Ominis Gaunt proved to be a no nonsense sort of gentleman with the chivalry and attitude of an eighty year old man whose only joys in life came from a lack of chaos, absolute order and prompt punctuality.
"A pleasure to meet you Ominis."
While his way of speaking flowed eloquently, he was always entirely straight to the point, waisting no time and far fewer formalities. He took a shaky breath in, almost quiet enough to be missed, before he spoke.
"The pleasure is all mine."
A moment passed, he swallowed and returned straight to business.
"I am to guide you around the castle and to your classes as you settle in to life here at Hogwarts. I believe we share paired schedules during the day for ease of assisting and Professor Sharp has been assigned to catch you up on the more basic of magic knowledge in the evenings, seeing as you have far less practical magic experience than the others in our year."
My skin prickled, embarrassment running through my veins. I was thankful when he continued.
"This evening, I believe it best I simply show you the common room so that you may settle in and get some rest." He didn't phrase it as a question but I answered it as such anyway, feeling my awkwardness bubbling up beneath my skin.
"Yes." I cleared my throat and shook my head. "That sounds perfect. Thank you."
"Would you prefer to take my arm... or perhaps a different arrangement-"
"That sounds fine. Yes." I cut him off as my desperate attempts to disguise my unease outweighed my manors.
At home, I'd spent countless hours with my father traipsing around the house with various sticks held out ahead of me or with my hand through his arm, trying to figure out the best way to get about in the dark. Though I'd had little luck, I was the most proficient (and the least disastrous) when I had someone to guide me. I hoped to be more independent in my time at Hogwarts but for now, especially after the terror of the little boat, I was much more resigned to take the loss and suffer in vague comfort.
His arm, having been an appropriate height, was warm beneath my fingertips. As the scratch of his shirt brushed against my grasp, I was keenly aware of the smell of something vaguely like burnt matches and perhaps a subtle hint of honey.
Many passing students attempted to offer their welcomes and greetings but the Gaunt boy shuffled me along down the halls without a moments pause.
It had taken a fair amount of time and an ungodly number of stairs but eventually we reached what I was sure to be the lowest level of the castle.
"Here. The entrance to the Slytherin common room can only be accessed with the correct password."
Voice low and slithering through the silence, the boy next to me whispered a single word. Shivers crept down my spine, only to be interrupted as the ground rumbled beneath my feet. I squeezed his arm with such force that he hissed gently.
"Quite the jumpy little thing aren't you?"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry."
"Right. I'm sorry."
I could feel the pointed silence.
Resisting the urge to apologize for the apology again, I instead focused on the lack of movement below my boots. Something clicked into place heavily and Ominis urged us forward once more.
The air inside the Slytherin common room hung thick but cool, chills inching along my skin. I could hear the faint crackling of a fireplace and smell the heavy scent of freshly chopped wood, ink and parchment. It was an odd sort of familiar, a mirrored image of home that twisted my gut. Yet still, something about this room hung light in my chest, twisting and winding its way around my heart and I felt blissfully content.
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Heart of the Serpent: Ominis Gaunt (temporarily paused)
FanfictionOminis Gaunt has a past and a family that shadows his life, a soul burdened with guilt he never believes can be forgiven. Wren Harding has never known a life of magic until the day dark wizards came knocking on her door and changed everything, leavi...
