The Death Wish: Book One (Hogwarts Legacy)

The Tea Pot Plot

You awoke early the following day in a cheerful mood as you made your way to the bathroom, wanting to enjoy a relaxing bath before breakfast.

You let your hair soak in the rich oils and lathers that were stocked in the shared fifth-year cabinet as you scrubbed yourself. This morning you had chosen a warm vanilla oil paired with a blood orange tonic.

Tipping your head back over the claw foot tub, you smiled as you recalled the evening before.

You and Ominis had lost track of time in the warm alcove, the delicious tea and good company keeping you locked in conversation for hours. The sound of the dinner chime had you and the blonde quick-stepping to the Great Hall so as to not miss your meal.

After dinner you and your housemates headed back to the Slytherin common room. Imelda sat on the floor in front of the fireplace of the side sitting room you all gravitated to, working on a long letter.

You and Sebastian found yourselves at a chessboard, combating each other over a few rousing games—mixed with friendly conversation. You were pleased to find the rules were the same as muggle chess—but the moving pieces were almost too distracting to allow you to concentrate. Fortunately though, it seemed you and Sebastian were well matched skill-wise, each winning a game.

Nerida and Ominis had also chosen to play wizard chess that evening—though you quickly learned that the cousins took the game far more seriously than you and your freckled opponent.

The combatants commanded their pieces with fiery resolve. You were particularly impressed with Ominis, who must have to keep all the piece positions in his head. He sat reclined, leaning on the arm rest, hand rubbing his chin absentmindedly as his mind worked through his battle plan.

Sebastian had whispered to you that they did this at least once a week—apparently no one else was in their league in Slytherin house so they could only play against each other. You nodded as you watched them decisively order the pieces around the board, Nerida leaning forward, eyes sharply raking over the battlefield.

You unfortunately missed the end of the game; which you later learned Ominis had won, as you had Astronomy class that evening. You wound your way up the spiral staircase of the Astronomy classroom—pleased to see Amit waiting by a telescope. He beckoned you over as he grinned with chattering teeth—his slight frame doing him little service in keeping him warm.

You had an interesting—yet chilly lesson with Professor Shah, her frank and informed lecture on tracking the constellations keeping you captivated even as you shivered closely beside your chipper friend.

Amit had been a wonderful help with the telescope, showing how to adjust the tiny, fiddly dials and record the star coordinates. His enthusiasm for learning and knowledge made you smile—though the biggest grin came when you were navigating down the spiral steps afterwards—and he started asking seemingly light questions about your pretty friend Nerida.

***

You emerged into the common room after you had dressed to find Nerida, Sebastian and Ominis waiting for you—with Imelda having woken at dawn to get in a time trial 'while the weather held'.

"What's on the schedule today?" asked Sebastian, sliding his gaze to you, watching as you gave the blonde Slytherin a quick greeting, a hand on his shoulder and a light squeeze. You were rewarded with a shy smile and a quiet good morning.

"I have the first session free—I'm having tea with the Figs. Then Divination and finally Arithmancy after lunch." you announce happily, having finally committed your schedule to memory.

"I guess we will have to see what kind of future we have together, Bash. I have Divination then too." and his warm arm snaked across your shoulders—causing Nerida to giggle. Your face heated up a degree before you gave a laboured sigh.