Ophelia couldn't breathe. If she could her brain wasn't cooperating or wasn't letting her do so. Everything was short and rushed and in a blur as the pounding on the door continued,
Her eyes searched the room desperately for one of Grindelwald's disciples even though she knew it to be impossible,
Ophelia's hands were shaking, she tried to pick up her wand but she couldn't and she tried summoning it to herself but it proved too difficult,
Sniffled and wiped away a tear as her magic failed her. The banging on her door persisted and she let out a sob as the world felt like it was spinning too fast for her,
When she finally managed to pick up her wand she found herself unable to hold onto it, as though her body rejected the magical world that had fucked her over so badly,
And she found herself unable to bring herself to that door to face Primrose, she couldn't even fathom seeing her now,
Ophelia sobbed and looked at herself in the vanity, she'd hardly slept in days, nights were torn up with nightmares, and alcohol,
Days were just periods of light before the night returned,
Sometimes she'd pull herself together to go into town but one backfiring car was enough to send her huddling for cover,
She tugged on gloves, covering the burns, bruises, and scrapes left to her from her trial, she tried to breathe as she reached the top of the stairs, and then she found herself sitting crossed legged at the top of the stairs, starring down at where she could see Primrose's head in the door,
"I'm not leaving until you talk to me!" She shouted, and Ophelia cringed at her volume, covering her face with her gloved hands, shutting her eyes tightly as she felt nerves crawl all over her skin,
She felt like there was a tiger in her stomach clawing at her insides, she wanted to scream but no sound came out,
"Listen, Lili, I'm sorry that Henry didn't tell you what he was going to do," said Primrose, and Ophelia looked up, "He did what he thought was,"
Ophelia waited for the next words to come out of her mouth, and prayed it wouldn't be,
"Best,"
Her temper snapped within a second, forcing her to her feet and down the stairs, and pushing her through the door, her hands still shook, her brows still furrowed, but this was in utter rage,
"Best?" Spat Ophelia, before a cold laugh left her lips, the sound was chilling and Primrose found herself frozen to the spot,
Primrose's face went blank almost in fear, she'd never heard that sound from Ophelia, she'd never actually seen Ophelia so angry,
"Best for you you mean?" She asked, "Best for the two of you, cause we wouldn't want little Rosie's ivory tower to get a little dingy would we?"
She was mocking her, not teasing, not poking fun, cold and cruel was the word to describe Ophelia right now,
"Don't give a shit about what happens to me, couldn't even face me before my trial," Ophelia said, "So long as little Rosie gets her happily ever after you'd gladly condemn the rest of us wouldn't you?"
"I didn't know he'd-"
"But you're here to defend him." Said Ophelia, "You think he did the right thing,"
"He was just doing what he thought was best for the baby," said Primrose quietly, hoping the mention of Ophelia's future niece or nephew would calm her,
It didn't.
Ophelia felt as though Primrose had lit a fuse within her, like there were mere moments before an explosion, tears began to well under her eyes but she willed them away,
The hurt mixed with the jealousy of seeing them in their perfect life together, a life Ophelia had provided, a life Ophelia had wanted desperately, a life Ophelia wouldn't get so long as she was alive, created a perfect storm of hurt.
"How very honourable." Said Ophelia coldly, "I imagine it must be hard sacrificing me for a foetus but then you've both had plenty of practice."
"Lili-"
"I'm not done, Rosie Darling," spat Ophelia, glaring at her, "Some day you are going to have to sit little foetus down and tell them how their daddy testified against his own sister after she sacrificed everything for him and mummy? How the only reason their alive other than daddy forgetting a condom, is that same sister doing whatever it took to keep their mummy and daddy alive? How are you going to be able to do that?"
"I-"
"You won't will you?" Said Ophelia condescension dripping like poisoned honey from her words, "You won't be able to face little foetus and tell them that their daddy is a quivering pussy, and that mummy is a selfish cunt."
Ophelia face was stone cold as she looked at Primrose, her fists were clenched, unable to believe after all she'd done for them, they'd still turned around and done that to her,
And then she thought,
Perhaps Tom had it right?
