Although the school was already getting ready for the Christmas Ball, students were just as excited for the Halloween Jab, which was a different type of party.
"What's that?" Ophelia asked not having seen the invitations before.
The story with the Halloween Jab began at the beginning of October, when several Ravenclaws thought it would be interesting to have a masquerade party in the Great Hall, allegedly approved by Dumbledore.
"Goldstein said that his mates are working hard to make the party safe because a few years ago someone's hair caught on fire and another someone smuggled alcohol in the school," Lily explained narrowing her eyes at the culprits.
"In my defence, I was under the influence of a love potion," Ophelia excused herself and glanced at Sirius who shrugged innocently.
"It was a pretty good night if you ask me," He said nonchalantly, as expected.
"Anyway, they sent enchanted invitations to everyone and once you touch the invite, you see what you have to be dressed as, and then vanishes. So no one will truly know who is whom." Lily added, already having touched her invitation.
"Did they send it to everyone at school?" Remus asked.
"No, just the last three years, since there will definitely be alcohol and snogging,"
"Do I really want to be in a room with sexually charged teenagers?" Ophelia asked already sensing how that party would end up. "I mean, even Slytherins will be there. What if they start a fight? Or someone else does," Ophelia asked glancing at Sirius and Potter.
"Why would I start a fight out of nowhere at a party, badge? Do you have so little trust in me?" Potter asked leaning in with a judgemental stare.
The thing was that Ophelia was almost as tall as him so it didn't look as imposing.
"Yes," Ophelia replied calmly as if that was the only correct answer.
Potter pouted and faked a pang in his chest. He then went into a whole soliloquy about how hurt he was. But Ophelia looked at the invitations lying innocently on the table and decided to grab one. The paper became hot immediately and on the left corner, one word appeared for a few seconds before the paper burnt to ashes.
"What did it say?" Peter asked coming behind her.
Ophelia chuckled and shrugged.
"Secret, remember?"
Peter laughed and glanced at Sirius.
"I bet you 10 galleons that he will find you in the first two hours of the party." The boy started.
"Deal," Ophelia said and they shook hands.
During the following weeks, except school and parties, it so happened that there was another little detail that everyone seemed to have forgotten.
"You want me to do what?"
Ophelia was in McGonagall's office, asked to come for an urgent matter. She hurried, thinking it was about her father but it was-
"It's your future we are speaking of, Molley. You must have a dream job," The professor explained looking worried.
"But the Ministry is filled with Death Eaters,"
"But it won't be forever. You still need to think about your future,"
"What if I don't have one?"
"Don't be foolish, Molley. Your mother said the same thing and she-"
"She's dead." Ophelia interrupted knowing she was right.
"Lillian's dream was to be a professor, here at Hogwarts," McGonagall tried not to be swayed. "Think about what you're good at and tell me before the Christmas break." She said sternly.
"What if I don't want any job? What if I will be dragged to Dad's side and die?" Ophelia asked watching as the usual collected McGonagall just showed a glimpse of fear and pity.
"Your father will be stopped sooner or later. That doesn't mean you stop having a life of your own." The professor said with so much conviction that it made Ophelia feel a bit happy.
As soon as she left the office, she met Potter at the door. He was leaning against the wall, kicking an imaginary stone.
"Ah, badge, what did that old cat say?"
"That I should think about my future job,"
"Is that why she asked me to come as well? Blimey, I have better things to do. They'll have a try-out this weekend for the captain position," he said ruffling his already messy hair.
Ophelia remembered that the same topic came up during the Weasley wedding as well and couldn't help but have the impression that the captain was already chosen.
The rest of the month passed with students trying to make their costumes for the Halloween Jab and with even more discussions about future jobs. Almost everyone knew what they wanted to do and most of her friends wanted to be Aurors, although James was also thinking about the Department of Magical Games and Sports and Remus would have liked to work somewhere with many books and few people. But when it was her turn, Ophelia just didn't know if she had enough time.
