OPHELIA'S HEAD WAS ABOUT TO burst. She was absolutely sick and tired of hearing about the marvelous, wonderful Dean Thomas, Ginny Weasley's boyfriend.

Ginny made sure to rub Dean in Ophelia's face every single time she saw her.

What's more, Ginny would talk about how all the other boys eyes her and asked her out, even though she had a boyfriend, indirectly emphasizing that she was the it girl of Gryffindor and the center of attraction.

Ginny and Dean were like the king slug and queen slug. They were always glued to each other and snogging.

Everywhere, in the common room, in the corridors, in the Great Hall and even in the quidditch lockers.

Ophelia was absolutely sick of it.

It was always the worst right after quidditch practice, when Ginny would drag Mariana and Dean into the locker rooms and instantly start snogging Dean. The couple would then go into the shower rooms together, leaving the rest of the Quidditch team feeling very strange and awkward, as strange sounds could be heard from the outside.

Ophelia always found it very uncomfortable, especially when she noticed Mariana sitting on the bench by herself, waiting for Ginny to come out.

One time Ophelia was done changing from her Quidditch robes, and she noticed Mariana sitting alone on the bench that Ophelia had put her bag down on.

As she took her bag, she sent Mariana a sad smile.

A smile that meant that she knew what it felt like to be left alone.

Mariana smiled back.

Ophelia couldn't help the curious question that burst forth from her lips. "What are they doing in there?" she whispered.

Mariana raised a brow, suddenly taken aback by the very innocent question that left Ophelia. "They're doing it," Mariana emphasized.

"It?" Ophelia asked. "Kissing?"

Mariana shook her head. "They're having sex."

"Oh," she muttered, her cheeks pinking as she grabbed her bag and quickly left the changing rooms, wondering what on earth sex was. 

Mariana had said it like it was so obvious, but Ophelia had no clue what the word meant. Maybe she'd ask Draco. He might know.

Ophelia had looked through the library, but she found no book on vanishing cabinets. She even checked the restricted section, but there was not even a single book on vanishing cabinets. Finally, she decided to write to Mr. Harper and ask him if he could find her a book on vanishing cabinets. 

Mr. Harper replied to Ophelia two days later, sending an owl with the book, and an attached letter, which Ophelia read more than a dozen times because the old man had written the nicest, kindest letter she had ever received.

She still had to give it to Draco, as he had been so busy that Ophelia could never find him. Not to mention the fact that she had to start studying for her OWL examinations as her professors emphasized this by bombarding them with homework.

The book was always with her, stashed in the secret pocket of her pink bag, which her mother had given to her last year on her birthday, in fear that if the book got into the wrong hands, things would not go according to plan.

Colin was avoiding Ophelia, a change in scenario, for once. Usually, it was always her avoiding him. This time it was the opposite. 

It was during these times that Ophelia wished she could go back to those simple times where she and Colin were nothing more than best friends.

She always ate breakfast with Adrienne Selwyn, the first year girl she'd met on the first day of school. They spoke often, where Adrienne would blabber and talk animatedly about everything and anything she liked, where Ophelia listened, amused. 

Adrienne reminded her of those simple times when nothing but fun mattered.

It was nice to see Adrienne enjoying her first year at Hogwarts when Ophelia found hers to be utter hell.

About a week and a half from her arrival at Hogwarts, Ophelia was seated at the breakfast table, where Adrienne was just telling her about the prank her and her dormmates played on the first year Gryffindor boys when her owl dropped the Daily Prophet on her empty plate.

Unfurling it, and expecting the usual news of the disappearance of muggle families, Ophelia was very distraught when the front page advertised a picture of the very grand Malfoy Manor.

Her breath stuck in her throat when she saw the headlines:

MINISTRY OFFICIAL ARTHUR WEASLEY LEADS SEARCH FOR DARK MATERIALS AT MALFOY MANOR.

She couldn't read. Her heart was beating and a hundred miles per second, and as she looked down at her empty plate, she felt no desire to eat.

Ophelia couldn't imagine what Narcissa was going through, having a bunch of ministry workers search her house without warning or consent.

Meanwhile, Ginny was yet again the center of attention as she repeated the story loudly, to anyone who would listen about how her father, Arthur Weasley was hunting for Dark Materials in a death eater's home.

Ophelia tried not to let it get to her when Ginny told everyone of the house elf skulls that were found at Malfoy Manor, and the preserved organs in the dungeons.

She took a deep breath and after casting a half-hearted smile at Adrienne, she decided it was time she gave Draco the book.

