Life Goes On

Chapter 32: The Winter Ball

This week, there were no more lessons or mock exams. Students were busy packing up for the holidays, cleaning up their herbology stations at the greenhouses, exchanging gifts and see you laters with friends... It was truly a magical time... for most.

In between Winter Ball preparations and closing for the holiday tasks that the head boy and girl were in charge of, Sebastian and Ominis were making me practice my elemental magic control. 

The room of requirement had truly come in handy for this. A new room had been added, it was a field, similar to a quidditch court. The benefits of training here were that I could change the weather to my liking, and no one else was around, meaning, that the devastation of my failed attempts could go unnoticed and no one could get hurt. Except me, of course.

I quickly realized however, that intent and purpose were all too necessary for this magic to behave the way that I wanted it to. It seemed that without something, or someone, to protect or fight against, the elemental magic was just as unpredictable as my nightmares. Sebastian tried tempting me by quite literally throwing himself in front of my targets, which earned him one zap and some singed hairs. Needless to say, him and Ominis were now banned from my training room.

Of course, with the added solo training, I had a lot less free time to spend with Sebastian and Ominis. Although, in just a matter of days, we would be spending three whole weeks with each other, and my great aunt Cleo. Granted, with the added bonus of having our own common room, we could be looking at a minor loss of privacy. However, great aunt Cleo had already prepared the garden guest house for Ominis and Sebastian, I would just need to figure out how to easily sneak there to and from my room. I figured, disillusionment would do the job, specially with the trace no longer being on us anymore. I really couldn't wait!

After I was done training for the day, I headed back to the common room. When I entered I heard Sebastian and Ominis bickering, but they stopped as soon as I was within earshot, surely, Ominis heard me coming. They looked awfully... Suspicious.

"What are the two of you up to?" I raised a questioning eyebrow in their direction.

"Nothing darling, just holiday planning. How was training today?" Ominis leaned back and threw his ankle over his knee.

"Hmm... It was fine, not much progress. I suppose." I waved a dismissive hand too tired to pry them for answers.

Sebastian shook his head, "I don't understand why you banned us from the training room."

I chuckled. "Yes you do actually, it's because you have no sense of self preservation."

Sebastian scuffed and Ominis chuckled, "she's not wrong about that Seb."

"I'm only trying to expedite the process." Sebastian insisted.

I laughed, "You're helping to expedite your death that's for sure. Anyway, I need a shower, I'm gross and exhausted." I started to walk towards the bathroom when Sebastian ran over and pulled me back by the hand.

"Wait, no fun first?" He started trailing kisses up my arm until he reached my shoulder and took a deep whiff, "I do love the smell and taste of you after you've been...exercising."

Shivers ran up my spine, "Well then, by all means, join me. Ominis are you...?" I looked back at the arm chair which was now empty.

"What are you two waiting for?" Ominis called back from the stairs, his shirt already unbuttoned.

***

It was finally here, the day of the Winter Ball. My dress was ready and beautiful, Ominis's and Sebastian's dress robes were perfect. I had plans to meet Natty and Poppy in the room of requirement to get ready. Most everything was in place, and yet...I couldn't help but feel so... nervous.