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stopcryingsomuchlittlegirl · 2 months

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"I-I knew that." Ophelia huffed under her breath. She rolled her eyes despite the way her cheeks flared. She definitely had not known there were two sets of showers. Perhaps she should have though, it seemed common sense. Instead of skinking into her embarrassment though, Ophelia picked up her pace jogging slightly in her haste to get back to the castle. She knew David would be waiting to hear the details. He also would be preparing to try out for Hufflepuff's house team sometime soon and would want to know as much about tryouts as possible.

As to be expected, David was rushing down the stairs to greet them. A smile split Ophelia's face as she rushed forward, the two cousins talking over each other for a moment until Ophelia finally shut up, bouncing from one foot to another in her excitement. She thought the tryouts had gone pretty much as good as they could, and she knew when she told David about what happened to Danny he'd have a good laugh. His question about showers though had Ophelia sombering slightly and her bouncing slowed to swaying, blue eyes dropping to the stone floor as she avoided the question.

"Bits and pits?" Ophelia repeated with a wicked grin, peering at Danny. Davie had told her all about that particular conversation with Auntie Anne and Auntie Ember and it always served to make Danny groan at the memory.

Her own version of 'bits and pits' hadn't been as traumatic. Her mother had told her she needed to start wearing deodorant and showering at least once a day as "part of becoming a woman is becoming smellier'. Eveleen would then simply expand on the conversation every time something puberty-related came up, like when she needed to start wearing bras, or the most recent one about periods. Ophelia shuttered at the memory. That one had been a bit more. . .er. . .explicit than the others she'd say. But still, she hadn't felt an ounce of the embarrassment Danny and David had it seemed.

"What, she gave you the password?!" Ophelia gasped in disbelief. Ophelia had begged her sister for the password since Delia had made captain, but unfortunately how badly Ophelia wanted access to the bathrooms made it far more fun for her sister to taunt Ophelia with the fact she had something her little sister didn't.

"Figures, you are the favorite after all." Ophelia huffed with another roll of her eyes. For whatever reason, Danny had always been a favorite of her older sister's. Which meant Danny got the cool hand-me-downs while Ophelia got the teasing.

"So you aren't going?" David asked with a quirked eyebrow and a knowing grin. Ophelia wouldn't miss out on a chance to go crazy with bubble potions in the Prefects' bathroom.

"Uh'course not," The Gryffindor snorted. "We'll meet you at the Borris Statue." With that, Ophelia turned with a new pep in her step as she and Danny headed back to Gryffindor.

"You did great by the way." Ophelia told him genuinely as they walked back. Her eyes weren't on Danny, instead staring ahead as she spoke freely to him, one of the only ones she was truly comfortable with. Sometimes she could be awkward and stutter, or shy and say nothing at all, but that nervous energy social situations usually filled her with didn't exist between her Danny and David.

"Even when you blocked me in the end, that was a fast reaction. Like, really fast. You could probably make first string." She spared him a look now, a flash of her gap-toothed smile and crinkled blue eyes in an effort to show her sincerity. She wasn't so sure about herself. She didn't dare hope for first string, but she felt confident she wasn't the worst at tryouts.

Once at Gryffindor, the Fat Lady swing open for them happily before Ophelia was skipping up the stairs, two at a time.

"Don't leave without me!" Ophelia called down to Danny before disappearing at the top of the stairs. Ophelia rushed through the motions of grabbing a new set of clothes, a bathing suit, and her shower caddy before moving onto the showers. She washed up quickly, most of the time being spent getting the feathers out of her tangled mess of dark locks. They weren't quite the same dark curls her mother had, but her hair was much thicker and wavier than her father's, their genes having had come together to express some sort of in-between hair type in their daughter. Once her hair was detangled and feather-free, she finally got out and dried off.

Ophelia pulled on her bathing suit, a simple baby pink one-piece covered in white polka dots with straps that tied in cute bows over her shoulders. It was to the Gryffindor's dismay the suit that was her favorite and served her well the past two years did not fit as comfortably as she remembered. It pinched uncomfortably across her chest, armpits, and under her ass. Ophelia marched with her towel, caddy, and clothes to the mirrors to inspect further.

With newly placed on glasses, her dismay grew at the sight of her body in what now was no longer her favorite swimsuit. There was more flesh on her chest and hips than she remembered being there the last time she'd wore her swim suit about two months ago. Was she gaining weight? Was it puberty? The witched frowned at her reflection, turning to see her behind was peeking out more as well. Ophelia felt her chest tighten as self-loathing darkened her thoughts. She hated this doughy unfamiliar body, she hated how fast it changed. Wasn't puberty supposed to make her look pretty? This new flesh didn't make her look soft and feminine like her mother or strong and healthy like Delia, it just made her feel horrible.

Ophelia quickly pulled on her baggy pink Hello Kitty sweatpants and matching sweater and grabbed her stuff. She moved away from the mirror as fast as she could. She stopped by her room to grab a towel and knickers for after. She looked quickly to see if she had packed a different swimsuit, but like she thought, she'd only bought one. She couldn't even ask to borrow Cordelia's either because then she'd know Danny told.

It doesn't matter, Ophelia tried to tell herself as she slipped on some slipped. She descended the staircase to the common room much more somberly than she had gone up, kit bouncing off her back with each step. Her hair, still very wet hung down her back, ends brushing the butt she did not want to think about. She didn't greet Danny as she approached, just simply stopping beside him and making eye contact to confirm she was ready to go.

It was clear by the deep frown on her face and furrowed brows that she was in a mood. Something that was becoming more and more commonplace for the budding adolescent.

The Try-Outs

“You ready for this Stonefyre?”

It was a bright October morning, just enough of a chill in the air to make it nice for a comfortable hoodie without overheating like they might have several weeks ago in early September. School had begun the same as always, but along with it came the fact that, like always, this year’s third years were taking on more of a workload than they had previously. New classes introduced on top of all their core required ones but also more opportunities for things than they had had before. Like Quidditch. It was rare for anyone under the third year to get chosen for the team and if they were, they were typically on the second string of back-up players for if a game ran too long or someone got too injured to continue which was always a real possibility. There had been plenty of excitement as well as nerves running wild in the Gryffindor third year dorms the night before with the knowledge that the team’s try-outs were starting in the morning. Not every single third year would be trying out, of course, but a fair few of them planned on it and their friends had built them up with anticipation. Currently, the wind was blowing just enough to kick up slightly long honey blonde locks and dark curls, pink ribbons dancing as several of the third years made their way down the well trodden path that led to the Quidditch pitch. A pair of identical green-eyed boys and a slightly smaller brunette girl sticking close enough together that their shoulders would bump into one another without any kind of thought to it. They had always been connected in a way, first by family and age, and then through a friendship that had simply grown as they had. It was Danny who had spoken, a bit of a crooked but otherwise nervous grin on his face as he bumped his elbow gently into Ophelia’s shoulder. They were both Gryffindors, trying out together, and while they hadn’t exactly always gotten along very well and Danny still got a great deal of fun picking on her, they were definitely friends, especially when it came down to such important things like this. Their third was their shared cousin, David, sunny and bright as he bounced along with encouraging words, his smile reassuring as he told them over and over how well they were going to do. Being in Hufflepuff, he technically wasn’t supposed to be attending the Gryffindor tryouts so no possible team secrets would be given away to a different house. He would most likely have to say goodbye once they reached the pitch, but Danny and Ophelia would still have each other if things went south.