She couldn't control the tears that poured down her cheeks as she entered the room of requirement, instantly looking for Draco and the vanishing cabinet amongst the other piles of random artefacts. 

Frustrated after the tenth minute, she raised her voice and began shouting for her brother, her voice shaky and whiny because she was crying.

"DRACO!" she called desperately, walking in the narrow isles that the piles of random objects made. "D-draco," she whimpered, tripping over and old broomstick and falling to the ground, scowling and letting out a frustrated growl as her fall triggered other objects to fall with a crash.

"Ophelia?" Draco's voice came from somewhere behind her. She heard quick footsteps and the scurrying of objects moving, before Draco helped her up by pulling her up with his hands under her arms.

Ophelia instantly let out a small whimper and buried her face into his chest, her arms tightly wound around him. "Are you crying?" Draco asked, his tired voice concerned. "What happened this time? Is it Creevey?" He dryly patted her back, not knowing how to comfort her. He'd never comforted anyone before.

Ophelia shook her head, wiping her eyes, thrusting the Daily Prophet into his face, the atrocious headlines emblazoned across the front page.

"Oh, fuck," he muttered, tossing the paper to the side and setting it on fire.

Ophelia looked up at him expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

"Don't listen to the paper," Draco remarked, walking ahead, beckoning Ophelia to follow him to get to the vanishing cabinet. "The ministry just wants to show that they're doing something about the Dark Lord's return. They're feeling stupid because of what happened last year."

Ophelia nodded slowly. "But.. why did they search our house?" she asked softly. 

Draco took a deep breath. "I think.. I think Potter knows I'm a Death Eater. At least, he's suspicious of me..."

"But... but how does Potter know?" Ophelia's voice was a tight whisper, where she was at a complete loss for words.

"He followed us at Diagon Alley,"  Draco murmured. "He didn't see the mark though."

"Oh," Ophelia said quietly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Yeah, I think he must have tipped me off to Weasley," Draco growled. "Stupid bloodtraitor."

"Who searched our house," Ophelia finished, having a newfound burning hatred for Potter.

Ophelia called Little to bring her two cups of lavender tea, then dug through her bag and pulled out the book she'd gotten for Draco, handing it over to him.

"This book has everything you need to know about vanishing cabinets," she advised, flipping through the pages. "Including how to repair them."

"It's perfect," he muttered, flipping through it. "Thanks..."

They chatted for a while, Draco assisting Ophelia with a bit of her defense against the dark arts homework, until Ophelia remembered what she wanted to ask Draco.

"Draco?" she asked softly. "Can... Can I ask you a question?" she asked, tilting her head up to look at him.

"What?" he muttered, taking a sip of his tea.

"What's sex?" she asked bluntly, putting her quill back into her bag, as if the topic she spoke of was the weather.

Draco choked on the steaming hot tea, coughing violently as hot tea splashed out from his mouth. "What the fuck, Ophelia?" he asked sharply, looking at her, anger in his eyes.

"What?" she asked softly, her innocent gray eyes widening at his sudden change of tone. "Sorry, I didn't mean to.."

"Are you serious?" he scoffed, chinks tinging pink, at the awkward thought of explaining this to his sister.

She nodded. "What does it mean?"

"You don't know what sex is?" Draco scoffed, a chuckle leaving his lips. "Gods, father will kill me," he muttered, running his hands down his face.

She shook her head. "Why? What does it mean?" Her gray eyes looked up into his. She was completely confused by his reaction. 

"Gods," Draco muttered. "It's... It's... well... I don't know how to explain," Draco finally sighed. "It's... an act of intimacy... it's something you just know..."

"Right," Ophelia murmured shyly, blushing at the very strange conversation she'd put her brother through. She didn't fully quite understand, but she wouldn't tell Draco that.

It was then that Draco realized that this was Ophelia asking. "Ophelia?" he asked. When she hummed, he finished his sentence. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Stupid?" she echoed, eyes widening. "I won't—"

"Don't do anything because other people are doing it, okay?" Draco asked sternly, his blue eyes piercing into hers.

"Okay," she nodded nonchalantly, making her way out of the room of requirement. 

Behind her, she could hear Draco muttering strange things under his breath.

Conversation forgotten, Ophelia went upstairs to her dormitory to get ready for Slughorn's party that evening, mentally planning her outfit.

In the end, she decided to wear a velvet dress, the shade of a deep emerald green.

 The sleeves were long and slim, ending at her delicate wrists. The bodice was slim and modest with a square neckline, tight around her waist before it fanned out into a skater skirt that reached above her knees. 