The night of the Halloween Jab was...festive. Yeah, that was a good word. The Great Hall was empty and it looked as if it was taken from a horror story. Ravenclaws did a good job at making sure they had a list of everyone who was invited, and who came (everyone, of course), and they even wrote down who was what, because let's be honest, it wasn't that hard to recognize each other. They had alcohol but not enough for the whole night, which was a choice made at Dumbledore's request. But they had floating tables and music and that was everything they needed.
"Have you seen Molley?" James asked, being one of the first people to arrive. "Have you seen Sirius, too? I hope there's no love potion involved again," he mumbled, ready to interfere if he had to.
"He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. That doesn't sound like Sirius," Lily replied, the two having shared what their masks would be in the common room.
The music was loud, the Great Hall was big enough for the whole school, and even more so three years were not enough to fill the whole Hall. They had enough space to dance and socialize and also tease each other and see each other well. But the latter part was made slightly harder when the lights dimmed and the atmosphere became more intimate and creepy.
"Great, now I really can't see anything," James muttered with a desperate wave of his hands.
The truth was that Sirius was still in the common room, trying to look charming in his costume. He was a vampire, which fit him rather well. He felt powerful with his little cape and fake fangs and his hair gelled back as much as possible. However, by the time he arrived at the party, he couldn't see his favourite subject. Sirius found James and Lily so quickly that it was weird, he literally walked towards them from the moment he stepped into the Great Hall. It wasn't hard to find Alice and Frank since they were a package and Sirius even saw Snape in his raven costume. Hell, he even saw Nott and Mulciber granted to Avery's bright red hair which was his signature. Everyone was there, everyone but Ophelia.
"Do you think she didn't come?" James asked the rest, worried because he noted how antisocial Ophelia had been in the last month.
"Why are you so worried? She might be here," Peter said, "I made a deal with her. I bet that Sirius would find her in the first hours of the party." Peter added with a laugh. "Maybe you should search better. I don't want to lose money,"
But they weren't the only people worried. Snape was constantly looking after Ophelia but he couldn't see her. He agreed to come to this Halloween Jab because it was the last but now that he was there, it really wasn't his type.
"Have you seen Molley?" Snape asked Regulus as soon as he laid eyes on him.
"No. But if she's not here, she must be hiding in her usual spot," Regulus said, "I'll go check," he added and hurried out. Snape remained in his spot, a bit confused and a bit jealous.
While on the way to the first floor's girls' bathroom, he met Moaning Myrtle. She seemed worried but at the same time, content with herself.
"Oh no, I cannot let you go there," she said when she saw Regulus.
"Why not? She's there, isn't she? Is...something wrong?"
"Let's say...I already called the right person," Myrtle said with a smile and flew threw the nearby wall.
It was dark so Regulus couldn't see well, but he swore he heard Rabastan's voice.
What truly happened was an excess of emotions. Ophelia bottled up many feelings over the years and being so close to the final line, it overwhelmed her. Every day, she couldn't do anything but think about her future. Right after her chat with McGonagall, a few days later probably, she had a different meeting with Dumbledore and a delegate from the Ministry. Every student went through this because the Ministry needed them, whether it was a good worker or a Death Eater, or both.
"I'm glad you're here Ophelia. Mr. Littlewood is Cisssney's father,"
"I know," Ophelia said coldly. She remembered him at the Malfoy Manor and of course, he remembered how he forced Cissney to become a Death Eater and risk her life for no reason.
"I have been informed of your amazing duelling skills, Ophelia," Mr. Littlewood started with an allegedly friendly smile. "You and Enzo duelled once, haven't you? Do you know what Enzo does at the Ministry?"
"Isn't he a full-time professor at Hogwarts? He shouldn't do anything at the Ministry," Ophelia replied not changing her attitude. Dumbledore seemed amused.
"Indeed, your headmaster insisted that Enzo teach at Hogwarts. Is that what you want as well?"
