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"OPHELIA, CONGRATS ON GETTING YOUR HOUSE FORTY POINTS." Remus said as they were walking to Transfiguration. She was walk in between him and Sirius with Lily and James talking loudly behind them.

"Thanks." She mumbles as they walk into the classroom. She knew she had to sit with her brother, Professor McGonagall would probably let her change her seats, but then again she liked to keep everyone separate from the other house incase any arguments start.

She bit her lip when she notices her brother glaring at her, she walks away from the group and tenses as she sat around all the other snakes who were muttering things behind her back. "I see you have your own little protection squad, sister." She hated him, hated the way he spoke to her, he was acting as if she was a pureblood.

"Severus, please." She said staring down at her animal that was on her desk. "Don't start."

"Don't start what? The truth?" He said grabbing his quill and writing the heading. "You seem very close to Lily and Potter these days."

Ophelia stiffens, "I think you mean they follow me around." She said grabbing her quill and writing down whatever was on the board as McGonagall started to talk.

"I want you to distance yourself from them, you're giving yourself a bad reputation, sister." He tuts, "let's not forget I've worked hard to get myself here, and I don't like how close you are to Lily."

"Is that jealousy I hear, Severus." She mumbles blankly. Feeling the stares of the said girl and the marauders, let's not forget the other snakes who were around and listening.

"I still have a chance to make things right, stop getting in the way of my plans, Ophelia. You and Potter keep ruining everything." He spat clenching his fist.

"I don't see her like that," Severus turns towards her, she made eye contact with him. "I would say we have become acquaintances that's all."

Her twin brother turns towards McGonagall and sneers, "you hang around with the people who have made my life hell. To me it feels like betrayal, sister."

"You have know right to feel like that, Severus." She grits her teeth. "Besides, they're company is better than yours."

"I'd be careful on who you're talking to, Ophelia. You better stay away from them, you will regret it if you don't." He threatens her. This Severus is the Severus she hates.

"We'll see, Severus, we'll see." She looks up and ignores his piercing gaze for the rest of the period and this class.

What Ophelia didn't know was Remus had been listening in to their conversation. He felt concerned for her, but he and the others wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt her. That was a pact they'd made, he happened to like her, Moony had already accepted her into the pack.

Ophelia had clearly been ignoring everything since she had not felt Lily tap her shoulder. She was too busy in a bad mood, a trance that brought a frown to her face. She said nothing as she stood, she grabbed her things and left without them, she could hear them calling from behind. The oldest Snape sighs, why must Severus ruin everything, she wanted a day with no drama.

She still had no idea what her brother meant that she was getting close to them. They hung around with her never leaving hear alone, following her about, talking to her. But they were just acquaintances, right? She didn't feel anything for anyone, she only talked because sometimes she liked putting her inputs. She wasn't supposed to have a happy ending, right?

The girl sat outside on one of the broken slabbed benches that was next to the broken water fountain, her nose, cheeks and ears turned red due to the cold air breezing past her, not to mention her eyes were watery due to the breeze. She wiped her nose on her left arm sleeve as she kept muttering to herself, she didn't know what to do.

She jumps slightly hearing a cold voice, "what are you doing out so late? Don't you know what time it is?" Ophelia snaps out of her haze to see that the sky had darkened, she realised she'd been out here for hours, but her head slowly turns to see the familiar face of Regulus Black.

"I-I didn't realise...." She trails off, does he hate me too? She couldn't help but wonder, she didn't want to loose the shadow that always followed her on her mini adventures around the castle.

"Of course you didn't," he says as she slowly started to make her way towards him. "My brother and his goons are looking everywhere for you, they're worried, especially the mudblood."

"Regulus." She mutters causing him to look down at her, "do you hate me?"

"I am offended you think so low of me, Snape." He drawls as he began walking with her into the warm castle, "I am not like everyone else, I am my own person."

Ophelia stares at him, he does have feelings everyone does, but she understood he couldn't show them because it would make him look weak towards everyone. Sometimes, she is glad that he gives his inputs, but sometimes she finds them annoying when they aren't needed. "Sorry, I-I just assumed since..."

