The Serpents Hold | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter Eleven

Nova brushed away the dried dusting of soil from the devil's snare's tangled roots. Her Herbology partner was using his wand's light to keep the vines at bay while enthusiastically recounting the tale of his family's Christmas party.

"So, that's when it dawned on me that I'd spiked the eggnog with a tad too much brandy," Garreth regaled, his eager hands waving dangerously close to the dormant tendrils. "Aunt Matilda is down for the count..."

Nova stifled a laugh at the thought of their respectable conjuration professor blackout drunk. Her laughter morphed into a jolt of panic as Garreth's flailing hands triggered a response from the roots.

"Garreth, focus!"

"Shit, my bad," he mumbled, regaining control as she finished clearing the last traces of dirt. "So anyway, we're pretty sure Aunt Matilda's dead at this point, but then she sits up and demands we bring her a man."

Nova's throat clenched around a stifled snort, prompting Garreth to erupt into a fit of giggles. The daring plant seized the moment and snaked its vines around Nova's fingers.

"Watch out!" Garreth amusement dissolved into urgency as he conjured a beam of light to repel the advancing vines.

"Now, my dear class," Professor Garlick began to chastise gently. "Like a botanist carefully studies every leaf and petal, let's pay close attention to the details of our actions..."

Garreth and Nova exchanged sheepish glances before refocusing their attention on the task at hand.

"How about you? How was your Christmas?" His gaze flickered across the scar marring her face, though he chose to keep his observation to himself.

"I didn't really do much," Nova replied honestly. She had devoted most of Christmas Day to recuperating in bed. Throughout the remainder of the holidays, aside from her occasional efforts to convince Sebastian to rest, Nova's interactions with him and Ominis had been minimal.

"I was the only Slytherin here, so it turned out to be quite a dull affair," she added, glancing at Sebastian and Ominis hunched over their assignment on the opposite side of the bench, hoping they caught the dig.

"Wait, you were here? At Christmas?" Garreth wiped the back of his hand across his frown, painting a streak of mud across his smattering of freckles. "Had I known, you'd have been invited to witness Professor Weasley inebriated. Consider this an early invitation for next year."

"That's very kind..." Nova's attempt to respectfully decline the invitation was interrupted by a rip in a sealed bag of hippogriff manure. The resulting burst open and pelted Garreth with the fusty, dried-out chunks.

Sebastian fought back a cackle, but his endeavours failed spectacularly. He pushed Ominis as if reprimanding him. The blind wizard was clutching his wand in his usual stance, but his knuckles were whitening from the oddly tight grip.

Nova stooped to their level and summoned over the hovering watering can, dousing them in a torrent of plant food.

Professor Garlick made valiant attempts to regain control of the class amid the peals of laughter and startled screams as the plants lashed out at the preoccupied students.

The herbology professor's hand came to rest gently on Nova's shoulder while addressing all three offenders: "Our classroom thrives when everyone can focus and bloom comfortably. How about taking the rest of the hour to recharge your petals and return tomorrow ready to flourish with us?"

Suppressing a snarky retort about the endless metaphors, Nova grumbled, "Sorry, Professor," as she gathered her belongings and marched out of the classroom.