Oh, Merlin. It's you. (Ominis x Reader)

The Game of Tit for Tat

Ominis' hold on your arm slackened as you approached the large crowd of people. The cool breeze of the December air shook your poorly dressed bones to their core as you waited in great anticipation for the start of the night. Ominis' scarf made much more sense to you now, as he seemed to tuck his chin into it as you entered the courtyard.

In front of you lay an almost whimsical display. All around the courtyard were twinking candlesticks, illuminating the stone grey walls, and floor. In the middle of the courtyard lay a large circle containing all of Hogwarts' 5th-year class, surrounding an empty bowl which you noticed a few anxious individuals eyeing it as if it might take flight at any moment. The sight was a bit overwhelming and your eyes darted around the scene to make out just how many familiar faces were watching as Ominis and you approached.

You spotted Sebastian amongst the crowd, who was surely enough, completely surrounded by fellow female members of your year. There wasn't even room for him to take a stray breath, let alone space for you and Ominis to shove past his hungry suitors. You would have to sit somewhere else. You could almost hear him bragging already about how his plan from yesterday was in full effect. As he spotted the two of you, he smiled and gestured wildly, but your mind was ripped from the sight as you heard another voice call to you.

"Oi! Ominis, new fifth year, over here!" Garreth Weasley cheered, raising a sloshing glass of something around in a limp grip. He bore a large toothy grin as he began ushering his neighbors to scoot so that the two of you could sit next to him. You grabbed Ominis's arm and led him over to Garreth.

As you approached, you felt the surroundings warmen, indicating the students must have used some sort of charm to maintain heat within the inner circle. Still, as you seated yourself, Ominis offered what little extra clothing he had to you. Before you could answer the offer of his scarf, Garrteth's voice tore through your head again.

"Glad to have you join us. Didn't expect to see you here again, Gaunt." He spoke with a chuckle and Ominis seemed to already be annoyed. Ominis sat to Garreth's left and you sat next to Ominis and your position next to the two of them was growing a little uncomfortable. In fact, Ominis made little acknowledgment to show he even understood the comment, slightly grunting as he loosened the tie around his neck under his scarf. Gareth did not seem to care. "Care for firewhiskey either of you?" He extended a small brown bottle and you stared at it blankly.

"Please." Ominis took the bottle from Gareth's hands with haste, surprising you greatly. Ominis immediately brought the bottle up to his lips and took a large swallow. His neck bobbed as he drank and you felt your heart make larger beats through your chest. When he was done, he held the bottle to you and you followed his lead, taking a similar sip of the mysterious liquid.

The drink was atrocious and you could feel the contents burning all the way down your throat. Though, you could not deny that shortly after, your entire being felt riddled with a pleasant warmth. Before you could even take a second sip, Ominis grabbed the bottle from your hand and reached over to pass it back to Gareth, who was already fields-deep into a conversation with the person to his right. It was clear that he must have already had many more than one swallows of the wretched firewhiskey beverage.

Ominis cleared his throat before he spoke, unraveling the scarf and draping it over your shoulders without you even requesting it. Your body wished his fingers would linger on you as they had before in the undercroft. "I can feel your heart beating, y/n. I think it's best if you do not have any more of the firewhiskey." His voice flowed evenly.

Contrary to your previous actions, your body nearly jolted at his words. To this, his face seemed to almost tickle into a complacent smirk. "I only drank it because you did, Ominis." You said quickly, hoping to accomplish anything before he could make another comment.