Hogwarts Champion // Triwizard Tournament

XIX

A CLASH BETWEEN SNAKES

Sebastian and I hastily got dressed and adjusted our clothes as the footsteps drew nearer, signaling the arrival of an unexpected visitor. The familiar voice of Ominis sliced through the tense silence of the library.

"Sebastian? Are you here?"

Sebastian cleared his throat, his voice betraying a hint of unease. "H-Hey, Ominis. W-What are you doing here?"

Ominis approached cautiously, his wand lighting the path before him. "I was coming to see if you were ready for lunch."

Sebastian's response was hesitant, his nerves palpable. "Right. Lunch. Uhm, yeah. That would be... nice."

Ominis narrowed his eyes, sensing the underlying tension. "Is everything alright?"

Sebastian forced a smile, attempting to brush off Ominis's concern. "Yup. All good here."

Ominis remained unconvinced. "Hmm. If you say so."

An awkward silence hung in the air until Ominis broke it, his impatience evident. "Well.. are we going or are we going to stand here all day?"

Sebastian's urgency was palpable as he urged us toward the door, his hand resting on my back. "We're going. We are definitely going."

But Ominis's bitterness seeped into his next words. "I don't recall saying she could come with us."

Sebastian's defense was swift, his voice firm. "You didn't need to. I did."

Ominis's displeasure was palpable as he rolled his eyes, clearly unhappy with my presence. As we made our way out of the library, tension hung thick in the air, casting a shadow over what had just transpired between Sebastian and me.

On our way to Hogsmeade, the air was thick as we walked silently. Entering the warm and bustling atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks, the awkward tension between us seemed to intensify. Ominis led the way to a table in the corner, his expression guarded, while Sebastian and I exchanged hesitant glances.

Sebastian attempted to break the ice, his voice slightly strained. "So, uh, how's your day been, Ominis?"

Ominis shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a guardedness to his demeanor. "Same as usual. Nothing exciting."

I could sense the unease in the air and decided to try and lighten the mood. "Well, I'm sure today will get more exciting once we dig into some of Sirona's butterbeer, right?"

Sebastian offered a small smile in agreement, grateful for the attempt to diffuse the tension. "Definitely. Can't go wrong with butterbeer."

Despite our efforts at conversation, the atmosphere remained strained, with each of us lost in our own thoughts. It was evident that the events of the library had cast a shadow over our lunch outing, leaving us all feeling unsettled and unsure of how to navigate the complexities of our relationships with one another.

"So, do you feel like you're getting better prepared for the next trial, Sera?" Sebastian asked, his tone gentle, yet earnest.

I nodded, offering a small smile. "Yes, I do. Thanks to all the practice and studying, I feel more confident about what's to come."

Before Sebastian could respond, Ominis interjected, his tone laced with bitterness. "I suppose I should congratulate you on being the champion who gets to compete."

I offered a tight-lipped smile, "Thank you, Ominis," I said, hoping to diffuse the tension.

But Ominis retorted sharply, "I said I should, doesn't mean I am."