"No, mi Amor focus, we are angry at her. I can't believe she'd do that to you,"
"I am not selfish." Said Primrose, her voice wavering as she was greeted with more of the cruel harsh laughter from Ophelia's lips,
"You didn't even ask where Lolita was. You should have apologized." Said Ophelia, "Or am I such a doormat to you that you didn't even think you had to? Bored little heiress has it so hard. I hope you are a better mother than a friend, because as soon as the going gets tough? You just get going."
"That's, that's not fair," said Primrose,
"You want to talk about fair?" Asked Ophelia, "Try getting taken away from your entire life by THE dark lord, not getting to graduate, having your mother killed, and your father and brother held hostage. Try doing everything you can to keep them alive, and then your best friend in the entire world gets threatened and you are forced to keep going. Keep it up or they'll all die too, and you'll be left with nothing. Try giving up everything for others, including breaking a good man's heart and being in a physically abusive relationship, and then as soon as it's not convenient for them they turn on you. They testify against you. As far as I'm concerned, Grindelwald didn't put me in that prosecutor's bedroom you did."
She covered her mouth unable to believe what she'd just said, her eyes were wide. Jason had put her in his version of therapy (bringing her to bingo and making sure she ate once a week) when he'd found out,
Ophelia's breath wasn't ragged as she didn't know when the gloves had fallen off or when she'd started to cry.
Primrose looked shocked, gobsmacked even, she could see the bruises in the shape of finger prints on her arms, but she'd assumed they'd come from somewhere else,
"Are you serious?" She asked quietly,
"My lawyer said it was my only option." Said Ophelia quietly, "The only way to get him to throw out Henry's testimony."
"You couldn't of fought it?" Asked Primrose,
"One like that? My own brother? The one who witnessed it all? I would have been put away right next to Grindelwald for life." Said Ophelia, "He knew what he was doing to me. And you defend him. And don't blame the kid. World's already fucked up enough foetus doesn't need that on their conscience," said Ophelia,
"Aren't you used to faking it?" Asked Primrose, trying to rationalize what her husband had done and then Ophelia's face fell, and she looked so hurt,
She looked her age. An eighteen year old kid on the verge of nineteen who'd already been torn apart by the world. And she looked so broken, because of what Primrose had said,
Is that really what you think of me?
The words were written all over her face. Her eyes weren't cold so much as vulnerable, and the rising and falling of her chest had stopped,
It was like being coiled in a snake's grip when you were meant to be being cuddled by a giant teddy bear.
Strange analogy but it worked in this context. This wasn't right. Her heart shouldn't feel on fire, like it was breaking from pressure, her hands shouldn't be going numb from lack of blood flow, her throat shouldn't feel like it was sealed shut,
"That's not what I meant," said Primrose quickly, but Ophelia shook her head,
"It's exactly what you meant." Said Ophelia quietly, sniffling, and wiping away a tear, "I think you should go,"
"I didn't mean to-"
"You did. You're not a very nice person. I hope you really are a better mother than you are a friend because right now? I don't think I'd wish you on anyone," said Ophelia, her throat scratchy, and tears freely flowing from her eyes,
Then Primrose said something she truly shouldn't have.
"Just don't run off and shag Riddle to feel better, and getting fucked up with Finnigan won't solve anything either,"
—
Tom was sorting inventory at Borgin and Burkes in the back room when he heard the door chime open, he didn't look up, wanting to finish before the end of the day so he could pursue his own research projects,
"Can I help you find anything?" He asked, glancing at the clock, "We close in fifteen minutes,"
He heard footsteps in the shop, heels, it was a woman. Then he heard the lock to the shop click in the door, and the open sign get flipped to closed, he kept his head down filling out the numbers as he made his way to the front desk,
"Private shopping is by appointment only," he said, writing the final numbers before opening the drawer to the desk and placing the forms in the desk,
"Can't you make an exception, love?"
Tom's eyes shot up, locking on Ophelia where she stood at the door. He was practically breathless just from the shock of seeing her when he needed her,
And to be honest he always needed her. He needed her at the breakfast table, he needed her in the bed, in the shower, he needed her on his arm as he walked around, his love had come home,
"Of course," was all he could think to say, as she begun to walk towards him, very little hesitation in her step, and she walked in a straight line. She was sober. "Can I help you find anything?" He asked, and her eyes travelled around the dark shop,
She did look rather out of place, he associated Ophelia with all things beautiful and good. This was a place where she certainly didn't belong.