"No. I don't know," she replied rubbing her neck. "But lately, the Ministry doesn't seem like a good place either."
"It is the best place for you, believe me,"
Ophelia couldn't help but chuckle. The calm façade was slowly breaking as each side was trying to pull Ophelia into their web.
"Is that what you told Cissney when you manipulated her into becoming a Death Eater? Is that why she's not here this year?" Ophelia asked getting up, "Is she on a mission? Is she killing people somewhere? Or even worse, is she dead already?"
"Ophelia," Dumbledore interfered seeing how Mr. Littlewood's face grew red with anger. "I'm sure Mr. Littlewood takes care of his daughter," he tried to calm the atmosphere but Ophelia was ready to blow up.
"Really...interesting because the last time I saw Cissney, there was no happiness in her eyes. I guess some people care more about status and money rather than their family's safety,"
"I do everything for my family's safety," Mr Littlewood said. "What about you? Is anyone interested in your safety? You insolent orphan girl..." he hissed, pissed off that a 17-year-old child had the nerve to speak like that to him. "I'm here because the Ministry would love to have an auror like you. But maybe we don't need you, after all. Nobody will if you continue to act like that," he said glaring at her.
"What Ministry? We both know who you work for," she said in a calm tone with her eyes mirroring her father's. It was such a chilling sight that Dumbledore couldn't help but worry.
"Well, thank you very much Ophelia. I'll talk with Mr. Littlewood from now on. If there is anything you'd like to do, a job that comes to mind, do tell me or Professor McGonagall," he said getting up as a sign for the girl to leave.
Ophelia did intend to go to the Halloween Jab but while she was getting dressed, she saw Peverell stare at her with wide eyes. She sighed and picked him into her arms but the cat jumped away right before she heard a knock on the door.
"Are you alright, Ophelia?" Dumbledore's voice came from the other side.
She walked out and they moved in the common room which was completely empty.
"Why did Mr. Littlewood come?"
"To offer you a job," Dumbledore replied calmly. "He is not a Death Eater, he is just afraid. The choices he had made are not to endanger his family, but to protect them."
"Cissney doesn't belong there," she said coldly. "What about her choice? It seemes to me like she doesn't have one."
"Cissney is a bright child. She will be fine," Dumbledore said although there was nothing to confirm that. "Trust in your friends, Ophelia. Go have fun and forget about your father for a while."
"How can I when I grow more and more aware that the Order can't stop him. You keep asking me about what I envision my future to be and I can't. All I see is my dead mother, who tried to live a normal life and look what happened..."
"There are rumors that if your father finds the stone, it would be much worse." Dumbledore said changing the subject a little. "Your mother didn't die in vain."
"If I find the stone and give it to him-"
"He will become immortal." Dumbledore said quickly with a nod. "And if you don't-"
"I die. If I don't, he will make me a horcrux. I guess it's much better to sacrifice a girl than come up with a different plan,"
"There is no other solution, unfortunately." Dumbledore said in a voice that, to Ophelia, did not sound at all sympathetic.
She looked at him, in his eyes, and could see that his worries never lied with her and her safety, but with what she could do, how she could be used against her father. He tried to keep her in an enviornment that facilitated an easier manipulation over her choices. Dumbledore knew from the very beginning that Ophelia will never give the stone to her father and he literally groomed her into becoming a martyr.
After Dumbledore left, Ophelia found herself on the way to the Great Hall only...she stopped as she felt tears dropping down her cheeks. She changed directions and went straight into the girls' bathroom. She couldn't help but feel disappointed with the world in general. Her heart was beating fast and her magic was swirling around her. Something like that hadn't happened in a long time but now, there was so much anger and sadness and it just flooded reason. She leaned on the sink and gripped it tightly. She looked up at her reflection and the mirror broke slowly.
"Are you alright?" Myrtle asked seeing the broken shards.
But she also noticed Ophelia's shoulders moving up and down and realized she was crying. Myrtle disappeared, letting Ophelia all by herself, all alone in a cold and damp room surrounded by her father's presence even if he wasn't there physically.
