The Keeper and the Monster

Chapter 8: The scriptorium

"That's odd" said Imelda.

Ominis swallowed his pie before answering.

"What is?" he absentmindedly asked.

"Ophelia's only arrived in the Great Hall and she was escorted by your brother Marvolo."

Ominis frowned and froze. What the hell was Ophelia doing?

"What?!" cried out Sebastian. He wasn't really sitting with them and had spent the meal in silence, so Ominis had forgotten he was there.

"Why do you care, Sallow?" snapped Imelda. Ominis was surprised by her tone, but nonetheless pleased. Sebastian had no right to be jealous right now.

"How does she seem?" enquired Ominis.

"I'd say... dreamy. Look – boys, if you wanna know more, just ask her. I'm not an owl."

"I'm blind" recalled Ominis.

"I know. Thus, you can talk."

They heard Amit mentioning blood and Ominis kept his ears opened. Why was she bleeding after seeing Marvolo? Then, Sebastian said in his sort of cocky, flirty voice : "You should try episkey, Ophelia. It really does wonders."

"Aren't you ignoring me, Sebastian?" replied Ophelia in a very, very calm and calculated tone. Ominis knew this tone. Sebastian did too, because he began to stutter, something that didn't happen much to him.

"I- No, I don't– I am not. It's just... you know, I told you. We are not..."

"Friends anymore." She politely finished.

Sebastian cleared his throat. "But we are classmates. We can talk, we... I am not ignoring you."

"Well, I wish you would," said Ophelia. "From now on, onky speak to me if it is necessary. I'm tired of your inconsistency."

Imelda let out a victorious snort. Everyone around remained silent. Ominis might have missed something in the last days, somehting must've triggered Ophelia and obviously, Imelda knew about it. After a few seconds, he heard cutlery falling on a plate and a bench scrubbing the floor.

"Sebastian left," Imelda whispered to him. Ominis nodded to thank her.

"Thank you, owl." She punched him in the arm.

He could've asked Ophelia what was going on with Sebastian, but he was still mad at her. He shoudl've asked about Marvolo, but not here. So he finished his pie and headed towards the common room.
As he left the Great hall though, he heard a noise and someone intercepted him : a house elf. He could tell by his high-pitched voice coming from the ground level.

"Hello, Mr Gaunt. I'm sorry if Deek startled you. Professor Weasley asked Deek to escort you to her office right after your meal."

Ominis didn't know this Deek but he nodded. "I see. Well, I'll go–"

"Deek will take you there now."

"What?" Ominis felt something tug at his leg and felt the awful sensation one's got when apparating somewhere. Suddenly, everything around him was different: no distant chatter from the Great Hall, no reverberation against the walls. The floor was made of wood instead of stone and the sound of a burning fire crackled in his ears.

"Thank you Deek" said Professor Weasley. "Take a sit, Mr Gaunt. I trust Professor Sharp shall arrive with Miss O'Conor in a few minutes."

His wand guided him towards a comfortable chair and he sat, still disturbed by the apparition.