Silver Tongue - A Hogwarts Legacy Fanfiction

Chapter 15: Partnership

Maia had been so busy since Pitt-upon-Ford that she hadn't even had to actively avoid Ominis. She had dedicated every waking minute outside of class toward solving the issue with Darkness-riddled creatures. A few more villages had been attacked, but she had gotten better at arriving in time to prevent most of the devastating damages, and was more efficient about removing its influence from the animals who were infected. She had begun a full time brewing operation in the Room of Requirement for Wiggenweld Potions, and there were now five jars of Darkness hidden in a cabinet at the back of her private cottage there. She still didn't know what to do about them, so her solution for the moment was a strong blood ward around the cabinet, and stern instructions to the Room of Requirement to only allow her into the room it was contained within.

Her sleep had become more restless again as December rolled around, and she woke from nightmares so frequently now that she had moved into the cottage at nights permanently. As a result, there had been no more early morning visits from Ominis. She hated how much she missed him. Why couldn't she just move on from this? He apparently had, since he wasn't even trying to contact her anymore. Granted, she hadn't given him much opportunity... She shook herself from her thoughts, and closed the door to the Room of Requirement behind herself quietly as she slipped into the corridor. The sound of stones softly clicking as they moved past one another was the only indication that the door was disappearing behind her when she walked away.

She had taken a quick break after lunch to check on her potions and feed her creatures in the vivariums. She felt guilty about how little time she had spent with them, but with a crisis brewing that only she could quell, there was little choice. The mystery of the Darkness had consumed most of her time lately. She had determined that when she defeated Ranrock and his goblin and wizard followers at the end of fifth year, the corrupted magic he had been attempting to harness must have burst out of him and invaded the Forbidden Forest, taking hold in the magical creatures there, binding itself to them from the inside. She still didn't know how to stop it from continuing. She was afraid that she would have to start hunting in the forest for infected creatures before they could hurt anyone. She shuddered at the dark memories of spider dens and inferi from last year. She really didn't look forward to returning to those places, but she would if it was the only way to stop the destruction.

Most students had already arrived by the time Maia stepped into the Potions classroom. She flushed pink at the memories it invoked, and hurried toward her normal place beside Garreth. He scooted away from her, looking terrified. She may have overreacted to his little...accident during the previous lesson. If you looked closely at his hands, you could still see some of the boils from the undiluted bubotuber pus she had 'accidentally' spilled on him when she had recovered. She was absolutely sure his lap looked even worse, as that was where she had been aiming when he tried to shield himself with his hands. She smirked at his fearful reaction. Good. He was an arse.

"Not there, Miss Greengrass." Sharp's voice rang through the dim, smoky room. "Please gather your things and move over to sit beside Mr. Gaunt. He'll be your partner for the remainder of the year." Weasley looked relieved.

She groaned inwardly. This was unfair. She'd rather be with experiment guy. This was sure to be awkward. She briefly considered appealing to Sharp, explaining him why it was a bad idea, but decided it would be even worse to have to tell him what had happened. So she shouldered her bag and sulked over to sit beside Ominis. Sharp had already turned back to the board, and was writing directions and ingredients for the day's lesson. She was just pulling the items needed out of her bag when Maia felt Ominis shift in his seat beside her.

"I've missed you." His breath tickled her ear. She shivered slightly.

What was she supposed to say to that? Of course she had missed him in return, but her embarrassment at what he had walked in on had far over-weighed any urge to seek him out. "Me too." She whispered back. Her face tingled, and she knew she was blushing again.