Rekindled Bonds

Chapter 5

One evening, as they sat on the worn couch in Ash's living room, the weight of the silence became unbearable for her. She turned to Ominis, her voice filled with worry. "Ominis, we used to be so close. What's come between us?"

He looked at her, his expression a mix of emotions. "Ash, it's not you. I promise."

She reached out and touched his hand, seeking reassurance that their bond was still there. "Then what is it? You can talk to me, you know."

Ominis hesitated, his gaze shifting away from hers. "It's just... family matters. They're complicated, and I don't want to burden you with them."

Ash's heart sank as she realized that he was still keeping secrets from her. She wanted to respect his privacy, but the wedge between them had grown too large to ignore.

"Ominis, please. I care about you," she said softly. "Whatever you're going through, we can face it together."

He looked at her with gratitude and fear, torn between the desire to protect her and the need to share his burdens. Ominis let out a heavy sigh. "I-" He paused and bit his lip. "I'm sorry I can't. Not right now. I'm sure I can figure it out, just give me some time to think."

Ash slumped back in defeat. Feeling the weight of Ominis's unspoken troubles, Ash was determined to find a way to break through the barriers he had erected between them. She knew that waiting wouldn't suffice, and her concern for him compelled her to take action.

She sat up, a determined glint in her eyes, and gently squeezed his hand. "Ominis, I understand if you need time, but I want to do something for you. Something to remind you that you're not alone in this."

He looked at her, his expression a mix of gratitude and hesitation. "Ash, you don't have to-"

She interrupted him with a warm smile. "I want to. How about we take a walk into Hogsmeade? A change of scenery may be nice, and we can get your favorite sweets from Honeydukes."

"You do realize that I can't see the change in scenery right?" Ominis gave a tight-lipped smile.

Ash rolled her eyes. "Well, some fresh air then."

Ominis nodded before taking her hand and standing up. With plans in place, they left the comfort of the faculty tower and made their way to Hogsmeade, hand in hand. The walk through the charming wizarding village, filled with the laughter of fellow witches and wizards, provided a welcome distraction for Ominis. As they entered the sweet shop, the scent of magical confections filled the air. Ash watched with delight as Ominis picked out his favorite candies, his worries momentarily forgotten.

"Holy shit..."

Ash jumped at the unknown and unexpected voice. She whirled around, her hand gripping the hilt of her wand.

Her eyes widened. "Sebastian?!"

Sebastian gestured to her hand which was still gripping her holstered wand. "I didn't realize that's how you greet old friends."

Ash blushed and released her grip on the handle of her wand. She spoke tauntingly. "Ah, I was just giving you a proper Hogwarts welcome. You know all about that don't you?"

Sebastian gave a small chuckle. "Fair enough. You know, I expected that I might run into you someday, but you," he turned toward an approaching Ominis, "you, I didn't expect to see here. I thought you lived in London."

Ominis scoffed. "And I thought you ran away and died somewhere. You never replied to any of our letters. What in Merlin's name have you been doing?"

Sebastian sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Well, I-"

"Actually, I don't want to know," Ominis replied quickly.