The Keeper and the Monster

Chapter 3: Two heads instead of three

In the Great Hall, the tables of Ravenclaw and Slytherin were next to each other. Last year, Sebastian and Ophelia often managed to sit back to back so they could share their meals together. This time, they didn't. Still, it was a merry time. The sorting hat sang and the first years got sorted. Ophelia smiled as she watched. Last year, she had missed it by arriving late. What a year.

After the feast, she went with Ominis in the Undercroft. She described her encounter with Marvolo.

"Hm. He sure asked a lot of questions about you."

"Should I be worried?" she asked.

"You are famous and powerful, it is no wonder he was interested in you. But I'd say that we shouldn't use your... female side to spy on him."

"My female side?" laughed Ophelia. "I really don't want to seduce him and I don't plan to."

"Good. I'm not sure there is enough humanity in him to make such a plan work."

"Tell me about your little sister. Is she... you know."

"A pureblood supremacist? Yes. But not as much as the others. To be fair, I don't think she really cares. Corvina is carefree and very obedient, except for her love for quidditch – but she was never allowed on a broom. According to my parents, it is not proper for a lady. I guess my father changed his mind about the matter. I haven't spoken to any of them in a while."

"I wish you had a loving family" confessed Ophelia. Ominis' family story broke her heart. "You don't deserve this."

"Your parents abandonned you for being a squib. Nobody deserves that either."

Alright, but they didn't torture her.

"Let's not compare our traumatic experiences, alright?" she concluded." At least we have each other as family, now."

She put a hand on his shoulder and he smiled. He was moved by her words, she could tell. She was too.

"While you were in the train... did you see Sebastian?" Ominis finally asked.

"I did, while I was stuck with Marvolo, actually." She remembered his brown hair appearing in front of her. "I did not realised we were in front of his compartment and he got out to buy chocolate frogs. Ominis, that was weird. Marvolo was coldly offering to help me with my studies, and suddenly Sebastian greets me in the most ordinary way. Why are you smiling?"

"I am not, I... Under different circumstances, I would have said he did that on purpose to save you from the conversation with Marvolo. He's always shown some chivalry and devotion to you."

"Yes, well. That wasn't the case. He didn't stay with us for long and quickly got back to his compartment. With Gareth, by the way."

"Chocolate frogs, you say? Hm. He doesn't eat those. He hates when the candy moves by itself. Wait..."

Ominis turned his head towards the entrance of the Undercroft. Footsteps. Eventually, Sebastian appeared at the gate and locked his eyes on them, like he was looking for them.

"There you are. You weren't in our dorms, Ominis, and I figured you were here."

Ophelia's heart was dancing in her chest. She made one step towards him, but his body stood back and he immediately announced: "I have to speak to both of you. I got your owl, by the way. Thank you for that." His voice wasn't cold, just... indifferent. Like in the train.

After Professors Weasley and Sharp's visit, they had written a letter to their friend, expressing how relieved they were, and telling him about their summer.