Chapter Text
Sebastian
Were his life a painting doused in gouache, he knew the once dull gray landscapes would transform into that of color with rolling green hills and verdant forests. It described how he felt when he discovered Salazar Slytherin’s spellbook; the spellbook was the rain that revitalized the dead grass and wilting plants of the mind that was the valley. Not a day passed where he didn’t have it propped open in front of him, poring over Slytherin’s austere inked strokes and admiring the centuries worth of otherwise forbidden knowledge. He would stay up reading it in the common room when everyone else was asleep, near the fire that warmed his face and illuminated his manic eyes. He also took great care not to show it around anybody, enchanting it so that the cover looked like a textbook for potions. There were only three people in the whole school that knew he had it now; one of them remained sleeping in the bed next to his and the other had a secret of her own that no one could know about. It was almost intimate.
“Sallow, Sallow, with that new fifth-year, he’ll go wherever she is just to follow!”
Sebastian twisted his face into a sneer. “That doesn’t rhyme, Peeves.”
“‘That doesn’t rhyme, Peeves.’” The poltergeist mimicked him, repeating his voice in an offensive whiny overture that echoed down the hall. He blew a raspberry before disappearing within the walls.
“Annoying prat,” he muttered under his breath as he slipped by a group of first years that took up space in the hall to ogle the large painting of a man playing a lute.
He descended down the Defence Against the Dark Arts tower and strolled out into the courtyard. He forgoed the decision to bring the book in the class, especially Professor Weasley’s. As soon as she laid her eyes on it, he might as well bid goodbye forever and lose the progress he made within seconds. Sebastian slowed down to a stroll when he saw a familiar figure standing beside one of the several stone benches marking the transfiguration courtyard. He opened his mouth to shout a greeting before stopping when he spotted a head of bright, red hair.
“So, what did you think?” Garreth Weasley prodded her. “Brilliant, wasn’t it?”
She laughed. “A bit strong on the aftertaste. But beyond that, I suppose it was.”
“Wait till you see my next one. Come with me after class, won’t you? I think we should meet near my common room..”
“Mind if I cut in?” Sebastian said as he stepped closer.
Garreth wasn’t given a chance before Sebastian pulled her towards a spot where there were less students. “I found something in the book,” he whispered, unable to contain his excitement. “I think there’s something worth investigating.”
“Alright,” she glanced over his shoulder and he turned to see Professor Weasley calling everyone to join her within the classroom. “We’ll talk more after classes are finished.”
Even though they walked in together, she took a seat beside Natsai who received her with a gracious smile. Sebastian had a desk large enough for two, sure, but he removed one of the only two chairs ever since someone had transfigured his textbook into a book by accident. He still never found the damned thing after it launched itself into the air, never to be seen again (Rumors from Irondale circled back to him at times about a flapping book that would occasionally circle their windmill).
Class went by a lot quicker than he expected as anything Weasley was saying immediately entered one ear and out the other. They were to turn gobstones into butterflies which was easy enough. Sebastian’s butterfly was a large orange monarch that flew upwards and circled around his head, never leaving his side. He watched Priscilla turn hers into a blue emperor. It rested on her finger before flying upwards to meet his monarch. They danced around each other for a moment before the monarch then fluttered down and landed on her nose, giving her a kiss.
Her butterfly flew towards him and returned the favor.
Ominis
Something changed in Sebastian and Ominis was led to believe that his best friend didn’t even realize it. It was as if he had bade him farewell and stole into the night with no note or explanation to be had. It was upsetting to say the least. Though Sebastian swore to never touch on anything to do with the Dark Arts, his own intuition was telling him otherwise. Something bad was going to happen. Something that he would regret.
It was a thought that plagued him as days passed. There were even times he couldn’t bear to eat as it only upset his stomach at the thought of what they found. It didn’t help that Sebatian refused to elaborate on what he was planning. Lately, his only respite had been spending time with his other ‘friend’.
With that thought in mind, he heard a thump next to him and he immediately took her by the wrist and shook her. “Wake up,” he hissed.
“I.. can’t..” her words were elongated before eventually becoming stifled with the yawn that forced its way through her lips. “Tired..”
“I do not look forward to sneaking you into another bed.”