"You should stop assuming things, I believe you should sometimes let things happen." He gazed at her in the corner of his eye, "even if they are terrible, you can get something good out of it."

Smiling slightly, Ophelia gazed up at him. "You should become a poet, you'd be good at it." She mutters with a small dry chuckle. Nothing good ever happens to Ophelia, nothing. She just couldn't see past the past, she couldn't look into the present or the future when her life was a mess.

"I'll take your word for it." His tone full of amusement as he lead her throughout the halls. "Do you want me to take you where my idiotic brother is?"

"No. I can't face them right now, I need a small break." Everything was too much for her, she wasn't used to all the company she found herself with. Regulus had stopped walking when he saw the look on her face, to say, he was also just as shocked as Severus when he saw her hanging around his brother and his goons.

"What do you want to do?" He asks her, she gave him a mischief look causing him to sigh.

"Let's go to Room of Requirements." She said grabbing his hand and dragged him through the corridors to the room.

"You are so bossy." He pipes up as they reached the door that would magically disappear as soon as they walk in.

"Shut up." She smiles, pulling him into the room staring at all the things put on top of each other creating mountains of piles.

She wanders around and looks at some of the things she seemed interested in. Her fingers touched the old – dusty bookshelves, vanity and chests that were filled with old curtains. She looks up at all the chairs and tables stacked up on top of each other before taking a left in the landfilled maze. Ophelia soon came across an old harp and statues of knights on their horses, there were so many things that interested her such as the astronomy things. But something that was hanging on a coat hanger caught her eye as it shined when fire - light from the candles flashes over it. She walks over to it and takes it gently in her palm; it was a discoloured silver – oval shaped locket that had floral patterns that went around it, she opened it from the side and saw that you could leave pictures within it. She smiles and happily takes it, she's never seen this before and wonders if it is new.

"Find something you like?" Ophelia jumps, she'd forgotten Regulus was here. She turns around to meet his gaze and notices his mouth twitch ever so slightly.

"Yeah, I did. Can you help me put it on?" She says holding the locket up, he took in every detail of it and stares at her, the smile on her face made him soften. He walks over and gently grabs it before ordering her to lift up her hair, she did what he asked and felt the chill of the silver touch her neck as he fastened it.

She moves to stand in front of an old mirror and whispers, "it's so pretty." Regulus stood behind her, he pulled her by her elbow.

"We need to go, it's almost passed curfew." Ophelia sighs and walks besides him as they began walking towards the door. She wonders if Regulus has eaten and hopefully he didn't get pranked, she wasn't hungry, she knew she skipped lunch and dinner, but she didn't have a big appetite today, she'll get something later.

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The two Slytherin's kept silent as they walked throughout the silent eerie halls, the only sounds that could be heard were their feet pattering, and the flames from the candles that were on the walls. Ophelia's hand was wrapped around her new locket and a small smile graced her face. She turned pale as she started to follow him down towards the common room, but she was saved by a couple of people calling her name.

"Ophelia!" The girl spins around and was met with red-hair, "we were so worried! Where did you go?" Lily said as she held on tightly to the smaller girl in front of her, she was about to reply, but muscular arms also wrapped around her petite form which caused her to tense.

"Don't ever run off without telling us, we had no idea where you were." James said hugging both of them, he turns towards the other Marauders who were quiet, but he saw Sirius staring at his brother. They had been looking for her on the map all day, but it seemed she had disappeared from Hogwarts, but he hadn't in the slightest idea were. It wasn't until they found her next to Regulus walking right towards the snake pit.

Lily took Ophelia's face ink her hands, "where did you go?"

The older Snape glances towards Regulus through James' arm and muttered, "I was on my mini adventure."

She watches as Regulus took in the sight of the three of them, but he seemed to be having a private conversation with himself about it. He looks up towards Sirius who was already staring at him, he held his head high and gave him a glare before turning and walking away. Remus put a comforting hand upon his shoulder and began to stare at the three in front of him. He was concerned, Ophelia hadn't eaten, she had skipped lunch and dinner.

"We should head, Ophelia needs to eat." The boy said leading Sirius and Peter back towards the Gryffindor common room.

