Chapter Text
The year had gotten off to a rocky start, to say the least, though Theo had to admit he much preferred the raucousness of his new life when compared to the dull, bleak memories that comprised the majority of his childhood. Well, except maybe for the literal murder that played out before his very eyes. That, he could have lived without.
Theo chuckled as he recalled the past couple days. He supposed, considering his thirst to thrive in his new environment, it should have been no shock that he was placed in Slytherin- although at the time of his sorting, he would’ve been unable to tell you the difference between a Slytherin and a Jobberknoll. What weird words wizards use, he thought to himself as he strode through the hallowed stone halls of Hogwarts.
Very few of his housemates had been openly hospitable upon his sorting, but from the few that were, he was able to surmise that it was his innately resourceful nature that landed him in robes of green. That horrifying hat certainly hadn’t given him any clue- it simply screamed the name without a second thought as soon as it had brushed against his head.
Fortunately, though he’d received a chilly reception to Slytherin, and the general population of Hogwarts regarded him as something of an oddity due to the dramatic and unorthodox nature of his arrival, he’d been able to suss out a few fellow fifth years that he deemed more genuine than the others. One such person was currently bounding toward him- his very first friend, Natsai Onai.
“Hello Natty,” Theo said as she approached, a grin plastered on her face and a bounce in her step that was almost infectious. “A good day in Transfiguration, I take it?” The pair fell in step with each other. It was pretty remarkable to him that they were able to be so in sync after only a few days of knowing each other.
“I suppose it depends on who you ask!” she replied brightly in her thick accent that Theo could not quite place, “We were supposed to be transfiguring birds into cups today, which had Duncan in a mood- you know how he gets when something isn’t ‘sufficiently challenging’ for him. Garreth managed to goad him into performing a much more… advanced spell.” She was grinning cheekily, withholding the juiciest details on purpose. Theo chuckled.
“Please tell me he turned someone into a goat again.”
Natty could barely contain her laughter now, “No, thankfully he traumatized an inanimate object this time. Unfortunately, the victim was Weasley’s desk. and it was a hippo. It was quite the sight to see both Professor Weasley and Duncan chasing it as it broke out into the courtyard- almost worth the twenty inches of extra parchment Weasley assigned on the importance of focus when transfiguring, I would say.”
“For the whole class? That seems a bit unfair,” Theo said, and Natty shrugged. “I’d be miffed at Duncan if I were you. I’m beginning to see where Ominis’ hatred of that boy comes from.”
Natty chuckled. “He’s not so bad. Certainly makes life a little more interesting.” The couple proceeded on their route, and Theo couldn’t help but notice the double takes and suspiciously long stares that they were receiving. Stealing a glance over to Natty, it was clear she was either unaware or wholly uncaring about the eyes on them. He guessed it was the latter.
“Speaking of Ominis- how are things going with your roommates? They are not treating you poorly because you are not pureblood, are they? I know not all Slytherins act this way, but I can also count a fair few who are- I’ve heard some particularly nasty rumors about Mr. Gaunt. You should be careful around him.” Theo frowned. His first interaction with his new dormmate yesterday had been positively pleasant and downright informative.
-/-/-/-/-/-
He'd woken up late the morning after his debacle of a trip to Hogwarts and the sorting, to find his dorm room empty. He hadn’t gotten the chance to meet the occupants of the other two beds last night either- he’d been exhausted from his long journey and chose to collapse into slumber at the earliest possibility.
As he made his way to the common room, iIt was impossible for him not to notice the shift in the room’s energy when he stepped through the doorway. The typical sounds of friends reunited after summer vacation- laughter, the exchange of summer stories- were quickly replaced by hushed whispers and furtive glances thrown in his direction. Lovely, Theo thought to himself as he made his way through the room.
Much of the seating was already occupied, and Theo was not thrilled at the idea of plopping himself down next to a random stranger, so he found himself walking toward the gargantuan windows on the far side of the room instead. The view was magnificent- Theo had always been fond of the water, but he’s never been able to look at it quite like this. Fish of all shapes and sizes came into view briefly before disappearing from his view into the depths, and he found himself entranced by their unpredictable but steady movements. They reminded him of a place he visited with his family a long time ago…
“I think I saw a mermaid!” The excited squeal of a younger student snapped him out of his trance and back to reality. The young boy was excitedly pointing out across the watery expanse, to a friend who looked quite skeptical.
Theo himself wasn’t sure who to believe. Certainly, the presence of mermaids in a lake would not be out of the ordinary for a place like Hogwarts- he had, only hours earlier, witnessed a dragon attack with his own eyes. “Mermaids? Really?” he muttered to himself, pressing his face against the glass and squinting out, trying to catch sight of one himself.
“They do live in the lake, though I doubt they find us interesting enough to spy into our common room.” The response to his rhetorical question made Theo jump, snapping his head over. A young man with dirty blond hair and pale eyes was leaning against a nearby wall- Theo hadn’t even noticed him approach. The light filtering through the window danced across his face, illuminating his eyes and pale face in a way that made him look ethereal. This impression, along with his soundless arrival, led Theo to wonder momentarily if the boy was not in fact a ghost- those, unlike the mermaids, he was sure existed at Hogwarts.
“I don’t recognize your voice,” the boy continued, unfazed by Theo’s lack of response, “and judging from the chatter when you entered, I assume you must be the new fifth-year student.” Theo finally collected his thoughts well enough to formulate a reply.
“I- yes, I am. Theodore Horvat, but I mostly go by Theo- I think it’s less stuffy.” The other boy smiled, and Theo noticed his whitish eyes never met Theo’s own. Was he blind?
“I’m Ominis. Ominis Gaunt. It’s good to meet you.” He outstretched a hand in greeting, which Theo took- it was shockingly cold, but not in a particularly unappealing way. Theo could not help but be curious about his new acquaintance and was relieved to have someone to speak with.
“Hello Ominis. I’m glad not all my housemates were put off by my… erm, unorthodox introduction.”
“Yes, it certainly was dramatic, wasn’t it?” Ominis hummed in agreement. “I wouldn’t worry about the others, though. If you prove to be an adept wizard, most of them will learn to respect you,” he took pause for a moment, clearly contemplating his next words carefully. “I hope you’re not offended by my asking, but you are a muggle-born, correct?”
Theo frowned. “Oh, well yes, I suppose so. Neither of my parents had any magical ability that I knew of. Why would you think that question would offend me, though?”
Ominis broke into a broad grin. “A muggle-born Slytherin, eh? My parents would have a fit. But, yes, I suppose the concept of blood purity would be foreign to you, so allow me to explain,” Ominis lowered his voice before continuing. “There are more than a few wizarding families- my own, the house of Gaunt, included- that believe magic should only be practiced by those with pure bloodlines, those witches and wizards descended from one of a few noble bloodlines. That sentiment unfortunately festers quite commonly in Slytherin, thanks to our fanatic of a founder. Salazar Slytherin was a devout believer in blood purity, and his ideology is particularly common in our house. A muggle-born Slytherin is almost unheard of.”
The concept of blood purity was disconcerting to say the least, and certainly explained the number of dirty looks Theo had received from fellow Slytherins. “Well, at least I’m making my mark on Hogwarts,” he said dryly, “Slytherin will not soon forget my stain on their good house name.” The odd, breathy noise Ominis made in response could only have been a chuckle, though it sounded like an un. Though, Theo couldn’t help but feel the corners of his mouth upturn and a slight flutter in his stomach at the sound of it.
“I’d say you’re in the right house, Theodore. I just thought you should be privy to exactly what you’re getting into here. There are plenty of us who don’t subscribe to that particular brand of bigotry. Sebastian is our only other dormmate, and he can be a touch pig-headed, but he’s also one of my oldest friends. Imelda and Nerida are also in our year, and shouldn’t give you any trouble- provided you don’t try to upstage Imelda in Quidditch. As for who to avoid…”
Ominis trailed off, biting his lower lip nervously while he whipped out his wand. Without uttering a single incantation, a red pulse began to emanate from its tip, and he waved it around the room slowly. He breathed a sigh of relief when it stopped. When he spoke again, his previous confidence had waned from his voice. “Unfortunately, it’s actually my siblings you’ll need to watch for most.”
-/-/-/-/-/-
Theo shook himself from his daydream, soon enough to catch the remainder of Natty’s speech.
“-and I have not heard much of any of his misdeeds specifically, but he does have a few siblings here that are pretty notorious. You know his older brother, Marvolo- the seventh year? He has a particularly nasty reputation, mostly involving the dark arts. I think it would be wise for you to stay away-” She was still going on about Ominis.
“Actually, I quite like Ominis,” He interrupted. “I haven’t known him long, but he’s been one of the friendlier Slytherins I’ve met. And he’s already warned me about his family. Told me never to find myself alone with Marvolo or his cronies, and try to stay out of their field of vision in general. He said his younger sister Celica, the third year, was mostly harmless, though she is apparently fond of casting the leg-locking curse on those she dislikes- seemed like he was speaking from experience on that one. So, it doesn’t seem that he’s all that keen on them either.” Natty blinked in surprise before a small smile played across her lips.
“Ah, I did not realize he had already made such an… impression. That makes me feel better. I did not want you sharing a room with him had he shared his family’s beliefs about muggle-borns.” She pivoted the conversation. “And what about your other roommate? Sebastian? You know, he was the mysterious Slytherin all the girls mooned over- at least before you arrived.” She jabbed him lightly in the ribs with her elbow and smirked.
Theo snorted. “Don’t tease me, Natty. He can keep that title- suits him much better than me. There’s nothing overly mysterious about me.”
“I, along with the majority of the Hogwarts student body, would beg to differ. But, we can get back to that another time. What are your thoughts about Mr. Sallow?”
Theo pondered this question briefly. He’d only interacted with Sebastian briefly in their common room and dorm- the other boy was too busy burying his nose in a book to be a good conversationalist.
“I haven’t spoken with him much, to be honest. But, I’d say he is a bit more...” as Theo struggled to find the right word, Natty was happy to supply some for him.
“Cocky? Full of himself? Kind of attractive in a ‘my mother would hate him and that’s why I like him’ kind of way?” she quipped. Theo snickered.
“All great options, thank you Natty. He’s definitely a bit arrogant- even Ominis agrees with that, and those two are best friends. And judging from that book he was reading, I’d say he’s definitely interested in some more… questionable forms of magic. But I think there’s more to him.” Natty’s raised eyebrow encouraged elaboration. “I don’t think he’s a bad person. I’d like to get to know him more before I pass any judgements.” She gave him a thoughtful look.
“That is fair. But he does hold the record for most detentions, you know. Try not to let him influence you too much, yes? I’d be rather sad if my new friend were to be expelled after his first year.” Theo let out a dramatic sigh.
“I’ll try my best, Natty.”
Notes:
I know it's a slow start- sorry about that! It'll pick up in the next few chapters I swear
Chapter 2: The Duel
Notes:
Oh another side note- this has not been proofread lol. so if there are any typos/other things wrong, apologies! let me know and I'll fix em
Chapter Text
The pair separated after a quick lunch in the Great Hall, Theo heading to his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class and Natty to Ancient Runes- an elective she’d been quick to point out her mother made her select. It’s so boring! She’d complained when he inquired about her next class. I speak Ndebele, English, and now she wants me to cram another language in my head? And I have heard that it is one of the most study-heavy courses- hours of reading and homework every night! Perhaps she thinks if I am stuck at the desk forever it will keep me out of trouble. Warmth spread throughout his body as he thought of her.
Perhaps it was that they’d both been late transfers to Hogwarts, but something just clicked between the two of them upon their first meeting, in Theo’s first-ever magic class the day before. As if starting a new school wasn’t daunting enough, starting from scratch at a magical school? To say his nerves were wracked on the first day of classes was an understatement.
When he entered the Charms classroom, Theo was slightly panicked- where would he sit? He scanned the room quickly. Ominis and Sebastian were already seated, a heated conversation being shared between them. Before he could think much more about it, Natty’s voice sounded in his ear and he was dragged over to a seat beside her.
Theo wondered if it was her own experience as a transfer student that caused her to offer him a seat next to her- though he had difficulty imagining her being anything but courageous and bold on her first day. Regardless, he felt extremely grateful to already have such a close friend so soon after his induction. They weren’t as easy to come by back home.
Defense Against the Dark Arts- quite an imposing name, and the sounds emanating from the classroom certainly led Theo to believe it was an apt designation. The ruckus, he found upon entering, was being caused by a pair of students hurling spells at one another. The one on the far side of the room was Sebastian, the other was a Gryffindor boy Theo did not yet know the name of.
The rest of the class was crowded around the two boys, cheering for their respective house representative. Well, all except Ominis. He was on the outskirts, leaning against a desk, pale eyes trained on the floor. Judging from the small smile that formed every time Sebastian got a hit in, however, Theo guessed he was paying more attention to the duel than one might have believed.
“Hello again Ominis,” Theo declared as he approached his roommate. Ominis turned his head slightly in acknowledgement.
“Good afternoon. Enjoying Sebastian’s little show?” Theo couldn’t suppress a smile upon hearing Ominis’ voice- it was lighthearted once again. The last time they had talked, when Ominis offered a warning about his family, it had taken on a grave tone that Theo disliked- he much preferred the charming lightheartedness in Ominis’ voice now.
“He’s quite good. It seems like he’s just toying with that Gryffindor- now him, he’s fighting for his life out there.” Ominis let out a hum of surprise.
