Fictober23

No, you won't understand, ever 23/10

Your heart pumped faster when you read Noctuas Gaunt's last journal entry, and it broke a little when you told Ominis about it. He started getting anxious and declared you three would die there just like his aunt.

You had fallen into Salazar Slytherin's trap. You didn't want to believe Sebastian when he said the only way out was casting the Cruciatus curse, but all the signs were there, you knew he was right.

"Ominis has the most experience with this, he should cast it" said Sebastian so carefree you gasped unbelieved at his request. "I know this is the last thing you want to do..." Sebastian kept going but got interrupted by Omini's screams.

"Yes! It is! I thought you knew me better!" he was breathing heavily, his face was paler than usual and you feared he was having a panic attack.

"But this time is different," Sebastian kept going, ignoring the words of his best friend "Whoever you cast it upon will have agreed to it first."

"Sebastian..." You tried to say something but he didn't listen.

"It wouldn't be an innocent victim. We have to open the door."

"The spell won't work unless you mean it" explained Ominis, he walked away from you and Sebastian as if he had anywhere to go, but realized he was trapped in those dark and humid corridors "That's the true nature of all unforgivables" after a couple of seconds you understood, he did want to get away, Ominis was repulsed by you and Sebastian. "If it must be done, then one of you must cast it"

You and Sebastian looked at each other. You couldn't tell for sure because the torches on the walls were the only source of light, but there was panic in Ominisi's eyes.

"Ominis, please don't be ridiculous. None of us knows how to cast Crucio" Sebastian started walking to Ominis but you took him by his arm and stopped him.

"I thought you had studied the unforgivables" you whispered.

"Not like that. I have no bloody idea how to cast it" he broke free from your grip and walked to his friend who moved away from him "Ominis, please."

"Leave him alone, Sebastian" You face the door to examine it and tried to fool yourself into believing there could be another way out.

There has to be another way, you repeated to yourself, I can't do this to Ominis.

The hours went by and you were still trapped there. Sebastian passed the time begging Ominis to cast the curse, got tired, lay on the floor beside you, and repeated the process. He was about to start a fifth round to try and convince Ominis, except you were sick of him this time.

"Silencio" You cast the silence charm on Sebastian, he tried to uncharmed himself but failed, he had a tantrum like a little child, in other circumstances it would have been funny "Sit down!" you yelled and he reluctantly obeyed. You put your head in your hands and tried not to cry.  The room stood quiet for a while until the charm ran out. 

"What the hell, MC" shouted Sebastian. you lifted your head but didn't look at him, your gaze was on the darkness of the stone wall before you.

"If I hear you one more time asking Ominis to cast that fucking curse I will keep silencing you until I die or until I eat you. Whatever happens first."

"So you already resigned to die here?" said Sebastian incredulously.

You didn't want to answer him so you closed your eyes but he was stubborn.

"I said..."

"Silencio" You cast again and enjoyed the silence for a couple of minutes until Ominis decided to speak.

"Have you resigned, MC?" he asked. You opened your eyes and went to sit closer to him, a deep part of you was happy when he didn't get away from you.

"Something like that." you answered "It's for the best, right? We are trapped." The truth was that you still had one hope of getting out: Ominis, but pressuring him would be useless.

"So you don't want me to cast Crucio?" He tried to hide it, but behind his anger he was surprised.

"I guess I understand how you feel..." you tried to empathize with him but he cut you off.

"No, you won't understand, ever" he snapped "You are the reason we are here. I should have never listened to you. You don't know me! And you want me to believe that you understand me?"

He took you by surprise, you didn't know what to do, so you said what you knew was the truth.

"I know it's my fault. And I'm sorry, I truly am. I haven't exactly resigned to die here because I don't believe you and Sebastian should, but I certainly deserve it."

Your words made him speechless, and his silence hurt you more than you expected because he probably thought you were right.

"It isn't your fault MC" said Sebastian, the charm ran out and he stood in front of you "I had been a terrible friend to both of you. I asked you to convince Ominis to lead us here, and Ominis I crossed every line asking you to relieve your trauma. We are going to die here and it's my all fault."

None of you said another word for hours. The only noises were the leaks along the corridor and your growling stomachs.

