The sudden “Candy from the trolley, dears?” shifted Ophelia’s attention and she looked at the trolley confused. She turned to Severus and Lily who in turn seemed to stare at the trolley. Both of them shook their heads but Ophelia remained gazing after the trolley as it moved forward. One boy ran past their compartment while another was walking behind, peeking into their compartment on the way. His eye fell on Lily and smiled boyishly, making Severus glare.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt7QMgCyW9
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The rest of the time was spent discussing about spells and curses. Lily also interfered with topics about her life and how she and Severus became friends but every time she’d say something that seemed too personal for the boy, he’d start talking about magic.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZGvExNNg7
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFPwh6DXRs
They were probably half an hour from their destination and more and more students were moving through the hall, speaking to each other loudly. Being closer to the door, Ophelia slid it open and stopped one boy that seemed to be calmer than others.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIbJzQ4rVB
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpWc2B6rPk
“Excuse me but what’s happening?” She asked, her elongated eyes widening a bit.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlWn3Zhz9x
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“It’s time for us to change into robes. We’ll get to Hogwarts soon so it’s best to change now.” The boy answered before smiling shyly, “Are you a first year as well? I’m Remus Lupin.” He introduced, his eyes shifting slowly on Lily and Severus before returning to Ophelia.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrayDGR5cB
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39NG7Nqu25
“I’m Ophelia Molley. These are my new acquaintances, Lily and Severus.” She said, moving aside so Remus could see the two.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejzNabojmJ
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNncAnYhCqu
Lily walked next to Ophelia and smiled at the boy but Severus didn’t look like he was going to make an effort. He was happy with knowing only one person and now some strange girl barged in and called him an acquaintance.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtu03kbqzX
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pD3IEInqV
“It’s very nice to meet you. I uh-“ He looked to his left and frowned, seeing something or another. “I have to go now. See you at Hogwarts!” He said, more to the girls than to the sneering boy.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpdtTJpAvA
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNWhgwVi8Q
Ophelia watched Remus run along to one boy that seemed to be waiting relentlessly at the door of anther compartment. Remus told him something and he looked over, making Ophelia pull her head back inside and closing the door.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2exNWRnF2
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In the end the girls went to the bathroom to change, moment that seemed to please Lily, because they also met more girls their age. Ophelia just went along with everything Lily said and when she finished, she hurried back to the cabin.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudf2Z6dlUB
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv77QEEVDm
Never in her eleven years of existence have Ophelia imagined she will enter a place that would feel more at home than anywhere else. The orphanage was an intermediary home and she couldn’t say she ever felt like home when she was living with Lillian. Now, Molley’s house was big and comfortable but I had something lacking, something that she couldn’t name.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSVl9pWrgm
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZScHXEAAH
Walking down with the other first students was scary. She knew she had Lily and Severus right behind and she swore she saw Remus a few feet behind. She also saw the blond, now having green robes while moving through the crowd to a different place. Yes, Ophelia knew some faces but it was still scary and lonely.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunggidPuB8
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMKT1UgAFM
A large man called from the front of the station, having twice the height of a normal adult yet looking still rather young. His messy attire seemed to go very well with his bushy eyebrows and medium beard, which also looked like it could hide anything in.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesHwSgG76C
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx290bws9P
“Oi, new years! Come after me!” He screamed, all the children making a big crowd in front of him.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBAreN7Hpz
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6t85tHUDE
He looked down and smiled before he made a sign for them to follow. They walked only a few feet until they reached a lake.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1TwCnE0Xa
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“Come on, come on! We don’t have all day! Everyone, hop in!”1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg2t23NKMe
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWT9nZtQBL
Ophelia looked at him before she looked at the boats. The giant man was already stepping in one before the others started to do the same. Normally, she got in the boat with Lily and Severus and realized they didn’t have to do anything for the boats were moving on their own.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYclq6flId
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWx4jpNV8x
“Welcome to Hogwarts!” The giant man said proudly.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkbtjI6hKn
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6HsyULtJt
Actually, now that they could see it up close, Hogwarts was magnificent. Ophelia heard Lily gasp while Severus was looking at it with his eyes shining. She was too; Ophelia’s life has seemed like it was painted in black and blue and now all she could see was bright light.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mjCwBNxUt
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRWFTxW5sW
Once they reached the shore, somewhere inside the castle, they stepped out of the boat and walked a few stairs, coming in front of a woman with a tight bun and glasses. Her eyes were firm and her whole posture looked authoritarian but the way she was looking at the first years was the exact opposite- she was happy.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbnZ5r3rf0
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9d3ykzcSH