“Impressive. I wouldn’t expect someone so new to magic to be able to read the situation that well. Though, given the competitors, I suppose it must be fairly obvious.”
“Who’s Sebastian fighting?”
“Leander Prewett. Mouthed off about being the better duelist. He’s the biggest git in our year- aside from Duncan Hobbhouse, of course. You can add him to the list of people I suggest you avoid at all costs.” Theo chuckled.
“What has this Duncan Hobbhouse done to earn the ire of Ominis Gaunt?” he wondered aloud. Ominis shrugged.
“Do you have the next few hours free? That’s how long it would take for me to list his crimes.”
The pair’s conversation was interrupted as a spell, reflected by Leander, was sent careening toward a giant skeleton that hung from the ceiling, snapping it from its anchor and sending it plummeting down toward the red-head. He looked up in stunned horror, raising his wand in a defensive movement. Other students gasped, and Theo felt himself reach for his wand, though it wouldn’t have been of much use- he knew only the basics of spellcasting at this point.
“Levioso!”
The voice called out from the balcony on the fair side of the room, where a graying woman had just emerged. The skeleton halted its descent mid-drop and floated harmlessly back up to its previous position.
The scowl on the woman’s face was enough to silence the classes. Her glare was trained on Sebastian and Leander, both of whom looked extremely sheepish.
“How many times have I told you two that unmoderated dueling is unacceptable in my classroom?!” She exclaimed fiercely. “You’re lucky there was no permanent damage- Hebridean Black Dragons are nearly extinct. I would never be able to procure another skeleton. Troublemaking students, on the other hand, I seem to have an endless supply of.”
The old woman sighed as she took her place at the front of the class. “As most of you know, I am Professor Hecat, your guide to the terrifying world of the dark arts and, more importantly, how to defend yourself from them.”
She swished her wand, and the tables in the room began to move away from the center of the room toward the walls. Ominis had clearly not been expecting this- as his leaning perch was ripped from under him, he stumbled. He would have fallen backwards, had Theo not been right beside him.
The taller boy instinctively put up his arms to catch his fellow Slytherin, and Ominis fell right into his chest. He was quite light- Theo barely had to exert any force to keep them both upright. “You alright there, Ominis?”
Ominis scrambled to regain his composure, his face turning a bright scarlet.
“Damn it all… how embarrassing,” He smoothed his robes compulsively, as if trying to wipe off any trace of the other boy that remained on him. Theo watched with amusement- flustered was a very good look on Ominis, he had to admit. “Absolutely no respect for the disabled at this wretched school, I swear… things moving about with no warning, without rhyme or reason-” He muttered haughtily. “Apologies for that, Theodore.”
Still using his full name? How posh. Theo grinned to himself. Ominis may have come across as self-assured and serious at their first meeting, but it seemed like he was surprisingly easy to rattle.
“Not a worry Ominis,” Theo replied cheekily, “I can’t very well have a fellow Slytherin toppling over in front of all these Gryffindors- it would be bad for our house image, you know.” Ominis scoffed.
“You’ve been a Slytherin for what- all of two days now? I dont think you’ve earned the right to be that pretentious just yet. And for your information,” he said with a huff, “I’ve managed not to disgrace the esteemed Slytherin house thus far, I think I’ll be able to survive without you holding my hand.”
Theo hummed thoughtfully. “I’ll just have to make sure of that. As the only muggle-born Slytherin, I must hold higher standards for myself and my peers- I do hope you understand. So, even if you make it a habit of falling on your own face every day-”
“I won’t -” Ominis hissed, but Theo didn’t let him finish.
“ Even if you do,” he continued, “I suppose I’ll just have to be around to catch you. ”
“I don’t think I will be,” Ominis spat, but a slight blush still played on his face. “Honestly, you’re worse than Sebastian. This is the thanks I receive for my kindness in the common room? Salazar Slytherin’s own son wouldn’t have half your gall.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Hecat’s voice interrupted “If you’re all finished with your side conversation, perhaps you’d like to rejoin the class?”
Oops. Now Theo felt his face start to burn- he hadn’t meant to draw attention to himself, but it was definitely worth it to toy with Ominis. “Sorry professor,” they said in unison.
“Since you all appear so eager to do a bit of spell-casting today, I’ll be instructing you on the proper use of Levioso as a defensive charm- Mr. Prewett, you should pay close attention to this, seeing as it is the spell that just saved your life.” With a wave of her wand, an oddly human-shaped monstrosity wheeled itself into the room and took up a fighting stance- a training dummy, Theo supposed it was.
“Since this is a fifth-year class, we won’t be practicing on anything as easy as feathers- this spell should also be able to be used practically to disable a would-be attacker.”
“Practice the incantation and wand movement while you wait your turn,” she continued, “That’s Levios-o, with an O, and just a quick swish of the wand,” she followed her own instructions as she spoke, and the dummy she aimed for rapidly rose into the air, where it floated for a few moments before crashing to the ground. Theo whistled. It may have been a simple spell to his classmates, but everything magical being new to him, he was easily impressed.
He took a place near the back of the line, using the extra time to carefully observe each student in front of him as they took their turns- the ones who performed the most successful casts, he watched especially closely.
Sebastian was among the first to take a turn, and with great confidence he forced his dummy even higher into the air than Hecat had.
Ominis showed much more restraint on his turn- though no less skill. He didn’t even mutter an incantation, simply pointing his wand and wordlessly causing the dummy to fly up.
Theo was much less impressed when it came to be Leander’s turn. His dummy puttered a few inches off of the ground, clearly infuriating the young Gryffindor, who shouted the spell a second time. That caused the dummy to rocket up, slam against the ceiling, and crash to the floor. Theo suppressed a snicker when he saw the look of disgust on Hecat’s face.
Soon enough, it was his turn. Magic may have been new to him, but the feeling he experienced as he felt it course through his body was surreally familiar. That sensation, coupled with a mind open to take every experience as a learning opportunity, was all he needed to succeed- he was sure of it. Theo took a deep breath to calm any remaining nerves, and raised his wand.
“Levioso,” His wand sparked to life instantly, shooting out a purple jet that enveloped the dummy and left it bobbing around helplessly in the air. Pleased, Theo released the spell and retreated to the back of the line, allowing pride to swell inside him as he saw Hecat’s nod of approval and the shocked whispers of his classmates. Late bloomer or not, he was confident in his potential.
“A good showing… from most of you,” Professor Hecat shot a glare at Leander at the last part. “Now, judging from the amount of time we have left, we’ll need to partner up for the practical application- dueling. To start…” She hummed as she scanned the students in front of her.
“Yes, why not have our troublemakers go first? Mr. Sallow and Mr. Prewett, you’ll be teaming up and dueling Mr. Gaunt and Mr… Horvat, was it? Take your positions on either side of the room- and let’s endeavor to keep this match clean please, Mr. Sallow. I will only permit the use of basic casts, Protego, and of course, Levioso.”
Theo was grinning from ear to ear as he walked to his side of the classroom, where his much less enthusiastic partner was waiting for him.
“This is all your fault, you know,” Ominis grumbled when he sensed Theo next to him. “I abhor dueling, and now to be partnered with someone with the magical knowledge of a first-year, against Sebastian of all people. He’s a brute when it comes to these things.”
“Oh come now, Ominis, I think we may stand a chance. Don’t you think I might surprise you?” Theo gave him a playful hair tousle, but his hand was instantly batted away by the shorter boy.
“Just try not to flatten me when Sebastian sends that enormous ego of yours flying.” Theo chuckled as the quartet raised their wands.
“I think it’s time for a real Hogwarts welcome,” Sebastian goaded from the opposite side of the room. “Sorry for this Ominis- I’ll try to go easy on you.” Ominis groaned.
“Hey, I’m here too!” Leander whined.
“Begin!”
What a rush. The instant the match was initiated, Sebastian unleashed a flurry of casts Theo’s way. Had he been a second shorter with his reaction time with Protego, Theo would have been flung across the room.
“Not bad, newbie,” Sebastian smirked, but kept up his casting pace- Theo was given no quarter to strike back. He gritted his teeth- this would not do.
He glanced over to Ominis, who was holding his own against Leander well enough, though if the fight were to drag on much longer it was clear who the victor in that matchup would be. It seems Ominis had been right- the deck was stacked against them in this duel. Time for a little creative problem solving.
Theo monitored both opponents closely. Because of the incantation and wand movement requirements of Levioso, it was always obvious when that was about to be cast- and Theo could quickly dart out of the way. Protego worked to deflect basic casts, but would not be able to stop Levioso. The basic casts themselves could be tricky- they merely required a wordless flick of the wand, although it would take multiple direct hits to incapacitate anyone with them. All these variables considered, Theo improvised a plan of attack.
Right as he could tell Leander was preparing a cast toward Ominis, Theo leapt in front of his partner and cast Protego instantly. Leander’s cast, meeting an unexpected target, bounced erratically in the direction of Sebastian, who deftly avoided it.
“What in the-” Ominis muttered as he sensed Theo in front of him. Theo, however, had no time to explain what his plan entailed, and he was certain Ominis would have opposed it anyway.
Leander, looking over to see his spell narrowly miss Sebastian, was an easy target for Theo’s own Levioso. The Gryffindor hung helplessly in the air while Theo hit him with three basic casts in rapid succession, knocking him onto the floor. One down.
Sebastian still posed a threat, however. He had gotten back to his feet and had his wand trained on Theo, who already knew what was coming next. Purple wisps erupted from Sebastian’s wand as soon as he shouted Levioso, but Theo was a second ahead. He dodged to the left, causing the spell to hit Ominis, who was still utterly baffled by the unexpected situation.
“Wha- Hey! Sebastian, if this is your doing, put me down NOW!” Ominis cried as he levitated into the air. The turn of events caused a moment of hesitation in Sebastian, which was all the time Theo needed to cast his own Levioso on his opponent.
Sebastian was lifted into the air feet first, his robes obscuring his vision as he let out a protesting howl. From there, a few more basic casts brought him down, and the match was won- thankfully, just in time for a little added bonus.
Theo raced over to where Ominis still floated in the air, arriving underneath him just as Sebastian’s spell wore off. He fell straight down with a shriek, landing right in Theo’s outstretched arms, bridal style.
“Well now, that’s twice in one day, Ominis. What was that you said earlier about not falling on your face?”
Ominis was too stunned to speak for a few moments, before the reality of what had just happened sunk in. If Theo had thought his face was red before, he hadn’t seen anything- Ominis’ face practically burned with embarrassment.
“Why you… put me down this INSTANT you insufferable idiot! What are you playing at?!” he shrieked, pounding his fists against his savior’s chest, though there was no real power behind them.
“I told you, I’ll always be there to catch you,” Theo whispered playfully into Ominis’ ear, causing the slight boy to shiver, before putting him down with a soft chuckle. Ominis opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
“Quite an impressive display, not only of spellcasting, but also ingenious tactics. Very nicely done, Mr. Novak. That’s ten points to Slytherin.” Hecat said matter-of-factly, drawing the two boys out of their conversation. Cheers erupted from his fellow Slytherin classmates- even Sebastian offered a few begrudging claps, an odd mixture of jealousy and interest playing on his face. Theo simply grinned and offered them a thumbs up, though not failing to notice that Ominis had slinked away from him, withdrawing to a corner of the room, his eyes downcast. The smile slipped from Theo’s face. Shoot.
Chapter 3: The Apology
Chapter Text
As the class began to filter out of the room after dismissal, Theo collected his things and readied to depart himself. However, a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Professor Hecat stood behind him.
“Mr. Novak. A word?” Theo gulped. Though he knew he had no real reason to be nervous. He had, by Professor Hecat’s own admission, performed exceptionally well today, but something about being called for a private chat with an authority figure always sent Theo’s skin crawling. A side effect, he supposed, of his experiences in Muggle school- where his being called into the office of an educator never meant anything good.
The pair went to her office, where she shut the door behind them.
“Have I done something wrong, Professor?” Hecat shook her head and took a seat at her desk, motioning for Theo to do the same.
“On the contrary. You seem to be doing most everything right,” she gave her wand a flick, causing two cups to fly out and settle in front of them. Without warning, a teapot flew past his head and neatly poured its contents out into each of the cups. Theo took an apprehensive sip. “I will be the first to admit, I was more than a little concerned about your future here, when I heard we were admitting a student as a fifth-year. I did not believe you would be able to catch up to your peers- but I’m certainly glad you proved me wrong today.”
Theo swelled with pride. “I appreciate that, professor.”
“It was no accident I paired you against Mr. Sallow. That boy is proficient at two things: causing trouble, and dueling with the best of them. I thought it might be a good test to judge your potential- and you exceeded my expectations in defeating him. The wandwork you performed, for someone so inexperienced, and that on-the-fly strategy- it almost makes me wonder if the sorting hat shouldn’t have put you in Ravenclaw instead.” She took a long sip of her tea before continuing.
“But I digress. I called you into my office to congratulate you. It is clear to me you are aiming high in your studies, and as a teacher, there is no greater joy in my life than seeing a budding talent like yours prosper. Professor Weasley has already asked me to give you some extra assignments to aid you in the preparation for your OWLs, but I’d like to offer you private lessons, if you’re so inclined, focusing on some spells you may not learn otherwise. I do believe it would be a great benefit to you, no matter where your future takes you.”
Theo took a moment to absorb all that she had just said, before letting the excitement take hold of him.
“I- why, Professor, that sounds excellent! I’d like nothing better than to learn anything you have to teach me. I may not be a Ravenclaw, but I’m certain my desire to learn all I can about magic could rival anyone in that house!” he bubbled.