The closer they got to the pitch the more Danny’s stomach began to swirl with uncomfortable anxiety. He knew that if he wanted on the team, then he had to try out for it like everybody else. He had been reassured over the summer by Ophelia’s older sister Cordelia who was currently a sixth year on the team and had been since her second year, which was rare, that he was going to do just fine. They had practiced together plenty over the summer with each other and with their shared aunt who was a professional Beater. Ophelia had joined them, but she was aiming more for a Chaser position, her body small enough to whip under and over and through other people with more ease than someone taller would have, able to squish herself down closer to her broom. It was a good skill to have and Auntie Ember had worked with her just as much, trying her best to make her feel more sure of herself. Now, the day of reckoning had come and whatever result they got… well, it would be a yes or a no. They could always try out again next year when they were older if they didn’t make it on this year. More practice, more perseverance and determination to do better the second time. Danny was worried, already knowing that there were several other students who had their eye on the open Beater position he was aiming for. Ophelia would also have her work cut out for her, so even though he was smiling at her as he asked if she was ready, underneath it was nervousness swimming in his eyes. He knew his friend would also be feeling the same, because even if she tried not to show it too often, all three of them knew she was as soft and squishy as a marshmallow on the inside.

As they reached the entrance to the pitch, David waved goodbye, saying that he’d be back around lunch to see how things were going. Try outs could take most of the day depending on how many people were there and what kind of plays the captain had decided to run them through in order to locate the best players. There would be about an hour break around noon for lunch and then back to business. As the day went on, people would be cut out based on skill, leaving only the most promising prospects battling it out until either enough people had been cut or it was time for dinner and the captain would convene with the rest of the players already on the team to discuss who would be the best fit. A sheet would be hung up in the common room within a few days, letting them know who got what, both first and second strings and then, if need be, a third back up if anything happened to the others. Usually they were only needed if someone had been injured severely enough to be unable to play but even then, with magic and their fantastic matron, most of those kinds of things tended to be fairly easy to fix with a potion or spell and a good night’s rest.

Stepping out onto the pitch, his broomstick over his shoulder, Danny found that there were at least two dozen other people here waiting for things to get started. They were chattering, some wishing each other good luck, others glaring from one group at another as if daring them to even try to beat them. A need to prove themselves, to show what they were really made of, tended to be a common trait among Gryffindor house, but so was friendly competition. Danny stayed close to Ophelia as they joined several of the other third years who were feeling ballsy enough to give it a go. He didn’t speak to any of them aside, giving a simple head nod of acknowledgment considering he shared a dorm with most of these guys. He wasn’t super friendly with them, but he didn’t tend to be a dick either, kind of keeping to himself. It was easier that way, not getting close to anyone and simply sticking with his family. With the people who already knew and weren’t going to start asking questions if they noticed that something seemed to be up with him. Like why he would sometimes miss classes for a couple of days without getting in trouble for skipping and no amount of asking ever did anyone any good. Danny certainly wasn’t going to be telling them, and neither were Danny or Ophelia or any of her siblings. Even her little brother who had just begun his first year hadn’t spilled the truth when it had been brought up in conversation. It simply just was and while it felt ‘unfair’ that he got away with it, none of the professors seemed to think anything of it either.

“They’re all just as nervous.” Danny whispered, leaning in to tell Ophelia without anyone else really overhearing him. He could hear several conversations going on all at once, honing in on one and then another, until the noise died down as the captain finally came out of the locker room followed by the remaining members of last year’s team. Cordelia’s red hair was easy to spot, always kind of wild and as unruly as she tended to be. Danny’s nerves lessened ever so slightly. While Cordelia was hard on him when they were training, she was also someone he could rely on to tell things to him honestly without worrying about protecting his feelings.

“We’re going to start with just a few basic drills to test how well you all do on a broom and then move on to the separate positions. After lunch, we’ll scrimmage.” The captain announced, holding up her clipboard. “Let’s start with Reed, Patterson, O’Connell, Stonefyre, and Thomas. This end of the pitch, we’re going to send your through some obstacles but you won’t know what they are until you get to them. The rest of you lot need to go sit in the locker room so you can’t cheat, I’ll call you each out by group as we proceed.”

Danny looked at Ophelia who seemed to be momentarily frozen in place. He reached out, giving a tug on one of her pigtails, not as hard as he might have when they were five but definitely enough to get her attention and a mild look of irritation. He smiled, just a little, finding the familiarness soothing. “Good luck.”

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stopcryingsomuchlittlegirl · 9 months

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Ophelia was sliding off her broom before her feet even hit the ground, more than used to the sensation of dismounting at this point that she didn’t have to think about. She was graceful, Ophelia, as her feet finally made contact with the grass with a gentle thump beside Danny. She laid her broom down at her feet. He put her water bottle down and the witch sighed as she picked it up to find it mostly empty. She had only just begun to fill it with an aguamente charm when a familiar tug on her right pig tail had her tilting her head. She grinned at Danny’s question, pausing to finish filling her water bottle before she turned her attention more fully to him, mischief sparkling in her blue eyes.

“On purpose of course.” Ophelia answered, “You know I play to win.” She paused before adding with a snort, “Silly boy.”

In truth though, Ophelia hadn’t meant to call for Danny. That was a dirty play and though she didn’t mind a bit of conniving and truth stretching here and there, especially to get out of trouble, she was a better sport than that. She took quidditch seriously. Respected the sport. It was just. . . well she was so used to playing with Danny. She had called for him on instinct. They had done that play over a hundred times at home. They had been playing together since they were in nappies, working together was like breathing.

She took a long chug of her water, swallowing down the truth and letting him think she was far more clever than she actually was. As she recapped it, handing it back off to Danny’s grabbing hands -Seriously, where was his water bottle?!- Kara came bounding over and through her arms around Ophelia’s neck. She was surprised at this, Ophelia, not because she disliked Kara but because they weren’t that close. She hadn’t expected it, but it seemed that didn’t matter to Kara right now.

“We were awesome!” She cheered. Ophelia smiled fully revealing the gap in her teeth. She thought so to.

“I know!” She enthused squeezing Kara back finally.

Kara Bellamy was a tall, lithe, umber skinned girls with long dark braids and sharp golden eyes. She had known her for a long time, having dormed together since first year, but she tended to run in a tight friend group. Maybe, especially if they both made the team, Ophelia would finally be able to make a close female mate. She loved Danny and David but a few more girls around might be fun. Like a grown up Maggie, Ophelia thought with delight. Maggie, her little cousin was an absolute treat beloved by Ophelia, but with the age gap there wasn’t always much Ophelia could talk to her about yet other than clothes and dolls.

“Good looking out for us Cathers.” Kara teased still hanging off of Ophelia.

“It’s not his fault,” Ophelia interjected, her face becoming more gentle as she stood up for one of her two best mates, “He’s used to practicing with me at home. I’d have had my head caved in by a bludger a long time ago if not for him.”

“Let’s hope if one of you makes the team so does the other then.” Kara said, finally disentangling from Ophelia.

“I hope all three of us make the team.” Ophelia said more optimistically eyes moving from Kara to Danny.

“Anyone but Reed, really.” Kara drawled not caring that the wizard in question was only a few feet away. Kara was not exactly known for her decorum. Ophelia didn’t voice it, but she grinned in agreement. The bloke was a tool bag on and off the pitch. She doubted even if he did make it he’d be able to work in a team long enough to even make it to the first game of the season.

