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

5 Fingers 10 Toes

Authors Note: Sorry for the delay! This is a heft chapter!!

TW: moderate descriptions of violence + more swearing than normal, I guess (?)

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You had been avoiding Ominis the whole weekend, finding it, much to your surprise, quite the easy feat. Though he had given you some reluctant space in the previous week as you occupied more time with Garreth, it was not uncommon to find him meandering around hallways he knew you would be, cocking his head at the meal tables to listen for you, or sitting in his usual armchair in the common room. If you didn't know any better, you would have sworn Ominis was doing a better job at avoiding you than you were him.

Regardless, ignoring Ominis had become quite productive in its own way. You had spent the entire weekend studying and making trips to the highlands, finishing out requests before the year settled and your last keeper trial awaited.

On Monday, you fluttered into Professor Ronen's class with a great heave, slinging your book bag over the desk and claiming an empty table. Normally you would have saved the spot for Ominis, though you had no desire for the sorts now. Your lips still felt bruised from the pressure he had exerted over them Friday night and your skin still burned at the thought of how embarrassing you had been under the potion effects. You cringed, face contorting into a grimace as you turned around to distract yourself.

"Leander," You regretted addressing him almost as soon as you did. He was harassing a pretty Ravenclaw girl behind you at a desk who looked to be either really enjoying her charms textbook, or sharing a similar regret to you for sitting in his proximity. "Have you seen Garreth lately?"

Leander's eyes opened wide as his eyebrows rose to match his unfortunately set-back hairline. Ominis wasn't the only person you imagined was avoiding you since Friday night. For good reason, Garreth had been nowhere to be seen in the castle. Even if you weren't exactly keen on the idea of spending more alone time with him, you would have still liked to clear the air.

"Uhm, I figured you would know." He retorted, anxiously scanning the classroom before setting his eyes on the empty seat next to yours. You felt your body shudder, humiliation infiltrating your bloodstream as you imagined the embarrassment of Garreth telling his Gryffindor pals that he had accidentally snuck you a love potion.

"He told you...?" You gulped. The Ravenclaw girl beside him took this distraction as a much-needed opportunity to scurry from her seat and claim a new one.

"He didn't need to. I saw it with my own eyes!" Leander looked almost... scared now?

"H-How?" You panicked, silently wondering if the whole school had heard your comment about leaving to find Ominis while under the effects of the love potion.

"It bloody well almost slithered right into my bed after it was done with Garreth!"

"What?!" You almost fell out of your chair, confusion striking your face as your eyebrows came together.

"The snake! Saturday morning. Big green mother fucker. Garreth woke up with it all wrapped around his neck hissing and shit. He's been scared shitless, won't leave the blasted common room!" Leander spoke excitedly as if he was looking forward to exposing his best mate.

You could do nothing but blink back in response. Freezing in your seat until your brain started to paint a pretty picture of exactly what had happened. There was only one person you could think of who could control a serpent like that. Only one who had the motive to hate Garreth Weasley enough. "....Ominis." The words barely breathed out, seething on your tongue.

Leander only nodded, giving a snarky sort of eye roll before he turned around in his chair to talk to someone else. Imelda now stirred, sitting at a nearby table and no doubt listening in on the whole conversation. When she caught you looking her way her eyes darted away, annoyed.