Destined to be

TWENTY ONE - AFTER THE DARKNESS

Pain...darkness...screaming...dread...over and over again. The constant feeling I was falling to the void. And more pain and darkness. The only thing keeping me in senses was the familiar warmth in my hand. I could feel it in my palm but at the same time it appeared far away somehow.

I had no idea how long I was in this never ending nightmare. It could be minutes, hours, days...even years. Until once the feeling of warmth disappeared. I longed for it to come back. I wanted it. I needed it. So I tried to chase it even though I didn't know the way. But I knew I was getting closer. Inch by inch, until...

Light. The familiar moonlight was seeping through the tall windows as I opened my eyes. "Ominis!" I whispered. He was my last memory before the utter darkness I almost drowned in and also the first one when I finally emerged from it. My voice was scratchy and weak. The familiar pain in my throat indicated to me that it had been a really long time since I last spoke a word.

"Lynette! Finally!" I heard a familiar voice next to me. But it wasn't the voice I wished to hear.

"Sebastian," I slowly turned my head to him. He was sitting next to my bed. He looked exhausted but relieved. I had to wake him up with my quiet whisper.

"I was so worried. We all were! I am so glad you are awake," he started babbling, taking my hand in his. His hands were cold, it made me long again the warmth I felt when I was in the darkness.

"W-what happened?" I stuttered out. I saw countless images flashing in my head but I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.

"I was waiting for you in the Undercroft as you asked me to. But you weren't coming back. After the curfew I went to professor Weasley and we immediately ran from the castle to apparate to the Gaunt mansion. You appeared in front of us just as we were reaching the barrier. And then you passed out."

"Is Ominis alright?" I interrupted his narration.

"Yes. He is. He was injured but nothing major. Nurse Blainey fixed him pretty quickly. He stayed here with you for several days. He was just sitting here, holding your hand. But you weren't waking up. Blainey said it was total exhaustion. That you probably used too much magic and it drained you completely. After a week...it was too much for him. He was drowning in guilt."

"Guilt? It wasn't his fault!"

"I know Lynette, I was trying to convince him but he simply didn't listen."

"I have to see him. He has to know that I am awake, that I am ok," I tried to sit down but Sebastian pushed me back to the cushions.

"You have to rest. I will tell him when Poppy swaps places with me in the morning. We promised him to constantly watch you. It is just a few hours," he said softly.

"What professor Wesley said?" I asked in concern. I know I was in trouble. What I did was stupid and dangerous.

"Well...there is something you should know. After she cared for you she went to the Gaunts with Sharp.  And...something was odd." He scratched his neck nervously, thinking how to say what he wanted to say.

"What is it, Sebastian? What happened there?" I pressed his hand.

"They didn't know who you or Ominis were. They didn't remember having a fourth child," he breathed out quietly.

"What? I don't think I understand. What do you mean?" I shook my head in disbelief, trying to put it all together. The last words Ominis's father told me before we ran away were ringing in my head...'Who are you and what do you do in my house?'

"Ominis told us that you had to use your ancient magic to save both of you and that you Obliviated them, to protect your secret."

"Yeah. I remember. I wanted to protect the magic from them. Protect me and Ominis from them. From the Gaunts." My eyes suddenly widened with understanding. "I Obliviated Ominis from their minds?"