“Let’s hit the showers and grab a bite.” Kara said, looping her arm through Ophelia’s. The former looked back to Danny in surprise, before Kara added, without looking back, “You too, Cathers.” Ophelia swept up her broom and water bottle cocking her head at Danny urging him to follow.

“When do you reckon the list ‘ill be up?” Kara asked as the three moved off the pitch and into the locker rooms, gathering their packs. Ophelia realized after a moment, it wasn’t an errant quesiton but one directed truly towards her. She shrugged. How would she know.

“After Delia and Sam talk it over, I guess.” She offered. Was it expected she knew more? Ophelia looked to Danny for his best guess. Ophelia paused, watching as Kara bent over a bench and toed off her boots, intent, Ophelia realized, on having a clean up here. The shorter witch’s arms tightened around her things. She hadn’t thought about that. Was it expected she’d shower here. . .to be comfortable changing in front of. . . of blokes? She was no stranger to changing in front of other girls, she shared a room both at home and school. She could feel Danny’s presence press against hers though, as well as the other males in the room. She wasn’t comfortable with this. Her own body, which had only just begun to change, was still foreign and awkward and scary to Ophelia. She wasn’t ready to have anyone else see all the pieces of herself she couldn’t bear to acknowledge yet.

“I’m showering back at Gryffindor,” Ophelia said, backing away from Kara, “I f-forgot my towel.” She lied, fumbling with her water bottle slightly. She slung her pink hello-kitty pack over her shoulders and righter her broom.

“See you then,” Kara said easily before heading back herself to the showers. Ophelia turned on her heel and split, forgetting about Danny momentarily as she tried to fight the blush from her face. She began to trudge back up to the castle.

The Try-Outs

“You ready for this Stonefyre?”

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stopcryingsomuchlittlegirl · 11 months

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“It probably looks worse than it is. . .” Ophelia said softly, mostly to herself as she watched one of the older Gryffindor be helped off the pitch by his team mates. Danny had seemed to know the last set of try outs were over so she had followed him, broom in hand when he moved back out of he locker room and onto the pitch again. The rest of the students that had tried out trailed out after Ophelia and Danny, pooling around Cordelia and her co captain, Sam Rollins, ready to listen to the next set of instructions.

They would be scrimmaging, Cordelia had announced once all those trying out and the remaining House team were out on the pitch. She blended the group before splitting them down the middle as best she could, making sure each time had at least one player for each position. Ophelia had thought this meant it was a sure thing her and Danny would be together but Cordelia surprised them by separating them. Danny and reed both ended up on the opposite team while Ophelia had herself as chaser, Kara as Keeper, and Tofer as Beater with the rest of the positions filled by members of the existing house team.

“These are bare bones teams.” Cordelia called out to the Gryffindors on either side of her, “So we will be playing a twenty minute game. Don’t get confused, this scrimmage is not about points.”

“No,” Sam called out from behind her, “We are looking for team work, adaptability and reflexes.” His voice was strong and booming. Sam’s tall muscular form was a good match in Ophelia’s opinion to her sister as a captain. They both demanded attention and obedience.

“Am I looking for broom tricks and Quaffle Hogs?” Same asked the two teams.

“No” they echoed back. Sam gave a sharp nod of approval.

“Good, now mount your brooms.” Cordelia called. The two teams scrambled into formation on either side of the pitch’s center starting line before swinging their legs over their brooms. Ophelia looked across the line to the other team, her eyes searching for Danny’s. She found his gaze seeking hers as well.

“Good luck,” Ophelia whispered. Her team mates wouldn’t be able to hear it, but she knew Danny would be able to with his condition. She gave him a teasing grin as well before adding, “You’ll need it.” Ophelia, though usually a gentle creature, had always been unexpectedly competitive when it came to games. And now, as she brought her goggles back down over her eyes, was no different.

“Riders up,” Cordelia called as she opened a large case on the grass beside her. She reached in and extracted several enchanted sphered. Same beside her blew a whistle just as his co captain released the Quaffle. The scrimmage then begun everyone pushing off and rocketing up as fast as they could. Ophelia darted under her team mates, starting at the perimeter to get her sights on the red quaffle from advantageous angle. She could tell out of the corner of her eye that the opposing team was doing the same.

Fuck, one of the other teams chasers was diving, Ophelia scanned and found Kara going in the same direction. Ophelia pushed her broom down and lengthened out along it, sending herself flying through the tangle of air born Gryffindors, her eyes set on the same red ball Kara was as well. She could see Kara outstretched on her own broom now only a few inches ahead of Ophelia, hand nearly brushing the Red quaffle just as Reed was closing in as well. Ophelia braced herself and changed trajectory, going over Kara and darting at Reed. She swept by him enough to graze, but not throw him off his broom. Either way it Spooked him and Kara was able to close a gloved hand around the quaffle. Hell yeah.

Ophelia then wrenched her broom up, getting higher up and open for Kara to throw to. Kara looked over her shoulder and spotted Ophelia. She whipped an arm back before launching the quaffle to Ophelia. However before she could get the quaffle into her own hold, a bludger made contact with her broom, sending her spinning, the quaffle going right past her. Ophelia Swore as she watched The ball fall right into Reed’s direction. She righted herself before diving down to the ground and jumping off her broom. She bolted across the pitch to touch the opposing team’s hoop before she was jumping back on her broom and launching herself once more full speed into the chaos.

Things were not looking good for her team, she realized quickly as her eyes saw Reed passing the Quaffle right over Kara to his chasing partner. This was what sucked about playing bare bones. There was only two chasers rather than the usual two, which meant Kara was out their alone right now. Ophelia made for her, but she realized as soon as she was back in the thick of things that bludgers were being aimed at her. Her eyes went from Danny to Tofer as she realized she’d have to bait them.

Ophelia pushed forward, hurrying towards where Kara, Reed, and his team mate were locked up with the Quaffle. They were currently trying to pry it from her hands in a familiar two on one, but Ophelia broke it up by diving straight into and quite literally pulling Kara away from them. It was risky, but at least Kara still had the Quaffle.

“Let’s get the beaters to take out Reed,” Ophelia yelled to Kara over the wind whipping around them as they tore towards the enemy's hoop. “He’d be the easier to get and then it’s two on one.” Kara gave a nod and the two girls changed course. Instead of going up and over, the dove straight ahead making it easy for the chasers to take aim. The girls slowed, allowing Reed and his partner to catch up before they doubled back heading towards the beaters this time. But they didn’t go to hide behind their team’s beaters, they were heading towards the opposing team’s beaters, Kara waving the Quaffle tauntingly, driving Reed crazy.

Perhaps they were getting too cocky though, because while she was looking over her shoulder at Kara, she nearly got decapitated by a bludger aimed at her head. he whipped around to see Tofer had locked onto her. Ophelia and Kara dove together, baiting Reed after them. Another bludger came nearly getting Reed this time, but Tofer was better than she thought because in the next moment a second bludger was hurtling towards her and she was packed too tightly in to get a clean escape. Blonde hair was visible in her peripheral and it was on instinct she shouted for him, forgetting for a moment they were on opposite teams.

“Danny!” Ophelia shouted, “Bludger!” She took the ball from Kara and dove behind Danny.

The Try-Outs

“You ready for this Stonefyre?”

