Fatal Attraction | D.M. (Soft Rewrite)

Chapter Fifty-Two - Blindside

The fire swelled from her neckline, as the pendant took charge. Illuminating the space with incandescent light. To fan the wide hallway with amber flames and overpower the seasonal grey sky.

The silhouettes flickered and accelerated, as fire danced across Ophelia's collarbones. Winding down each forearm to her bare hands, until she could hold the element, between her fingertips. Wielding something frightening and hellish but intimately natural. She felt powerful; her skin the perfect kindling to ignite the fire, usually locked away.

Thrusting her hands forwards, she watched in wonder. Forgetting what sparked this frenzy, as visions of his face were displaced by the blaze.

It was captivating, watching how it greedily devoured her entire body. Blanketing her skin with its rich hues, until she resembled the setting sun.

Then, she started to worry. Realising the necklace was no longer the source and its birthplace radiated from somewhere deep within. Below muscle and bone, from her core. It was now impossible to disentangle the crossed-wires. Without a clear path to retreat or a method to extinguish the flames, she stumbled to the floor. Dropping to her knees, she braced herself on the cool stone block, which felt grounding. Anchoring her to the biting chill of reality, as she doused the light with one sharp inhaled breath.

Ophelia's panic didn't subside but her body temperature levelled, as the fire withdrew to hide in the shadows. Leaving her empty and exhausted, as she stared at the floor. Still unable to process the situation, she submitted control to her instincts, that carried her to the room of requirement.

Collapsing on a familiar bed, she forgot the long walk and his entrance. Too weary to treat the blemishes, decorating her shins, from Pansy's nasty hex. She admired the green silk sheets and drained another vial of dreamless sleep. Repressing the image of his beautiful face. With eyes that carelessly overlooked her crestfallen expression and lips that didn't bother to utter one polite greeting. She succumbed to the drowsiness. The stark depths of her mind, where no light or thoughts were free to roam. And as usual, she didn't recall anything else, once her head hit the pillow. 

~

Ophelia's ears pricked, as she roused awake. Groaning as she stretched her tight joints and unfurled the fog circling her mind. To feel grossly dissatisfied with her brief sleep, which only lasted several hours, judging by the light filtering through the window. The pretend sea-views, where her favourite part of the rooms redesign. And were currently depicting a rather dreary afternoon in Cornwall.

Then her eyes widened and she retreated along the mattress. Establishing some distance from Millicent's messenger. But the translucent apparition of a Persian cat, wasn't satisfied to stay back. Clumsily padding closer, to nudge her shoulder with its damp muzzle. Her bushy tail swishing to-and-fro, while she purred and whined. Begging Ophelia to heed Millicent's usual request, which meant attending dinner.

Rubbing closed fists over her eyes and yawning, before begrudgingly nodding to the cat. She straightened her clothes and stowed her wand in her cloak pocket, while the patronus eyed her warily. Like its owner, it wasn't a trusting animal and wanted proof that Ophelia was leaving before it vanished.

'I'm not lying this time,' she huffed. Half-smiling, as the cat appeared to roll its eyes. Slinking out the room, to rub its body against her calf, as she veered towards the staircase.

Walking down each desolate floor, to the great hall, while her surroundings rapidly filled with students and noise. As crowds of alternating house colours, rushed to dinner. Including a cluster of giggling fifth years, who were failing to mask their obvious stares, or silence their muffled gossip. But Ophelia only needed to hear her name referenced once before tuning them out. Blocking her ears, until an unwelcome piece of news demanded her attention.