The Serpent Trio

Part 7- The Library

Ominis POV
I felt warm, safe, and secure. His arms were wrapped around me, and sleep came easily. Much easier than it had recently. And that's when my dreams came to me.
First up was they day I arrived at Hogwarts. Being greeted by many on the train in. Heir of Slytherin they called me. I knew before the sorting hat touched my head that I would be sorted into the great serpent house. What I didn't count on was Anne and Sebastian sitting in my carriage on the train, or Anne talking my ear off the whole way there. Sebastian was quiet at first, that soon changed. I remember him getting us pumpkin pasties, the smell of the sweet crisp pastry and the taste of the cinnamon spiced pumpkin inside. I felt warmth for the first time, perhaps ever, in that moment. I felt like I had found people I could rely on.
My dream moved forward. I could smell the putrid odour of the west corridor as I made my way toward magic beasts class. Anne always had better luck with the creatures than I did, Poppy too, she would often remark at Anne's nature with them. I remember mostly the pain in my hand from being pecked by the Dircrawls, dammed birds. I remember the feel of Sebastian's strong but slightly rough hands as he bandaged mine up in the common room after. He smelt like grass and pine leaves. When I asked him where he'd been, he'd been flying. And that's when he snuck me out to take me up on his broom with him. The feel of the wind whipping round us both, the warmth that radiated from him as I held onto his back. Good memories.
Then my dream shifted once more. It was raining, the smell of wet grass and charcoal filled my nose. It was the morning of my last quidditch game. I had told Anne the weather was impacting on my ability to fly, she wanted me to forfeit the match but I said no. Then she tried to get Sebastian to convince me but they ended up in an argument as he had been fighting Leander again, Anne was sick of him resorting to his fists. I told them both they had no right to make decisions for me and I chose to take part. I was in the sky, high above the pitch, focusing on the sounds around me, the cheers from the crowd were loud but I tuned them out. The wind and rain assaulting my sense of hearing, making it difficult to pinpoint the position of the golden snitch. Its usual hum and twinkle lost in the sea of sounds and then I had it, it was there. I pushed my broom to a nosedive, the twinkle grew louder. Then the noise became overpowered- Sebastian. He was shouting, no screaming at me. I sensed it in that moment, the empty howl of the bludger followed by a cracking and splintering noise. My broom gave out from under me, it had been cleaved in 2. I felt as the handle became shattered in my grip and then I felt the rush of wind as I began to plummet. I was falling out of the sky. Voices were screaming but one stood out the most. My own. I waited for the impact but instead of its reprieve I found myself flung forward, breathing heavily.
"Omi, are you alright?" I was awake, sweating and shaking. Sebastian spoke again. "Hey, did you have a bad dream?" His arms snaked around my back and pulled me into his chest.
"No worse than the usual." I cleared my throat, trying to regain composure. "I'm going to get a drink, go back to sleep." Sebastian's arms remained locked around my torso.
"No, come on." He pulled me back down onto the bed with him, holding me like I was a small child. I became aware how much he'd grown over the summer, he'd really broadened out and was much more muscular now. "You're still tired, I can tell. Let's sleep a bit longer."
"Well, it would appear I don't have a choice." I relaxed my jaw, not realising it had become clenched as I laid my head back onto his chest. I lay there in silence, inhaling his smell, pine leaves, he always smelt like pine leaves. After a while listening to his soft snores filling the room, I carefully moved his arm and got up. I pulled my robe over my pyjamas and used my wand to guide me out into the common room.
Once there I grabbed a cup of pumpkin juice and took a seat next to the fire, allowing the warmth to was over me and permeate the cold sweat I could still feel on my brow.
"Oh, Ominis. Hello." the voice I didn't want to hear floated out to greet me.
"Hello Cress." I ground out her name, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I heard her shuffle and sit down on the chair next to mine.
"How is Sebastian?" Her voice was laced with concern.
"He is fine." I tried my best to keep my focus. "No thanks to that troll."
"I'm glad to hear he is fine." She relaxed and I heard her settle back into the armchair. "Professor Fig whisked me off as soon as I returned, so I was unable to go with Sebastian to the Hospital Wing."
"I collected him from there earlier, he's back in our dorm room now." I sensed her sitting upright and leaning towards me.
"He's back here?" Excitement tugged at her words. "Could you sneak me into your dorm room, I'd like to speak with him."
"No." My voice came out cold. "He needs rest."
"Of course, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." She sunk down again, I felt a pang of guilt.
"When he wakes I will let him know you're looking for him." I rose to my feet. "And Cress..."
"Yes Ominis?"
"What happened with the troll, you're not to blame. So don't go thinking that, clear?"
"Thank you Ominis, I shall try my best." I nodded at Cres before making my way back to my dorm room.