“If everyone’s here, please follow me inside. Be careful not to lag behind!” She said sternly before opening a pair of doors and leading them through.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb46BQCoEu
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCTmBOD3mB
The castle was amazing and inside was just like someone brought a story to life. Ophelia could hardly process everything that’s been happening for the past days.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6oNSlUpjq
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCe4XHSpV6
The woman opened another pair of giant doors and hurried inside with a crowd of children behind. Ophelia’s eyes wandered over every table and realized they were very different at a first look. Some of them were not interested to know who from all these children will enter their house while others were watching them eagerly.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPh6pi9ztI
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Ce89NOu1
A pointed, witchcraft hat that looked worn out and dirty was standing on a chair right in front of the staff table. A mouth formed on the brim and it actually started to sing, surprising Ophelia even more. When it was done, everyone applauded and silence engulfed the hall.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIAhLd5TIy
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aSRAisvbi
“Now, I will call each of you in an alphabetical order! You will have to come here and sit; nothing else. The Sorting Hat will decide which house you will be spending the rest of your school years in.” The woman said firmly before unrolling a parchment.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuatkbBxnli
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9jNcYtNnZ
Ophelia’s name was pretty far down the list and so was Severus’.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WxuQlYFBc
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJffi3CTb1h
“I hope we’ll get sorted in Slytherin together.” Ophelia whispered to the boy.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4IshgJcA2
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmzk6xvkD8
He rolled his eyes but was visibly content with the way she was thinking. Severus has already said, multiple times in the train, that people who gain interest in the dark arts have usually been sorted in Slytherin.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiRp65r2ol
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“Evans, Lily!” Said the woman and Lily walked up.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj0gPNjuct
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The hat immediately screamed Gryffindor!, which took immediate effect on Severus. The ginger walked to the Gryffindor table and sat next to her colleagues. A few more children went up1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1VU3oJ9Hy
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7q8GqWYHp
“Lupin, Remus!” Was heard though the hall.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDerHwm3MeR
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The boy walked up, looking quite stressed out. Gryffindor! It shouted again.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKh6x7und0
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6guYBhPs7R
“Molley, Ophelia!”1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHNlEP2W3M
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It was her turn and her hands were sweating so much that she had to wipe them on her rose. Once the hat was placed on her head, she looked at Severus with worry.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2aztdvwjr
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“Already made friends, haven’t you? But will your house be the same as theirs? This mind of yours is more complex than you want to, isn’t it? You need to be careful in whom you trust, child. So much loyalty and deep rooted respect, curiosity for everyone combined yet sly like a fox. You’d make an incredible GRYFFINDOR!” 1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIZuGLPez7
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe8BodmZeZ
Ophelia’s eyes widened as she looked at Severus once again. The hat was off and another child was called yet Ophelia seemed too shocked to move. She thought that’s he could get to be in the same house as her new acquaintance but most of all, she thought the best place to learn magic was in Slytherin. She wasn’t in Ravenclaw and definitely not in the house where she could learn curses. She was in Gryffindor and she had no idea what that meant.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxTwyK8RAF
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHnAHD8oyF
With slow moves, she walked to the Gryffindor table, still startled. Lily made room for her and Ophelia sat in between the ginger and a boy with medium black locks.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx8jH3jJkq
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnN7QouA58
“Thought you’d be in the sour bunch over there, didn’t you?” He asked with a wide smile, pointing at the Slytherin table. “It’s better you’re not. You don’t want to end up having a stick up your arse.” He added, leaning in.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5woUpifwh
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wu1aXqTEy
But Severus Snape was sorted in Slytherin and the blond she met in Diagon Alley welcomed him proudly.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmJlv4cww0
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For some reason, all Ophelia could think about was that she’s been sorted into the wrong house.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqJGIMUJv3
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While students were getting acquainted or were talking about their summer vacation, Albus Dumbledore was surveying the Great Hall.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRySQhGOWj
1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rqzi26Hbq
When the first years entered, led my Minerva McGonagall, his eyes found the little brunette right away. She looked healthy and taken care of, maybe spoiled here and there but overall, she looked like a mix of a sly fox and a dangerous snake. He was, too, surprised when the Sorting Hat screamed Gryffindor but he didn’t expect little Ophelia to look so sour about it. Dumbledore look at pale Severus Snape before glancing at Ophelia and could already notice the respect she had for him, even if they were the same age and not even schooled yet.1172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw40R6uohn
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Dumbledore sighed, relieved that at least Ophelia was walking on a safe path for now. If someone or something would ever lead her astray, it could have horrific consequences.
