Touched

Shadow of Tradition - Fifth Year

Sebastian POV

Just because Sebastian was waiting for Friday - it took forever to come. Thursday night, he sat down to dinner in the Great Hall with Ominis and Y/N. Much to Ominis' worry, Imelda hadn't sat with them. She'd sat further up on the table with her friends, completely ignoring the boy. Sebastian could tell his friend was trying to ignore that she wasn't with them, but every now and then he'd cock his head towards his shoulder like he did whenever he tried to listen to something far away. His eyes would focus into the abyss as he tried to grab any audio he could.

Sebastian went to say something every now and then but he figured he better not at the table. He'd mention it when they got back to the dormitory - ask him what had happened between them. For now, he made general chat with Y/N. She had brushed off their little argument in the undercroft and was talking about their potions class from that day. Garreth Weasley had blown up his potion in Sharp's face on accident and had earned himself a month of detention with headmaster black. It was all anyone was talking about. Sebastian was glad he wasn't associated with detention for now.

After he'd had two helpings of sausages, chicken and waffles he announced that he was leaving the table, to which Ominis stood up as quick as he could. Sebastian glanced over to Imelda, who was watching Ominis. When she realised Sebastian was looking she turned her head away fast as lightning.

"I'm leaving too," Ominis said, pulling his wand from his robes. "I'm quite full."

"You barely ate anything!" Y/N interjected.

"I'm - then I'm tired," Ominis shrugged, and started walking towards the exit. Sebastian looked at Y/N and shrugged, rolling his eyes in order to help his friend get out of the situation.

"One of those days," he said quickly, and waved
Y/N goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Y/N replied, gazing at Sebastian with such an intensity that it took a while for him to get going.

He caught up to Ominis pretty quickly.

"Merlin, I can hear you coming from a mile away," Ominis scolded. "How about you tread lightly?"

Sebastian scoffed. "The ground is made of concrete, Ominis. Not my fault you've got big ears."

Ominis rolled his eyes. "Heard that joke before. Come up with any new ones?"

"You're being feisty," Sebastian teased, almost skipping along beside him. "What's with Imelda?"

"She and I - are not on speaking terms right now," he paused for a second before figuring out what to say. "That's a story for another time."

"Or right now."

"She doesn't want me to be friends with you," Ominis said curtly.

Sebastian laughed. "Yeah. Right."

Ominis didn't find it funny. Instead he ignored Sebastian and started to walk faster. Sebastian could keep up with him.

"Are you looking forward to tomorrow?" Sebastian asked him.

"It's the thing keeping me going right now," Ominis let out a breathy chuckle. "I can't wait to see her."

——

The boys woke up with a spring in their step. They woke up early and Sebastian was dressed before the other boys in their dormitory had even woke up.

"Where is that blasted -" Ominis cursed, feeling on the bed for his wand. "Sebastian -"

"It's here," Sebastian said, picking the wand up from the floor and putting it in his hand.

Ominis shook his head. "Can we go?"

"Anne didn't give a specific time, so yes, I suppose we go?"

"What time is it?" Ominis asked.

Sebastian looked at the analog hung on the wall.

"Um. Six in the morning."

"Merlin's beard," Ominis cursed.

They woefully waiting another hour and a half before using floo flames to get to Feldcroft.

Ominis POV

Ominis heard her voice after Sebastian called out. He hadn't heard it in what felt like such a long time, but it was there - soft and sweet and alive as ever. She ran up to him to give him a hug and he returned the favour, patting her hair as she dug her face into his robes.

"Oh, Ominis!" She breathed. "Oh how long it's been! You're taller! And more handsome!"

"Not at all," Ominis replied, rather bashfully. "How are you?"

"I feel good today," she told him. She linked her hands in his and swung them around. She let go and turned to Sebastian.

"Sebastian!" She exclaimed, forcing him into a huge embrace. Sebastian laughed. "Ooh, sneaking up on me all the time! How I missed you too! You two! Solomons not here, so what do you want to do first!?"

——

The three of them had played gobstones for hours. Ominis was almost sick of it. He hadn't played for so long, for that long before. They had laughed as they played, telling stories and drinking Solomon's store of butterbeer, much to Sebastians delight. They had reminisced over photos of them as first years and second years and third years - and the photos of the twins' parents.

Ominis couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness when the game was over. Sebastian had excused himself for a minute and Ominis and Anne were left sitting on the rug together.

"I've missed you," Anne was the first to talk.

"It's been a long time," Ominis agreed. "Almost a year."

"A lot can happen in a year. You really have become much more handsome since I last saw you," Ominis could hear the friendly smile in her voice. "How's poppy?"

"She's good," Ominis said, regretting he hadn't spoke to the Hufflepuff more so that he could give Anne a proper update. Anne and Poppy had been in a relationship for almost a year before Anne was cursed and she'd left without telling Poppy a thing.

"Has she found anyone else?"

"I don't think so."

"You didn't tell Sebastian about us?"

"Of course not," Ominis reassured her. "That's for you to mention when you want to, and when you're ready. Have.." the boy paused for a second, wondering how to phrase it. "Have you changed, too?"

"You can see if you want," she smiled.

"Well I cant," Ominis joked. "That's the problem."

"Oh, stop it," she softly took Ominis' hands, her thumbs on his palms. "Do you want to?"

Ominis found a way to diffuse the awkwardness within himself and nodded. Anne placed his hands on her cheeks and he squished them in and she giggled.

He ran his fingers along her jawline, down her angular nose. Along her prominent cheekbones. They felt as though they were protruding through her skin, which was abnormally dry. Ominis knew she was beautiful, all the same. But she was sick.

"You're frowning," Anne told him, and quickly he released the muscles of his face. He tended to forget he was an open book.

"I'm just concentrating," he lied quickly. "You're beautiful as ever."

Ominis heard her relax. "Oh stop it," she giggled. "You're too kind, sir."

Ominis smiled. A genuine one, that reached his eyes. They were few and far in between lately.

Sebastian returned with his usual gusto, and Ominis wished they could stay here in this moment forever.

Sebastian POV

Sebastian hadn't realised how important healing Anne was, until this very moment. Which was saying something, because he had already meddled in the dark magic for it. He was never letting this magic die - and he knew he would do absolutely anything to keep it alight.

Anything.

He left Feldcroft with Ominis that night with a fierce determination, although he daren't show it on his face.