~1976~

"Don't touch me Mudblood," Severus Snape hissed at Ophelia as he pushed her to the ground. Avery and Mulciber, who were sixth-year Slytherins like Snape was, laughed and Avery aimed a kick at her head as it hit the stone floor

"Give it a rest!" a voice stopped Mulciber before he could send the spell he was about the cast straight at Ophelia's face.

"Stay out of things you don't understand Fawley," Mulciber said, turning his wand away from the fifth-year girl and to the new person, whose voice Ophelia vauigley recognised.

"I think I understand exactly what is happening here, you're picking on Muggle-borns, which I will not allow to happen when I am around." Said the voice. 

Ophelia's head was panging and she felt quite dizzy from the impact her head had against the stone floor. She had accidentally walked straight into Severus Snape as her head was buried in an Ancient Runes textbook as her OWL exam for Ancient Runes was the next day and she hadn't wanted to waste any revision time.

She cursed herself for not looking where she was going, especially around Slytherins who had made it their life mission to bully every single Muggleborn who dared to come too close to their sacred Pureblood.

"Now, are you going to leave her alone, or do I need to start throwing hexes?" The voice asked. Ophelia pushed herself up on her elbows to get a look at her saviour and saw no other than Fabian Fawley, a fellow fifth-year Ravenclaw student who was well-known for his duelling abilities. Ophelia could have laughed if she hadn't been in so much pain, as there was no way the three Slytherins would want a fight with Fabian who could beat them with his eyes closed.

"Watch out Jones," said Avery, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "next time you aren't looking where you're going you may just walk into a killing curse." Avery straightened up and spat on the ground next to Ophelia. "Come on, let's get away from the stench of Mudblood, it's making me feel ill."

The there Slytherins retreated down the corridor, muttering and shooting looks over their shoulders at Fabian, who had moved over to Ophelia.

"Are you okay?" He asked, grabbing her book which had been flung across the corridor when Snape shoved her. Ophelia scrambled to her feet and took the book from him. She felt a wave of dizziness at the sudden movement but tried to get her balance.

"I'm okay, thank you for helping," she said.

"No problem, those death eaters don't know any common decency." Fabian looked in the direction the three boys had just left. "Don you need me to take you to the hospital wing?"

"No I'm fine-" Ophelia tried to take a step forward, but the dizziness took over and she stumbled, falling into Fabian's arms.

"I'm taking you to the hospital wing, you probably have a concussion," said Fabian.

"I can't have a concussion I have an exam tomorrow!" Ophelia complained, still trying to regain her balance.

"Don't worry, Madam Pomfrey will have you fixed up in no time." Fabian said, "Come on, I'll help you get there."

Fabian half led, half dragged, half carried Ophelia towards the hospital wing and she was left with no option but to go with him.