Chapter Text
August 1887
Ominis sighed heavily as he closed his bedroom door and collapsed onto his bed. He could still hear the uproar from downstairs where his parents were entertaining some of their more 'high-profile' guests. They had all had dinner together, but he and his two older siblings - Marvolo and Fortuna - had been excused once the adults had moved to the parlor.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly as he sat up again and began to get ready for bed. One good thing had come from this evening at least. His father's sister - Noctua Gaunt - had turned up after a months-long expedition in America. She had always been an explorer at heart (according to his mother) and jumped at any opportunity to travel to another country (no matter the legality of such actions).
Noctua was nine years younger than Ominis' father, Marvolo, their parents Cornivus and Violeta struggling for several years to fall pregnant again. There had been rumors that the Gaunts had another child between Marvolo and Noctua, but that child had been born a squib and taken away when they were young. Ominis had no idea if this was true, given he had overheard it from an intoxicated dinner guest several years ago, but he would not put it past his grandparents - they had never been kind people.
Noctua on the other hand, was always kind to Ominis. On the rare occasion she would visit, she would always tell him about her travels and often brought him, and his siblings back a souvenir or something she had found that looked particularly interesting. Ominis now had a small collection of such items decorating the shelf above his desk. His favorite in particular was a small totem shaped as a phoenix mid-flight, that Noctua had brought back from a trip to India. It was small and smooth, fitting comfortably in his palm. While he could not see it, he often liked to run his hands over it, and it helped to soothe him.
A knock on the door startled him slightly. "Come in."
His aunt poked her head in the door and smiled at him. "Hello, Ominis dear."
She moved further into the room and stood next to him where he stood near his desk. Her eyes glanced over each object on the shelf before landing on the totem in his hands. "Ah, I see that one is still your favorite?"
Ominis nodded, bringing his hand further up to show her the totem. "I do not fully know why, but I can appreciate the symbolic nature of the phoenix. How free it is to roam the skies and be a predator from above."
Noctua hummed. "I agree. Although what I love most about them is how they represent the eternal cycle of life. While tragic, they are born to die and then are reborn again. Similar to wixen, however we do not have the expectation of rebirth. Although perhaps some of us do." She smiled fondly. "I met a lovely woman in the mountains of India who had a peculiar view on life and death..." She trailed off as they heard voices coming from further down the corridor.
"Well, I suppose it is late." She stepped toward him and leaned down slightly to press a kiss to his forehead. "Goodnight, dear Ominis. I shall speak with you more in the morning."
"Goodnight." He responded softly, listening as she left his room again and presumably headed for one of the guest rooms for the night.
Ominis sighed and moved back toward his bed, leaving the totem back on the shelf with the others. He blew out the candle by his bed and climbed under the covers, closing his eyes as he prepared to sleep.
A muffled sound came from just outside the door. Ominis' eyes flew open again as he tilted his head toward the sound.
"...I will not... you cannot hide things..." Ominis recognised his father's hushed voice, anger colouring his tone.
"...do not dare to tell me what I cannot do." Ominis' eyes widened as he noted his mother's voice respond.
"You are my wife, not his!" Marvolo spoke slightly louder then. Ominis could imagine his hands squeezing into fists around his cane, though he doubted he had his cane with him now. He often only had it in his study or when he left for work.
A long pause before Aurora responded softly. "I know, Marvolo."
Ominis heard their footsteps move further along the corridor before there was silence. He did not know what to make of that conversation - the parts of it he heard, at any rate. He knew his parents did not particularly like each other, as often was the case in pureblood arranged marriages, but he did not often hear them argue. He was very curious about the man that his father felt inclined to remind his mother of the fact she was not married to.
Thoughts swam around his head as his eyes closed once more, sleep soon gracing him.
...
Breakfast the next morning was a subdued affair. Ominis sat next to his siblings, across from his mother and aunt, with his father at the head of the table. Dippi and the other Gaunt elves served the elaborate breakfast, Dippi taking care to fill Ominis' plate and slide it in front of him. He did not thank her verbally, but he was very grateful for her continued kindness.
When he was younger, his mother had often filled his plate for him, but on one such occasion, his father had thrown the plate from the table in a fit of anger. "If you want to act like a house-elf and serve him, then maybe you should clean the floors too!"
His mother had not responded then, merely staring at his father for a long moment before standing up from the table and leaving the room.
Dippi had taken over the task from that point, neither his mother nor father mentioning it again.
Now, Ominis savored the sweet berries and pancakes on his plate. He did not often eat much food at each meal, but he thoroughly enjoyed fruit.
"I will be going into the Ministry today and will likely be back late so do not expect me for dinner." Marvolo stated after wiping his mouth with the nearby folded napkin. Dippi cleared away his plate as another elf brought out a jug of steaming tea to refill any empty cups.
