December is a unique month; it is one that feels both like a beginning and an ending. It is a month filled with celebration and love but a month where you can recollect.
Recollection was exactly what Ophelia was doing at this moment. There was just under ten days left of term and the Christmas spirit was engulfing the air of Hogwarts. The castle was currently in the process of being decorated, Hagrid had not long passed Ophelia with two fir trees resting on either shoulder. Ophelia chuckled as he passed by her, amazed by how easily he could carry two fully grown trees but also happy to see the large smile resting on his face. Strumming her hands across the everlasting icicles that hung from banisters, Ophelia couldn't help but recollect on all the Christmases past. Christmases that didn't fulfil the dream of love and family, this year would be different though.
It was early on a Sunday morning, not many people had woken yet or left their common room because breakfast began at eight-am rather than six. Ophelia had naughtily decided not to speak with Minnie about the sleep issues because it wasn't overbearing like previous; and as always she was stubborn and wanted to do this alone. Whilst it was still rather empty around the castle, a lot seemed to be going on still. So Ophelia decided to gather her thoughts with Stormy and Buckbeak, where there would be no Christmas bustle.
Outside the sun had just began to rise, enough to allow the frost laced between the grass to glisten. There was a bitter breeze in the air, cold enough to make Ophelia pull her coat into a tighter hug around her. Each step caused the branches and last autumnal leaves to crack, crunch and crinkle beneath her feet. Other than the sound of her steps and a few boots from an owl, the outdoors was quiet and it was blissfully languor to be in. After a few minutes of walking that soothing atmosphere was interrupted by a high pitch whistle, followed by a lack lustred attempt to copy the sound. But to Ophelia this sound was just what she wanted to hear.
"Stormy, Beaky, it's me." Ophelia called out. Hooves and claws hitting the frosty ground signalled Stormy had heard Ophelia, and within seconds the Hippogriff stood proud in front of her. "Morning Stormy, I'm just going to sit with you both until breakfast, I've got some letters to write anyway." Stormy responded with a few clicks of her large beak. "I wish I knew what you were saying lovely." Ophelia rubbed the head of the Hippogriffs head. "Where's Beaky?"
Ophelia turned to look around the forest floor when a slight crash brought her attention back to a bush. "Beaky?" More rustling and a little squawk came from the hedge, then a clawed foot stuck out. Slowly but surely a wobbly Buckbeak emerged from the bush, taking small clumsy steps.
"You're walking Beaky!" No sooner than Ophelia had said that, Buckbeak was laying on his back with his legs in the air. "Oops spoke too soon." Stormy trotted over to beside Buckbeak, and with a nudge of her large beak and Beaky was right side up again. "Let me come to you this time." Ophelia took the few steps between them and knelt down, unbothered if her jeans became dirty, and stroked Beaky's head.
After a one sided conversation with the pair, Ophelia pulled out her bag a large textbook, some parchment and a quill she had borrowed from Minnie. Two letters needed to be written, one was for Damian who had began sending weekly letters with updates on his life and Ophelia did the same back. The second was for Miss Mills, although leaving their last meeting on a sour note, Ophelia had continued to keep in contact with Miss Mills and things seemed much better over letters. Ophelia was actually sending a shopping list alongside the letter this time; the list was filled with gifts for Christmas presents that Ophelia knew she wouldn't be able to get in Hogsmeade.
Giving gifts meant a lot to Ophelia; there was an entire process behind the seemingly simple action that allowed you to show love to those you cared for. Ophelia would start with the research, learning what would truly mean a lot to that person. Then she would choose the present, deliberating what will exactly fit that idea.
Then she give them the gift, and the look of appreciation and happiness on their face is all she ever needed. Ophelia loved each and every part, gifts were a way to tell people they matter to you and this year particularly Ophelia wanted to show that to many.
Signing her name at the bottom of the list, Ophelia heard a pained whistle. Looking up she spotted Buckbeak once again on his back, this time Ophelia hopped off the ground to help because Stormy had flew off presumably for food a few moments prior.
As Ophelia touched Beaky, she felt a rush of disappointment and frustration run through her - but she knew that wasn't how she currently felt. Once Beaky was back right side up, Ophelia looked him in the eye and noticed how pained he looked, completely forgetting the strange rush of emotions prior.
"Hey Beaky, you'll get there soon. Don't feel upset." The Hippogriff seemed to react to this statement and pushed himself back to a standing position, that allowed him now to be just a little smaller than Ophelia. He leant forward and rested his forehead against Ophelia's chest. "You're a clever boy Buckbeak."
A thud beside them signalled that Stormy had returned so Ophelia took a step back in preparation to gather her things. But in the mood of recollection, Ophelia looked to the two Hippogriffs in thought.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to get over how incredible the animals are in the wizarding world. You prove the impossible is possible." Ophelia thought aloud.