“Perhaps it can be yours this time.”
Ominis sputtered as warmth bloomed across his cheeks. “Don’t be foolish- sit up!”
“Does anyone know exactly how many buttons were lost during the Goblin Rebellion of 1612?” Professor Binns’ almost regrettably dull tone passed over them.
“Four hundred and ninety-two..” Priscilla answered but only so loud that only her and Ominis had heard and it was so because she was stifling another yawn.
Ominis put a fist under his chin and did his best to hold his face up. He would find that this was a sordid mistake anyone could make in a situation where they needed to be awake. The mistake of making himself more comfortable. It was no sooner after he relaxed that his head bobbed forward and he felt his eyelids grow heavier at the somehow lulling sound of Professor Binn’s monotone droning. For a slight moment he did wake up as he felt a cold chill suddenly overtake him.
There was consensus that no matter the circumstance, it was always unpleasant to have a ghost pass right through your mortal coil. Ominis supposed that this was the closest he’d ever feel to having a dementor nearby as he waved the white wisps that lingered by his face. But as the chill dissipated along with Binns’ ghostly presence, he balanced his face onto his hand and nodded off once more.
***
“Ominis…Ominis!!” He jolted awake at someone whispering his name and relaxed when he realized it was just her. “You fell asleep.”
“No I didn’t.”
“You were closing your eyes..”
“They felt dry.”
“You should try closing them more often then, you look adorable while you’re sleeping.”
“Hush. You’re distracting me.” Ominis attempted to focus on his notes and what he should be writing down.
She chuckled. “What are you taking notes for? Class is over.”
The sounds of chairs being pushed up and students being roused from sleep became more apparent. He felt hot with embarrassment as he too began picking up his things just as the footsteps exited out of the classroom. He was used to everyone departing far quicker than he. It no longer made him sad which was a great improvement. Turning his body, he felt his shoulder bump into something solid.
“Ready?”
“Why did you stay behind?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“You waited..for me?”
“I believe that’s what I just said.” He heard the smile in her voice.
There wasn’t much Ominis could say besides a simple: “Thank you.” His wand was already out, allowing him to ‘see’ her figure as she walked ahead. In truth it didn’t provide much clarity. If he were to describe it, it was as if he was seeing a shade in the place where she stood. The environment was constructed in hazy black and white lines that messily described where everything was. He once did his best to describe this to Sebastian who merely said back: “Oh- like a sketch?” He was asked to elaborate afterwards. “A sketch is a sort of loose rendition of the subject the artist wants to paint.”
Yes. That’s how he saw the world. But a part of him deeply envied being able to see things in detail. That day he had with her in the library, for example. He wished he saw her as others would.
“How do you feel about Honeydukes?”
The clocktower rang for the entire school to hear and to let everyone know to loosen up for it was the end of the academic periods. “For dinner?” He mused. It was true, he fancied sweets just as much as the next student. But it seemed superfluous to make a trek there just for a batch of fudge that would no doubt make him sick by the time he rested in bed. “Why not. I may enlist you for help on the essay due for Binns.”
“Don’t count on me. I couldn’t stay awake. As Amit says: ‘Those who don’t pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it- the class at least.’”
They shared a laugh and he admitted it felt good to smile.
“There you are, you had no idea-” Sebastian’s voice rose and fell as he slowed to a canter, stopping entirely in front of them. “Ominis, ‘lo.”
Ominis found his eyebrow twitching. “‘lo to you too, Sebastian.”
“..Were you two going somewhere?”
“We were going to Honeydukes to get a snack before..” she trailed off and Ominis’ felt his gut feeling spike to soaring suspicions.
“It can’t wait,” said Sebastian. Ominis wanted to laugh. Of course he wouldn’t say much right here. This had something to do with the book, and he was dragging her along with him!
There was an uncomfortable silence between the three of them and he relented. He knew Sebastian wouldn’t simply let this go. Even if they went to Honeydukes for a short trip, it would be ruined by Sebastian’s odious attitude. Nothing else seemed more important than his needs these days.