And then two arms wrapped around her and Ophelia let herself cry her anguish away. She could feel her heart breaking and for a second she couldn't breathe.
"You'll be fine," she heard the familiar baritone voice of Rabastan's.
"I won't. I won't," she kept repeating as she cried. "He'll kill me. If not him, then Dumbledore will get me killed." She said through sobs.
"Honestly, if anyone will die, there are higher chances it will be me. I've been playing with fire lately," he commented with a light chuckle.
"Why aren't you taking it seriously?" She asked still gasping for air.
Rabastan caressed her hair with love and wiped the tears off. She really was just an innocent child at the end of the day, she needed someone to hold her, reassure her, understand her, and listen to her. Most importantly, she was a child who needed to feel loved since she spent most of her life all alone among odd and selfish adults.
"I'm sorry. I should have taken more care of you." He said hugging her tightly.
Once Ophelia calmed down, she walked out feeling a bit more refreshed. She sat in the hallway since the bathroom was wet on the ground, and Rabastan sat next to her.
"I feel better now, you can go enjoy Halloween,"
"I wasn't invited to the party," Rabastan said nonchalantly. "They consider me not fun."
"You are not fun, they are right." She said making him glare at her playfully. "Mr. Littlewood came a few days ago to hunt me for the Ministry. I don't understand why since he works with Death Eaters and father will probably lock me somewhere."
"I don't think that's what he wants. He wants you to help him in any way you can and he knows you would be a good auror. He made sure you are a brilliant duelist."
"So he really has the whole Ministry in the palm of his hand."
"Not all, but he has people inside. You need to remember that most wizards are afraid of your father, not loyal to him."
"Are you?" She asked looking straight into his eyes.
"Yes. But I am also foolish enough to help Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore...he doesn't care what happens to us. He only cares about the results. In some way, I can understand that he wants a safer world and for that to happen, father needs to be destroyed. But he is using his own students with no regrets."
Both Ophelia and Rabastan sighed heavily, both having worked with Tom and Dumbledore enough times to realize how alike they were in certain ways they conducted business.
"Nobody helps and protects me because they care about me. It's either their loyalty for Peverell or the fear and hatred for my father."
"I care about you," and I still love you, he wanted to say but stopped in time.
"You are not an adult, Rabastan." She said with a half-hearted laugh, "And you already broke my trust." She added with a bitter tone.
"If you want to know, I am 22-years-old. I am an adult." Rabastan decided to ignore her last statement and focus on being more positive. At least tonight. "I think you don't give yourself enough credit. You have been a rebellious child until now, he doesn't expect you to just follow him. And he only wants you to be a Horcrux because he didn't find the immortality stone."
"Right, and both he and Dumbledore have this idea that I know where it is only because my mother found it. As if I have my mother's memories stored up somewhere,"
"Well...do you? Have you looked?" Rabastan asked surprising Ophelia.
She tried to answer him but she never even thought about it. Ophelia closed her eyes and, since she already had her memories well organized because she was interested in creating a mind vault, it was easier to see if something was...not hers. There, deep in the darkest corners of her mind, there were memories from her childhood with her mom, with Peverell, and with people Ophelia believed were muggles.
"She didn't want him to ever find the stone, so she put it back where she found it. She never talked about it with me around. The only creature that knows the truth is her owl,"
"And where is that owl now?" Rabastan asked shifting in his seat.
"I don't know. I don't think anyone does and the last person that saw it alive was...McGonagall. Mom's favourite professor." She stopped and looked at Rabastan with a raised eyebrow, "Are you here to winkle out information from me?"
"No. I'm here because Moaning Myrtle found me and said you're crying in the bathroom,"
Ophelia scoffed loudly and glared at the door towards the bathroom, trying to glare at the ghost which wasn't even there. Rabastan laughed and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her as close as possible. He missed the times when he could be just a kid too.
