Chapter 1
“Sebastian! You’re not listening to me!” Perseus pleaded.
“Well maybe I don’t want to talk to someone so ignorant!” Sebastian shouted, angrily shoving Perseus backwards.
They both paled, a frown deepening their features. Perseus took a step closer, faltering when Sebastian turned away. “You… you don’t mean that…”
Sebastian looked anywhere but Perseus, spitting out, “I did. I want you to leave.”
Perseus made no move to, standing his ground, “Sebastian.”
“Leave, damn you!”
“Sebastian, please!”
The Slytherin turned away, stalking towards the gate that led out of the Undercroft. Before Perseus could reach him, Sebastian rushed out.
The Hufflepuff followed his friend, calling for him all the while. Sebastian said the Slytherin password, opening and shutting the door with a final look of anger.
Perseus stopped, hands in front of him as though they would open the door that way. He hardly registered the footfalls behind him until a smooth voice caught his attention.
“Perseus? What are you doing down here?”
He turned to Ominis, nearly grateful that the boy wouldn’t be able to see his eyes shining with tears. He attempted to collect himself, “Ah… just… looking for Sebastian.”
His voice gave him away as it wavered and a gentle hand landed on his arm in a soothing manner. “Why don’t we go to the library for a bit, hm?”
“Alright,” Perseus said with a nod, taking Ominis’ hand to guide him. The two walked in silence, only breaking it when Perseus informed Ominis of the stairs.
Soon they sat at a small table in between two of the shelves on the upper floor of the library. Ominis opened his mouth to speak but they were interrupted by another’s voice.
“Perseus!” Poppy exclaimed cheerfully, the smile on her face ever present, “How is Highwing? Might I be able to see her sometime?”
“Hello, Poppy. You’re welcome to come by the Room of Requirement tomorrow night.” Perseus replied, smiling at her.
Her smile brightened, “Thank you! I’ll see you tomorrow, then!”
She strode off and Ominis didn’t speak until she had turned a corner.
“Do tell me what’s wrong,” Ominis said softly.
Perseus immediately gave him a vague summary of what had happened after the two had parted ways with Ominis after the catacombs the day prior. “I don’t agree with his methods, but Anne could have been seriously hurt, or worse if Sebastian hadn’t stopped him.
“And today I met him at the location of the tryptich’s painting where we found the other half. Everything was alright until I mentioned speaking to a friend of mine who could help.” Perseus scratched at one of the many scratches on his hand, “I don’t even know how he guessed Lodgok was a goblin… I hadn’t even mentioned his name!
“H-he called me ignorant and shouted at me. I chased him all the way to the Slytherin common rooms but-“ Perseus felt the tears prick at his eyes. He was incredibly hurt by the whole ordeal but also didn’t want it to get to him. Sebastian was his friend! How could he say something so cruel?
Ominis placed a comforting hand on Perseus’ arm before reaching for the Hufflepuff’s scarred hands. The Slytherin pulled Perseus’ hands away from his face, holding his hands between the two of them.
“Sebastian is desperate for an answer and I fear his rationality has left him. Time will pass and he will see his mistake,” Ominis assured, stone grey eyes staring unseeing in front of him. Regardless of his inability to see, Ominis’ eyes held every emotion and it was comforting to Perseus to look at them. “For the time being, why don’t you focus on your studies? You can always come to me.”
Perseus laced his fingers with Ominis’, bringing them to his lips to press a kiss against them. Ominis’ face flushed bright pink and he turned his head away to hide it. “Thank you, Ominis. It’s late, I’m sure they’re serving dinner now.”
Ominis nodded, standing from his chair. Their hands naturally fell to their side and Perseus found himself glad he was left handed so Ominis could still use his wand to see while they walked. The blond boy led the way to the Great Hall and they chose to sit at the Hufflepuff table in favor of giving Sebastian some space, chatting amicably between bites.
After dinner, Ominis and Perseus walked down the stairs to the Hufflepuff commons rooms and the Slytherin stood a good distance away from the barrels so they wouldn’t assume he was attempting to sneak in. As the common room door opened, Perseus stepped in front of Ominis, taking both of his hands into his own. Perseus flushed pink, turning away even though he knew Ominis couldn’t see him.
