#Ominis x fMC

[cursedonyx]

Hii! I saw your ideas for one shots you posted recently and I would absolutely LOVE to read all of them, but especially the one with Ominis, where Garreth slips Ominis his new potion and MC is helping Ominis with its 'hard' effects 🤭

So if you have time and if you'd want to write it, I would love to read it! ❤️

I have FINALLY gotten around to doing this ask, and as I’d had this in my drafts for ages I thought why not make it an eleventh-hour post for Kinktober too? I would have done more for Kinktober but, like our favourite old faithful that hasn’t been charged in a while, my smut battery was firmly depleted for quite some time.

This doesn’t follow any specific Kinktober prompt, but what the hell, hopefully you all enjoy this little tale of poor Ominis being utterly humiliated and thoroughly fucked.

Masterlist

Don’t Drug Your Friends

(Unless They’re Ominis and in Need of a Good Fucking)

Synopsis – After a multitude of experimental potions and a variety of undesirable effects, no one at Hogwarts wants to be a guineapig for Garreth’s new brews. In desperation, Garreth resorts to underhanded methods in order to test his newest concoction, and slips it into Ominis’ tea. Unfortunately for the poor Heir of Slytherin, the effects are both humiliating and unconquerable until the woman he’s secretly been in love with for the last two years offers to help put the proverbial basilisk back to sleep.

Word Count – 4.9k

Warnings – Female MC, House unspecified, NSFW, MDNI, dubcon, drugging, masturbation, handjob M!Receiving, oral M!Receiving, PIV, and a very embarrassed and needy Sub!Ominis.

All characters aged 18+.

Happy Kinktober.

Springtime at Hogwarts was a time for most students to pretend they were studying, as they instead dreamt about who they were going to ask on a date to Hogsmeade for Valentines, gossiped about the latest scandals, or got hyped for Quidditch. For the seventh years, it was a time to begin to panic about their upcoming exams and pretend they weren’t.

For Garreth Weasley, it was more a struggle than for most. Since the end of sixth year, when he’d convinced Lucan Brattleby to try his latest potion, and the poor lad had ended up in the Hospital Wing with scales, feathers, and the ability to burp luminous, sausage-like bubbles that took days to pop, the entirety of Gryffindor House had put a blanket ban on accepting so much as a biscuit from him. The other houses learned very quickly after this that no matter how much gold he offered, no matter how many favours, no matter how much he begged, it just wasn’t worth spending a week in hospital for.

But Garreth knew the only way to discover ✨The Perfect Potion™✨ was to practice, practice, practice, and in order to make sure his experiments actually achieved what he thought they should, he needed to test them. He always made sure he had a few poison antidotes on hand just in case, so he wasn’t entirely sure what all the fuss was about.

So it was that Sebastian and Ominis found themselves accosted by the boisterous redhead one early February morning in their seventh year, in the Defence Against the Dark Arts Tower.

“Seriously, Sallow, I’ll pay you fifty galleons. Fifty! Think what you could do with that money!”

“Fuck off,” came the terse reply. “I said no eight times already, I’m not going to change my mind.”

“But if I can get this to work ahead of Valentines-”

“Unclog your ears, Weasley, he said no,” Ominis said, using his wand to pour a cup of tea with the cool indifference only a Slytherin pureblood seemed able to master.

Garreth narrowed his eyes. “I’d have thought you’d jump at the chance, Gaunt. Heard your family’s fallen on hard times.”

“It’s no secret,” Ominis said, supremely unbothered. Then, a tiny smirk touched his lips. “That said, I’m surprised you’ve got fifty galleons to offer in your entire family’s account.”

Unlike Ominis, Garreth was just a little bit touchy about his family’s fortunes. He needed to make this potion work ahead of Valentine’s so he could sell it for a huge profit! It would be so popular and he’d be rich and famous and would be able to make sure all his family were comfortable, what was so wrong about that?

Perhaps this was why Garreth decided to do what he did. Maybe he was just in a bad mood and wanted to cause a bit of trouble. Or maybe, just maybe, he was having withdrawals from seeing his potions at work and was determined to do anything to get his creation tested. He pretended to see Peeves causing havoc on the other side of the Tower, and when Sebastian turned to look, he upended the tiny, pink potion into Ominis’ tea.

He shared a grin with Leander, and groped for a notepad as Ominis picked up his cup.

“Alright, fine, suit yourselves. But it would have made an absolute killing, and I’d have given you commission for your help,” he said, trying to be nonchalant.

“Whatever.” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I’ve enough to be worrying about without dealing with beetles falling out of my ears, thanks.”

Ominis shook his head and sipped his tea, closing his eyes at the warmth that slid past his lips and down his throat. He let his mind wander a little, and as it always did when he let it have some form of free reign, it landed squarely on the most incredible woman he’d ever known, the Hero of Hogwarts, for whom he had harboured a secret, burning love since their ill-fated trip to the Scriptorium.

A slim line appeared between his brows as the warmth from the tea seemed to settle under his collar, before spreading over his chest, creeping down his torso to pool between his thighs, and something began to stir.

Ominis, like any other man of his age, was no stranger to random bouts of wilful disobedience from his personal basilisk, and so he elected to ignore it, crossing an elegant leg over the other, hoping no one else had noticed. He took a slow breath and another drink, wondering vaguely why this particular standing to attention was coupled with something that felt concerningly like arousal. Yes, thinking of her certainly fired him up him like nothing else did, but he hadn’t been thinking of anything particularly ungentlemanly. He was in public, after all.

His hands tightened on his cup as the unspecified heat began to intensify, his half-mast blooming full, and as he heard Garreth leaning forward in his chair, and the scratch of quill on parchment, he began to put two and two together.

Uh-oh.

“Soooo…” Garreth said, in a voice so overly casual that it sent a thrill of fear through anyone in the vicinity that had recently had a drink. “How are we all feeling today? Normal? Bit hot under the collar? Thinking of anyone in particular?”

Ominis faced him, quite certain that steam might be curling up from under his shirt as his heart began to pound.

“What have you done?” he managed.

Garreth laughed. “Only what I had to. Don’t worry, the effects won’t last more than a few hours. I think.”

There was a clatter as Sebastian lunged across the low table, followed by a smash as the teapot shattered. Garreth yelped as Sebastian gripped handfuls of his robes and wrenched him out of his seat.

“What did you do?” he demanded, snarling.

“I needed to test my potion,” Garreth said, shoving him back. “Just slipped him a bit, that’s all!”

“What the fuck do you mean, you slipped him a bit!?” Sebastian barked. “What the hell is it meant to do?”

“I’m not sure yet, that’s why I needed to test it,” Garreth said, proudly. “It’s only a variant of a love potion that’s meant to make anyone you like want you in bed, nothing to worry about. Gaunt, tell me exactly what you’re feeling, spare no detail.”

“Are you insane?” Ominis hissed, hunching forward as his arousal twitched, nudging insistently against his belt and threatening to pop right out over the top of his waistband. “You better have an antidote for this, you cretin!”

Garreth gulped and edged behind Leander as Sebastian drew his wand, aiming it at his nethers. “Antidote? It’s only in the testing stages, I’ve not had time to-” he yelped as Sebastian fired a curse at him, and Leander had to put out a small fire on his robes.

Ominis felt his cheeks sear as another thrum of unspecified interest surged through him, his mouth drying. There was an insistent, needy ache growing in his lower abdomen, and he got the feeling that if he didn’t take care of it soon, he was going to be in serious trouble. It didn’t help that he could sense his friends staring at him, Garreth’s lack of subtlety and his shortening breath all but confirming the state he was in.

“Undercroft,” he managed to growl to Sebastian out of the corner of his mouth. “Don’t follow me.”

“You okay?” Sebastian asked, as Ominis tugged his robes tight about himself and rose.

“I’ll be fine,” he muttered, trying to stand as casually as he could without revealing his significantly growing problem. “Do try not to kill that little bastard while I’m gone, I’d like to do it myself.”

The cool of the Undercroft’s stone walls did little to alleviate the heat in his body as Ominis shouldered his way through the hidden entrance, his pace increasing as he half ran towards a stack of crates at the back, positioned deliberately to hide a pile of cushions and blankets for the rare instances when he just couldn’t ignore his body’s needs. Ominis hissed between his teeth and turned his wand about the Undercroft, hoping that she wasn’t down here. Merlin, he’d never live it down if she saw him like this.

Hell, it was embarrassing enough to be in this predicament, but for his friends to know as well! The thought scalded him, making him cringe. It was worse that they knew why he’d gone off by himself. Yes, everybody did it, but that didn’t mean everyone should bloody know about it when he did! It was hard enough to find alone time as it was, but for anyone else to know… Ominis groaned. With the way gossip spread, the whole bloody castle would know that the infamously stoic Ominis Gaunt had needed to dash off and have a wank by the time he reemerged, if his past luck was anything to go by.

No matter. The state he was in, it wouldn’t take long, and then he could try and forget about the whole, sordid mess. After he’d murdered Garreth, of course.

He sucked a sharp breath between his teeth, bracing a hand against the wall as his mind flooded with thoughts of her, as it always did when he needed to attend to himself. He focused on the faint brush of her hand against the back of his when they studied together, her fingertips cool as she handed him a book or stack of parchment, each light touch sending sparks through his skin that never failed to stiffen his cock. He whimpered softly as he recalled those few times he let her embrace him, his attention always zeroing in on how her ample breasts pressed against his chest, his hands resting just above the curve of her hip. What he wouldn’t give to feel these things without the cursed barrier of her clothes…

And Merlin, the sound of her voice, low and rich, some sultry note always winding about underneath it, as if she was but a moment away from singing or whispering nothing but sinful filth into his ear, her dark chuckles, the freedom of her laughter never failing to set his heart to racing.

Then the scent of her hair… citrus and exotic blossoms from some far off, sun-drenched land infused his mind as he wished and wished he knew what it was like to have those silken strands fall over his face as she rode him.

Ominis fought with his belt and the fastenings of his trousers, unable to stop thinking about her, imagining all those things she could do to him that would only ever be in his mind. She was too good for him, too perfect, too glorious, but it never hurt to imagine. Imagination never hurt anyone. His lower lip found its way between his teeth as he took himself in his hand, instinctively setting up a rapid pace that, when he’d been this worked up before, had brought him blissful relief in little under a minute.

But something was wrong. He could feel his hand sliding along his length, feel the pressure as he tightened his grip, but it brought him about as much relief as sticking it in a jar of numbing potion would have.

“Oh, come on,” Ominis hissed, gripping himself tighter in a vain effort to evoke some of the promised euphoria such an act usually provided him, even going so far as to spit in his palm, but it didn’t work. To his horror, it served only to heighten his need, and brought him no relief.

✧˖°  ˖ * ˖  °˖✧

Almost an hour later, Ominis emerged, limping and red-faced, his breathing ragged and his hair dishevelled, his cloak pulled tight about his body.

“Well?” Garreth asked, eagerly, quill and notepad at the ready.

“Piss off,” Ominis snarled. “If you can’t get me an antidote in the next five minutes then what good are you?”

Sebastian shouldered Garreth out of the way and leaned in close.

“No better?”

“Fuck off. I don’t want anyone near me.”

“What about New Girl?” Leander piped up, clearly enjoying himself far more than was appropriate for the Slytherin’s suffering. “Bet you wouldn’t mind her being around you right now.”

Ominis spat a string of violent curses in Parseltongue at the thought of the Hero of Hogwarts assisting him with his predicament once again, before he tried to push away the idea as it sent another painful thrum of arousal through him. Unfortunately, the idea of her didn’t want to be banished and remained stubbornly inside his head, doing things no self-respecting woman would ever do, let alone to him.

“She hasn’t been new for two years,” Sebastian said, placing his foot firmly on Leander’s hip and shoving him away as Ominis clung to the wall, biting his tongue to stop himself groaning. “If you’re not going to help, then sod off.” He gripped Ominis’ shoulder, leaning close, and Ominis wriggled away, hissing as his skin tingled. “Mate, maybe he’s got a point. She’s good at potions, maybe she could do something about this? Plus, you like her, and she likes-”

“Never,” Ominis growled. “She can never hear of this.”

“Okay, then maybe we should get Professor Sharp, he’d be able to-”

“If you breathe a word of this to anyone I will kill you myself!” Ominis snarled.

It was getting decidedly hard to think, and Ominis huddled against the wall, bent almost in two as wave upon wave of rising need threw itself about his insides. If he didn’t do something soon, he was either going to explode or go completely insane. It was all he could do not to grab at himself, despite the fact that he was in public and he knew that it wouldn’t help one bit.

Sebastian shared a worried look with Garreth, whose eagerness to see the effects of his potion in action had worn off upon seeing how decidedly uncomfortable Ominis was. Yeah, it had been kind of funny to see him so embarrassed, but this was a problem. How could he sell his potion if the effects were this drastic, and didn’t wear off quickly?

“Maybe just… I don’t know, try and sleep it off?” Sebastian suggested, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry mate, I don’t know how else to help you.”

“I know a way you can,” Leander laughed, and quickly shut up as both Sebastian and Ominis glared at him, drawing their wands.

“Go up to the Room of Requirement,” Sebastian said, giving Ominis a little shove between the shoulder blades that made him yelp. “Garreth, you go too, there’s potion stations up there, and you better get to work on an antidote, or I’ll hang you off the Astronomy Tower by your balls.”

With a barely restrained whine, Ominis disillusioned himself and all but ran for the stairs, the outline of his figure vanishing as he rounded the bend. Garreth took one look at Sebastian’s murderous expression and followed, jotting notes on his parchment as he went. No sooner had he vanished than Sebastian took off, pelting through the castle, seeking the one person he hoped might be able to put an end to his brother’s suffering.

✧˖°  ˖ * ˖  °˖✧

“How long’s he been like this?” she asked, matching Sebastian’s pace as they hurtled towards the Room of Requirement.

“A bit more than an hour or so, I think,” Sebastian panted, struggling to keep up. “It’s really bad.”

She cursed under her breath, her long, dark hair swishing to and fro. “What did Garreth say it was meant to do?”

“Turn people on so they’re easier to get into bed,” Sebastian replied, glowering. “Or words to that effect. He wants to sell it ahead of Valentine’s Day.”

She made a face, her small nose wrinkling. “Creep. As if it wasn’t bad enough having to worry about love potions. Poor Ominis.” They slowed as they reached the seventh-floor corridor, and she glanced at him. “I presume he’s… um… tried the usual methods?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I guess so. Didn’t ask, he’s embarrassed enough. He’s going to kill me when he finds out I’ve told you.”

“Me in particular?” she raised a brow, and Sebastian hesitated. It wasn’t a secret to those who knew him well that Ominis was madly in love with the woman before him, but he hadn’t thought she’d figured it out. His silence seemed to be all the answer she needed, and a little smile touched her lips. “Leave it to me. He’ll be right as rain soon enough.”

“What are you going to-” Sebastian began, but she’d vanished into the Room of Requirement before he could finish. With a low sigh, he crossed his fingers, counted to ten, then followed, finding the large space mostly empty, save for a sweaty Garreth standing before a table of five cauldrons, each of them hissing different coloured steam. His nose was bleeding.

“What happened there?” Sebastian asked, and Garreth glowered.

“That cow just punched me,” he said, thickly. “Didn’t say a damn word and ran off to the bedroom.”

Sebastian grinned. “Can’t say you didn’t deserve it.”

Garreth wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Shut up and help me with these, would you? Whatever she’s planning, I hope it works, because none of these antidotes look promising right now.”

✧˖°  ˖ * ˖  °˖✧

Ominis twisted and writhed, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. His clothes lay discarded on the floor of the small room, the light satin sheets of the bed dragging across his fevered skin as he desperately sought some form of relief from the blazing need surging through his body. But no matter how much he rutted against the mattress, no matter how fervently he beat himself, he couldn’t break through the barrier between desperate desire and the enduring numbness that denied him, over and over.

He couldn’t say how much time had passed. He couldn’t say how long he’d been tangled in these sheets, moaning softly as he chased a high that tormented him as it danced away, again and again. His mind was fragmented, consumed by a primal, visceral need for relief, for this aching agony to end, for the heavens to open and just please let him come.

So scattered was he that he barely registered the door opening, the footsteps hushing over the carpet as he gripped handfuls of his hair, curled in a ball on his side. But he heard the sharp intake of breath, smelled that torturously familiar scent that was so deliciously her, and his tormented mind took on a crystal clarity as pure, unadulterated panic flashed through him.

“No, no!” he gasped. “No, not you!”

She pulled up short, her brows drawing together a little as Ominis struggled to pull the fraying threads of his brain back together.

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” he whimpered softly as another agonising pang of need surged through him, intensified by the fact that it was her standing there, and he curled up tighter, his hands tensing in his hair, trying to hide his shamed face as he tried to burrow under the sheets. “I… I don’t want you to see me like this.”

She was concerningly quiet for a moment, then her footsteps sounded once more as she approached, and Ominis bit down on a high-pitched whine as she settled on the bed, her weight pulling the sheets tight against his skin. He fought not to writhe, every nerve ending on fire as he curled up tighter.

“Please… please leave,” he begged. “I-I c-can’t…”

“This needs to be fixed,” she said, her voice low and soothing. “Ominis, you can’t go on like this. I want to help you.”

“Then get me a fucking antidote,” he spat, his limbs trembling as he fought to remain still. He didn’t care that he swore in front of her, something he vowed never to do in front of a lady, he was too concerned with retaining some miniscule shred of dignity. Shame and humiliation burned a torturous path through his body as he bit down on another low whine, his cock throbbing at the thought of her being so close to him, her beautiful scent, her delicious voice sending waves of primal desire through him.

