As they approached the entrance to the Prefects' Bathroom, the trio took turns attempting to answer the password prompt. After a few failed guesses and shared glances of frustration, Sebastian, with a sigh of determination, finally responded correctly. The door creaked open, revealing the luxurious interior of the bath chamber.
Mary and Ominis turned to Sebastian with raised eyebrows, their curiosity piqued.
"How did you know the password?" Mary asked, her voice tinged with suspicion as she tried to mask the slight unease creeping up her spine.
Sebastian chuckled, though it was a bit forced. "Well... let's just say a Ravenclaw girl may have given it to me," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.
Ominis tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "And what did she want in return for that information, Sebastian?" he asked, his tone light but probing.
Sebastian's grin faltered, and he quickly added, "She, uh... invited me to join her, but I wasn't interested. I just thought it might come in handy one day, that's all." His eyes darted nervously between Mary and Ominis, trying to gauge their reactions.
Mary's expression darkened before she could even realize what she was feeling. She turned away from Sebastian, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar pang.
"Of course, you weren't interested," she muttered, the bitterness in her voice surprising even herself. She bit down on her lip, trying to quell the rising irritation she couldn't quite place. Before either of the boys could respond, she quickly retreated to the area where she could change into a bathrobe, her movements sharp with unspoken frustration.
"Mary, wait, it's not what you think," Sebastian called after her, stepping forward, his tone pleading. "I didn't go because I wanted to! I just wanted the password—I mean, I wouldn't actually go with her, not like that!" His words, meant to clarify, only dug him deeper into trouble.
Mary whipped her head around, eyes narrowing at him. "Oh, so you walked her to the bathroom under threat." she snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Good to know, Sebastian." With that, she disappeared behind the changing area curtain, leaving Sebastian standing there with a look of regret plastered across his face.
"Great job," Ominis said dryly, though there was no real bite to his tone. He could sense Sebastian's genuine regret, but he couldn't help but feel the tension brewing in the room.
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself. "I didn't mean it like that. I just... I'm not good with words sometimes."
Ominis sighed softly, his own emotions swirling beneath the surface. Seeing Mary's reaction—her clear jealousy—had been like a knife to the heart. It was obvious that her feelings for Sebastian ran deep, even if she wasn't fully aware of them herself. A wave of sadness washed over Ominis as he quietly wondered if he should step aside, as he had once suggested to Sebastian before. Should he let her be happy with Sebastian, even if it meant letting go of his own feelings? The thought gnawed at him, making him feel more isolated than ever.
Sebastian, sensing Ominis's shift in mood, glanced over at him. "Ominis... I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just—"
"I know, Sebastian," Ominis interrupted, his voice quiet but steady. "But maybe it's not about what you meant. Maybe it's about what you want. What she wants." He hesitated, the words heavy on his tongue, before he added, "Just... think about that."
Sebastian's brow furrowed, guilt and confusion warring within him. He had wanted to make things right with Mary, but everything he said only seemed to make it worse. And now, he had Ominis to worry about too.
Meanwhile, behind the curtain, Mary leaned against the wall, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the bathrobe. She didn't understand why she was so angry—why the thought of Sebastian with someone else made her feel this way. But as the frustration simmered inside her, she realized that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't as complicated as she was trying to make it out to be.
Maybe she just... cared. A lot more than she was ready to admit.
YOU ARE READING
KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)
FanfictionOne 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...
