Bewitched | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 1

I liked to say I loved my mundane life. Caring for animals, managing my shop, and working at the Magical Creatures and Wildlife department at the ministry. I have had my fill of exhilarating adventures and new discoveries. My 5th year alone was enough.

Being catapulted into the Wizarding world as a 15 year old and starting as a fifth year was exciting. However, as I assimilated into a new world, I had not expected to be at the front and center of a war between goblins and the wizards. I sought solace in my new friend Sebastian Sallow, whom I lost that same year. I could not comprehend how a person could change so much, and how dark magic can consume a person so easily.

I lost many people I cared about that year. Professor Fig, my mentor, died in my hands. Lodgok died right infront of me. These people who I would do anything for.

I felt that way for a long time. I did so much that year, but felt I did not do enough. I spent so long trying to save everyone and lend a hand for those in need. Yet...

I find myself alone.

I shook my head, bringing my attention back to the parchment I was reading. My fight for magical creatures' rights has been a long and arduous battle, but it was something I cared for deeply. Now I got to spend days upon days going over applications for ownership permits for different creatures.

But it was fine, I was spending my days doing something I cared for. I got to oversee the creature's population and made sure no poachers could harm them. Sometimes I wondered how it would feel if I was on the field, physically protecting them from poachers. However, I vowed to not harm anyone with my magic ever again. Ancient magic was too powerful and too inhumane, even for poachers.

I shook off that thought again. There was no use thinking of what-ifs. There was no changing the past.

I glanced at the clock that read half past four. At five o'clock, I planned to visit Feldcroft and replace the flower on Solomon Sallow's grave.

-

After acquiring a bouquet of fresh Lavenders from a flower shop, I traveled to Feldcroft by floo powder. I made my way towards the Sallows' house. It had been six years since the events of the catacombs. Going back to Feldcroft was difficult, however spending all those years in solitude became unbearable. I started to visit the town. At first, it was in hopes of coming across Sebastian in case he returns. When that idea became improbable, visiting Feldcroft became my comfort.

The events at the catacomb left Solomon dead at the hands of his nephew. Sebastian avoided Azkaban when Ominis, Anne and I decided to keep what happened in the catacombs a secret. Anne Sallow resented her twin brother enough to disappear without a single word to anyone except Ominis. It was the punishment she thought Sebastian deserved. To be left by the person he cared for the most.

I was hopeful for our 6th year. How foolish. With the threat of Ranrok gone, I would finally be free of the burden of being the hero. Unbeknownst to me, Sebastian left immediately to America after our fifth year. I received an owl from Ominis, who spent summer with the Sallows, a few days after.

      The Sallow house is empty. Sebastian is gone.

Ominis Gaunt

I quickly made my way to Feldcroft when I received the letter and met with Ominis. I was informed that Sebastian had been talking about Ilvermony and starting over in America, possibly finding a cure for Anne. It was evident that Sebastian, having been abandoned by Anne, was in denial of the events that had transpired. We did not even know if Anne was still alive. Ominis tried his best to help his best friend, but once Sebastian was set on something, there was no stopping him.

I held Ominis' hand that night as we sat in silence.

-

When sixth year had started, everything was moving forward, yet I felt still.

No one truly knew what I went through, and I had no one to discuss it with. Professor Fig was gone and I desperately wished there was an adult I could confide in. But how? When confiding in someone could result in sending Sebastian to Azkaban.

Ominis spent his summer in the House of Gaunt. I could see how much his demeanor changed. It sucked the life out of him. I felt for him but, there was an unspoken agreement between us to never speak about what happened during our fifth year.

Ominis was the only person who shared the same experience, yet I wasn't able to confide in him. I wasn't able to confide in him about anything at all. It turned out that Sebastian was the only thing we had in common.

I tried to act normal. I tried to keep up with Natty Onai and Poppy Sweeting, but their lives seemed to be moving forward and I existed in the past. Having lost so many people and no one knew, I found it hard to relate to anyone.

Another year passed and I begun my 7th year alone. Natty and Poppy created many friends and I became distant. I did not blame them though, they didn't know. We greeted each other when we bump into one another at school. From their point of view, it was simply a friendship that they outgrew.

I saw Ominis at school often. He seemed to smile less and less. We would nod at each other in passing, never acknowledging what happened. I often wondered if pretending everything was fine actually helped either of us. But it was too late, then.

I graduated alone and started my journey at the Ministry.

Two years passed after graduation when I decided to visit Feldcroft again.

At first it was painful. I was half expecting Sebastian to open the door to greet me. I would imagine his excitement, as he shown me around his home.  I would smile at the thought followed by the heavy weight on my chest. Yet, every week I tried to make my way to Feldcroft, and every week I was hopeful that Sebastian would find his way home.

-

After cleaning Solomon's grave, I took a stroll around town. I liked to spend a couple of hours in Feldcroft, afraid that Sebastian and I will miss each other just in case he decides to return. Deep down, I knew it was hopeless. However, the hope was the only thing I could hold on to. Hope was the only thing keeping me company.

I decided to visit Solomon's grave once more before heading home.  From afar, I could make out a silhouette of a man standing over the grave. My stomach turned, my heart dropped, and everything stood still. Stepping closer, my heart longed to see the boy that I have thought of nonstop for years. Placing my hand over my heart to calm it down, I made small steps towards the silhouette.

As I stepped closer, the silhouette became much clearer. The closer I got to the unidentified man, the less optimistic I became that the man was Sebastian. The man sported a suit with what looks to be an expensive fabric. He was leaning over the grave, a bouquet of flowers on his left hand, and a wand held up with his right. His hair was slicked back. His dark blonde hair.

Ominis Gaunt.