The Serpents Hold | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter Five

Nova shifted on her crossed legs, idly unravelling a loose thread on Sebastian's bedsheet, "Do you really think it wise I come today?"

He had simply laughed at Nova's furious recounting of Ominis' threats, shrugging them off as bluffs and reassuring her that he hadn't spoken to his father for years. Despite his attempts to downplay the situation, Nova vowed to avoid Ominis for the remainder of her Hogwarts days. It would have been easily upheld had Sebastian not been so insistent she join them in visiting Feldcroft.

"Anne's eager to meet you, and I won't let her down just because Ominis threw a tantrum," Sebastian said through gritted his teeth as he wrestled with the clasps of his overflowing trunk. "Plus, there's nothing better than forced proximity to spark a friendship."

"I highly doubt he'll ever earn the title of friend," Nova's voice trailed off as Ominis re-entered their dormitory, silently packing his wash bag into his trunk. Sebastian must have given him a talking-to, judging by the absence of catty comments regarding her tagging along for the day.

~

Nova pulled her limbs in tight to ward off the chill as they trudged up the cracked path to the Sallow house. It was smaller than she had anticipated. Just a thatched roof and crooked beams nestled between cobbled bricks, tucked away in a corner of the Scottish Highlands.

A comforting wave of heat wrapped around them as they stepped inside, radiating from the smouldering logs crackling in the fireplace. The entryway was adjacent to a compact bedroom with only a delicate crimson curtain for privacy—a barrier Anne swiftly drew back before diving into her brother's arms.

The witch was sickly thin, her gaunt frame accentuated by sunken eyes encased in deep purple circles. Despite her feeble appearance, a spark ignited within those eyes as three students shuffled into her home.

"I've heard so much about you", she told Nova before cocooning her in a surprisingly warm hug. "Thank you for keeping an eye on my brother while I'm away."

Nova chose to ignore the scoff behind her, and Anne moved over to hug the source of the noise. Ominis inhaled sharply as he curled his arms around her torso, "You've lost weight."

Sebastian's jaw clenched at the acknowledgement of Anne's deteriorating health, but he bit back any comments.

"Where's Soloman?" He asked tentatively, his eyes darting around the room as if he half-expected a fully grown man to materialise from the shadows within his home.

"He's working in the fields; he'll be home soon," Anne informed him, taking Nova by the hand and leading her to the dining table. "Tell me every detail of what's happened at Hogwarts in my absence."

Sebastian enthusiastically recounted every significant event since September first, though sidestepped any mention of the restricted section or books on dark magic. Anne's anger flared when he eventually touched upon the prejudice Nova had faced at the hands of their housemates.

"The three I roomed with were angels; feel free to take my bed while I'm away."

Nova nestled her head on Anne's shoulder, a sharp twinge between her shoulder blades serving as a reminder of the past few nights on the stiff common room sofa. "You can't imagine how much I appreciate that."

"She'll make sure it stays immaculate for your return," Sebastian interjected with a harsh edge.

"Sebastian," Anne laid her pallid hand over his, "I don't think—"

A burst of frigid wind swept through the doorframe, sending sparks from the fire swirling across the floorboards. Solomon stormed past them and into the kitchen to rinse off the thick dirt coating his fingers.