The Blood within our veins (Ominis Gaunt)

Chapter Twenty Four

Soon the Hogwarts train would arrive to take students home for the holidays and back to King's Cross Station. Gianna hadn't heard from Ominis since their adventure in the scriptorium. She had  caught a glimpse of him in the common room and his expression could only be described as haunted. His face mirrored the pained one Gianna remembered as he writhed on the floor and clutched his slides.

The image lingered in Gianna's mind and kept her from sleeping. The roses by her bedside had quickly wilted as she laid beside them; her eyes glazing over at her dormitory ceiling. Even despite their magical characteristics to be everlasting; their coloring looked anything but alive.

Besides Ominis's careful avoidance of Sebastian and herself; Gianna had made sure to avoid Sebastian entirely. Although the boy did not make this task a simple one. On more than one occasion he approached her begging for her to talk sense into Ominis. This of course never went over well with Gianna and had threatened to hex him if he didn't let sleeping dogs lie.  She knew his speil well by now and only listened for hints on Ominis's well-being.

"You don't understand.." Sebastian had pleaded her during their last Breakfast that term in the Great Hall.  "I had to do it. Ominis must see reason." His voice was needy and unweilding.

Gianna had scoffed and attempted to shuffle past him. "There can be no reason for your methods, Sebastian. You've gone mad. " Gianna retorted hotly steam practically spewing from her ears. It was then that Sebastian had grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Methods in which you indulged." He protested. Gianna broke free of his gasp and unsheathed her wand.

"Don't tell me what I've indulged." She said through gritted teeth. Her voice lowered as people's eyes turned their way. Sebastian's chest had heaved with an exasperated sigh of annoyance. "Don't tell me you've given up on her now." His voice was taunting and sinister.

"No. I've merely given up on you." She had said, leaving no room for her friend's response.

Gianna now sat on the Hogwarts express forced from her thoughts by the whistling of the train and Poppy's laugh. She forced the frog in her throat down and firmly pressed her lips together to regain her composure.  Tawny nipped at her finger affectionately to calm her and Gianna gently rubbed the tip of the barn owl's beak in thanks.

Still feeling disoriented Gianna picked though her luggage to find a small box of licorice wands; Ominis had bought her in Hogsmeade. She brought the cherry candy to her lips and chewed. The feeling of something in her stomach bringing her body to life and away from the horrendous situation that left her two best friends amiss.

Poppy and Natty had won her emotions over slightly by including her in a game of Gobstones. In which Gianna won two thirds of the matches and only smelled slightly like an old cauldron afterwards.

Finally she left her friends and the platform where she saw her House Elf Eve waiting for her. Delighted to see her old friend; Gianna broke into an impressive sprint and hugged her in a rather unladylike way (as her mother would call it) in the middle of the station.

"Eve!" She screeched. "I wasn't expecting you! I thought it would be one of  housemaids for sure." Gianna giggled gleefully.

Eve smiled warmly at her. "Not at all Master Gianna. Master and Lady Romano asked me to bring you back from the station at once. There's an event at the house to be planned that calls for your immediate attendance." Eve explained calmly.