Mustache Paste

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"Did you run into Professor Black at all today? He seemed...odd. I wonder if he was feeling quite poorly."

It was a dreary night with rain pelting against the windows of the Slytherin common room. Sebastian and Ominis found themselves sitting by one of the fireplaces to soak in the warmth from the flames.

Ominis sighed as he thought back to his previous encounter with the headmaster. "As a matter of fact, I did. He was giving me a hard time about taking a day off from classes when I had to write twenty inches on dittany and its uses." He furrowed his brow and frowned. "Then, he went on about making a mustache paste with bubotuber pus and dittany. It was most certainly bizarre and I don't know what to make of it."

"Maybe being holed up in his office all the time has finally caught up to him." Sebastian chuckled and looked over his shoulder. "Where's Andromeda? You two are rarely apart nowadays. I'm surprised you are not out looking for her."

"She told me she had a meeting with Professor Fig and that I shouldn't wait up for her." Ominis leaned back into the sofa. "Obviously, I told her that was utter nonsense. And Sebastian, she's my girlfriend. We are supposed to spend time together."

"I was just teasing. It's just nice when it's you and me. You know, like old times." Sebastian paused for a moment before asking, "So, how are things going?"

"What are you talking about?"

Sebastian smacked his forehead. "How is it going with you and Andromeda? Can I get any clearer than that?"

"Why on earth are you asking?"

"Because you're my best mate! I hope you would come to me if something was troubling you but I highly doubt that because since the two of you have gotten together this is the happiest I have seen you in ages!"

Sebastian looked over at his friend and noticed a small shade of pink spread across his face. "Aw, did I make you blush? And here I thought only Andromeda had that capability."

Ominis crossed his arms and turned his head away. "Shut up."

"Oh, come on! Just tell me!"

"Alright!" Ominis inhaled deeply and turned his attention back to Sebastian. "Sometimes I convince myself that I'm dreaming and at some point, I will have to wake up to discover that Andromeda does not truly exist. She hasn't even been here for an entire year and yet...it feels like I've known her for my whole life. It is almost like she was the missing piece that I didn't know I needed to feel complete."

Sebastian stared at his friend and let out a slow whistle. "Damn. It's no wonder she never fell for my charm. I can't compete with you! We're not even on the same playing field!"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, are you serious? I just bear my heart and soul due to your demands and all you care about is your horrendous ways of flirting?"

"No..." Sebastian rested his head against his hand on the armrest. "I never stood a chance. Andromeda was always drawn to you, even when I told her I would help her with completing the triptych. She lights up when she's with you and by far, she is the only person that you have truly allowed to get to know the real you."

His eyes drifted over to the fireplace. "I know we're close friends but I was shocked to hear that you already told her about your family's history with the Dark Arts. It literally took me almost a year of being your friend for you to felt comfortable to tell me." Sebastian could not help but smile to himself. "After what happened in the scriptorium, I had a feeling that you were falling hard for Andromeda."

Ominis was quiet as he thought about what Sebastian had just said to him. He then asked, "Are you jealous?"

"I will admit I was at first." Sebastian shrugged. "But I quickly got over it. I have realized that I like Andromeda as a friend but nothing beyond that. Besides, I don't think she could handle me in the first place."

Ominis immediately rolled his eyes. "And we're back to square one."

Both boys turned their heads when they heard the door to the common room click open. Sebastian quickly stood up. "And that's my cue to leave. Have at it, lover boy." He then ran off to the boy's dormitory.

Andromeda came down the stairs and stopped once she noticed Ominis sitting by himself. "Did you fall asleep or are you waiting for me? Have you been alone for all this time? I did tell you not to stay up for me."

"Sebastian was here. He just so happened to leave as you were coming in."

Andromeda made her way over to the back of the sofa and leaned forward, resting her arms on the top of the backrest. "Did I scare him off or were you two exchanging secrets while I was gone?"

Ominis chuckled and shook his head. "No, we were just talking. We both ran into Professor Black and noticed he was not acting like himself earlier today. Did you happen to see him?"

"Professor Black?" She could feel her heart start to pound against her chest. "Uh, No. I didn't see him at all. Heh."

"Well, consider yourself lucky." Ominis got up from the sofa and walked over to stand in front of her. He gently placed his hand under her chin. "It's late. Sweet dreams, my darling." He leaned in and kissed her good night.

As Andromeda made her way back to her dormitory, she casually said, "I hope you finished your twenty inches of dittany." Her face dropped as soon as the words slipped out of her mouth.

Ominis stopped dead in his tracks. "I never told you about my herbology assignment." He whipped his head back to her. "Wait a minute..."

Andromeda let out a nervous laugh. "Um, I mean I think you told me this morning. Don't you remember? Ha, look at the time, I should probably head to bed." She was about to make a run for it when two arms grabbed around her waist. "Ominis! Let me go!" She squirmed and tried to break free from his grasp but her efforts were useless.

"That was you! I knew something was off about Professor Black but now it all makes sense! Andromeda, you can get into serious trouble for impersonating a professor, let alone the headmaster!" Ominis held on to her tight, refusing to budge until she confessed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe my uncle was just having an off day." She continued to try to push herself away from his arms.

"You leave me no choice." Ominis leaned in close to her neck and pressed his lips softly against her skin.

Andromeda began to squeal. "That is not fair! Ominis!" She was giggling so much that her sides began to ache and was beginning to lose her breath. Despite her struggle, he was relentless.

"Alright! You win! It was me! Now, can you stop?!"

Ominis pulled back with a satisfied grin and released her. "You do realize that if I have any inkling that you're lying to me, I already have the upper hand."

Andromeda turned around with her arms crossed and glared at him. "Maybe I'll rub some troll boogers on my neck in the future to ward off forbidden kisses."

"Don't be rash. Now, care to explain why you were going around as Professor Black?"

"It was Professor Fig's idea."

Ominis gave her a look of disbelief and shook his head. "You can't be serious."

"It was the only way I could complete the next trial for the Keepers! I told Professor Fig that I had to get into the headmaster's office to find Professor Fitzgerald's portrait. He suggested I take a Polyjuice Potion to disguise myself as Professor Black and find Scrope to get the password."

"And instead of being discreet, you thought it was a good idea to interact with everybody and make the headmaster look like some sort of twit."

"I did what I had to do. I never said I was any good at being a performer." Andromeda laughed to herself. "Besides, it was worth it when I saw the look on your face when I said you were taking a day off from classes. I nearly gave myself away."

"You practically did when you told me to make a mustache paste with bubotuber pus and dittany."

Andromeda shrugged. "I swore I read about it somewhere in one of our herbology books."

Ominis moved closer to cradle her face. "And I'm sure it will work just as well as applying troll boogers to your neck."

She let out a mischievous smile and giggled. "I guess we're just going to have to find out." She was still giggling when he drew her into a long kiss.

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