Chapter Text
“Sebastian has been expelled–and will soon face trial at the Ministry.”
Celestina felt her stomach drop. She wrung her hands. Her long, dark strands fell from her shoulders as she looked down on the cold, hard floor of the Undercroft. She exhaled a slow, ragged breath.
It felt as though there was a thick fog surrounding her and Ominis. The already dimly lit Undercroft made it hard to see. Celestina could only see Ominis, but the three feet that separated them seemingly stretched and pushed them further apart.
She couldn’t bear to look at Ominis’ face. Even though he could not see her, he would feel her gaze on him.
It was done. After much deliberation, they had agreed that the best path forward was for Sebastian to face the consequences of his actions. Ominis had reported it to Professor Black, which means that Ominis received Anne’s blessing. Despite this, Celestina found it difficult to breathe.
“Black allowed me to speak with him.”
Surprised, Celestina’s eyes darted back to Ominis.
“I was able to tell him about Rookwood cursing Anne. At first he wouldn’t believe it. Then he realized it all made sense. Though I feel that now he’s grown angry with both goblins and Dark wizards.
“He was quiet, mostly. In shock. If by some miracle, his trial ends in release, I hope he avoids returning to Feldcroft. Perhaps somewhere like Hogsmeade would do him some good— be surrounded with people. But also close enough to Hogwarts that he has company.” Ominis’ tone was deliberate, as if reciting an incantation.
Celestina released a breath. She nodded. “Have you had a chance to speak with Anne?”
“She was shocked about Rookwood too,” Ominis whispered. “But in some sense, she was also relieved to know who was responsible. I think it brought her a sense of peace.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Celestina said. She wasn’t sure if she believed her words just yet. The pain and anger that were etched on Sebastian’s twin sister at the catacombs still lingered in Celestina’s mind. But Anne, who has endured being cursed, losing her parents and uncle, and now turning her brother in, deserved some positive news—however small.
“She deserves peace,” Celestina added.
“She does.”
Ominis sighed. “Sebastian is my best friend. I can’t imagine Hogwarts—or anywhere–-without him.” He closed his eyes shut, as though he were trying to shut out a picture in his mind.
“Although we wanted to turn him in,” he started, “I think now Anne is torn. I am torn. As much as we all wanted him to face the consequences of his actions…” His voice drifted, unable to finish his thought.
So he felt regret as well. Her lips parted but no words came out.
What could she possibly say to reverse what they had done? Sebastian killed his uncle, he had gone too far. Turning him in was the right thing to do. So then why did she feel like she—they— had done something horribly wrong?
But Sebastian was with Professor Black now and what happens now is unknown to them. She felt something electric at her fingertips. Every fiber in her body wanted to rush out to the Headmaster’s office, tell him it had all been a mistake—a lie. Would Ominis and Anne agree to that as well?
“It will never be the same without him,” Ominis said. “Even standing here in the Undercroft without him feels wrong.”
She shut her eyes, trying to shake off the regret. The memory of Sebastian revealing the Undercroft to her that first night came to mind. He had looked at her excitedly, proud to have a secret to share, and someone new to share it with—
“I wish,” Celestina said, louder than she had meant to. “I wish things had turned out differently as well, Ominis…”
Her voice shook. Ominis sensed it. “I know you have gotten close. I was aware that you were helping each other with more than just finding a cure for Anne. Sebastian did not tell me any specifics, but I got the sense that it was important.
“I know how much he means to you…” Ominis said, before adding, “And how much you mean to him.”
Did she mean anything?
Between finding a cure for Anne, untangling Isadora’s and the Keepers secrets, helping Natty and Poppy, stopping Ranrok and Rookwood, and keeping up with classes, Celestina’s life had been overflowing. It was all too easy to miss how close she and Sebastian had become. She hadn’t had the chance to register how she felt—especially about Sebastian. And she definitely hadn’t stopped to think about what Sebastian thought of her..
But now it would be all she thought about. There were only a few months of school left,, Ranrok and Rookwood were defeated, Natty and Poppy were well, and the Repository was safe.
Her only failure was being unable to help Sebastian cure his sister. The realization had come: of everything she had gone through, succeeding with Sebastian’s quest would have been worth everything else. She couldn’t help but feel like she could have done more.
Couldn’t she have done more?
As if he were a Legilimens, Ominis said, “I know we had a bit of a rocky start. But you’ve proven yourself—as a friend.”
Tears welled up before she even realized it. “Have I? I feel as though I’ve failed Sebastian. Did we really do the right thing?”
Ominis took a step toward her. Carefully, he lifted his hands and brought them to Celestina’s shoulders. The accuracy and confidence in which he moved made Celestina wonder just how he seemed to be seeing every bit of her at this moment.
He sighed deeply. Their faces only about a foot away from one another. He shook his head. “I want you to listen to me carefully…
“You and I are perhaps the only ones that will understand this. Been thinking about this ever since we decided to report Sebastian to Black,” Ominis’ eyes were looking straight into Celestina’s own. In that moment, Celestina knew they were the most connected they’ve ever been, and as clearly as she had been able to see the tiniest, clearest trace of ancient magic, she could see into Ominis’ soul.
“We did everything,” Ominis said, emphasizing each word. He was speaking to Celestina, and also to himself. “From the very beginning—we did everything because we care about Sebastian. And Sebastian—because he cares about Anne. We held his hand while he walked and pulled him back when he started running toward the Dark Arts. But no matter how much we care for him, we are not him.
“We are not Sebastian, We cannot control Sebastian.” Ominis paused to let what’s been said sink in. Celestina’s tears never fell, and her eyes remained locked into Ominis’.
“Just because we weren’t able to pull him back into the light, despite both our strengths…” Ominis bit his lip, “Despite Anne and Solomon’s strengths…does not mean we did not pull as hard as we could. And it does not mean we failed. We need not ask if there was more we could do. There wasn’t.
“Accepting what is, the pain that comes with it, and there is still hope—some light—is what Sebastian failed to understand when Anne was cursed…” She could see it: a sheen in Ominis’ eyes, glossing in its corners, but no tears fell. He still had his mouth open, with more to say. No words came.
She saw them again: the Keepers’ and Isadora’s memories. They flashed before her, as clearly as she had seen them in their pensieves for the first time. Isadora’s despair in taking her father’s pain away, desperate for magic that can take it away, sealing pain into repositories that would be a danger to the world around them.
But there is no light without shadow as there is no shadow without light. Simply because you can eliminate darkness does not always mean that you should.
Celestina unclasped her hands from in front of her. She bridged the remaining distance between her and Ominis, and wrapped him into a hug. She pressed her cheek to his chest. It surprised him, as he hovered his hands on either side of Celestina before wrapping them around her as well.
“Thank you,” Celestina whispered. “Thank you for your light.”
“I did tell you, didn’t I?" Ominis said, urging her to remember, "Whatever lies ahead, we must face it together.”
"'That, I know'," she repeated into his robes and finally let her tears fall.