Ominis looked toward her, his expression one of surprise mixed with gratitude. He hadn't considered the Undercroft, but now that she mentioned it, it seemed like the perfect solution. He nodded slowly, relief washing over his features as he realized she wasn't going to leave him to face his demons alone.
"That... that would be perfect," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Mary."
She smiled softly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "Let's go then," she said gently, leading him away from the dormitory and back down the corridors toward the Undercroft.
Ominis clung to her hand, finding comfort in the fact that she was there, guiding him, protecting him from the darkness that threatened to swallow him whole.
When they reached the hidden entrance, Mary glanced at Ominis, silently asking if he was ready. He nodded, and she carefully opened the way into their secret haven. The room was as they left it, quiet and still, the only sound being the soft echo of their footsteps as they entered.
Once inside, Ominis finally felt like he could breathe again. The shadows of his nightmares receded, replaced by the warmth of Mary's presence beside him. He pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her shoulder as he let out a shaky breath.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," he whispered, his voice heavy with exhaustion and relief.
Mary hugged him back just as tightly, her heart aching for him. "You don't have to find out," she murmured
Mary found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions as she led Ominis to the sofa. On one hand, her heart ached with the desire to help him through whatever he needed, to ease his pain and be the comfort he sought. But on the other, she was keenly aware of the way his words had shifted, becoming laced with a kind of intimacy that left her breathless and her thoughts scrambled. When he said things like "I don't know what I'd do without you," it sent a surge of electricity straight to her heart, making her question just how deep their connection truly ran.
They settled onto the sofa, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with unspoken tension. Ominis was clearly exhausted, his face etched with fatigue as he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his vest, leaving him in just his white shirt. His usually neat hair was now slightly disheveled, and Mary couldn't help but think how different he looked—more vulnerable, more real. It stirred something in her, something she wasn't sure how to handle.
As Ominis reclined on the sofa, letting himself sink into the cushions, Mary instinctively moved closer, her fingers slipping into his hair to gently comb through the strands. The action was soothing for both of them, and she found herself lost in the rhythm of it, focusing on the way his hair felt between her fingers rather than the tumultuous thoughts racing through her mind.
But the quiet didn't last. After a few moments, Ominis spoke, his voice soft but laced with an underlying plea. "Mary... please, don't sleep on the floor tonight. Stay here with me."
His request sent a shock through her, her fingers freezing in his hair as she tried to process what he was asking.
"Ominis, I—" She faltered, her heart racing. The thought of lying beside him, sharing that kind of closeness, made her nervous in a way she hadn't anticipated. "I can't... I mean, it's not proper."
Ominis shifted slightly, turning his head toward her, his expression determined despite his fatigue. "I don't care about that," he murmured, his voice more insistent. "I don't want you uncomfortable, Mary. And I certainly won't let you sleep on the floor just to watch over me."
When she hesitated again, still unsure, he sighed and began to sit up, making as if to move off the sofa. "If you're going to insist, then I'll sleep on the floor instead."
Mary's eyes widened, and she quickly reached out to stop him, her hand on his chest. "No, Ominis, wait—" Her voice came out in a rush, laced with panic at the thought of him lying on the cold, hard ground. She could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt, and it only added to the flustered state she was in. "Okay, okay... you win. I'll stay with you."
Ominis paused, his expression softening as he heard her reluctant agreement. Slowly, he lay back down, his relief evident as he let himself relax. "Thank you, Mary," he whispered, his gratitude palpable.
***
The tension hung in the air, thick and undeniable, as they settled into the quiet of the Undercroft.
Mary could feel the gentle rise and fall of Ominis's breathing next to her, the faint brush of his arm against hers. It was both comforting and nerve-wracking, and she wasn't sure how long she could keep her thoughts in check with him so close.
With the warmth of his body radiating against her, she found herself inching closer, her resolve weakening with each passing second. She hesitated only for a moment before letting her head rest on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. The sound was rhythmic, soothing, and before she knew it, Ominis instinctively wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer into a loose but protective embrace.
She opened her mouth to protest, to say that maybe this wasn't the best idea, but when she turned her head slightly to look up at him, her words died on her lips. Ominis's face was completely relaxed, his features softened by sleep. He had drifted off so quickly, his exhaustion overtaking him the moment he felt her close.
Mary let out a small sigh, her breath catching as she realized how peaceful he looked. She couldn't bring herself to wake him, not when he finally seemed at ease after everything he'd been through that night. She knew she should probably pull away, put some distance between them, but the comfort of his arms around her and the gentle rise and fall of his chest were too inviting.
"Maybe... this is a bad idea," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. Yet despite her words, she didn't move. Instead, she allowed herself to sink further into his embrace, the warmth and security of it lulling her into a sense of calm she hadn't felt in a long time.
It wasn't long before her own eyelids began to droop, the tension in her body slowly easing as the fatigue of the day caught up with her. The soft sound of Ominis's breathing, the gentle thrum of his heartbeat beneath her cheek—it was all so comforting, so right.
With a final, resigned sigh, Mary allowed herself to drift off, her thoughts fading as sleep claimed her.
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...
