Saudade

Chapter 2 Step One Ophelia

"You want to me bring you Harry Potter?" Ophelia said in utter shock.

The Dark Lord nodded watching her closely.

It was shocking, yes. Ophelia had spent four years with Harry Potter. Sure, they never had a good moment but to bring him to his death wasn't something Ophelia could do. But...

"Do you accept?" Voldemort asked.

Ophelia couldn't resist the offer, despite having no choice. The opportunity to bring down the boy who had caused so much anger in her and her brother's life was incredibly tempting. It was a role she never imagined herself in, but the excitement consumed her.

"I accept," she said, her lip curling.

"You do know what this means, yes?" the Dark Lord said.

Ophelia's lip dropped. She, in fact, did not know what this meant.

"I do not, my Lord," Ophelia said glancing at her father, who didn't dare to look at her.

"Come, child," Voldemort said quietly.

Ophelia hesitated slightly. She couldn't predict what the Dark Lord might do if she took a step forward.

"Since you have accepted this task, you are a Death Eater," he said taking out his wand. "Roll up your sleeve, girl."

Shocked, Ophelia rolled up the sleeve of her jacket revealing her bare clean arm soon to be tainted.

Ophelia's arm throbbed with a searing pain as Voldemort pressed his wand against it. The agony was unbearable, causing her legs to buckle beneath her and sending her crashing to the ground. She screamed, unaware of her own voice, until the scream abruptly ceased. Though the wand was no longer touching her arm, the pain persisted, gradually dulling but still sharp.

Ophelia stood weakly, her arm exposed to the newly branded mark. A sinister image of a skull with a snake slithering out of its mouth now adorned her forearm.

Ophelia, feeling dizzy and in pain, respectfully bowed before following her father out of the room. They walked in silence towards the main entrance, the weight of the encounter with the Dark Wizard left Ophelia feeling nauseous. The realization that she had just encountered the infamous killer of thousands added to her unease.

"What were you thinking?" Lucius hissed as soon as they exited the tent and they were at least a couple of yards away.

"What?" Ophelia said confused, wondering why her father seemed upset when she had accepted the task. Wasn't that what he wanted?

But Ophelia was wrong, that was exactly what her father wanted.

"When you were bowing, what were you thinking?" Lucius hissed again.

"Was I not supposed to bow?" Ophelia questioned.

"Not that, you stupid girl!" her father roared.

Ophelia's lips felt the familiar sting as she bit the inside, a habit she knew her parents disapproved of. Blaise had tried to help her break it, but being away from him for the whole summer made it easier to slip back into old habits.

"What was your mind thinking?"

"When I bowed?" Ophelia pondered for a moment, considering whether to reveal her thoughts to her father. Afraid of facing another reprimand, she decided to simply reply, "Nothing..."

"Don't lie, Ophelia," Lucius said through his teeth.

Ophelia let out a sigh, finally giving in to her father's persistent curiosity. She couldn't help but wonder why he was so desperate to know what she was thinking at that particular moment. What could be so important to him?