde, wet hair. 

"Little," Ophelia said hoarsely. "Why does mummy look so.... different?" 

The House Elf turned pink, and cleared her throat. "It is not for Little to say, Miss Malfoy," she squeaked.

"Yes, but you're my elf. You aren't forbidden from speaking, are you?" Ophelia asked.

"No Miss," Little squeaked. "Little thinks Mistress Malfoy will not like the answer..."

"Little," Ophelia warned quietly. "Please."

"It's the Death Eaters, Miss. And your mother's sister. They order her around..." Little said timidly.

"Tell me about my aunt," Ophelia said quietly, changing into a long-sleeved cotton dress that reached her knees. 

"Mistress Bellatrix punishes Little for eavesdropping," Little squeaked. "With spells..."

Ophelia felt her anger bubble underneath the surface of her skin. "But you're my elf," she gritted her teeth. Ophelia had never punished Little; only a soft talking to or two when she needed it. "Little, I forbid you to go near Aunt Bellatrix, even if she calls you. If need be, stay invisible."

"Yes Mistress Malfoy," Little squeaked timidly. "Thank you."

"Yes, tell me more about Aunt Bellatrix," Ophelia continued, braiding her hair.

"Miss Lestrange orders Mrs. Malfoy around, and bullies her," Little continued. "Mrs. Malfoy does everything by herself, day and night; she is always working..."

Ophelia took a deep breath. "Little, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything, Mistress," the elf nodded in her high-pitched voice.

"I want you to help mummy. Just make things easy on her... I'll speak with her, okay?" Ophelia asked. "Thank you, Little."

The blonde exhaled, burying her face in her cold hands. The ache in her chest never seemed to fade. Malfoy Manor was a mess.

Ophelia slowly climbed down the stairs, her bare feet softly tapping on the marble stairs as her hand glided against the cold wooden railing.

She was halfway down the stairs, when she felt someone grip her arm.

Flinching, she gasped softly, turning around. Deep blue eyes met hers. 

"Don't go now," Draco told her softly. "Aunt Bella's there. Wait a few minutes..."

Ophelia's eyes widened. The first thing that ran through her mind was why Draco cared. But she ignored it. The second thought that flitted across her mind was what Bellatrix was doing out of the dungeons.

"Why's she not in the dungeons?" Ophelia asked, her voice raspy from not being used for so long. 

"She's talking to mother," Draco shrugged.

Ophelia leant over the railing, trying to listen to what they were saying. All she could hear was Bellatrix's loud cackling and rambunctious laughter as Narcissa tried to argue.

"I don't know if it's talking or bullying," the blonde spoke. "It's not right..."

Draco shrugged. "With father gone there's no one to defend her," he ran a hand through his hair.

"Then we need to defend her," Ophelia concluded. "She's got no one else.."

"Yes, but Aunt Bella—"

"Needs to be taught a lesson," Ophelia said firmly. "I'm not going to sit and watch her drive Mummy to the brink of insanity."

Draco's lips curved into a half smirk. "Always the brave and chivalrous Gryffindor, aren't you?"

"When it comes to defending those I care about," Ophelia shrugged, turning around and going down the stairs. 

"Ophelia, wait!"

But Ophelia couldn't stand and watch her mother bullied by her older sister any more. According to what Little had told her, Bellatrix would correct everything Narcissa did, and if Narcissa didn't listen, then Bellatrix would threaten her. 

Her veins vibrated with anger. 

Bellatrix was forcing Narcissa to drink more wine, and Narcissa kept protesting as she didn't want to.

"Stop being such a prude, Cissy," Bella snapped. "Are you really that afraid?"

"I just don't want to," Narcissa protested quietly. "I've got other things to do..."

"Drink, or I'll have to ask Draco to—"

"No, leave Draco out of this," Narcissa protested.

"Stop!" Ophelia commanded, entering the kitchen just then.

"Ophelia, go upstairs, darling," Narcissa whispered, her blue eyes wide.

Ophelia stood her ground.

Bellatrix laughed raucously. "Look who we have here. Daddy's little girl," Bellatrix teased. "How's Daddy, darling?" she cooed. "Oh, wait, I forgot, he's housing with the dementors now..."

Ophelia's chest tightened. "Leave my mother alone," Ophelia said quietly. "She has been managing fine all these days before you came."

Bellatrix's eyes darkened. "Watch how you speak to me, you filthy Gryffindor!" she snapped, taking out her wand. "I'm your aunt!"

Ophelia looked up at her aunt. "I will start respecting you when you start respecting my mother," she replied. "You would have no place to live if it weren't for you."

Bellatrix clicked her tongue. "Her? You should be ashamed she's your mother. Raising her spawn like COWARDS!" she shrieked. "She needs to be taught how to be strong!"

"She is strong," Ophelia replied. "She doesn't drink wine because she used to be an addict," She continued. "She doesn't want to be pulled into bad habits. That makes her strong. Can't say the same for you, though," the blonde cast a wary glance at her aunt, who was drinking her sixth glass of wine.

"YOU BITCH!" Bellatrix roared, pointing her wand at Ophelia's neck. "Apologize for that!"

"First apologize to Mummy," Ophelia told her aunt, trying her hardest to remain composed. "And treat her better. Then I'll listen to everything you say."

Bellatrix widened her eyes slightly, before tilting her head. "Anything?"