But then her eyes lit up when she spotted something,
"I made that," she said, pointing to an artifact skull behind him, and Tom furrowed his eyebrows, picking it up,
"Don't be ridiculous this is from the metropolitan wizarding museum in... New York, are you serious?" He asked, and she nodded, taking it from him, and turning it over in her hands,
"I stole the real one," she said, setting it on his desk, "Sell it for a high price would you, love?" She said, looking at him, then at his lips,
"Of course," he replied, "What are you doing here, Ophelia?"
"I came here to see you," said Ophelia, leaning on the table on her elbows, looking up at him,
"Just to see me?"
"I don't know if anyone's ever told you this love, but you're rather handsome," said Ophelia, standing up and her hand found the side of his face,
"You're free now?" He said, hardly containing himself at the sensation of her skin against his,
"Physically." She replied, "No aurors will arrive here looking for me,"
"Good," said Tom, "My flat is just down the street,"
"It's empty?" She asked, her eyes flashing to his, resolute and golden. She wanted to feel better.
She had to feel better.
"Yes."
—
A soft kiss was pressed to her shoulder where she lay in his arms.
She hadn't been able to do it. There are no details because there are no details to tell. Ophelia hadn't been able to shag Tom, and Tom hadn't wanted to force her.
All she could think about when he touched her was the way that the prosecutor's hands had gripped her so harshly that she still had bruises. All she could see when he kissed her was Lolita's bloody body as she'd died in her arms,
"I'm sorry." Whispered Ophelia, as Tom tightened his grip on her,
"It's fine," he replied, "I don't care what we do so long as we're together," he said softly into her ear, as he drew the covers over them, preparing himself for the best night of sleep he would have for a long time,
And Ophelia nodded, turning over in his arms so that she could lie with her head on his chest one of her legs crossing his,
"Just hold me." She muttered, and Tom smiled, happy to do so,
"How could I say no?" He asked, as she shut her eyes,
Tom ran a hand over her back in a comforting gesture, feeling the fabric of her own shirt against her back,
He'd known she'd end up here. In his arms. He knew Ophelia would always return so long as she lived. And as she filled the air with the scent of honey, she filled his head with thoughts of a domestic future together.
Of having this comfort, this love every night. Of holding each other until everything else became obsolete.
"Can we do it again?" He asked, quietly, tucking a curl behind her ear,
"Do what?"
"Pretend." He said, and she opened her eyes, and rolled them, looking up at him,
"Alright, love, lets pretend." Said Ophelia, "We have a home together, with your pet snake, named..."
"Salazar or Nagini," he answered, and he heard her laugh as she moved off of him, he would have protested had she not placed a hand on the side of his face turning it towards her and pressing their foreheads together,
"You've been thinking about this," she said, and he smiled, rolling onto his side, and placing his hand on her waist,
This was better than sex.
"We have children." He said, and she shook her head, "You don't want them?"
"I don't even know if I can have them." She replied, and Tom furrowed his eyebrows,
Read whatever you want into this. But it doesn't really matter what Ophelia truly meant or whether it was absolutely impossible biologically after what Grindelwald had given to her to prevent pregnancy when she was with Carl or Andrew, because what Tom said next made her feel better than she had in a long time,
"That doesn't matter," he said, "I happen to know an orphanage, can't say it's very good, but it's the sort of place any child would want to leave."
She pressed her lips to his softly, it wasn't a bruising or possessive kiss like she was getting used to receiving, it was tender and loving, and Tom never truly wanted to know a world where he didn't experience this,
"Tell me more," she muttered, lying back down beside him,
"We live by a beach," said Tom gently,
"I like that,"
"I knew you would,"
"You've thought about this?"
"Of course." Said Tom, "I want everything. I want you to be happy, and to be mine and-"
She pulled away, the word striking a chord in her, and as much as he longed to say that she belonged to him, he didn't,
"I want you to be happy." He restated slowly, "And I want to be with you."