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stopcryingsomuchlittlegirl · 2 years

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Ophelia slowed by the door to the locker room, letting Reed move past her. There was a swell of voices as he entered, the sound of eager questions and prodding jokes reaching Ophelia’s ears, but her attention was elsewhere. Her light eyes were fixed back over her shoulder on Danny’s receding form. She watched the blonde of his hair and the breath of his shoulders until he was lost in the small crowd of Gryffindor quidditch players out on the pitch. He would do great, Ophelia told herself, despite the way nerves were already making her chew at her bottom lip. She was a nervous thing, Ophelia, but did well to keep it to herself behind a blank face as best she could. She was one of many children, and it never did well to upset the younger ones by having them see their big sister fretting to bits. She had hid her feelings away so much that now it was second nature.

Ophelia took a practiced breath and tore her eyes away. She walked into the locker room where she noted most of the others trying out were piled nearly atop each other in the corner. She watched for a moment, unsure of what was going on until there was a tussling of bodies and noises; some were cheers, while the others defeated sounds and curses. They were watching the try outs.

“Look at Cathers-” And that was all it took. In the next moment Ophelia’s broom hit the ground with a ‘clack’ and she was elbowing her way through the small gaggle of students. Light from outside poured through the hole in the stone wall the students had been looking through and Ophelia took her opportunity to observe.

“He looks good out there.” Ophelia recognized it was Kara’s voice beside her but she had no idea who out there she could be talking about. The students trying out where hard to see from this angle and distance, but eventually Ophelia’s eyes zeroed in on a familiar head of blond hair. Danny. She saw him swoop and dive, and knew he would be just fine. Him, her, and David had grown up doing much more questionable and dangerous stunts on their brooms than that, but then came the birds, oh god and the tracking blugers aims right at his head. There was blood on her lips by the time Danny was touching down next to Wulf, and Ophelia let out a sigh. She closed her eyes a moment and leaned her head against the cool of the stone. He did good, better than her actually. Thank Merlin they trained all summer.

By the time they were joined by the other contestants back in the locker rooms, Ophelia had cleaned up her lip and was sitting with her kit on the bench, water bottle at her feet. It was still the pink hello kitty bottle she had gotten before her first year, but never quite outgrew.

Danny and Tofer came in together, but Ophelia was only looking at the former. She grinned teasingly as he sat beside her, and she pulled a feather from his hair.

“I’m too quick for that.” She answered slickly. She was a chaser after all, she had to be fast, but more so her tactic was to stay on the edge of the fray, rather than in it, and attack from a blind spot. Ophelia wasn’t dumb enough to rely on sheer luck and skill, she was strategic and she played to her advantages.

“You did awesome out there.” Ophelia complimented before taking a sip form the water bottle Danny had just pushed into her hands. “Auntie Ember would be proud.”

The Try-Outs

“You ready for this Stonefyre?”

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stopcryingsomuchlittlegirl · 2 years

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“Yeah.’ Ophelia’s voice was small despite her response. She was nervous, to the point she was putting all of her focus into not letting her hands shake. Instead she had them white knuckled around her broom.

It was an older one, having been Cordelia’s until she was given a new one for her birthday over the summer. But her father had improved upon it, helping to better fit it to Ophelia rather than his oldest daughter. They played different positions, Ophelia and Cordelia, and thus required different things from this same broom. Cordelia had needed something sturdy and durable, Ophelia was more worried about speed and flexibility. Danny had Beater covered, she’d be trying out for Chaser.

It had seemed a natural position for Ophelia, at least according to Auntie Ember. Ophelia had always been small and attentive, even if she did need glasses. But she had just begun to fill out over the summer and though it wasn’t anything impressive. she was worried the extra few pounds would slow her down. Which meant she would need to try even harder than usual to make it on the house team.

She looked beside her to Danny who seemed to be doing his best to keep her in good spirits, but she could see his nervousness. She may not be able to smell it like him, but they had spent more than enough time together for her to pick up on the facial ques many others not as close to him would miss. Ophelia kept her face impassive a possible, her tell tale being the way she clenched her jaw. But she wasn’t about to let her competition see her flinch.

Arriving at the pitch, Ophelia noticed several other familiar faces. The Gryffindor quidditch team needed to fill out a couple of spots on their first string to compensate for last years graduates, but they also had a lot of spots open for second string. Ophelia knew these secondary positions to be just as important as primary. ‘These are the seeds of your team’ Ember had explained, ‘If you can get them young enough, you can take the raw talent and grow them into exceptional players.’ Ophelia recognized Kara, her dorm mate sitting on the bench in her quidditch gear outside the locker room. he was a popular girl, not quite Ophelia’s mate but not unkind either. She waved to the trio when she saw them. Christopher Wulf, or Tofer as he was called, was also trying out it seemed. He was another third year from Danny’s dorm. There was another boy she knew from Gryffindor in their year she couldn’t name, but the rest of those trying out were older than Danny, Ophelia, and David.

“I know,” Ophelia answered back as they settled by the other third years waiting by the locker room. The rest of the Gryffindor team touched down a few yards ahead of them, the captain with a clipboard in her hands. Ophelia caught siht of her sister, Cordelia’s fluffy red ponytail standing out against their surrounding like a flame caught in the wind. They caught eyes for a second, but Ophelia couldn’t make out the emotion, if any on her sister’s face. She couldn’t embarrass her today.

As the names were called, Ophelia shrugged off her kit, leaving it by Danny. He reached out for her and she felt the familiar tug on her right ponytail. It was a teasing gesture, one he knew well used to infuriate her but now she was more used to it. She looked back to find an encouraging look on his face that swept away any ire she might feel. He wished her good luck.

“I don’t need it.” She lied. She would just fake the confidence until she had it, she supposed. Ophelia lowered her googles onto her head, charmed to correct her vision like her glasses and took a deep breath. She then turned around and headed out to the pitch for drills.

The drills weren’t hard, and she soon realized that Cordelia had been conditioning them for this over the summer. Ophelia had thought she was going through some angsty teenager stuff and playing too rough with them, she was prone to be over competitive that one, but it the made the drills now seem more natural. It gave her an edge. Especially over poor Patterson who she knew was muggleborn and probably didn't have the opportunity to practice at home like she did. He still had some raw talent though. Her true competition, Ophelia identified, was Adam Reed. He was slim, and fast, and knew all the same tricks as her as to how to get his body to lengthen out along the broom. The two of them remained neck and neck in each drill up till the very end until the drills where they nearly crashed to the ground huffing and puffing. Ophelia’s curls were frizzed and wind blown, and Adam’s brown hair was sticking up in all different directions.

“Good job Stonefyre. . . you almost. . . kept up.” He said in-between breathes.” his hands on his knees.

“Eat shit. . .and choke. . .Reed.” Ophelia huffed right back.

“Watch your mouth you two.” One of the older kids called at them. Reed’s face screwed up, upset because it wasn’t him that was swearing. He glared at Ophelia who stuck her tongue out at him.

“Alright, thats enough.” The captain called. “Back to the locker room with you lot. Now I need Amaral. . .Penn. . .Wulf. . .and Cathers.” Despite swearing at each other, Ophelia and Reed walked back to the locker room together, still both Gryffindors after all. They passed Danny on the way and Ophelia gave his shoulder a pat.

“Easy peasy.” She assured with a wink.

The Try-Outs

“You ready for this Stonefyre?”

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Ophelia was relieved if anything to be going home. Well, she always was happy to be back with her family, but especially after this horrible term. Danny and her were still not talking, and this had gone on longer than ever before. Just like how the last time they were not speaking had gone on longer than they had ever gone before that. It felt like as they grew, they were growing apart and everyday time was speeding up, draggin the two of them farther and farther away from each other. Danny had fallen out of Ophelia's reach. He was still Danny, he still knew her secrets, how she liked her tea, her favorite books, how many times she folded her croissants. He still had the same blonde hair and green eyes and familiar face he always had. It was just. . . now it wasn’t her friend Danny, her childhood mate Danny. Now he was just Danny Cathers, someone she used to know.