“Well.” Ominis reached forward until he took what he assumed was Priscilla’s hand. “Do be careful in your endeavors.” Her skin felt warm on his and she squeezed back. There was a feeling of someone ogling at him and he assumed he knew who it was. “I’ll be waiting in our common room.” He turned to walk away just as the two of them departed. When their footsteps and voices rescinded to the point that he could no longer hear them, he stopped.
Ominis held his wand up and felt the trace pulling his wand to follow. A trace that he passed onto her hand.
Sebastian
“You're not actually thinking of sneaking into the Gryffindor Common Room, are you?”
“What?”
“I heard you and Weasley talking. He wanted to sneak you into their dorm.”
She now held her broom in her hand, straddling it. “Why shouldn’t I? I snuck into your common room, didn’t I?”
“Wouldn’t call that sneaking,” he muttered as he mounted behind her. “You were out cold.”
“Really? Because I actually remember it being rather warm where I was.” Her laughter was carried into the clouds by the wind. “Slytherin beds are comfy. I wish ours was set up like that. We have bunk beds.”
Sebastian took a deep breath as they descended down into a fjord. The acceleration moved his stomach and made him feel both energized and nauseated. His arms, on instinct, wrapped around her waist. For a moment he felt her tense up.
“So- are you going to tell me about what you found?”
Sebastian retrieved a scrap piece of parchment and waved it in front of her face before tucking it away again. “That was part of a student’s report when they were meant to research the catacomb near Feldcroft. It spoke of a relic that could reverse dark spells.”
“Are you sure the student knew what they found?”
“Salazar Slytherin himself adopted the notes and put them in his journal. It has to be important. It’s the answer, I know it is.”
“...Sebastian.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
They rode on in silence. Sebastian was tempted to ask her to stop by the hamlet when her broom took them over Feldcroft and he saw Anne through the window, focusing on something in front of her. He decided against it; hoping instead he could see her after their excursion, and with good news. They landed on grass that barely poked out over the blanket of snow that smothered them. It crunched heavily under their feet while her broom disappeared in a silent whoosh.
“Any chance I can have that broom if you decide to get a new one?” he asked jokingly.
She looked back at him in surprise. “Sure,” she chirped, “if something happens to me, it’s all yours. I’ll even leave it in my will.”
“Come off it. You’re only the second best duelist in the school, nothing will happen to you.”
She gave him an appreciative grin. “Let’s get to work and see if this student of yours bears any significance.”
Ominis
It wasn’t too difficult to follow them. Once he felt their trajectory heading towards Feldcroft at an astonishing speed, he headed to the nearest Floo powder station and ducked underneath a stall just as he felt their connection pass by overhead. I was right, they did travel by broom . Once he felt the trace slow, he followed until he reached what seemed to be a large catacomb. Something dark emanated from within the cold depths of the tomb that further exacerbated the bad feeling he had earlier. And even though winter had made itself home in the Hogwarts Valley, the confines of this stone grave had him shivering violently.
Ominis remained quiet as he entered and wandered the halls. His wand notified him of the cramped spaces, the cobwebs hanging low from the ceilings, and any stray rubble that lay in his path. It was just his luck that any foes, if any, were already eradicated. They almost made it too easy for him as he needn’t do much except follow the path of destruction.
He froze when he heard their voices loud and clear as they shouted “ Confringo !” simultaneously. Something let out a dying screech and he heard Sebastian’s relieved sigh. “At least we know we aren’t alone in here,” he heard her say.
“Perhaps that was it, and the rest of the tomb will be insect free.”
“Spiders aren’t insects.”
“Don’t start.”
Laughter followed and Ominis couldn’t help but feel the familiar cut of melancholy slice through his chest. A part of him wanted to join, to be included in their group to help find a way to cure Anne. But not like this. If he knew anything about this catacomb, it was that the founder once had a very pronounced predilection for all things having to do with the Dark Arts. Whatever it was that Sebastian thinks he could find was assuredly something that was best left alone- forever.
His foot bumped into something rough and he bit back a surprised groan.
“..Did you hear that?” Came Sebastian’s distant voice.
Priscilla’s voice came next. “I’m sure ominous sounds are part of the ambience of a tomb.” She sounded short with him, as she does when she’s focused on a task. It was after her sentence ended that he heard something else; a clattering of sorts. Like pebbles held in a container and being shaken vigorously.
