Chapter Text
Ever since Professor Black had announced a Yule ball at the start of his sixth year, Ominis’ life had been in shambles. Black usually didn’t allow fun of any sort. Merlin, the rumors of what had to be done to get him to relent. Ominis suspected it had more to do with trying to get his son, Sirius, matched up with a suitable witch as any torrid affair people thought of. Nevertheless, he was sick of all the talk about it; he could hardly hear the whispers of his wand for the chatter in the library.
If Scribner wasn’t busy cleaning up Peeves' latest escapade, every one of the fourth and fifth-year girls would have detention. Including what sounded to be the two half-blood girls from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff in his year. Their interest in the topic didn’t surprise him. It must have been more exciting for them as they weren’t expecting to be told who they were to dance with.
Ominis was surprised his parents had yet to announce his own nuptials. It was expected for him to marry before he was 20. He hadn’t yet hoped they thought him so useless they hadn’t even made an effort and just assumed he’d be incapable of marrying for status. He’d hoped for such a pre-teen. He hadn’t hoped for a romantic marriage but rather friendship… for a time he’d hoped his parents would let him choose Anne.
That hope had faded quickly in late-fourth year. His only hope now was they would choose someone to whom he at least was cordial.
None of which were these incessant girls talking about the “Princes” of the school.
“Forcithia, you are as blind as Gaunt if you think Weasley is better looking than Sallow!” Hissed one of the fourth-year Slytherin girls.
His name caught his attention.
“You only think that because he said he liked the book he helped you get down from the shelf, Clymenestra.” The Gryffindor girl hissed back.
Ominis rolled his eyes. Why was this frivolous nonsense interrupting his study time? He’d had enough.
He let his wand lead the way through the stacks. Two he could hear these girls two stacks over.
The tension between Forcithia and Clymenestra was plain to see… even for a blind man he could practically taste it.
“Ladies, I care not for your squabbles over who is the better looking: a pumpkin head and a dark mongrel. Both are equally irritating for their own reasons. What I do care for is my History of Magic essay which your rather boisterous conversation is interfering with. I can only assume once Ma’am Scribner is done cleaning up after peeves her loudly assigning you each detention will interfere even more.”
“It’s not important to you but it’s important to us.”
“No, I suppose beauty to a blind man rather lies beyond one’s external appearance.”
Several of the girls made noises of approval. One of the younger ones piped up. “We’re making a list of the best-looking blokes at the school so no one can ask out the top five boys for the whole school if the boys don’t ask first. Sebastian and Garreth are tied.”
Ominis shook his head. “It’s even more frivolous then. As a true gentleman worthy of such affections would be insulted by a lady asking him to dance as he is the one who does the asking.”
He could feel their stares. “But I suppose if it matters so much… choose Sebastian, he’s competitive and needs the win since his uncle’s death investigation is yet to conclude. But please cast a silencing charm, ladies.”
Ominis turned and walked back to his stack of books. A minute later he heard Madam Scribner hunting through the stacks for the fiends talking in her library.
Finally some peace and quiet.
The great hall was overly loud with chatter. Every girl in the school had parchment that was enchanted so the boys couldn’t see it. Not that Ominis would have been able to anyway. He was more annoyed that every time one of the boys tried the girls erupted in laughter. A few of the boys could hardly stand it. A few of the Ravenclaws were intrigued by the magic of it, Garreth could hardly stand not being included in the mischief and Sebastian. Well, Sebastian’s motives were likely -in part- a combination of the two Ominis knew the bottom line was he couldn’t stand being bested by a paper or for every girl in the school to have their attention on something other than him.
Unfortunately, that meant Sebastian was now in full charm mode. Ominis hadn’t seen him try this hard even with a certain new student in fifth year. Of course, then, he could play to her emotions and play the sick sister card. Right now he had to rely on his humor and presumably good looks.
“I would owe you a huge favor.”
The girls giggled. “So it could be anything?”
“Anything your heart desires.”
Really lowering your voice an octave was necessary. Ominis rolled his eyes. Using his wand he ‘looked’ behind him to confirm his favorite ancient magic-wielding Gryffindor, Cassiopeia Macmillan, was behind him.
