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

Of Dancing and Dates

Sebastian expected chaos after his first victory, but he didn't expect it to be because of the Yule Ball.

Hogwarts was swept into a flurry of clumsy proposals and clumsier rejections. More than once, Sebastian heard the school's elves complaining about scattered flowers or crumpled-up cards, moaning about the amount of trash the students of Hogwarts were putting out. It seemed like the older years—fourth and above—were busy trying to find a date and secure their dress robes. The younger students were also trying hard to get into the ball. It was going to be a magical thing, a chance to dress up and dance and get a little bit romantic. Who wouldn't want to be invited?

To Sebastian, however, the Yule Ball was nothing but a source of stress.

He hadn't expected so many people to try and ask him to the ball. On the first day after the announcement of the event, Sebastian was met with a shy Slytherin fourth-year, holding out a box of Honeydukes' sweets and asking him if he would be their date to the Ball. A fifth-year Ravenclaw girl cornered him in the Library after Defense Class and asked in a giggling voice if he was going with anyone. To his horror—and the glee of an onlooking Allegra and Ominis—she proceeded to rest her hands on his chest and bat her lashes at him, telling him in a sultry voice that she was available. Sebastian had to suppress his shudder.

"Please," Sebastian groaned, slinging an arm around Ominis, "don't ever leave me alone in these halls again."

"Look on the bright side, Bastian: at least you won't be short of options," Allegra said cheerfully. "Lots of people willing to throw themselves at your feet."

He didn't want people throwing themselves at his feet. If he hadn't been the Hogwarts champion, he would have been more than happy to go stag to the Ball.

But he was leading the stupid dance, wasn't he?

A secret part of him wished he could go with someone he had feelings for, someone he had a connection with. There hadn't been time for that in between...everything. There hadn't been time to explore things like romantic feelings or little crushes, things like blushing cheeks and shy smiles and looks that he couldn't hold. Even if he wanted to form a connection, even if he wanted to consider romance, Sebastian had shut that part out of his heart and his mind. It was too soon.

"How did you do it, Ominis?" Sebastian groaned hours later, face buried in his pillow. "How'd you get together with Allegra?"

Ominis was sitting cross-legged on his bed. He was reading through a thin Charm book, one hand holding his wand while the other scanned through the pages. Strangely, a violin was on his bed too, bearing stamps that said: Property of the Hogwarts Music Room.

Ominis hummed. "Apparently, my pathetic attempt in Potions and the way I bullied her when we met outside the Undercroft did it for her."

"You're kidding."

"I also charmed her parents and bought her a custom-made goblin-silver bracelet, which now holds a part of your soul." Ominis turned a page. "Afterwards, I proceeded to save her life. No big deal, you see."

Sebastian threw his pillow at him, scowling when Ominis dodged with ease. "I'm being serious, you twat."

Ominis put down the Charms book. There was a fond smile on his face. "I don't know," he said quietly. "It simply happened. I think..." A faint pink blush crossed his cheeks. "...the first time she touched me, the first time she gave me an embrace, I knew I wanted her in my life. So I flirted a little, teased here and there. And she was receptive. That was that." He picked up his reading again, frowning at the words under his fingers. "It's easy with Allegra. I love that about her."