“Now we’re getting to the bare bones.” A pause then another raucous of laughter.
“Good one.”
“I try.”
Scuttling feet dotted the stone all around him and though the spiders didn’t actually seem to be anywhere near him, he felt their hairy legs crawling over him all the same. Out of habit, he brushed his sleeve off with his wand and hoped that the spiders found other things more interesting than he. Their trail stopped in what seemed like a large chamber. The overbearing presence he felt earlier intensified here. He stopped when he heard a bit of their conversation.
“...The student mentions a ‘dark sacrifice’ required to use the relic. I really think we should leave it here.”
“After all that? No. I’m taking it. For Anne’s sake.”
It’s now or never . Ominis showed himself, walking into the chamber to stand guard at the door. He couldn’t let him leave with the relic. Even after all they’ve been through. He’d decided. His mind was made up.
“Wait- is that.. Ominis?” Sebastian’s voice carried over to him “Those sounds we kept hearing.. It was you!”
Ominis shook his head. “You gave me no choice. I had to follow you. Sebastian, please. Leave the relic alone. We can find another way to help Anne.”
He heard him take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Ominis. I’m taking it-”
The wand remained gripped firmly in his hand. “No, you’re not. If you’re not putting it back, then I will.”
“Hold on, both of you!” Rustling bodies moved in front of him. “Sebastian, please, take a step back.”
“...Fine. But Ominis knows..” he said loudly for his friend to hear clearly. “I won’t back down without a fight.”
Ominis’ anger flared and he had half a mind to tackle his friend to the ground at this very moment. “Can’t believe this..!”
He heard someone approach and the familiar perfume filled his nose. “Ominis..” her voice was soft, gentle. “How much did you hear?”
“Everything.” He inhaled, hoping it would rid his body of the white heat that rolled through him in waves. It didn’t. “I was glad to hear you tell Sebastian to leave the relic alone. He has gone too far, I won’t let him leave here with that thing. We need to stand together on this.”
“I-” he held his breath as she spoke. “I agree. I think he may be going down a path he might regret.”
Ominis felt a weight lift off his shoulders. At least she was of like mind with him. “Then we’re agreed. We don’t allow Sebastian to walk out of here with that relic.”
“Hold on,” there was a rise of pitch in her voice. “I still think we should talk to him.”
“We’ve tried talking already,” he hissed. “He won’t listen- he never listens!”
“Is this worth sacrificing your friendship over? He won’t stop until he finds a cure for Anne. What if we negotiated? After this, no more.”
He scoffed. “I believe that’s what he and I agreed on after the Sciptorium. I’m being taken for a fool!”
“You’re not, Ominis. This may very well be the only way to keep your friendship intact. Let’s trust him to know what’s best.”
Ominis halted his pacing for the moment and faced where he heard her voice. “Fine. But if I’m trusting him on this, I’m trusting you, too. The Dark Arts always seem harmless until it’s too late.” He sighed, running nervous hands over his hair. This was a bad idea, his inner voice bellowed at him, something will go awry. Stop them! “Go, then. Leave with the relic. I’ll not say a word more.” A part of him hoped that she would rescind her statement and turn on Sebastian to instead talk to him about leaving the relic behind, but she didn’t.
“Sebastian- let’s go.”
“What is it? I haven’t changed my mind.”
“Ominis has. Come on.”
“What happened between you two?”
“He and I came to a compromise.”
“Ominis simply need a moment alone with you and he’ll change his mind. Is that it?”
“Stop that, please. Let’s just go.”
He waited until their footsteps were no longer audible. Deep in the catacomb, he could’ve screamed his frustrations out with no one to bear witness. He could have blasted the place apart, marked the stones with fire from the fiery blasts of his wand, anything to vent his anger. He stopped pacing. He felt alone. He felt sick.
Sebastian
Ominis hadn’t spoken to him in days. Good . Sebastian didn’t feel like explaining himself either. He wasn’t sure if Ominis had overheard what happened in Feldcroft, though knowing him, he would’ve asked Anne and Anne would have given him the unfiltered truth. He did his best not to think too hard on what Solomon said to him as it never failed to infuriate him and ruin his day. What else was he supposed to do? Wasn’t he doing the right thing? Saving his sister?