“Pardon me, but would you mind helping me control one of your wild beasts.”
She turned around “what-oh.”
He was sure she spotted Sebastian making a fool of himself. She knew both of them so well. Cassi grabbed her own copy of the enchanted parchment and handed it to him.“I presume this is what he’s after.”
“Yes, and I’m afraid if he doesn’t he’ll end up doing something indecent.”
“You’re assuming he ever behaves decently.”
Ominis smirked. Before turning back to Sebastian with his typical disapproval face.
He reached across the table and shoved the paper at his friend's face. “Here take the damn thing before you accidentally promise away your firstborn.”
Sebastian snatched the parchment being shoved in his face.
“Well Ominis, I thought I’d owe these lovely ladies a favor. I suppose I can owe you one then.”
“Excellent, my request might be a challenge for you though.”
“Oh, Ominis I do love a challenge.” He shot a wink at the two girls.
The blond boy rolled his eyes. “Don’t be an insufferable prat.”
He leaned across the table. “Easy I’ll just be my typical charming witty self.”
Ominis picked up his things. “And just like that, you’ve already failed the challenge.”
Sebastian came strutting into Potions with the parchment in hand making sure all his fellow male sixth years saw that he had it.
Garreth Weasley tripped to get to him. “There’s no way.”
“There’s no way for you, you mean, I have my charms.”
“More like you stole it.” Leander snorted.
“ I did not, I was given this fair and square.”
Ominis rolled his eyes as he found his seat. “Yes by me after I asked for it.”
Leander snorted and Ominis knew Sebastian was irritated.
“You won’t be laughing when I’m the first to read this!”
Thank goodness Professor Sharp walked in and immediately yelled at Weasley.
Sebastian scurried over to Ominis, “I have an idea. But I need your help.”
Ominis sighed. “You’d be lost without me. Undercroft?”
Just then a certain blond-haired Gryffindor girl leaned forward. “Ooo did I just hear that the Dark Trio is up for a meeting.”
“Or you could just read the thing for us.”
“I could… but you wouldn’t believe me.”
Ominis could hear Sebastian’s glare. “I’ll believe you if you confirm my tests work.”
“Mr. Sallow, please turn around and pay attention to the board. Or do you believe you are immune to love potions?”
Sebastian opened his mouth to retort only for Ominis to slap his hand over it. “That was a rhetorical question.”
Cassi was perched on a couch she had transfigured when Ominis arrived in the Undercroft. She had one of her Nifflers lying on her asleep. “Where do you keep finding all these creatures?”
She shrugged. “Around? Certainly not the Forbidden Forest Professor Gaunt.”
Ominis waved a chair over. “Oh if only I had the power to give the two of you detention.”
“Ominis, I never knew you had such sorted tastes,” Sebastian smirked from the other side of the gate.
“What do tastes have to do with detention?” Ominis turned with his wand out so he could see Sebastian.
“Oh, one’s tastes have to do with everything.” He smirked, moving the iron gate out of the way.
Cassi rolled her eyes. “Isn’t there a point to this meeting?”
“There’s a point to taste too.”
“Sebastian, I have classes I need to study for. Do you want help with the parchment or not?”
He pouted. “Fine. Spoilsport.”
He handed the parchment to Ominis. “Why are you handing this to me?”
“Read it.”
“Have you gone mad? I’m not a girl and I am BLIND!”
Sebastian shrugged. “Do the thing you do with your wand to read text in class!”
“I’m still not a girl!”
“No, but your wand might be.”
Cassi sat up and moved her niffler to the floor. “ This sounds interesting. What are you thinking?”
“Well, remember the joke I made to you last year about Ominis’s wand practically being sentient. For a while, I’ve thought it might be.”
“How does it let you see and read Ominis?”
The blond pursed his lips and hesitated before he spoke, “It depends.”
He held the wand up so his friends could see it properly. “Sometimes it moves slightly in my hand indicating where to go and what to do. Other times, mostly reading it whispers things to me. A few times it's done something I can only assume is similar to Ocumancy and placed shapes in my mind or closer to my limited view.”
