Emerald Dreams- Sebastian Sallow x Ominis Gaunt x FemRavenclaw Mc (my oc used)

Chapter 6

 I started walking, looking back briefly to make sure the boys were following. They seemed to be whispering something to each other. I shrugged. Whatever it was I was sure I could find out later. Walking up to the outside stall, I was greeted by a familiar face. 

"Hello Claire, how goes the shop?" Claire turned to me with a big smile. "Well if it isn't the girl who saved our little hamlet! Welcome back! I see you've brought company this time." Sebastian and Ominis waved shyly, a bit confused as to why I was known here. 

"Did you know that your friend here took on a group of Ashwinders alone and bested them all! She did it all alone too, before any of us really knew what she was up to!" "You did??" Ominis gasped, clearly unsure of how to react.

My face went red with embarrassment. "I've done a lot of things in my first year..." "Thats not all, she found out my brother was missing and went to find out what had happened to him. You have a good heart love, not many people could take on Inferi like that and make it back."

 Sebastian pondered this revelation. "You knew how to...so thats why you could take them down so easily that day..." He mumbled quietly. I cleared my throat. "Yes well, I know I've done a lot all over ahahaha, it's all a very good story. Claire, we did actually have a reason for coming here in the middle of winter." 

Claire covered her mouth with a smile. "Oop, sorry love, here I am getting caught up in the past and the rumours when you need my help! What can I do for you?" I breathed deeply to calm my embarrassment, before continuing.

 "We're looking for Lavender and Valerian plants, does anyone grow them around here?" She pondered for a moment. "No one is growing them, but I do have some seeds for lavender here. With the right fertiliser, it should grow in no time." "We'll take them, thank you." 

 I went to pay for the seeds, but she shook her head. "Consider it a thank you for finding my brother. Besides, they're just seeds." I smiled. "Thank you so much, I'll come back to visit soon." "Before you go, I heard that Valerian plants grow in the forbidden forest, or the valley close to. Start there and see what you can find." I nodded, walking to the outside of the village. 

"Hey, so...you wanna tell us what she was talking about?" Sebastian poked playfully. "Yes, it seems as though you are a more adept witch than the two of us combined. I'm curious about your run in with the Ashwinders." Ominis added. 

I sighed, smiling. "You're not going to let this go are you?" "Nope." "very much no." they both responded. I rolled my eyes. "Fine, what do you want to know about first? Claire's brother or the Ashwinders?" I started walking us back towards the forbidden forest. 

Seemed this day might not be so long after all. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "I want to know about the Inferi." Sebastian asked after awhile. "Well, alright. You see, I'd begun travelling to different towns around Hogwarts and Hogsmede just to see what was around. 

I had just gotten my own broom and wanted to test out my flying skills you see. I hadn't gotten too far from Hogwarts when I found myself in this hamlet. I landed, seeing a performer with a musical snake. I had just stopped for a look, but I then noticed this older woman who looked a bit...distraught. When i asked her what was wrong, she told me about Claire's brother, and how she had seen him with Rookwood's lot, doing some form of dark magic.." 

I paused, noticing Sebastian was staring a bit into space. "Go on." Ominis asked, nudging Sebastian's arm for him to pay attention. He gave me a half smile, and I continued. "Dorothy was worried about Claire's brother, and had worried that he'd gotten in over his head, and wanted someone to go and find him. 

As I was flying around anyway, I offered to do it. She of course was mortified that a student would offer to help, but I went anyway. I asked Claire about her brother, and she pointed me in the direction of a came he was meant to be at. When I got there, there was no sign of him. I followed some clues and was led to believe that he had been working to find out Rookwood's secrets, but the Ashwinders had caught on and turned him into an Inferi... 

As I was exploring the area, a group of Inferi popped up around me. I panicked, trying every spell I knew. Back then it wasn't a lot, but Incendio seemed to work well at weakening them at the very least. After I had taken down a few, one of the Inferi that attacked me was wearing a jumper. Claire's brother's jumper. I didn't have much of a choice but to take him down..." 

I trailed off, shivering a bit. Whether from the cold or the memory I wasn't sure. I cleared my throat. "Anyway! I took the jumper back to Claire and told her what happened. She didn't believe me at first, but when she saw the jumper she knew I was telling the truth. She built it up a lot more than it deserved." 

I tried to say in a lighthearted tone, but both Ominis and Sebastian had gone quiet, looking at me with a cross between shock and horror. Unable to stand the quiet, I continued. "As for the Ashwinders here, it wasn't that big of a thing aha, there was a group of them that had been terrorising the town, and I snuck in and used chomping cabbages to send them running. 

Thanks to the disillusionment charm you taught me Sebastian, they never even knew I was there. I had begun growing my own chomping cabbages after Professor Garlick's lesson on mandrakes, I had a feeling they would come in handy. Thankfully no one was killed, but the Ashwinders begun to rethink their stay there as they couldn't seem to find the source of the cabbages. They left within a few hours." 

I looked back, trying to read the mood. Both Sebastian and Ominis had gone stupidly quiet. I stopped. "Ok look, I know it was dangerous but honestly those things were not even the worst of what I dealt with last year! It's fine! I came out of it ok, and we're all working together to be better now right?" 

I had meant for that to sound encouraging, but it came across as a little off. Sebastian was the first to approach me. "Why did you never tell us any of this?" He sounded so heartbroken, I wasn't entirely sure how to react. 

"You didn't need my problems overshadowing yours. You had enough to worry about with Anne...besides I told you the basics with the keepers and such." I tried again to flash a smile, but I was sure it looked phoney. I could feel my hands shaking. I didn't like this atmosphere.

"Come on, we need to get to the forest if we want to get back before dark." I whistled for Highwing again. "Can I sit in the front this time? I think I'd be less nervous if I have you holding me." Ominis requested. I nodded. 

"Just keep your head down a bit so I can see where we're going. You're a bit taller than me after all." "I am?" He asked, almost excited at the thought. "Yeah I know, I'm short. Not my fault that you two are taller." 

Ominis mounted Highwing first, followed by myself then Sebastian once again in the back. Unsure of where to hold on, I settled on Ominus' waist. I blushed as I realised the position Ominus had put us in. 

"You can hold on tighter, I won't bite." I could hear the smile in his voice, and I shuffled closer, wrapping my arms around him tighter. Sebastian, now unsure of where to hold on, huffed and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. 

My heart was thudding in my ears, the feeling of butterflies back in my tummy. "L-Let's go!" I nudged Highwing to take off, the three of us soaring into the air. The flight was quieter this time, Ominis seeming to enjoy the wind on his face. Sebastian however seemed troubled, laying his face on my back. 

"What's up?" I asked, not sure if he could hear me. "I wish you'd told me this stuff..I could've been so much more help to you back then. Merlin I'm so useless when it comes to this sort of thing..." I lifted one of my hands and placed it on his. 

"We were all dealing with a lot Seb, I didn't want you to worry." I felt him sigh, and hold me tighter, as though he was trying to comfort me. I was a bit confused, but he didn't say anything more as I guided us toward the forbidden forest. 

Caught between Ominis and Sebastian, I was surprised as how warm I felt in the sky. Usually I was a bit chilly sitting in front, But Ominis seemed to be protecting me from the harsher winds. Strange as it seemed, I felt safe. 

I felt my shoulders relax, I let out a breath I didn't realise i'd been holding in. I could tell them now maybe? Maybe if I whispered It quietly enough, they wouldn't hear me, but I would have technically told them... It could be good practice. 

I mouthed the words, but no sound came out. OF ALL THE TIMES. I supposed it was for the best. I should tell them properly.