The Serpents Hold | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter Two

The lack of natural light in the Slytherin dormitory made it difficult to determine when daylight broke.

Nova had devoted the night to eavesdropping from behind closed curtains. Her roommates appeared to be quite the socialites, exchanging juicy tales of exclusive soirées they'd attended alongside other high-society purebloods. The conversation naturally took a nosedive into muggle slander and how mudbloods were being strategically placed in Slytherin to curb its intolerant reputation, turning Nova's eavesdropping into more of a passive-aggressive harassment experience.

As the early hours settled in, their whining steadily became gentle snores. Feeling the pull of curiosity, Nova decided it was time to satisfy it with some exploration. She closed the door, perhaps with more force than necessary, as she left the dorm and stepped into the Slytherin common room.

The ornate clock on the mantelpiece was barely chiming seven o'clock, but the room was teeming with life. Most notably due to the first years, their foreheads pushed against the windows. Wide-eyed and captivated by the inky depths of the black lake, they erupted into chaos as their excitement peaked over an elusive shadow.

"Behind that rock, right there! I'm telling you, I saw it—I saw its hair!" one of them exclaimed, repeatedly jabbing a finger against the thick glass.

"That's just your reflection."

"No, no, it was green!"

"Yeah, just like your scarf."

Their laughter echoed around the alcove until another detected a hint of movement, triggering a frenzied scramble as they competed to catch a glimpse.

Nova rose onto her tiptoes to peer over the cluster of heads, but a stifled snigger caught her attention. She recognised the culprit – she was pretty sure he'd been the one laughing at Sebastian during the welcome feast.

"Are there really mermaids in the lake?" she asked as she approached him, her confidence waning as the new arrivals lost their minds over a scrap of pondweed.

"Apparently, although I've never heard of them venturing anywhere near our window," he replied, pushing off the decorative fireplace to turn to face her, "But that's not what we tell first years."

She chuckled sheepishly, "I must admit, they had me going for a moment."

The student scoffed, though it wasn't unkind. His smile softened the sharp edges of his features. The flickering embers of the fireplace lit his eyes, a striking shade of blue and notably devoid of pupils.

Blind?

"Judging by the chatter when you entered the common room, I presume you're the new student?"

Blind.

"I'm Ominis Gaunt," he declared, extending his hand. Unlike Sebastian's handshake, Ominis had a firm grip. His refined voice hinted at a sophistication that surpassed that of his more laid-back friend. "How was your first night as a Slytherin?"

Nova's face twisted into a grimace, "It wasn't the warmest welcome I've had. I think some students are a little offended..." She faltered, her recent experiences causing her to think twice about revealing her half-blood status.

"Offended...?"

"I... overheard that Salazar Slytherin was very passionate about pure-blood lineage, and half-bloods don't belong here." Nova gnawed at the inside of her lip as she assessed his reaction, his stoic features revealing nothing but a tightened muscle along his jawline.

"Pay them no mind. Most students in this house have a trace of Muggle ancestry somewhere in their lineage, just far back enough for them to conveniently forget it's there," Ominis reassured her.