KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter Forty-two

The trio remained tangled on the ground, the situation grew increasingly uncomfortable. Mary was still trying to dispel the protective field, but the more she struggled, the more she felt the tension in the air. Ominis's arms were wrapped around her waist, and she could feel the warmth of Sebastian just behind her, his breath brushing against her neck as he tried not to collapse on her. The closeness was almost unbearable.

Sebastian, meanwhile, was doing his best to keep himself from collapsing entirely onto Mary. After all the battles and physical exertion they had endured in the cave, his arms were trembling with the effort of holding himself up. But as the seconds ticked by and Mary still couldn't manage to break the field, his strength began to wane.

"Mary," Sebastian said, his voice strained, "I don't want to rush you, but I don't think I can hold on much longer..."

Mary's heart raced even faster. She could feel the pressure increasing as Sebastian's body slowly began to lean into her, the weight becoming more noticeable with each passing second.

"I—I'm trying!" she stammered, her voice high with panic. She desperately focused on the spell, but her nerves were getting the better of her.

Ominis, sensing the shift in Sebastian's position, tightened his hold on Mary slightly, trying to offer her some support. "Take your time, Mary," he said, his voice calm despite the tension. "But maybe... a little faster?"

Sebastian let out a low groan as his arms finally gave out, pressing more firmly against Mary's back. He felt a surge of tension in the confined space, every slight movement intensifying the proximity between them. The warmth of her body against his sent a wave of both guilt and something else—something he didn't want to name—through him.

"Sorry, Mary," he muttered, his voice tinged with embarrassment and frustration. He tried to shift slightly, but there was no room. "I think... you're just going to have to work with this."

Mary's face flushed even deeper, her breath hitching as she felt the full weight of Sebastian now leaning into her. The situation was becoming unbearable, the mix of closeness, warmth, and the inability to break free causing her to lose focus even more. "I—I can't—" she stuttered, completely flustered.

Ominis, who could feel the tension in Mary's body, tried to distract her with humor, even though he was battling his own nerves, feeling the warmth radiating from her body, he tried to focus on something other than the way they were pressed together.

"Well, if we're going to be stuck like this, at least it's with people we trust," he said, forcing a light tone despite the awkwardness.

Mary felt a shiver run down her spine, not from cold, but from how acutely aware she was of Ominis's presence, his voice so close to her ear, his breath warm against her skin. She tried to respond, but her voice caught in her throat, leaving her only able to nod slightly. The proximity was overwhelming, and she could feel the slight tremor in Ominis's hand, still hovering just above her.

Sebastian, who was now practically draped over Mary, chuckled weakly. "Yeah, trust... though I'm starting to think I might need to start working out more."

The comment drew a small, nervous laugh from Mary, though it did little to ease the flustered state she was in, It was hard to feel the breath of both of them so close to her, even worse when they talk.

The pressure was mounting, both physically and emotionally, and she knew she had to dispel the field before things got any more awkward.

With a final burst of determination, Mary closed her eyes and focused all her magic on releasing the field. After a few intense moments, the protective barrier finally dissolved, and they all collapsed in a heap, no longer held together by the magical force. The sudden release of pressure sent them sprawling across the ground, their limbs tangled as they tried to regain their balance.

Mary, still lying atop Ominis, felt a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled, trying to push herself up but finding her arms still shaky.

Sebastian rolled off to the side, finally able to breathe freely again. "No worries," he said with a breathless laugh, though his cheeks were tinged with red. "But maybe next time, we should make sure to disperse before walking through any doors."

Ominis chuckled softly, his grip on Mary loosening as he carefully helped her to sit up. "Agreed. But at least now we know how to handle tight situations... literally."

The trio exchanged sheepish smiles, the tension slowly fading away as they took a moment to collect themselves.