Green is the Color || Ominis x OC || Hogwarts Legacy

Of the End of a Year

It took Sebastian three days before he could drag himself to Hogwarts again, just in time for the end-of-the-year ceremony.

The Great Hall was crowded with students. It looked good, as if it had never been the center of a massive battle. Candles floated beside neutrally-white banners on the ceiling. Wreaths of vibrant flowers adorned the walls. The tables were decorated in runners of their House colors: Gryffindor had red and gold, Slytherin had green and silver, Ravenclaw had blue and bronze, and Hufflepuff had yellow and black. Students of all years were chattering excitedly. They all had bright, happy faces: Sebastian was almost jealous.

He found Ominis sitting near the front of the Slytherin table, leaning his head in his hand. Sebastian settled in next to him.

"Hello, Ominis," Sebastian greeted.

Ominis was tight-lipped. He didn't reply, only furrowing his brows and turning his face away.

Sebastian sighed. "She told you."

Ominis snapped around to face him, expression one of anger. "No, I heard," he snapped, "But of course she did. I'm not saying I don't understand why, but Sebastian..." Ominis shook his head. "You won't ask her to do that again. She's been so torn about it ever since. Do you understand?"

Sebastian felt a small smile grow on his lips. "I understand."

"Good," Ominis huffed. His expression softened. "How have you been doing?"

"I'm..." Sebastian fumbled for the words. When nothing came to mind, he let out a heavy sigh. "...holding on, I suppose."

Ominis gave him an understanding nod. "It gets easier," his friend told him. "But not always. Some days you're reminded that they're gone, and those are the hardest days of all."

"Thanks, Ominis," he murmured. Sebastian tucked his head into his arm, watching as the Hogwarts Professors and Headmaster trickled into the Great Hall. The students cheered. Phineas Black looked very proud of himself, but the students' eyes and cheers were focused on the Professors behind him.

Ominis listened as Headmaster Black launched into a fumbling end-of-year speech, trying very hard not to drift off to sleep. There were lots of awkward pauses as he spoke and shuffles of paper as the Headmaster arranged his notes. Ominis resisted the urge to roll his eyes. There was a painful moment when Headmaster Black tried to pay homage to Professor Fig, stumbling over the right words to say before Professor Weasley took over. The Great Hall took a solemn moment of silence for their dearly departed Professor.

"...This year, we have seen our students exemplify the bravery of Godric Gryffindor—"

Across the room, the Gryffindor table broke out into cheers and laughter, furiously clapping their hands.

"Allow me to finish," Headmaster Black said. "The loyalty of Helga Hufflepuff..."

The Hufflepuffs cheered. Ominis heard a student let out a whistle, making their housemates laugh.

"...the wisdom of Rowena Ravenclaw..."

Students sitting at the Ravenclaw table cheered for their house, stamping their feet and letting out whoops of joy.

"...and the ambition of Salazar Slytherin."

Ominis broke out into applause with his housemates, smiling when somebody yelled "Slytherin!" on the other end of the table.

"And so, the winner of this year's House Cup—"

"Excuse me, Headmaster," it was Professor Weasley's voice. "If I may?"