"Ooh, anything interesting happening, brother?" Noctua asked curiously.
"Nothing that would interest you, dear sister. Do not forget, the Ministry believes you have not left the country for three years, which we both know to be incorrect."
Noctua smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Of course I haven't left the country, brother. I have merely... explored the borders."
Marvolo scoffed. "The borders separated by thousands of miles of open sea, you mean. Do not think I do not know of your exploits into illegal portkeys either, sister. You are lucky I do not report you to the Minister himself."
"And ruin the reputation of the Gaunt name? I know you better than that, brother."
Marvolo hummed lightly. "Then do not forget it, sister." He rose from his chair without another word and strode out of the room.
Aurora had been watching the exchange silently but sighed softly once Marvolo had left. "Well, on that note, I shall take my leave as well. If anyone needs me, I will be in the garden. Remember, tomorrow we will be going to Diagon Alley to ensure you all have everything you need for the year. You all have your school lists, so please ensure you have them ready for tomorrow."
Varying murmurs of acceptance followed her as she left the room.
"I will be in my room." Fortuna announced, standing up to leave as well.
"And I will be nowhere that is of anyone's concern." Marvolo responded with a smirk, disappearing around the corner and out through the door.
Noctua smiled across the table at Ominis. "And then there were two. Tell me, what do you have planned for today, Ominis?"
Ominis shrugged lightly. "I was thinking of writing a letter to my friend from Hogwarts, but I doubt he would appreciate it."
"Oh, why's that?"
"He... he lost his parents almost two months ago. I am not sure exactly what happened, but his older sister wrote to me soon after it happened. I have not been... courageous enough to try again since. I do not wish to burden him, but I also do not want to not speak to him for the entirety of the holidays." Ominis sighed heavily. "If I do not speak to him before school starts again, what am I meant to say when we meet on the train or at the castle? I do not even know what I would say in a letter, come to think of it."
Noctua nodded, sighing slightly. "It is difficult to comfort those we love when we do not know how, or they do not wish to be comforted. Sometimes, we can only remind them that we're here for them when needed, but then we need to leave the rest up to them. Ominis, if you have already written to him and only his sister has responded, I think you should wait until he writes back to you, or you meet back at school. It may be awkward, but it can also be impolite to send multiple unanswered letters to one person."
"...Thank you for your advice, Aunt Noctua. I... I agree that I should not send another letter until I hear back from him." He leaned back in his chair, his hands picking at his fingers in his lap as he thought. "How should I speak to him, when we meet again? How does one... move on from something like that?"
Noctua paused for a long moment before sighing. "It's been seven years since my father, your grandfather, died. I was in my late thirties and hadn't spoken to him for months when I received a letter from your father advising me of the news. I admit that I... was startled at his passing, but I... I was also not particularly sad. That sounds horrid to say, but I... I think you know what kind of a man he was." Noctua ran a hand over her face before resting her head in her hands on the table, watching her nephew. "I was arranged to marry one of the Black's for ages when I was a kid. It was meant to be a 'union for the ages', he used to say, but that changed when my betrothed died in a duel. Then it turned into a nasty battle between our families of who was responsible, who I should marry next, that sort of thing. Several names ended up being offered, from many families, but any that found their way close to marrying me somehow ended up dead."
Ominis' eyes widened at that.
"I know it sounds damning, and the papers certainly thought so too. The 'cursed Gaunt' they used to call me." She laughed humorlessly. "Honestly, I think it was just a series of really unfortunate coincidences. Although who knows, maybe I am cursed. It would be rather fitting." She sighed. "Anyway, the point of that story was that everyone reacts to death in different ways. While I may not have been overly sad when I heard my father had died, your friend may be a different story. Were they close with their parents?"
"Very close." Ominis responded immediately. "I... I spent Christmas with him and his family last year. They were all very... very cosy and comfortable with each other. Not at all like..."
"Not at all like us?" Noctua asked with a smirk. "Yes, well the Gaunts have never been known for our cosiness."
Noctua watched him for a long moment before standing. "Come on, let's go for a walk. Your mother told me you like the gardens as well, so let's go explore what changes she's made out there since I was last here."
Ominis stood and joined her as they headed outside.
...
The next day, Dippi woke all three children early to give them enough time to bathe and get dressed for the day before meeting their mother in the entrance foyer.
"Come, children. The carriage will take us to Diagon Alley, and we shall have breakfast there. I would appreciate for us to complete our required shopping before lunch if possible, so as to avoid the crowds." Aurora smiled at each of them, and Noctua briefly who had decided to accompany them, and led the way out to where the carriage was waiting.