A tight smile formed on Hecat’s face. “I thought you might be interested. Very well, we will begin our lessons soon. Keep a watch out for my owl.”
Theo beamed and thanked her before leaving, a spring in his step as he exited the classroom. His joyous demeanor was no less dampened when he noticed a figure to his left, clearly waiting for him. Part of him hoped it was Ominis, but he had no such luck. Instead, Sebastian drew out of the shadows.
“Did Hecat have anything interesting to say? Perhaps she gave you detention for routing two of her most beloved students?” Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but Theo sensed no malice in his words.
“Hello Sebastian. Nothing too out of the ordinary- she simply plans on giving me a few extra assignments to help me catch up to the rest of you.”
“Extra work? It sounds like you were being punished.”
Theo shrugged. “I really don’t mind, to be honest. I’ve got a lot of work to do if I’m to keep beating you in dueling,” Sebastian chuckled.
“I must admit, you do give as good as you get. I was hardly expecting to be trounced by a first-time duelist… unless, of course, it wasn’t your first time?” He was more perceptive than he let on, Theo mused, thinking about the misadventures he’d had leading up to his arrival at Hogwarts. He could tell the truth… but feigning ignorance seemed far more fun.
“Not at all- that was the first time I used anything stronger than a Lumos charm. I must’ve gotten lucky to beat someone as experienced as you,” Theo answered innocently and began to walk toward the Slytherin common room. Sebastian fell in step with him, the smirk on his face making it clear that he was not buying Theo’s modest act.
“Being coy, are we? Fine, keep your secrets. Practice or not, it was still an impressive display- I doubt anyone could disagree with that.”
“I don’t think Ominis particularly enjoyed it,” Theo said glumly. The memory of the other boy’s annoyance, replaced for a moment with the elation of his Professor’s admiration, now crept its way back into his mind.
“Ha! Yes, you went and pissed him right off! Props for that as well- he’s far too sullen, could use some lightening up,” Sebastian laughed. Seeing the frown on Theo’s face, though, he regained a level of solemnity. “Don’t worry too much about it. It’s not like you really did anything wrong. He gets worked up over things easily. Speak with him tonight- I’m sure there will be no hard feelings.”
“Thanks, Sebastian.” Theo was genuinely grateful- it would seem that there was more to Sebastian than his overtly arrogant attitude might suggest.
“Yes well, I am his oldest friend, after all. There’s really no one better equipped to handle one of his tantrums than me.” Perhaps Theo spoke too soon- that trademark swagger had already returned. “Anyway, enough about Ominis. I have a proposition for you.”
Theo tilted his head in confusion. “A proposition?”
“Yes. Something tells me you’d be a perfect fit for a certain exclusive, unsanctioned dueling organization.” Theo had to admit- the prospect more than piqued his interest.
“Exclusive and unsanctioned? Count me in.”
Sebastian grinned. “Excellent. It seems you understand that in order to make the most of your time here, you have to be willing to bend the rules a bit.”
Theo nodded appreciatively. “That makes sense. I’d love to have any chance to practice my dueling- I enjoyed our match quite a bit. Think I’ve developed a taste for it now.”
“Don’t be getting too cocky now, just because you bested me in a classroom duel,” Sebastian warned with a smirk. “I’ll be far less restrained in this format.” The pair had reached the top of the stairs that descended to the dungeons where the Slytherin common room was located. “I’ve got some additional unsanctioned business to attend to at the moment, but I’ll see you in our room later, and give you some more details about the club then.”
With that, Sebastian was off, heading in the direction of the Library, but called out to Theo one last time over his shoulder as he retreated.
“Oh, and best of luck with Ominis.”
Ominis was the only one in the Slytherin dorm when Theo arrived- it made sense, what with Sebastian running whatever illicit errand he had. The pale boy looked to be reading a book on his bed in the darkness, running his fingers across the pages delicately as his eyes stared into nothingness. His expression soured a bit when he heard Theo enter the room.
Theo sighed, hoping he hadn’t pushed Ominis too much with his tactics earlier that day.
“Evening Ominis. What are you reading?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
“I am not speaking to you,” Ominis replied, his voice icy. Theo clicked his tongue.
“Well, that won’t do.”
In an instant, and before the other boy could protest, Theo took a seat next to Ominis on his bed. Ominis sputtered in indignation.
“What on Earth?! Does the phrase ‘personal space’ mean nothing to you?!”
“Listen, Ominis. I apologize if I pushed any boundaries earlier today-”
“You’re pushing boundaries as we speak!” Theo ignored his protest and continued.
“I really was just teasing you a bit. Honestly, aside from Natty, you’re the only other Hogwarts student who’s welcomed me. Back home, my siblings and I, we were always making jabs at each other- our weird little way of showing affection, I suppose. If it came across as anything other than that, I am truly and deeply sorry.”
Ominis groaned and shut his book. “You and Sebastian… two peas in a pod,” he muttered under his breath. “I suppose you really didn’t do anything all that egregious, though the events of today will likely continue to haunt me until my dying breath,” Ominis said. “On the contrary, you actually prevented my bodily injury twice, and I am thankful for that- though I could have done without the sass.”
Theo chuckled. “What can I say? I love playing the knight in shining armor.”
“I think that’s what bothered me the most- especially in our duel,” Ominis said frankly. “I felt so helpless, and then, being rescued in such a dramatic fashion, by someone who’s only just learned magic… it was infantilizing. People already look down on my abilities because of my blindness, so I hate to seem incapable of defending myself.”
Theo took in his words thoughtfully before offering a response. “I’m sorry Ominis, I hadn’t considered that you’d feel that way- to be honest, I wouldn’t have even imagined you would. You seemed so self-assured when you approached me in the common room, and you carry yourself with a sort of… innate dignity, I guess. And that’s to say nothing of your wandwork- I know I’m no expert on the subject, but the way your wand is almost an extension of yourself, how you control it with only a thought- it’s quite impressive.”
The blush that spread across Ominis’ face at the barrage of genuine compliments was unlike the ones Theo had witnessed earlier- this one was a delicate pink, and only faintly visible. Theo liked it very much, and was glad to see his words seemed to mend any ill-will that was fostered between the pair of them. He really disliked the thought of Ominis being cross with him.
“That’s… kind of you to say.” Ominis said quietly.
“I mean it. And believe it or not, I understand your desire to be taken seriously, to not be looked down upon because you’re different. Back home I felt that way, and here at Hogwarts…” Theo trailed off, taking a moment to compose his thoughts. “Well, even among a community of people brimming with freakish magical abilities, I’m still something of an outlier. Starting as a fifth-year, far behind in my education, and a muggle-born Slytherin to boot, I think I’m one of the people who has the most to prove here. That’s why I’m trying so hard to make something of myself.”
Ominis nodded thoughtfully. “That makes a lot of sense, actually. Frankly, it’s why I approached you in the common room to begin with. When I’d heard you arrived, and were sorted into Slytherin of all places, I felt we might have some similarities, given our more… unique circumstances. I’m glad my hunch was correct. ”
Theo slung an arm around Ominis’ shoulder and grinned broadly. “That’s us- the two freaks of Slytherin! One, a muggle-born, reviled for the impurity of his blood. The other, a fallen noble, warring against his family and the inequality that they taught him to revel in. This unlikely duo must remain united if they hope to graduate with their lives,” Theo declared dramatically, earning a symphony of stifled giggles from Ominis, so infectious that Theo began to laugh as well.
A warmth unlike any he’d ever experienced spread from Theo’s chest to all his extremities as he sat there with Ominis, and a furious tingling in the right side of his body made him acutely aware of just how close he was pressed against the other boy’s body.
“You’re too much,” said Ominis once their laughter had died down. “Thank you for speaking with me tonight, Theodore. Truth be told, I really haven't got any friends here other than Sebastian; and there are a lot of things that make it hard for me to trust new people. But, I suppose I can make an exception for you. After all, us ‘Slytherin freaks’ have to stick together, right?” Theo’s heart soared, and he unconsciously gripped Ominis even tighter.
“Let’s make a pact then, Ominis. We’ll respect each other’s individual unique circumstances, and not let them color our opinions, nor allow them to become a source of pity on either side. We’ll simply help each other when needed, as friends should do for one another. Does that sound fair?”
“Indeed it does. I can agree to that.” Ominis replied with a pursed-lipped smile, making Theo beam. He waited a few moments, making sure the tension between the pair had died down sufficiently before hurling one more teasing quip at Ominis.
“You know, this means you can’t complain the next time I heroically catch you mid-fall. I’m just being a supportive, caring-” Theo was cut off by a pillow to the face and a surprisingly powerful shove that sent him tumbling off of Ominis’ bed to the floor. But the tension was long gone, and neither boy tried to hide his laughter.
Chapter Text
“If I lose my hearing as well as my eyesight, I swear I’ll be walking straight into the Black Lake and drowning myself,” Ominis grumbled, rubbing his ears as he, Theo, and Sebastian exited the castle grounds and began their descent towards Hogsmeade. “And you can be sure I'll be returning as a ghost to haunt Garlick for the rest of her days. I mean, mandrakes again??”
“I wish the mandrakes were the worst part of class for me,” said Theo. “I’ll join you in the Black Lake if Garlick makes me partner with Leander for the rest of the term.”
“Didn’t enjoy his company, then?” Looked like he was relishing yours,” Sebastian noted facetiously. Theo’s face soured.
“Yes, he was, wasn’t he? Seems he was very intent on proving his mettle after I single-handedly took you both down yesterday.” Ominis shot an offended look in Theo's direction.
“Excuse me? Are you forgetting that I was there as well?” he huffed. “Though, I suppose that’s not surprising, as you did use me as a human shield,” Theo grinned and gave Ominis a hair tussle.
“Don’t be like that, Ominis. You were integral to my master strategy. Your role was as collateral, yes, but of the integral variety.”
“Don’t say that like it’s a compliment,” Ominis scowled and attempted to fix his hair. “You are so rude.”
“It didn’t look like you hated working with him all that much,” Sebastian interjected, pivoting the conversation back to Leander. “Why not just tell him to bugger off if he was annoying you?”
Theo tsk-tsked and shook his head disappointedly. “Oh, dear Sebastian, you’re far too quick to make enemies. I was just being friendly- no reason to alienate someone just because they’re an intolerable prick.” Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.
“That is precisely why you alienate someone.”
“It’s all about the long game. Like everyone, Leander has his uses. He gave me some interesting information on the two of you, for instance.”
“Such as?” Sebastian asked impatiently.
“Oh, the typical rumors, warned me to stay away from you lot. After all, Ominis is apparently in league with dark forces beyond comprehension. Don't worry, Ominis, I set him straight about all that- said you only dabble in your free time. Thought you might like to keep that whole ‘dark-and-dangerous’ air about you.”
“How generous of you,” Ominis replied sarcastically. Theo turned to Sebastian.
“As for you, Sebastian… Well, I’m afraid this one is less rumor and more fact. You’re the problem child of our entire grade- over 150 detentions in your first four years alone, not to mention the number of people you’ve sent to the medical wing?”
“That’s not-!” Sebastian began indignantly.
“It’s mostly true.” Ominis interrupted, deadpanned.
“Tut tut, Sebastian. You need to behave yourself- or at least, not get caught so easily. It’s a wonder Ominis has put up with you through the years.” Sebastian growled and pounced on Theo, attempting to put him in a headlock.
“Ominis, tell your dog to heel! Call him off!” Theo laughed as he wrestled himself from Sebastian’s grip. The comment only further infuriated the other boy, and the pair were now rolling around on the ground, kicking up grass and dirt as their bodies tangled. Ominis sighed, but a small smile played on his lips.
“A dog, am I?” Sebastian snarled, trying to pin Theo down, but the other boy was surprisingly hard to get a good grasp on, and was stronger than he looked. Sebastian was by no means physically weak, but still found himself to be the one pinned to the ground by his wrists only a few moments later. Theo straddled his hips and gazed down at him victoriously. Sebastian’s freckles were barely visible due to the redness from his exertion, and he was panting heavily. Theo couldn't help but take in his scent- earthy and overpowering with just a hint of sweetness.
“That’s right,” he said breathlessly, “a little puppy-dog who needs some obedience lessons.” His words did not get the reaction he was anticipating- Sebastian merely turned a few shades redder and struggled halfheartedly to free himself, before giving up with a pout.
“It’s not fair- why can’t I beat you in anything?” Sebastian whined.
Theo chuckled and rolled over, releasing the other boy.
“Next time, challenge me at something I’m not good at. For us poor, deprived muggle kids, a good scrap was the way all our disagreements were settled- we didn't have any hoity-toity magic to fling at each other.”
“Are you two nearly finished?” Ominis asked irritably. “I’d like to return to the castle before nightfall, if you don’t mind.”
“You’re no fun,” said Theo as he stood up, brushing the dirt and grime off his robes before extending a hand to Sebastian and helping him to his feet as well.
“I know, it’s one of my better qualities,” Ominis drawled. “Need I remind you that you’re the one who needed to go to Hogsmeade in the first place? If we don’t arrive soon, all the shops will have closed.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Let’s get going then,” Theo conceded, and the three of them began their journey again.
“What do you even need in Hogsmeade this early in the semester?” inquired Sebastian as they walked.
“Oh, a few necessities that I… misplaced on my way here. Some potion ingredients, books, a new wand-”
“What’s wrong with your wand?”
