Vagary

Chapter 17 The Shadow Ophelia

Ophelia lay awake that night, her mind restless. It wasn't just because she was with Harry again, but because she faced another life-altering decision for the third time. While she should have been elated that Harry had given her a second chance, her thoughts were consumed by the same uncertainties she had pondered the year before. The weight of those possibilities burdened her, and she longed to escape from it all.

Maybe she could escape to Paris, a place where only Blaise could track her down. He was the only person who truly understood her emotions. However, he would also be the one to eventually coax her back. Ophelia could almost hear his comforting words as she envisioned herself sitting at a quaint café.

"You have to come back, Phea," Blaise would say. "There's always a way. You're not alone in this, remember? You don't have to do it."

"What about Draco?" Ophelia would respond. "If I return he would have to kill Dumbledore and I can't let him do that."

"With the two of us and Pansy, we would be able to convince your brother as well," Blaise would say with a soft smile on his face. "Come back, Phea. Don't give up just yet. We need you--I need you..."

The moment those words reached Ophelia's ears, she felt an undeniable pull back to England, back to Hogwarts.

Perhaps she could attempt to persuade Draco to abandon the task. The thought of hating her brother crossed her mind. It seemed like Ophelia had spent her entire life cleaning up the messes he left behind. And now, as she observed him from across the table conversing with Pansy in the Great Hall at lunch, she couldn't help but wonder if that feeling had always been there, lurking beneath the surface.

Draco was always the center of attention, basking in praise. And yet, with every misstep, every stumble, it was Ophelia who would bear the brunt of the blame. Her father's owls would arrive, scolding her with messages like, "You should have kept your brother out of trouble!" or "Allowing your brother to receive detention in the Forbidden Forest is unacceptable! Why do you constantly allow misfortune to befall him?"

Ophelia, burdened with the weight of her father's disapproval, would dutifully present the scolding letters to Draco, hoping to make him understand the consequences of his actions. But time and time again, he would simply shrug them off, dismissing their father's words as valid. It was as if he saw some truth in their father's reprimands, even when Ophelia couldn't fathom it. Eventually, Ophelia reached a breaking point. She stopped showing him the letters, realizing that her efforts were in vain. Despite still receiving similar letters herself, she made a conscious decision to no longer care, for she couldn't control her brother's reckless behavior. If Draco himself didn't care, why should I? And yet, deep down, a lingering resentment toward him remained.

Ophelia yearned to harbor a deep-seated hate towards him, for he seemed oblivious to the emotional turmoil she had endured. He never bothered to inquire about her well-being or consider the impact of his actions on her heart. Even during the arduous three months spent assisting him in repairing the Vanishing Cabinet, he never once extended a caring gesture to ensure her comfort or nourishment. Ophelia found solace in relying on Blaise.

Despite the valid reasons for Ophelia to harbor deep-seated hatred and resentment towards her brother, she found herself unable to fully embrace those harsh emotions. Despite the distance that had grown between them, a flicker of love still burned within her heart, compelling her to remain devoted and willing to go to great lengths for him.

"Why are you staring at me?" Draco said, bringing Ophelia out of her thoughts.

"No reason," Ophelia said simply, glancing down at her uneaten food.