The carriage took them through muggle London, avoiding the major motorways so as not to draw attention, and then stopped at one of the lesser-known wizarding entrances to Diagon Alley. Most families tended to use the entrance behind the Leaky Cauldron tavern, but Aurora's family - the Peverell family - had always preferred the secret entrance through the window of the shop down the street. Many occupations had been run in the shop over the decades, but it was currently a muggle floristry shop. Aurora smiled briefly at the bouquets before casting a notice-me-not charm on herself and her children and leading them to step through the window, Noctua following after them.
From the other side of the window, Aurora led them through the empty wizarding side of the floristry shop and out through the door to Diagon Alley.
Ominis knew it was still early, so was unsurprised that there were so few people wandering about. His mother reached out and held his hand as they walked, leading him and the group to stop at the tavern briefly for breakfast, before moving along to the tailoring shop down the path.
Madame Amalie was a new addition to Diagon Alley - she had recently migrated her clothing business here from France, and many of the pureblood families now bought their clothes and their children's clothes from her. Ominis thought she was a quiet woman, and very young to have such a successful business so far from her home, but he admired her courage in going after what she wanted. He stood still on the slightly raised podium for her to take his measurements, as his siblings waited to do the same.
Once all their measurements were taken, Aurora allowed Marvolo to go to the Quidditch supply shop, and Fortuna to the jeweler, with the agreement to meet up with them again soon.
"Noctua, would you mind keeping Ominis company? I just need to pop into Gringotts."
"Of course. Ominis, what do you say we check out the bookstore?" Noctua linked her arm through Ominis and started walking them away, glancing back briefly at Aurora as she headed toward the bank.
"Is everything okay?" Ominis asked softly as they walked.
Noctua hesitated. "I assume so. No one really tells me anything, but they have been acting rather odd lately." She sighed. "Oh well. They'll figure it out or they won't. Now, here we are."
They walked in and Noctua helped him find the textbooks he would need for the year and picked out some fictional stories she thought he might like as well. They paid for their purchases and left the store once more, Noctua shrinking the bag of books and placing it in her pocket. They wandered down the street in comfortable silence for several moments.
"How are you finding your classes?" Noctua asked.
Ominis shrugged slightly. "They have been interesting, but it was difficult at first. I have a dictation quill now which has been very helpful in taking notes for me. Sebastian used to have to take notes for the both of us and then read them aloud to me when we needed them for an assignment."
"That was nice of him." She commented. "Is it just the two of you in your year for Slytherin?"
"Yes, for the boys at least. There are a few girls in our year as well, one of which is Sebastian's twin sister, Anne. She seems very nice, but I have not spent much time with her."
Noctua hummed. "How are you finding your studies? Do they make allowances for you?"
"My exams at the end of last year were fine - they put a spell on my wand to ensure I was not cheating, and they had the Slytherin Head of House, Professor Sharp, assist me in the practical exams. He essentially talked me through what was in front of me, and what was required. It was terrifying, but... he was nice about it at least." Ominis sighed. "I am able to practice the spells in class and in the dorm, but I... I am constantly worried that I am doing it wrong, or that I will unintentionally hurt someone when I cast something, because I cannot see if they are nearby. When I am overly focused on the spell, I... I do not always notice where the other people in the room are."
"Hmm, you could really do with having a secluded place to study where that doesn't need to be something you worry about." Noctua suggested.
"That would be nice, but I am not exactly... an explorer like you, Aunt Noctua. The castle is gigantic - I would not even know where to start."
Noctua's eyes widened with a smile. "I've just thought of the most perfect spot for you... if it's still there, of course. It has been a while since I have been in the castle." She pulled him to the side of the street where an empty stone bench was situated and sat down with him. "Now, you must promise that this room stays secret. Only reveal it to those you trust completely, alright?"
Ominis bit his lip nervously but nodded.
"Good. Now, at the bottom of the stairs near the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, you should find a tall grandfather clock. It is tucked away behind the stairs, so no one should see you enter it if you're careful."
"Enter... the clock?" Ominis asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Not quite." Noctua smiled. "Stand in front of the clock and wave your wand, like this." She took his hand and guided it through the motion. "If you do it right, the clock will open and you will see a passage. Go through the passage, and you will come to an iron cage door. Lift the door up and you will find the Undercroft."
"The Undercroft? What is that?"
"I'm not entirely sure why it is called that, but it is a large room, with plenty of space to practice spells, or to study, or just to go for a moment alone. In all the years I used it, I never knew of anyone except my friend and I going there."
"Was your friend the one who told you about it?"
Noctua shook her head with a fond smile. "No, it was my great-aunt, Agnes Gaunt. She was a lovely woman, very unlike my father. She used to tell me stories of her and her friends getting up to all kinds of mischief in the castle."
"A Gaunt, being mischievous?" Ominis asked skeptically.
Noctua laughed. "I know it can be hard to believe Ominis. But trust me - while there may be some bad seeds in this tree, there are also those of us who are so much more than just our name."
...