She tied her hair into a messy low bun, leaving stray blonde curls to frame her face. Her makeup was very light; only applying a light brown eyeliner, blush and a natural pink lipstick.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she admired her appearance, giving a small twirl, feeling good about herself.

At that moment, Ginny entered the room with Mariana, once again, talking about Dean. She had bruises all over her neck, and Ophelia curiously stared at them, wondering when Ginny had gotten hurt. Personally, she felt that Ginny deserved the pain.

Ginny caught her staring. "What? Never seen a hickey before?" She and Mariana looked at each other and burst out laughing, leaving Ophelia to look away awkwardly. "I'm not surprised..."

"The same way that I'm not surprised you've never seen an Outstanding in any of your subjects before," Ophelia said coolly, applying a generous amount of spritzes of her Miss Dior perfume.

Ginny scowled. She had nothing better to say. "Well, some people's strengths are different," Ginny countered. "Mine happens to be my looks."

"I pity you for taking pride in admitting that looking bad is your strength," Ophelia remarked, wearing her pearl necklace from Lucius and the matching pearl and diamond earrings Blaise had given her. 

"You foul, filthy—" Ginny began, looking in the mirror as she applied her makeup, before she was once again cut off by Ophelia.

"Weasley, darling, I understand the self hate, but calling yourself names in the mirror is rather a step to far, don't you think?" Ophelia remarked, putting on a pair of dainty gold heels.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU—"

But Ophelia didn't hear the rest of Ginny's words, as she left the dormitory, slamming the door loudly, drowning out the rest of Ginny's screams, feeling like a queen.

Slughorn's office had a large round table in the center, with a different variety of dishes and chairs positioned all around it.

She noticed that Slughorn sat in the grandest chair, already conversing with the seventh year boy on his right, Cormac McLaggen, who's eyes instantly raked over Ophelia's figure the moment she walked in.

"Ah, Ophelia, m'dear," Slughorn greeted jovially, welcoming her into his office. "You're right on time. Cormac was just telling me all about his plans for working in the ministry next year."

"Good evening, Professor," Ophelia greeted, her honeyed voice echoing through the dungeons. 

"Good evening, good evening," Slughorn remarked enthusiastically, looking at her. "Have a seat, will you? Only Miss Weasley, Miss Granger and a few others are missing. Unfortunately Harry won't be able to make it as he's got detention," Slughorn informed her, with a hint of disappointment lacing his voice. 

Ophelia looked around at the empty seats, wondering where to sit.

"Psst, Ophelia, over here," came a soft whisper.

Ophelia looked in that direction and found Blaise smiling at her, waving her over and patting the space next to her.

She instantly smiled softly, making her way to Blaise, sitting next to him. "Hi," she murmured softly. "I'm so glad you're here, I don't know anyone else here..."

"Yeah, my mother was one of Sluggy's favorites," he remarked, adjusting the rings around his fingers. 

"You look different," Ophelia pointed out, noticing that Blaise was dressed up completely differently to his normal style. 

He wore a white dress shirt, messily untucked, paired with black slacks, and a black waistcoat that was left open. His shirt was half open from the top, exposing a number of shiny gold chains around his neck and against his chest. He wore more rings that Ophelia had ever seen before.

"And you look absolutely hot," he winked at her, causing her to blush, scowling at him. 

"Stop flirting," she folded her arms, giving him a warning glare, her cheeks slightly pink.

He laughed softly. "Ah, you ruin my fun, Malfoy..."

"Ophelia," the blonde corrected, interrupting him. "Call me Ophelia."

Blaise smiled. "I take it that means we're friends?"

She nodded, just as Ginny and Hermione took their places in the only other two seats available.

Slughorn began speaking of all his famous and well-known colleagues from all over the wizarding world, telling the small group how he knew someone related to them.

Ophelia was already bored. This conversation wasn't going anywhere. It was pointless.

At least the food was good, and for once, it felt nice to be treated like everyone else, instead of an outcast.

She put a bit of salad in her plate, and Blaise raised a brow. "Is that all you're going to eat?" he asked.

"Mhmm," she hummed, daintily biting into a cherry tomato on her fork.

"That's not enough..." he pointed out. "My three year old cousin eats more than that."

Ophelia shrugged, "your three year old cousin must be fat."

Blaise snorted. "Oh, fine."

"I'll put more later," Ophelia told him, taking in a small mouthful of lettuce.