She couldn’t be here. She had to leave, or he was going to do something they would both regret.

It seemed she either couldn’t sense the danger, however, or she didn’t care. She slid closer to him, a cool hand finding his shoulder, such a simple touch making his hair stand on end as he fought with himself not to grab at her. He had to maintain control, no matter how difficult. He was a gentleman, he was proper, he wasn’t one of those base louts that thought with their dicks and followed wherever they pointed, he was… he was…

Fucking hell. He was desperate for her.

Her hand tightened on his shoulder, pushing lightly, and little by little he uncurled enough to reveal his face, his skin flushed, his hair sticking to his forehead.

“You poor thing,” she murmured. “Will you let me help you?”

Her hand slid over his shoulder to his chest, and Ominis bit down on a whine. How often had he tormented himself with fantasies of this exact thing happening? It almost made him want to weep with the frustration of it all, because he knew all too well that nothing would come of this but further humiliation.

“P-please… don’t,” he whimpered as she peeled the sheets back, moving closer to him as she trailed her fingers over his stomach, the muscles contracting at her touch. “It won’t… it won’t d-do anything… I c-can’t feel-”

His next words were cut off by a yelp as the heel of her hand grazed the aching head of his length through the sheets, sending a surge of pleasure so powerful through him that it snapped his head back.

He could feel her touch.

His hands flew out, one latching onto her wrist, the other winding into her hair. She came to him willingly, her lips brushing his hesitantly for a heartbeat before he crushed his mouth to hers, moaning helplessly as she found his aching steel through the sheets, her palm curving around the shape of him.

Ominis launched up, hooking an arm around her neck, his free hand shoving at the covers. There was no longer room for hesitancy or fear or embarrassment – any last shred of lingering dignity had been eviscerated by her kiss.

All Ominis knew is that he needed to be held, to be kissed, to be touched, and to be fucked. Right. Now.

He shoved at the sheets covering him as her lips moved from his to lavish attention on the side of his neck, her hand travelling down his chest sparking through his nerves. A high, desperate whine escaped him when she showed no hesitation and wrapped her hand around his fevered length, the soothing cool of her skin a balm to his burning flesh.

Even through his maddening haze of desperation and need, Ominis was dimly aware of the inexplicable skill she displayed, each swift, twisting stroke of her hand designed by some omniscient power, it seemed, so perfectly did it make his body sing. Her pace was steady, her grip firm but not tight, and his mind went to pieces. In all his furtive, shameful imaginings of being with her at last, he had never once suspected that she would know just how perfectly to treat him.

She murmured gentle encouragement to him, her words a song of sin and fire as her touch sent him ever higher on a glittering ladder that seemed heaven bound. Ominis bucked helplessly against her, his hands alternately clutching and tugging at her clothes, knowing in some deep, primal way that the simple touch of her hand, no matter how glorious, would never be enough.

It seemed she understood this as well, for her lips left his neck, trailing down his body, each press of her lips tensing the muscles they touched. Something in the back of his mind set up a wild protest, the part of him that was still human underneath his frantic desire screaming that he would never live this down, but even this stubborn part of him was silenced when a searing heat enveloped him from head to base, hard at the edges and so deliciously soft in the centre, something long and dexterous winding about his entire length.

The sensation of her mouth on him in such a way pushed a yell that was almost a scream from deep within his lungs, flying up his throat so harshly that it roughed the edges of his voice, his hands flew to her head, winding his fingers into her hair and driving himself as deep as he could. He didn’t care that he might choke her, that he might make her wretch, he just needed more of that sensation, more of this heavenly feeling of pure euphoria.

She didn’t choke, and she didn’t retch. She tightened her lips, hollowing her cheeks and sucking hard, her throat closing over the tip of him as he threw his head back, yelping in wordless ecstasy. Her arms wound around his waist as his legs fell apart, anchoring them together as her head bobbed at a steady, rapid pace, and if Ominis had the gift of sight, he would have seen the entire cosmos.

"Fuck... yes..." Ominis gasped. "Right there... don't stop, please don't stop..."

And yet it still wasn’t enough. Though each swipe of her tongue drew a whining moan from his lips like silver thread, the pulsing of her throat in time with his racing heart, his body stubbornly refused to fall over the edge upon which he teetered. Almost rabid, Ominis gripped he hair, pulling her back up to crush his lips to hers, tugging at her clothes so forcefully that her blouse tore.

In response, she pinned his wrists over his head. He had no time to protest this as she straddled him in the next moment, leaning down to capture his lips with hers once more, holding him tight with one hand as the other slid down, grasping him firmly and angling him up.

Ominis could never have imagined the euphoria that he experienced next. One moment, he was aching, spit-slick and cool in the empty air, and the next he was enveloped in searing satin and silken fire. If her mouth had been the cosmos, this was heaven itself. He could barely draw breath to moan as she seated him fully inside her, and even through his primal haze, he couldn’t believe it, couldn’t understand it, that he, Ominis Gaunt, was being loved by her.

He thrust up with abandon, garbled pleas and frenzied, worshipful praise flowing from his mouth between urgent kisses, his hands held firmly above his head as she rode him like a graphorn. Her hair swung down, the silken tresses brushing over his face and chest like he’d always dreamed of. He began to feel a delicious, prickling heat pooling at the base of his spine, in the pit of his stomach, his skin tingling as he ran full pelt towards the edge. Something within him knew he needed to savour this, to commit each and every detail to memory as she herself released a soft, breathy moan, but that single sound, the knowledge that came with it being that he was making her feel good was too much for him.

"Fuck... fuck... FUCK! YES! YES!"

The spell was broken, the potion overcome as Ominis’ entire body went taught, his balls drawing up tight as he finally, finally came like a fucking hose. His head snapped back, his moans rising to echoing yelps as his back arched, his hands pinioned above his head as he writhed, the sensation so much more intense than anything he had ever experienced before, going on and on and on until he was certain he might go mad. But end it did, and he fell back, utterly boneless and exhausted, his breath trembling as his body quivered, the warm weight of her comforting as she settled to lie atop him, her lips soothing once more at his neck.

“Are you alright?” she asked, after some small time had passed. Ominis could only mumble non-words, his mind still scattered, his not quite feeling his body as he should now that there was this sudden absence of primal need. Little by little, the last few hours came back to him, and he felt his chest grow tight. Wincing as fresh shame burned a path through him, Ominis turned his face away.

“I-I’m so sorry,” he managed, his voice cracking. “Y-you shouldn’t have… my behaviour… I never should…”

“Hush,” she brushed his hair back, pressing a delicate kiss to his temple. “I was happy to, Ominis.” She pulled him closer, a hand at the back of his head, and he curled into her automatically, burying his face in the crook of her neck. The lingering ache in his body melded with his utter humiliation, contrasting bizarrely with a feeling of purest bliss. He held onto it, onto her, knowing that once she left this bed, this room, she’d never want to speak to him again. She had helped him, yes, but that was what she did. It wasn’t because she liked him. How could anyone like someone as depraved as him?

As if she could read his thoughts, she gave him a little squeeze, her lips brushing his ear.

“You know, I’d be happy to do this again,” she murmured, and he felt her lips stretch into a smile against his skin as his heart leapt. “With you, and only you. Only… let’s leave the experimental potions out of it next time, hm?”

Ominis was only too happy to agree.

[ps-cactus]

Shades of Silver Lining - Ch. 5.1 - posted ✅

Ch.4 <- | -> Ch.5.2 | the first post aka story teaser + tags

word count: 4700 ✨ [ AO3 ] ✨ [ Wattpad ]

a/n: Huge thanks to @accio-bagel for beta reading! The whole story is rated MATURE for various forms of traumas and violence. Tags and trigger warnings specific for this chapter: Main: Family Conflict, Toxic Family Dynamics. MOSTLY NOT EXPLICIT: Physical Abuse, Parental Abuse, Parental Neglect, Sibling Abuse. Also: Self-Doubt, Guilt, Occasionally BITTERSWEET, ESCAPE PLANS, Hurt/COMFORT, Internal Conflict, Manipulation, Coping Mechanisms, PTSD Symptoms, Moments of Self-Loathing, Mentions of Pureblood Supremacy, Mentions of Arranged Marriage, Mentions of Alcohol.

And the last one - I'm sorry.

Summary: Several scenes of Ominis’ days in the Gaunt manor, where he is burdened the most by the constant reminder that he’s still under his family’s control. Each forced conversation is a careful dance around his father’s suspicions and his brother's hostility. Ominis clings to the thought of returning to Hogwarts and the people he trusts, counting down the days until he can finally break free. He struggles to keep a hold on his own hopes, but every single step in this house feels like walking on ice that is thinner than ever.

First time I post whole chapter on Tumblr, let's goo:

Eighteen months and twenty-two days.

Ominis paused, his hand brushing against the slightly scuffed bannister. Only half an hour here, and the usual eerie cold of the manor already chilled him to the bone, more than the frosty January drizzle had. He listened carefully, yet all he could hear were the soft rustling of the rain outside and the mild bustle from the dining room below. His wand subtly indicated the nearest objects, that were undeniably motionless. 

"Sure the letter isn't an option?"

"It's far better if they know about this directly from me, Alyn. That I had to speak with the Auror."

"Sorry, we shouldn't have…"

"No, in fact, it's advantageous. He would've summoned me today regardless. He made it very clear."

He gained some precious moments to build a defence for Alyn from Marvolo and to shield himself from Father's suspicions. Until he graduated and could truly vanish from their reach, it was safer to avoid any provocations, he knew it all too well. 

Ominis hurried down the stairs, hesitating briefly at the dining room door. Entering felt like stepping onto uncertain ice, unsure if it would hold. But for the safety of those he cared about, he took the step. Warm, dry air carried the rich scent of beef simmered in herby gravy, yet Ominis couldn't imagine forcing down a single bite of anything the House-elves were still arranging. His entire being felt like it had coiled into a painful knot of dreadful anticipation.

"Your father should be back soon," Merope Gaunt's voice carried across the big room. Mother's voice seemed more ghostly with each passing encounter, just as her presence. Ominis only gave her a short nod. From the sound, she was seated on a sofa opposite the fireplace. He had no desire to sit with her and instead stood near the fire, slipping his wand into his pocket immediately. Father disapproved of him holding a wand even a moment longer than necessary for navigation.

"You cannot change who they are, Ominis," a tender voice reminds him. He would gladly trade all the others that had ever echoed in this manor for that voice, its sincerity and gentleness. "I know it hurts. But what truly matters is that you're nothing like them."

The front door banged with a force that seemed to drive all the air from Ominis' lungs, the echo of heavy quick steps reverberating against groaning wooden planks. He straightened, turning away from the fireplace. 

"Oh?" The footsteps halted at the threshold. 

"Evening, Father." His hand wrapped firmly around the fingers of the other, that was now painfully missing the familiar weight of his wand.

"Splendid." The surprise in Ivraxus Gaunt's tone was overshadowed by the most natural irritation, ever ready to explode. "I suppose my owl will arrive here shortly, then."

Of course he knew. The uncertainty of what exactly Father might have known gnawed at him, but Ominis wouldn't risk initiating the conversation now, lest all his fragile plans collapse into ashes that might well entomb him. Heavy footsteps approached the table, followed by a harsh slap of papers on the cloth. His fingers didn't twitch, though Ominis could feel the strain of keeping them perfectly still.

The clink of the glass, the soft pour of liquid, the faint chime of a ring against the glass. A quiet swallow. All was expected. Ominis tried to focus on the fire's heat, which reassuringly climbed along his legs and up his spine.

A solid thud jarred the table.

"Where's Marvolo?"

"Upstairs, I believe. Ivy…" Mother's quiet words to the House-elf were cut short as the footsteps echoed from the staircase. "Oh, never mind."

The faint pull at his brow tightened, but Ominis caught it, forcing his face into calm stillness. The little good thing he experienced this summer was Marvolo staying abroad. His sister had visited briefly with her family, but at least he hadn't had to endure both siblings at once.

"Father, pleasure to see you." Marvolo's voice had taken on a richer timbre since they last met, the restrained insolence beneath the politeness remaining as distinct as ever.

The muffled "Mmhm," came into the glass.

"Would you mind signing this?" The crackle of parchment accompanied Marvolo's words. "Hah. Look who's—"

The hollow, muted thwack was paired with a clipped exhale. Ominis shifted his weight uneasily, hoping the movement would disguise the flinch that had rippled through his body.

"Enough. Sit." The words crashed like thunder, completing the heavy drumming of icy rain against the window.

Ominis knew he was normally capable of compassion. But at this moment in this house he only felt relief. It wasn't happening to him. Not yet, at least. Reluctant footsteps shuffled across the floor, ending in the soft scrape of fabric as Marvolo dropped onto the sofa.

"What happened?" Mrs Gaunt's voice, though surprised, remained barely audible.

"Three months. Three months of meticulous preparation for this contract—wasted. All because rumours reached my friends today that Potter is collecting papers to detain him. Or arrest him outright, should she succeed." 

Mr Gaunt approached, pausing not far from Ominis. Thankfully—no, delightfully—the voice, that was more irritated than usual, was always aimed at the sofa. "Few would have the patience for such nonsense. I certainly won't."

"Wait… Arrest?" Echoed Mrs Gaunt.

"There was an arson in Hogsmeade. Fiendfyre. In Hogsmeade, of all places!" 

One step closer to the sofa. 

Marvolo scoffed. "Horrible. Perhaps they ought to try doing their jobs better for once."

Ominis felt as if the fire was slowly moving from behind him to within his chest. He genuinely wished that Aurors would do a better job. The faint rustle of cloth and the retreating footsteps marked Mrs Gaunt's departure across the room, to where a busy House-elf could still be heard aligning cutlery. 

"Your name stirs trouble again. And I am left to field foolish questions about you. Again." Mr Gaunt's every word sent vibrations coursing through the room, rippling along the manor's walls, and deep into Ominis' very being. The glass landed with a clink on the side table. "A delightful predicament, wouldn't you—"

"You can't honestly think it was me." 

The impatient step followed at once, and sofa legs creaked strainedly. A startled gasp and the feet scuffing against the floor made Ominis feel the grand room suddenly shrink to the size of a cramped closet, suffocating and unescapable.

"Interrupt me again, and you'll be cleaning up your own mess—and rotting in Azkaban shortly after."

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Marvolo's voice was void of its usual arrogance at last. 

Sofa legs groaned again as the body was dropped back forcefully.

"How dare you insult this family with such reckless foolishness? Look at me when I talk to you."

"It's not on me. Whatever happened there. I only spoke with a couple of people yesterday. Mason—she didn't keep her end of the deal, so I just—"

"Did I ask about people? For Salazar's sake..."

And—nothing. 

This nothing felt surreal, but it didn't last. Soon the sound of Marvolo's breath grew louder, quickening and breaking once with a grunt. Instinct, born of familiarity, quickly guided Ominis to what was unfolding. He had long believed Marvolo to be completely inept at Occlumency, especially when compared to  their father's unfailing proficiency in Legilimency. Except for one time.

"Ah, I see…" Mr Gaunt murmurs, gripping the face of his younger son tighter. He is fascinated to realise physical contact can also be a pathway into the mind.

The feeling of his father's hand is horrifying. Ominis flinches faintly, but he knows not to fight back. The worst part isn't even the hand; it's the odd disobedience of his mind, slipping from his grasp. All he can think is how much he wants this to stop. 

His eyelids flutter, but the tears never reach his father's quickly retreating hand.

"Agh! What the—?"

The Healer later warns Mr Gaunt against further attempts, pointing out that recovery will require some potent potions and considerable rest. They explain the damage was caused by the boy's unexpectedly strong mental resistance, while Ominis, unharmed but equally terrified, stands near them, only wishing to hide again and never be found. 

"Well… We'll revisit this a bit later." Father's voice grew almost cautious, though the irritation lingered. Ominis inclined his head and even leaned forward a bit, fearing that something vital was slipping past him. Why wasn't he furious? 

There only was the rustling of parchment as it was briskly straightened. 

"Is ‘Authorization' truly so difficult for you to spell? And the seal, wrong. I'm not signing this, unless you're truly aiming for Azkaban and a thousand-galleon fine… Now you. Ominis. I know you visited the Aurors today."

He resisted the urge to step backwards right into the blazing fireplace. The weighty footsteps, pounding like a drumbeat, were approaching him this time. He had to keep his face neutral, his breathing steady. He had done nothing wrong today. He just had to make it clear now, and try to keep Marvolo away from Hogsmeade.

"I'm sure your conversation was riveting. Since you turned up before even getting my letter, I'd say you're eager to share. Go ahead."

"The Not-Involved One is their prime suspect." Ominis made sure to sound with deliberate clarity. "The Head Auror said it was reason enough to talk to me, as his brother, often seen in Hogsmeade. Though he—"

"Hardly grounds for interrogation. Did they have anything on you?" 

Father stood right next to him. Too close. The door was precisely five steps away. Too distant, it might as well have been a mile. The hastily crumpled parchment hit the fire with a faint thump, the flames roaring briefly as they devoured it.

"No, they didn't," his voice felt foreign. It was crisp and detached, though Ominis felt as fragile and fleeting as that parchment disintegrating in the fire. "But it wasn't—"

"You're still underage, did you forget? They had no right to interrogate you without my consent and presence." The hand slammed against the mantel, too close to Ominis' shoulder. "I'll see to it that all your words are rendered inadmissible. Foster is in charge in Hogsmeade now, am I right?"

"Yes, it was Officer Foster who wanted to speak to me. Though, he—"

"He wanted to talk to you personally?" 

