Mary's face was still flushed with embarrassment as she avoided looking directly at Sebastian and Ominis. The memory of how close they had been, tangled together in that protective field, made her cheeks burn even more. Her thoughts raced as they climbed the stairs in silence, each step filled with lingering awkwardness.
Sebastian glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his own face slightly red. Ominis, equally mortified, kept his gaze forward, focusing solely on the stairs ahead. None of them spoke until they reached the top, where the familiar surroundings of the Map Chamber came into view.
"Well... this is unexpected," Sebastian finally said, breaking the silence as they stepped into the chamber. The tension from before was still present, but there was also a sense of relief in his voice. "I guess we don't have to walk all the way back."
Ominis nodded, though he still seemed a bit off balance. "Convenient, though a bit disorienting. I wasn't expecting the cave to lead here."
Mary, who had managed to calm herself somewhat, still couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness. "At least... at least we know we're safe now," she said quietly, trying to focus on the positive.
As they approached the large portrait of Professor Percival Rackham, his eyes flickered with recognition. "Ah, Miss Mary," he greeted, noticing the trio's entrance through one of the magical doors. "I see you've found another of our secret chambers."
Mary straightened up, trying to regain her composure. "Yes, Professor," she replied. "But... I only found some pages of a book, not the book itself."
Professor Rackham's expression became more serious. "That is unfortunate. Without the book, you won't be able to advance in your trials. The knowledge it contains is essential for what lies ahead. Until then, I shall await your progress."
***
The revelation hit Mary and Sebastian hard. They exchanged frustrated looks as the reality of their situation sank in while walking in the common corridors, the clock must have been past midnight.
"So we're stuck," Sebastian muttered, his disappointment clear. "All that effort, and we can't even start the trial?"
Mary frowned, feeling the same frustration. "It's infuriating. We need to stop Ranrok, and we're being held back because of a book."
Ominis, sensing their rising tempers, spoke up in a calming tone. "We'll find it, Mary. But for now, we should take a moment to rest. We've been through a lot today."
He was right, of course, but it didn't make the situation any less irritating. As they made their way back into the more familiar halls of Hogwarts, the trio became acutely aware of how disheveled they looked. Their clothes were dirty, covered in dust, and streaked with sweat from their journey through the cave.
Sebastian glanced down at his own robe and made a face. "I feel like I've been dragged through the Forbidden Forest. Twice."
Ominis smirked. "At least you can see how bad you look. I can only imagine how filthy I am."
Mary let out a small, embarrassed laugh, still feeling the remnants of the earlier awkwardness. "We should probably clean up before anyone sees us... like this."
Sebastian nodded in agreement, his lips curling into a teasing smile. "I'd rather not have to explain why we look like we've been wrestling trolls."
Ominis chuckled softly, glad to see that some of the tension was finally easing. "Agreed. Let's get cleaned up, then maybe we can figure out our next move... once we're not covered in dirt."
"What if we go to the Prefects' Bathroom?" Mary said
YOU ARE READING
KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)
FanficOne evening, Ominis was on his way to the undercraft. He and Sebastian had planned to spend the night there to study, including Mary, but unfortunately she had to miss it because of her tasks with Professor Fig. What surprise was Ominis going to get...
