SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

10 - In the Shadow of Nightmares

Riva didn't have any mental capacity left to listen to anything she should have learned in Beasts class, knowing the Professor was annoyed with her. Did she send that owl to Zhonko? She couldn't remember she might have to stop by his shop in Hogsmeade and if she was there already, looking after things at Honeydukes would do no harm. "Miss Mirrel! I think your Puffskein would have died by now if it wasn't for Miss Rosewood taking care of it. Do you need a Focus-Potion to get your attention back to class?" Riva lowered her head in a shameful manner, shaking her head in hopes class would just continue after that. "What a disappointment... Not so cunning and witted after all for a Slytherin." What a wrench.
"How dare you say that?" Amaya rose from her chair, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, concerned for her friend but also not quite knowing why their Beasts Professor chose to be so mean today. "Sit down Rosewood. This is not your battle to fight." - "It shouldn't be a battle at all. Take back what you said, it obviously hurt her feelings." Riva tried to keep the conversation from going the wrong way, but Amaya didn't give her a chance before giving their Professor a lecture. "And if you need to know, Riva is exceptionally busy with organizing the founders ball this year, not catching anything close to enough of a rest each night." - "She doesn't seem tired, she just isn't listening, so your point sounds pretty invalid to me. But you know what's valid? Detention. I will let Professor Black know about your behavior. The two of you." Their eyes grew big, no word left in the English language to express the hateful thoughts that haunted their minds.

"How about I tell Headmaster Black about your behavior instead Professor Howin?" Ominis leaned back in his chair, twirling his wand in between his fingers, knowing the short hitch of her breath wasn't a scoff but a fearful breath. Of course, the students knew how influential he was but the Professors and ghosts at Hogwarts had just as much of a faint idea, what his words to Black could mean if Ominis chose to tell on them. "I'm sure a Professor falsely claiming her students were to get detention would be an interesting story to him." Amaya looked over at her fellow Slytherin and Sebastian's best friend... Supposedly best friend at least, considering they chose to sit on opposite sides as class started. "There's no need for that Mister Gaunt. Let's just disperse class for today, it's already late. As for your assignments for next week, please make sure to write down information on Nifflers. We'll study those next time."
As everybody gathered their books and supplies, Riva sighed, looking up at Amaya who was already standing. "We were lucky he saved our asses..." She nodded, looking at Ominis over her shoulder, seeing him still sitting at his table, waiting for everyone to leave so he doesn't bump into them.

"Here you go. My friend chose a variety and I trust him and his taste in music." Amaya gave Riva the bag she bought earlier today together with Jasper in London. She flipped through some of the papers, curious whether or not she knew any of them but the only song she barely heard of was El tango de Roxanne. "You and your friend are my heroes. I thought I'd never get something to give to the orchestra. I'll be heading straight to the music classroom. See you in the Common Room?" Amaya smiled and nodded at her fellow student, who grabbed her stuff faster than lightning to run off the small hill. The witch turned on her heel, heading for Ominis, who looked up as he heard her approach. "Thank you. You didn't need to help us, but you still did." Amaya fumbled with the cuff of her robe, seeing Ominis smile at that. "Don't mention it. I've gotten fed up with that lady anyways. She's been stepping out of line a lot lately." He furrowed his brows at a memory that seemingly came up at the mention. Amaya only noticed now that Sebastian already left, not waiting for his friend to walk back to the castle together.

"Should we talk on our way back? I want to apologize for what happened in the Undercroft." Ominis took his wand off the table as he stood up to meet Amaya in the center of their class. He didn't say anything, probably waiting for her to continue, thinking the apology wasn't enough yet. The witch walked alongside the Slytherin, sighing before turning her head to look at him. "I didn't know. He said it was unsanctioned yes, but rather as in No Professors are supposed to know about it not as in You aren't supposed to know about it but I will still show you nonetheless." Ominis couldn't suppress a smile at the desperate and insanely fast words leaving her mouth, trying to explain herself. She had a nice voice, his way of making out the attractiveness of certain persons. "What I'm trying to say is... If I had known Sebastian wasn't supposed to show me, I wouldn't have followed him there." A heavy breath loosened in her lungs, trying to catch up with her fast talking as Ominis nodded slowly, signaling he listened but didn't know what to say to that. "I saw you two weren't talking to each other. I'm sorry for the fight I must have caused." He stopped, turning his head the way, her voice echoed from in his mind. Why would she think that? "This isn't your fault. It's entirely Sebastian's fault for knowing he shouldn't have brought you there and still choosing to do it anyway. There's no need to feel guilty for it. You're kind of the victim in this story." He turned his head back, facing forward, contemplating the words Sallow said to him this morning.