The week after that incident in the forest passed under a strange tension.
I expected the Bagshot brothers to show up at our house with a crowd, pitchforks, and torches, like in old witch-hunting films. But the days passed, and nothing happened. Apparently, they were even more frightened than I had thought.
Meanwhile, Maggie kept her word. We met as usual, chatted, laughed, and only occasionally did I catch her gaze — curious, but not afraid. It was as if she were waiting for me to do something unusual again right before her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that," I finally said one day. "I'm not a magician!"
"Too bad," Maggie sighed. "I wish my friend were a magician."
I just laughed. In my eyes, Maggie was truly a unique girl. Even such supernatural phenomena didn't make her respond with fear or caution; rather, she reacted with childlike curiosity. And thanks to her reaction, it became much easier for me to continue interacting with her.
At the stables, everything continued as usual. Thomas, if he noticed anything strange about me, never showed it. The horses still gravitated toward me when we spent time together. Daisy would nuzzle her muzzle into my shoulder and snort with pleasure.
"…Just look at her!" Thomas snorted. "Seems like Daisy likes you even more than she likes me, doesn't she?"
Instead of responding, the horse only made a sound resembling a contented neigh, and the old man and I laughed.
"Sorry for stealing the love of your charges," I said, almost sincerely.
Thomas just snorted with mock displeasure.
"So you spend thirty years of your life on these ungrateful animals, and then someone comes and steals them in a single moment!"
Nevertheless, although the old groom often grumbled, I knew that in reality he was pleased with my work and my warm interactions with the horses. I also enjoyed continuing to work at the stables.
Time, meanwhile, continued to move along.
In mid-October, when the leaves had almost completely fallen and the sky was covered with gray clouds, an unexpected letter arrived in Little Hangleton.
It wasn't brought by the postman but by a strange man clearly not from around here, who, upon arriving in the village, asked where "Miss Gaunt" lived. Mrs. Cole frowned at the name and said that no such person lived here. The man left, but the letter itself remained. Mrs. Cole waited for a discreet moment to pick it up herself.
"This is for you," she said, handing me the envelope. "Some weirdo was wandering around the village looking for you to deliver it. He looked suspicious enough, so I told him, just in case, that no one by that name lives here."
I took the letter in trembling hands.
The seal on the envelope was definitely familiar to me. I immediately guessed it was from the Ministry of Magic.
"Who is it from?" Mrs. Cole asked suspiciously, squinting.
"An old acquaintance," I replied evasively. "From London."
To open the letter, I went to my room and only then broke the envelope.
The letter was from Bob Ogden.
*"Dear Miss Gaunt,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I have been searching for a way to contact you without attracting unnecessary attention. I hope I have succeeded.
I wish to inform you of news that I believe will please you. The legal proceedings regarding your father and brother have concluded. Marvolo Gaunt has been sentenced to ten years in Azkaban. Morfin Gaunt, taking into account certain mitigating circumstances (as well as my testimony that he voluntarily surrendered to the authorities), has received seven years.
They will not be released early. You are safe.
However, there is also troubling news. After the news of your father's and brother's arrests caused such a stir, a portion of the magical community has taken an unhealthy interest in you. Particularly the fact that you are one of the last remaining members of the Gaunt family… This has attracted the attention of people I would call 'enthusiasts of ancient families.' Be cautious. If someone approaches you claiming to be a friend, do not trust them immediately.
I have assigned someone to watch over you. He will ensure your safety without interfering in your life. Should anything serious happen, he will assist you. Trust him if the need arises.
Take care of yourself, Miss Gaunt.
With sincere regards,
Bob Ogden
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
P.S. If you wish to reply, give the letter to the same courier. He will appear once a month at the well in your village during the full moon."*
I read the letter three times before fully processing its contents.
So, there was the first piece of good news — Marvolo and Morfin received sentences in Azkaban: ten and seven years. That meant that, for that time, I would certainly be safe.
But there was also another piece of news, not so good…
Someone in the magical community was taking an interest in me. 'Enthusiasts of ancient families' — probably those same pureblood fanatics who wanted to use me as a symbol of their cult.
And also — the person assigned to watch over me. Was it an Auror from the Ministry? A spy?
I looked out the window. Dusk had fallen, but the streetlamps were not yet lit. I peered more closely into the evening gloom, and then I thought I noticed a stranger in the shadows near the fence. It was a tall figure dressed in dark clothing.
I became nervous and immediately drew the curtain back.
Was this really happening? Or was it just my imagination because of the darkness?…
"Merope?" At that moment, Mrs. Cole called from the kitchen. "Are you coming to dinner?"
"I'm coming!" I replied, but I kept looking out the window for a little while longer.
Thank goodness, when I next pulled the curtain back, the suspicious figure was gone. Not for long, but I exhaled in relief.