Tarnished and Hurt | James Potter [A Short Story]

Chapter 1

Ophelia Emrys had no chance to be with Theodore Nott. 

She had known that since her first day of Hogwarts. She was one of the popular girls in her year, sure, but Theodore was basically considered royalty, due to his pureblood status and gorgeous looks.

But Ophelia was clinging on to hope. She had only talked to Theodore a couple of times, but she doubted whether he knew her name.

Or even of her existence.

It hurt, of course. Being hopelessly in love with the boy who did not know of her existence, hurt. He had never glanced at Ophelia twice in the five years of Hogwarts they had spent being in almost all the same classes. 

So she figured there was something special about the day when he did.

It was at a Ravenclaw party in her sixth year. It was not a very loud one, unlike the Gryffindors' or Slytherins' were. Ophelia did not enjoy going to parties anyway, but the moment she found out Theodore would be attending it as well, she had seized the opportunity.

She dressed up well, in a tight dark blue slip dress that clung to her figure. The dress had a quite deep neck and her hair was tied up stylishly, revealing her elegant neckline.

She felt beautiful.

She was sitting with her friends — a circle of popular girls, who Ophelia didn't think she fit into well. They didn't care about anything but themselves, their money, and their beauty. Not that she had any other choice, since she had no other friends.

The only true friend she had was her best friend, Anya Patil, who was also a part of the popular girls' circle. Anya also agreed that Ophelia looked exceptionally gorgeous that evening.

That was when Theodore walked into the room. His presence alone made people turn to look at him. Theodore sat with the Slytherin gang of students. Ophelia heard a couple of girls giggle looking at him.

Theodore looked tired and angry. There was a rumour that he had just broken up with Ariana Flint.

He scanned the room, and it appeared to Ophelia as though he was searching for someone. She wondered who.

His gaze finally settled on Ophelia.

Ophelia's eyes widened. Theodore was looking straight at her, at her. She watched silently, as Theodore approached her, and she couldn't find her voice.

"Want to get out of here?" He asked.

Not trusting her mouth to not say something embarrassing, she simply nodded her head. Ophelia looked for Anya, to inform her best friend she was going, but Anya was nowhere to be seen.

Not that it mattered anyway, since she didn't have time as Theodore gripped her hand and pulled her out of the Ravenclaw Common Room.

She didn't know where they were going, and she didn't dare to question it either. She simply followed him blindly.

After a few minutes, Ophelia found herself in Theodore's dormitory, standing beside his bed. She wondered why he had brought her there. 

She decided to take a look at the games on his study table. A Quidditch-themed puzzle, oh, and Wizard's Chess! Ophelia absolutely adored Wizard's Chess—

"What are you waiting for?" She heard Theodore's voice from behind, snapping her back to reality.

She turned around to look at him, about to explain that she was just taking a look at his games collection, and that she'd love to play Wizard's Chess with him, before she noticed he was shirtless, and undoing his belt.

"Um— uh," she stumbled on her words, "I didn't know— well, expect-"

"Why else would you be here?" The confusion was clear and evident on his face.

"I just thought, um, I didn't exactly know-"

Ophelia stopped speaking as she realised he wasn't paying attention and continuing to undo his belt.

Reality finally hit. Theodore wanted have sex, and she didn't know what to do. She was absolutely clueless.

But still, she believed that it was not just because he had just broken up with Ariana Flint, that he wanted to have sex with her. It was not just because he was simply horny, that he wanted to have sex with her.

Out of all the girls at the party, he had looked at her. 

Chosen her.

She couldn't help but think there was more to it.

So, before she could change her mind, she slipped out of her pretty dress, as it fell to the ground.

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Ophelia and Theodore lay on top his bed. She had her back to him. Her hips glittered slightly, with sweat, and her her breath was slightly heavy. They didn't speak a word to each other.

It was Ophelia's first time. She didn't think this was how it was supposed to be.

She tried to convince herself that she enjoyed it. She tried to convince herself that it was fine — what she had done was not wrong, and her heart should be hammering with excitement about what she had just done with Theodore.

Perhaps then, the rising regret she was feeling in her stomach would disappear.

"Thanks." she heard Theodore say quietly.

Ophelia turned around on the bed, to face him. He looked genuine, and shot her a small smile that made her heart flutter.

"It's fine." she said, her voice small.

"We... can do it again next time?"

Ophelia nodded before she could think about what he had said. And before she even could say anything, Theodore spoke once more.

"I think you should go now."

Ophelia muttered out a "yes" and walked over to her clothes that were sprawled messily across the cold floor. She got dressed in the same beautiful slip dress she had been wearing earlier.

Except she didn't feel pretty anymore. She felt dirty.

She ignored that feeling and turned to Theodore for the last time. She said goodbye, but he either didn't hear it or was busy with something else, because he didn't respond.

Without bothering to repeat herself, Ophelia walked out of his dormitory feeling dirtier and more disgusted with herself than she had even been.

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a/n: yess i finally got the first chapter out! i'm so proud of myself as a really lazy author, lol. btw, this is when ophelia's life starts to get fucked up — and i mean more fucked up. anyway, please leave your comments, as i'd love to know your feedback and improve.