Theo shrugged, “It’s not really my wand. I only borrowed it from Professor Fig to practice a bit before I arrived at Hogwarts.” Sebastian let out an unbelieving gasp.
“A borrowed wand?! You beat me with a wand that isn’t even your own?! Merlin, the hits just keep coming today…” Sebastian looked incredibly dejected, causing Theo’s eyes to knit in confusion.
“What’s the big deal? Aren’t all wands basically the same? I know they all look a little different, but-” Ominis cut him off.
“Quite the opposite, actually,” he held up his wand. Theo had noticed early on that Ominis used it to move around somehow- whenever he went anywhere, it was always trained in front of him, emanating red pulses which Theo supposed let him know if anything was obstructing his way.
“You probably know I rely on my wand to get around- I would not be able to do the same were I to try and use one of your wands. Each one is incredibly unique, with a personality all its own, and some won't even perform the most basic spells for a witch or wizard it deems unworthy. You need to be matched with a wand that is attuned to you specifically in order to best express your magical ability.”
“Thank you for the lesson, Professor Gaunt,” Sebastian said mockingly. Ominis retaliated by firing a basic cast directly at his friend's rear end, causing him to yelp. Theo, on the other hand, was listening with rapt interest. He snaked an arm around Ominis’ waist to draw him close, and protect him from whatever retaliation Sebastian might inflict.
“Don’t listen to him Ominis- please, I’d like to know more, if you don’t mind.” That pale pink blush that Theo had grown fond of rose to Ominis’ face, but he didn’t pull away.
“I- yes, well-” he stammered, clearly having lost his train of thought. “W-well, firstly, you should know about different wand woods, and the cores…”
By the time the trio of Slytherins had made it to Hogsmeade, Theo felt like a proper expert on wandlore, thanks to Ominis’ exceptionally detailed lesson on the subject.
“I certainly have a better grasp on the importance of my purchase today, thanks to you. Would you like to accompany me to Ollivanders? I’d love to have a friend with your expertise around before I make my purchase.” Ominis beamed at the compliment.
“Yes of course! it’s always a treat to chat with Mr. Ollivander,”
“Well, I would not,” Sebastian said haughtily. “If I hear one more word about cores or woods, I’m liable to Bombarda my brains out. I think I’ll go to Honeydukes and see if I can’t swipe a few ‘free samples.’” Sebastian departed without another word.
No one appeared to be present in the shop when the pair entered, though the door was unlocked so Theo was sure they were open. He took a few moments to gaze in wonder at the sheer number of boxes that surrounded him- each one about the size and shape of a wand, and stacked in every nook and cranny of the room, from floor to ceiling. Then, he noticed a bell sitting on the service table. When he went to ring it, it floated up and began to ring itself.
“One moment!” a voice called out from a back room. Theo stole a glance at Ominis. He was waving his wand about, red pulses flowing wildly from it. He was wearing a grin of unbridled joy on his face, one that Theo had never seen before. So cute, Theo thought before he could stop himself, quickly banishing the notion from his head, but was unable to do the same with the light blush that now colored his cheeks. Thankfully, the owner of the previously disembodied voice turned the corner not long after.
“Well hello there, gentlemen!” He exclaimed jovially. “Good to see you again, Mr. Gaunt. How’s that wand treating you- roughly ten inches, hornbeam wood with a unicorn hair core, and quite unyielding- if I’m remembering correctly?” Ominis smiled and nodded.
“Exactly correct- and it’s been excellent! You were absolutely spot on with its natural inclination to mold itself to my preferred style of magic. It feels as if it's a part of me now, can’t imagine life without it,” Ominis gushed excitedly. “Oh, but we’re not here to discuss myself. My friend Theodore here is in need of his first wand,” he continued, motioning in Theo’s direction.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ollivander. Ominis has said many wonderful things about the wands you produce,” Theo said politely.
“Ah, so you’re the new fifth-year student I’ve heard about,” he replied, his eyes running over Theo in an appraising manner. “I’ve been hoping you’d come to purchase a wand from me. I’m sure Mr. Gaunt has informed you about just how unique a bond between a wizard and his wand is. I’m quite eager to see which one of my creations will select someone with such an intriguing background as a partner.”
Theo smiled awkwardly. “Oh, um… Thank you?”
“Now, let’s not tarry. I believe this one may suffice-” Ollivander ducked behind his desk and pulled out a gleaming green box, opening it and handing the wand inside to Theo. “Give it a swish and see how it feels- though don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t seem right, I hardly ever get the right match on the first go.” Theo did as instructed, but only a few puffs of smoke emanated from the wand. Waving it again yielded the same results- and it felt no different in his hand than the borrowed wand he’d been using.
“Ah, well, it was worth a try,” said Ollivander as he snatched the wand back and returned it to its box. He hummed and went to the corner of the room, whipping out his own wand and using it to summon a box from the top shelf. “Now this one is interesting. Holly and dragon heartstring, 12 inches. Supple. Give her a try.”
Again, Theo took the wand and waved. At first, he believed nothing had happened- until a chuckle from Ollivander led him to turn his head around. Ominis, who’d been standing behind Theo the entire time with a small smile on his face, was blissfully unaware that Theo had accidentally changed the color of his robes to pink- and not just any pink. It was the very same pink that Theo loved to see painting Ominis’ cheeks. He felt his face burn.
“Oh damn, I’m sorry Ominis,” he said, quickly waving the wand in an attempt to remove the color, but all he succeeded in doing was to cycle through the Ominis-blush rainbow- from pale pinks to angry reds.
“What? Why?” Ominis said quizzically. Ollivander gently took the wand from Theo and used his own to return the robes to their proper hue.
They continued in this fashion for over a half an hour, each wand yielding similar results. None performed particularly poorly, but none felt overwhelmingly right, either. Theo was beginning to lose confidence.
“You’re a particularly tricky customer, it seems. Hang on, I may have just the one in the back- freshly made, not once waved yet.” Ollivander disappeared to the back of the shop once again, but Theo didn't hold out much hope- he’d made similar claims about a dozen wands by now. He looked over to Ominis, who had taken a seat and was patiently waiting.
“Ominis, you can go if you’d like- who knows how much longer this may take,” Theo said dejectedly. Ominis shook his head,
“No, I’m afraid I’m far too invested. Most times new wizards come here, the effects when they wave an improper wand are more… destructive. It’s quite curious that you seem to be able to manage with any one of them, yet none has truly cleaved to you.” Theo rolled his eyes. Great, another weird quirk to add to his resume. Ollivander trundled back into the room, yet another box in his hands.
“I think we’ve got it this time,” he said as he opened the box, revealing a warm brownish-orange wand. “Yew wood, 14 inches with a phoenix feather core. Surprisingly swishy.”
Theo reached out to grab it, but before his fingers could even brush the box, the wand itself jumped up to meet his hand. Theo gripped it tightly, and a warm, pleasant tingling began to reverberate in his right hand. It was wholly different from all the others. With a bit of trepidation, he gave it a long, flourishing wave. Instantly, everything around him began to float- hundreds of wand boxes, chairs, even Ollivander and Ominis were lifted a few inches from the ground.
“Wha- Hey! Merlin, why does this keep happening to me?!” Protested Ominis as he flailed his arms about.
They only hovered for a few moments, before being gently placed back down, exactly in their original positions- not a wand box askew. Theo could only look, stunned, at the tool in his hands.
“Exceptional!” cried Ollivander as his feet touched the floor. “I dare say the two of you are a match made in heaven- what a wonderful display!” Theo could not disagree- the wand he was using before felt nothing like this. Senses returning to him, he whipped around.
“Oh- are you alright, Ominis?” he asked worriedly. Ominis let out a dry chuckle.
“Quite alright. As you know, I’ve had much harsher descents from the sky.”
Chapter Text
They found Sebastian gazing longingly into a window display of brooms at Spintwitches, holding a number of items in his arms.
“Do a spot of shopping yourself?” Theo inquired as they approached. Sebastian frowned.
“Certainly not. The two of you were taking far too long, so I, the generous soul that I am, took the liberty of picking up the rest of your items for you,” He replied, shoving the books and ingredients into Theo’s arms.
“That’s… surprisingly kind of you. Thanks, Sebastian.”
He shrugged. “Not like I had to pay for it. Weasley took care of that.”
Theo packed his new belongings carefully into his bookbag, and then looked up expectantly at his companions.
“Well, that’s all I needed. Should we head back to Hogwarts now?”
“Not a chance! I believe I was promised a butterbeer for my troubles?” Sebastian protested, and the other two boys chuckled.
“Very well, I suppose you’ve earned one-” Theo was stopped mid-sentence by an odd rumbling that seemed to be getting louder with every passing second. “Is that- normal in Hogsmeade?” Theo didn't receive a response to his question, but he didn't need one- a single look at the confusion on the faces of the other two boys was answer enough. All three of them drew their wands.
With a thunderous crash, a gigantic troll burst through the wall of a building, swinging a thick club wildly and making absolutely horrific gurgles and roars. Sebastian and Theo instinctively stepped in front of Ominis and began to fire off spells in the troll's direction. Most of them, however, bounced off of it harmlessly, due to a sinister black armor that made Theo’s heart sink. He recognized that armor.
“Is that… Is that a troll?!” The fear was apparent in Ominis’ voice, and red waves pulsated out of his wand widely as he tried to get a read on the situation. Fortunately, a group of Hogsmeade citizens, led by a woman in an officer's uniform, had arrived on the scene and were bombarding the massive creature with all manner of spells.
“Lure it away from town!” Theo heard one of them exclaim, and the group retreated toward the edge of Hogsmeade, followed by the furious troll. The Slytherin trio had no time to breathe a sigh of relief, however. The familiar rumbling returned, and soon a second troll exploded out from the alley behind them. It too was wearing that familiar dark armor.
“Two of them? Bloody hell!” Sebastian shouted, grabbing Ominis by the arm and dragging him away from their new adversary. Theo attempted to hold the troll off, but there was little his spells could do. The beast continued to fling its club around and roar madly, crushing everything in its wake. He began desperately levitating and firing a range of objects at it- rocks, wooden boxes, anything he could- which succeeded in keeping it at bay for a few moments. Sebastian rejoined the fray, launching curses at it from a distance and avoiding its attacks as well. The battle was almost dance-like- the troll would swing its hefty club in an effort to smash Theo, who would quickly dodge and launch one of his improvised projectiles, greatly agitating it, while Sebastian did the same.
They continued in this manner for some time, neither side able to land a decisive blow, and Theo could begin to sense exhaustion taking hold of him. A look at Sebastian’s heaving frame told him that he was feeling the same. They could not keep up like this- a retreat may be necessary. Before he could call out to his companions, however, the troll took a swing at him, and his exhaustion caused him to move just a moment too late. The club only grazed his leg, but it was enough to cause him to lose balance and tumble backwards into a stack of rubbish. Theo groaned in pain as the troll approached, readying a killing blow.
“Theo!” Sebastian screamed, and began casting wildly at the troll to draw its attention. Hearing Sebastian’s desperate cry, Ominis, who had thus far been taking shelter behind a flower cart, sprung out, levitated the cart and hurled it directly at the troll.
Ominis’ plan worked a bit too well. The cart struck the troll in the back of the head, and the monster howled in pain before setting its sights on Ominis, charging right at him. Sebastian sent a barrage of futile jinxes to divert the troll’s attention to him, but they bounced off and it raged on. Theo, wincing in pain, shakily got back on his two feet, just in time to see the troll seconds away from smashing Ominis to paste.
“No!” Theo shouted, as he felt a peculiar but familiar power flow through his veins. His wand began to emanate silvery whisps, and Theo knew instinctively what to do. He pointed his wand to the sky, and a stormcloud formed instantly above the troll's head. With a powerful downward flourish of his wand, a wicked lightning bolt dropped from the cloud, accompanied by a tremendous boom of thunder. The troll, only feet away from Ominis now, froze momentarily at the strike, before collapsing to the ground. Its body twitched slightly, before stilling permanently.
The three boys stood in stunned silence, staring at the lifeless figure. Theo was the first to break, hobble-running over to Ominis.
“It didn’t get you, did it?” he asked nervously, referring both to the troll and the lightning. Ominis was a statue, eyes wide and mouth agape.
“I… What was that? The troll was coming at me, and then… the boom, the smell…” Theo quickly inspected him and was relieved to see that, aside from his obvious shock, he was otherwise unharmed. Sebastian came running up behind them.
“Yes, I’d like to know exactly what that was as well,” he said, a mixture of awe and apprehension in his voice and eyes. “I’ve never seen or even heard of a spell like that before- what kind of wand did Ollivander give you?” A crowd of people started to form around them, whispers being passed around like wildfire. Theo grimaced.
“I’ll promise I’ll explain more later- for now, please, let's just get out of here.” Sebastian searched the other boy's face a moment before nodding. He grabbed Theo’s arm in one hand and Ominis’ in another, pulling them through the crowd toward a less occupied part of the town.
As they walked, an uncomfortable silence fell over them. Theo’s mind was racing- it couldn't have been pure coincidence that those trolls, wearing that distinctive armor, had struck Hogsmeade when he’d arrived, could it? No, he was sure they were somehow related to the incident at Gringotts the day of his trip to Hogwarts. Theo was so lost in thought that he didn't notice that Ominis had stopped walking until Sebastian pulled him back.
“What is it, Ominis?” Sebastian asked, his voice low.
“Shh… I hear someone. He’s talking about ‘the new student,’ and it doesn't sound good.” Panic rose in Theo’s chest.
