The Light in My Darkness ||Ominis Gaunt X OC||

Chapter 20

The evening wore on, the hum of conversation and laughter blending into a tapestry of sound, as if the weight of countless expectations filled the very air around them. The music shifted, a familiar waltz melody drifting through the ballroom, signaling the start of the Heirs Dance. Ominis’s hand found hers, guiding her to the floor with a quiet, unspoken strength. As he settled one hand at her waist, gentle but firm, Charlotte felt a flicker of reassurance, a small anchor in the sea of scrutinizing gazes and unspoken judgments.

They moved together in sync, the steady rhythm of their steps grounding her, offering a fleeting reprieve from the tensions that pulsed through the room. She allowed herself to focus on the warmth of his breath near her ear, the way his presence seemed to shield her. Here, in his arms, the ballroom’s prying eyes and silent, watchful threats felt a world away.

“You’re doing well,” Ominis murmured, his voice barely a whisper against the music. “I know this isn’t easy. Are you all right?”

She nodded, offering two soft taps against his bicep, a small, silent reassurance, even though uncertainty still clung to her heart. She sensed his concern, felt the connection between them strengthen as they moved, their silent understanding an unbreakable thread binding them together in this moment of calm.

But just as the song faded and the dance ended, their brief peace was shattered by a sudden tap on her shoulder. She turned, her heart tightening as she met the gaze of Sirius Black, his hand already extended with a gleam in his eye—a gleam that left no room for refusal.

“Mind if I steal the lady for a dance?” he asked, though his tone made it clear he wasn’t truly asking.

Ominis’s grip on her waist tightened, his eyes narrowing. “I think she’s content where she is.”

Sirius chuckled, unbothered. “Oh, come now, Gaunt. Surely you can spare her for one dance. It’s not as if she’s an accessory.”

Ominis glared daggers as Sirius turned his earlier words against him. Charlotte looked up at Ominis, a silent plea in her eyes, but she knew they couldn’t afford to make a scene. Reluctantly, she placed her hand in Sirius’s, allowing him to lead her away, deeper onto the dancefloor. Every step filled her with a sense of dread.

As they began to waltz, Sirius held her closer and lower than was proper, his smirk never faltering. He moved with confidence, his hands guiding her in a way that felt more possessive than polite. “You’re quite the mystery, Charlotte,” he murmured, his gaze intense. “I never thought a Fawley would find herself entwined with the Gaunts. Your family has… standards, don’t they?”

Her heart stuttered, but she forced herself to remain composed. How dare he think he can talk about her family like that. She wished she could hex him in response, but instead, she simply raised her chin a fraction, meeting his gaze with a cool, unreadable expression.

Sirius chuckled, clearly enjoying her silence. “You’re good at hiding your emotions. I’ll give you that. But I know a secret when I see one.” He smirked again, his gaze darting briefly toward Ominis, who was scowling at them from the edge of the dance floor.

Charlotte felt her skin prickle, but she maintained her composed expression, keeping her eyes fixed over his shoulder as they twirled. Inside, however, her discomfort grew, each of his insinuating words like needles against her composure.

Sirius’s fingers tightened slightly at her waist as he whispered, “I hear Marvolo’s… indisposed. How unfortunate for the Gaunts.”

She resisted the urge to pull away, knowing that would only embolden him. Instead, she kept her movements graceful, calm—an image of pure-blooded dignity that no one could question.