Run Away ✧ Hogwarts Legacy

chapter nine

Fake Happy by Paramore

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Trigger Warning: This chapter includes sensitive conduct - please see the comment for a full description of conduct.

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Seventh Year

"Don't go," Desmond said. 

It was nearing dusk and the past hour had been spent in the Undercroft looking over the relic. It seemed almost pointless to spend so much time trying to figure out the inner workings of the relic when its owner was locked up floors above, but they kept trusting that maybe they would figure out something new that would put an end to their troubles. That day, unfortunately, no answer was provided. Like many of the days before were spent.

Not that he hadn't enjoyed spending time together, but he was getting exhausted at pouring over the same issue. Every night he lived in the limbo of running over the same information, with no progress, nothing changing. Fixed in an immobile place and never where anyone wanted to be.

The desire for some sort of change that he knew to be impossible was wedged into his mind like a splinter under his skin.

Ominis Gaunt shrugged at the idea of spending another hour pouring over ideas and theories. He shoved his hands into his pocket, touching the crumbled-up letter that he received that morning, as he thought of something to say. "It's getting late," He pointed out, "I just don't have the energy to be here all night again. Besides, I have other plans."

Physical energy, perhaps, but emotionally, Ominis was already feeling drained. He didn't have anyone to talk to completely, besides Anne Sallow, and she never offered him the advice that he hoped to hear so he stopped asking for it. His heart was drained and empty that evening. More than anything else, he wanted the day to be over with.

The invitation crumbled in his pocket weighting him down. It wasn't that he wanted to be freed from the pain of it, but prayed for something to change. Even if it had meant going backward.

"Plans? Oh, going to visit Sebastian tonight?" Desmond guessed.

"No," Ominis shrugged. He wasn't sure how much he wanted to fully disclose about the letter since he had his own mixed feelings about it. Facing the issue alone, however, was troubling him. "An old friend invited me out for a drink and some fun. I thought it could be a nice change."

"Am I not fun?" He teased.

"Sadly not at all," Ominis declared boldly. "Don't get me wrong, you can be funny at times, but fun? If you find sitting around the Undercroft attempting to decode this lost form of magic for hours at a time fun, then fine. You're as fun as a dentist."

Desmond sat silently, "Okay, well, that's your opinion."

"It's nothing personal."

"Are you sure?"

"Okay, maybe a little bit personal." Ominis teased back. He could have left and headed to the tavern then, but he stood debating with himself. The letter crumbled into a ball in his pocket as he nervously considered the idea. "Do you want to join?"

It was a foolish idea. Arguably the worst one that he ever acted upon.

As far as Ominis was concerned, this was supposed to be a date. Or perhaps it wasn't a date. Lawrence had married the summer before, his family making a grand show of the event, and all of the Gaunts were in attendance. Ominis clapped and cheered when the groom kissed his young bride. Only being a few years younger, he knew that it wouldn't be long before he was standing in front of the altar declaring love for a woman that he wouldn't cherish either. It felt more like a glimpse into his own future funeral than a celebration of a marriage.