"Ophelia, NO!" Exclaimed Narcissa, her voice a dry whisper.

Ophelia nodded. "Anything."

"Very well," Bellatrix finally gritted her teeth, while Narcissa kept shaking her head at Ophelia, begging her not to get into an agreement with Bellatrix. "I apologize, Cissy."

Ophelia could breathe properly once Bellatrix muttered something under her breath and left the kitchen; after stealing a bottle of wine.

"What were you thinking?!" Narcissa gasped, checking Ophelia's neck for any bruises. "I told you not to come near her! She could have hu—"

"Mummy," Ophelia interrupted Narcissa, taking her mother's hands in her own. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Trust me."

"You owe Bella a favor," Narcissa looked scared. "Sweetheart, do you know how dangerous that is? I need to talk to Bella and make her see—"

"No," Ophelia said firmly. "Mummy, just because she's your older sister, it doesn't mean she has the right to treat you this way. Daddy would never stand for it."

"I know sweetheart, but you don't need to involve yourself in adult matters," Narcissa said quietly. "As much as I appreciate the gesture."

Ophelia was about to speak, but Draco chose that moment to enter the kitchen, interrupting her, "Personally, I think Ophelia did the right thing."

Both Narcissa and Ophelia quickly turned to face him. Ophelia's head snapped towards him so fast that she felt her neck crack. This was the most bizarre thing she had ever heard Draco say.

"Sorry, did you just compliment me?" she asked, her face blanked out into confusion.

"Don't get used to it," Draco drawled.

"I should have known," Ophelia clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes before turning to face Narcissa. "Mummy, I think I can handle Aunt Bellatrix. Worse comes to worst, I'll just apologize."

"Fine," Narcissa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Just don't do something like this again."

Ophelia would make no promises, but she nodded anyway.

"Little," she called her elf, who appeared with a sudden intrusive crack.

"Mistress Malfoy," the elf bowed, her nose nearly touching the ground.

"Can you please make my mother a cup of sage tea?" Ophelia told her elf. "Along with a sprig of lavender and half an inch of a cinnamon stick?"

"Yes, Mistress Malfoy."

The elf disappeared.

"You're too soft with your elf," drawled Draco.

"I'm not," Ophelia replied back indignantly. "She hasn't done anything wrong, so there's no need to punish her."

"You need to show them who's master," continued Draco.

"Mhmm," Ophelia sat down on the kitchen counter. "Like your elf, you mean?"

Draco's expression hardened, his hands curling into fists, a small angered growl leaving his lips. "You watch—"

Narcissa chuckled. "She does have a point, Draco darling."

"Need I remind you, Mother?" Draco said coldly. "I was seven."

Draco still turned sour at the mention of his elf. He too, had a house elf assigned at birth, but he used to constantly shout at it and order it around. Until he was seven, and he got so annoyed at the elf that he gave it clothes and said he never wanted to see it again.

There was another loud crack, and Little appeared again, with two cups of steaming hot tea. Puffs of lavender and cinnamon swirled inside the teacup, filling the whole room with a sweet aromatic scent.

She gave one to Ophelia, and one to Narcissa.

"Thank you, Little," Ophelia told her elf.

"Where's mine?" Draco asked, eyes narrowing at Ophelia.

"Draco darling, I thought you don't drink tea," Narcissa quipped.

Ophelia hid her smile, as she took a sip of her tea.

"I don't. But it would be nice to have the option," Draco remarked.

"You can have mine," Ophelia held out her tea. "Since you don't have a House Elf to bring you some..." she giggled softly.

Draco clenched his teeth and snatched the tea from her hands, purely out of anger at her comment.

He was so angry that he didn't realize he'd taken a sip.

"Speaking of elves," Ophelia interjected. "Mummy, do you know who I saw at Hogwarts?"

"Who?" Narcissa asked, her nerves already calming due to the effect of the tea. 

"Dobby," Ophelia said, accompanied with a yawn.

"Dobby?" repeated both Narcissa and Draco, sipping their teas.

"Mhmm," Ophelia nodded. "He works in Hogwarts for one galleon a week."

"He gets paid?" Narcissa asked, her eyebrows raised.

"How disgraceful for a house elf," Draco scoffed.

"He also gets one holiday a week," Ophelia continued. "He's much happier..."

Draco muttered something incoherently under his breath.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Narcissa chastised. "Don't you ever use such language in this house again!"

Ophelia smirked, sticking her tongue out at Draco, who flipped her off and grumbled something at Narcissa, who shut him up with a glare.

Ophelia gave Draco a smug smile.

Draco scowled and took another angry sip of the tea he'd stolen from Ophelia.

"Thank you for the tea, darling. It was lovely." Narcissa stroked her daughter's cheek affectionately, setting her teacup in the sink and wrapping her shawl around her lithe body. "Are you ready to go?"

Ophelia nodded, clambering off the counter and brushing the skirt of her dress down.

"Draco?" Narcissa turned to her son. "Are you ready?"

But Draco was too busy drinking the lavender and sage tea.

{ hey guys: so, here's the next chapter. the first chapter of part iii. i am so excited to write this part. what did you think of the aesthetics? prepare for loads of drama, angst and heartbreak over the next chapters.
please vote, follow, share and spam me with comments.
with lots of love from your favorite author (idk if i'm your favorite, but you guys are my favorite  <33)
stay safe, luvs.
love, jasmine. }

{NOV 02. 2023}