Trinity~A Raven and Snakes story

Lost years, part one

Ominis POV

Going over and over all the things he could have done to keep Sebastian here was excruciating. He was used to taking the burden of guilt for most things and this was no exception. He was always but one moment away from letting his convictions about dark magic go if he could only hear his voice. Then he would feel the pain emanating from his only friend left in the world, and his anger towards Sebastian would briefly outweigh the longing.

One thing he was dead set on, was becoming stronger. He held his own in the fight with Sebastian, but Iris had to end it. The guilt of that was eating her alive and he could not have that. He never wanted to feel as emotionally or physically incompetent as he did in the days following Sebastian's abandonment. He began pouring himself into Defense Against the Dark Arts class. He actually went to the stupid dueling club that his two reckless friends had spent so much time at. He was decent, but against the more serious contenders, he was lacking. He lost one match against so Natsai soundly, he felt like he needed to start from square one. He went to Professor Hecat and asked if he could do extra assignments. He heard her hum in contemplation, he felt her sizing him up with his eyes. "This could be very interesting indeed....I will give you private lessons, but I need your all. No distractions, make my time worth it, Mr. Gaunt".

He had a couple lessons with her, and found he was quite skilled at learning new techniques, mostly because he already what that the evil was planning and what they believed. He heard it every single day when he was home. The ideals and thought processes drilled into him.

One day, he walked into his lesson and Natsai was also there. Professor Hecat told him she had heard about the duel; and that she would like her to join this lesson. He agreed. She taught them both a new counter spell to disarm their enemy, even from greater distances. She then asked them to duel and incorporate this new spell. He gulped, Natsai was the strongest witch in the school other than Iris. However, Iris refused to duel him, for understandable reasons.

He proved to be a quicker learner than Natsai at this new spell, and quickly was able to disarm her. Natsai however, used her physical strength to dodge his spell he had intended to finish the duel. She then used her verbal casting to call her wand back to her. He then focused on using the magic in his body to accelerate his movements. This had been taught to him through his family, but he never showed them he could actually do it. He went behind her and cast, "arresto momentum" before she could block him. Professor Hecat clapped and released Natsai from the charm. Natsai smiled and looked at the Professor, "I believe you are right, Ma'am. They will never know what hit them".

Professor Hecat laughed, "nobody would suspect a Gaunt as a threat to dark wizards!".

Ominis felt lost and it was making the high of winning the duel fade. "Would either of you ladies like to tell me about what you two are talking about? It seems specific to me, I would think I should know".

Both were standing in front of him now, Professor Hecat put her hand on his shoulder. "I am suggesting that you become an Auror, Ominis. You have a pure heart, are one of the kindest people I know. That used to make me think maybe another field would be better. Now however, I see a fire in you".

Natsai added, "you already have good grades, you are the truest friend I have seen. I would fight by you, and I have been wanting to be an Auror since 5th year. You do need to take better care of yourself, all this weight loss doesn't help you in a fight my friend!". He could hear her smile and sincerity. He left something actually move in his heart, some small excitement of finally having a goal.

"Let me talk to Iris, and think about it. What do I have to do if I decide to do this?" He asked.

"What you have been doing, I would spend more time with Natty here, and she can catch you up on all the prep she has been doing to be prepared for the Auror program." He thanked them and then went to talk to Iris. She was worried but wholeheartedly supportive.