“Where are they?” he whispered. Ominis put a finger to his lips and waved his wand, casting a spell that rendered him mostly invisible, though the translucence of his body allowed his vague shape to be seen as he moved. Sebastian cast the same charm on himself and Theo, and they began to follow Ominis, all three of them crouched to best conceal themselves. Ominis guided them through a tight alley that diverged into another near the end. He paused at the corner of their junction.
“Around there,” he whispered. Theo and Sebastian took turns peeking their heads around the corner, where two men, one wearing a noticeably gaudy top hat and the other in suspenders, were speaking in hushed tones. Sebastian’s quiet, sharp gasp at the sight of them unnerved Theo. He strained his ears to listen to them.
“...and he’s not going to be pleased when he hears this. I mean, trolls? Really? What were you thinking?!” Theo could just make out what the top-hat man was saying. The suspender-clad man shrugged.
“I thought they’d be more than enough to take out a child. It almost did get him- but then those other two brats interfered and he did that weird thunder thing-”
“No excuses!” Top-hat man hissed. “You know as well as I do- that won't be enough for Ranrok.” Theo’s blood ran cold, and he felt a wave of nausea run over him. He pulled the other two boys away from the corner- he did not want to hear anymore.
When they exited the ally and were sufficiently far away from the two men, Ominis and Sebastian dispelled their charms, and Theo took off in a speed-walk towards Hogwarts. The other two raced to catch up with him.
“Do you know who that was?!” Sebastian asked breathlessly. “Victor Rookwood! What the hell have you done to piss someone like that off?!”
“ The Victor Rookwood?! The gang leader?! That’s who that was?!” Ominis exclaimed. “Why would he want you dead, Theodore?” Theo gripped his temples- his head had started to throb.
“I don’t… I don’t know for sure,” he stammered, “but that name he mentioned- Ranrok- that’s a goblin I met once before, in a vault at Gringotts.”
“Ranrok… I thought that name was familiar!” Cried Sebastian. “His name’s been all over the papers- been rounding up goblins for his crusade against wizardkind!”
Theo sighed. “Yes, that’s what Professor Fig said. There’s so much to explain, and so much I still don’t understand…” He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Ominis.
“If you’re not ready to tell us, that’s fine. But we’re here to listen, and help if we can- it’s what friends should do for one another, remember?” Quoting Theo to himself? He couldn't help but crack a smile.
“Alright, I suppose it’s only fair I explain a bit given I’ve now dragged the both of you into this mess,” he took a deep breath, and told them everything, from the very beginning, about his experience with ancient magic.
He’d always been able to see those odd, silvery wisps. They were only in certain places, of course, but they were all around. He’d learned not to mention them- when he was a child, most people passed his observations about “silver fire” as nothing more than an overactive imagination, but as he aged, he realized people began to regard him as an oddity. Still, he could not help but be drawn to them- which is why he began tailing a woman who passed him one day, holding an object positively emanating with the stuff.
He was mesmerized, following her in a daze, until she’d led him to a back alley and whipped out her wand, demanding to know why he’d been following her. He apologized bashfully, and told her about the strange energy around her item- could she see it too? She looked shocked, and cautiously handed it to him. It sang to him as he grasped it and opened to his touch, revealing an odd-looking key. The woman screamed in delight, and asked him what a child of his magical ability was doing outside of Hogwarts. He stared at her blankly in response. That’s how he’d met Miriam Fig.
She’d insisted to her husband that Theo be admitted to Hogwarts, though, because the school term was already well underway, he would not be able to join until the next term started, which would be his fifth year. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fig visited him in that time, instructing him on some basics of magic and even giving him a wand to practice with. Then, one day, both stopped coming. It was two months before Professor Fig returned to him, sadly informing Theo that Miriam had passed away under mysterious circumstances.
The day finally came when he was to enter Hogwarts, and Professor Fig would accompany him- though he insisted on making a stop to Gringotts first. The key that had been in the item Theo opened all those months ago, Fig explained, unlocked a vault there. Unfortunately, a dragon attack on their carriage claimed the life of Fig’s colleague George Osric, but the other two had made it to Gringotts unscathed. Descending into the depths of the earth, they reached vault 12.
After being locked in, Theo realized that the entire place was bewitched with ancient magic, and used his innate abilities in controlling it to carve a path through for both he and Fig. Through tests of skill and battles with sentient suits of armor, the pair had at last made it into the final room, where a strange basin showed two men creating the vault, one of them using the same strange magic Theo used. That’s when Ranrok, clothed in eerie black armor, had shown up, demanding the contents of the vault. Theo and Fig escaped from him by the skins of their teeth.
“... And that’s why I was late to the sorting, and why Ranrok’s after me. He thinks I have something that he wants,” Theo sighed as he finished his tale. “Fig has been trying to learn more about Ranrok’s plots, and I… I don’t really know what to do. I was so excited to be going to a school of magic, learning about it with people like me- now I’m being targeted by gangs, fighting for my life, putting you both in danger… it’s more than I bargained for.” He stole a glance at his friends. Sebastian’s eyes were wide with incredulity, repeatedly opening his mouth as if to say something, then closing it when no words came out. He could not read much emotion from Ominis’ pensive face, but he remained silent as well. Theo cleared his throat and continued. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”
“You just get more and more intriguing, don't you?” Sebastian whistled. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that. I have about a million questions- was that lightning ancient magic? What else can you do with it? What does a goblin want with ancient magic? How-”
“Shush Sebastian,” Ominis halted the barrage of questions. “The last thing he needs is an interrogation.” Theo smiled.
“It’s alright, Ominis, though I’m afraid I have more questions than answers myself. But yes, what I did to that troll was definitely some form of ancient magic- though that was the first time I’ve used it for anything destructive. I didn’t even really know what I was doing. It was like my wand was moving on its own.”
“Fascinating…” murmured Sebastian, regarding Theo in amazement, making him exceptionally uncomfortable.
“Frankly, I don’t even know what to say. Even by Hogwarts standards, this is mad. Rebellions? Ancient magic? Gangs? And you, at the center of it all?” Ominis shook his head. “I do appreciate you telling us, though- it does explain quite a few things. And you can be sure that this information will stay between us- right , Sebastian?” Ominis elbowed his friend, who was still distractedly mooning over Theo.
“Oh, yes, absolutely. I’m a veritable vault of secrets. Shan’t tell a soul,” He mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key.
“Thank you both. Part of me still hopes it’ll resolve on its own, and I can be a normal student- after today, though, I doubt that’s possible.”
“Let’s discuss it no further, then,” suggested Ominis, though it looked like Sebastian wanted to do quite the opposite. “I’m guessing neither of you has begun the 10 inches of Charms homework due tomorrow? Let’s talk about that.” Sebastian groaned, but gratitude washed over Theo, and he felt his spirits lift a bit.
“I haven’t, but I’m not particularly worried about it.” he said, smirking.
“And why is that? Professor Ronen is ruthless when it comes to his assignments- he’ll notice if you half-ass it. Believe me, I know,” grumbled Sebastian. Theo rummaged through his book bag and pulled out a few pages of parchment which he waved in the air.
“You didn't really think I’d subject myself to an hour and a half of Leander’s babbling through Herbology just for some tawdry gossip, did you?” The other two boys looked quizzical. “He let slip early on about an older sibling of his who kept all of her assignments from past years, and he was more than happy to share the spoils with his new friend. I’d almost feel bad taking such blatant advantage of him- had he not talked about two of my favorite Slytherins so disparagingly.” Sebastian howled with laughter, while Ominis looked disapproving.
“Cheating already? Shouldn’t you of all people be focusing on your work to catch up with the rest of us?” Theo shrugged.
“I’m more of a practical learner- hands-on experience is a far better tutor than some assignment.”
“Well, I think it’s brilliant,” said Sebastian, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Of course you would, Sebastian,” Ominis shot back, “Theodore is essentially an improved version of you- all your deviousness, with higher intelligence and charisma to boot. I had my hands full managing only your antics, now, with the two of you…” he shook his head grimly. “I fear for my sanity.” Theo felt a bit of heat rise to his face at the compliment- Ominis thought he was charming? He hated how such an inconspicuous comment could make his heart beat so much faster, but pushed the thought aside, reveling in the feeling instead.
“He is not smarter than me- and who are you to be judging someone else’s charisma? You could've learned a thing or two about social skills from that troll back there!” Sebastian protested.
“Sebastian! How could you?” Theo feigned indignance, and patted Ominis on the back, allowing his hand to linger there for a few moments longer than he probably should have. “Don’t listen to him, Ominis- I was positively dazzled by your charm when we first met.” He played it off as a joke, but Theo’s words were more fact than fiction.
Ominis rolled his eyes. The trio bickered playfully all the way back to Hogwarts, the severity of their incident in Hogsmeade fading to the backs of their minds.
Notes:
Sorry about the backstory dump in the middle there- I needed to get that info out since I kinda deviated a lot from the story of the game lol.
Chapter Text
“Stup-”
“Glacius!” Theo’s spell activated first, hitting Astoria Crickett head-on. She froze instantly, wand still raised in an offensive position. Cheers erupted from around the room- though Theo could easily pick out the loudest of all. Sebastian’s joyful whoops were quite distinctive, after all. A small Gryffindor boy scurried out onto the battlefield and raised Theo’s arm into the air- though, because he was so much smaller, he only got it about halfway up.
“Another victory for the newcomer- and what a great show, was it not?!” He cried, and another ovation resounded through the clocktower courtyard. “Thank you all for coming- our next match will be held this coming Saturday, same time and place. Will anyone be able to best this Slytherin upstart?” As the heated energy of the room died down, the small boy turned to Theo. “That was excellent! I must say, when I heard that Sebastian was bested in a duel, by a new student no less, I thought it had to have been a fluke- he’s one of the best. But I can see now why he invited you. We’re positively chuffed to have you here at Crossed Wands- your duels are thrilling!” Theo chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm.
“Thank you, Lucan. I didn’t really know what Sebastian was getting me into, but I’m glad I joined. It’s brilliant that you’ve set something like this up.” Lucan beamed, and bounded off happily to assist the two Ravenclaws who were trying to gently thaw out their still-frozen housemate.
“Haven’t seen you use that one before- been learning illicit spells without me? I feel betrayed,” Sebastian had made his way over from the sidelines.
“Courtesy of my first lesson with Professor Hecat last night. She thought it would be a good one to have in my arsenal, and I’m quite pleased I got to try it out so soon.”
“I thought Fig was your mentor?” Theo smirked and shrugged.
“What can I say? It seems my talent is such that all of my instructors would like a hand in molding me. Perhaps if you applied yourself a bit more to your studies, you could find a dedicated advisor as well. I have heard that Professor Binns is looking for a protege- could be perfect for you.” Sebastian socked him in the arm playfully as the pair exited the courtyard.
“Come off your high horse. Arrogance doesn't look nearly as good on you as it does on me. Where are you headed now?”
“Library, I’m meeting Ominis there to study. Would you like to join us?” Sebastian shook his head.
“No, thank you. I find the library to be dreadfully boring during the day. I much prefer my midnight visits- when I can get into the restricted section.”
“So naughty, Mr. Sallow,” scolded Theo, “But the whole concept of a ‘restricted section’ in a library doesn't make much sense in my mind, to be honest. Why lock away what could be important information? It’s like the Forbidden Forest- as if the names will keep students away and not stir their curiosities.”
“A man after my own heart- I feel as though I may swoon,” Sebastian joked as he clutched his chest dramatically. “I’ll take you on a tour sometime- but tonight, I have a different excursion in mind. It’s my turn to teach you something new. Meet me at the base of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower before curfew. I have something to show you.”
“I didn’t realize you cared so much about my academic growth, Sebastian.”
“Truly, I don’t. But I think you’ll find the spell I’m going to teach you will pair nicely with that ice magic you did earlier- which I am expecting you to teach me, by the way.” The pair had reached the library now, and Sebastian was just about to take his leave when he paused a moment. “Oh, and… don’t tell Ominis about our meeting, alright?” Theo tilted his head in confusion- he didn’t like the thought of keeping something from his other friend.
“Why not?” he asked.
“You’ll see, it’s just… it’ll be better as a surprise.” With that, Sebastian was off. Theo watched his retreating figure and considered the proposition, deciding to trust the other boy. He wouldn’t purposefully upset his oldest friend, right?
It took Theo a while to locate Ominis in the library. He had tucked himself into a corner of the library on the second floor, well out of the way of any foot traffic.
“You know, If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were ashamed of being seen with me,” Theo remarked as he approached the table. “Why else would you hide away back here?” Ominis snorted.
“Oh, stuff it, Theodore. This is my usual spot- I dislike it immensely when people interrupt me when I’m trying to focus.” Theo grinned.
“So would you like me to leave, then?” Ominis scowled and pulled out the chair next to him.
“Sit,” he commanded, and Theo obliged, beginning to unpack some books and parchment. After a beat, Ominis spoke again. “How was your duel?”
“It was marvelous, thanks for asking! I won, of course,” he replied, puffing out his chest a bit. “I wish you would have come. Sebastian was a great cheerleader, but I think I would’ve fought even harder had I seen you in the crowd. I take things much more seriously when I’m trying to impress someone.” Satisfaction bloomed in Theo’s chest as his words achieved their desired effect- pink began to twinge Ominis’ otherwise pale face and ears.