It hurt her heart, and on more than one occasion she had shared her feelings with David. He was a sympathetic ear and a great support, but he was trying to play the middle ground. Just because Danny and Ophelia were not speaking anymore, did not mean David and Danny weren’t. Ophelia wouldn’t have wanted it that way either, they were closer than close, those two. More like twins than even brothers. Ophelia could make it on her own, she had her mates, her siblings, and . . . and Tofer. Ugh, Tofer.

Ophelia thought she was used to being smothered, her and her siblings practically lived on top of each other at home, but this was an all new sort of closeness. It wasn’t just hand holding or hugs anymore with her “boyfriend” it was an invasive emotional closeness as well. Constantly he was asking her questions, urging her to ask questions of him, to be with her at all waking moments it was just entirely too much for the young gryffindor. She found herself spending more and more time in her dorm because of it, even with the vile Maria there as well. If only to have some time to herself. She felt quite guilty about this, Ophelia, especially considering she knew girlfriends were supposed to want this sort of relationship with their beau, right? He was kind and funny but even though she knew he was good for her, Ophelia couldn’t force feelings to be there that weren’t. She liked Tofer, but she didn’t fancy him.

So by the time the Scarlet steam engine was dropping them off at Kings Cross station, she was breathing a sigh of relief. She could already spot her parents waiting in anticipation, the smiling faces of her aunts beside them.

“Call me, yeah?” Tofer encouraged, his face hopeful. He handed over the sparkly pink bag he’d been kind enough to carry off the train back to it’s owner.

“O’course.” Ophelia promised with a nod. A conversation over the phone in a few days wouldn’t be bad, right? She might even miss him by that point.

“R-right, I’m off then.” She smiled and went to turn, but Tofer reached for her hand and pulled her in. Ophelia grimaced and shut her eyes.

“Yer folks are waiving you down.”

Ophelia opened her eyes to see a hand planted on Tofer’s forehead, holding him in place. She followed the connected arm back to find Ernst standing there looking grim. Tofer backed away, intimidated by the older boy but paid Ophelia a small smile and wave before going to find his family.

“Ophelia, Ophelia.” Ernst tisked with a shake of his head, “What you are doing to that boy is cruel.” He ruffled his sister’s head before putting her into a head lock and dragging her back towards their family.

“It’s n-none of your-beeswax.” she muttered in protest, but Ernst only tightened his hold.

Eveleen and Coal welcomed their children warmly, as they always did, but it became clear quiet quickly to the little gryffindor when they arrived home something was wrong between her parents. Ophelia had always been hyper aware of her own feelings and those of her loved ones, and the tension between her parents was sharp enough to cut with. Her father who could usually be seen trailing after his wife, brushing her hair off her shoulders and placing many affectionate kisses on her head and cheeks was keeping his distance, busying himself with the younger ones or going out to the shed to work.

Maybe they had a fight, Ophelia mused. Her parents didn’t argue much, they had been together for so long that they knew their partner like the back of each other’s hands. But she had seen them squabble on occasion, the stress of having to raise ten children can cause some easy irritability. But in the days to pass, nothing lessened. And she realized on her first night home that Coal wasn't even sleeping in their bedroom anymore, he’d been relegated to the big couch in the living room. This. . .this was bad. Her father had never been kicked out of the bedroom before. Usually if they were spatting, her parents seemed to be made up when they came out of their shared room the next morning. Things had gone wrong and soon Ophelia understood just how sour things had turned. It had been the middle of the night when she happened upon her parents in the kitchen, her father standing opposite of her mother, his jammies on while Eveleen was pulling on a traveling cloak.

“You can’t keep doing this, please Eveleen.” Coal begged. Ophelia halted at the edge of the hallway, just out of range for the light streaming in from the kitchen to reach.

“I do not have time for this.” Eveleen snapped back, sounding irritated and tired, “We’re not having this conversation again.” Eveleen moved across the room quickly, grabbing her bag by the door and an umbrella. Coal followed after her, but Ophelia stayed rooted, watching from her position in the corridor as her father tried to stop her mother.

“You’re gone every night, not coming back till god knows when, then you go to work. What about the kids, what about us.” It was Coal who said this, his voice still pleading.

“I can’t talk about this right now, I need to leave,” Eveleen denied further. The witch pulled the front door open, but Coal caught it, not letting her open it all the way as he bent closer.

“Then when can you? You’re never home, you’re always there.” He sounded hurt, and dread began to fill Ophelia’s chest. Where was her mother going at an hour like this? Why was she always there? Why did she suddenly not have the time to even have a conversation with her husband? But there was no retort from Eveleen, only a door slam. Ophelias scurried away before she could see Coal’s face or he could see her, drink of water forgotten. This couldn’t be good, in all honesty it seemed like her mum might be up to something no good. At least, thats what their conversation had pointed to. The staying out late, the fighting, all were tropes played out in books and movies by the cheating spouse. But that wasn’t like Eveleen, Ophelia reminded herself. Her parents loved each other, right? Hadn’t they always? Why would all of a sudden things change? What could have happened while she was away at school?

Tears began to burn in Ophelia’s eyes as she curled back into bed amongst Hadley and Maggie’s warm tiny bodies. The room was quieter this evening without Cordelia’s snores. The triplets had stayed back at Hogwarts for their final Spring semester, wanting access to the library in order to study for their OWLS. Supposedly.

But in that moment Ophelia wished more than anything that her older siblings had been home, she would have gone straight to Darcy and woken him up. He would know what to do. He always did. Instead Ophelia and Ernst were the oldest siblings in the house at almost fifteen and sixteen. Maybe she’d tell Ernst in the morning, then they could figure something out.

Or Danny, a quiet voice in the back of her mind said. Ophelia sniffled and brought her favorite rainbow stuffed animal closer. No, Danny wasn’t an option anymore. It wasn’t like he would know what to do anyway. No, Ophelia had to figure this out on her own for now.

Days went by, and nothing improved. Her mother was still going out in the dead of night, speaking to Coal less and less, and barely making it through the days. Ophelia could see the dark circles growing beneath eveleen’s eyes but she found herself unable to say anything about it. If. . .if Eveleen really was cheating on Coal. . .Ophelia could hardly bring herself to think of such a thing. What would she say to her mother then? Ophelia began to withdraw, spending more and more time by herself and just thinking. She wasn’t gardening or playing aor even baking anymore. She hadn’t replied to her friends in days. Instead she would spend most of her time on the back porch with a book she never ended up actually reading, biting her fingers to the nubs in worry. What was she going to do?

My mother is doing what now!?

Danny was pissed. Now, this wasn’t a particularly new feeling for the Gryffindor who had spent a good portion of his life being perpetually angry about things he typically had no control over. Mina, his dad, annoying classmates, the tag in the back of his t-shirts that Grammy always had to remove completely by taking out the stitching, thunderstorms during Quidditch, Darcy up his ass about schoolwork or why he’d gotten detention again, when he outgrew his socks and they started to ride down in his shoes, the list went on and on. However, none of the upsets Danny had experienced in his life had properly prepared him for the anger he felt coursing through his body when that asshole Tofer pulled Ophelia into a hug when they had gotten back from comforting David. It had shocked the blond to see his mate touching his other mate but it had only gotten worse when Tofer had pushed hair back from her face, taken her hand, and led Ophelia to sit over in a corner with some of his mates. Danny had stood there in shock, mouth partially open as Ophelia had glanced back at him over her shoulder, her face red and blotchy from crying. What had made her so upset Danny wasn’t sure. She had showed up at Hufflepuff with puffy eyes that were all too familiar but when questions she had simply brushed it off. It was nothing, but the boys had been concerned. She hadn’t even told David what was going on and when the pair had left him fast asleep with caramel on one cheek and an apple slice in his hand, she still hadn’t talked to Danny. The walk back to Gryffindor had been awkwardly silent and things had only gotten worse when they’d entered the common room.