"Jungentur jam grypes equis." A croaked but collected voice signalled someone else had joined Ophelia. Ophelia turned rather startled to hear someone other than Hagrid down here, unconsciously drawing her wand in a bid to protect the Hippogriffs.
"Professor Dumbledore." Ophelia relaxed, then noticed her wand drawn and quickly dropped it down to her side. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to point my wand at you."
"Quite alright." The older man let out one of his hearty chuckles. "I'm glad to see you have settled into our world."
"Am I in trouble?" Ophelia was unsure on to why the Headmaster was down in the forest, she certainly hadn't seen him here before.
"Nothing of the sort, I was merely looking for you. I had heard you liked early mornings and visits to the Hippogriffs."
"Oh, ok." Ophelia still felt unsure as to what the man wanted. But knowing it was drawing close to breakfast, she decided to grab the few things on the floor. "I, I probably should head off to breakfast."
"Of course. I shall join you on the stroll, I have a few things I'd like to discuss."
Ophelia gathered her things briskly and silently, this was the first time Ophelia had actually spent alone with Dumbledore. There was something about his wisdom that unnerved Ophelia, but deep down she also felt a sense of trust.
"How are you settling in to Hogwarts?" The man asked once they had bid goodbye to the Hippogriffs.
"I'll be honest with you Professor, because I have this feeling you'll know if I'm lying." The older man chuckled once again at this statement. "It hasn't been easy, partly I'm to blame because I tried to forget my previous life. That on top of the fact learning how to be a witch, it's been strange."
"Time is a tricky part of our life. We should not dwell in the past, but keep the lessons it taught you in your heart. One should work hard for their future but not dream for it to come quickly. Instead we should concentrate on the present, enjoy the time we have now."
Ophelia stared at the man as he spoke, the words leaving his mouth so easily and poetically. Each sentence resonating with something she felt.
"You're a wise man Professor Dumbledore." Ophelia smiled brightly to him.
"Thank you Miss McGonagall. Now I see you've made friends though, that's a positive."
"Yes, they're all amazing. James said to me early on that Gryffindor is like a family, I didn't know what a family was before. But I think I'm starting to now." A slight skip had entered Ophelia's steps, it may have been unnoticed by her but Dumbledore had noticed.
"Mr Potter spoke truthfully, family isn't always blood." The older man looked at the teen, happy to see the growth in confidence from just a few short moments together. "On the topic of family, you do not know the true identity of your parents."
"No I do not, I was left at a train station as a newborn." This was something that Ophelia didn't find upsetting even though many expected otherwise. She had always concluded that for a mother to leave a newborn something must have been severely wrong.
"I see. Would you like to find your parents?"
"I've never really thought about it, I'm quite happy as I am now with Minnie."
"Very well, but if it's ok with you I'd like to do some investigating as to how the ministry didn't know you were a witch. This may include me looking for your birth parents." The pair were close to reaching the castle doors, something that Ophelia had noticed.
"Yeh. I guess that's ok." Ophelia smiled to the man, even if she had some nerves bubbling in her stomach.
"Very well, there is nothing to be nervous of." Dumbledore had seen the nerves inside her head. "This will not change your situation with Minerva unless you'd like it to." A silent nod from Ophelia signalled she was grateful but confused as to how he knew her thoughts. "I just need to take a snippet from your mind, I won't be taking any memories as you'll be far to young to remember anything. Instead this is somewhat like what Muggles call DNA. It shan't hurt you." Albus withdrew a vial and his wand whilst explaining the process to Ophelia. "Are you ready?"
"Yes Professor." Ophelia felt the wand touch her hair and closed her eyes. A cold feeling passed through her head followed by a tingling. Opening her eyes once the sensation passed, Ophelia saw a pink glistening substance still floating with Professor Dumbledore's wand until he tapped it against the vial. It dropped elegantly to the bottom before turning to a clear liquid.
"I shall keep you updated, however I fear this shall be a long process." Albus had come to the conclusion that something was amiss with the situation, never had a witch just passed by the ministry unrecorded.
"Thank you Professor." Ophelia reached forward to tap the large doors, a single tap would open the door for her. A thought came to a head though when they began to open. "Professor you said something in Latin, I think, when we were in the forest. What did it mean?"
"To cross griffins with horses, it is an old expression. Griffins and horses are mortal enemies, so the idea of them to breed is perceived impossible."
"But they exist, so they aren't impossible?" Ophelia questioned, more to herself than the headmaster.
"Precisely, can you remember what you said before I spoke?"
"The impossible is possible." Ophelia smiled, realising what this meant.
"A Hippogriff is a symbol of that. Alongside the idea that love conquers all. Just remember that Miss McGonagall." The man looked down to Ophelia, that twinkle in his eye shining brighter than ever. "Enjoy breakfast."
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*side note, after lots of research on Hippogriffs I discovered that supposedly they can fly within 24 hours of hatching. I've switched that up for my ff because I want there to be more of a process, almost like a child learning to walk etc. Hope you don't mind! X