The Cruelty of Fate | Ominis Gaunt Love Story

Chapter Eleven

"Try holding your breath." Ominis suggested, tilting her chin up to look at him. "Breathe with me. In. Out."

She tried shaking her head that she couldn't do it, but his grip on her chin while gentle was firm. He was resolute. He was here. Tessa tried again, heart pounding. The tears were clouding her vision, but he wiped them away with his thumbs as he now cupped her face.

"You better not smack me after this." His lip twitched, fighting a smile.

Tessa looked at him confused. "W-"

He leaned down without any warning and pressed his lips against hers.

Panic at the Classroom

Shock washed over her, allowing herself to break out of the metaphorical chains that bound her with panic and pain. Clarity broke through and she realized that Ominis had her face cupped in his hands. They were warm and gentle. His lips were pressed against hers, soft and unyielding.

The citrus smell she was beginning to crave teased her nose, coaxing her to lean in. She wanted to deepen the kiss, but the moment he realized she had held her breath; he pulled away. His eyebrows furrowed, listening to her.

"Are you alright?" He inquired and sniffed, "Do I smell peas?"

Her cheeks burned. Ominis kissed her to make her hold her breath-stopping the panic attack and all he had to say for it was that she smelled like dinner. Old peas was likely not a romance inducing scent.

Tessa scowled, sitting back on her behind, and quelled her nerves. "I should smack you."

His expression brightened, hearing her usual sarcastic inflection. "I assume you're back to being your charming self."

"I assume you're back to being-" she began to retort when another figure entered the Classroom.

It was Professor Hecat. With a wave of her wand, the torches lit inside the classroom and Tessa no longer felt as if Ominis and her were in another world. One that had been their own. "Goodness. Ominis and I spent the entire afternoon chasing that damned nightmare."

"Did you ever find out how it escaped in the first place?" Tessa questioned, looking back at the mirror. Her mother was there still. Beckoning her to come and sit when a sheet was thrown over the mirror.

"Nasty thing. Should never have brought it back." Professor Hecat replied, "It's an ancient Artifact one of Sallows brought back from their travels abroad. Good intentioned, but the Mirror of Erised will show you what your heart yearns the most."

Ominis nodded sitting across from Tessa, "If only I had a heart it would yearn for Sebastian to stopping talking in his sleep at night."

Professor Hecat shifted her focus to the Gryffindor student. "Miss Cauldwell, I know that you have been skipping the Boggart lesson since your fifth year. If you cannot face your fears, you will never be able to overcome then."

Tessa sighed inwardly. She didn't need a pep speech-

"Stop being such a coward." Ominis griped.

Tessa blinked.

Professor Hecat blinked.

She recovered first, "If I cast the Silencing Charm on him, will you-"

"Casting Magic on other students is punishable." The Professor stood up and headed towards the doorway, "However if you do it while I'm not here, I didn't see anything."