The Keeper and the Monster

Chapter 7: The week before Halloween

Ophelia, Natty and Poppy spent some time in Hogsmeade. It was beautifully decorated with pumpkins, fake flying bats and candles. They also met Imelda there as she was leaving Albie Weekes' shop, and they invited her to join them at the Three Broomsticks. Ophelia insisted as she craved for a Butterbeer – after seeing Marvolo go inside the tavern.

Imelda got along well with Natty and Poppy, oddly enough. Probably because she didn't feel threatened by them. Or because of the amount of butterbeers they drank. They sure laughed a lot.

"Are you feeling better?" asked Poppy at some point, turning to Ophelia.

"I am. Thanks for being here." Ophelia smiled. She was a bit tipsy, but didn't drink as much as her friends. She was here to spy. Marvolo was at the other side of the room but she could easily watch him without being suspected.

"Better? What happened?" enquired Imelda.

"Ominis and I had a fight. We can be both pretty harsh with our words. I said something very wrong about someone he is grieving, and he... well, did the same thing with someone I am grieving."

"Sebastian" said Natty.

Ophelia frowned. "Yeah, how do you kno–"

But Imelda cut her on purpose: "Hello Gaunt! I sure hope you have trained today? We might not have the pitch to train this weekend, it doesn't mean you can't fly around with your broom."

Ophelia froze, realising Natsai had actually greeted Sebastian behind her. And that he was with Corvina. Ophelia hid her blush behind her stein, remembering her breakdown about the Gaunt family a few hours ago.

"Sure, I... I'm planning to fly tomorrow, actually," replied the slytherin seeker with a scared smile.

"How funny, one girl of each house" noticed Sebastian with a smile. "A perfect combination. Enjoy you drinks."

"Thanks!" cheered Poppy as the slytherins went to the counter, shortly joined by Garreth. Good, it wasn't a one-to-one date. She'd never been so happy to see Weasley.

"So you were saying..." said Natty with a finger on her cheeks like she was trying to remember. " 'Yes, how do you know?' I thought you were talking about professor Fig. Are you grieving Sebastian?"

Imedla let out a spontaneous snort, like it was obvious, before hiding behind her tankard.

Poppy was ashamed she hadn't noticed. "I thought you two were just a bit distant, but.. I mean, you don't seem cold with each other."

"That's the worst part." Ophelia bitterly said as she stared at the foam of her drink. "He doesn't want Ominis and I's friendship anymore, but continues to speak to us like regular classmates."

"He lost his sister and his uncle, right? And his parents before that" Poppy recalled. "Do you think he pushes you away because he's afraid to lose more people?"

"Rubbish!" Imelda cried out. "What a shabby excuse that would be."

"If he didn't want to lose anyone he wouldn't be friend with Garreth and Corvina," noted Ophelia.

The way she said the girl's name was self-explanatory. Especially as, in comparison, she pronounced "Garreth" without being bitter. Her friends noticed but, instead of commenting on her jealousy, they sided with her.

"Ominis is a gem, but the other Gaunts are quite awful. And I'm not the one to critisize," added Natty.

Imelda carried on: "Well, I am the one to critisize. She is a good seeker, but she isn't the sharpest stick of the broom. Very juvenile."