The Serpent and The Bird

"I'm yours"

- Wait, so how did you discover the Undercroft, Ominis?

Everleigh asked, her quill stopping mid sentence as she scribbled on her parchment about the different uses for Dittany leaves. Anne was sitting next to her, on the floor, using the coffee table as desk for the books, inks and parchments.
Ominis continued to add ingredients to the cauldron in the potions station they had conjured in a corner, white smoke coming from the draught he was brewing.

- I didn't discover it. My aunt Noctua told me about it. It has been a secret place for the Gaunt family for a long time.
- Hm.

Everleigh nodded, dipping her quill on ink again to continue her writing. Ominis coughed when the smoke densified and went up his nostrils. He took a step back from the cauldron, waving his hands with the intent to dissipate the fumes.

- Why do you ask?

His voice came out in a choke. Everleigh shrugged, even though he couldn't see her.

- I was wondering how nobody has stumbled into this place by now.
- Well, you can only access it by invitation. - It seemed like the Slytherin boy had given up on his potions, as he slowly walked away from the station to come sit down by the couch, next to Sebastian. - As you very well know.

The snarky tone didn't fly over Everleigh's head, resulting in a chuckle, while Sebastian shifted on the couch next to Ominis, holding his Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book with his left hand. He was still wearing the sling on his right arm.

- Oh, Ominis. Just drop it.
- Fine.
- We should take a photograph!

Anne's cheerful voice made everyone turn their heads towards her.

- A photograph? For what?

Sebastian was looking at his sister like she was talking nonsense but Anne stood up and sprinted towards an old wooden cabinet, opening one of the glass doors and pulling out a camera that looked like it had came out of the 1800's, when it was first invented. Ominis let out a sigh, standing up again and walking towards the middle of the room, like he knew it was pointless to fight Anne's wish. Everleigh searched for Sebastian's eyes, inquiring in silence about that out of the blue request but he just shrugged and stood up from his seat, extending his good hand towards the Gryffindor girl to help her get up from the floor.
Both of them met Ominis in the middle of the room, watching as Anne set up the camera on top of the table, facing them.

- Alright, everyone ready?

After collectively nodding, the girl ran towards the group, standing in between Ominis and Sebastian, and she looked at the flash with a bright smile. On the other side of her brother, Everleigh offered the camera a shy smile instead, at the same time Sebastian hung his arm over her shoulder, bringing her closer to his body. Her smile grew bigger and she took a quick glance at his face just to find him already looking at her with longing.
Sebastian's fingertips brushed against the skin of her neck in a sweet touch.

- Oh, this picture will be a lovely addition for our photograph album.

A few seconds after the flash went off, Anne walked towards the camera, getting the film out to tuck it away in the pocket of her robes.

- You can frame it and put it at home, in London.

Ominis voice had a serious tone, and Everleigh knew that he was not joking about it. She frowned at his words.

- Wait. At home? In London? You three live together?

- Oh, Sebastian. You haven't told her anything about us. - Ominis was blind but he still managed to moved his eyes towards Sebastian with a look of consternation.