"Hey, Malfoy, do you have an eating disorder?" Ginny asked loudly, causing everyone to look at Ophelia's plate and see the small serving of salad in her plate, causing the blonde to flush darkly as heat spread all over her body.

Ginny looked smug, but her smirk faded slightly when Hermione elbowed her.

"No, I just don't like mixing everything on my plate together," Ophelia replied coolly. "I get enough food at home, thank you. I see no need to act like a glutton."

There was a small 'ohhh' whispered by some that sat around the table.

Blaise choked into his tartare, hiding his laugh and disguising it as a cough.

"So how come you eat only three bites at every meal in the Great Hall?" Ginny asked in mock curiosity, her brown eyes boring into Ophelia's as she leant across the table.

"It's seven!" Ophelia corrected.

But the damage was done. 

Everyone now knew she only ate seven bites only. 

Ginny smirked. "So you do have an eating disorder," she announced triumphantly, smugly crossing her arms across the table.

"Well, excuse me for caring about my figure," Ophelia stood up hotly, eyes narrowed at the redhead.

"Now, now, ladies, let's not get all offensive," Slughorn interfered with a smile. "Let's settle this by saying that everyone looks lovely."

But Ginny was desperate to hit home. She ignored Slughorn.

"Some figure you must have," Ginny remarked. "Where you eat barely anything and you're still fat," she remarked. 

Ophelia gasped, the words triggering a whole load of insecurities.

"Oi, Weasley, watch your words," growled Blaise, eyes narrowing.

"I'm... I'm not f-fat," Ophelia breathed, eyes widening, her innocent gray eyes filling up with tears.

"Ophelia, don't listen to her, love," Blaise gripped her hand tightly.

"Hmm, maybe you should check the mirror," Ginny remarked. "I mean, what's the point of starving yourself if you gain weight anyway? Look at how tight that dress is..."

Ophelia let out a choked sob, trying to hide her body with her hands.

"It's like you're practically—"

"ENOUGH!" Ophelia roared finally, standing up, trying to ignore the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

But Ginny kept going.

"You just can't bear to hear it because it's the truth," Ginny remarked. "No wonder you've never had a boyfriend. What with that awful character of yours..."

Ophelia was completely humiliated. She couldn't bear to hear any more. Taking her plate, she pushed it to the ground, with whatever remaining food it contained. 

She couldn't eat it anymore.

The plate broke, and a satisfying shatter rung through the room.

Slughorn tried to calm Ginny and Ophelia, drawing his wand.

Everyone else was silent, watching the drama unfold.

"It's one thing to be an ice princess, but I've never heard of a princess who was fat.." Ginny emphasized the last word. "I mean that in dress... You're practically asking for it..."

"Weasley, I swear to God, you'll regret it," Blaise's eyes grew dark, and he clenched his fists.

"Shut up, Zabini," Ginny snapped. "I mean, how do you feel comfortable in your own skin when you've got all that fat hanging off your hips and arms?"

"WEASLEY!" Blaise snapped, standing up, his chair screeching as it scraped across the floor. Blaise slammed his fists at the table, causing everything to shake.

Blaise gripped her hand tighter, and Slughorn was shouting at them to stop, but Ophelia couldn't hear anything but the truth in Ginny's words.

Ophelia let out another choked sob and pulled her hand away from Blaise, and stormed out of Slughorn's office, slamming the door behind her loudly. She could hear commotion indoors, yelling, and Blaise calling her name.

 But Ophelia didn't want to talk to anyone. 

Instead, she ran, stumbling across the corridors, trying to see through her eyes, vision blurred with tears.

Her feet carried her to the Astronomy tower. It was the only place in the castle she could breathe.

The cool air hit her face, making her shiver in her velvet dress.

The dress that no longer made her feel so pretty, but like a stranger in her own skin.

That was where her knees gave way and she collapsed onto the floor, hugging her knees as her body wrecked with sobs.

The party was over.

Ophelia had never felt so insecure before. Sure, she had doubted herself when Colin broke her heart, but this? This... This was on a whole new level.

This made her question herself, her life. Everything.

Because it's easy to hate others that hurt you.

But it's never easy to hate yourself.

{ hey guys ,, thank you so much for 320k! i can't believe how fast you guys are reading this. this chapter was so sad to write :(
wanted to tell you guys to spam me with comments, vote, and share. also, it would be very much adored if you guys could follow me jasjasjasmine- as i sometimes post updates about my story on my profile.
anyway, please follow me on spotify dessertoholic and instagram dessert.o.holic
take care luvs. love you all so much.
lots of love, jasmine. }

{ DEC 11. 2023 }