KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter Forty

As they moved slowly forward within the cramped protective field, the tension between them grew. Every step, every breath brought them closer together, making it impossible to avoid awkward brushes against one another. 

Mary's heart pounded in her chest, her face burning from the overwhelming proximity to both Sebastian and Ominis. With both hands in the air, at times holding and releasing sebastian's arms, she didn't even know how to breathe without ending up brushing against him. 

She could feel their warmth, the subtle shifts of their bodies, and it only heightened her embarrassment. 

Sebastian, ever the one to mask his nerves with sarcasm, quipped with a smirk, "Well, if anyone thought we were a close-knit team before... this is definitely taking things to a whole new level."

Ominis, who was clearly just as uncomfortable, added his own dry humor. "If we survive this, Mary, you might want to practice expanding your protective fields. For the sake of personal space, if nothing else."

Mary tried to laugh, but it came out more as a nervous chuckle. "I'm sorry... I didn't expect it to be so... tight. I should've—"

Sebastian leaned in just a fraction closer, his voice low and teasing. "Don't worry, Mary. We're getting quite used to it, aren't we, Ominis? Besides, a little... closeness never hurt anyone."

Despite Sebastian's casual manner, his hands were tense, clenched into fists as he felt her closeness, she was in front of him, brushing his chest with every step, only his sarcastic remarks distracting him from the madness he was feeling. 

Ominis let out a strained laugh, trying his best to keep the atmosphere light despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. He squeezed and released his hands, a subtle attempt to calm himself as they moved. 

"Yes, well, let's just focus on getting out of here in one piece. We can discuss expanding the field later—preferably when we're not practically on top of each other."

Mary's cheeks only deepened in color, her embarrassment almost too much to bear. She nodded quickly, trying to avoid making eye contact with either of them. 

"You're right. Let's... let's just keep going."

Each step forward felt like an eternity, the narrow space forcing them to awkwardly shift and press against one another. The occasional bump or nudge only amplified the tension, leaving them all hyper-aware of the close contact. Even as they tried to lighten the mood with sarcastic remarks, it was clear that the situation was far more intimate than any of them were comfortable with.

Despite the awkwardness, there was an undeniable spark in the air—a mix of nervous energy and unspoken emotions. Though they were doing their best to hide it, the closeness was affecting them all. It was a dance of tension and restraint, each of them acutely aware of the others, yet trying to focus on the task at hand.

The trio finally approached the door, it responded instantly to their presence, slowly creaking open to reveal a dry passage beyond. The sight of air instead of water was a wave of relief for Sebastian and Ominis, who had been quietly battling the rising anxiety of being trapped in the small protective field.

"Oh, thank Merlin," Sebastian exhaled, his voice filled with genuine relief. "No more water."

"I was starting to think we'd have to swim our way out," Ominis added with a dry tone, but the tension in his voice was unmistakable. He could hardly wait to step out of the cramped space.

Mary smiled, feeling their relief, and they all cautiously stepped through the door, expecting the protective field to dissipate automatically. But as they tried to separate, the barrier didn't vanish. Instead, it remained stubbornly intact, catching them off guard. The sudden resistance sent the trio stumbling over one another, and they tumbled to the ground in a chaotic heap.