"He did. And he seemed... prejudiced. It's as though he's more concerned with the suspect's name than anything else. I didn't realise I could refuse at first. So I told him I knew nothing of Marvolo's dealings, which is true, and left as soon as I realised he had no authority to keep me there and called it a ‘conversation.'"

A pause was filled by an impatient metallic chime against glass. Ominis was still outraged that Foster had chosen to treat Alyn as a suspect instead of giving her the help she needed, and to waste time threatening him simply because of his name. But he kept focused on staying motionless, keeping his fingers relaxed, all his face muscles steady. 

"Nothing surprising," Mr Gaunt commented finally. "He never learns, does he?.. Must be the lingering effects of too many Stupefies. At this point, he's begging to be reminded of his limits… A ‘conversation', you say?"

The step closer brought the intrusive smell of firewhiskey to Ominis, as if frustration itself had a scent. 

"That's what he called it. I'd say it was a threat disguised as a warning."

Father's heavy breathing lingered uncomfortably close. The rhythmic drumming of fingers against the mantelpiece hurt his head from the inside, but Ominis didn't dare take a step back. He had always wondered if he was simply imagining it, or if he truly could sense someone's gaze lingering on him. He'd read and heard of the unsettling feeling he was experiencing this moment—of being reached for, examined from a distance. 

"Obviously, had you said something to embarrass yourself, I'd be adding your mess to the one I'm already cleaning up. But hear me now." A hand landed on Ominis' shoulder, sending an unpleasant jolt through him, every nerve alight with tension. "If you so much as breathe near an Auror again without my consent, your regret will far outlast theirs. Understood?"

"Of course." 

The hand left his shoulder, and the scent of Firewhisky receded slightly, but the tension in his body lingered. 

An exaggerated scoff drifted from the sofa. It wasn't loud, but it was enough. The flame from the fireplace seemed to have burst forth and swallowed Ominis whole at once. 

"I imagine things might be easier if faces on Auror's records didn't show up near there, especially right before disasters." 

He regretted the words before they'd fully left his mouth. Ominis hated losing control. He hated being here. There was too much audience for these words, but it was too late. He clenched his teeth as though that could pull the words back. Father hummed in agreement, which only made it worse.

"Full of words today, aren't you? Desperate for some attention? Pathetic." The distant words slithered out, their hiss betraying them as Parseltongue. The fire blazed wildly in Ominis' chest, and on his cheeks, too dangerous for the fragile ice he still felt beneath his feet. He had to stay quiet, be smarter, but—

"Mirror much?"

This time, Ominis regretted more than just this stupid inability to hold back. Shifting into Parseltongue could happen unconsciously. The sensation of hissing words on his tongue was even more nauseating than the oppressive smell of firewhiskey. 

A sharp movement disturbed the air right in front of his face. Ominis blinked, unable to suppress the flinch, though it was nothing more than a gesture near him.

"Get out. Both of you," Father's words were also hissing now, but quicker, lashing, his firm steps already striding  decisively toward the table. 

Skipping meals was nothing unusual here and Ominis couldn't welcome it more today. He didn't really trust this new tendency of his father's, noticed over the summer, as mother's health deteriorated more than ever—to dismiss rather than punish outright—though he couldn't deny it suited him.

"Actually..." 

Ominis had barely reached for his wand when he froze again. The heavy scrape of a chair against the floor grated through the room.

