Through Her Eyes

Chapter 129

The house was spacious, good enough for a family. Pictures of the Molleys were still left around, which Sirius couldn't help but look at. Gloria and Richard looked like a happy couple and all the pictures with Ophelia made them seem like the perfect family. Sirius chuckled at one particular photo of Ophelia pouting while Richard was giving her a piggyback ride through the park. If only his father had been at least once a loveable man, then maybe his life and Regulus' would have been different.

"For how long do you plan to hide in here?" Sirius asked, putting back the framed photo and turning to her.

Ophelia was on the couch looking ahead as if she was in a dream. Her fingers were twitching but the rest of her body seemed relaxed. The truth was that she couldn't get over how it felt to kill someone. The spell was still so fresh, the magic was still in her hands and it was almost exciting. But then, Knowingall's face appeared in her mind and she shrugged that thought away.

"Ophelia?" Sirius placed one hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him very slowly. She blinked twice before she regained herself. "Are you alright?"

"...no," she replied honestly.

"I think we should go have a look around. Maybe a walk among muggles will make you feel better, take your mind off of-" he stopped when he saw her look down at her still twitching fingers.

Unfortunately, they were dressed for a Christmas Ball, and all of Ophelia's clothes in the house were too small. That only reminded her that she was just a kid when Tom killed her adoptive parents and Spinnard. He made sure to cut her from everything normal and bright and joyful and keep her where he could control her disposition. Luckily, Gloria and Richard's winter clothes were perfect for them. Seeing Sirius in her adoptive father's coat and boots, Ophelia realized she had very few Christmas memories with the Molleys.

"I like your father's fashion," Sirius commented looking up and down at his reflection in the mirror. He almost looked like a young adult.

Ophelia chuckled and looked at herself but once her eyes set on her face, she suddenly saw her father and quickly turned her head aside.

"Let's just go," she muttered, already searching for her boots.

Birmingham was a busy city, but it seemed to be so silent during Christmas. Families were probably inside their houses, next to the warmth of their chimneys, opening presents and eating, drinking, laughing, and living their lives in peace. There were shops still open but not until late at night, as on a normal weekday, and a few teenagers and kids were playing outside but it was still relatively quiet. Sirius turned to Ophelia and sighed heavily, realizing one important detail.

"We have no money,"

Ophelia tilted her head to the side and grabbed a wallet from inside her coat.

"That's not our money," Sirius said, feeling like he was taking advantage of the two dead adults.

"They're mine. Gloria used to give me an allowance every month. I never quite got around to using it since I was shipped to Hogwarts quickly after they adopted me," Ophelia explained, although she knew this was Gloria's wallet and there was more money than she actually saved.

"OK then. Well, what do you want to do? I haven't been here before,"

"I haven't either...it's been so long since I could walk around the neighbourhood," she admitted with melancholy, "Oh, we could go to Gloria's favourite tea shop. They had really good chocolate parfaits and brownies," she started, her eyes full with excitement.

That was exactly what they did. They needed to take the bus, which for Sirius was an interesting experience. He rarely used muggle transportation, even when living in his uncle's flat. Ophelia paid for both of them and they sat quietly by the window, looking at the passing scenery. It felt good, almost like they fit with the others. The tea shop was open, to Ophelia's joy, and they chose a table near the window before Ophelia ordered what she liked.