Word traveled fast, as it always did among gossiping teenagers. Tofer had asked Ophelia out and she had agreed. There was a lot of whispering behind hands, side glances at Danny before people went back to their conversations. The boy could have tuned in to pick up more of what they were talking about, but there were so many different voices that it would be difficult for him to decipher properly With his luck, he would have gotten one person talking to someone and then answers from someone in a completely different part of the room. No, crowds didn’t work unless he was listening for something specific, like a voice he recognized. Ophelia’s girl friends had beckoned to him but he’d ignored them, his eyes locked on pink ribbons that were dangerously close to coming loose from brunette curls. Soon though, Danny hadn’t been able to deal with it any longer and retreated up to the dorm and the quiet. The pair of other boys in there didn’t say a word, as if sensing the foreboding energy rippling off the blond. They knew better than to irritate Danny when he was already in a mood. It wouldn’t do well for either of them to get in a fight.

The Gryffindor tried. He really did. At first he attempted to act unconcerned about the fact that suddenly, Tofer was there joining them for breakfast, but it took a great deal of effort not to punch the guy in the face. He had told him it wasn’t a good idea! That Ophelia wasn’t ready for such things. She hadn’t even known they had been on a date until he and Kara had pointed it out for her, wasn’t that enough of an indication that Ophelia was still too… too… Ophelia? Besides, while Danny had always liked Tofer well enough, there was also the issue of the fact that he knew Ophelia didn’t like him. She had told Danny so in the privacy of the girls’ bathroom when she’d been fixing him up. She had someone she did fancy, but it wasn’t Tofer. So why the hell had she agreed to date him if she didn’t have feelings for him? At the end of the day Danny decided it was either because Ophelia was absolutely convinced this other person would never want her or because she had genuinely felt bad for Tofer and decided to make it up to him. Whatever the reason though, Danny began to cave after about a week of trying to deal with it.

The second week was worse. Tofer appeared to have gotten even more comfortable when it came to being with Ophelia. He would carry her books and hold her hand. They would sit together for meals and in shared classes. Ophelia spent time with Tofer in the evenings, studying or chatting in a corner among their friends. Danny had begun avoiding them. While at one point he had been comfortable just hanging out with the girls and Ophelia, it was much different now with the added boys in the mix. He didn’t enjoy seeing the way Tofer kissed Ophelia’s temple or squeeze her hand or rubbed the tip of his nose against her cheek affectionately. The way he lit up when she walked into the room, bouncing a bit like an excited puppy, giving her tight hugs that had, at one time, been reserved for him and David. And Danny, especially, did not like the way Tofer touched Ophelia’s ribbons and hair. After watching the boy give the brunette a gentle tug on one of her pigtails one evening, Danny finally lost his cool.

“Don’t fucking pull her hair!” The blond spoke up, his voice loud at it rose over the din of the common room, face full of anger. He was sitting with David, going over some homework on one of the couches by the fireplace, but he kept looking up to peek over at the corner with Ophelia was usually hanging out with Tofer and their mates lately. Tofer jumped slightly, startled as he looked up and then, with surprise, realized that he was the one Danny was staring at. “She doesn’t like it!”

And it’s my job. Danny thought silently to himself. He had vague memories of being very small, maybe two or three and spotting those bobbling pigtails tied with even longer pink ribbons on top of Ophelia’s head. Even back then she had been shorter than him and David despite being two months older. He hadn’t been able to help himself from reaching out, chubby hands snatching at her hair and toppling them both over backwards while she wailed. The reaction had pleased him and soon the shouts of ‘Dabby pull me ‘airs!’ became a regular occurrence and Danny learned what ‘time out’ was. While growing up Danny had continued to tug at Ophelia’s pigtails to blatantly annoy her because he knew it would get a rise out of her. As they got older though, within the past couple of years, it had become less vicious and more of a way to get her attention instead. Danny wasn’t sure why it was he liked Ophelia’s hair so much, but perhaps it was the way it curled across her forehead or how soft it felt between his fingers, or the deep shade of brown that turned golden when the light hit it just right or perhaps the way it contrasted so nicely with her blue eyes, making them seem to pop out all the more from her face… Whatever the reason though, Danny hated Tofer touching it. What right did he have to do such a thing?

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This felt wrong. All of it, from beginning to end. Ophelia and Tofer dating, Ophelia and Danny not speaking, all of it was backwards and not what it should be. Ophelia could not outrun this sinking feeling in her stomach that grew every single day, like a lead ball growing within her, slowly pulling her into the ground. Tofer was a nice guy. Kind and funny and handsome. She should count her blessings that such a good guy had taken a fancy to her, shouldn’t she? Who cared about Danny, he was just a childhood friend, practically family, wasn’t it better this way?

But no, Ophelia was quite aware of the truth, things were not better this way. Even if Danny never returned her feelings, that didn’t mean she should keep up this game with Tofer. Every touch from him, every hug and smile and caress, it added to the weight Ophelia felt inside. He cared for her in a way she cared for Danny, and just like him she could not return the affections of the one that loved her. It was all very dramatic and she did not understand how everything had spun on it’s head so fast.

Just last week Danny had come to fetch Ophelia so they could find David, and now he wasn’t even speaking to her. At first he seemed to not even care that her and Tofer were dating, but then he stopped talking to Ophelia altogether, phasing her out of the space in his life she had previously taken up, as if Tofer had taken her off his hands; A problem his mate had relieved him of. To think that as close as they were, well, had been, that was all Ophelia meant to Danny was an extremely painful thing.

Things were already bad between Ophelia and Danny, but then suddenly, they grew even worse. It started in the common room with a yell from across the room. She had been sitting with Tofer and her friends, his fingers twining into her ponytails. She kept tossing her hair, trying to free his fingers from her hair but Tofer didn’t seem to be getting the message. Until there was a shout and Ophelia immediately recognized it to be Danny’s voice. Tofer it seemed did as well. Ophelia turned slightly, shrunk against the couch but still curious as to what was going on. She could see Tofer’s face out of her peripheral and he did not look pleased.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Tofer shot back at Danny. Ophelia flinched at his words, she had never heard him talk like that.

“If she had a problem with it, she’d tell me herself!” Tofer said loudly. He was standing now facing Danny and even though Ophelia was no longer looking at the blonde, she could feel his eyes. She could feel everyone's eyes and the pressure was over whelming. Ophelia reached for Tofer’s sleeve and gave a tug. He looked to her, eyes softening as he saw the tears threatening to fall from her blue eyes.

“D-don’t talk t-to him like that.” Ophelia said quietly, her words barely more than a whisper.

“Ophelia,” Tofer muttered, breaking under her hurt gaze. But then Ophelia was jumping up turning rapidly and pointing an accusing finger at Danny.

“And d-don’t you t-talk to my b-boyfriend like that!” She snapped at the blond before adding an angry, “Hypocrite!” Her face went red with embarrassment and anger and a host of other emotions and she gave Tofer a hard shove.

