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

🥀 - Chapter 61 -🌹

(Helena perspective)

That evening, Sebastian and I apparated back to Gaunt Manor. After the day we'd had, I felt lighter, like for once, everything had been okay. No worries. No darkness. Just Sebastian and me... like old times, only not the same. Not anymore. I didn't know how I was going to tell Ominis about us, but I knew I owed him the truth.

Before we stepped through the garden gate, Sebastian took my wrist, gently pulling me back.

"What are you going to tell him?" he asked, voice low.

"The truth," I replied, slipping my arm free and walking ahead.

"And what exactly is the truth, Helena? Who are we right now?"

"Best friends," I answered, though the words didn't feel right.

He followed, his tone dry. "Don't fool yourself. Best friends don't kiss like that, and you know it."

We stopped in front of the manor's front door. I turned to him, arms crossed.
"What do you want me to say, Sebastian? That I'll leave him for you?"

His jaw tightened. "I didn't say that."

"No... but it's what you want," I said softly. I reached for his hand. "Don't get me wrong. Today was perfect. I had so much fun with you... But I have to face reality. And that reality is my relationship with Ominis."

He took my other hand.
"And what about me? What about our kiss? You can't just ignore that, Helena."

"I won't," I whispered. "I promise. Just... give me time. You know I want to be with you."

I opened the door, and we stepped inside. The house was quiet, almost eerily so. Sebastian drifted toward the bar for a drink while I headed toward the library, looking for Ominis.

I pushed open the study doors, and there he was. Bent over someone else. A red-haired woman. Kissing her like I wasn't supposed to see it.

The words caught in my throat.
"What's going on here?"

Ominis flinched and jerked upright, as if waking from a trance.
"Helena, it's... I..."
He stumbled for words, something I'd never seen him do. He looked pale, his breathing unsteady as he reached for a chair for balance.

The woman beside him gave me a polite, almost apologetic smile.
"Helena, ma chérie. I'm sorry you had to walk in on that."

Ominis stepped toward me, but I backed away.
"Just tell me what's going on."

He took a shaky breath and finally spoke.
"When I brought your father to Azkaban, I ran into Agatha. She was there delivering some poachers. We talked... but it felt strange doing so outside the prison, so I came home. I was alone, you were gone, Sebastian was gone, and... I invited her over. We had a nice day. It just... reminded me of simpler times."

I nodded, offering a small smile.
"It's okay. I'm not mad."

He blinked. "You're not?"

"I'm not. I understand, Ominis. I really do. I can't blame you."

He exhaled deeply, covering his eyes.
"Thank Merlin. How could I be so stupid?"

His gaze landed on me again, on what I was wearing. Sebastian's hoodie. I didn't need to say a word. My hands were buried in the sleeves like I was still holding on to the warmth from earlier.

"Where were you today?" he asked, concern shifting into suspicion.

"I..." I hesitated, confidence gone. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I met his gaze.