KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter Eight: Tension.

Before the tension could escalate further, the air in the Undercroft shifted as a soft hum of magic filled the space. Mary appeared before them, her delicate, elegant robes now dirtied, a reminder of the battles she had just fought. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of Sebastian and Ominis standing tensely, their argument hanging in the air like a storm about to break.

She had barely registered the tension between them when her gaze landed on Sebastian, still clutching his side where he had been hit. Without thinking, she rushed to him, concern etched on her face.

Sebastian, still reeling from the argument with Ominis, felt his heart skip a beat as she approached. The way she looked at him, the way her concern was so genuine—it was almost too much. He couldn't help the small, possessive feeling that flared in his chest, though he tried to push it aside.

"Sebastian!" Mary called out, worry etched in her voice as she rushed towards him. Despite the lingering pain in his head, Sebastian pushed himself off the wall, meeting her halfway.

"I'm fine," he assured her, though the throbbing in his skull told a different story. He gently placed a hand on her arm, taking comfort in her presence.

 As she reached him, he instinctively pulled her into his arms, feeling her warmth against him.

Ominis, watching the scene unfold, felt a sharp pang of jealousy stab through him. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the bitterness rising within him. Seeing Sebastian hold Mary like that, seeing the way she responded to him—it was almost unbearable. But he managed to keep his emotions in check, forcing himself to look away. 

Yet, at the same time, he couldn't shake the image of Mary, fierce and determined, doing what she thought was necessary—something he had failed to understand or accept.

"Did you do it?" Sebastian's voice was low, almost cautious as he looked into her eyes, searching for the answer he feared.

Mary hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between the two boys before she shook her head. "No," she replied softly. "I didn't. I called Sirona Ryan to handle them... as a favor."

Ominis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, relief washing over him. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, though the memory of their earlier argument still lingered. Sebastian, on the other hand, felt a mix of emotions—relief that Mary was unharmed, but also a deep-seated resentment towards Ranrok's followers that he struggled to suppress.

Despite his feelings, he nodded in support of her decision. "You did the right thing." he said, though the bitterness in his voice was hard to miss.

Ominis, hearing Sebastian's tone, couldn't help but tighten his grip on his wand, the conflict between them far from resolved.

Mary took a deep breath, looking between Sebastian and Ominis, the weight of her actions and their repercussions heavy on her shoulders. She needed to address the unspoken tension between them.

"Because of you, Ominis, I didn't take their lives," she began, her voice calm but firm. "But I need you to understand... sometimes, ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves. We can't afford to let dangerous people walk free, to give them the chance to do harm again. I won't be there to stop them."

Sebastian, still recovering from his injuries, nodded in agreement, his expression hardening. "She's right, Ominis. We've seen what happens when people like them are left unchecked. It's not worth the risk."

But Ominis shook his head, his resolve unshaken. "It doesn't have to be this way. You don't have to darken your soul to protect others. There are other ways. . . you. . . you can trust me."

"It's not that I don't trust you, Ominis," Mary replied, her voice softening as she met his gaze. "I'm afraid of losing you as a friend if you see that side of me. I don't want you to look at me differently. . . or to walk away."

Ominis's heart ached at her words, understanding the depth of her fear. But before he could respond, he noticed Sebastian's expression darkening. The tension in the room shifted as Sebastian's jealousy flared. He couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment at how Mary was confiding in Ominis, how she was worried about losing him, of all people.

"Maybe you're too worried about what Ominis thinks," Sebastian said, trying to keep his voice steady, though his frustration was clear. "You did what needed to be done, Mary. And I, for one, am glad you did."

Ominis's gaze snapped to Sebastian, his irritation rising. "This isn't about what you think, Sebastian. It's about what's right. You're pushing her towards a path that could destroy her, and you don't even care."

"Don't act like you know what's best for her," Sebastian shot back, his voice laced with bitterness. "she trusts me more, there's a reason for that."

"I'm not trying to take her from you, Ominis," Sebastian continued, though his voice was tense. "But you need to stop pretending that the world is as simple as you want it to be. Sometimes, we have to do things we don't like to keep everyone safe."

Ominis clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. "I'm not the one pretending. I just don't want to see her become someone she'll regret being... someone she'll hate."

Mary, sensing the tension between Sebastian and Ominis, stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Please, both of you! calm down. We've been through enough tonight!"

Sebastian, still upset, clenched his fists but took a deep breath. Ominis, on the other hand, slowly released the tension in his jaw, though the hurt in his expression remained.

Mary continued, "I don't fully understand what's going on between you two, but I can see it's not just about what's right or wrong. There's something more, but I need you both to give me some peace after everything that happened."

Mary looked at both of them, her eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and understanding.

 "Listen," she began, her tone firm but caring. "Neither of you has influence over me. You're both important to me, but you're also two very different people. You each help me see the world from different perspectives, and that's what guides me to make the decisions that feel right for me. So there's no need to fight about it. I'm not a child who just does what she's told, and I hope you both understand that."

Sebastian and Ominis exchanged guilty glances, the weight of her words sinking in. The tension between them melted into something softer—shame, perhaps, or a realization of how much they had let their emotions get the better of them.

Sebastian was the first to speak, his voice low. "You're right, Mary. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let things get so out of hand."

Ominis nodded, his tone more subdued than usual. "I'm sorry too, Mary. I didn't mean to push you or make you feel like you were caught in the middle."

Mary smiled at them both, her frustration easing. "I just want us to be able to rely on each other, without all this tension. We've got enough to deal with as it is."

The boys nodded, feeling both relieved and a bit ashamed, vowing silently to try and do better.