The Shadow of Slytherin

The Quidditch team

Footsteps come closer to the bed, then a cold hand touches your skin. "Salem, are you awake?"

Groaning, you roll to your side to see Ominis stand next to your bed in the light of the hallway. His face paler than usual, dark circles under his eyes. "I am" You are surprised to find him in your dorm. It has been almost an eternity since he has spoken to you. After what happened below Hogwarts, the fight with Ranrok, and Anne, you feared he might never exchange a word with you. "Are you all right?" you whisper as you jack up to meet his face.

Letting out a sigh, Ominis closes the door, and walks back over to your bed. Pacing from the head to the foot of the bed, he bites his lip, then turns to you. "I have thought about this for a long time, and I need to tell you-" He begins, but silences, opens his mouth, then paces farther.

The face scrunched, you lift off your blanket and approach Ominis. "It is the middle of the night, you should have some rest before we talk"

"No," He brushes your arms off his shoulders and continues pacing, your frustrated groan in his ears as you drop your arms and stand in the room beside him, "I need to say this now, or I will not be able to sleep. Salem," his head turns in your direction, awaiting a response, "please forgive me"

Taken aback by the words that come out of his mouth, you stumble backwards onto your bed, the face glued to the silhouette of Ominis in the dark. Too starstruck to talk, you sit in silence and take a deep breath, forgive him, after all you have done, the pain you have caused, he asks for your forgiveness when you feared you might never get his.

"Salem? Are you still there?" The arms before him, Ominis comes closer to the bed, but before he can reach it, your arms wrap around him, tears streaming down your face as you press it against his neck. "I have lost my best friends, no one can change that, but I have realised that you are my close friend too, and I do not want to lose you as well"

"You won't, I promised you that, remember" you press out, the tears dropping onto Ominis pyjamas, leaning a wet stain, but you do not care. "I am sorry about Sebastian, about what we did, I cannot even begin to explain," you sob, the arms still tight around his body, "but Anne, I never meant to-"

"It is not your fault, I know that now. It took me too long to realise and for that I apologise" His head rested against your shoulder, Ominis smiles. "I hope I can still call you my friend"

"Of course, always" You cheer, wiping the tears off your face. A yawn comes over your lips and you apologise, but Ominis laughs and nods at the bed, "Maybe you are the one who should sleep"

"So should you" The hand on his shoulder, you pull him towards the bed and let him get comfortable next to you, "Just like old times" you snicker, remembering the late returns to the common room after a few adventures.

His head rested on your shoulder, Ominis smiles, but does not say anything. Instead, he places his arm across your chest and pulls you closer.

"Good night, Ominis" You whisper, brushing the untamed hair from his face.

***

The breakfast tables decked with all kinds of treats, jugs of Magnolia or pumpkin juice, and water as well as tea, a number of students sit at the tables and eat, chatting about what to do on this lovely warm summer day.

Though most students have left Hogwarts to spend time with their families, some do either not have a home to return to or want to spend the summer with their friends, and what better place to stay than an almost empty castle with many secrets.

Your head heavy, yawning as you nib on the Magnolia juice and eat some of the blossoms with a drizzle of honey and some bread. The eyes scanning the great hall, most students wander the halls in pyjamas or just casual clothing, no uniforms, some with cloaks to use the hood as a sun shield.