She relaxed back next to him. "I love you, Ophelia," he whispered,
"Sometimes, love, I wish you didn't," she said, on the brink of sleep, and he realized that was where she was and wanted to take advantage,
"Do you regret it?" He asked,
"You are going to have to be more specific," said Ophelia,
"Do you regret loving me?" He asked, shutting his eyes tightly in anticipation of her response, but this was Ophelia.
"No." She replied, "I'm never going to regret loving you."
But all Ophelia could think about right now was how badly she wished she could want him. She wished he were someone else, someone normal.
She wanted the love of her life. But instead she got lord Voldemort.
—
"Bingo bitches!" Yelled Jason,
He was pumping his fists in the air, as the bingo grandmas all scowled at Ophelia who was the one calling out the numbers at the front of the front of the room,
"What? He's just got a clover in his pocket," said Ophelia, who stood there in her gloves and black dress, with her cigarette she smoked through a golden filter,
Jason liked to dress her up when they went out.
"What's my prize?" Asked Jason gleefully, walking to the front, as they all scowled at the pair as bingo ended and they left with a home baked cake, "Val makes the best cakes in the whole world,"
"I know right?" Said Ophelia, as the older woman chuckled as she passed them, "You're an artist, Miss Kravits,"
"Thank you, Ophelia, looking forward to you not being in charge of Bingo next week," said Valerie,
"Yeah it's my turn, no cheating, Lia," said Jason, raising two fingers to his eyes before turning them on her, "As the French say, je t'ai a l'oeuil,"
"Heaven help us," said Valerie as Ophelia and Jason left the church basement,
Ophelia and Jason made pleasant conversation all the way home and now they sat in front of her TV on the floor, eating cake, watching the nature channel,
Not very good quality though,
(They are legit just wine drunk for the next little bit. You've been warned.)
"I saw Tom," said Ophelia, and Jason spat out his drink, "When did you even get a drink?"
"Unimportant." Said Jason, "But you waited until now to drop a bomb like that?"
"Well, we were talking about bingo on the way home and I just thought now was an appropriate time," said Ophelia, as Jason handed her a glass of wine, "Oh we are classy today,"
"We are first classy today," he said, clinking her glass with his before sipping the wine from a bright pink swirly straw, "So. Did you do the do with you know who?"
"Jason."
"Did you bury a sword with the young dark lord?"
"Seriously,"
"Did you do the thing with the dark king,"
"Honestly,"
"Did you do sexual activities of some sort with lord Voldemort?"
"I'm not even mad about that last one," said Ophelia,
"I have more," said Jason, grinning,
"We didn't." Said Ophelia, her smile falling, "I could barely even kiss him, and he's always been rather good at sex, and that's what I tracked him down for,"
"Hm. Can't say I'm surprised," said Jason, "As your therapist that is,"
"Oh?"
"Well, Lia the man has murdered a lot of your loved ones I'm sort of surprised you went on over for a shag in the first place," said Jason, raising his wine glass dramatically, and swirling the red wine inside,
"But it was like whenever he touched me all I could see was, was, well you know," said Ophelia, taking a bite of the chocolate cake, "And then when he kissed me I kept seeing Lolita,"
"And that slowed things down?" Asked Jason, arching an eyebrow, before taking a sip of wine and saying, "That was wildly inappropriate due to the sapphic nature of your relationship,"
Ophelia laughed and drank her red wine and looked at the TV, "You know I heard that they have thirty inch TVs now?"
"By God, muggles are innovative," said Jason,
"What's that?" Asked Ophelia, looking at the screen,
"The baby penguin," said the narrator, "Is caught on an iceberg,"
"Oh," said a wine drunk Jason, "It's a baby penguin,"
"Caught on an iceberg," said Ophelia in agreement, before turning to Jason, "What's a Penguin?"
He turned to her, equally frazzled, "What's an iceberg?"
They didn't exactly teach geography at Hogwarts, and Jason put a comforting arm around Ophelia,
"You're my best friend." He said, "It's decided. And since she who sucks ass shall not be named, I'm yours,"
"Sucking ass isn't how you get pregnant," said Ophelia, and he laughed,
"This is the only commitment that's lasted me this long, between man, and bro,"
"Miss, and sis," said Ophelia a little drunkenly, and he nodded,
"What if we just did it?" He said, "You know? We have a totally platonic marriage, have a couple kids?"
