Ominis Gaunt and the Blank Draught

Chapter Nine

A Mugglet, who had witnessed the entirety of the performance, hesitantly showed Isla to her guest room, as all invitees were entitled to. She immediately cast a Locking charm over the door and escaped into a bath. The hot water calmed her nerves and soothed her aching body. The fight was grueling. The last time she had been this exhausted were the days following the defeat of Ranrok. She had stayed in bed for days afterwards but, at least back then, she could find refuge in Ominis' arms on nights that felt especially dreadful.

She held her breath, submerging her whole body into the water, and remaining under for as long as her lungs could muster. She replayed over and over the memory of seeing Terise shivering in Ominis' arms and his distant eyes, and could not help but feel an angry burn of jealousy ignite within her. Childhood friend, or not, had she not proven herself to the coven of power-hungry and prejudiced Purebloods? Had she not shown she could overcome all, even shield against an Unforgivable curse without a wand, in the name of loyalty and love? After the whole charade, was she still not worthy of the Gaunt name?

Isla gasped as she lifted her head from the water. Grasping the sides of the bathtub and catching her breath, she began to laugh incredulously. She wondered what it all had been for. If it had not been for the insane politics surrounding Purebloods, she would not have even needed to sell herself so pathetically. She would not have needed to fight another woman for the approval of a man's family. Terise would not have been cursed. And she and Ominis could elope and live a happy life.

Isla frowned and sighed. If only it were that simple.

Instead, she wondered if she would even see the light of morning after all the commotion and drama she had caused with the night's duel. She eyed the Locking charm and prayed it would hold.

Drying off, she slipped into her nightgown and sleeping cloak, and found comfort in front of the fireplace. She held herself together as she imagined what Ominis and Terise were up to that very moment. Surely the curse had lifted by now - it was only a remnant of Terise's spell that she had deflected. Perhaps Ominis looked after her as she woke from the curse. Perhaps she professed her love, holding his hand in hers and begged him to return her feelings. And perhaps his lips met hers, healing all her aches and ailments from the duel - a kiss that reassured all the emotions and memories they had shared over the long years. A length of time that Isla did not share with him. She was but a glimpse - a passing moment - compared to their timeline.

A sturdy knock at the door snapped Isla from her thoughts.

Hastily, she drew her wand, pointing it at the door as she approached. She waited a long moment before she placed her ear against the door, hoping the visitor had grown impatient within the minute and left. She jumped as another knock came from the other side, obviously disgruntled at the lack of response.

"Isla, it's me - Ominis," his voice a whispered secret through the solid, wooden divide. She let out a sigh of relief and disenchanted the door, letting him in. As he stepped inside, Isla could not help but notice the heavy exasperation in his steps, his angry, clouded stare, and the way his usually kept hair fell over his piercing blue eyes.

He was not happy. But, unreasonably, that made Isla's cheeks flush very warmly.

Ominis walked over to the comfort of the fireplace, sighing loudly as he leant over and held onto the mantle, trying to ease his stress. Isla joined him cautiously. Starting at his toned legs, her eyes trailed over his body which was angled in such a way the fire gently pulsed and showed off his exquisite features. Over his chest, his collarbones, lips... and then to his eyes that had managed to meet hers. She had been caught in the act.

Isla cleared her throat, diverting her stare into the fire.

There was a long moment of pause between the two, the air heavy and thick with unspoken words.