Beautiful
That Tuesday had a marvellous morning with Bella winning almost 40 points to her house and an excellent mark on her Potions test. That didn’t surprise anyone though. Even Slughorn said that he didn’t have to read the answers, as he already knew that they were correct. Of course, he didn’t announce this on class. No, he did it in private, while she was helping him reorganize the ingredients on the correct shelves of the Potions classroom.
“Tell me, Miss Rizzo” Slughorn said intending to chat. “How is Mister Riddle doing?”
“I have no idea, professor. The last time I saw him was last summer.”
“Is that so? I always had the feeling he was very close to your family...”
“He is close to my brother and my father really appreciates him” she explained.
“But he is not close to you” he deduced.
“We have very different personalities.”
“Well, I always thought –and, please, don’t be offended by it– that both of you were very much alike” he proclaimed. “But maybe I was wrong.”
“Terribly” she agreed, but Slughorn kept on thinking that there was a sparkle between his students.
“Bella, there you are!” Monty burst into the classroom. “Oh, sorry, professor!”
“No worries, Potter. I was just entertaining Miss Rizzo in here” he smiled. “However, I still don’t forgive you for not taking Potions this year.”
Monty smiled shyly.
“I had to prioritize other stuff, professor.”
“I tell you something. If you are still interested, I’ll let you come back next year” Slughorn said. “I can’t possibly let go off the best Gryffindor potioneer.”
Those last words resonated in Ofelia’s head, as the slug let them go.
“You lied to me” Ofelia said when they were alone.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said that you were bad at Potions.”
“I don’t think I said that exactly.”
“You said you needed help with it, which it is exactly the same” she pointed out, raising one of her eyebrows.
“Fine, I might have pretended I needed help with Potions, so that you would accept my help with Transfigurations” he confessed. “Call the dementors, if you must!”
“Thank you!” she jumped over at him to hug him. “You are my best friend, Monty!”
“And you are mine” he admitted. “But don’t tell Ames.”
That afternoon was beautiful. The spring sun was already taking over the castle. So, there was no need to stay inside anymore. Ofelia could enjoy the sun and the fresh grass in her skin forever, while studying in the grounds with Minerva. They were actually preparing their arguments for the next debate they would have in two weeks. Something about Azkaban as a ruthless prison.
“And with that, I guess we are done” Ofelia trumpeted. “We should think some counterarguments though.”
“We can do it tomorrow” Minerva said. “I have to meet with Albus.”
“Do you call him Albus?” Ofelia was surprised.
“It’s his name, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but it is a professor. I don’t call Slughorn by his first time” she explained.
“Sure. But I bet you don’t call Aberforth by his last name” Minerva objected.
“Well, he is my boyfriend.”
“I know...”
“You don’t like him, do you?”
“It is not like I do not like him” Minerva sighed. “I actually think that he is a good man.”
“Then what is it?”
“He is double your age. Don’t you find it strange?”
Ofelia thought her words carefully before responding. “I know how it sounds. But we get along very well. We understand each other.”
“I just don’t see how that could be possible” Minerva confessed. “How can you get him when you haven’t lived as much as he did?”
“I just do. In case you forgot, I’ve been through a lot.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t make you elderly wiser.”
She hated when she didn’t know how to answer at something. Maybe it was because deep down she knew that Minerva was right. But she didn’t know how to explain that her relationship was more than what it looked from the outside. So, she preferred to shut her mouth, even if that meant letting Minerva win the arguement this one time.
Even the evening seemed beautiful that day. A clear sky, a nice dinner. No prefect duties that day, so she could just go to sleep safe and sound. Or that was what she thought until Professor Slughorn asked her to come to Headmaster Dippet’s Office, even if she already was in her nightgown. When she went inside with the Head of her house, she saw that Professor Dumbledore and her little brother were there as well.
“Professor?” she inquired.
“Miss Rizzo, I’m afraid there has been an issue with your father” the headmaster explained.
“What?” Filipe asked. “What is wrong with him?”
“Apparently, he is terribly ill. It’s imperative that you leave now, so that both of you can...”
He didn’t finish the sentence. But she knew what he was trying to say. He meant they had to leave now, so that they could say their final goodbyes. Everything was happening too fast. Extremely fast. Why was he sick? Why so sudden? Filipe started to cry, so she brough him into her arms and held him tight, waiting for the instructions. Yet she was in a state of shock herself.
“Professor Dumbledore has volunteered to take you back to Clovelly. I believe your other brother is already at home.”