"But how?"
"Turkey baster?" Said Jason and Ophelia let out a bark of laughter,
"I don't even know if I can have kids," said Ophelia,
"Then we adopt a bunch and form a band." Said Jason, "Punk Rock, we could tour in a van, it'll be very in in the seventies,"
"You're in love with Gretchen, and I'm in love with Lolita. One of them is dead and the other is afraid of commitment," said Ophelia, "Could never work. Plus. Tom might kill you."
"That's a really good point Ophelia, thank you for bringing that up," said Jason, "You know upon further consideration of how much I value my life I'd like to rescind my offer,"
"That's a good move," said Ophelia, refilling her wine glass,
"You know people hate me because I'm rich," said Jason, "But I worked very hard to get where I am today. I had to be born. Keep living. And not die,"
"Very challenging indeed," said Ophelia,
"Indeed." Repeated Jason, "I like that word indeed I do."
"I've created a monster." Groaned Ophelia,
"Indeed you have," said Jason, and Ophelia grumbled something about needing more wine, "No need to wine about it,"
"I'm getting a cigarette," said Ophelia,
"Those things will kill you," said Jason,
"So will my ex boyfriend. At least this one reduces stress," said Ophelia,
"Good point."
—
Ophelia heard a crack of magic within her home and her heart nearly beat out of her chest, she gripped her wand and hid under the covers, but then she heard someone rummaging through her downstairs cupboards, and she sat up.
Maybe it was Jason. Ophelia walked downstairs, her wand drawn,
"I swear to Merlin, Jason, I won that cake," said Ophelia, founding the corner to her kitchen and then her stomach dropped,
"Hello, Ophelia," said Grindelwald, and Ophelia could hardly even breathe,
How was he here,
"H-How?" She whispered, her eyes wide, she was shaking all over, and he tutted at her,
"Aren't you happy to see me?" He asked,
The dark lord looked worse for wear. Clearly Azkaban had had some effect but not the desired one. He'd broken out.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, fear written all over her face,
"I need a wand." He said, and she clutched her wand close to her chest, moving away from him, "Have you been eating?"
"I'm totally fine." She lied, her golden eyes so wide with fear they could be given as medals at next year's olympics, "How did you find me?"
"Could you have been more obvious?" He asked, and she scowled at him, drawing her wand,
Her hand shook as she conjured the spell, "Expecto Patronum," she said, but she couldn't use her old memories of Primrose, or of Henry,
The old man begun to laugh at her,
"You can really tell you didn't graduate Hogwarts, sweetheart," he said,
Then she thought of Lolita, and Jason, and of Lolita. And of Lolita. And of Lolita. How her lips had felt pressed against hers,
Her grip on her wand tightened as Grindelwald tried to tug it away with Wandless magic,
Lolita's perfume,
Lolita's words. Her wit. Her smile.
"Expecto patronum," said Ophelia, and not a white mare but a tiger burst from her wand, and she nearly dropped it out of shock, "Go to the ministry tell them Grindelwald has escaped and bring them back here. Help me please!" She yelled and the tiger bounded from the room, and she turned her shaky hand on the weak old man once more,
Her eyes were brimming with tears out of fear, of Azkaban couldn't contain him what could?
Would he joint her for the rest of her life? Should she just kill him now?
The thought crossed her mind and it must have shown on her face because Grindelwald chuckled,
"I have a Horcrux, Ophelia." He said, "You can't kill me. You have been eating of course?" He looked at her expectantly, "There are a lot of empty bottles in there,"
She wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her night dress,
"I recycle them." She muttered, sniffling, "Why did you come here?" She asked, as she heard the crackle of Apparition all around her home,
"I didn't know if you'd turn me in," he said honestly,
"OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE!" She said, Her voice wavering,
"I'm your way out."
