In The Shadow of Our Choices

Chapter 37 - Domino

Ominis

That morning, Ominis had been dreading the conversation he knew Elizabeth wanted to have from the moment he opened his eyes. He'd had a reason to delay the night before, and part of him hoped she would have forgotten. As he got ready for the day, his hands shook ever so slightly, and, though he hadn't drank the night before, he felt like he might be sick. The longer she was quiet though, the more hopeful he was that she wouldn't bring it up. She, however, had other plans.

"Ominis?"

Ominis felt his heart stop at the tone. Addressing the issue would mean bringing an end to it all... he didn't want to talk about this. All the same, he turned, looking towards her with a raised eyebrow.

"Last night, when we were walking back..." Elizabeth trailed off.

Please don't remember. Please don't ask that question. Please don't...

"Yes?" he prompted, his heart racing now.

Don't say it. Don't ask it.

Then she stuttered her way through the dreaded question. "I just - Do you... like me? As more than just a friend, I mean."

There it was. There was the question. She asked it.

Ominis had vowed at a very young age - before he'd even left home - that he would do his own small part to end the Gaunt line: he would never marry and never have children. He would never wish their dark and twisted family upon anyone else, nor would he drag anyone into that. He would not bring their wrath down on someone they deemed unworthy - which was anyone who was not a Gaunt themselves. That thought always made him sick to his stomach. As he'd grown older, Ominis had realized any girl he courted he would simply be leading on. A dead end relationship, if he wouldn't marry. He couldn't do that.

He needn't have worried though - hardly any girls would spare him the time of day. But that was fine with him - simply avoided the situation entirely. Part of it was his own attempts to keep himself aloof, but much of it was his name. He'd never forget in their second year, overhearing Natty speaking with Poppy after Professor Garlick had paired her and him together for an assignment.

"I'd be careful of Ominis Gaunt, if I were you. I think he is interested in dark magic."

Or in the third year, Everett Clopton had tried to sway Sebastian from his side.

"I don't understand how you can hang around Ominis Gaunt, you should be careful. I can't tell where his loyalties lie."

Even in their fifth year - even after having known his classmates for five whole years, he'd heard Elizabeth, when she was new, asking Amit about him only to be told:

"I'm not sure what to make of Ominis Gaunt these days."

That was about as positive a comment as Ominis had ever heard about himself. That his classmates were 'not sure about' him. And somehow, when Ominis did venture out into the wider wizarding world - which he generally avoided - it was worse.

Case in point: the previous morning. Elizabeth had been reading while he ate breakfast, he had overheard two witches nearby speaking about him.

"Isn't that the youngest Gaunt boy?"

"I think so. I did hear he was blind."

"Do you think that girl he's with is okay? Should we ask her if she needs help?"

"I think they're together."

"Can't be, she's not a Gaunt. Oh, did you hear their oldest is getting married this summer?"