The Patronus

Ominis had never really thought much about casting a Patronus charm. He'd never run into a dementor before, and with any luck, he never would. Still, he supposed it would be a good thing to know how to do.

It had been Sebastian who suggested they all learn it. Compared to the magic he'd been wanting to learn the previous year, Ominis had much preferred this, and he and MC both agreed right away. Without an actual dementor to practise on, it was much safer, although it did make Ominis worry that if actually faced with one, perhaps their Patronuses wouldn't be strong enough. Then again, having one at all was better than nothing.

Sebastian had been able to cast his after only a few days, which was unsurprising. It took the form of a mourning dove. MC was, for the most part, only to produce a few silvery wisps of light, but not too long after Sebastian, she'd been able to cast her own fully-formed Patronus.

Now, a week and a half later, Ominis still wasn't able to make anything at all. He tried not to show it, but it was beginning to get to him. It never took him more than a day or two to master any new spell he tried. Of course, he knew why this one gave him so much trouble. To properly cast it, one needed to focus on a powerful happy memory, and as far as things went, he really didn't have any. He'd tried using the day he met Sebastian and Anne, the day he (properly) met MC, and the day he realised he wouldn't have to go home to his family again if he didn't want to. And yet, nothing worked. Sebastian suggested he take a break, sit back, and something would come to him.

Ominis wasn't so sure.

He lay in his bed that night, long after his dorm-mates had fallen asleep, twisting his wand between his fingers. His wand... hm. That was a memory. It was an old one, a bit fuzzy, but it has a distinctly happy feeling behind it. Or at least, not a negative one.
—-
August 19, 1880

Despite it being mid-August, that day was relatively cool. Ominis was sitting in the vast living room on the plush carpet, stacking some wooden blocks. He was trying to build an impressive tower, as well as he could without his sight, and despite not seeing it, he felt he was doing a good job. At 6, he had already learned to navigate his home fairly well, and he hardly ever even bumped into walls anymore. Beneath his fingers, he could feel the blocks had some sort of carvings on the sides, but he couldn't figure out what they were meant to be.

The set of blocks, hand-made, were a gift from his Auntie Noctua, and they were some of his favourite things in the world. His father had said at breakfast that she'd be coming over later that day, so Ominis spent the time playing quietly by himself until she did. As he stacked another few blocks, he heard footsteps approaching him. They were too small to be either of his parents (or his aunt, as he'd hoped), but they were heavy, as though whoever was coming was stomping.

"What are you doing?" The sharp, harsh voice of his older brother met his ears. Marvolo was always mean and looking for a way to mess with Ominis, which was why he always played in the living room. His brother was usually lurking in the basement or terrorising the house-elves in the kitchens, and rarely came in here.

Ominis squeezed the block he was holding a bit nervously. "Um... building."

Marvolo snorted. "That's stupid. It looks stupid. You're stupid." Ominis heard the slight rustle of clothing and a swish. He flinched away, waiting to be hit, but instead he heard the clattering of his blocks falling to the floor as his brother kicked his tower over. Snickering, Marvolo ran off, leaving Ominis sat in the ruin of what he'd been creating. He dropped the block he was holding and promptly burst into tears. Marvolo was always ruining his things. It wasn't fair; he hadn't been bothering anyone.

There were more footsteps, and Ominis wondered if his brother was coming back to wreck more, maybe even set his toys on fire or something, but instead he was gently scooped up and held close.