"Marvolo, you wait. Ominis, I said, out. Now."

~~~ // ~~~ // ~~~ // ~~~

Ominis couldn't shake the chill, even in his supposedly warmest pyjamas. This small fireplace was never enough for his spacious room, and a warming charm wouldn't last through the night, so he was leaning over the dresser, searching for the warmest socks. His thoughts mirrored his hands, rummaging, restless: what had Father discovered? Did Marvolo have some brilliant plan? Or was he really not involved? Which one of these possibilities was more ridiculous? 

Once he'd found a thick enough pair of socks, Ominis slammed the drawer shut with force. The old, unsteady furniture wobbled precariously, and he had to hold it steady with his hand and take  a deep breath. The evening hadn't turned out so badly, actually. Without dragging anyone else into it he seemed to make his father consider banning Marvolo from Hogsmeade. Also, Foster now was one of the primary focuses of blame. Ominis felt no real sorrow about that; a man in Foster's position should understand the implications of his words and actions. 

He climbed under the blanket, hoping that the weariness would allow him the relief of dreamless rest. 

Eighteen months and twenty-two days. By tomorrow evening, he'd already be at the Great Hall, just in time to enjoy a proper dinner. He would be happy even to hear Reyes yelling at the Quidditch team, demanding they add more meat and greens to their plates.

And after that, he'd escape to the Undercroft. Alyn would prepare little cards with a rune on the one side and lecture notes on the other. At some point, when exchanging these cards, his hand would accidentally brush against hers—always so soft and warm—and linger. She wouldn't pull her hand away, and he wouldn't apologise, because in these rare moments of being alone, they wouldn't have to. 

It seemed as though ages, not just months, had gone by since the first time he sat next to her in class.

"Sure. It's just a bit… unexpected," Alyn says before Charms as Ominis slides into the seat beside her. He pointedly ignores this remark, much as he keeps ignoring Sebastian—he's far from ready to deal with whatever Sallow's been trying to say these days, after... The thought brings a bitter taste, but Alyn's presence, as the only one who understood, made it a little easier to bear. 

He thinks that lately life has taken on a wild unpredictability, like how she's somehow the only person left he can stand to be near. Out loud, though, he says only, "Might I borrow your Slowing Charm notes for a moment?"

The knocking returned Ominis from the class back to his bedroom, making him sit up. The sensation of his heart pounding wasn't comforting anymore, but growing sickeningly uneasy.

"Yes?"

"Master Ivraxus is asking for Master Ominis, sir," came a high-pitched, slightly trembling voice from beyond the door. 

"What, now?" 

"Yes, Master. Right away, sir. In the library."

A muffled pop told Ominis the elf was gone. As he left the little comfort his blanket and slightly warmed room offered, a shiver crept through him again. He knew more questions would come sooner or later and had the answers ready. However, the urgency of this request unsettled him deeply, to say the least. Something was off.

Ominis approached the stairs when he paused, noticing the subtle warning hum of his wand. Awareness struck in a split second, but there was no time to act—the Full Body-Bind curse had already taken hold. The cold stone floor caught him, its freezing surface pressing hard against his spine. His head buzzed, drowning out the sound of unhurried footsteps circling him, but he would always recognise them unmistakably.

The scene played out like something familiar as well. Familiar to the point of dread. His mind was clawing at Finite, even though he knew full well it was useless without the simplest wand movement.

Marvolo crouched beside him. "A little rat, aren't you? ‘Faces on records.' Disgusting." His wand jabbed against Ominis' chest. "Too bad you didn't tumble down those stairs—but that's something we can still fix." 

The weight of the wand tip pushed Ominis fully into the memory that had already been creeping over him.

Small and vulnerable, his younger self trembles as the heartless laughter reverberates around him. The floor feels impossibly cold, slick with sweat and tears. He isn't immobilised, yet it offers no advantage—he is completely lost. The exact same wand presses suddenly against his chest, and one brief word burns into every nerve of his body at once.

"Mute now, are we? How tragic." Ominis couldn't hold onto the meaning of the words near him; they drifted away, overshadowed by the urgency of the memory. "I've got nothing to do with that. Is making me look bad in front of Father just a little hobby of yours now?" 

The grip on his pyjama shirt pressed against his skin with brutal force. The discomfort was sharp enough to make Ominis try to clung to this sensation, desperately wishing it could drown out the other pain.

"What's going on there?" The distant voice combined with the weight of the fist pressing near his throat, brought to his mind another woman's voice.

"I've got you, sweetheart, it's alright. I promise this will pass soon."

The pain on his chest flared sharply, and Ominis clung to it with all his might—because this pain definitely wasn't coursing through his entire body, and nothing mattered more than that.

"Keep playing the rat, and you'll be treated like one. Your precious Sallow is now rubbing shoulders with the Aurors, isn't he? That's dangerous—for both of you. Remember that next time you open your mouth."

Sebastian. Ominis fought to focus, straining to grasp the meaning of words. The footsteps grew closer. Once again, he tried to feel his wand in his hand, but failed.

"Stop whatever childish nonsense this is." 

Marvolo hesitated before pulling his wand away.

"Finite!"

His body unlocked all at once, and Ominis inhaled sharply, savouring the precious rush of air deep into his lungs and the distance now separating him from his brother.

"We're just talking. And we understand each other perfectly now, right, baby brother?" 

Hands roughly dragged him up by the shirt, forcing him into a sitting position. Ominis ignored all of the drawn-out words, and the barely audible comments from Mother, mentioning, of course, Father. What mattered most was the stone under his palms—cold, but blessedly dry. The other pain had dulled, but the sharp pain in his chest, where the wand and the fist had pressed, remained vivid—and he welcomed it. Reality.

"It's not real, you hear me? Breathe, Ominis, alright? Please," says Sebastian in the urgent, worried voice of an eleven-year-old boy.

His hand instinctively clasped around his wand's handle, so familiar and comforting. Reality kept crashing down on him as the dreadful meaning of the half-heard words began to sink in.

Marvolo kept speaking, standing beside him. "You are so absolutely right. Wouldn't want to upset Father more than we already have." Ominis felt the mocking patting on his shoulder. He forced himself to act—a desperate move, but desperation has often been his companion, after all. His unsteady hand shot upward, gripping Marvolo's wrist.

Velvety laughter, indulgent, almost inviting. No—this isn't right… Alyn's voice, sharp and determined: "Show you the way out?" That's closer… The cold wind brushes his face. "Felt good, didn't it?" The trembling with rage voice lingers before slithering into almost inaudible Parseltongue, "I'd kill you, but..."

A scattered cheering of voices, while Marvolo grunts—the sound is displeased, sharp. "Don't be stupid." The words are sour with disdain… "Lies!" The voice cuts through, raw and trembling. The fear is there, just beneath the surface, twisting into fury… That laughter again… No… Velvety laughter is louder this time, pressing closer, refusing to leave. It grows, sharpens, until it almost breaks into something else—a voice…

Marvolo yanked his arm away violently, snarling, "Get off. Don't you dare." 

Ominis clutched his wand, but his grip on reality still was tenuous at best. The indulging laughter lingered in his head, silencing the sharp "I meant every bloody word" and a dismissive huff Marvolo let out before his heavy steps receded into the corridor. 

The second set of footsteps was gone instantly, walking decisively away in the opposite direction. Ominis struggled to recall if there had ever been a time Mother had stepped in. Maybe five years ago? Ten? But of course, the only reason for her to show up was because he had told her to. 

Slowly, the ghost of pain from the memory was loosening its grip on his body, and Ominis pushed himself up, holding onto the wall for balance. It's nothing, he told himself. It wasn't even real. 

His navigation charm faltered several times as he made his way to the library. He wasn't at all surprised to confirm it was deserted, but he had to check .

Eighteen months and twenty-two days. Maybe, it was twenty-one already.

He shut the door of his bedroom behind him quickly and, though it took effort, reinforced the locking spell. He leaned his head against the door for a while, as though the pressure could somehow force "It's been worse" deeper into his mind.

He tucked his wand under his pillow resolutely and crawled into bed, pulling the blanket tightly around him as he stayed perched against the wall. Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Wrapping his arms around himself, he tried to stop that ridiculous trembling. Silence reigned on the other side of the door, while the rustle of the rain shifted into the crackle of hailstones against the window. 

He should warn Sallow that Father either has an interest in him already or will develop one soon. Marvolo wouldn't keep this quiet for long. His endless threats had long since blended, forming one continuous menace. Why had he stayed silent until now? 

Ominis wished his lack of experience in Legilimency wasn't so painfully evident. But what concerned him even more was his brother's thoughts persistently drifting from course, ending up at that laughter again. He was surprised and concerned that Marvolo was capable of that. Could he be good enough to hide anything from their father?

Even in the memories he managed to grasp, nothing was clear enough. Unfortunately, his father had been right all these years—the natural ability would indeed be more practical for the person who could see. Then he would've been able to tell if there was any link to Hogsmeade, and… Beneath his gripping fingers, his arms still felt numb. Exhaustion must have dulled his reactions at first, he really needed to get back to practising duelling. But what excuse did he have for not responding to his brother afterwards? Cowardice. Some old memories scared him. In a real fight, it could have cost him his life.

Ominis hadn't allowed himself tears for years; he knew well how dangerous they could be. Now, they all formed a familiar lump in his throat—painful, suffocating, and—utterly useless. Just like him.

His mind drifted to Sebastian again. Sallow would have fought back—he always did. He could probably even smirk straight at the face of whoever threatened him.

"Send an owl when you're back, alright? We'll grab a butterbeer." Sebastian's voice dips into a conspiratorial whisper, "Or I can find us something a little more exciting." 

Alyn snorts at his suggestion, taking an exaggerated step away from them. 

Soon after that talk, Ominis strolls across the castle lawn with her alone, stealing what moments they can before his train departs, as they both agreed she shouldn't go to the station with him.

"This scarf is mine now, you know," she says, her voice carrying a smile for the first time this day. Ominis finds himself also smiling a little. He's especially pleased that she just sent Sebastian's jumper back by owl, though he tries not to dwell on that too much.

"You can borrow it for now," she says, still smiling as she drapes the scarf around his neck. Her movements are far more careful than her words, revealing a shyness she doesn't quite let show. His smile grows a little. "It's a long trip, after all. Just be back soon to return it. I already have an idea of how to make it look a bit less… Slytherin."

He tried to avoid thinking about her, as if she might sense his weakness through them and be disappointed, but he couldn't help giving in. He remembered the certainty in her voice in that memory. She was stronger than he could ever hope to be. She deserved better—he knew that. 

Yet he also knew that he couldn't bear the thought of letting her go, even if the ache came from the shameful truth that he needed her far more than anyone could ever need him. With her, the idea of becoming the person he aspired to be felt real again—a hope he thought had died after fifth year at Hogwarts. For her, he wanted to keep trying.

His arms remained wrapped around himself, as if restraining tears that wouldn't fall. The hail tapped louder against the windows. He silently vowed to Alyn he would make it through. He had made it so many times here already. It could have been worse. Soon, Ominis could feel her touch. Less than two years, and he would be free to break his family's hold on his life once and for all.

The grip on his arm tightened and he made himself loosen his hand to preserve the beautiful, fragile feeling that she was near him. In his mind, it was her voice now, repeating "You can make it through." 

The sound of hail on the glass shifted to the rustle of rain once again, fading into distance. Slowly, Ominis sank into sleep, the warmth of Alyn's voice soothing his trembling better than the tight bundle of his blanket he was shrinking further into.

...pt.2 ->

[anomalyaly]

My New Dream

Tangled!AU AO3/Wattpad

Beginning | CHAPTER 3 | Chapter 4

CW: Mature for violence and character death, alcoholism, super mild sexual references, thievery, vandalism, general disregard for the law, and swearing. SFW.

None of this is meant to be taken seriously :)

Dawn had risen, and the sun burned bright and hot in the sky. Sebastian yawned and crinkled his nose as the grass tickled his face.

Not the grass. Hair.

He gently brushed it away from him and realized that, at some point through the night, Elsie had curled up next to him. She was facing away, her back pressed against his front, wrapped up in her bundle of hair that she used as a makeshift blanket. She looked peaceful, the small flowers in the grass framing her face and making her look regal, a princess who had fallen asleep in the forest, her long lashes fluttering, her freckles nearly sparkling in the sunlight that peeked through the cracks in the leaves.

Heat crawled up his neck as she shifted in her sleep, much too close to a certain part of his body that was growing more taut with every passing minute. His arm was still draped over her, and though he tried to adjust himself away from her to not make his problem glaringly obvious, he didn't want to accidentally wake her for fear of having to then explain his 'predicament' to her.

Still, vulgar thoughts aside, he wondered if this was what peace felt like — curled up next to a beautiful woman, breathing in the sweet perfume of her hair, and knowing that her soul was as soft as the rest of her — then waiting until she awoke before he would snuggle into her again and beg her to stay in bed for a few more minutes. 

He could get used to waking up like this every single day.

And then, the thought was ripped away from him as quickly as it had come.

Standing over him was the dripping-wet, arousal-killing image of Ominis Gaunt, angrily brandishing his wand and pointing it directly at his face. Sebastian offered up a sly grin.

"Well, I hope you're here to apologi — AHHHHH!"

Ominis yanked him off the ground and dragged him away from his comfortable spot on the ground, away from Elsie, away from the forest clearing.

"You nearly got me killed!" He shouted, pulling him by the arm. "Sebastian Sallow, I am done playing games with you. You are under arrest for—"

His screams must have woken Elsie because before he knew it, she was on her feet and grabbing his arm trying to pull him out of Ominis's grasp.

"Give him to me!" She shouted, not relenting her hold.

"What — ?" Ominis turned towards the sound of her voice but did not release Sebastian. "Let go! This man is a wanted criminal!"

Elsie tugged harder on his arm. "Give. Him. To. Me!"

Ominis pulled on his other arm, and Sebastian found himself trapped in the middle of a very agonizing game of Tug-of-War, where he was the rope. It was worrisome how this girl and her strength managed to hold her own against the Captain of the Guard. What was in that ancient magic?

Eventually, with a confused expression on his face, Ominis relented and let go, sending Sebastian flying towards Elsie, who gracefully stepped out of the way, and he crashed into a nearby tree, left to watch the scene unfold.

Upside down.

"You do realize you would be aiding and abetting a criminal by not letting me arrest him?" Ominis questioned angrily. "Do you really want that on your head?"

"Can we just," she took a breath, "relax for a second and think?"

Ominis clenched his jaw.

She frowned at him curiously. "You're...a royal guard, right?"

"Captain of the Guard, to be precise." Ominis straightened his jacket, standing tall as he gestured to the badges he wore.

"You must be exhausted," she sighed, her voice softening, "Chasing him around all day long?"

Ominis blinked. Sebastian grumbled indignantly as he rolled himself back over.

"Excuse me?" He snapped. "You're not actually — "

Elsie held up a hand. "It's such an underappreciated job, what you do. And him?" She gestured to Sebastian, "He doesn't make it easy."

"You're right," Ominis sighed. "At least someone understands the difficulties I've had trying to apprehend him." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "The pressures that I've had to face from the kingdom. As if I don't have enough to worry about!"

"I'm terribly sorry," she held a hand to her heart. "It sounds awful."

"Are you serious?!" Sebastian shouted, annoyed that Elsie was showing such sympathy to the man who had been trying to ship him off to Azkaban. "He's a complete arse!"

She crossed her arms and gave a small pout. "He's stressed, Sebastian! He's probably nothing but a big sweetheart with a difficult job."

Sebastian glowered as Ominis's mouth quirked in the corner. The bastard was actually smiling.

"Well, I...I must say, that's very kind of you."

"You've got to be kidding me," Sebastian mumbled. Ominis fixed a hard gaze in his direction.

Elsie held up her hands in front of him placatingly. "Look, today is a bit of a big day for me. Like, the biggest day of my life. And I kind of need you to not get him arrested. Mr. — "

"Gaunt," Ominis furrowed his brow. "Ominis Gaunt. Miss, I can't let you — "

"Just for twenty-four hours!" Elsie walked over to Sebastian and helped him onto his feet. Sebastian gritted his teeth as he was guided to stand in front of Ominis. "And then, you can...you can chase each other to your heart's content!"

Sebastian let out a sigh of exasperation. He wasn't certain Ominis would agree, but if anyone could convince him, it was Elsie. He could set aside their differences for her, if only for twenty-four hours. All she wanted was to see the floating lanterns, and if he had to shake hands with this royal wanker to make it happen, he would do it.

He grumbled, but he held out his hand. Ominis's unseeing eyes glared daggers through it.

Elsie seemed to sense his hesitancy. "It's also my birthday." She shrugged and grinned. "Just so you know."

He watched unmoving as Ominis shifted slightly, sighed, and finally, clasped his hand in a firm and irritated handshake. "Fine. Twenty-four hours."

Sebastian glanced at Elsie from the corner of his eye and saw that she was beaming at their truce. Good. At least the royal ass-wipe could do something right.

Suddenly, her expression dropped to surprise as she stared at something in the distance. She gently pushed past Ominis and Sebastian's joined hands and gazed at the bridge that led to the entrance to the kingdom. Flags were flying in the wind, decorating the village that sat at the base of the palace for the festivities, and Sebastian could hear the music, laughter, and joyous shouts from the crowd.

Typically, it was a time he would dedicate to petty thievery, pickpocketing passers-by, and sneaking treats from the food stands. Not today.

Today, his mission was to help the girl in front of him achieve her dream.

Ominis, still glowering at him, elbowed him in the gut. "Let's go. Before I change my mind." He marched ahead, following as Elsie ran towards the kingdom gates.

Sebastian grunted and doubled over, shot an icy glare at his back, and trudged forward.

Prick.

~

Sebastian looked ahead at the towering castle in the distance as Elsie continued to run ahead. The girl giggled as she took in their surroundings, pointing out every festive decoration and chattering on about the sweet smells that wafted from the kingdom village.

Hogsmeade, he was familiar with, was a bustling marketplace, drawing people in with its magical delicacies, charismatic salespeople, and cobblestone roads. It seemed there was something for everyone, from books to baubles and everything in between.

There was only one problem — his wanted poster was everywhere. They would have to be discreet. As Elsie continued along the bridge in front of them, he snatched one of the horrible caricatures of his face, nose still disproportionate (though this one had his freckles missing, too — the audacity), that was posted along the bridge and crumpled it up before anyone could see.

"Like that'll do you any good," Ominis muttered beside him. "As if the palace guards couldn't recognize you from a mile away."

"Clearly they wouldn't, considering they couldn't even get my nose right," Sebastian grumbled, shoving the paper into his pocket.

Ominis chuckled. "I have to take credit for that. I must admit, I was surprised that the artists took advice about physical appearance from a blind man." He scoffed. "Though I'm certain it suits you well."

He opened his mouth and let out a sarcastic laugh, and Sebastian shoved the crumbled poster into it in retort. Ominis spat it out, rage evident on his face, before taking the moistened wad and rubbing it all over Sebastian's face.

"Hey!" Sebastian snatched it out of his hand and threw it over the side of the bridge before shoving Ominis harshly, only to be shoved back.

"You watch yourself or I'll — " Sebastian cut him off with a punch to the arm, and Ominis swung at his jaw. The two of them were engaged in a minor brawl as Elsie turned around, hands on her hips, and they both froze.

"Is everything alright?" She said, assessing their entanglement.

The two men immediately broke apart and dusted themselves off.

"Peachy," Ominis grumbled, the same time Sebastian said, "Couldn't be better."

Elsie smiled pleasantly. "Then we should continue so we can enjoy the festivities." She turned back and continued walking towards Hogsmeade. Sebastian fixed a cold stare at Ominis and gave him one last shove before he followed her.

And stumbled over Ominis's outstretched foot.

"Bastard," he grumbled. Ominis only grinned smugly as they continued on.

~

"Look at this place!" Elsie sighed dreamily as they stepped through the gates. "Isn't it magic-OW!"

Sebastian ran forward to help her scoop up her hair as it dragged behind her, passing carts and villagers running or stepping on top of it, completely unaware. With the bundle in his arms, he met her in the middle, Ominis trailing glumly behind, wand out and on his guard.

"We've got to do something about all of this," Sebastian said, glancing around for a solution. "Not a chance you're going to be enjoying the festivities with all of these people around stepping on your hair."

His eyes landed on a group of little girls lined up in front of a fountain braiding each others' hair. He slipped his fingers between his lips and gave a loud whistle, drawing their attention.

