The Cruelty of Fate | Ominis Gaunt Love Story

Chapter Twenty Two

The bubbles shot out of the tub revealing a horrifying scene. There had to be ten grindylows in the bath. These two to upwards of five feet creatures were green, sickly carnivorous demons that swam around in the Black Lake. They had tentacles at the bottom like squids, round bellies waiting for their next fleshy meal, and their heads were overly big. Two green glowing eyes with black slits for eyes. Horns on their head and their mouth took up most of their face. Sharp, pointed teeth bit into Priscilla. Their three fingered hands pulled her deeper under the water, holding her against the floor. Her face was staring up hauntingly, a mass of bubbles escaping her mouth as she screamed in pain.

Tessa shoved Anne towards the door, "Get help!" She ordered.

"What are you going to do?" Anne called out, running towards the door.

She didn't answer. Tessa didn't think. She pulled off her robe and dove into the tub after Priscilla.

Expulsion

Tessa wasn't sure why she expected the water to be cold, but the warm water distracted her for a moment. It was actually quite nice if you could ignore the fact that water demons were trying to murder a Hogwarts student below her.

The fragranced water stung her eyes as she looked to see the bubbles escaping Priscilla's mouth dwindle. She was drowning and the blood tinged water was making it even harder to see. It got to the point where she needed to keep her eyes closed and use the water movement to let her know where the creatures were. But when they started swirling around her, it was futile. She opened her eyes, squinting through the stinging sensation.

Tessa gasped, choking on water as she felt a bite on her leg. Brandishing her wand, she flinched when tentacles wrapped around her wrist, snapping it. Muscle spasms ran along her left arm and she felt herself start to lose all range of motion. A biting numbness started to eat away at her. Tears blending in with the water, she mustered all of her strength to scream out the incantation.

RELASHIO.

A giant beam of light emitted from the end of her wand, sending scalding hot water towards the grindylows and causing them to scatter. Her lungs were burning, but she didn't have time to get another breath of air. She swam down to the floor of the bathtub, sliding her right arm underneath Priscilla.

Luckily, the brunette was still semi-conscious and they swam up to the surface-both coughing and spluttering water out of their noses. Anne was with Natsai, beckoning for them to hurry.

"Quick! Give her to me." Natsai shouted, her eyes horrified to see the state they were in. Her eyes flickered past the Gryffindor and Tessa really didn't want to see what was behind her. She could hear the tentacles splashing about and clicking noises that sounded like teeth snapping together.

She practically threw Priscilla towards Natsai and Anne, watching for a moment as they lifted her out of the pool. Tessa grabbed the edge of the pool, ignoring the burn in her arms as well as her lungs as she lifted herself up. It was a struggle with her left wrist likely broken. She swung one leg up, her soaking wet clothes weighing her down, and making her movements slower.

The door slammed open just as a towel covered Priscilla. It was Professor Hecat again with Ominis trailing. A permanent frown on his lips, he looked more the villain than a Knight in shining armor.

"Ominis, you shouldn't-" Professor Hecat began when she was harshly interrupted.

"I'm blind. If the grindylows didn't drown her already, I'm going to do it myself-" He began when he too was interrupted by a scream.