KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter thirty-four

Initially, they aimed straight for the opposite end of the chasm, the seemingly safer route. But as they neared it, Sebastian suddenly halted them. 

"Hold on," he said, turning to the left. "Let's check out that ledge first. There's bound to be something useful up there."

Ominis sighed, clearly exasperated, his patience wearing thin. "Do we really have to detour, Sebastian? Or is this just another one of your brilliant ideas?" His voice carried a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern, betraying his nervousness about the heights.

Sebastian smirked, not entirely hiding his amusement. "Oh, come on, Ominis. Where's your sense of adventure? Besides, it wouldn't be a proper exploration if we didn't check every corner. Who knows what we might find?" Deep down, there was a small, vindictive part of him that enjoyed seeing Ominis squirm—especially after the whole hand-holding incident.

Ominis muttered under his breath, clearly uneasy. "I'll show you where you can put your adventure..."

Mary, sensing the rising tension and trying to ease Ominis's discomfort, offered a reassuring smile. "We'll make it quick, Ominis. If it helps, just think of it as humoring Sebastian's curiosity rather than a detour."

Ominis huffed but didn't protest further, though he shot a glare in the general direction of Sebastian's voice. "Fine, but if we get stuck on this deathtrap of a platform, I'm blaming you, Sebastian."

Sebastian chuckled, taking the comment in stride. "Noted. But if we find something valuable, you'll thank me later."

As they neared the platform's edge, it became clear that the floating stone wouldn't bring them perfectly level with the ground above. There was a small gap, forcing them to climb up the last bit. Sebastian, ever confident, took the lead, grabbing onto the ledge and pulling himself up with ease. He turned, offering his hand to Mary, clearly intending to help her next.

"Here, Mary," Sebastian said, his tone laced with a hint of charm as he extended his hand to her.

But Mary shook her head with a slight smile, her gaze shifting to Ominis. "Sebastian, let's get Ominis up first," she suggested gently.

Ominis, who had been quietly listening, looked confused. "Wait, what do you mean 'get me up'? I thought we were just walking off this thing!" His voice was laced with sarcasm, his concern about heights bubbling back up as he realized he'd have to climb.

Mary stifled a laugh at his reaction, finding his mix of stubbornness and sarcasm oddly endearing. She carefully hid her amusement, not wanting to embarrass him further. 

"We just need to climb a little, Ominis. Nothing too difficult, I promise."

Ominis crossed his arms, shaking his head. "No, no, no. You're telling me I have to climb while there's a deadly drop below us? Not a chance, I'll just wait here for you both to finish exploring."

Sebastian, still holding his hand out, raised an eyebrow. "Ominis, if you don't get up here, I'm coming back down and dragging you up myself."

Realizing he had little choice, Ominis grumbled, "Fine, but if I fall, i'm taking you with me, Sebastian." He sighed dramatically and reached out, taking hold of Mary's hand as she helped guide him to the ledge. The combination of his pride and nerves made the climb a bit awkward, but with her help, he managed to scramble up, his clothes now dirtied from the effort.

"Wonderful," Ominis muttered as he dusted off his robes, clearly irritated by the situation. "All for the sake of Sebastian's curiosity."

Sebastian grinned, watching as Ominis stood and complained to the air. Seeing his opportunity, he quickly turned his attention back to Mary. "Alright, Mary, your turn," he said, extending his hand to her once more, his expression softening into something more playful.

Mary took his hand, noticing the intensity in his gaze and the slight curve of a smile on his lips. "Such a gentleman, Sebastian," she teased lightly as she grabbed onto the ledge, allowing him to assist her as she climbed.

"Only for you," Sebastian replied, his voice carrying a flirtatious undertone. He steadied her as she reached the top, their hands lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

Mary laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm sure you say that to all the girls."

Sebastian's smile widened. "Only the ones who can keep up with me."

Their banter felt natural, lighthearted, yet there was a hint of something more beneath the surface. Mary playfully nudged him as she finished pulling herself up, a silent acknowledgment of the ongoing game between them. She knew Sebastian enjoyed their little exchanges, and truthfully, she found them fun as well.

Meanwhile, Ominis had been listening to their interaction, quickly putting two and two together. It suddenly dawned on him why Sebastian had been so eager to detour and explore this particular area. As he realized the true reason, a wave of jealousy and annoyance washed over him.

"Of course," Ominis muttered to himself, his voice dripping with irritation. His mind was swirling with thoughts, trying to keep his emotions in check, but the subtle pang of jealousy gnawed at him, making it hard to remain calm.