“We’re leaving!” She informed him shoving him towards the portrait hole.

“O-our stuff,” Tofer objected, but Ophelia wasn’t having it, she had already made up her mind to storm out and she was taking Tofer with her. She pushed him all the way into the far corridor away from the tower stairs before Tofer was able to stop her by digging his heels into the stone floor.

“K-Keep going.” Ophelia muttered, trying to keep her voice even. However Tofer could hear the brokenness of it and he turned around to see the tears that had been lingering in Ophelia’s eyes earlier had fallen and were currently streaming down her face. Tofer sighed and reached down, taking her face in his hands and wiping at her tears.

“I’m sorry for yelling.” Tofer apologized but Ophelia shook her head. It wasn’t Tofer yelling that was the reason to her tears, it was Danny. It was always Danny, it always had been Danny and it always would be as well. Every feeling, every thought, every beat of her heart and breath of air in her lungs, it all seemed to be connected to him. He was such an idiot! If he didn’t care about her than why did it matter if Tofer was playing with her hair, they were together! Why did he have to keep stepping on her feelings like this?

My mother is doing what now!?

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Ophelia blinked, slightly stunned at Danny’s words. It was rare he spoke that much, even rarer on such a serious, emotion fueled topic. Did he think about it a lot then, the witch wondered, head cocking slightly. Her loosening bows gave a bob in response and as their eyes met Ophelia felt herself unable to move. She was caught up in him, mesmerized by his sudden introspection and presence. She swallowed, blue eyes bearing into his with a million questions until one had her straightening back out.

Do you like someone?

Ophelia had never had the nerve to ask it. Partly because she didn’t want to know. What if he did fancy someone and it wasn’t her? He had every right to of course, but Ophelia knew in her fragile heart such a thing would devastate her. Danny was hers, and although it was a possessive, childish, unfair thing to think, she felt it with every cell of her body. Hers, hers, hers, the monster inside Ophelia raged. Just like she was his. She had always felt it was an unspoken thing, even her new mates had picked up on it. But the words had never been agreed upon or even spoken aloud, so how was she to know.

Ophelia didn’t even get a chance to ask before Danny was moving her out of the way, his thoughts returning to David. Ophelia felt a wave of guilt wash over her but nodded. Yes David, they needed to be with him right now, comforting him and bringing him some delicious goodies. Luckily she had some caramel she had brought with her to school for just such an occasion up in her trunk back at the Tower.

“I-I have some caramel,” Ophelia told Danny, “You g-go get apples and I’ll meet you in Hufflepuff.”

And with that, the two split, up, each going their separate ways once outside the bathroom. Ophelia hurried quickly as she could through the corridors until she finally made it to the tower and took the stairs two at a time all the way up to her dorm. There, she greeted Alice and Jenny who sat doing homework on the bed, before quickly riffling through her trunk for the glass mason jar containing her cousin’s favorite sweet gooey deliciousness. Ophelia had perfected the art of caramel making, specifically to make David smile. She made her caramel with browned butter and a touch of fresh cream from Auntie Anne’s dairy cow to soften and lighten it.

On her way back though, Ophelia was unfortunately stopped by the last person she wanted to see. Tofer reached out, tugging on her sleeve as she tried to pass him by unnoticed, jar clutched in her hands. The boys he was with gave him a few playful elbows and whistles before departing, making Ophelia’s stomach drop with apprehension. Oh no.

“Can we talk for a minute?” Tofer asked?”

“I-I don’t r-really have the time.” Ophelia tried to say, he still however was holding onto the fabric of her sleeve.

“It will be quick,” Tofer promised with a smile, “I just wanted to tell you I had fun today. I hope you keep your promise and we can do it again soon.” He flashed a grin at Ophelia who had visibly winced at his words. She knew now after talking with David and Kara that what she had agreed to do with Tofer today had been a date and not just mates hanging out. She had concluded she’d have to tell him she didn’t feel the same way eventually, but she didn’t think it would be so soon.

“I don’t think thats a-a good idea.” Ophelia mumbled, looking away shyly. She felt bad to a certain degree, Tofer wasn’t a bad guy, she just didn’t think of him that way.

“What do you mean?” Tofer asked, finally letting go of Ophelia. His face though was completely crestfallen as if she had just snapped his favorite broom over her knee. Ophellia immediately felt guilty and back pedaled.

“I-I’m really s-s-sorry, Ididn’tknowitwasadate!” She explained quickly, going red in the face again.

“And you wouldn’t have agreed to go if you had known.” Tofer realized with a sigh. He seemed to deflate which made Ophelia feel even worse and as if she owed him some sort of further explanation.

“I h-have someone I f-fancy already. . . I’m r-really sorry. . .” Ophelia’s eyes fell now and she toed the stone floor awkwardly.

“Danny?” Tofer asked. The color that had just appeared on Ophelia’s face intensified and her eyes darted back up to Tofer’s wide with shock.

“W-wha- I d-don’t-” Ophelia dropped the jar and fumbled on the ground for it. Luckily it didn’t break, her mother having charmed most of the glass in their house to keep it’s shape.

“It’s okay, I know you do,” Tofer said sounding forlorn, “It’s pretty obvious. But I think you should know he doesn’t feel the same way about you, Ophelia. . .not the way I do.”

The color in Ophelia’s face drained as she heard the words she had been so worried about hearing all along. Danny didn’t feel the same way she did. She should have known, in retrospect. After all, look at all the intimate situations they’d shared, they’d has every opportunity to confess or explore those feelings, yet. . . nothing had come of it. But it was different to hear it out loud, and extremely embarrassing. Ophelia felt her eyes begin to burn with the tell tale sign of incoming tears.

“I like Danny, I really do. He’s my mate,” Tofer continued. He knelt down to where Ophelia was still crouched on the ground so that he was eye level with her once more.

“That’s why I asked him how he feels about you before I asked you out. I didn’t want to come between you to. But he told me he doesn’t think of you that way.”

Ophelia felt like the world was beginning to tilt, like everything was going off balance and she was becoming untethered. Her young heart gave a rattle in her chest before it broke into a million pieces. An actual pain tore through Ophelia’s chest, and the tears finally spilled over the edge of her eyes. She choked back the sob and sniffed.

“If he can’t see your worth, he doesn’t deserve you.” Tofer said softly. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Ophelia, bringing her to his chest. Ophelia, who had just been cut by the sharp shards of one’s fist heart break, leaned into Tofer, letting him comfort her.

“Give me a chance, Ophelia.” Tofer said gently, “I’ll show you how you deserve to be treated.”

“O-okay.” Ophelia sniffed, her face burred in Tofer’s shoulder.

Ophelia eventually made it to Hufflepuff, but only after Tofer cleaned her up. He walked her there, holding her hand the whole time and beaming despite the clearly tear streaked face of the girl beside him. Ophelia didn’t know exactly what she agreed to. What did it mean to give Tofer a chance? She wasn’t sure. All she could feel inside her was grief. She could have certainly gone on quite fine without knowing the truth. Her and Danny could have continued whatever one sided game it was they had been playing. But the damage was done, and it couldn’t be reversed.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the common room.” Tofer told Ophelia as he finally pulled away form her outside of Hufflepuff. “We can. . .talk or whatever. I’m here for you.” He told her. Ophelia nodded and took a deep breath before heading up the stairs to comfort her cousin.