“Yes, well- you know I hate dueling, and if you were to be caught the whole lot of you would almost certainly receive detention, so I can’t condone you or Sebastian’s participation,” he said hotly, “Though it’s not like my disapproval means much to either of you. Still…” he turned away from Theo in an oddly defiant but also bashful way. “I suppose I wouldn’t mind attending one of your little matches. It’s not like Sebastian hasn’t dragged me into worse situations.”
“It’s sweet that you’d abandon your morals for me, Ominis,” Theo cooed teasingly.
“I am abandoning nothing- I take it all back,” Ominis snapped back with no real bite. “Now please- let’s focus on Potions, yes? It’s the most difficult subject for me.” He turned back to his book. Theo observed him curiously as his fingers trailed along the pages, which were not covered in words but rather an odd series of bumps. It was almost hypnotic to watch- Ominis’ feathery touches barely glanced the pages as he moved through them, and Theo couldn’t help but wonder what that same touch would feel like, were it tracing his own skin. Ominis must have sensed his intense gaze, because he suddenly stopped his ministrations mid-page and turned to Theo accusingly.
“Gawking at the blind now, are we? Have some class, Theodore.” Theo gulped down his embarrassment at being caught staring.
“I’m sorry- I’ve just never seen someone read that way. It’s fascinating,” he admitted.
“It’s called braille,” Ominis explained, “I obviously can’t see printed words, so I convert each of my textbooks to this format so that I can read them with my fingers. Truthfully, I prefer to enchant them to read to me instead, but I’ve found that most people are easily irritated by it. Can’t blame them much, though- each of the books is read out by their author, and you can clearly see why most of them were writers instead of orators. Wretched voices, the lot of them. Here- “ Ominis grabbed Theo’s right hand suddenly causing Theo to sputter. It was very unusual for Ominis to be so forward with his touch- ordinarily it was Theo instigating and Ominis begrudgingly accepting. He guided the other boy’s hand across the page delicately, pressing his fingers down on the ridges, and all Theo could do was revel in the experience.
“You see, this letter here is a ‘D.’ Next, we have ‘I.’ The following pair are the same- both ‘T’s.’ Then, ‘A-N-Y.’ And that’s one word…” It seemed Ominis’ mind had finally caught up with his actions- he realized how intently he was grasping onto Theo’s hand, and quickly pulled away. “B-but it’s not like you need to know that, what with you seeing and all,” he stuttered.
“No, Ominis, please continue,” Theo implored, practically purring. “I know I've knocked book-learning before, but your method is much more… engaging. Please, instruct your eager pupil further.”
Theo was practically floating with elation as he made his way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower that evening. He’d managed to convince Ominis to continue teaching him braille, and the pair had spent the better part of an hour huddled together in the library, their hands brushing against each other constantly as they caressed every page together. The entire affair had been entirely innocent, but sensual nonetheless.
As he reached the meeting point, Theo looked around curiously. Sebastian was nowhere in sight. He settled down to wait for him, only to be caught off guard when he heard an odd creaking noise and footsteps coming from behind him. Sebastian had appeared out of thin air.
“Wha- where on earth did you come from?” Sebastian grinned.
“That’s the secret. Come, follow me.” He led Theo to a nook underneath the stairs, and stopped in front of something that looked to Theo like a strange grandfather clock. He eyed it suspiciously, and then glanced at Sebastian with a wordless question. The other boy responded by tapping his wand against the wooden side of the thing, and the gears inlaid on the front of it began to hum with movement, before opening and revealing a hidden passageway.
“Brilliant! I’d heard that Hogwarts was host to a variety of secret rooms- found a few myself, even- but this one is hidden remarkably well.” Sebastian smirked.
“Welcome to the Undercroft, my friend.” He motioned for Theo to follow him. The room they found themselves in was a dimly lit, vast expanse of arches and pillars, with various knickknacks scattered about. “Ominis, my sister Anne, and I have spent hours down here. It’s kind of like our secret place,” Sebastian explained.
“You haven't mentioned Anne before,” Theo noted. “Was she a student here?” Sebastian nodded, his eyes darkening a bit at the mention of her name.
“Yes… she’s actually my twin, so she should be here with us right now,” he said wistfully. “But she’s been extremely sick for about a year. Can’t even make it through a normal day here, on account of the pain.”
“That’s terrible- I’m so sorry Sebastian.”
“Don’t be. I’m confident she’ll be back to full strength soon enough. Anyway-” Sebastian shook the gloom from his face in an instant, though Theo had an inkling there was more to his feelings than he let on. “That’s not why I called you down here. We can’t all be teachers' pets like you, so we’ve used this place to practice spells not covered by standard Hogwarts curriculum. Have you heard of the blasting curse?” Theo shook his head.
“It’s a long-ranged fire spell. I am particularly fond of the more incendiary, destructive spells myself, but I think you’ll find that this one can come quite in handy as well. Watch-” Sebastian drew his wand, and with a precise flourish along with the word confringo , a ball of fire was sent flying toward one of the hanging lamps, setting it ablaze. Theo took note of his wand movement and the incantation, before whipping out his own.
“Confringo,” he recited, while trying to imitate the wand movement Sebastian had just used. A large rush of fire exploded unexpectedly from his wand, careening upward and singeing the ceiling.
“How does it feel?” Asked Sebastian.
“Hot,” Theo answered truthfully.
“Well, obviously,” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Ominis and I burned our eyebrows right off when we first learned this one, Anne was the only one of us to get it right on the first go. It was mortifying at the time, but a good memory now.”
“I would’ve liked to see that,” Theo chuckled. “How did you three even come across this place?”
“Oh, it was all Ominis- he’s even the one who named it. He’s told you that his family, the Gaunts, are direct descendants of Slytherin, correct? They have all sorts of knowledge about castle secrets that only Salazar Slytherin himself was privy to. It’s all passed through the generations- I’d imagine one of his parents or older brother told him about this place. It’s the reason he’s so secretive about this place- hasn’t shown it off to anyone except me and Anne. And, well, now you too, I guess, by proxy.” Panic began to rise in Theo’s chest.
“ That’s why you didn’t want me to tell Ominis- he’d have figured out what you were up to and you knew he’d be pissed!” Sebastian shrugged.
“You don’t need to get all bent out of shape. I don’t know why he hasn’t shown it to you yet- you’ve trusted the both of us with your secrets, why shouldn’t we return the favor? This is a great place to practice our dueling where no one can bother us.”
Theo remained disconcerted with the whole situation. “I don’t know… it seems like Ominis should have been involved in the decision, at the very least.”
“Relax, Theo. I’ll tell him when the time comes- after all these years, I must say that I’m quite good at getting him to forgive me. You needed a place to practice, you’re our friend. It’s as simple as that. Come, now, and teach me that freezing spell.”
Theo exited the Undercroft still feeling guilty about Sebastian’s deception toward Ominis, but could not deny that he had an otherwise thrilling time there. Ominis had been correct in his appraisal that Theo and Sebastian were similar in many ways. They’d played around with their new respective spells for hours, until long past curfew, like giddy children playing with new toys. Chasing each other around the pillars of the Undercroft, firing an untold number of Glacius and Confringo spells which burst into steam and water when they collided. On occasion, their spells would avoid collision and fly directly at their bodies, always ending up with one of them slightly scorched or flash-frozen to the ground, and the other laughing mercilessly.
The Undercroft door creaked as it let him through, and Theo checked his pocket watch- he was far past curfew. Better use disillusionment-
“Is that you, Sebastian?” a familiar voice rang out, snapping Theo from his thoughts and freezing him in place. “I thought you might be here- have you got any idea where Theodore is? He’s not in our dorm-” Ominis dispelled his disillusionment charm, becoming fully visible under the moonlight filtering through the windows. He paused for a moment as his wand emanated its trademark red pulsations. “Hang on a moment- you’re not Sebastian… Theodore?!”
“...Hi, Ominis,” replied Theo meekly.
“Did you just come from the Undercroft?! How did you get in there?!” Ominis’ voice was frighteningly low, conveying his level of rage while also maintaining a degree of convertness.
“W-well, I-” Ominis put up a hand, stopping him mid sentence.
“Save whatever lie you’re concocting. It was Sebastian, wasn’t it?” Theo, once again, could not stammer out a few syllables before being cut off again. “That RAT! He knows how important this place is to me- to my family! What was he thinking, showing it to you- someone we’ve known all of a month, and a muggle-born no less?!”
That last part stung Theo to his core. Plenty of Slytherins had looked down on him, called him ‘mudblood’ in hushed voices when they thought he couldn’t hear them, sneering at his placement in Slytherin. But never Ominis. Ominis, the one who also felt like an outsider in Slytherin. Ominis, who made him feel proud to be a muggle-born Slytherin. Ominis, the one who, just hours before, everything had felt so right with. It was all he could do to look down at his feet sadly, a feeling of sickness swelling in his throat and dropping down to his stomach.
“I-I’m sorry Ominis. I didn’t mean-”
“I don’t care what you meant,” he said severely. “This was not a place you should have been in. Sebastian is going to get an earful about this.” Without another word, Ominis entered the Undercroft, leaving Theo behind with a familiar, unwelcome sense of sadness that had not gripped him in a long while.
Notes:
sad :'(
Chapter 7
Notes:
Bit of a longer chapter- really starting to feel the flow of this story now. Might go back and edit some earlier chapters for better continuity, but for now, enjoy!
Chapter Text
Nerida Roberts was the only one in the Slytherin common room when Theo returned after his incident at the Undercroft. She had made a habit from the beginning of the year of spending nights camped out next to the giant windows that looked out into the Black Lake, trying to give credence to her theory that mermaids were in fact nocturnal, and that’s why none had ever been spotted peering in through the windows. It was a common occurrence to find her passed out in the mornings, face pressed up against the window with drool dribbling down the pane and wand still alight with Lumos.
Theo must have looked out of sorts, because Nerida didn’t even comment on his late arrival, only shooting him a concerned look and asking “Are you alright, Theo? You look quite shaken.” Theo was not in the mood for conversation, so he plastered on a smile he knew looked genuine- years of practice had proven as much.
“Just a bit tired, Nerida, but thanks for your concern- you and the other fifth-year Slytherins have been so welcoming,” he said sweetly, “I really appreciate it. In fact, if there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask- your work with the merpeople would be quite worth my time.”
Nerida brightened at that, and Theo waved goodbye as he headed off to his room, collapsing on his mattress and drawing the curtains that surrounded his four-poster bed. He laid there, trying to sort out the intense mixture of emotions he was experiencing for some time. Was he angry at Ominis? No, not really- he understood that Ominis had a right to be upset, though the concentrated disdain thrown Theo’s way did feel unwarranted- especially the bit about him being muggle-born. He decided he didn't really want to speak with either of them, however, so when he heard his two roommates enter later that night he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, not wanting to be involved in any further conflict. He heard the curtains of his bed rustle, and through a slightly peeped open eyelid, he saw a head stick itself through them, before hastily withdrawing.
“He’s asleep,” Sebastian whispered. “We can talk to him in the morning.”
If Ominis replied, Theo didn’t hear it. He laid there awake for some time, turning the event over in his mind, until sleep gripped him at last.
Fortunately, Theo woke up earlier than the other two boys the next morning- a rare occurrence to be sure, but a welcome one. He slipped on his uniform and robes silently before creeping out of the Slytherin common room, making his way toward the Great Hall. He was relieved to see Natty sitting at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast already. He plopped down next to her, drawing the ire of a few nearby Gryffindors, but a sharp look from Natty turned their attentions back toward their food.
“G’morning Natty,” Theo greeted blearily.
“Are you alright Theo? You look unwell today,” she questioned.
“Yes, just didn’t have the best night’s sleep- got in a fight with Ominis last night. Well, not so much a fight as a verbal lashing,” he admitted.
“Really? That is odd. I thought the two of you were getting along very well- just yesterday I spied the two of you in the library pressed awfully close together. You were so concentrated on each other I did not even want to impose my presence,” she said, a slight sparkle in her eyes. Theo could not even muster the appropriate blush for such an obvious innuendo.
“Things were going great between the two of us, but then… Well, it's complicated. Sebastian told me a secret of Ominis’ that he shouldn’t have, and Ominis blew up at me when he found out,” Theo took a deep breath before revealing what really unnerved him. “And then, he made a comment about me being a muggle-born.”
“He didn’t call you a- that word, did he?” A third voice had chimed in to their conversation, and Theo turned to see a boy with fiery red hair leaning intently toward them over the table. He recognized him from some classes they shared- he was certainly a fellow fifth-year, and was certainly overstepping his bounds. Theo looked around self-consciously to see if anyone else was listening in, but the Great Hall was fairly empty and no one other than the redhead seemed to be paying him much mind. Natty sighed in annoyance.
“I’m sorry- who are you?” Theo asked. Natty sighed, frustration written on her face.
“This is a private conversation, Garreth. Stop your eavesdropping,” she instructed, flinging a bit of egg in his direction.
Garreth narrowly avoided the projectile, but ignored her and stretched out a hand to Theo instead. He shook it dubiously. “Nice to officially meet you, Theo- I’m Garreth Weasley. We’ve been in some classes together. To answer the questions I’m sure you have about me: Yes, as if the hair and last name don’t make it obvious enough, Professor Weasley is my aunt. Yes, I am the best potioneer in our grade. And yes, I am single,” he said the last line with an eyebrow waggle that would have made Theo laugh had he not still been torn up about his situation with Ominis. Garreth began to lean towards them even more, practically climbing over the table. “But enough about me. Did he, you know, use that word?” Natty palmed Garreth’s face and pushed him back to his side, but gave Theo an inquisitive look that said she wanted to know the answer as well.