"You are the one who forced me into this! You are, you just suck ass, you ruined my life," said Ophelia, he was about to lunge for her wand but then the kitchen door was burst open and he was frozen in place by two Aurors, Ophelia was shaking all over and her wand clattered to the ground,
He looked hurt. As though she'd betrayed him somehow. As he was pushed outside, and restrained like an animal, his tongue was removed from his mouth, and his arms were restrained in a straight jacket,
She could here the noise of footsteps all over her house and it all quickly became to much for her, the noise, the lights from the wands, the buzzing in her head, she shut her eyes tightly, her fists clenched as she wished she were anywhere else,
She heard footsteps behind her, and a tentative tap on the shoulder,
"Miss Marigold!" Came the head Auror's voice and she turned her head, her heart beating fast as she watched men in Aurors uniforms fill her home, as tears streamed down her face, and she looked at him, "Come with us,"
She bent down slowly, picking up her wand and followed the head Auror out,
"You aren't safe here, Miss Marigold." Said Auror Malloy, and she nodded in agreement, looking through the windows of her home, the home she'd wanted since she was a child as it was torn apart by Aurors, "We will be escorting you back to the ministry,"
She nodded absently, as she was given a shock blanket, And ushered into the carriage with three other Aurors,
"So." Said one awkwardly as the carriage took flight, "Ya like jazz?"
—
Typically the ministry lodgings were used for diplomats who were visiting England. To keep them safe, and impress them with the wealth of the British Ministry. But today they were used by the last true Marigold,
Ophelia woke up slowly in the ministry lodgings forgetting where she was for a moment before clutching her wand and sweeping the room with her eyes,
She took a few shaky breaths as she opened the boudoir to see dresses galore, she furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the expensive fabrics, surely the ministry didn't have this much to spend housing a criminal, well, an innocent criminal but still.
She thought as she pulled on a blue dress, and pulled her hair back, pinning her bangs into a small victory curl as she usually did, keeping them there with a head band. Not wanting to look a total mess as she had,
before noticing the flowers in the vases,
They were all Roses.
And since I'm not in the mood for a cliffhanger, Ophelia put on the first pair of shoes she could find, grabbed her wand and opened the door, walking into the small common area where residents could floo to the ministry,
She scanned the seating area and then her eyes landed on him, reading the copy of Hamlet she'd left behind in her old flat in New York.
She wasn't even remotely surprised Andrew had gone through her things after she'd left,
"Andrew?" She said, and immediately his eyes were on her and he shut the book, "You have my book," she said, as he walked over to her until he was directly in front of her,
And all this heart broken boy could muster was, "Please don't call me that," he said, Not making any move to return her famed copy of Hamlet,
Ophelia rolled her eyes, "What are you doing here?" She asked, looking up at him,
"Malloy called me, said his cousin had you in custody for a bit," said Andrew,
"Protective custody." Corrected Ophelia, this was so awkward, worse than the hour long ride to the ministry with those three Aurors who wouldn't stop talking about jazz,
"Ros- Ophelia, I wanted to escort you to the ministry," he said, and she shook her head,
"I don't think that's a very good idea, Andrew," she said, shaking her head itching to take back that damned book, "Could I have my book back?"
He raised and and flipped through the pages, "It's the only way I could get to know you," he said almost weakly, and Ophelia sighed,
"In my experience, the best way to go about this is a clean break," she said, and Andrew shook his head,
"I like Ophelia," he said, flipping through the pages of the play, looking over the margins filled with a younger Ophelia's loopy hand writing, "I want to try it again, the two of us,"
"Andrew, no, I can't," said Ophelia,
"Why not? I'll be gentle, I'll treat you well," he said, "I just need to know it wasn't all me." Andrew sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose,
"I cared about you," said Ophelia, caving in and telling him what he wanted to hear, and he opened his eyes, "I made you fall in love with me because you felt safe. You felt safe because I cared and believed in you, I still do. But I can't love you. You deserve someone whole. Someone who can give you everything. I'm not that person."
He shook his head, and let her precious book drop to the floor before hugging her tightly,
"Please stop," she said, her eyes locked on her book,
"Please love me again," he said, "I can make you love me. The same way that you did me, I can do it, isn't it in your play that Shakespeare says that music be the food of love, so play on?"
"That's Twelfth night," said Ophelia, trying to break free in favour of grabbing her book,
"You could teach me all about Shakespeare, and I, I could love you, and we could get married, and we could be together," said Andrew,
"I'm eighteen." Said Ophelia, "I'm half blood I-"
He kissed her, holding her face in his hands as she swatted at him to get away,
"You taste like honey," said Andrew, "How much time was I going to get. With you as my wife?"
