House Of Memories

Roses and Snakes

*Eliza's POV*
She had been silent when preparing dinner, admittedly she had felt it easier to express what was needed when Sebastian was with them but she had to learn to do things like this for herself, Sebastian had been her crutch for more than he should have been. This time she would have to let it all out, something she hadn't done on those cliffs, because she had felt worried on if she started it would never stop, the words tumbling out or the tears. She would have been a big blubbering mess which would have had her looking hysterical.
Placing the meal on the table she had included butterbeer for refreshments, admittedly she had missed wizarding drinks on her search; drinking water from creeks had unsettled her stomach many times unless she stumbled upon some kind muggles who she could ask for a glass of water from. Coming up with a lie that she was journeying to her family home and her supplies had ran low,  many had obliged and wished her well on her travels. Eliza had relied a lot of the time on no magic either, living like she had done before Hogwarts.
Ominis sat opposite her, slowly eating his meal, joining him she savoured the tastes on her tongue. She had definitely outdone herself this time, whilst many witches and wizards would have house elf's prepare food for them she had taken it upon herself to ask them to teach her so that she wasn't relying on them, Deek had been honoured to teach her, along with the usual dishes he taught her exotic ones he had picked up when travelling with Professor Weasley, she had asked various teachers their favourite dishes and learned the recipes from them also. Satisfied with her surroundings; clean place to sleep in, warmed food and refreshing drinks there was just one final elephant in the room she would soon need to take care of.

She did wait until he had finished his meal, it wasn't exactly awkward sitting in silence as she could watch the little expressions he did when he got to parts of the food she assumed was his favourites based on the small smiles or widened eyes. Placing his knife and fork together he waited for her to finish her meal. Yet she couldn't find herself to finish it; her stomach had begun to swirl.
"Thank you for cooking Eliza, it was delicious. I didn't know you could cook so well" his face was softened, his eyes always reminded her of an icy lake freshly dusted with the light snow
"Deek and the other house elves taught me. I didn't want to be reliant on just them during my years teaching" that and she knew it was important if you had guests or even a husband and children it was essential to know a few dishes
"Well it was delicious like I said. Is there anything you want to do this evening? There's books here, along with we can always walk down to Hogsmeade village" she found herself biting her lip again, spotting the violin in the corner, pointing her wand at it the instrument was brought to life, playing a slow yet beautiful tune
"Can you dance Ominis?" Of course he could, she knew he could. He chuckled, holding out his hand for her to take.

In the moment she felt a bliss she had once had, his head rested atop hers,one hand around her waist the other clutching her hand, they swayed back and forth. The candles around them slightly dimmed; sky outside fading from a vibrant blue to darkness. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers. It was a start in some sense. Eventually the violin faded and stopped by the end of the song, yet he still stayed with her. Holding her closer to him. He broke the silence
"I wish I had told you before all this, however I had been worried for your reaction. Eliza I loved you, I loved you with every beating of my heart, every kiss and every day it grew. It pained me to bury it so deeply to hurt you"
"I had loved you too also, I had pictured my life with you. You'd said that we'd be forever, then it felt like you'd killed me and lied to my face" her heart sunk remembering that pain
"I'd been told to stay away, but it seems those words I can't obey them anymore. I don't want to stay away from you. I want you by my side" why had it had to go so wrong? But it felt like a second chance at it all, another chance to piece herself together and. Have the life she wanted with Ominis.

*Ominis' POV*
His hand brushed over her hair, it trailed down her back with small plaits peeking through parts. She had never kept to traditional hairstyles of the times, opting to stand out with them. Daily he had ran his hands through her hair to feel what style she was trying that day, whether it be plaited and pinned atop her head or flowing freely with ribbons adorning it, he had told her everyday it was beautiful. Many had pitied him for his lack of vision and would speak to him like he was simply a child or idiotic, people would still do it now when he was in the office or realised his reasonings for not being able to look directly at them. But she never did, she saw something more in him- something he still struggled to see himself sometimes. He wanted nothing more than to just find a way to express how he felt in a simple way but whenever it came to her he was flung back to being that 15 year old boy who was struggling his emotions and feelings he had believed he would never have, how for years he had been told by those who was meant to nourish and treasure him that he was not. Worthy of those things, that he was undeserving of anyone loving him and they would be stuck with him out of pity.
"Ominis?" Snapping himself out of his inner voices he gave her waist a squeeze to show he was listening to her
"Yes?" His mouth felt dry at her saying his name, was his collar always so tight?
"Can I try something?"
"Of course" her forefinger and thumb brought his chin down, her lips brushed on his. His cheeks grew hotter at how gentle she was, pulling back she placed her head back on his chest. She would know how it was galloping in his chest like a hoarde of thestrals.

He had tried to awkwardly avoid being too close for her afterwards, fearing she would know too much too fast.she had known so much about him in Hogwarts; all of his tells, how his cheeks reddened and the tips of his ears whenever she got nearby or how he would wrinkle his nose when he could smell her perfume. She had opted to read one of the many books whilst he went through case notes from a separate one. Excusing himself briefly he went upstairs to make the bed for her and run the bath, he was sure she would appreciate his way of love language.
"Eliza I've ran you a bath and set up your bed. I'll take the sofa, then tomorrow we can get you back to Hogwarts"
"You can share the bed with me Ominis I won't bite. It will be comfier than the sofa" her hand brushed his neck, sending currents through him.

*Eliza's POV*
Sinking into the warm bath her body was aching for it, it felt like she could just wash away all of the last month or so problem's. From the other side of the door she could hear Ominis awkwardly clear his throat and adjust the bedsheets. Hurrying to dry herself she wrapped her hair in a tight plait to get loose waves in the morning- sliding on a nightgown she hesitantly peeked out of the door. His face paled and nervous; he had no reason to be nervous sharing a bed with her, she just didn't want him to be uncomfortable on the sofa another night when it's his rental.
She had to admit laying next to him did feel pretty awkward, she hadn't thought of it before, it was one thing for her to kiss him or dance close to him but to share a bed was another thing.
"I know you have something on your mind, just say it" he bluntly told her, relighting the just blown out candle she faced him
"I do. You had so many years to explain what you said earlier to me but you didn't, why? Why did you wait until I'd been presumed missing to decide now was the time Ominis? Why did you have to be so selfish with your behaviour over a job. It wasn't just me who was upset you left, Sebastian was broken to, we've had to lean on each other twice as much just to get over you leaving!" He frowned, his brows furrowed at her statement
"I knew regardless of me coming to you that you would have been angry and upset because of my actions, but I do mean what I say of that I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, and it was true earlier when I said I loved you, I still do. I still think of you as an angel that came into my life and made everything that was so bleak seem worth it. I didn't mean to make it seem like I had lied to you on my feelings. I had two options that day, if i decided not to be an Auror I would have no doubt asked you to be my wife when we left Hogwarts, we would have lived somewhere like here and travelled wherever you wanted to go, see the wonders you wanted to see and I would have listened to you describe them to me beautifully. Or I could go for the job and hope that you'd find someone and move on. Sebastian told me you hadn't dated anyone,I honestly thought you would have considered him a suitor, yet you didn't. It gave me hope I could rekindle something with you. Which is selfish of me yes, but you are forever my rose on the winters night. Blooming beautifully through the icy cold" edging closer to him, Ominis wrapped his arms around her, continuing his speech in Parseltongue- she didn't understand his words but it reminded her of one thing. He was forever her Snake.