“I- no, of course not,” Theo said slightly defensively. Garreth shrugged.
“Don’t know the man myself, but I wouldn’t put it past a Gaunt to be offensive like that. It would hardly be the worst thing one of them has done. Giving us purebloods a bad name is all they’re really good at-”
“But you said Ominis is quite unlike his family in that regard, correct?” Natty interrupted. Theo nodded.
“Yeah… he’s the one who told me about blood status in the first place, how it was rare for a muggle-born to get sorted into Slytherin to begin with, and that others might give me trouble because of it. But he was pretty miffed last night… Maybe it just slipped out. I think he and Sebastian may have wanted to talk to me this morning, but to be honest, I’d rather give them both some space. The three of us have been spending a lot of time together, maybe we just need a break.”
Without warning, Garreth shoved some plates of food out of the way and sat in the middle of the table, swinging his legs over to the other side and taking a seat in between Natty and Theo, wrapping his arms around both of their shoulders.
“Well mate, you can stick with us Gryffindors for the day- think we’ve got most of our classes together today anyway, and I’ve been eager to meet students who’ve got a little more of an ‘edge’ to ‘em. Too many goody-goodies in Gryffindor, you know. Don’t make that face, Natty- I’m not talking about you, I know you can be a fiend- but hanging out with a Slytherin will seriously enhance my ‘cool and dangerous’ factor.”
Theo cracked a smile- he hated to admit it, but he was already enjoying Garreth’s goofily gregarious attitude. It had certainly livened his mood.
“That actually sounds pretty decent, thanks Garreth,” Theo agreed, and paused before adding a stipulation. “As long as one of you can defend me from Leander. That was the great benefit of hanging around Ominis and Sebastian- he balked at the sight of them.” Garreth grinned.
“You think I’d have survived in Gryffindor for this long if I hadn’t developed some fool-proof Prewett evasion strategies? Currently, I’m working on a potion I call “Prewett Repellant’- patent pending- that will make the drinker smell like dugbog dung to Leander, but be odorless for everyone else…”
Theo ended up spending the next few days with his Gryffindors, and avoiding his roommates altogether. He went to sleep and woke up early to avoid any time alone with them in their dormitory, selected different seats in all of his classes with them, and came up with excuses to avoid speaking to Sebastian when he approached- Garreth had been particularly helpful in that regard.
Theo was heading back to the library one day, but had been cornered by Sebastian on the way. Garreth appeared out of nowhere and pulled Theo away. “Oh, sorry Sallow, Theodore can’t speak with you right now, he’s agreed to tutor me for our upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts exam. My aunt insisted he be the one to do it- only the absolute best duelist in our grade is fit to coach her favorite, darling nephew!” With that, Theo was spirited away, leaving behind a fuming Sebastian.
It wasn’t the most mature way of handling things, Theo knew, but the conflicted feelings of guilt and hurt still bubbled inside of him. Plus, it had only been Sebastian who’d attempted to speak with him- Ominis remained at a distance.
Saturday came, and with it Theo’s next match with the Crossed Wands Dueling Club. He arrived with Natty, who was also a member, and they’d managed to needle Lucan into allowing Garreth to watch as well.
“Well, I suppose if you’ll vouch for him, Theo, it’s alright,” Lucan had said uncertainly, eying his older housemate with suspicion. “But he can’t breathe a word of our activities to his aunt, alright? We’ve got a nice system going.” Garreth feigned hurt at Lucan’s words.
“Just because my aunt is the deputy headmistress, does everyone assume I’m a tattler in the same league as that rat, Duncan Hobbhouse? Your suppositions wound me grievously, young Lucan-” Theo cut off his dramatic monologue.
“Thank you, Lucan, I promise he won’t be any trouble, and thank you for setting up another match for me so quickly. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
That was no exaggeration- dueling had become a favorite pastime of his since his arrival at Hogwarts. The combination of mental agility and physicality of it got his blood racing in a way few other things did. It made him feel alive and powerful, giving him a sense of control that he’d lacked for the better part of his young life. And, he had to admit- the compliments and looks of admiration he received as victory prizes weren’t too bad either. He took his place at the opposite end of their makeshift arena.
“All right then, folks, let’s get the first match of the weekend underway!” Lucan announced in a booming voice that was surprising coming from a kid of his stature. “In the right corner, we have Eric Norcott- the Dynamo of Depulso! When push comes to shove, this Gryffindor will do exactly that- he’ll shove you right into a wall with that powerful signature spell of his!” A mixture of boos and cheers resounded throughout the Clocktower Entrance.
“And in the left corner, currently undefeated at 4 wins with no losses, we’ve got the savage Slytherin, the Frigid Foreigner- Theodore Horvat! Will he meet his match today, or rise to the occasion and defend his legacy?!” Theo felt a swell of pride when he heard mostly cheers coming from the small crowd. He scanned the room, finding Natty and Garreth among the group, though they were not cheering that much. Garreth was cringing, and Natty’s eyes darted over to a far corner of the room. Theo followed her gaze, blood running cold when he noticed familiar red pulses emanating from the area.
It seemed Ominis, for what Theo could assume was some cruel prank, had taken him up on his invitation to watch him duel. He leaned against the wall next to Sebastian, with his wand extended, his eyes averted from Theo’s direction. Sebastian’s eyes, however, were locked on to Theo, along with an irritating smirk that caused Theo to flush with annoyance and turn away. Why now? He groaned internally. To get back at him for blowing them off? Theo was so lost in his thoughts he almost didn't register when Lucan called for the match to begin, barely ducking low enough as the first spell from Eric flew by, only centimeters from his head.
Theo cursed it all. He was far too distracted to put up a good fight, and Eric quickly gained the upper hand. One final Depulso knocked him off his feet, and Lucan had called the round.
“It seems Theo has finally met his match- let’s hear it for our new reigning champion, Eric Northcott!” Theo muttered a string of unrepeatable curses as he got to his feet, Natty and Garreth rushing over to help him up.
“Are you alright-” Natty began, but Theo brushed her off.
“Fine, Natty, thanks. Just a bit humiliated, and more than a little pissed, to be honest,” Theo glared daggers toward Sebastian and Ominis, but they were not wearing the shit-eating grins that he was expecting. Ominis looked purely confused, and Sebastian was stone-faced. “I think I’m going to head back to my common room,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Are you sure? Won’t they follow you?” Garreth asked worriedly.
“Let them.”
They did, as Garreth predicted, follow Theo back to their shared room. Theo was out for blood when they entered.
“Thank you both so much for that!” he practically shouted as the pair closed the door behind them. “It was a clever plan, really. Never been interested in dueling until you want to get back at me, huh, Ominis? And Sebastian- I bet you’re just thrilled to bits you’ve got a little less competition in the dueling circle,” He knew his words were harsh and didn’t even fully believe them himself, but he didn’t really care at the moment. That is, until he saw the effect his words had on Ominis- the shorter boy had shrunk meekly, almost cowering behind Sebastian. Some, but not all, of his anger dissipated at the sight. He took a seat on his bed and crossed his arms, averting his gaze from the other two.
“Stop it, Theo, you’re being unreasonable. You have to know that wasn’t our intention.” It was odd to hear Sebastian react so coolly to his accusations. “I thought it might be a good way to get you to talk to us again- suppose it sort of worked, in that regard. But I didn't think you’d get so in your head about it that you’d lose- and frankly I’m surprised you’re this pissed about losing a single match.” Theo glared at him.
“Yes, I suppose you’re comfortable enough with losing at this point- I, on the other hand, don’t really care for it,” he responded, his voice dripping in venom, satisfied that his words had finally managed to get a rise out of Sebastian.
“Stop, both of you,” Ominis croaked, stepping out from behind Sebastian. “Theodore, I understand you’re upset with me, but please, don’t take it out on Sebastian. He was only trying to help me.” As instructed, Theo shifted the target of his frustrations.
“Ah, finally deigning to speak with the lowly mudblood, are we?”
“He never-!” Sebastian began indignantly, but Ominis cut him off.
“Don’t call yourself that,” he said so sharply that Theo was thrown off, and could not come up with a retort. “Sebastian, please leave us.” Sebastian stared the other two down for a while, before leaving with a huff, slamming the door behind him. Ominis sighed and approached Theo gingerly, taking a seat next to him. Once again, Theo was rendered speechless, and did not move.
“Please, just give me a chance to explain. You have a right to be angry with me, and I’m sorry that my presence cost you your duel today. However, that was not my intention,” Ominis paused, as if to give Theo a chance to spit another retort, but he remained silent, so Ominis continued. “Truthfully, I was… um, well, very pleased when you asked me to attend your dueling event, when we were studying together at the library,” he admitted softly. “I’d made up my mind that I would go to your next one, to support you, but then… then I made a mess of things when I encountered you outside the Undercroft. Sebastian still thought my presence at today's match might serve as an olive branch of sorts, but that message was clearly lost.” The ice coating Theo’s heart at the moment melted a bit at the admission. Theo followed up with an admission of his own.
“I thought you hated me, after hearing how angry you were. That’s why I got so riled up when I saw you’d come today- I thought you were messing with me.”
“Absolutely not!” Ominis exclaimed, shaking his head frantically. “I fear we had a rather major misunderstanding that night. When I went over what I said to you in my head, and with Sebastian, afterwards, he was aghast with the way I reacted, as was I. I let my emotions get the better of me, and did not grant you the explanation you deserved, and for that, I apologize. But I assure you, my words did not come from the place you must have assumed they did- not that I’m blaming you, of course, that was a fully logical conclusion to draw on your part…” Ominis trailed off, struggling to find the right words.
“I’m rambling. Let me start at the beginning- I believe Sebastian has already told you that the location of the Undercroft is a secret held solely by the members of my family, yes?” Theo nodded hesitantly. “My father revealed its location to me and each of my siblings when we were first enrolled in Hogwarts- amongst other secrets. As I told you before, my family can be quite terrible to those they think deserve it, which is why I advised you- and still advise you- to avoid them at all costs.”
The realization of what Ominis meant that night was beginning to dawn on Theo. It was fear, not anger or hatred, that gave Ominis’ voice that frightful tone. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner?! Regret began creeping into Theo’s entire being as he began to connect the dots.
“I was not implying that you shouldn’t be in there because you are a muggle-born, that it’s some sort of palace only purebloods should access. I only meant that, if my brother Marvolo were to catch you in there, well I…” Ominis swallowed hard. “I can’t even bear to imagine what he would do to you. My whole wretched family despises muggles, and muggle-borns just as much- if not more so- for being ‘thieves of magic.’ And I know firsthand what they’re capable of,” Ominous drew a sharp breath. “Have you heard of the Cruciatus curse?”
“Only in passing,” Theo replied quietly. All anger he had felt earlier had vanished, replaced by dread, guilt, and self-flagellation.
“It’s one of three curses deemed Unforgivable by the Ministry- their effects are so horrendous on the human body and mind, that the use of one on another person will most often land the caster a cell in Azkaban, if they’re caught. Crucio is the torture curse- it inflicts such wicked pain and suffering on victim that oftentimes, they beg for death instead. I was a second-year when Marvolo used it on me for the first time.” Horror contorted Theo’s face.
“Wha- why?! How could he-” Theo couldn’t even finish his sentence. Ominis closed his eyes.
“They liked to bring muggles in, and torture them for sport- especially my Father and my brother. It was so sickening… I always hid in my closet when they did it, but I couldn’t escape the screams. One day, though, when they thought I was old enough, they forced me to be present as they did unspeakable things to a poor muggle man. I begged them to stop- and they said that they would, but only if I cast the Cruciatus curse on him myself. Of course, I refused, but that enraged them even more. They told me if I didn’t, they would cast it on me instead. I still refused, and… the pain… Merlin, it was so terrible, Theodore, you can’t imagine-” Ominis’ voice cracked, and Theo could see tears hovering at the edges of his eyes, threatening to fall. Theo scooted close to him and wrapped him in a tight hug.
“You don’t have to say anymore, Ominis,” Theo tried to soothe him, “I’m sorry I made you relive all this- and I’m so sorry for how I’ve acted the past few days- today especially. God, if only I’d listened to you earlier…” Ominis sniffled but shook his head.
“You didn’t know, and I didn’t explain well enough. But I need to tell you the whole thing. You- the whole world deserves to know the atrocities my family has committed, a-and how I was a part of it,” he stammered, but there was a resolve in his voice. “I did it. I cursed that helpless man. I just… I couldn’t take it anymore. I would have done anything to make it stop, and I did. I’m just as guilty as the rest of my family.” Theo’s heart snapped.
“Don’t you dare say that,” he growled. “Never say that to me again, or even think it. You were a goddamn child , Ominis- suffering, tortured by the people who were supposed to love you,” Theo struggled to stop from tearing up himself. “It’s a miracle that you were able to become the kind-hearted, smart, entirely lovely person you are today, and not like that horrific sadist you call a brother. Please believe me- you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.” Ominis leaned into Theo, resting his head on the taller boy’s shoulder.
“I appreciate that, Theodore, though I don’t know if I can agree. And please, just promise me to stay away from the Undercroft. I don’t think my brother visits that often, but I can’t be sure. I know it’s not fair that I allow Sebastian there, but he’s a pureblood- Marvolo likely wouldn’t do anything to harm him. I just… can’t take a chance with you.” Theo’s heart constricted. He was entirely convinced that he should keep Ominis in his arms for the rest of eternity, shielding him from any and all harm that may come his way.