Though James and Lily led her away down another hall, the same hall that she went down this morning with them. They were taking her to the head-boy and head-girl dormitory. Both of her hands were held by them, their hold was firm, James was rubbing circles over her palm with his thumb.

"We'll ask one of the elves to bring something yummy to put in that tummy of yours." Lily said softly, Ophelia met her eyes, she held authority and safety; it was a very motherly look.

She looked away shyly, but for the awkward silence to be interrupted James started to talk. "That's a very pretty locket."

"Thanks...I found it." She says with a small smile, "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"It's fine, honest. You had every right to, we couldn't hear what was being said, but we saw Snivellus having a go at you earlier." James said looking away angrily. "Minnie saw it too, she told me to tell you that you'll be sitting next to Remus."

"Okay, thank you." She mumbles while the couple smile at each other as they reached the portrait. James mutters, lion loyalty. To the painting which opens, the three headed in, Ophelia dragged her feet as she didn't mind sleeping in the Astronomy tower again.

Lily sat Ophelia down on one of the chair and called on one of the elves, "Tizzy!" A pop sound rang throughout the room and an elf now stood in front of them. James was putting on a fire to warm the room up.

"How can Tizzy help, miss Lily?" The elf bows, Lily shakes her head and smiles down at the elf.

"Could you bring back a snack for everyone?" Tizzy nods and stares at Ophelia who awkwardly smiles at the friendly house elf who's took sudden notice of her.

"Miss Lia!" She exclaims excitedly. The said girl blushes, "I's so happy, you's not lonely now!"

Lily turns to Ophelia, "y-yep, not lonely now." She says looking down at the happy elf who takes in both girl's appearances with a certain look in her eyes.

"I's be back with snacks!" She exclaims before popping away back to the kitchens. The brunette makes eye contact with the redhead who gives her a smirk.

"Miss Lia?" Ophelia turns away and huffs a small laugh. "She a friend of yours?" Lily asks with a smile, she watches as the Slytherin nods her head.

"A little friend," she said keeping her eyes on the locket, "kept me company when I needed it." She becomes silent, all you could hear was the crackles of the fire and James stomping around.

Lily looks at her sadly, she didn't realise how lonely it must have been for Ophelia. She always saw her walking by herself holding her books or either sitting outside on top of a tree branch while reading. But she never knew at the time that Severus had abandoned her. She reaches over and touches Ophelia's right hand causing her to look at Lily in the corner of her eye. She could see guilt in those emerald orbs, but it wasn't her fault. "Ravenclaw." She mutters, Lily looks at her confused, the noises James seemed to make in the other room also became silent.

"What?" The redhead asks confused. Ravenclaw? Why would Ophelia mention another house, had someone hurt her? Whatever it was Ophelia seemed to have wanted to get it off of her chest.

"The hat wanted to place me in Ravenclaw." Ophelia watched James peak his head out of the bedroom in shock, Lily stares at her with wide eyes, this made the older Snape gulp nervously. "I kept insisting on being with.....Severus to protect him, so, the hat made me choose my path. I picked Slytherin."

Ophelia's face was emotionless, she stares ahead of her at the Gryffindor tapestry that hung on the wall. She bit the inside of her cheek, was she starting to regret her choices? Yes. But did she regret doing it for her brother? No. She didn't notice how the couple stare at each other before turning to the girl sitting in the room with them. All the brunette thought about was what happened in first year and trying to connect it with what Severus had told her in class. Was she really betraying him?" She would hate herself if she was, but she couldn't help it, they were all warm, they made the coldness runaway from her.

*Pop*

Ophelia looks down to see Tizzy staring at everyone with a plate of food in her small hands. She got up and helped the house elf, she wasn't like everyone else she didn't make them do everything by themselves. She knew, she knew she was going to be the big talk amongst the group about what she had admitted. She wanted to let Lily know it was her own fault for choosing wrong and this is the consequences she must face.

Lily licks her lips and shuts her eyes, she stares at the girl in front of her who is not paying attention anymore. Tizzy notices something is wrong and decided to leave, the elf knew it wasn't any of her business, so, she went back to the kitchens.

"Ravenclaw, Slytherin," Lily began. "– who cares, you're still Ophelia and that's all that matters."