"Hello, ladies," he said, playing it up for the children, "care for a challenge?"

The little girls gasped and giggled at the sight of Elsie's flowing locks. Before he could blink, they were pushing past Sebastian and grabbing the bundle of hair from him, quickly setting to work at turning it into a more organized braid.

He dusted his hands off, winking at Elsie before moving to the side and keeping out of sight from the palace guards patrolling the village. Ominis took a spot beside him.

"Surprisingly thoughtful of you," he murmured as Sebastian tucked himself behind the wall.

"I'm offended," Sebastian smirked. "You seem to believe me incapable of thinking of anyone but myself."

Ominis scoffed. "You certainly didn't build the reputation you have by being kind to others."

"Touché."

Moments later, Elsie was spinning in front of them, wildly impressed with the children's job of braiding her hair. The plait was threaded elegantly, wound tightly enough to be kept out of the way for her to enjoy exploring the village. They had decorated it with beautiful flowers that their parents had purchased from one of the stands.

"Wow!" She admired the braid over her shoulder. "Thank you!"

Sebastian straightened — with her long locks tied back, the colorful flowers laced through them, he could better see the softness of her face, how the loose strands framed it like a delicate painting, her smile like a glowing sunset, vibrant and warm. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Ominis laughed. "I can feel you staring at her."

"Shut up," Sebastian mumbled.

"Oh, and your heart's racing. Merlin's beard, you've got it bad."

"I said," Sebastian elbowed him, "shut up."

Ominis snorted. "Pity you'll have to be arrested once this ordeal is through."

Before he could retort, Elsie came running back to him through the crowd. She tugged on his wrist. "Come on! You need to show me everything."

He happily obliged her, letting her lead him from stand to stand, yammering on to the shopkeepers to ask them a million questions about the products they sold without buying anything. Their finances were limited, leaving them to pick out a few simple items with the little money Sebastian did have on hand. And one small treat from Ominis, who was coaxed by Elsie into buying her a cupcake from Honeydukes.

There were only two activities Sebastian insisted Elsie partake in while they were in the village — enjoying the kingdom staple, a butterbeer, and visiting Tomes and Scrolls to look at the books. After all, she had mentioned it was one of the few hobbies she was able to have when locked away in her tower, and he was certain that she hadn't read every book.

As he watched her bounce from aisle to aisle, pulling out various books from the shelves based on whether or not the covers interested her (and they almost always did), he laid them out on a spot on the floor for her to scour through, mentally congratulating himself for picking the perfect spot for a date.

Not a date. Just a place to kill time before the lanterns were set to be released.

After she was satisfied, and sadly wishing she could bring the whole bookstore back to her tower, Sebastian guided her to the nearest butterbeer stand and, with the few galleons he had left, paid for both of them.

"You're going to love this one," he grinned as he handed his money to the shopkeeper. "It's— "

He turned around and Elsie had disappeared. A crowd was gathered in the town circle where the festival musicians played. And someone was...dancing?

Not just someone. Elsie.

She had drawn the attention of other villagers, pulling them into the center and encouraging them to join in on the festival activities. Sebastian stood to the side, dumbstruck and holding two butterbeers.

Ominis approached from behind, assessing the situation with his wand. When he sensed no danger, he clasped his hands behind his back and observed with his other senses.

Sebastian set down the butterbeers and offered Elsie a crooked smile as she twirled in the middle, her flowery braid swooshing behind her like a dancer's ribbon. She waved him in, encouraging him to join, but he held up a hand and shook his head.

"What is it?" Ominis asked, and Sebastian grimaced at how much he could sense around him.

"She's inviting me to dance."

"Really? And you're not going to dance with her?" Ominis prodded.

"Please," Sebastian rolled his eyes, maintaining his cocky demeanor as he crossed his arms and leaned on a nearby stand. "I don't dance."

"That simply won't do," Ominis tutted.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Well," Ominis smirked, "she did say it was her birthday."

"That doesn't — HEY!"

He didn't even get a chance to respond before Ominis shoved him into the circle, leaving Sebastian to glower at him as he was hauled away by the crowd.

Swirls of colorful fabrics weaved around him as he tried to keep up with the steps. He knew enough, mostly from practicing with his sister growing up, to at least keep pace with the others as they twirled, swapped partners, and changed direction with each rhythmic flow. But as he watched Elsie intertwine herself with each and every villager, he wanted nothing more than to be her only dance partner.

He tried to fight his way through the crowd, awkwardly stumbling as he tried to keep his movements connected with the rhythm. One small misstep could send the whole group tumbling like dominos — and what an embarrassment that would be. Not to mention drawing the attention of the nearby guards, who seemed far too focused on the music and the boisterous crowd than capturing him.

The dancers circled once more, and he and his partner — a stout, middle-aged woman who wouldn't stop pinching his cheeks — neared the center of the dance ring. He could see Elsie, too, her movements parallel to his, and he held his hand out as an offering. She beamed at him from across the way and reached out toward him, barely grazing his fingers before she was whisked away by yet another partner.

So close.

The dance was growing increasingly complicated, the sun was setting, and he knew it was about to end. But Sebastian would be damned if he left the circle now before he could partner with the person who had dragged him into this mess in the first place.

He was going to dance with her. Even if it was on their own, if it was another day, another place, he was going to get his dance.

The music swelled, faster, faster, reaching its peak. Now's my chance. He broke away from his dance partner and swept Elsie against his arms just as the music burst into its finale. The crowd broke out into applause as the two of them stood chest to chest in the middle of the town circle, panting from the excitement of it all.

Sebastian gave a soft laugh. "That was — "

"To the boats!"

The announcement sounded from afar, a wizard magically amplifying his voice so the crowd could hear the call. It was time for the launching of the lanterns.

He and Elsie reluctantly broke apart, still trying to catch their breaths. His smile turned mischievous as he came up with a brilliant plan that he knew would make her happy.

"Follow me. I have an idea."

[rosewoodcafe]

My Kink is Karma

Modern AU Hogwarts Legacy @espressoristretto-patronum

Very Angsty

Two best friends having to navigate their breakups. All characters are like 20's in my mind. Sebinis and Poppy x FMC

[This is like a tryout,, I've only ever written wlw fanfiction maybe twice, so hopefully this is good]

“You’re leaving!” I screamed at you as you held your bags in your hands. Your fast was twisted in anger, the fake designer you wore dripping with pure utter hatred. I didn’t hate you. How could I?

“Yes Poppy, I can’t stand how you sit there and take some high ground,” you spat back, “It’s frankly the most annoying thing about you. Don’t bother calling, and I expect you to be out by tomorrow.”

That's how.

The door slammed, and you left me alone in the apartment we shared. I picked up the books left on the table, the ones you loved to read, ripping the pages, throwing it against the wall. I took your precious CD’s that you have saved from thrift bins, throwing them in the trash. My screaming cries must have woken neighbors because an hour later an officer showed up to my door, asking if everything was okay. With stained cheeks and a ruined pride I told him yes, that everything was okay. 

My phone lit up, a single message from Ominis.

Are you okay? 

Of course I wasn’t.

Come over… I saw what she posted.

God of course she was already posting shit. I grabbed my bag and the bottle of whiskey that sat in our cupboard. The drive to Ominis’s place was annoying and I could barely think straight. He was sitting on his balcony, unbothered by anything, probably unknowing of what happened tonight. 

I knocked on his door holding in my anger for the whole situation. He opened the door faster than I expected.

“Poppy you look like shit.” He said immediately.

“You can’t even see me, so how would you know?” I spat back.

“Just because I can’t see, doesn’t mean I can’t tell.”

I placed the bottle of alcohol on his counter, grabbing two glasses and filling them.

“I don’t drink Poppy-”

“These are for me, I plan to not remember tonight.” 

I slammed back the first drink much too quickly, burning my throat slightly. Ominous stood beside me rubbing my back in sympathy. 

“I assume you saw what they posted.” He said softly.

“They?”

“You don’t know?” He said shocked. “I suppose I only found out today anyways, but our partners are now each other's partners.”

“Sebastian left you?!” I said looking at Ominis, his face dropping and a sadness overtaking him.

“Tonight… he stormed out, telling me that my trauma was too much for him, and that he would be back in the morning to- well to collect his things.” Ominis spoke softly. “They must have decided that they wanted to be together, without telling either of us.”

I pulled my phone from my pocket, looking at Instagram, where low and behold there she posted a story of her and Sebastian grinded up on each other in some stupid club in this stupid city.  I pounded back the second drink.

~

After that night I moved out of our apartment, and into Ominis’s, who graciously offered me the second bedroom. I ran into a Sebastian Sallow, who had a grin on his face that I wished I could slap off. It took every part of me to not light all of your shit on fire, to ruin any part of your life that I hadn’t already, but I let it go.

I stepped out into the sunlight, holding the last box of my things as you slammed the door in my face. Not even a goodbye. You had burned all your bridges, not even talking to Ominis anymore. 

~

“She was awful in bed!” I laughed, drinking hand in hand on the couch with Ominis. The two of us had bonded after the catastrophe of our relationships ending. 

“He was horrible, more often than not came well before I did.” Ominis was practically cackling, “I think I only had an enjoyable time ONCE!”

I sipped on my wine, trying to hold back my laughter. 

“I bet they have a very uninteresting sex life then,” He chuckled out, and I lost it, spitting my wine out slightly.

It had been nearly two months since the breakups, and I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. The pain of her and her stupid choices only barely linger in my mind.

~

I kicked my shoes off at the front door, work had absolutely drained me today.

“Natty?” I asked. Ominis sat on the armchair, tea in hand, while Natty sat on our living room couch. She turned and smiled at me.

“Poppy! It’s good to see you!” 

“It’s nice to see you too, but why exactly are you here?” I asked.

“It’s news about the two idiots who blocked us.” Ominis chuckled as he sipped his tea.

“What on earth happened?” I asked Natty, sitting down across from her on the couch.

“Besides Sebastian losing his mind, dyeing his hair,” Natty started, “She crashed the car they shared, so badly in fact I don’t believe they are together anymore. It’s all gotten a bit messy, she got kicked out of the bar I work at for talking shit about you and the other patrons. She did say one thing that I figured would get you interested.”

“What’s that, because I don’t really want to deal with her anymore. It’s been almost six months since that all ended, I don’t wish to relive it again.” I said sarcastically, erupting a laugh from Ominis.

“Well,” Natty paused, “she wants you back, and supposably is coming by soon to talk to you. At least that’s what she keeps saying.”

Laughter burst from me, faster than I could control it. She wanted to crawl back after her boyfriend left her, after she ruined her own life for some silly whim. I wouldn’t let her, she couldn’t destroy me again.

Natty told us all about her, and the shit she got herself in. For some reason everytime anything happened she would tell Natty, recounting every bad thing that happened to her or Sebastian. I reveled in it all, the karma that came back to bite her in the ass. It was thrilling to see Ominis smile as he knew his ex-boyfriend was actually losing his mind without him. I couldn’t wait for her to show up, so I could slam the door on her face.

~

I was prepared for this.

She unblocked me, added me back. 

She was headed here now, and I was entirely excited to do this. 

Three knocks on the door. 

I opened it.

She stood there, drunk out of her mind. Her hair was chopped in a weird way, her makeup smeared. She was a fucking wreck, and a smile grew on my face.

“Bab-y I love you.” She hiccuped out. “I miss you- the kisses, please. I fuc-ed up.”

I could help but laugh, a sweet venom filling my mouth. I felt as if the tables had finally turned.

“Oh love, I hate you.”

“Ha-hate me?”

“Yes, I utterly loathe you actually.” I said with a sickeningly sweet smile. “If I have to see you again, I will call the cops and tell them you are harassing me.”

“Bab-e-I-I, my parents, they kicked me ou-t. I have nowhere to go.” She choked back, sobs slipping through her words.

“I don’t care.” I laughed in her face, tears dropping from her pathetic face. “I get off knowing you are suffering so badly, that you broke my heart to shreds, yet here you are begging me for forgiveness. I fuck myself every night to the thought that without me you’ll never be happy, and that it is entirely your fault.”

She didn’t talk, only sobbed as she dropped to her knees. A blubbering mess of a girl, I could barely make out what she was saying, and I didn’t really care.

“Go home.” I told her as she reached out for me, shutting the door in her face.

“That went well.” Ominis chuckled from the kitchen.

“You don’t know how nice that felt.” I said to him.

“I only hope I get the same opportunity to tell Sebastian off.”

“I’m sure karma will catch up to him eventually,” I said, knocking my hip against his, a small smile tugging at his mouth.

“I suppose you are right, at least for now Poppy.”

[enemiestoloverssimp]

House of Gaunt

Lady Yvette Gaunt, daughter of Tom Riddle. Aka The Dark Lord.

She was a double spy and when The Boy Who Lived had finally gotten rid of her father, she could now peacefully rest for the next decade without the deatheaters knowing she were a traitor.

Until she's offered a job at Hogwarts.

The world has forgotten The House of Gaunt, perhaps they will soon remember.

A story that explores the line of Salazar Slytherin more deeply, and also gives Severus Snape a redemption arc

[milunalupin]

hello !!   I just found your page, and your work is very good! If you’re willing to, I thought I would ask if you could write an Ominis x FMC piece where the FMC is actually a major fan of history and tends to go on a hyperfixiated rant whenever she’s asked about it, but seeing how many people don’t care for the subject, especially Ominis, she feels embarrassed and stops midway. With that, maybe you could incorporate ominis comforting her? or possibly him trying to seem engrossed in the subject to impress her?

thank you for your request, i hope you like it ! :)

— mon amour, mon ami

ominis gaunt x reader ★ 535 words

If you asked any of the students at Hogwarts, they would say that History of Magic was their least favorite class. That would be because of Professor Binns, whose constant droning on did nothing but put the class to sleep. A midday lesson would keep you drowsy for the rest of the day. Not that History of Magic was a particularly boring subject, but the professor enjoyed talking about his own past too much to really learn anything.

You were the exception.

Despite doing quite well academically, even Ominis couldn't fight against the way his eyes fell shut during the ghost professor's draining lectures. He doesn't understand how you can stay bright eyed and upright during them.

"Tell Sebastian he should be more careful. Him and that friend of his have been in the Hospital Wing more times than I can count. They're one dragon claw away from getting sent to St. Mungo's." you had told him one day, sitting side by side in the Transfiguration Courtyard. "Speaking of, they should be careful with dragons, in general. We just learned about Dragon Pox you see, and Professor Binns said..."

Ominis smiled to himself, wondering how you could work on your Divination essay, the Arithmancy extra credit work, and in the nicest way possible, prattle on about your History of Magic lesson.

If it was your lovely voice speaking to him, perhaps the dangers of Peruvian Vipertooths and ancient illnesses would interest him more.

Ominis kept rubbing his eyes, having stayed up last night studying. He didn't make it to breakfast that morning, needing to sleep in, so you were catching him up on Sebastian's latest adventure. The dumb sod tried to clear a whole mountain troll den on his own, his plans on finding a rare plant having failed. This woke him up, he could put his newly acquired knowledge to use.

"You know what else failed?" Ominis piped up, switching his wand between his clammy hands, "The Werewolf Code of Conduct that was developed in 1637. It's a shame that no one felt safe enough to reveal themselves as werewolves and sign it."

"Very true. You know, my cousin knew a girl whose uncle was a werewolf and- hey-" you brows knitted together, turning "How did you know?"

"Last week's lesson."

"Obviously it was last weeks lesson, but you hate History of Magic!"

He chuckled nervously, "It's been growing on me."

"Ominis that's wonderful!" you gasped, both hands coming to hold onto his arm. "You know, I was talking to Professor Binns the other day and we're going to have a project on wandlore in a few weeks. We could partner up and get started on it early!"

His heart rate picked up as you squeezed his arm with excitement, nodding in agreement because he could never say no to you.

"Perfect! I was thinking we could go to Ollivander's and ask for some samples of the different types of wand wood. I also already started researching wand wilting, and Stella from Potions said she'd let me take a look at hers since it's hazel wood! Did you know..."

No, he laughed inwardly. Ominis had no idea about what you were rambling on about.

[matchavellichor]

hello !! This idea is a bit basic, but I was wondering if you could write an ominis x fmc fic where the mc is coddling an animal with all sorts of affection and ominis, who has a crush on the mc, is jealous. It’s a pretty fluffy request, but perhaps the ending could be a bit suggestive? Anyway, regardless of whether you take this request or not, thank you for all your work! I have had such a struggle finding good ominis pieces lately

A Peculiar Pet

Ominis Gaunt x f!MC - Fluff - 2.2k words

A/N: hiii, ty for the request. this was sooo cute and i had a lot of fun writing it! the ending isn't suggestive and maybe a bit too platonic/unrequited, but i might make a part two if that's something you guys would like (:

Summary: After MC rescues a strange cat on her latest trip to Hogsmeade, her friendship with Ominis becomes strained by his sudden jealousy.

Tags: Friends to Lovers, Fluff, Banter, Unrequited Love, Jealous Ominis, MC is a Cat Person, Ominis is Not

“What the hell is that?”

She scowled, looking up at Sebastian who was staring down at the purring carpet in her lap.

“That is my familiar,” she informed, stroking gently under what—presumably—was supposed to be a chin. “Poor thing was nearly starving to death just outside of the Hog’s Head. I rescued him.”

Sebastian eyed the creature warily. “Are you sure? By the looks of it, you were too late.”

“Oh, shut up, will you?” she wrapped her arms around the cat protectively and it gave a little grunt of approval. “He just needs a bit of a bath. Isn’t that right, Snuggles? My beautiful baby boy, yes, yes you are. Oh, mummy loves you so much—”

“You’ve given birth?” Ominis suddenly emerged beside Sebastian, looking just as appalled.

“Yes. To an abomination,” he grimaced. “Clawed its way out of her womb straight from the depths of Hell.”

“I didn’t ask for the opinion of either of you,” she seethed, standing up abruptly and clutching the mass of fur protectively to her chest. “If you’ll excuse me, Snuggles and I will be finding more pleasant company.”

She stormed past the two and Ominis blinked confusedly after her. Sebastian simply raised his brows.

“What was that all about?”

Sebastian shrugged. “Motherhood, I suppose.”

//

“Is that…normal?”

Ominis clenched his jaw as he listened to her start on what must have been the eighth bedtime story just that evening. She had been planting kisses all over the creature for the past hour, fawning over him and drowning him in all kinds of affection. Snuggles showed little more than a periodical snot-nosed snuffle in appreciation.

Sebastian shrugged, glancing over. “Beats me. Maybe it’s hormones or something.”

“She’s obsessed with it! That can’t be healthy. Shouldn’t we do something?”

Sebastian laughed. “Relax, Ominis. It’s a cat. The thing’s a hundred years old anyway, let her care for the critter while it’s on its last legs.”

“I suppose so,” Ominis relented, still slightly acerbic.

He listened to her voice taper out, words becoming slurred as exhaustion seeped into her. He rose from his seat with a sigh, trying his best to be open-minded about the ordeal.

“Here, let me watch over him,” he said, reaching a hand towards her shoulder to gently rouse her. “You should really get some sleep.”

As soon as his hand touched her, the creature immediately shot up and hissed at him, its abnormally sharp teeth viciously bared. He jerked back in surprise and she blinked awake, shushing the feline with soothing coos. “It’s alright, Snuggles, he’s a friend.”

The furball from Hell did not look convinced.

“I’m fine, Ominis,” she murmured through a yawn, sitting up to stretch. “He’s had a fever all day, I have to keep an eye on him.”

“You have to keep an eye on yourself,” he grumbled.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, already beginning her coddling again. “And you will be too, won’t you, angel? Yes, you will! Mummy will make sure of it.”

Ominis heaved a long-suffering sigh and retreated back to his armchair. Sebastian eyed the defeated expression on the blonde’s face for a moment, looking starkly amused.

//

That following weekend, Ominis retreated to the common room for his usual plans of afternoon reading, hoping that this time she wouldn’t bail on him like she’d been doing all week.

“Oh, my, look at you! Aren’t you handsome?”

He froze at the bottom of the stairs, hand gripping the railing. He was suddenly aware of an unbidden heat rising to his cheeks. “I’m–I’m sorry?”

“Oh, yes you are,” she cooed, ignoring him. “My precious boy.”

Ominis frowned, shoulders sinking at the realization of who she was actually speaking to. He tried to suppress his sour mood as best as he could as he stalked past her towards his usual seat in front of the fireplace.

He opened his book and lasted about two pages before the sounds of her fawning over the little monster ground his patience down to the bones.

“Do you mind?” he bit out tersely. “I’m allergic,” he lied.

“I’m not even near you.”