“Imperio!”
It hurt more than anything to see Anne glance up at him with eyes that beheld him like she would a stranger and not her twin brother standing before her. It hurt even more when he turned around and saw Priscilla’s eyes fixated with concern. As if he had done the wrong thing.
He ignored the feeling, pushing it deeper down until all he felt were whispers of anger. He dedicated most of his time to scouring his mind on where he’d seen that image before in the triptych. Cavernous edges filled with barren oak trees. He knew it, but couldn’t put a finger to it yet. It came to him in a moment of inspiration as winds battered him from atop the astronomy tower. He moved his telescope over to spy a mountainside beyond Hogsmeade. Satisfied, he tucked away his telescope and began to write a letter to his friend.
“You’re not a bad chap, for a Slytherin.”
“For a Ravenclaw, you certainly have a lot to learn.”
Sebastian was sweating by the time Priscilla opened the way forward to another secret portion of the cavern. According to her, one of the ‘non-Quidditch’ keepers made this yet another hideaway. “If she already has the Undercroft and the cellar underneath her home, why does she need this one as well?” She didn’t have an answer for him, and he left it alone when he saw the thoughts racing through her eyes.
“Maybe..” she mumbled to herself, absent-mindedly. “Maybe she needed this privacy. Her and Rackham didn’t see eye-to-eye, so maybe..”
“‘Rackham’? I haven’t heard that name before.” He turned just as she rifled through one of the notebooks that sat on the table. Dust followed her fingers with every turn.
“He was one of the Keepers. He didn’t agree with Isidora’s use of her magic.” He waited for her to go on and he didn’t miss the shift in her posture as she set the journal back down. “I don’t think I agree with the use of her magic, either,” she added quietly before her eyes met him. “Thank you, for coming here with me tonight.”
Sebastian approached her, a soft smile on his lips. “You’ve helped me. I only think it’s fair that I help you.”
She chuckled. “And here I thought you merely enjoyed my company.”
“Don’t mistake me, darling. I do.”
He saw her teeth flash in a cheeky smile as she raised a brow. “‘Darling’? Are we moving to pet names now, Mr. Sallow?”
“Is that mine?” He made a face. “A bit too formal for my taste.”
“What do you want it to be then?”
“It loses its meaning if I choose.”
She looked up in thought. “Very well, my dear.” She now stood an arm’s length away from him. “I also never thanked you for letting me borrow your bed that night.”
“The circumstances that preceded it were definitely unfortunate, but maybe it can happen again under a different situation.” His smile grew as her face grew red. He never was one for subtlety, even in his implications.
This was certainly the wrong place, but it felt so much like the right time. Sebastian was careening dangerously close now. His hands had found hers and their fingers had inexplicably twined together as if they were searching for the other half in a long, long time. A spark seemed to be created as their skin met; no longer did they skirt around each other bashfully in an uncertain dance, but they met, unafraid. She breathed his name with a whisper that sounded so sweet to his ears, her eyes never leaving his lips but only on the occasion where she met his.
Sebastian took a moment, hovering closer to her face to give her plenty of time to back away had he read her wrong. To both his delight, and surprise, he found that she did not shy away and instead pushed forward, as he did, to have their lips meet in the middle.
First kisses were always touted as magical, in a sense. According to every single fairy tale his parents ever read to him- they were supposed to be special. A cosmic, life-changing event that would allow him knowledge of the universe’s secrets. An event so euphoric that it would bring about genesis to new beginnings.
But this wasn’t anything like that.
Their kiss was special- tender and soft. Instead of the universe lighting up around them, it was as if they both lit a candle between them. Large enough so that it may be shared between them both and small enough so that none else could witness. It was their own light to ignite or extinguish as they pleased. He decided this rendition was much better.
He pulled back, nearly laughing at her flushed, embarrassed face. “Was that your first kiss?”
“Is it obvious?”
“Dreadfully so.”
“You needn’t point it out.”
“I wasn’t teasing to be rude,” he smiled as he lifted her chin up with a curled finger. “In fact, I’m honored. No one else will have the privilege of your first after this.”
“What about my second?”
“I’ll be taking that too,” he murmured softly before pressing his lips against hers and pulling away once more after. “And your third.”
