Hogwarts Legacy Oneshots

Desperate Measures

(written by Abidolly)

Characters: Ominis Gaunt, Sebastian Sallow

Warning: anxiety and Use of Unforgivable

A/N: These scenes were originally written as flashbacks for my fanfic "From Shadows of Hell," but they can stand on their own.

Description: In the year 1890, there was no mysterious 5th-year student arriving at Hogwarts, and Ancient magic doesn't play a part in this story. However, everything else unfolded in a similar manner. Anne was cursed, and Sebastian is becoming increasingly obsessed with finding a cure. Eventually, he decided to approach Ominis and convince him to take them to the Scriptorium. But it's just the two of them there, so someone has to use the Unforgivable Curse, and someone has to take the hit...

Ominis POV

"Ominis, I know this is the last thing you want to do, but-"

"Yes! It is! thought you knew me better."

"This is ridiculous as if dying here was a better option than casting a damned spell!"

"Sebastian, Cruciatus is a pure torture and the spell won't work unless you mean it. I can't... I shan't do that to you."

"Ominis, please" Sebastian pleaded, grasping Ominis' shoulders, his voice trembling with desperation. "This is different from what your family did to you, I'm not an innocent victim."

The blind boy simply shook his head, reaching out to hold his friend's hand. "I'm sorry, Sebastian," he said, his voice quivering, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Sebastian exhaled shakily, pressing his forehead against Ominis', his voice barely above a whisper when he spoke again, "Ominis, you leave me no choice. I won't allow you to follow in your aunt's footsteps." He pulled his hand away, his steps resounding through the empty corridor as he retreated. "You said it, you have to mean it, right?"

"Seb- Sebastian?" Ominis uttered in disbelief.

He detected Sebastian's breath growing rigid, followed by the faint swish of a wand, and then a firm and angry cry, "CRUCIO!"

*

Ominis lay on the cold floor of an unfamiliar chamber within the Scriptorium. The excruciating pain from the Cruciatus curse still lingered, rendering him nearly immobile. His throat felt raw from the relentless screams. Vaguely, he recalled Sebastian lifting him and carrying him into the scriptorium just before the enchanted door sealed shut. Now, Sebastian sat beside him, holding him tightly in his arms and gently rocking him.

"Ominis, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. This is all my fault," Sebastian's voice trembled.

Minutes ticked by, stretching into what felt like an eternity. Finally, Ominis managed to muster enough strength to take Sebastian's hand and weakly squeeze it.

"Ominis! Thanks to all the damned magic in this world," Sebastian said, relieved.

"Sebastian," Ominis's voice was still raspy, "I'd punch you if I could."

"As you should, and I'll take it a thousand times if it makes you feel better. I'm so sorry," Sebastian replied, leaning forward and pressing his lips gently against Ominis' forehead.

"Moron," Ominis muttered, a hint of a weak smile playing on his lips.

Sebastian chuckled, and then he moved his lips lower to meet Ominis'. It was their first kiss, on the floor of Salazar Slytherin's Scriptorium, after enduring the strike of an Unforgivable curse.

*

Ominis and Sebastian were walking barefoot on a beach, their feet sinking into the damp sand as they allowed the ocean waves to cleanse away the remnants of the day. They had come to Feldcroft with the intention to visit Anne, but before they could even enter the house, Solomon emerged, starting an immediate fight with Sebastian. In a matter of minutes, Solomon drove them both away, denying Sebastian the opportunity to see his own sister.

The meeting left a bitter taste in their mouths, so Ominis thought that Sebastian would want to return to the castle immediately, but to his surprise, Sebastian suggested they take a little detour, leading them to the beach.

Ominis couldn't appreciate the view of the distant shore and endless ocean bathed in the warm hues of the sunset, but he loved the salty scent of the sea, the gusts of wind that were not so gentle in this area and sand between his toes.

It had been over a week since the Incident in the Scriptorium, since their first kiss, as Ominis preferred to call it in his mind. However, after that moment, they hadn't discussed it at all. What bothered Ominis even more was that Sebastian was acting like it never happened. The lack of acknowledgement made Ominis question the sincerity of the moment. If Sebastian only kissed him out of a sense of guilt or because he sensed Ominis's longing for his touch when he was hurt.

"Ominis, I..." Sebastian started, his voice filled with nervousness. Ominis braced himself for what he believed would be a painful revelation. His heart sank as Sebastian continued, "...I'd like to apologise."

Ominis took a deep breath and replied, "There is... no need, Sebastian. I understand."

"Don't! Please don't say you understand. I never wanted you to suffer," he pleaded.

Ominis furrowed his brow "Um... Sebastian, I appreciate your concern, but that's life, I guess. I'll survive. It's not like you have a choice in this matter."

Sebastian stopped and grasped Ominis's hand, turning him to face him directly. "What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice filled with confusion.

Ominis' face flushed with embarrassment as he realised his mistake. "You're not talking about the kiss?" he mumbled.

"What? No, hell no," he exclaimed. "I was talking about the curse. About me hitting you with the fucking Unforgivable Curse, Ominis."

"Oh... that. Um... yes," he stumbled over his words, feeling a bit silly now. "You got us out of there, so... just promise me you'll stop with that dark magic obsession."

There was a long silence between them. Sebastian, still holding Ominis' hand, was the first one to break it. "I wouldn't apologise for that kiss. I don't regret it a bit."

A smile tugged at the corners of Ominis's lips. "I'm glad to hear that," he replied "Because I don't regret it either."

Sebastian's grip tightened, his thumb gently caressing Ominis' hand. "You don't?" he asked.

Ominis shook his head "No, I don't."