The Serpent and The Bird

Going to make you mine

- Any luck last night?

Ominis asked while biting on an apple, waiting for Sebastian to make his move in Gobstones. So far, Ominis was winning the game. Which was a normal occurrence. Ridiculous, considering he couldn't see a thing. Sebastian tried to cheat in every game and he still couldn't beat him.

Every single time Sebastian had finished playing with a foul smell impregnated on his clothes. But Gobstones took his mind off things.

- No, we spent a lot of time in the library and couldn't find a single thing about these trials. Or the Ancient Magic the book mentions. Another visit to the restricted section might be in order.

- I truly don't know how you haven't been expelled yet, Sebastian.

- Neither do I.

- Is she coming to the party tonight?

By she, he had meant Everleigh.

Sebastian had told the girl about the Halloween party in the Slytherin common room that night, but she hadn't given him an answer.

It had been over three weeks since the trolls attack and their relationship was... oddly different. Neither of them truly spoke about their last argument. Neither of them mentioned the fact that his tongue had been deep in Samantha Dale's throat.

She hadn't pulled back from him in public and he hadn't kissed any other girl ever since. Or her, for that matter. Not for the lack of wanting to. He had to physically fight the urge every damn day she was around him to just keep his hands in his pockets and not down her body.

His desire for that damn girl was literally consuming him and most of the time he was in a foul mood because he couldn't do anything about it.

And the fact that the book had revealed the next steps for her did not help them at all. She was extremely focused on that, or so it seemed.

The book spoke of trials for the keepers of Ancient Magic, the magic that Everleigh could see and wield. She was one of those keepers.

And Ranrok knew it. That's why he wanted to get to her. To steal that magic from her, they had assumed.

She had made a full recovery from the trolls attack but professor Weasley still seemed reticent about letting her out of the castle. Everleigh and Weasley have had multiple lengthy discussions in her office about the best course of action. The new Headmistress had even allowed her to skip classes to focus on practicing her magic. And she had.

That's all she had been doing. Probably not giving him any thought at all.

Sebastian couldn't blame her but bloody hell, he had never had a woman he wanted so much pay so little attention to him before.

This was completely new to him. And he hated it.

- She may come. I told her to bring Natsai and Garreth but that's about it. We shouldn't have many Gryffindors in the party after all. Someone in there always rat up out.

- I heard a fifth year Slytherin invited Prewett. Who would do such thing is beyond me. We can always kick the idiot out.

- Then he'll turn around and go tell Weasley about the party. I'd say we just give him a Sleeping Draught and let him doze in a corner.

- Are you sure you don't want to get rid of him because he's orbiting around Everleigh like she's the sun?

Sebastian truly wanted to strangle Ominis in that moment. He made a bad throw in the Gobstones board and one of the little marbles shot a putrid smell his way. He coughed while Ominis offered him a big grin.