In The Shadow of Our Choices

Chapter 122: Sand & Snakes

Previously:

At the end of the school year -

Andrew and the Ravenclaw team scraped a win for not just the game, but the quidditch cup. During a dinner with his father, Andrew expressed his desire to join a professional quidditch team instead of being an auror. His father didn't push back, despite being clearly disappointed.Anne returned to Hogwarts for part of the semester, sitting in on classes and studying to take half of her O.W.L. exams - planning to take the other half over the summer as W.A.N.D. exams (Wizarding Assessments for Neglected Disciplines - exams that garner the same "O.W.L." level of credit, enabling students to make up exams or take additional ones in order to enter N.E.W.T. level classes).Sebastian learned Anne wanted to become a Dragonologist, and thought before going overboard protective, and realized it was actually kinda cool :D (Anne suspected he'd been replaced.)Ominis pulled one final prank on Duncan with Andrew's help, and chatted with Grace about relationships (That she doesn't plan to tell her parents about her and Adelaide, and the Ominis hasn't the faintest idea where Elizabeth is at with him... Grace told him he should try reaching out).Elizabeth reclaimed her spot as Hogwarts Dueling Champion in a duel against Sebastian, and they all got invited to Leander's graduation party (for all of them, really).Aria watched them all graduate, still thinking Andrew liked Anne/Anne liked Andrew. She was immediately disproven when Andrew asked her on a date the second he wasn't technically a student anymore lolAFTER school, last chapter - Elizabeth returned to London, where she moved into a flat with Mary. Mary showed her the university she will be attending, and they went to the British Museum, where they stumbled onto a wizarding exhibit. Elizabeth was offered a job by a member of the Society for Historical and Archeological Magical Sites who was there, because of her Ancient Magic abilities.

Surprise! I'm not dead.

Chapter 122

Late June, 1893 - Ominis Sallow

"Please come out."

"No."

"Please?"

"No. I want to see the nice human."

"She doesn't live here anymore, I'm sorry. Please come out."

"I want to see the nice human."

"Am I not also nice?"

"...Well, you did let me eat mice."

"So you'll come out?"

"No."

Ominis sat back with a sigh, running a hand over his face. He'd let Basil come inside while they were cleaning out the Feldcroft house because he said he smelled mice in the cupboards, but now the silly snake was refusing to come out.

"I'm starting to think you lied about being able to talk to snakes," Anne said, not bothering to hide her laughter at his predicament. "Can't you just summon it?"

"I don't want to hurt him," Ominis said, sending a glare in her general direction. "Shouldn't you be studying?"

"It's the summer holidays!" Anne protested.

"And you have W.A.N.D. exams in two months," Ominis said pointedly. "That means you need to study."

"No, it means I need to Neglect my Discipline," Anne said, her voice playfully haughty. "It's in the name."

Ominis rolled his eyes but smiled.

"Well, then, perhaps, you'd care to help me with this snake," Ominis said, changing tack. "If you mean to study reptiles, you can start practicing handling their whims now."