This kiss was infinitely better than her first two attempts as her confidence grew. Her fingers became wrapped up in the brown coils of his hair and his hands each found a place on her body to grasp. She came up for air, her eyes glassy and cheeks pink. “This wasn’t your first kiss.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“It wasn’t,” he answered truthfully. “But it feels much better with you.”
“I’m sure other young witches enjoyed that compliment.”
“You have my word,” he crossed his heart with a finger. “It’s different. Perhaps one day I’ll find the words to properly explain. You will receive an owl the moment I do.”
They shared another deep kiss with their hands finding each other with better insight of where they could fit perfectly this time.
Nothing could spoil this moment.
Ominis
No sooner had he entered the Undercroft did he hear heavy shouting. It took up space in the dungeon, bouncing off the stone and forced the argument to be louder than it actually is. For the first time since Ominis discovered this place, he was sure that someone would discover them just from the volume alone.
“Your uncle was right!” He heard Priscilla's voice cry out. “You don’t know when to stop!”
“Oh, trust me, darling,” he heard Sebastian spit the last word out like a curse. “I do know when to stop. At least I know where my priorities lie. For all you know, that ‘friendly’ goblin would like to plant a knife in your back when all this is over with.”
“So just because a goblin cursed Anne, then suddenly every single one of them is just as responsible!? What you’re raising is not even the primary issue here-”
“So suddenly, you’re not concerned with Anne?
“What? That’s not what I said at all! Sebastian, you’re not even listening to me!”
“Why would I listen to someone so ignorant and stupid? Goblins- you’ve got to be joking.. Where are you going?”
But she didn’t reply. “Ominis,” her voice was hoarse. “How long have you-” she sniffed. “Never mind. Excuse me.” A rush of wind graced his left side as she hurried past him. Sebastian let out a frustrated growl and typically, Ominis would allow him to vent his problems. But not this time. He turned and followed her out of the Undercroft.
Sebastian
He spotted the both of them taking shelter under one of the trees near the Black Lake. The dark water lapped at their shoes as she held her face in her hands. Ominis reached out, then hesitated, then finally wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He seemed surprised when she leaned into his embrace as her face turned to be buried in his chest. She stayed there until her back was no longer being moved forcefully by her cries..
..And it seemed like Ominis wasn’t going to let go of her anytime soon, either.
Something seized Sebastian’s throat, choking him until he felt sharp pangs that translated to the rest of his body. He forced his eyes away from the scene, but couldn't stop the crushing sensation of all the emotions he repressed surface all at once. It felt even worse as her kiss was at the forefront of his mind, still sweet and fresh. The memory grew cold at her absence.
Ominis
Ominis stood by one of the windows of the Slytherin Common Room. He could tell by the ambient temperature drop and how it was always considerably colder standing near one of the magical glass windows that stopped their entire dorm room from being flooded.
A presence drew near. “You and her have been getting along swimmingly.”
Ominis’s brow scrunched together. This was the first time Sebastian had spoken to him in days, and this is what he wanted to bring up? “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
“No.” The answer came too swift and it was too late to tell Ominis otherwise.
“Are you aware she and Anne have been sneaking off to do picnics near Feldcroft?” He could practically sense that Sebastian’s mouth was agape as he fished for responses. But none came. “I thought so. You don’t seem to have a problem with the two of them being alone together and yet you raise a problem with me. Don’t play coy with me, either, Sallow. It isn’t wise to lie to me.”
“I was just asking. You didn’t seem to care about her much before you came with us to the Scriptorium.”
“I was cross with her before,” he admitted. “And I’ve since then apologized for my actions. It is not far-fetched to claim she may actually just enjoy my company.”
“Or she yours. Is it as innocent as it looks, Ominis? Or are you using her to spy on me?”
Ominis flared. “ Spy on you?! Believe you me, Sallow, I would not need another to spy on you. I have my own methods, methods which are infinitely more useful than asking another to do it for me.” He stepped forward, his voice lowering in pitch. “You’re not yourself. You’re putting up baseless accusations for the sake of getting a rise out of me. Put the book and relic back and let us find another way to help Anne, please , Sebastian.”
No answer came and by the time Ominis flipped out his wand, he found that he was alone.