🥀 Roses and Novels | Hogwarts Legacy Fanfic | Sebastian, Ominis and Evander

🥀 - Chapter 16 -🌹

(Helena's Perspective)

I opened the door of the large stone house where Professor Weasley lived. His home sat in the middle of wide meadows, dotted with sheep and wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.

During the week I stayed there, I had a surprisingly chaotic time—with the sheep, of all things. Strangely enough... Well, sheep don't talk. Obviously. But Garreth had played one of his ridiculous pranks on me, making me believe they could. I had full conversations with them—and they replied. On the third day, I finally discovered it was Garreth behind it all, using magic to mess with me.

"GARRETH, YOU AND YOUR STUPID JOKES!"

He was loving every second of it.

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warmth of soft music and the sight of all my Hogwarts friends dressed in casually elegant outfits, drinks in hand. Garreth, Imelda, Natty, Poppy, and Amit were all there, along with Leander and a few other Gryffindors. In one corner, I noticed four girls I'd seen wandering the castle halls before.

The long table was covered with firewhiskey, butterbeer, shimmering potions, and clinking glasses. A large simmering cauldron near the hearth screamed Garreth's birthday bash.

Before I even had a chance to take off my coat, three girls flew at me and enveloped me in a tight group hug—it was Imelda, Natty, and Poppy. I hugged them back, laughing.

"LENA, you're here!"

"I missed you ladies," I said, grinning. "We'll catch up in a bit."

I turned—expecting to find Ominis behind me—but he had already wandered off to greet Garreth and hand him our gift.

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

(Third Person)

Garreth leapt up onto the round table in the middle of the room and raised his glass high.

"Cheers to everyone for coming! Drinks are on the table—some classics, some... not so much." He grinned. "Now... LET'S PARTY! WOOOH!"

He waved his wand, and the music blasted louder. Jumping from the table onto Amit, he began stomping to the rhythm, totally in his element.

The girls grouped together and broke into spontaneous dance, spinning, laughing, and singing along. The guys hung back at first, sipping their drinks and watching in amusement.

Imelda, clearly feeling her first two drinks, wobbled slightly before walking over to Amit and grabbing his hand.

"Come on, Amit. Show me you can dance."

Meanwhile, Poppy and Natty twirled by the window, showing off their dresses with big smiles.

Helena, parched from the heat and dancing, headed over to the table. Butterbeer, firewhiskey... and then the mysterious drinks Garreth had brewed. She couldn't decide.

Suddenly, she felt a familiar presence press into her aura from behind.

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

(Ominis's Perspective)

I stood just behind Helena, close enough to smell the lavender of her perfume.

*Mmm. Lavender...*

She didn't turn around but asked softly, "Ominis, what do you want to drink?"

"I'm not really a drinker, Helena," I replied. "Something you might not know about me. My father drank... and it made him into someone I never want to become." I picked up a glass of lemonade and took a sip.