That’s precisely the problem, he wanted to say, bitter about how distanced she’d been ever since she’d brought the creature home. As woe as Ominis was to admit he was jealous of a cat, it was hard not to be when he’d seemingly been completely replaced.

Before, he had been her reading partner. They’d share one of the loveseats in an isolated corner of the common room and trade tidbits of whatever novel they were consumed in. Now, his spot was occupied by the matted ball of fur she called her baby.

He shut his book abruptly, not even bothering to conceal his sneer. “Must you spend every waking minute with that thing?”

She glanced up at him, surprised by his sudden hostility. “What’s the matter with you, Ominis?”

“What’s the matter with me? You’re the one obsessing over a cat. It’s ridiculous.”

“He needs me. Must you be so inconsiderate?”

Ominis’ fists clenched in frustration at his sides. “Well, he isn’t the only one who needs you!”

There was a long silence in which she stared at him perplexed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He reddened, staring down at his shoes. “I…just mean that you’re…that…”

“Go on,” she spat, tone lacking all patience. “Say what you mean.”

He glanced up sharply. “You’re neglecting all of your friends to care for that dreadful monster.”

She gasped, covering what was presumably the furball’s ears, but looked more like shriveled horns covered in hair. “Well, maybe it’s because I can’t bear to be around friends who are all so heartless.”

Ominis looked like she might as well have slapped him.

She stormed off with the cat in her arms for the second time that week, leaving Ominis to contemplate with an admittedly inappropriate sense of possessiveness when he’d ever get her back for himself.

//

Following their fight, Ominis had resigned himself to wallowing over the tattered remains of their friendship for the next few days when his melancholic reverie was shattered by a Gryffindor storming into the Slytherin common room.

Sebastian glanced up, looking as appalled as he would if a ten-foot troll had broken in. “How did you get in here?”

Garreth snorted. “It’s not like you lot are particularly creative with your passwords. Aspiration, really? What’s next, cunning?”

“That was last month’s…” Sebastian sighed under his breath, sounding defeated.

She appeared making her way down the common room steps a few moments later, pointedly ignoring Sebastian and Ominis’ presence and presenting Garreth with the feral throw-rug.

“Godric’s saggy bollocks, where the hell did you get that?” Garreth shrieked, nearly dropping all the Potions supplies in his hands.

She scowled. “Don’t tell me you lack all empathy as well, Weasley.”

He blinked at the creature in her arms warily. “I thought you said you needed a fever relief potion for a cat.”

“I do,” she frowned. “Snuffles has been sick all week.”

“That is not a cat.”

“Told you,” Sebastian muttered from his place beside Ominis, eliciting a swat to his arm.

Her tone immediately grew tense with defensive indignation. “So what if he’s a bit…unconventional looking? That doesn’t make him any less deserving of love and affection!”

“No, you misunderstand me,” Garreth said gravely, eyes still wide. He stalked towards her slowly with his hands outstretched, as if she were holding a grenade with its pin pulled out. “That is not a cat. That… is a bloody manticore.”

Ominis blanched. Sebastian dropped all pretenses of feigning he wasn’t eavesdropping and burst out laughing. “Oh, Merlin, that’s just too good.”

Her face fell. “What?”

She glanced down at Snuggles perched happily in her arms, brows furrowed as she studied him more intently.

“Oh dear Circe, put it down!” Garreth gasped when the creature moved, stretching lazily. It seemed hardly phased by the commotion around it. “You’re lucky it’s only a few weeks old and its poison glands haven’t matured yet. Although, even this young its bite is still strong enough to cut clean through bone.”

She seemed hardly deterred by the revelation. Cautiously, she pulled back the matted fur covering its head and gasped when an infantile, almost human-looking face was revealed. One thing was certain, it was positively not a cat.

Snuggles blinked back lazily at her, still purring while he rubbed himself affectionately on her arm. She frowned and glanced up at her friends, looking starkly heartbroken.

“I…I suppose…you all were right.”

Something in Ominis’ chest seized at how defeated she sounded.

She stared tearfully down at the manticore in her arms. “I’m sorry, Snuffles.”

“Let’s get it to Professor Howin,” Garreth spoke up, attempting to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, though he looked too wary of Snuffles to actually touch her. “She’ll know what to do.”

She nodded reluctantly.

//

Professor Howin contacted the Ministry and successfully turned in the manticore to magizoologists by the following morning.

Despite Howin’s repeated insistence that it was the safest option for Snuggles, its departure was no easy cross to bear for its former guardian.

Nearly a week later she was still mourning its loss as if her own kin had been ripped away from her. She was utterly inconsolable, and after walking in on her crying quietly in the late hours of the evening far too many times, Ominis decided he couldn’t bear her grief any longer.

The following day, he devised a plan. Come evening, he approached her usual lonely spot tucked away in the Undercroft, his hands tucked surreptitiously behind his robes.

She glanced up and frowned. “Are you here to rub it in?”

He sighed. “Of course not. I’m here to see if you’re alright.”

She sniffled, eyes lighting up. “Are you really?”

He nodded, kneeling down beside her. “I feel guilty for being so inconsiderate,” he said. “It’s silly to admit but…I suppose I just felt a little left out.”

She giggled then, the last vestiges of sadness steadily dissipating from her voice. “You’re lying.”

He shook his head, looking conflicted as if he were contemplating actually coming clean about how he had felt. He let out a long-suffering groan. “Oh gods, it’s humiliating. I was jealous of a cat—or well, what I thought was a cat, at least.”

She grinned, looking amused. “Oh, I understand. It’s because I didn’t give you belly rubs as well, is that it?”

He rolled his eyes, biting back his own smile. “No, no. It was the lack of bedtime stories that really stung.”

She laughed then, and the sound warmed him to his very core, reminding him of hot tea and the warmth of a fireplace with a good book curled in his lap.

He was broken out of his admiration by a jostling in his hands. He cleared his throat, remembering that an apology wasn’t the only thing he had met her there for.

“I…have something for you.”

She looked at him expectantly and he carefully untucked a small box from behind his robes, various holes cut around the sides. As soon as he held it in his lap, the box gave another little jolt. She looked at it bewildered.

He took a deep breath as he slipped off the lid, and the first tiny meow escaped. She gasped in delight, eyes glittering with disbelief as she stared down at the little animal.

“Is that…”

He nodded. “She’s yours.”

“Oh, Ominis!”

He was nearly toppled over by the force of which she threw her arms around him, squeezing him so tightly he could barely breathe. His hands found her waist to brace himself, his thumb brushing softly under her ribs as he reciprocated her embrace.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she gushed, peppering his face with kisses. He flushed so red he was surely the same color of the little ginger kitten in his lap by the time she stopped her attack.

“Don’t…don’t mention it,” he laughed sheepishly, voice sounding terribly dazed.

The kitten gave a petulant little mewl and she finally detached herself, pulling back with a departing peck to his cheek. She picked up the cat, pressing a soft kiss under its scruffy chin and acquiescing its whines.

“Oh, aren’t you just so precious?” she cooed. “Your mummy and daddy will take such good care of you— oh yes, yes we will!”

Ominis managed to flush even more. “Oh, am I included in this now?”

“Well, of course. You rescued her, after all,” she smiled brightly, suddenly entwining her fingers with his. “We’ll care for her together.”

Ominis felt that warm sensation bloom in his chest again at the feeling of her hand in his. He stroked his thumb over her knuckles reverently, unsure of what to do with so much permission to touch her. The contact was so tender, his heart felt like it might just burst out of his chest.

As if it could sense his acceptance, the kitten suddenly jumped from its place in the crook of her arm onto Ominis’ shoulder, purring contentedly in his ear and rubbing itself against his neck.

She gasped. “Oh, look, she likes you!”

Ominis couldn’t help the smile pulling at his lips, bringing a hand to pet tentatively at the small thing. The kitten leaned into his touch, preening under his affection as he rubbed an index against its soft underbelly.

“Yes,” he said softly, squeezing her hand, still tucked snugly in his. “I suppose she does."

[thursdaymoonrise11]

In Pursuit of Evocation (Hogwarts Legacy) - Chapters 1 and 2

Chapter one:

Chapter two:

In Pursuit of Evocation is a standalone fic and continuation of Inky Blue Flames following Phoebe, Sebastian and Ominis through their sixth and seventh year.

You don't need to read Inky Blue Flames first!

Synopsis:

Phoebe Honeyball is cursed—struck by a vengeful Victor Rookwood miles away from Hogwarts.

Yet she can't remember it, nor why Sebastian Sallow was with her when it happened.

In fact, her entire sixth year is a blank. Her last memory is of returning home at the end of her fifth year and grieving the loss of Professor Fig after finally defeating Ranrok.

As Phoebe tries to piece together her lost memories, she's forced to confront some uncomfortable truths: Anne Sallow remains cursed and missing, Ominis Gaunt faces harassment from his despicable family, and Sebastian Sallow harbours a secret he can't share.

Amidst the fog of her muddled mind, one thing stands out with clarity: Phoebe must revive Isidora Morganach's portrait to save both Anne, and herself.

(Sebastian x fMC)

Series link for Tales of an Ancient Magic Wielder

[girl-named-matty]

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

A masterlist for all of my headcanons and fanfictions that I've written. Please let me know if some of the links aren't working! And buckle up because this is long! 🤍

𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒔

● Passion || Sebastian Sallow (wattpad & ao3) synopsis: It has been six years since Astoria and Sebastian broke up. Both of them are living their best lives away from each other. But when Sebastian finds out that Rookwood is still alive and hunting Astoria down, he leaves his life behind to find her. ● In the Shadow of Her || Sebastian Sallow (wattpad & ao3) synopsis: Matty Ambrose is a simple Muggleborn girl living in London. After the arrival of Professor Fig informing her that she was a witch, she knew Hogwarts was going to be much different than anything she could've ever experienced before and she didn't know what to expect. With friends, rivals, and enemies around every corner, her time at Hogwarts already beginning to be epic. Join Matty as she navigates her way through her 5th year at Hogwarts-will she rise to the occasion, or will the dark secrets of the school and the ancient magic she possesses lead her astray? ● In the Shadow of Love || Sebastian Sallow (wattpad & ao3) synopsis: Matty is returning to Hogwarts for her sixth year at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry although things are quite different this time around. With no guidance from Professor Fig and the Wizarding world not being in constant peril, Matty has to learn what it's like to be a normal student. On this path, Matty finds herself deeply in love with a fellow classmate, strengthens and finds new friendships, and possible betrayal by the ones she trusts. Join Matty in her sixth year and see the story of love, friendship, action, and betrayal. ● In the Shadow of Magic || Sebastian Sallow (wattpad & ao3) synopsis: After two whirlwind years, Matty was returning to Hogwarts for her final year but this time would be different. She was fighting to maintain control of herself, as she felt the lure of the unknown, the magic, calling her. It tempted her and drew her deeper with each spell cast, each experiment taken a step further from the norm. But she was not alone in fighting for control. Join Matty on her journey through her seventh year with enemies around every corner and view the slow grip of reality loosen as time goes on. (terribly sorry for using the "in the shadow of" trope. hope its not too confusing).

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔 - 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔

quick a/n: These are all from over a year ago (I think) and I am lowkey embarrassed about the writing. They're still enjoyable but apologies in advance for how sloppy some of it might be. ����🤍

Sebastian Sallow ● Sebastian Headcanons | pt.1 | pt.2 | pt.3 | pt.4 | ● Sebastian's Boggart + His reaction to MC's Boggart ● Sebastian x Tall!FMC ● Sebastian x Short!FMC ● Sharing a bed with Sebastian

Ominis Gaunt ● Ominis Headcanons ● Ominis x Tall!FMC ● Ominis x Short!FMC ● Sharing a bed with Ominis

Garreth Weasley ● Garreth Headcanons ● Sharing a bed with Garreth

Leander Prewett ● Sharing a bed with Leander

Amit Thakkar ● Sharing a bed with Amit

Andrew Larson ● Sharing a bed with Andrew

Imelda Reyes ● Imelda headcanons

Poppy Sweeting ● Poppy Headcanons.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔 - 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒔

Eleazar Fig ● Professor Fig Headcanons

Aesop Sharp ● Professor Sharp Headcanons

Dinah Hecat ● Professor Hecat Headcanons. pt.1 | pt.2 |

Matilda Weasley ● Professor Weasley Headcanons.

I will write for pretty much any HL character but these are just the ones I have written for before! More to be added. Hope you enjoy 🤍

[cursedonyx]

Ominis is an enthusiastic pillow prince and Sebastian is a straight up brat I don't make the rules

[ps-cactus]

Shades of Silver Lining - Ch. 5.2 - posted ✅

Ch.5.1 <- | Ch.6 (in progress) | the first post aka story teaser + tags

word count: 3600 ✨ [ AO3 ] ✨ [ Wattpad ]

a/n: As always HUGE thanks to @accio-bagel for beta reading! Reminder that the whole story is rated MATURE for various forms of traumas and violence. Tags and trigger warnings specific for this chapter: Main: Family Conflict, Toxic Family Dynamics. MOSTLY NOT EXPLICIT: Physical Abuse, Parental Abuse, Parental Neglect, Sibling Abuse. Also: Self-Doubt, Guilt, Occasionally BITTERSWEET, ESCAPE PLANS, Hurt/COMFORT, Internal Conflict, Manipulation, Coping Mechanisms, PTSD Symptoms, Moments of Self-Loathing, Mentions of Pureblood Supremacy, Mentions of Arranged Marriage, Mentions of Alcohol.

I'm sorry again - this might be a bit sadder than 5.1. Chapter 5 in general is the saddest and the most painful of all this story. It will get better eventually, I promise.

Summary: Second part of several scenes of Ominis' days in the Gaunt manor. He's still trying to stay steady on the thinnest, most absurd sheet of ice imaginable, that might shatter completely even from his one sharp inhale. 

The whole pt.2 below the cut:

"No, don't stop," Mother's quiet voice came too late, as Ominis had already lifted his hands from the keys and released the pedal. The echo of the grand piano's dignified tone seemed to last longer now. He suspected the room was even emptier than it had been in the summer.

He had hoped to gather his thoughts, taking advantage of his father and brother's absence that morning. Alas.

"The Burkes are hosting a rather grand dinner this evening," Mrs Gaunt went on, having waited in vain for any response. There was something alien and intrusive in her voice today, matching the way her hand now lingered on the piano's body. "We're announcing Marvolo's engagement, before he'll be gone again for a little while."

"I have classes tomorrow morning. I can't stay," Ominis said, gently lowering the lid over the keys. His N.E.W.T. classes mattered too much; he needed to keep as many job options open as possible. It was far more important than anything involving his brother. He stood, but his hands felt frozen on the lid, as if already pinned there by the inevitability of the next words he would hear. 

"That's nothing to worry about," Mrs Gaunt replied, her voice feeling distant because of how much he didn't want to hear any of it. "Your father has already settled it. Sit down, Ominis."

He only reached for his wand on the music desk, the simple action feeling impossibly difficult. The crackling of the ice beneath his feet returned, sharper and louder than yesterday. What will happen to it by tomorrow?

"Your turning of age this Wednesday gives us the perfect excuse to host a dinner ourselves. Just a modest gathering, of course, but your father needs every chance for a productive meeting these days. I trust you understand."

Birthdays had never meant anything here. But of course, this one was a convenient excuse for a ‘productive meeting' for them. And three more days for him, trapped in a place where every hour felt heavier than the last. His mother's request carried his father's demands loud and clear. Ominis couldn't afford to provoke them, not while he was still at school, within their effortless reach. 

The rustle of her dress  and the faint creak of the bench let him know that his mother sat beside him. "One more thing. You'll need to have a word with Mrs Black today. Because your father and I want to invite the Flints on Wednesday. They're her family, as you know, and we want them all to get to know you better."

The confusion quickly gave way to the growing, familiar blazing knot in his chest, creeping upward to his throat. There it was again. A matter he thought long buried, something he dared to hope he'd never hear again. 

"I was under the impression the Flints had declined long ago."

"We convinced them to think it over again. It wasn't simple, Ominis, and we expect you to appreciate that."

This wasn't the first time he heard that arranging marriages had grown increasingly difficult for his family. His parents' success in finding a future wife for Marvolo felt like both a stroke of luck and an act of desperation. Though he knew their lineage wasn't quite up to his father's expectations, the Burkes were a family Ominis had known all his life—just like the Blacks or Flints. He considered it at least remarkable that his parents managed to actually find someone for him as well, despite his problems reaching beyond the family's general issues.

He hesitated longer this time before answering. "You really shouldn't have gone to so much trouble on my account. It makes me feel rather awkward."

"Don't worry about us, Ominis. What matters are these sacred alliances. I want you to have everything you deserve, without giving your father a reason to doubt if you're worthy of it."

Noctua's will, brought up again as if the memory of her was  theirs to use however they pleased, normally against him. He hadn't planned to live out his life in one of the family's houses—never, not for anything. Especially not when the only one who had ever given that place a sense of beauty or comfort g was no longer there to do so. But a faint yet steady hope lingered:  that selling it quickly after graduation, before his family found out, might make his new life more bearable. He didn't want to be the burden he'd felt like here, not to anyone, not ever again.

"Just show some respect, and it will make things a little easier for us," Mrs Gaunt said at last, breaking the heavy silence. "Surely that's not too much to ask."

Ominis stepped away from the piano, giving his mother only a parting nod.

The only thought that held him together was knowing this girl—and that she wouldn't come of age for another three or four years. Protecting his future, however, meant enduring just eighteen months and twenty-one days—a time in which they needed to believe he had no control. The real challenge was to maintain that illusion without truly losing his grip. He had to stay steady on the ice, even as it cracked dangerously beneath his every step.

The silver brooch bearing the family crest felt like it was burning a gaping hole in his body. Tracing his finger again and again over the ridges dulled by time, Ominis desperately wished, but did not dare, to remove it from his jacket.

Faint voices and the occasional clink of glasses carried through the air from the house. The charm he'd used to warm the garden bench was slowly wearing, but he wanted to stay a little longer, away from the hypocrisy of his father, who wasn't truly pleased about this engagement. Away from Marvolo, who grew more obnoxious with each drink he downed. Away from the unspoken words about Hogsmeade that hung heavy in the air; Father had brusquely silenced someone's question with one of the usual honoured guests, Headmaster Black, seconding him. 

Ominis quietly snorted in disgust, thinking back to his summer. For the first time since starting school, he had endured all six weeks at home instead of just a few days at the end of the summer break. All the dinners and parties he never missed. The people he couldn't stand. He had happened to hear Black casually reassuring someone that the ‘goblin issue' at Hogwarts had been handled by the professors, dismissing some girl's involvement as purely accidental and not even worth discussing further. Those were the Ministry's words—Foster's official public stance, as Alyn had explained. Now, Ominis found himself wondering how Black managed to be so-called friends with such a great variety of people. These games required exceptional skill, something that could almost be admired if it weren't used so wickedly.

The sting returned, a sharp ache as Ominis thought about how he couldn't write to that girl—to warn her, to explain why he hadn't returned today. It wasn't possible here; he was acutely aware of his every move being observed. Eighteen months and twenty-one days.

He heard the patter of small feet on the stone path, and let go of the brooch, gripping his wand with both hands. Its signals suggested that someone small, roughly three feet tall, came to a halt nearby—probably an elf, yet again, or possibly a child.

"Hi!" came the familiar child voice. "Are you all alone here? Why?"

"Go back inside. Your mother must be wondering where you are." Ominis gestured toward the house, already hearing the approaching clack of heels that was about to shatter any of his hope for a quiet moment alone. 

"Sweetheart, Uncle Ominis doesn't want to talk to you." Korentha's voice dripped with venom as she said his name. "Belvina is waiting for you; be a good friend and go play with her." 

The boy didn't need much convincing and dashed back toward the house. Ominis felt a desire to retreat just the same and decided to act on it, rising from the bench. His sister stepped in his way in an instant, the cloying sweetness of her perfume making him feel dizzy.

"Your manners are worse than a four-year-old's. It's almost as if you're not happy for our brother." 

"As the one blessed with sight, you should've already noticed my unmistakable glow of happiness. I'll be back, so everyone can marvel at it properly."

He tried to walk past her, but Korentha seized his elbow with a sharp grip, just as his wand emitted an almost imperceptible low hum. 

"So you can speak in full sentences? Try to finally prove it to the others."

A child's squeal and a woman's shout echoed from the house, prompting his sister to let go of him and rush back inside, her perfume persistently lingering in the air. Ominis trailed after her, deliberately slow. No one here truly wanted him around, and his absence would go unnoticed; his mother had already ensured he exchanged at least three polite phrases with Mrs. Black. On other occasions, he might have passed the time talking with Phineas, as he often did during these gatherings, but tonight he was the only student present. 