By the time Ophelia and Danny made it back to Gryffindor that night, word about Ophelia and Tofer had already spread. People had seen them holding hands of course, but Tofer as well would not shut up about it. He was excited to be Ophelia’s boyfriend, everyone that knew him knew how smitten he was with her. Ophelia wished she could say the same about herself. Instead, she felt miserable, all she wanted to do was curl up and cry. Instead she was made to walk back with Danny, which was incredibly awkward since she couldn’t bring herself to speak to him, and then when they actually got back to Gryffindor and Tofer swept her up in a tight hug as if he hadn’t just seen her an hour ago. She didn’t want to be touched, she didn’t want to ‘talk or whatever’ she wanted to be alone. She wanted to cry her eyes out. She wanted for all the world for Danny to feel for her what Tofer did.

Healthy Competition

“We love you, Sweetheart.” Eveleen kissed her daughter’s forehead before releasing her from her tight embrace. Coal was next, wrapping Ophelia into a bear hug, lifting her clean off the ground as she released a sob into her father’s neck. He smelt the same as he always had, like wood shavings, pine and something herby that laid beneath the other scents. His scratchy chin rubbed against her cheek, spreading her tears. Ophelia gave her father one last tight squeeze before he set her down and she rubbed at her eyes, sniffling slightly.

Eveleen smiled bitter sweetly at Ophelia as she took Coal’s hand. Large fingers so familiar to her twined with hers and they unconsciously pressed into one another’s sides. Eveleen assured Ophelia she would be okay and to be sure to write home and of course to learn a whole lot while she was at school. After all, Easter Holiday always snuck up on them. Ophelia’s siblings had long since taken off across the platform, but Ophelia always took the longest to say good bye to her parents.

David and Danny lingered closer to their mothers, long since haven said goodbye but still waiting on Ophelia. Eventually David had to take his cousins hand and give her a tug towards the train. They had already put their own trunks on board, as well as Ophelia’s. Now it was time to go.

“I love you, I love you!” Ophelia called, blowing kisses to her parents and aunts as David dragged her onto the Hogwarts Express. Once on she sniffled again and removed the pink paw mitten in order to better clean up her face. She had worn the hat and mitten kitty set religiously since David had gifted it to her over Christmas.

She also tried to use the mixing bowls Danny had gotten her as often as she could but had quickly learned they weren’t as practical for round the clock use after wasting an entire box of cereal. She had poured it into one of the smaller mixing bowls but Ophelia still hadn’t been able to eat it fast enough for it not to get soggy. She had reluctantly left most of the set at home, except for the little plastic measuring cups that were currently functioning as sort of a key chain the way they were hooked to her back pack. She knew Danny wouldn’t mind if she didn’t use the mixing set every single day at every opportunity, but Ophelia was a sentimental bean and, well, a bit of an odd duck to be quite frank.

Ophelia followed after her cousins, one mittened hand still in David’s as Danny lead the way back to the compartment the boys had picked. Ophelia was excited to see her girlfriends once back at school but she hadn’t even thought about sitting with them on the train. That had always been something her and the boys had done together, usually playing some sort of game as they munched on snacks from home. Ophelia didn’t think this year would be the exception. She hadn’t even turned her new phone on this morning, forgetting about it to be quite honest, most of the time if it wasn’t vibrating in one of her pockets.

The three settled into their compartment comfortably, shedding their winter coverings in exchange for their basic layers, not yet ready to put on their robes but still too warm to keep on the puffy winter jackets their parents made sure they wore. Even without all the extra bits though, Ophelia was still dressed rather warmly. She had exchanged Danny’s sweatshirt which she still hadn’t given back, for the unicorn one she had received this year from Santa. Cotton candy pink leggings and purple leg warmers poked out from underneath.

As Ophelia unpacked the snacks her mother had sent her with, she came to the disappointing realization that Eveleen had mixed up the chocolate pretzals she liked with the chocolate almonds Ernst preferred. The Gryffindor frowned but got up none the less. Ernst was probably looking for her to trade anyway.

“I’ll b-be right back.” Ophelia said to the boys lounged on the opposite seat of her, bag of chocolates in hand, “M-Mum mixed up Ernst’s and I’s snacks again.”

Ophelia slipped from the compartment and headed off to where she though she had seen her brother heading earlier. Luckily she had only just stepped into the next train when she spotted Ernst’s dark head of hair heading her way. They met and exchanged, Ernst scampering off, and Ophelia squeezing past a few roving first years. As she walked into the next cart though, she tripped over someone’s pet toad and was sent tumbling down. A near by compartment door opened and out popped a familiar face.

“Ophelia?” The boy asked. Ophelia blinked up at him, rubbing her head for a moment before smiling awkwardly from where she was laid out on the ground.

“H-hiya.” The boy stepped out of his compartment and helped Ophelia up, his eyes lingering on her face with a bit of confusion.

Ophelia only knew Christopher Wolf, or Tofer as most refereed to him as, because of Danny. Tofer and Danny both made the house team this season and while that meant Ophelia had a considerable amount of classes with the young wizard being in the same year and house, they had only interacted ever very briefly where quidditch was concerned. Ophelia made it a point to go to every single game for Danny and even a few practices. She understood Quidditch rather well being from the family she was and ever could play a decent game of pick up if forced to. But she would much rather watch Danny on a broom than play herself.

“You, er, you look different.” Said Tofer, his cheeks pinkening. Ophelia however, only felt uncomfortable at the comment on her appearance. She had really only been thinking about what her mates or Danny would think of the pinned bangs and no more glasses. She hadn’t anticipated on anyone else even noticing, it was weird someone she had barely ever spoken more than two words to was even saying anything about it to her.

“D-Does it look w-weird?’ Ophelia blurted out, hand going to her forehead. Tofer however chuckled but shook his head. He was a good deal taller than her she realized, maybe almost as tall as Danny and David. She backed up slightly, bumping into the other side of the isle.

“No, you, uh, y-you look good.” Tofer complimented. Ophelia cocked her head slightly at this, staring at her house mate. She hadn’t quite expected that. She felt her face grow red, she needed to get out of there.

“Th-thanks.” She muttered, started to walk away. The chocolate pretzeled snapping slightly as her grip tightened on the bag.

“The clips are cute.” Tofer called after her. Ophelia nodded but continued walking, her heart beat rising a bit.

“Hey, Ophelia, wait, are you sitting with Danny?” He asked. She could hear his foot steps following her. Ophelia paused however at the mention of her best mate’s name.

“Yeah.” Ophelia anwsered over her shoulder. Tofer paused, face going a bit blank before he nodded.

“Good, good. I’ll walk you back, I need to talk to him. Quidditch stuff.” Tofer explained. Ophelia forced a smile and fell into silence as she let the lanky boy catch up. He had tawny colored hair and hazel eyes with a permanently tan looking shade of skin. Handsome, Ophelia knew. He had been one of the boys to make the list in her dorm’s top five fittest boys in the year. Danny had just made it at number five at Ophelia’s insistence but all were tall quidditch players. However his charms were rather lost on Ophelia. She specific taste, and that taste was Danny Cathers. No one else would do.

Back at the compartment, Ophelia slid open the door and shuffled in, Tofer coming in behind her. He sat next to Ophelia greeting Danny and David pleasently. David looked up from his novel, eyeing Ophelia. Why is he here? Ophelia looked back pointedly. I don’t know.

“So Danny,” Tofer began, “Ready for winter training? I heard it’s going to be hell for us fourth years. Starting prep for next year and all. How’s Hufflepuff looking, David?”

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