"A month but-"
"Then I want my month." Said Andrew, and she shoved him away from her, picked up her copy of hamlet, running her hand over the familiar cover, it still smelled the same too, she pressed it to her chest and backed away from him,
"No." She said,
"No?" Said Andrew, advancing on her angrily, "No?!"
Her back was to the wall, directly beside the fireplace,
"You come into my life and you make me fall in love with you within goddamned weeks and you expect me to believe it was all fake!? You will come home with me and you will be with me until you love me again, and I-"
She wanted to scold him, to shout at him, but the anxieties inside of her built up to the point that Ophelia was crying. He was scaring her. He raised a hand and she shut her eyes as he tried to wipe away her tears,
"I didn't mean to scare you," said Andrew softly, "I was the scared one when you didn't show in America. When you ran off with what's his name? I just can't imagine life without you, Rose,"
"I'm Ophelia," she said quietly, opening her golden eyes, hating what had happened to her, it was like her nerve endings were shutting down. She couldn't move. All she could do was be still and cry, and pray he didn't hit her, "And I need to go,"
She said, pushing him away using her copy of Hamlet, and walking to the fireplace,
"Ophelia please," said Andrew, "I didn't mean,"
"Yes. You did."
—
Ophelia sat down in the room with the Aurors as they looked at Grindelwald where he sat across the table. He'd refused to talk until Ophelia was in the room.
His tongue had been returned to him. And he'd told the tale of his escape, how his split soul was undesired by the dementors, and how he'd coaxed one of his guards into helping him,
Ophelia had remained quiet as the men discussed but then, Grindelwald watched as honeyed golden eyes almost frosted over and she sat up in her seat,
"I want to design his cell." Said Ophelia, and the men stopped talking to listen to her, her stone cold face, and perfect posture made her look poised as ever, her nail drummed over the cover of her copy of Hamlet once before she continued,
"He's going to live out the rest of his days trapped in his own fortress."
Grindelwald's stronghold was an utter maze, the only way through was with magic,
"One entrance for the guards. I'm not taking away union jobs," said Ophelia, certain of her words for the first time in this hectic tailspin of a week, "I'll alter it personally,"
And then her cold cruel laugh sounded in the room, leaving no room for argument, as she looked at Grindelwald, dead in the eye,
"I want him obliviated of how he ended up there. I want his knowledge of the castle wiped. I'll make it a vault. A labyrinth even. Something even I couldn't get into," said Ophelia, and then another bout of laughter,
It was chilling. If her regular laugh was akin to a breath of summer, this was a gust of winter. Seeping through your skin until you wondered if you ever would be warm again,
She narrowed her cold golden eyes on the man who'd ruined her life,
"I want you to suffer, old man."
So, guess who crawled out from her hole and finally posted!!! Me, the answer is me.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, i tried to tie up some of my loose ends, and I reunited the most important duo in the series,
Ophelia and her copy of Hamlet.
Truly been through it together.
So, Ophelia's patronus changed when she fell in love with Lolita since all her positive memories of Tom were marred, by um, well you know...
And I do like having chapters with Ophelia and Jason being the chaotic bisexuals they are, like he dresses her up, they cheat at bingo, and then they watch nature documentaries together while drinking wine, talking about boys or girls while eating cake,
Ester Exposito (the actress who plays Ophelia) is in this new show set around the forties so only now to I have historically accurate gigs to share with y'all, like the audacity of her to star in this when I'm almost done my book. Really. Just rude.
But she's so dang cute we let it slide
Initially I chose her because I didn't want Ophelia's main draw to be that she's pretty but then the actress went and glowed up on me, so I've decided that Ophelia went through a glow up too,
Ophelia is so adorable to me, like she seduces men by baking them cookies, cuddling, and being funny and supportive. Deadass.
The most complex relationships in this fanfic are Ophelia and Tom, Grindelwald, and Primrose, like I didn't think I'd go so far as to say Grindelwald has a sort of twisted fatherly affection for Ophelia,
But like Villanelle and Konstantin vibes.
Anyways, time for an image dump,
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!!!!