“Of course I will. Though, I can’t say I won’t seek out that wretch brother of yours myself-”
Ominis shot up in fright. “Merlin, Theo, don’t you dare. He’s a bastard, but shockingly strong- You have to leave him be.” Theo hummed and guided Ominis’ head back down to rest on his shoulder, not wanting to agree to something that he couldn’t guarantee. Thankfully, Sebastian’s head peeked in through the door, and the topic was dropped.
“Grand, it seems as though we’re all friends again,” Sebastian said as he bounded over to the pair that was still embraced on Theo’s bed. He took a seat on the other side of Ominis and wrapped his arms around the both of them as well, resting his head atop Ominis’. He looked up at Theo from his cuddling position, a playful darkness in his eyes.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that loser comment earlier, though,” Sebastian warned in a whisper. “I’ll be handing you your own ass after our next duel as penance, Horvat.”
Chapter 8
Notes:
fluff warning
Chapter Text
The night Theo made up with Ominis, he’d had the best sleep of his life. He couldn’t bear to allow Ominis to leave his side, so he cleaved onto him for the remainder of the evening. Sebastian, not wanting to be left out, remained near the both of them as well, and they talked for hours into the night. Sebastian was the first to fall asleep on Theo’s bed, his sonorous snores causing the two left awake to chuckle quietly as they continued to exchange whispers. Theo told Ominis about his past few days spent with the Gryffindors, how he thought the five of them would get along well if the snakes could give the lions a chance. He continued to apologize profusely for his tantrum as well, and though Ominis assured him each time that his apologies were unnecessary, he continued to do so- if only to ease the ache his actions left in his heart.
Ominis shared some stories of his own as well, though Theo insisted he only share his best, happiest memories. The majority of them involved Sebastian and Anne, and none of them took place at his childhood home. He learned that, after the Cruciatus incident in Ominis’ second year, Sebastian and Anne had refused to allow him to return to his home over school breaks, and a wave of relief washed over Theo. Though Sebastian’s uncle Solomon who acted as his legal guardian was strict and disliked by Sebastian, he’d allowed Ominis to stay with them in their little house in Feldcroft, a small hamlet to the south of Hogwarts.
When they had no more happy memories to revel in, they laid down next to Sebastian, all three still on Theo’s bed. Theo stared at Ominis, and while the other boy never quite met his gaze, he must have sensed Theo’s intense studying of his face, because he broke the silence after a while.
“This is an odd question, and please feel free to decline if you’re not comfortable,” Ominis voice wavered as he began his request. “Could I… would you allow me to feel your face?” Theo was taken aback by the question, but also intrigued- he certainly would not mind at all, but decided to hunt for a bit more information first.
“Not that I mind- but why? Will it give you an idea of what I look like, or something?” Ominis’ cheeks twinged pink, and he cleared his throat.
“Erm, well- no, it won’t really let me ‘see’ you all that much- I’ve been blind all my life, so I wouldn’t even know where to begin to imagine what you look like. ‘Seeing’ with my wand does give me approximate shapes and sizes, but nothing concrete, so it’s not even that easy to tell two people apart.” Theo hummed curiously, encouraging Ominis to continue.
“I do associate sensations with my memories of people, however. Sebastian, for instance, smells earthy and a touch sweet, like a chocolate frog that’s been dropped into some wet dirt-” Theo had to stifle a laugh at the hilarious, yet surprisingly accurate, characterization. Ominis continued. “-and when he touches me, it’s rarely gentle, though not painful either. It’s firm but safe, so when he grabs my wrist or arm and drags me about, as he loves to do, it feels to me like he knows what he’s doing, where we’re going- and I trust him. He asked me to touch his face as well, once. He thought it would give me an idea of what he looked like, but it really didn’t. I was utterly disappointed I couldn’t feel all the freckles he apparently has, but, even though I can’t picture what he looks like, things like that made me feel like I knew him better. Those feelings, voices, scents, and touches- that’s who Sebastian is to me. They are what I think about when I think of him.” Theo was moved.
“Ominis, that’s beautiful- of course you can. But only on one condition,” He grinned mischievously. Ominis groaned.
“Why do I get the feeling this is going to be an unfair deal?”
Theo ignored him. “You have to describe me exactly like you did Sebastian. I know you haven’t known me as long, but you must have some of those sensory memories about me, and I want to hear them. Then, we can create some new ones.” Ominis gulped.
“V-very well,” he said dryly. “Like with most people, the first memory I have of you is your voice, the day you spoke to me in our common room. For someone so new to all things magic, there was a confidence in your voice that surprised and delighted me- I was worried my new roommate would be a whiny git like my archrival, Duncan,” Theo laughed out loud, making Ominis smile and giving him the confidence to continue. “The next impression you made, as I’m sure you well remember, was the day you man-handled me twice within the span of an hour.”
“Oh yes, I could never forget that day,” Theo replied, a gleam in his eyes.
“Well, I’m not overly fond of people I barely know instigating such invasive connections, even if they are saving me from trouble- and especially if they were the ones to put me in danger in the first place-” Ominis shot, and Theo rolled his eyes.
“Oh, please. Don’t be so dramatic, Ominis- even if I hadn’t caught you, the fall was only a couple of feet. I’m sure you’d have survived.”
“And how, pray tell, was I to know that? All I felt was the sensation of being lifted up into the air- but we’re getting off track here.” Theo giggled as Ominis continued. “Well, even though I was a bit irritated, the way you handled me was… not unbearable. Only a few people have touched me as intimately as that, and never has it been so gentle- Sebastian is basically a brute, and his sister is no better. My own family, as you can imagine, weren’t very affectionate, to say the least.” A bit of the light fell from Ominis’ eyes at that last part, and Theo unconsciously grabbed his hand and began to rub soothing circles on the back of it with his thumb.
“So, in short- you were the first one to ever touch me- hold me like that. When you caught me both times, though I'm loath to admit it, I felt an overwhelming sense of security- kind of like with Sebastian, but greater. I could feel from the way you held me that I didn’t have to worry about falling when I was around you- and that confused me, made me act the way I did.”
“As for your scent, well…” Ominis coughed awkwardly. “Merlin, this is embarrassing… I suppose you smell like… when you’re down on the edge of the Black Lake, where that copse of pine trees is- and then, it starts to rain after a long, dry summer.” Heat rose to Theo’s face. Was that a compliment? It was hard to tell, but it was certainly a picturesque scene Ominis had painted.
“So, when I think of you, I don’t picture a face or body. I think of safety, strength, and warmth, and a person who provides me with all of those.” Ominis finished, and Theo couldn’t utter a word. So instead, he collected both of Ominis’ hands in his own and raised them up to his face. Theo’s own palms pushed against the back of Ominis’ cold, boney hands as he pressed Ominis’ palms to his still-warm cheeks. He slowly removed his own hands, leaving Ominis cradling his face.
The other boy was stunned by the sudden movement, so his hands just sat there for a few moments, before he worked up the courage to begin trailing his fingers across Theo’s face. Theo closed his eyes and allowed Ominis to explore, enjoying the feathery touches that cascaded over his nose, lips, and eyelids. Ominis paused when he reached Theo’s hair, and Theo quirked open one eye in questioning.
“Something wrong?”
“You have much more hair than I anticipated. And it’s… so soft.” Ominis began to tangle his fingers into Theo’s light brown locks, following them from their roots to the tips where they curved up into a slight curl. It was almost like a scalp massage. Theo had to stifle a groan of relaxation- Ominis was quite good with his hands.
“Y’know,” he said lazily, leaning into Ominis’ touch a bit more, “there’s still one sensation of me you’ve yet to experience.”
“Oh?” Ominis responded, slightly confused. Theo slowly drew his face closer to the other boy’s, until they were only inches apart, and each could feel the other’s breath on his skin.
“Yes,” Theo continued, voice dropping to a whisper. “You can’t see me, but you’ve touched, smelled, and heard me. Everything but taste .” The sound that emanated from the back of Ominis’ throat at the prospect was something between a whimper and a screech. “What, afraid you won’t like the flavor?” Ominis was silent for a moment, and Theo began to wonder if he’d pushed too far.
“Quite the opposite, actually,” Ominis finally said in a breathy tone. “I fear you won’t like mine.” Theo’s jaw dropped at the uncharacteristically bold move. Ominis sensed his surprise, and a slight smirk appeared on his lips. “What are you so shocked about? Two can play at that game.”
Theo grinned and buried his face in Ominis’ chest. “Very well done, Mr. Gaunt. I happily concede defeat.” Ominis rolled his eyes. His fingers continued to thread through Theo’s hair until both gave in and succumbed to their dreams.
The next few weeks passed by Theo in a flash. Swamped by classwork, dueling club, and friendship, he relished every moment. He’d even managed to corral his entire group of close friends together, and as he expected, they all got along swimmingly. Natty and Sebastian traded dueling tips and plotted strategies to defeat Theodore in combat, while Garreth discussed a possible recipe- derived from his ‘Prewett Repellent’- that would drive away Duncan Hobbhouse. Ominis listened with intense interest. Things were going absolutely wonderfully- that is, until he’d received word from Professor Fig.
It was not that he did not enjoy spending time with him- but since his wife had died, Fig had pursued the investigation of ancient magic and its link to Ranrok with dogged tenacity, dragging Theo into his discoveries each and every time. Theo owed so much to Professor Fig and Miriam, so he went along with it each and every time- but if he were honest, he’d much rather spend time studying with Ominis, dueling with Sebastian, or shooting the breeze with Natty and Garreth.
He absolutely wouldn’t mind learning more about the strange ability that had haunted him all his life- how to control it, especially. But the missions set for him by the Keepers of the ancient magic repositories that he and Fig had discovered were not as informative as they may have intended. It was easy enough to access the ancient magic that they left behind for him to find, but it was a different story altogether when he ventured out into the world and encountered it. Sometimes it was quite self-explanatory, but others, like when he dropped lightning bolts, seemed to be not wholly controllable.
It felt like they were keeping important information about his abilities a secret- and it irked him greatly. Plus, they seemed to have no sense of urgency when it came to his unearthing of their memories and the creation of the repository that Ranrok seemed hellbent on discovering. They clearly did not trust him, and truthfully, he felt the same about them. But, he had no choice- Miriam was one of the first people who saw value in his strangeness, and set his life on a course that led him to all the things and people he cherished today. He had to do right by her, even if it meant kowtowing to the will of people he did not really respect.
Theo groaned as we collapsed onto his bed after having returned from a long session in the Map Chamber with Fig and Rackham.
“Tough day with Fig?” Sebastian inquired. Theo simply groaned again in response. “Well, I’ve got something to take your mind off it- how would you like to join Ominis and I in Feldcroft tomorrow, to visit my sister? Weasley allows me to visit her on the weekends sometimes, and I think meeting a new student might cheer her up a bit. It’s awfully dull staying at home all the time with my uncle.” Theo shot up.
“Really?! Yes of course- I’d love to go! If you really think she wouldn’t mind. I don’t want to impose if she isn’t feeling all that well.” Sebastian shook his head.
“No, she’d definitely like to meet you. I write to her almost every day, you know, so you’ve come up a few times and have certainly piqued her interest.”
“Told her what an incredibly handsome and powerful wizard I am, and now she wants to see the goods herself, eh? I didn’t know you were in the market for a brother-in-law, Sebastian.” Theo teased, but barely got the words out before being tackled by Sebastian. For a boy who loved his magic and used it for basically everything, he also seemed quite fond of a good grapple, especially if his opponent was Theo.
“As if!” Sebastian grunted as he used all of his strength to try and render Theo immobile. “I’d sooner marry you myself than foist you off on my poor, injured sister!” Theo giggled as he also attempted to wrest control from the other boy.
“Why, Sebastian, I’m flattered,” he cooed. “Though if you wanted to court me, all you had to do was give me flowers or something- no need to try and assert your dominance like this.” Sebastian’s face burned scarlet.
“I didn’t- you know that’s not what I meant, you unbelievable tart!” Sebastian howled. “I take it back, you’re not allowed to meet Anne- in fact, you shouldn’t be allowed around human beings in general!”
“Want me all to yourself, do you? My, I never knew you were so possessive, Sallow. I must warn you, though-” Theo paused as he decided to take the upper hand for himself, flipping Sebastian onto his stomach and pinning his arms behind his back. He leaned in close to Sebastian’s ear before continuing breathlessly. “I can be quite possessive, myself.”
Sebastian groaned and buried his face into a pillow. “I hatph ooo,” his muffled insult only made Theo grin. He released Sebastian, but the boy kept his face in the pillow.
“Now Sebastian, don’t pout. You’re getting much better at scrapping- especially for a namby-pamby magic boy. But I do apologize for goading you- it’s just so easy to do, and quite enjoyable. I was afraid I’d lose my fighting edge when I started learning magic, but you’re doing a banger of a job keeping me fit.” Sebastian lifted his head and glared at his oppressor.
“Gee, thanks,” he said sarcastically. “I’m glad I’m useful as a training dummy to you.” Theo ruffled his hair endearingly.
“So, tell me more about this trip. Should I bring anything for Anne, or your uncle? I don’t want to be rude.” Sebastian grumbled as he sat up, but still answered the question.
“I think your presence will be more than enough for the both of them. Anne will just be glad to see a new face, and hear some of your stories- I will have zero tolerance for any flirting with her, though, so don’t even think about it!” His eyes made it known just how serious he was, so Theo held up a hand in pledge.
“I swear I shall not,” he promised. “I’ll just double down on you and Ominis instead.”
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