He wished the garden would somehow become a Hogwarts courtyard.

"I told you, I'm not going back," Ominis says firmly. He is sitting on a bench, warmed by the dry spring air.

"Suit yourself. I just…" The footsteps draw closer anyway, accompanied by a soft rustle of parchment. "We're having a little break now, and Sharp handed out essays. I grabbed yours. You spent two whole nights on it, after all."

As Ominis shoves the parchment into his bag, Alyn lets out a quiet chuckle. "Oh, and Grace's murder plans are off. Apparently, your essay points made up for the… incident. Is it always like this? People out for blood over every house point by year's end? Can't believe it still matters to anyone, after… Alright, I better go. See you later." 

She touches his shoulder in passing, her steps soon receding on the gravel path. For just a moment, Ominis finds himself tempted to rejoin the lesson he detests.

"Don't test my patience. Put your wand away and sit."

Another dinner lay ahead tonight, with a smaller and slightly different group than Sunday's, but equally unpleasant. But for now, Ominis sat in a stiff chair near the unlit fireplace in his father's office, wondering if he was the only one in this house bothered by the relentless cold.

The reasons he imagined for his father's early return from work and the sudden summons grew darker with each thought. He latched onto the ideas he'd been running through his mind for days to make sure they would sound natural if he had to voice them. He had no ties to Sallow left. No associations with Muggle-borns. None of it even bothered him. Only family mattered. 

Eighteen months and eighteen days.

"I've just spoken with Foster," Father began, his voice chillingly even. "Care to guess what he had to say?"

Ominis was aware of the silence stretching too long, but he required the pause to keep his expression and the fingers on his knees as steady as he could. He stood on the thinnest, most absurd sheet of ice imaginable, so fragile it felt like even his sharp inhale might shatter it completely. 

He finally found his voice, which couldn't afford to waver. "Something calculated, no doubt. Did it involve Marvolo? Foster seems to think he has all the answers there."  

"I made it clear to Marvolo to stay out of Hogsmeade. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Ominis hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly, glad he was sitting. "It'll be a relief not to be questioned by the Aurors about him again."

"Speaking of Aurors. As I understood, After Solomon Sallow's death, the Ministry provided ‘support' for your friends until they come of age in summer. Sallow has become something of a pet for the Hogsmeade Aurors, hasn't he? Tell me, how long have you known?"

"I've heard something, but as I said before—we're not friends anymore, just people who once knew each other at school."

His voice didn't shake and was devoid of feeling, even though he longed to curse, shout, flee, disappear. Maybe even to wherever Sebastian was, to ask why he hadn't mentioned the position was only temporary. Anywhere but here, stuck in this suddenly frozen conversation. The oppressive silence hung heavily as Ominis waited for his father to speak again.

"That's foolish, Ominis. He likely knows more than he should. What if the Aurors have been using him to dig into you—into our family?"

"It would be difficult, considering he knows nothing significant and has no way of finding out now. If he really did, why would Foster warn you of a potential threat? He didn't bother to hide his disdain when speaking to me."

"I know of his offer, and I am pleased you refused. Good. Well done. What interests me far more, though, is why he assumed you'd humiliate yourself to defend a Mudblood."

Ominis knew all these questions were inevitable. In fact, it was almost surprising they hadn't come sooner. He had prepared himself, rehearsed the answers. The key was believing in them for now, even if doing so made him sick. 

Yet the conversation led nowhere. The words lingered in the room, futile and falling short. It felt as if his father wasn't searching for answers at all, but rather for justification, an excuse to weaponise his disappointment and fear. 

He realised he was trapped all along. His words were irrelevant, the outcome for him was already determined.

This was it.

He shouldn't have stayed. 

He shouldn't have come here.

He shouldn't have spoken to Foster.

He shouldn't have grown close with Alyn.

He shouldn't have become friends with Sebastian.

He shouldn't have been such an idiot.

"Enough," Father cut him off yet again. "Stand up. And step away from that fine armchair."

Ominis stepped back from the door, where he had been listening for what felt like an eternity. Somewhere deep in the house, a clock chimed four in the morning. His legs felt unsteady as he made his way back to the table, sinking heavily into the chair.

With hands that trembled on and off he attempted to roll up the parchment he had spent the night scribbling on. Plans, fragmented thoughts, fleeting ideas, interrupted in places by blots of ink where his quill had paused for too long. He couldn't sleep, so he'd worked instead, attempting to improve in the nonverbal use of his quill. Yet tonight, he'd failed at even that.

Frustrated, he crumpled the parchment in his hand with all the strength he could muster. His fingers, sluggish and barely responsive, clenched tighter until pain and exhaustion forced them to release. The crushed ball of parchment slipped from his grip and fell to the floor with a faint crackle.

Three days felt like an eternity. Like time had stopped in this house.

Eighteen months and seventeen days seemed surreal.

He buried his face in his palms, one of which throbbed now. The Wiggenweld potion he'd been given before dinner had helped him for a few hours, but its effect had already faded completely. Not that anyone had truly wanted him at the dinner. Not that he'd wanted to be there, either.

One day, he would leave this place, this life, for good. The train to Hogsmeade wouldn't depart for another eight hours—eight horribly endless hours. Perhaps he could board some other train, vanish into a place where no one knew him?

No. He couldn't. For the same reasons that haunted him for years already. He needed more: the education to stand on his own, the money to start over, the assurance that he wouldn't be found by them. Best would be to not let them celebrate that he had simply disappeared. 

He breathed out a silent, "Enough," trying to shift his thoughts.

"Just be back soon."

"You can make it through."

No. Ominis ran his fingers through his hair and gripped his head. He'd spent… hours?.. persuading his father that he and Alyn were nothing more than classmates. That their appearance together in Hogsmeade had been purely coincidental, meaningless. That she was meaningless. 

The idea of Foster's so-called deal was nothing but the Auror's delusion, he'd insisted. That only family mattered.

He'd sworn there was no connection to Sebastian, that Sallow knew nothing, could never be a threat. That he was nothing. That only family mattered.

The truth pressed on him. In fact, he couldn't remember everything that happened, everything he'd said, and that terrified him. What if he had slipped? What if he'd already failed? Would anything he'd said even matter? And if it did, what kind of difference would it make?

His father hadn't seemed suspicious during dinner. On the contrary, he was the first to even mention that Noctua's house now legally belonged to Ominis. He'd suggested showing it to Mr and Mrs Flint one day—a place for their daughter to live with his son. 

It was only a matter of time before his father began finding ways to track his actions at school. He would likely increase his pressure on the Flints as well. Ominis had never heard of using an Unbreakable Vow for such arrangements,  but the term "contract" Father used was just as unsettling. 

They believed they owned him. They acted like it. 

And were they wrong? 

The Flints hadn't been enthusiastic tonight, but it was only a matter of time before they reached an agreement—or before his father found someone else.

Fuck.

Time. In the end, it all came back to time, and it was merciless. The ice beneath him had stopped cracking, but only because it was gone. He was under it now, his breath stolen by the cold, the weight of despair pressing him down. Someone drowning couldn't hope to hold anyone else up.

In the end, maybe it was better to sink alone than to drag anyone else with him.

Thank you for reading! Sending you hugs 🫂 it'll be okay, and it will be a bit better at once after he gets out of this place - which is soon, on the next train to Hogsmeade.

[anomalyaly]

My New Dream

Tangled!AU AO3/Wattpad

Beginning | CHAPTER 4 | Chapter 5

CW: Mature for violence and character death, alcoholism, super mild sexual references, thievery, vandalism, general disregard for the law, and swearing. SFW.

None of this is meant to be taken seriously :)

It wasn't much, but Sebastian managed to find a small gondola to take them out into the middle of the lake. He held out his hand to help Elsie first before climbing in himself.

"Oh, no. Not a chance." Ominis marched up behind them. "I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Sebastian scoffed. "Here." He tossed him a bag of treats from Honeydukes, and they landed at Ominis's feet as he stood on the deck, glowering. Many of the royal guards had a sweet tooth — he knew from the countless times he had been caught sneaking into and around the palace — and Ominis was one of the most guilty.

The Captain hovered his wand over it, a skeptical look on his face. "If you think some stolen candy is going to convince me —"

"Relax," Sebastian laughed. "I bought it. You promised us twenty-four hours."

He stiffened, but reluctantly, Ominis agreed once more and picked up the bag of candy. "Alright. But don't think this means you can sneak off and do something stupid."

Sebastian was already beginning to paddle away, grinning at Elsie and ignoring whatever Ominis was saying. He watched from the corner of his eye as the Captain of the Guard strutted away, cautiously but enthusiastically sneaking a treat from the bag and popping it into his mouth. 

The girl in front of him gazed into the distance. "Where are we going?"

"Best day of your life?" Sebastian smiled widely at her, flexing his broad shoulders as he rowed them toward the lake's center. "I figured you should have a decent seat."

As the sun set and the sky grew dark, Sebastian paddled them to the perfect spot, secluded from the other boats, yet close enough that they could see the entirety of the castle. When the lanterns went up, they would be right in the middle of it all. He couldn't wait.

They floated in silence, watching the distant sky, and he noticed Elsie had a forlorn look on her face. She sighed, and he furrowed his brows questioningly.

"You alright?"

She pursed her lips in thought. "I'm...terrified."

That wasn't the answer he had expected. "Why?"

"I've been," she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "looking out a window, watching these lanterns for eighteen years. It's all I've ever dreamed of, wondering what it would feel like to be here, up close, watching those lights rise in the sky." She tucked her chin in her hand. "What if...what if it's not everything that I dreamed it would be?"

He tilted his head, reached out, and took her hand in his. "It will be."

"And," she turned to look at him, "what if it is? What do I do then?"

"That's the good part, I suppose," Sebastian chuckled. "You get to go find a new dream."

She smiled then, and gave him a soft laugh before plucking one of the flowers from her hair and placing it on the lake, watching it float away from their gondola.

Even though he had said the words, Sebastian wondered to himself what his dream was. Thievery had never truly been a part of it, not really. If everything terrible hadn't happened, if it hadn't been his fault, he never would have become a thief in the first place. It was all because he had gotten himself twisted in Dark magic, all for some sick addiction he couldn't seem to shake.

Thievery was never his dream. It was just something he needed to do to get by.

He had toyed with selling Dark Magic that promised a cure for terrible ailments, to make more money, to make up for losing his sister, and he had obtained them in questionable ways. He had made choices that no human being should have had to make just to get what he wanted in hopes of living the life he chased after — one where he wanted for nothing.

What would have become of him, had life not happened the way it had? Had he not gone and ruined everything, would his dreams of becoming a healer truly come to fruition? Or would he have still been another lowly, lost soul, destined for pain?

He couldn't even save his sister. He could never become a healer, not after everything he had done. He didn't deserve a dream.

The girl that sat in front of him, gently plucking flowers from her hair and floating them into the water, was the opposite. She was soft, kind, and unselfish — his antithesis. If anyone deserved to live out their dream, it was her.

As she reached behind her for another flower, he found he couldn't look away. Something about her presence had enchanted him, from the moment they met, even though they only knew each other for a short time. As insufferable as she had been, convincing him to take her on this long journey may have been exactly what he needed.

Sebastian reached out and delicately pulled a few more petals from her braid, being careful not to disturb the artwork that the young children had created of it, and held out his hand. Elsie smiled appreciatively and took one out of his palm, dropped it into the water with the others, and watched it float away.

Suddenly, she froze, and as she slowly looked out into the distance, Sebastian tracked her gaze to a lone lantern floating into the sky.

Elsie gasped, running to the gondola's prow and clutching onto it, as if climbing onto the highest point of the boat would allow her to see better. Her movements knocked their tiny boat askew, and Sebastian clung to the bottom of it, fearing that he was in for another dunking.

When the gondola steadied itself, he looked up at the sky and watched how in the distance, the lanterns floated up to the sky, a long trail of lights following the first. The glowing path weaved along the skyline, a swirling river of paper and candlelight.

It was probably a beautiful sight, but his eyes weren't focused on the lanterns.

Instead, he studied Elsie as her face lit up with wonder, the lantern light reflected in her bright eyes, a wide smile on her face. Something fluttered inside him, as if he was the lake and she had placed her flower petals in him to float, to bloom within the empty chest cavity he referred to as whatever semblance of a heart he had left.

The lanterns floated closer to their gondola, close enough that he could reach out and grab one if he wanted.

He grabbed two.

"Elsie?"

She turned, pulled from her reverie, and perked up. She climbed over the seat across from him in the tiny boat and sat down. "I have something for you, too."

Sebastian tilted his head as she reached under the seat to pull out his satchel. The relic. He looked at her, both bewildered and impressed. No longer did she look terrified or sheepish, but instead she held the bag out confidently to him, the bright grin still on her face, illuminated by the lantern light.

"I should have given it to you before," she admitted as his brows knitted. "But...I was just scared. And the thing is — I'm not scared anymore." She blinked up at him. "Do you know what I mean?"

He did.

This girl, trapped inside of a tower as long as she could remember, had been incredibly brave — more than he could ever say of himself. His whole life, he had been running from something; from his parents' deaths, from his sister's illness, from his uncle's constant reprimands, and the terrible reminder that there was nothing he could do to save anyone. And now, he was running from the law.

It seemed he was running from his dreams, too.

He realized then that his dream was never just to become a healer or to win the affections of people far and wide, or even to become exceedingly rich and bathe in piles of money. His dream was to find true happiness and love that, by the minute, appeared to be taking the form of the young woman who sat before him, holding out what he once thought his dream was.

He didn't need the satchel anymore.

With a gentle hand, Sebastian pushed the satchel down and gave Elsie a sincere smile — no mask, no charm behind it — one filled with pure, unadulterated joy.

"I'm starting to."

Her answering grin rivaled the glowing of the lanterns, and he wanted nothing more than to bottle it up and keep it in his pocket for when the nights got too dark, when the nightmares threatened to take any ounce of light left in his life.

He handed her one of the lanterns, and they sent them up in the air together. Sebastian took Elsie's hand.

"You know," he said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye as they watched the lights float away, "as strange as the last couple of days have been, I'm glad we met."

She squeezed his hand in return. "I'm glad we met, too."

It was more than that, he thought, not simply being glad that they met. In a short period of time, Sebastian had never felt closer to another human being, never felt so drawn to someone so radiant and warm, burning brightly enough to push back the darkness in his soul, darkness from his own sins, from choices that he made that led him to become the thief that he was.

He didn't deserve her.

In a single moment, the fog was lifted from his mind, no longer blind to the truth that shined before him.

I love you.

His first instinct was to banish the thought from his mind, to pretend he never mentally uttered those words to himself. And yet, once he admitted the truth, he no longer wanted to hide from it — his insides screamed at him to embrace it, to accept it with open arms.

And so, he did.

"Elsie." He squeezed their clasped hands and turned to face her.

She tore her eyes from the lanterns and met his gaze. "Yeah?"

Sebastian's mind raced, his heart thundered in his chest as he cupped her cheek, stroked it gently with his thumb, and tilted her chin up towards him. He could see the sparkle of the lanterns in her eyes, like tiny stars in a galaxy he wanted to drown in. His lips brushed against hers so lightly, not daring to press them together until he was certain that she wanted it, too.

Then, just as her eyes fluttered shut, something in the distance caught his eye.

Two figures — figures he had been running from for a while — locked eyes with him and gestured for him to follow.

"Is...everything okay?"

"Huh?" Elsie's voice had pulled him out of his stupor, and as she tried to look behind her, he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her back to face him. "Uh...yes. Everything is — Everything is fine."

His gaze traveled back towards the bushes.

"Could you um...I need to do something really quick." He paddled the gondola back towards land, towards where he had spotted the two figures in the distance and climbed out. Elsie scrutinized him with a quizzical look, and his stomach sank.

"Everything is fine. I — " He sighed. "I just...have to finish something, and then I'll be back, okay?" He reached into the gondola and pulled out his satchel. "I promise."

Her eyes flicked down to the satchel, to where she knew the relic was hiding, before meeting his eyes again. She smiled warmly. "Okay."

Guilty. She trusted him so easily, and he wasn't being fully honest with her. But he needed to do this.

He shot her his signature grin, a silent reassurance. "Be right back."

Sebastian sauntered through the bushes, seeking out the two shadowy figures that sat waiting for him in the darkness. The lanterns had disappeared into the sky, and Elsie was far behind him now. Everything had to be taken care of and done right. Then, he would go right back to her, and they could continue where they left off.

Searching for a new dream. Together.

"There you are!" Sebastian said, maintaining a jovial facade, "I've been looking everywhere for you two since we got separated back in the woods! I was wondering when I'd finally run into you."

The two men — Ashwinders he had struck a deal with about the relic — stared him down coldly and wordlessly. One leaned menacingly against a tree, carving rune symbols into a piece of driftwood, while the other slouched over a rock, twirling his wand in his hand and glaring daggers at Sebastian.

Originally, he had promised to sell the relic and split the profit three ways. He had the misfortune of being indebted to the two of them when they had caught him mid-theft. It was only intended as a prank until, through them, he discovered the relic's true value. Powerful magic — Dark magic.

He had wanted it for himself. And so, he had run, and taken the relic with him after tricking them to leave him behind. It was how he ended up finding Elsie's tower in the first place.

He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I, uh, wanted to say I no longer have need of this." He tossed the satchel at their feet. "It was nice working with you both. Lovely, even. But, I do think it's for the best that I continue this one solo." He swung his arm awkwardly.

The Ashwinders said nothing.

"Well," Sebastian slowly backed away, saluting as he turned, "Ta!"

He whirled around and slammed into a wall that hadn't been there before. Concealed by magic, a wall that now flickered purple and blue was around him and the Ashwinders.

He was trapped.

"Holding out on us again, are you, Sallow?" The one carving rune symbols tossed the driftwood to the side and rolled his neck.

Sebastian furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"

The other one twirled his wand again and brandished it, ready for a fight. "We heard a rumor that you...found something. A very valuable something, from what we understand." He kicked the relic to the side, and it thrummed angrily in response. Sebastian could feel the Dark magic radiating off of it before the Ashwinder blasted it away and it disappeared, destroyed, or back in hiding, he would never know.

It was gone, vanished to a place unreachable to him. Another universe, perhaps, where something more sinister could be done with it. He wished he could have stopped it, could have kept it somewhere safe, away from curious hands and minds too young to understand.

But the Ashwinders in front of him circled. And he was powerless.

"Give us the girl," the first Ashwinder said, "and you can return to your normal life. Don't," he raised his wand at Sebastian's throat, "and we kill you."

"No," Sebastian said, his voice ragged, "Not her."

The other Ashwinder tutted. "Not her? Attached to the girl already, Sallow? Pity."

"Please." He would be on his knees, he would throw himself on the ground and make a fool of himself begging if it meant they wouldn't hurt her. "I'll do anything just...leave her be. Take me instead. Not her."

The first one frowned. "You're no fun." He nodded to his buddy as he pressed his wand harder into Sebastian. "Shame. I liked working with you."

"Really?"

"No." He snorted. "Incarcerous."

Sebastian's body went taut. "W-wait. You don't know what you're doing. You— "

"Silencio." The Ashwinder gave him a sinister smile. "We know about her magic hair. How much do you think someone would pay to stay young and healthy forever?"

He couldn't argue, couldn't even shake his head to disagree, to fight, to do anything to stop them. He was helpless against their taunts, left to dangle uselessly as they threw him into a boat, tied him to it, and prepared to send him off.

"Enjoy Azkaban, Sallow," the other Ashwinder sneered. "Pleasure doing business with you."