“It whispers to you?”
Ominis flushed. “Yes…It’s a Basilisk fang core. I think it can talk to me that way.”
“Will you try it? Please, it could be a girl Basilisk.”
Ominis rolled his eyes. He had not a clue why Sebastian was focused on this but once something was in Sebastian’s head there was no stopping him until something new tried to redirect his attention. And he knew as soon as he read it Sebastian's ego would make a graphorn look small. But what choice did he have?
“Fine.” He put his wand on the parchment. Cassi and Sebastian leaned forward to hear him.
To his surprise, his wand started to read. In his surprise, his face gave something away.
“What does it say?”
“I can’t read it.”
“Oh, you’re lying.”
Ominis pursed his lips and began. “Gentle ladies of Hogwarts, with the announcement of the Yule ball, it has been brought to the attention of many of us that those us unattached are pursuing many of the same unattached gentlemen of Hogwarts. With this knowledge, we have set out to equalize the pursuit for the individuals who choose to continue reading. The terms of continuing to read this agreement are thus, any individual who asks any of the gentlemen below directly or indirectly to the Yule Ball, will break out in dragon-pox sores the day prior to the ball. These gentlemen must ask an individual lady of their own accord.-”
“Wait, we're gonna break out in pox?”
“Only if you plan on asking a boy on the list to the ball, Sebastian?” Cassi smiled.
“I for one wouldn’t be surprised, he is attracted to all things forbidden.”
Sebastian crossed his arms. “Haha, read the list. I want to know who all the ladies are attracted to.”
“Sure you do,” Cassi smirked at him. Sebastian glared at her as Ominis continued to read.
“The gentlemen have been ranked by ladies ranking their top five boys in the whole school, votes were then totaled and those with the most votes are as follows.
5. Battleby, Liam- Ravenclaw
4. Cooper, Isaac- Hufflepuff”
Ominis paused before reflecting on the name. “I can't even see and that’s understandable; he's been the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain for three years now not to mention a prefect.”
Sebastian looked at Cassi. “You think I’m the one gonna ask out a bloke but he’s the one with the crush on Cooper.”
“Yes, but Ominis’ reasons wouldn’t have to do with their looks or doing so just because it’s forbidden.”
Ominis flushed. “I’m not asking out Cooper.”
“Well, obviously not you don’t want dragon pox pustules!” Cassi piped.
“Salazar help me. I’m not asking anyone!”
Cassi shrugged. “Not even someone you fancy?”
Ominis flushed from his cheeks to his ears. He righted his wand. “#3 Wealsey, Garreth- Gryffindor”
Sebastian groaned. “Why is that wanker there?”
“Actually he can be incredibly nice and helpful when studying.”
“Reaaallly?” Sebastian quirked an eyebrow. “So you voted for him then?”
“#2 Sallow, Sebastian-Slytherin” Ominis interrupted.
Sebastian paused for a second as his words sunk in. He grinned maniacally before he remembered to be unbothered. “Wait number two, who the hell is better looking than me?”
He leaned over Ominis’ shoulder as if he could see the words.
Ominis paused. “I don’t know; it says #1. My Slytherin Prince. It’s not a name.”
Cassi leaned over now pointing at what looked like a blank paper to Sebastian. “Wait, your wand won’t tell you. The name here? Seriously.”
Ominis shrugged. “No, it won’t I assume, you know though.”
“Of course I do, he was the only person on everyone’s list in some rank or another.”
“Wait, I wasn’t on everyone’s list?”
“Your face isn’t enough to overcome your personality for some, apparently.”
“Girls love me!”
“Actually the tiebreaker was from a boy apparently.”
Oh no. If Sebastian found out it and he told them to pick him-
“Some Invert thinks there’s a Slytherin boy who’s better looking than me!” Sebastian pouted. “Who’s the number one?”
Cassi folded her arms and she still had yet to forgive him for some of the things he said and did last year.
She didn’t turn Sebastian in but she definitely wanted an apology from him or to let him hang himself with his own rope. “Nope. I think you can figure it out for yourself.”
“What?!”