"Do you think I'll die faster if I drink from that puddle?" you asked to break the silence, it was meant to be a joke but you were thirsty and willing to do it.

"No one is dying here" said Ominis "I made up my mind. I won't let Salazar Slytherin take another life." he got up and so did you and Sebastian.

"So you will cast it?" asked Sebastian "To whom?"

"You had been volunteering this hold time. Did you change your mind?" Ominis seemed expressionless. You didn't know if it was true anger or indifference.

Sebastian looked at you for a brief moment and nodded.

"No. It should be me." you intervened "You were right Ominis, I don't know you. I have imposed myself on you since the day we met, I brought you here against your will. It would be easy for you to mean the curse if it's me."

There was silence for a while until Sebastian broke it.

"I think MC is right, it should be easier" You knew you volunteered, you were willing to take the Cruciatus curse for them, and even so you couldn't help but feel rage toward Sebastian.

"Very well" Ominis stood next to the door, you followed him and Sebastian stepped close. You looked at Ominis and took a deep breath. You were shaking and you could hide it. 

I'll be fine. You told yourself. I deserve it. I just... just wish it wasn't him.

With an elegant wrist movement, Ominis cast the curse, his words were filled with hate and anger. "Crucio!" he shouted.

The corridor flooded with screams and weeps of pain, but they weren't yours.

Red lightning evolved Sebastian. He fell on his knees, screamed, and shouted due to the pain. You were paralyzed, what happened? Why did Ominis do that? Why were you so relieved?

You covered your mouth with your hands but couldn't bear to look at Sebastian suffering like that. It was a horror scene, you looked away and noticed Ominis did as well, wiping away a couple of tears from his face.

The lighting stopped and the door opened. You helped Sebastian stand up, he was breathing heavily and could barely keep his balance, he was looking at Ominis, unable to say anything but you saw tears running down his cheeks.

"Why..." he started to ask, his voice was a bare whisper, but Ominis interrupted him with an icy voice.

"You know I've always hated cowards, Sebastian" You didn't dare to answer him, and Sebastian could not speak. 

Ominis entered the Scriptorium without glancing back, you and Sebastian followed him.

"Are you all right?" you asked him.

"That pain..." his voice was hollow and numb "I would've done anything to make it stop. But I'll survive" he cleared his throat and started looking for something useful "Let's keep moving"

You started looking around, the place was dark and creepy, full of dusty books, most of them were the same you saw in the restricted section of the library. You walked to the old heavy desk and saw a cup with a strange liquid, you felt the strange need to drink from it and almost did, but a different book caught your eye. You opened it and quickly realized it was a spellbook of some kind.

"There's a book just here" you announced, and Sebastian was behind you in a second.

"You find something? May I have a look?" you handle Salazar's spellbook to him, and he almost drops it when you hear the sound of a large stone turning, Ominis had found the exit.

"I'm heading out" he announced "Do not talk to me ever again, Sallow"

"Ominis..." he turned his head at you and kept talking

"Come, MC. Now" his voice was deep, he wasn't asking, it was a command. You gave a step to him but Sebastian grabbed your hand. "If you stay you'll be dead to me, just as him"

You looked at Sebastian, his eyes begged you to stay. The thought of leaving him, alone and friendless pained you, but the idea of a life without Ominis hurt even more. 

You broke free from Sebastian's grip and walked to Ominis. When you were next to him he took your hand and led you to the Slytherin dungeon. 

As you walked through those dark ominous corridors something changed in Ominis's grid, now it was gentile.

"That was stupid. Volunteering yourself like that, what were you thinking?" he didn't stop walking, so neither did you. His voice was still cold, but the anger was gone.

"Omi..." he didn't let you talk. The next moment he pulled you towards the wall and pined you between him and the cold stone.

"I was right though, you don't know me, but we can change that" he got closer to you "Did you really think I would be able to hurt you?" Your heart pumped hard when you felt his breath caressing your face.

"No" you whispered.

He smiled and pulled himself away from you, and you felt a little disappointed by that.

"Good" Ominis took your hand again and kept walking.

 That day might have been full of regrets, but choosing Ominis wasn't one of them.