And then, as he heard the muttered incantation of a sleep charm, everything went dark.

[ravenwind-75]

Fanfiction & Oneshot Masterlist

A masterlist for the writing chaos that goes on in my mind.

Most of these and more are on my ao3 and WP.

It's hard to find all original links here lol.

💙✨🦅💙✨🦅💙✨🦅💙✨🦅💙✨🦅

WIP long fics:

In the Shadow of Injustice || fMC & boys

fMC Ravenclaw x ambiguous relationships x Ominis Gaunt

ongoing (randomly updated)

Synopsis: Johanna risks it all to save Sebastian from a situation he wouldn't be in if it wasn't for her. Forgive, forget, love, and regret all come together in this story of hard decisions. This is a story that tells as it goes.

The Darkness I breathe || fMC & Garreth (?)

morally gray Slytherin fMC

ongoing/ currently on pause

synopis:

"I didn't always like the darkness. It contained what I couldn't see, what I couldn't control or understand. But now that I breathe it, now that it lives inside me I would always choose it over the light."

Coming Soon

Fire on Fire || fMC x Sebastian Sallow

Cowritten: (mostly by me tho)

The Double Jailbreak Heist || mult

fMC Ravenclaw(s) & fMC Hufflepuff friendship

multiverse dynamic

on pause long fic

related story attached

Anne's Last First Dance

The MC Sleepover with @starry-slithers

Cowritten with @endless-starlight-legacy

Once Upon a Sebby Chicken 🐔

Sidequest:

Oneshots:

Hearts of Fire (also on WP and ao3)

The Depulso Rooms (WP and ao3)

AU: Saturn

I love you I'm sorry

Shiver up your Spine

Revenge is Hot

Sweeter than Strawberries

A Christmas Kiss

Indigo

Fics for friends:

Ignorant for @the-ozzie

Magic Bread for @starry-slithers

Magnolia's birthday (cowritten with @starry-slithers)

New year for @morelikeravenbore

A Fly Among the Stars for @alibasnur

Silly posts:

Muggle books

Hogtober:

Natty

Sebastian

Ollivanders

Feldcroft and Divination

Arena

Trick or Treat:

Jominis

HCU:

Just be Completely You

A Yule Ball Date

[asirenssongs]

Ominis Gaunt AI Song Cover : Love Will Find a Way

Introducing the next song for my mission to evidently make Hogwarts Legacy the Musical 😅

Ominis Gaunt and Female MC singing Love Will Find a Way from The Lion King 2 Simba’s Pride.

I am such a hardcore Ominis and Anne shipper, but when it comes to Ominis and MC, I will melt over the forbidden love trope. In Lion King 2, it is shown to be good vs evil, not just a feud with families which works perfectly when you consider the Gaunts to be like Scar’s side of the family.

If you haven’t seen Lion King 2 before, you definitely should. If you haven’t crushed on an emo lion, are you really living?😆

The next song will be another Sebastian X FMC and may or may not be from Heathers 🙃

Check out my other musical covers here !

[oliviacursebreaker]

HEIR OF BLOOD | Sebastian Sallow X FMC

There is no light without shadow and no shadow without light.

Geneva Irvine has never fit in, never felt quite normal, though she hadn't realized just how deep her differences went. Buried in her bones and waiting like a time bomb, there was a magic unknown to her family- and to her. Now unleashed and unrelenting, tragedy tore through her parents and five siblings, leaving her entirely alone in the world. Until Professor Fig's arrival.

Thrust into a world she didn't know existed, Geneva starts at Hogwarts as a fifth year. As she struggles to catch up to her peers, dark forces conspire around her. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted.

[ This story follows the basic outline of Hogwarts Legacy, beginning with the start of the MC's fifth year. Changes have been made because I can lol.

While most characters can be found within the Harry Potter canon and Hogwarts Legacy storyline, there will be some original characters throughout.

Majority of chapters will be told from Geneva's point of view, though there will be some throughout from different point of views, such as Sebastian's or Ominis's.

CW: This is a darker telling of Hogwarts Legacy and what will follow. There will be mature content in this work, including topics and description of death, blood/gore, depression, PTSD, grief, nudity/sexual content, and alcohol and drug use. Because of this, characters have been aged up. ]

Book 1 (this one, Heir of Blood) will detail the events of Hogwarts Legacy's main storyline, however there will be changes to the endings, characters, and reactions that I wished we could've gotten in game. I have plans for this to be a trilogy soooo ... buckle in! 

If you think you know the story of Hogwarts Legacy, this story will challenge every belief. 

and yes, Abigail Cowen IS Geneva Irvine.

[matchavellichor]

Hi, I hope your day is going well when you read this!! I know you said you were currently taking a slight break from writing due to school, and first of all, I'm wishing you the very best of your studies! But I thought I would send a request just in case you do resume writing fics in the future, but feel free to ignore this! This seems a bit plain, but I was wondering if you could write an ominis x fmc where mc is terribly shy and avoidant to no one but ominis due to her feelings for him? Over time, though, Ominis observes her personality when interacting with other people, becoming fond of her but is left conflicted seeing how nervous she is around him, leaving him to wonder if she hates him or not. Since Ominis can’t see MC staring at him or how her cheeks go red around him, we could perhaps have Sebastian take note of this and act like the typical tease-playing wingman to set Ominis and MC up? It’s a pretty fluffy request, but you can lead it down any road you want, whether it turns out suggestively or not.

A/N: hi!!! tysm for the kindness <3 uni is still kind of hectic at the moment unfort, but i LOVED this idea sm so i decided to write a lil something anyway. ty for the request, hope you enjoy!

Great Expectations

Ominis x f!MC - Fluff - 3k words

Summary: Urged on by Sebastian's insistence that the reason for MC's evasiveness is that she harbors a secret crush, Ominis decides to take Sebastian's advice and find this out for himself.

Tags: Miscommunication, Wingman Sebastian, Clueless Ominis, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, Banter, First Kiss

"Some light reading?"

Ominis can sense the way she startles, nearly dropping the tall stack of books balanced carefully in her arms.

“Oh, uh…hello, Ominis,” she greets as she rights herself, voice oddly tight. “I hadn’t realized you were here.”

“Always am. The library’s practically my second home at this point,” he smiles warmly, making some attempt at small talk.

There’s an awkward pause before he clears his throat to break the silence. “I uh, I hadn’t realized you were such an avid reader yourself,” he tilts his head, waving his wand over the topmost title in her pile. “Ah, and you have taste! Dickens is brilliant. I’d love to pick your brain sometime about—”

“I apologize, if—you’ll um, if you’ll excuse me,” she suddenly interrupts, eyes trained at her feet, before she’s brushing past him in the tight corridor of shelves and exiting towards one of the more populated corners of the library.

Ominis frowns, brows knitting together in confusion and what’s beginning to morph into genuine offense at this point.

“Was it something I said?” he mutters under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

Ever since they had become acquaintances, any attempts at amicability on his part had been met with brisk dismissals, curt replies, and her avoiding him like the plague. At first he thought her simply timid, but after observing her behavior with the likes of Sebastian or Garreth or any of her other friends, Ominis had been seriously considering some innate character flaw of his own.

He had thought he had made some progress in their relationship at the last gathering they had frequented, a weekend get-together in the Slytherin common room, but it was quickly becoming apparent that he’d been sorely mistaken.

Was he really so unapproachable? Dreadfully unlikeable? Did she simply have no interest in befriending him?

Ominis tries to pretend his ego isn't bruised by this notion, but fails miserably when his brain wanders to more woeful reasons as to why she would want nothing to do with him. His family’s notoriety and the rumors surrounding his person that are frequently pedaled around the castle undoubtedly have already reached her ears.

Filled with a strange sense of defeat, Ominis abandons any of his original plans of reading in favor of sulking in the common room alone. Less than two steps towards the library exit, however, and he’s bombarded by Sebastian.

“Ominis, you sly dog, don’t think I didn’t see you two warming up in the back shelves,” he grins, poking his friend in the ribs and waggling his brows.

Ominis frowns, swatting at the brunette’s hand. “Warming up is certainly not the term I would use. She despises me.”

“Despises you? Are you blind?”

“...Yes?”

“I refuse to believe you’re that blind,” Sebastian amends, scoffing. “Don’t tell me you really haven’t noticed.”

“Noticed what? The way she can’t bear to spend longer than a minute around me?” Ominis grumbles. “Trust me, I’m well aware.”

“Oh Gods, you’re just as hopeless as she is,” Sebastian groans, deeply pained. “She doesn’t despise you, she’s head over heels, Ominis,” he leans in with an all-too smug tone. “Take it from a man who knows the ladies.”

Ominis turns his head over his shoulder as if in search. “And, pray tell, where is this man?”

He receives an indignant smack on the arm. “I’m serious! Trust me, it’s obvious to anyone with eyes. I mean, why do you think she’s always so nervous around you?”

“She probably thinks I’m going to curse her or something,” Ominis mutters. “My reputation isn’t exactly the nicest, Sebastian. Are you forgetting who my family is?”

Sebastian barks out a laugh. “I’m sorry, Ominis, but anyone who takes even a second out of their day to speak to you will know you’re incapable of harming a lacewing fly. Trust me on this, she likes you.”

Ominis pauses for a moment, considering the possibility that had never before crossed his mind before. An involuntary warmth spreads over his skin, surfacing all kinds of unbidden feelings he doesn’t have much experience in handling. Noticing his contemplative silence, Sebastian peeks at the blonde.

“Oh, Salazar, you’re blushing,” he gasps, no small amount of delight seeping through his tone. “You know, for a while I was half-convinced you were incapable of it. Me and Garreth actually had a bet that were half-vamp—”

Ominis scowls, pushing Sebastian’s fingers away from where they were currently trying to prod at his flushed cheeks. “I am not blushing. Look, this whole notion is ridiculous, even for you, Sebastian. She can barely tolerate me, much less harbor some crush on me.”

“Fine,” Sebastian shrugs, feigning acquiescence. “Then flirt with her. See what happens, and if she truly despises you as you say, then no harm, no foul.”

Ominis sputters. “I will not flirt with her, don’t be absurd.”

“Why not? If you already believe she hates you, what do you have to lose?”

“My dignity? My already maimed ego? You’ve seen her in Defence against the Dark Arts, if we’re being realistic I’m probably in risk of breaking a couple bones as well—”

“Ominis, just try,” Sebastian groans, looking ready to rip his hair out. “If you don’t, I’m marching right back into that library and flirting with her for you.”

Immediately, memories of Sebastian’s past trysts with women and the sheer amount of crudeness in even his most tame chat-up lines come to mind. Ominis panics. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, we both know I would,” Sebastian grins, stopping in his tracks and turning back towards the library doors. “Remember that one boiling cauldron line Garreth taught me? I’ll go up and tell her you begged me to use it for you—”

“Stop, stop, alright,” Ominis grits, fisting a hand in the back of Sebastian’s robes to pull him back. He sighs. “I’ll….I’ll speak to her, alright?”

Sebastian claps a hand over his shoulder, pleased. “That’s the spirit.”

//

As much as Ominis would have liked to postpone the inevitable as much as possible, fate was not on his side. He had the misfortune of running into her while on his way to the Great Hall for dinner, and with Sebastian by his side, he would have no chance of escape.

After urging his friend on with not so friendly threats, Sebastian made himself scarce, though undoubtedly somewhere within earshot so he could listen to disaster unfold.

“Just the person I was looking for,” he greets with as much warmth as he can manage, though his nerves are broiling a storm in his gut. “Have you gotten in any good reading today?”

Once again, she seems startled by his presence. “You were…looking for me?”

“Well, yes. I was wondering if I might accompany you to dinner?” he smiles. “Would give me a chance to bore you with my fascination with muggle literature.”

“Oh,” her eyes widen, looking almost excited before it’s washed over with anxiety. “I’m sorry, I uh, I wasn’t…going to dinner.”

“Oh,” Ominis frowns, noting how close they were to the Great Hall. “Where were you heading then?”

“The library,” she blurts out and Ominis tilts his head in confusion.

“But the library’s in the opposite direction,” he nods over his shoulder. “And haven’t you just come back from there?”

“I–I have to go,” she says, suddenly swiveling in the other direction and brushing past him. “Apologies.”

Once again, Ominis is left perplexed, and increasingly hurt. The only thing the interaction has done is given him a bigger headache, her behavior irrational in the face of Sebastian’s theory. Ominis finds himself even more convinced she hates his guts.

As if on cue, Sebastian ducks out from behind a tapestry shielding an alcove, an almost pained sort of grimace on his face.

“That was…bad.”

“Understatement of the year,” Ominis groans. “Do you see what I mean? She clearly doesn’t like me, Sebastian. All I’ve done is made a bigger fool of myself.”

“She’s nervous, Ominis. She was blushing the entire interaction. Look, maybe try being more direct? Girls like confidence! Tell her you will spend time with her and that you won’t take no for an answer.”

Ominis blinks at him. “Are you trying to get my bollocks hexed off?”

“While that would be deeply amusing, no,” Sebastian assures. “Look, she’s clearly just too shy to let herself spend time with you, that’s why she runs away. You can’t give her a way out, hell, incarcerous her if you have to.”

Ominis looks genuinely concerned for any women that have had the terrible misfortune of being the objects of Sebastian’s romantic interest. “How you’ve not found yourself in Azkaban yet amazes me.”

“Oh, shush,” he scowls before suddenly snapping his fingers, metaphorical lightbulb lighting up his face. “I’ve got it! Remember how Sharp gave her detention this weekend for sneaking ingredients for Garreth? Just muck something up tomorrow in Potions, and done! She’ll be forced to spend a whole evening with you.”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“It’s brilliant,” Sebastian grins, far too proud of himself. “Everyone knows detention is the best place to snog.”

Ominis chokes. “There will be no snogging—”

“Oh, got bigger plans in mind, have you? Ominis, you dirty little devil—”

The tips of his ears burning bright-red, Ominis pushes through the entrance doors to the Great Hall before Sebastian can get another word in, thanking Merlin she’d foregone dinner tonight.

//

While sprinkling some erumpent horn powder in Sharp’s cauldron during a practical demonstration was easier than he’d thought, actually having to go to detention the upcoming Saturday evening was not.

Pacing his dorm room anxiously while he counts down the hours until he has to make his way down to the Potions classroom, Ominis can’t help but be besmirched by his own stupidity at how he inevitably let Sebastian talk him into this.

Like the devil, Sebastian pokes his head through the door, not even bothering to knock. He plops himself down on one of the beds, eyeing the blonde with poorly-concealed bewilderment. “What are you so strung up for?”

“Not helping,” he glowers. “What if she runs away again?”

“Relax, would you?” Sebastian rolls his eyes, standing to walk over and muss the blonde’s hair. Ominis scowls and swats at his friend, but Sebastian is nothing if not stubborn, pulling at Ominis’ neatly folded uniform tie until it drapes messily around his neck.

“Perfect,” he grins, standing back to examine his work.

Ominis frowns, attempting with great futility to smooth his hair back into place. “I look like a delinquent.”

“How would you know?” Sebastian raises a brow. “You look great. Girls like a bit of a bad boy, you know. And after your stunt in Sharp’s class you’re certainly starting to build a reputation.”

“You were the one who told me to do it!”

“I told you to get yourself detention, not cause a minor explosion.”

Waving a wand over his wristwatch to check the time, Ominis’ pulse doubles when he realizes he has to be in Sharp’s classroom in a few minutes.

Before he can talk himself out of it, Sebastian is dragging him out the door, blabbering terrible advice as if he’s sending his friend off to a first date and not detention with a grouchy Potions master.

“—And most importantly of all, compliment her, Ominis. I know you’re not very expressive, but for the love of Merlin, tell her she looks nice,” he practically shoves the blonde through the common room door, adding a final, “have fun! Use the contraceptive charm!”

Ominis is promptly left alone in the dimly-lit corridor, a heat involuntarily rising to his cheeks, praying some greater force will strike him down before he has to humiliate himself any further.

//

The classroom is empty when he finally arrives a few minutes behind schedule, except for where he inevitably finds her scrubbing cauldrons in the back of the room. She tenses when he approaches, but doesn’t startle when he greets her this time. Ominis wonders if he can put it down as progress.

“Sharp asked me to tell you we’re not allowed to use magic,” she nods towards the stack of cauldrons perched on the workspace. “And, um that we’re only to bother him if someone’s bleeding, dying, or dead.”

Ominis nods, pointedly taking the space beside her and dragging one of the soot-covered cauldrons towards him to begin working.

There’s a tension between them that Ominis can’t ignore for the life of him, only the sound of scrubbing to cut through the painstaking silence. After a few unbearable moments, he clears his throat, remembering Sebastian’s advice.

“You look nice tonight,” he attempts, though his voice sounds oddly thick with nerves.

The sound of scrubbing stops. “Sorry?”

“I said you uh, you look very nice,” he attempts with more firmness, though his hands are white-knuckled around the edge of the table to stop himself from bolting from the mortification.

“Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“What?” he asks perplexed, forgetting momentarily a crucial reason as to why the compliment would seem absurd coming from him. “Oh dear Merlin, no, no that’s not how I meant it all.”

“Very funny, Ominis,” she takes in a sharp breath, dropping the brush with a dull clatter into the cauldron before she crosses her arms and faces him, all timidness suddenly replaced by a glaring frustration in her tone. Ominis isn't sure if it's an improvement, but at least she’s talking to him. “Did Sebastian put you up to this?”

“Sebastian? What? Of course not,” he sputters, desperately trying to amend. “I— Look, I’m—I’m sorry. Can I start over? Please?”

She raises an expectant eyebrow.

“You don’t look nice,” he tries, trying to suppress the wince that washes over his features. His only consolance is that Sebastian isn’t here to witness any of it. “I’m sorry, no—that’s not—I meant, I’m sure you do look nice, not that I would…know, but,” he runs a hand over his face, certain that if she didn't hate him before, she certainly does now. “I meant, you smell very nice. That I can tell, you…you smell very lovely, actually.”

There’s a long pause where she simply stares at him before her frustration inevitably only seems to double. “Is this what you find entertaining?”

“I’m sorry?”

“You’re taunting me,” she seethes. “You obviously know what I feel for you and now you’re making fun of me for it, aren’t you? You’ve been doing it all week.”

“What? Salazar, no, that’s not it at all—”

“Truly hilarious,” she scoffs, shaking her head. “Very mature. Maybe try being more subtle—”

“That’s not what I’m—”

“You can stop pretending you want to hang out with me all the time now—”

“Will you listen? I’m not—”

“Next time, if you don’t feel the same way, then simply—hmpph!”

Despite the blaring alarm bells that should be going off in Ominis’ head for doing something so painfully impulsive to someone who could hex his entire bloodline in the time it takes her to take out her wand, his mind blanks out into a puddle of warmth as he crashes his lips to hers.

She freezes, mouth unmoving against his in the time it takes awareness to seep into her brain and for her to realize he’s kissing her.

To his relief, when the realization does set in, she kisses him back.

She seems to melt just as much as Ominis, her body instinctively leaning into his, hands going slack at her sides before they instinctively come to hold at his forearms where he’s cradling her face so she can’t pull away.

Ominis pulls him towards her, and then, urged on by some coiling heat inside of him he’s admittedly not too familiar with, he crowds her against the workspace. He nearly topples over several cauldrons in his franticness to deepen the kiss, muttering sheepish apologies through heavy breaths, but he’s far too consumed to feel embarrassed.

His lips on hers are clumsy and impatient, and maybe far too hungry for a first kiss, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Her hands come up to thread through his hair, to drag down his scalp, and Ominis couldn’t stop the groan that leaves him if he had all the composure in the world.

He’s so far gone he doesn’t even care about all the soot they’re getting on each other, too preoccupied with trying to keep his knees from buckling, to press his body even more against hers as if it’s the greatest offense known to history that they’re not physically molded to one another. When he slots a thigh between her legs and she lets out a little noise against his mouth, he thinks he might just collapse.

Ominis skin feels hot to the touch, nerves prickling with want, with the urge to touch and taste and grind until he goes numb. She finally breaks the kiss, panting heavily against his mouth, eyes glazed over with just as much raw need. Though the loss is almost physically painful, Ominis is grateful for small mercies, because he was a few seconds away from tearing through her uniform top.

“You’re…” she swallows, trying to clear the breathlessness from her voice. “Uh, very committed to the bit, I suppose.”

Ominis can’t help the laugh that escapes him.

His shoulders shake, forehead dropping to meet hers, and when he glances back up he smiles, lips still raw and undoubtedly kiss-bruised. She returns his grin, until he can feel her smile against his mouth when he leans down to press his lips to hers again, because he simply can’t help himself.

They barely register the sound of the door to the professor’s office swinging open. Only when he clears his throat do they finally tear apart, and Ominis wonders if it’s possible to drop dead from sheer mortification.

Sharp lets out a long-suffering sigh, as if he’s accustomed to walking in on much, much worse by now and his hardly fazed.

“Just get the cauldrons clean,” he grumbles, grabbing a few texts on one of the adjacent tables. He hobbles back to the door, shaking his head and muttering under his breath. “Bloody teenagers and hormones, don’t get paid enough for this shit…”

He ducks his head out before closing the door, pointing a stern finger in their direction. “And not on my tables.”