KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter One: A Bitter Night.

It was a quiet night, the kind that usually brought peace to the castle's ancient halls. Ominis and Sebastian had made plans to spend the evening in the Undercroft, a familiar refuge for them and Mary. Unfortunately, she had been caught up with Professor Fig, helping him with paperwork and gathering supplies in Hogsmeade—something that had become quite routine for her.

Mary was always doing something. If she wasn't assisting other students with personal issues, she was working on assignments given by the professors. And if not that, she was running errands in Hogsmeade, either with the professor or by herself. Sometimes, Ominis and Sebastian would wait for her in the Slytherin common room, only to be met with a Mary who was utterly exhausted, worn out from the day's endless demands. Ominis often found it hard to believe that Mary could do so much and still excel academically, something that only deepened his admiration for her, but also his concern.

As he made his way to the Undercroft, Ominis couldn't help but wonder if Mary would be late tonight as well. He debated whether he should prepare some coffee, his footsteps echoing through the silent corridors, the only sound breaking the stillness of the castle.

But when Ominis entered the Undercroft and began to descend the stairs, a sudden change in the atmosphere made him pause. There was a scent—sharp, metallic, unmistakably blood. His brow furrowed, and he slowed his pace, proceeding with caution. The usual comfort of the hidden room felt different, something was off.

As he moved further into the room, he heard it—a ragged, broken breath, faint but distinct. Confusion gripped him, but there was something familiar about that presence. He could feel it.

"Who's there?" Ominis called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he cautiously moved forward.

No response, just the sound of labored breathing. He moved closer, his senses straining to understand the scene before him. As he neared one of the pillars, the source of the unsettling scent became clear. There, slumped against the cold stone, was Mary. Her legs were sprawled on the ground, her usually vibrant presence now diminished. The smell of blood was overwhelming, her breaths shallow and uneven.

"Mary?" Ominis's voice shook slightly, filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. "Mary, what's happened?"

He approached her cautiously, his hand outstretched as he tried to assess the situation. His blindess made it difficult to know clearly, but he could feel the dampness of her clothes, sticky and warm—blood. A wave of dread washed over him.

"Mary, can you hear me!? What happened to you!?" he asked again, his tone more urgent as he knelt beside her, his hands hovering unsurely over her trembling form.

Mary's voice, when it came, was weak and ragged, almost unrecognizable. "O-Ominis..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as she struggled to stay conscious. "I'm... I'm sorry..."

Ominis's heart raced as he realized the severity of her condition. "Mary, don't apologize. Just stay with me, okay? I'm going to get help," he said, his voice betraying the fear he tried so hard to suppress. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, not like this.

With trembling but determined hands, Ominis carefully lifted Mary into his arms, doing his best to minimize her pain as he adjusted her against him. However, despite his efforts, a soft, agonized moan escaped her lips, causing a shiver of dread to run through him. He felt as if his heart was being squeezed with every sound of her suffering. His grip on his wand tightened, though it was becoming increasingly difficult to hold due to the slickness of his blood-stained hands.

As he moved through the Undercroft, each step cautious yet urgent, Mary whispered, "I'm fine, Ominis... really, I am."

Ominis, his voice shaky but laced with determination, responded, "No, Mary, you're not. Please, just hold on. We need to get you to the infirmary."

Mary shook her head weakly, "No... I don't want to go... I'm fine..."

That response struck a nerve in Ominis. His voice rose with a rare edge of frustration and desperation, 

"How could you even think about not going?! That's why you're here in this state!" His words were sharp, a mix of anger and fear driving him to act. Without waiting for her response, he proceeded to carry her out of the Undercroft, his mind focused solely on getting her the help she desperately needed.

As they made their way through the castle corridors, Ominis felt Mary's weight growing heavier in his arms, a clear sign that she was beginning to lose consciousness. Her murmurs became incoherent, words slurring together as she struggled to stay awake.

"I did it... it's my fault... I should have been more careful..." Mary's voice trembled with guilt, the pain evident in every word. Ominis's heart sank as he listened, his mind reeling with confusion and fear.

"Mary, save your strength!" Ominis urged, trying to keep his own panic in check.

But she wasn't listening. She was drifting further away, her consciousness slipping as she mumbled, "I killed him..."

Ominis's steps faltered momentarily, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of her words. Who did she kill? What was she talking about? The questions swirled in his mind, but he had no time to dwell on them. He needed to focus on getting her to safety.

As they turned a corner, Sebastian came into view, strolling down the corridor with his usual confident demeanor. He raised a hand in greeting, his voice calm and unaware of the situation. "Ominis! There you are. Have you seen—"

His words caught in his throat as his eyes registered the scene before him. The casual greeting died on his lips, replaced by a look of sheer panic as he saw Ominis carrying Mary, her body limp and bloodied. The sight of the blood dripping from her abdomen onto the stone floor made his heart drop.

"Ominis! What happened?!" Sebastian's voice was filled with alarm as he rushed toward them, his calm facade completely shattered.

"Sebastian!" Ominis shouted, his voice strained with urgency and fear. Sebastian closed the distance between them in seconds, his eyes wide with horror as he took in the severity of Mary's condition.

"What happened?!" Sebastian repeated, his voice nearly breaking as he desperately searched for an answer in Ominis's expression.

"I-I don't know! I found her like this—she's hurt badly, Sebastian!" Ominis's voice trembled as he explained, his own fear and confusion evident. The desperation in his voice was unmistakable, and it only heightened Sebastian's panic.

Without hesitation, Sebastian said, "Give her to me. I'm faster—I can get her to the infirmary quicker."

For a brief moment, Ominis hesitated, his arms tightening around Mary as if reluctant to let her go. The thought of passing her over, of not being the one to ensure her safety, tore at him. But he knew Sebastian was right—Sebastian could get her there faster.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ominis finally nodded and, with great reluctance, transferred Mary into Sebastian's arms. He did so with a tenderness that spoke volumes of his fear and care for her, his hands lingering for a split second longer as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

"Go, Sebastian, please..." Ominis whispered, his voice almost breaking as he handed her over.

Sebastian, now carrying Mary, gave Ominis a brief, determined nod before sprinting down the corridor with all the speed he could muster, Mary's life hanging in the balance as Ominis watched them disappear around the corner, a feeling of helplessness washing over him.