Between The Shadows | Ominis Gaunt x Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 8: Elf-made Wine (I.)

Ominis POV

Compared to the last few days, the rest of the week was blissfully uneventful.

I was still checking on the Nifflers at least once a day but they were adjusting quite well to their new home and after a few days they seemed completely at ease among the older ones.

Suddenly, it wasn't just Sebastian who spent every waking moment with his nose buried in some book; we all had to study harder than ever before.

Sebastian made a trip to St. Mungo's to visit Anne on Saturday and he returned in the late evening, unsurprisingly not in a very good mood.

y/n and I were the only ones left in the common room, we were working on our assignments for transfiguration class in front of the fireplace.

Sebastian collapsed on a sofa between us, his voice trembling as he began to speak. "Anne was asking about you. She's in a new department that allows more visitors so if you'd like to go see her, I can take you."

I responded, "Of course, we'd love to visit her. Which department is she in now?"

After a moment of silence, Sebastian whispered, "The terminal stages department."

I heard y/n's gasp at Sebastian's words. A hint of frustration was notable in his tone when he continued, "They don't really know how long she has left. They've given up on finding a cure for her but that's nothing new."

"Sebastian, is there anything we can do to help?" I asked.

Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. "I wish there was but I think an obliviate spell for me would be more helpful at this point. Or perhaps a distraction so that I can finally get a full night's rest."

"Well, I happen to have something that can provide a little bit of both," said y/n. "Just wait here." I heard her steps quickly disappear towards the girl's dormitory. She returned in just two minutes.

"I have an elf-made wine," she said as she came back. "Would you like to try it?"

"Of course!" Sebastian eagerly replied.

"Why do you have elf-made wine in your bedroom?" I asked.

"It was supposed to be a surprise gift for your birthday next month. Sorry Ominis, I'll have to think of something else for you now," she explained.

"You don't have to get me anything," I said, feeling a bit guilty.

"Of course I do. I wouldn't dare not celebrate my best friend's birthday," she replied and sat opposite to us on the floor. Next, I heard her conjure up some goblets.

Reader POV

I poured the wine and passed a goblet to each of them. We sipped in silence for a moment.

"This is a good wine," remarked Ominis.

"Is it?" I asked, curiously "It tastes alright but I don't really have much to compare it to. Sirona recommended this one."

"You mean you've never had elf-made wine before?" inquired Ominis, looking surprised.

"Nope," I replied and shook my head. "But I can now officially cross it off my list of drinks I want to try in my life."

Sebastian grinned, "What else is on that list?"

Leaning back against the table behind me, I replied, "Well, there's definitely Felix Felicis."

"Oh, yes, I'd like to try that one too," said Sebastian.

"Wait a minute," he continued, "shouldn't a potion master like yourself be able to prepare that?"

"Well," Ominis chimed in, "we're already working on it, right y/n?"

"Indeed," I confirmed with a nod, "but it will still take multiple moon cycles before it's ready, and that's only if we manage to get it right on the first try. It's the trickiest potion we've ever tried to make"

"At least that should be a much more enjoyable experiment than the one with Veritaserum," Sebastian remarked with a smile. "I hope I'll be invited to join."

"Count on it," I replied, returning the smile.

"That's all on your list, y/n? Elf-made wine and Felix?" inquired Sebastian.

"No, there's more," I said after taking a sip from my goblet. I felt myself starting to blush, but thankfully the dim light from the fireplace hid it from view.

Ominis spoke up this time. "So? What else is there?"

I hesitated, unable to bring myself to answer.

"I don't think I have enough wine to share the rest of my list." I said after a moment of silence.

"y/n, you've piqued my interest," said Sebastian with a smirk. He pointed his wand at an almost empty bottle, muttered the refilling charm and poured more wine for all of us."That question will be back on the table soon enough."