The brunette looks up at her and parts her lips, no one's ever said that before. She supposes Lily was just saying that to move past the conversation or she was just being nice, she knew what was coming next, they were going to kick her out.

"Don't forget stubborn, selfless, caring, and helpful." James pipes up as he sat down on one of the chairs. He stares Ophelia down as she looks at them in wonder, "you don't have to be perfect like everyone in that house, you should continue to just be yourself, I like it when you're yourself."

That same feeling of warmth made it's way through Ophelia's body, it made her feel human. She just nods even though she doesn't entirely agree with James, she was just glad to have gotten that off of her chest. Lily knew of her insecurities, when they were in second year, Ophelia told her a few of them and just needed encouragement to accomplish anything, she promises herself that she'd help Ophelia with anything.

"Now, pretty girl, let's put meat on those bones of yours." Lily said as she organised everything. Ophelia looked at the food on the table, there was various options; crackers, cheese, chorizo sausage and some black pudding.

James smiles, "yeah, you'll become like me." He says showing off his muscles causing Lily to hit him. The boy turns to the smaller girl and gives her a gentle coaxing smile, "you'll feel better once you've eaten and had some rest."

"Luckily tomorrow is Saturday," Lily said as she grabbed some of the food and drinking some water. "James, you have quidditch practice."

"Oh yeah! Poppet, you should come and watch, surely, you'll be there when it's the quidditch cup!" James boasted loudly staring at Ophelia who silently ate in front of her.

"The Gryffindor's versus Slytherin's one?" She asks picking up her goblet and taking a sip of the cold – fresh water. She watches the Gryffindor boy nod his head and listens to him babble on about it, and how it may be two months away, but they needed the extra practice. She was mesmerised by him, he seemed so happy, carefree and excited. It made her smile, she knew Lily was watching her and made sure that she was eating, she felt a small blush appear on her cheeks, something bubbled in her stomach that she's never felt before. She couldn't help but admit to herself that it was nice to be looked out for, to hear laughter instead of just silence.

Once she was finished with her food, Tizzy came back and cleared things away. Ophelia was brought into the bedroom where the two beds were. She watches James walk out of the room with a pair of joggers, he left Lily and herself in the room with each other. Lily had taken off her shirt showing off her white lacy bra, next was her skirt and tights and she was wearing the same material. It was as if the redhead was going this on purpose because she smiles slyly as Ophelia turns her head away quickly. The elder Snape took off her school shirt that showed her white cotton bra, she took it off while facing the wall. She changed into the plain blue top Lily had given her and then moved onto her tight and skirt, and put on the shorts that matched the t-shirt.

She turns around to see Lily smiling at her, she stifles a yawn, she tries to keep herself awake a little longer. But the Gryffindor in front of her shook her own head and walked up to her, "tired, little one?" She shakes her head in denial, she was good, she just didn't want to let her guard down like last night, she wanted to, but Severus' words kept echoing in her head.

"I think she is." James cuts in, she turns her head slightly to see him standing with only a pair of joggers on, his arms were folded over her muscular chest.

Lily giggles quietly, "c'mon, Ophie, we have a long day ahead of us for tomorrow."

Lily and James guided her over to Lily's old bed, the boy lifted her into his arms while the redhead pulled back the quilt, the marauder places her down onto the soft mattress while Lily tucks her in. Ophelia's eyes were closed before she even knew what was happening, she didn't even feel the couple kiss her forehead. She just lay in the bed, her soft breathes evening out, laying in warmth, letting the bed swallow her whole. She completely lost herself to the dreams that took her in, she unconsciously smiles and wraps an arm around her waist. Wishing this moment to last for another moment in time.

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sibling drama, angst, fluff, back to angst and back to fluff. So many emotions!

I made a long chapter lol, it's over 3000 words. You can clearly tell that this chapter is dramatic can't you?

I She's just told Lily the truth about the sorting....god, I feel so bad for putting OC's through shit. But, my books would never be great if I didn't!

Question: What is your Patronus? Mine is a thestral!

Love you all so much, thank you for the support! I've needed it these past few days, my mental health has been going through the roof and not to mention exams have been making it worse. So, thanks again, love you all!

thanks for reading!
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