In The Shadow of Our Choices

Chapter 121: Becoming the Favorite Son

Welcome to book 3! Here's where things start to get interesting...

Content Warnings for the chapter: Death, Grief

Ominis

For the first time in two years, it was Anne who returned to the house in Feldcroft with Ominis and Sebastian, not Elizabeth. Ominis hadn't realized how strange it would feel. They'd seen Elizabeth off at the Hogsmeade station, then apparated home with their own luggage. Now, they busied themselves with the familiar tasks of opening the house and airing it out. It was a beautiful summer day, the type that wasn't yet hot and sweltering, and when Ominis took their brooms out to the broom shed, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"It's the human who speaks - hello human who speaks! Are you awake for the summer now?"

Ominis couldn't help but smile. It was Basil, the adder they'd met the previous summer.

"Hello, yes, we're awake," Ominis said, not bothering to correct the snake. "How are you? Finding enough to eat?"

"Oh yes, so much to eat," Basil said, "Do you need food? I can find you food."

Ominis stifled a laugh. Snakes were always focused on food. Using his wand, he pinpointed Basil's location - he was sunning himself on a rock.

"No, thank you, I'm quite full," Ominis said, crouching down. "But would you like to hang out with me? I'm warm, and I could use your eyes while we clean out our... er, hibernaculum."

He was fairly certain snakes wouldn't understand the word 'House,' and realized as he spoke that he didn't actually know where they wintered. Basil took a moment to consider this offer.

"You are warm... sure. I will help the human who speaks."

Ominis offered his hand, and Basil slithered up into it. He'd found that adders weren't particularly good at holding on, so he tucked the small snake into his breast pocket. He felt Basil settle in as he walked back to the house, his head poking out of the pocket. Cleaning was always a tedious process, but with Basil serving as his eyes, the task became a little smoother. As they dusted, swept, and unpacked, Ominis let Basil guide him around obstacles - pointing out when a broom was sweeping in his path or when a cupboard door had been left open. It helped immensely, keeping his hands free to do work. The adder, while helpful in his own way, did have a tendency to get distracted.

"I smell a mouse!" Basil announced as Ominis pulled dishes out of a cupboard to wash. "You should eat it."

"I'll leave that job for you," Ominis said wryly. "But thank you."

By the time they finished, the evening sun was sending warm rays deep into the house through the windows. Anne and Sebastian had already set the table, and they had a simple dinner ready - some chicken and vegetables from the neighbors.

"Does anyone mind if I let Basil wander?" Ominis asked as they sat down to eat. "He said he smelled a mouse earlier."

"He can have at it," Sebastian said, sounding amused as he passed Ominis a bowl of what smelled like peas.

When Anne made a sound of assent, Ominis put the bowl down for a moment, scooping Basil out of the pocket.

"You can go find the mouse," he said as he lowered the snake to the floor. "Find me again when you're done."

"Mousssse here I come," Basil said, sounding excited. "Thanksss friend."

"He's a cute little one," Anne said as Ominis righted himself in his chair. "You said you met him last summer?"