Ancient: The Legacy of Slytherin

Moonlight

Arabella POV

I couldn't sleep after I finished Percival's trial. My whole body ached and I wondered how I was expected to complete three more of these. I threw on my robe and decided to go listen to the water in the common room to calm me.

When I entered the common room, I heard the faint sound of a piano playing. I didn't even know the common room had a piano. It was tucked away into a corner, but there was definitely someone playing a Grand piano. As I got closer, I realized it was Ominis.

"Ominis? I didn't know we had a piano in here. And I certainly didn't know you could play."

He didn't respond. His fingers continued to stroke the keys methodically.

"So not only can we not be friends, but now you're going to ignore me?"

He kept playing. The song he was playing was hauntingly beautiful. I could tell that there were notes of joy, but also of desperation and loss.

"Sit." Ominis said in a demanding tone, but never stopped playing.

I sat next to him on the piano bench as the song built in tension. He was so graceful as his brow furrowed in concentration. I leaned back every time he needed to reach across me for a key and my heart began to race as his face passed close to mine. It seemed as if I wasn't even there to him, that all he could feel was the piano.

The song reached a crescendo and Ominis' playing became less elegant and more powerful, driving his long fingers into the keys, making them obey his command. He was beautiful like this, focused so intently as the blue and green hues from the lake illuminated half of his face. The other half remained in darkness from the angle I was looking. When it was over, he was out of breath and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"That was incredible, Ominis."

No response.

"Does that song have a name?"

"It's the Piano Sonata No. 14. More commonly known as Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata."

"It was beautiful, but sad."

He turned his gaze to stare directly into my eyes as if he knew exactly where they were.

"Why are you here?"

Because I'm desperate for you to be my friend again. Because I can't stop thinking about your fingers laced with mine, or the way your cool skin feels on my own, or how soft your lips felt as they barely brushed mine.

"I couldn't sleep." I averted my gaze away from his to rest on the piano keys.

"When you turn your head away from me, I know that you're either lying or not telling the whole truth. So which is it?"

"You haven't talked to me in days! It's driving me mad, Ominis! I need your help, I need your advice, I- I need you!" I was shouting now and worried I may wake the whole dorm, so I lowered my tone. My hands were shaking now and I was seconds away from sobbing. "I miss you."

I buried my head in my hands as the tears started to fall and felt Ominis shift beside me.

"Come with me."

"What?"

"Let's go." He held out his hand and I grabbed it, desperate to feel his coolness. It felt just like I remembered as he laced his fingers through mine. I was so confused on where he was taking me and why he was being so short.

We made it to the door of his and Sebastian's dorm. I still didn't question him, unable to speak with the silent fear that he'd let go of my hand. He opened and closed the door quietly, and I saw that Sebastian was passed out in his own bed.