Blood Bound (Ominis Gaunt)

chapter 1 - the reveal

"No, that can't be true!" Ophelia shrieked, getting up from her seat. Professor Weasley's desk shook violently, but she managed to catch any falling objects before it could reach the floor. "This must be a mistake!"

Ophelia's heart pounded intensely in her chest, she could feel her blood pressure rise and her breathing accelerate as she processed Professor Weasley's words. It felt completely unreal, a cruel heartless joke at her expense. But, deep down, she knew Professor Weasley would never lie to her or say something that wasn't 100% confirmed.

"It certainly was shocking for all of us to find out," she began to speak. "and as much as we don't want to believe it, the proof is irrefutable."

The redheaded girl's gaze wandered over to her hands, unable to look up to face her favourite Professor. Everything, absolutely everything she ever knew was a lie after this shocking revelation. She thought she knew everything about herself, she thought she finally found out who she really was the day she received that letter from Hogwarts at age 15.

But now? Her world came crashing down... and she had to face the horrible truth.

"This...This changes everything I've ever known." she stammered, playing with her fingers in an effort to calm herself down, to no avail.

"It's tough, I completely understand. But you deserve to know the truth."

"I always assumed my parents died when I was born... I...I killed my own father."

"Don't think about it that way, love. You killed someone who was trying to kill you, and all your friends back. Rookwood might be the one who gave you life, but he was no father to you."

"Do you..." she hesistated before asking the full question. "Do you know who my mother is?"

"According to our investigation, she was a pureblood supremastic witch who worked alongside Rookwood until her death in 1881. We're unsure about her exact identity, we'll let you know if we find out anything else."

"For now, please..." Professor Weasley placed her hand on Ophelia's shoulder in a supportive gesture. "Get some rest and process everything."

"I..I will."

❄

Ophelia kept her head down as she walked back to the Slytherin common room, ignoring the curious glances and the first-year students calling out for favors she would usually oblige. She didn't need to look up; she had memorized the path long ago, her eyes fixed on the floor tiles as if they whispered secrets to her.

Her fingers absently stroked her long ginger hair as she opened the door to the common room and descended the stairs. It wasn't until she saw Ominis, stretched out on the sofa in front of the flickering fireplace, calmly reading with his wand in hand, that she realized just how much she craved his comforting presence.

"Is that my sweetheart I heard coming in?" Ominis spoke as soon as he appeared in her line of sight.

Ophelia always found it amusing how Ominis, despite being blind, could instantly tell who entered a room without needing to see them. He had memorized her footsteps, the subtle sounds she made as she moved. Most people would overlook such details, but for Ominis, noticing them wasn't just a skill—it was a necessity.

"Hello my love." she greeted him as she plopped herself down on the sofa right next to him, immediately forcing herself under his arm and laying her head against his chest.