“Goodnight, Ominis,” Perseus smiled, pressing a chaste kiss to the side of his cheek before darting off into his common room. Ominis stepped after him, speechless. He stood there, stunned, long enough that the doors had closed and the barrels were threatening to douse him in vinegar if he didn’t leave. He held a hand up against his cheek the entire walk to the dungeons, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
He said the password when he reached the door, briskly walking to his shared room with Sebastian. The brunet perked up as he entered, immediately taking notice of his friend’s dazed expression.
“What happened to you?” Sebastian asked, standing up from his chair to sit on his bed. Ominis sat on his so they faced each other. The blond’s face soured, brows furrowing as he tried to find the best way to approach the situation without further hurt. Maybe the he could tell Sebastian about this evening.
“Perseus told me what happened… after yesterday, I had hoped neither of you would get into trouble again, though I find myself corrected,” Ominis frowned, taking off his robe.
“Oh, Merlin…” Sebastian groaned, falling back onto his bed. Ominis quirked a brow at the obvious display.
“You’re the one at fault here, Sebastian, and you know it!” Ominis rarely got upset but it seemed the world could never settle to give him a peaceful evening.
“I am not! I’m not the one associating with goblins!”
“You know very well that there are outliers to every stereotype. Not every goblin works for Ranrok.”
“Yes, but this one has direct ties to Ranrok. Perseus even said so!”
“Perseus has told me of Lodgok before, and he seems like a perfectly respectful goblin, regardless of his previous ties to Ranrok. Why can’t you just trust Perseus on this?”
Sebastian scowled, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked away, “You know why.”
Ominis sighed, “So be it, but that was no way to treat your friend.”
“My friend?”
“Sebastian!” Ominis cried incredulously. He was quite honestly baffled by Sebastian’s outbursts as of late. He was beginning to see a side of Sebastian that had never been directed at him before. Sure, Sebastian could be quick to anger, but he never acted like this with Ominis.
Something was wrong.
“What is wrong with you? When did you decide to no longer be friends with Perseus?”
“When he associated with goblins! Is it really so hard to understand?” Sebastian shouted, stalking to the bathroom to change.
Ominis took this as the end to their conversation, changing into his pajamas to get some rest.
He tossed and turned well into the night. Hearing Sebastian’s snores, Ominis dressed quietly in a robe, casting Disillusionment over himself as he left the common room. He had sent his owl ahead of him, hoping that no teachers were still on patrol through the hallways this late. By the time he had reached the Hufflepuff dorms, Perseus was already waiting for him, dressed similarly to Ominis.
“What is it?” Perseus asked, weariness in his voice.
“Could we go to the Room of Requirement?” Ominis whispered, stepping over to the Floo Flames.
“Yeah,” Perseus replied, following after Ominis into the fireplace.
Ominis dropped the floo powder, “Room of Requirement.”
Perseus blinked, still not entirely used to floo travel. Deek peered around the corner, “Perseus? What are you doing here so late?”
“Sorry, Deek. Ominis and I are going to head into the paddock,” Perseus said, “Could you please not tell Professor Weasley? I’ll owe you.”
“Certainly. Deek will go back to bed now,” the house elf said, trudging back down the stairs.
Perseus took Ominis’ hand to lead him into the paddock. The sound of chirping insects met both their ears as they walked towards the small cottage. Perseus opened the door, setting his cloak up on the hanger by the door. He offered to Ominis to do the same before starting some tea. Ominis sat at the small table in the kitchen, fiddling with his wand.
Soon, Perseus sat down next to him, offering up a cup of tea, “Sugar?”
“Please.”
They sat in silence, listening to the sounds from outside that crept in through the open window.
Perseus had finished his cup and grabbed another before Ominis spoke up, “I fear Sebastian is beginning to push me away as well.”
Perseus hummed, leaning back in his chair.
“He’ll come back around, I’m sure of it. For now, though, it certainly hurts.”
“You’re always welcome to sleep here if rooming with Sebastian becomes too much,” Perseus said, taking Ominis’ empty cup to the sink with his own to wash them. He set them on the drying rack, only turning back around when he heard Ominis stand up and walk over to him blindly, his wand left on the table. The blond’s hands felt their way to Perseus, grabbing ahold of the dark haired boy by his hips. Perseus blushed but otherwise did not react to the touch.
Ominis wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into an embrace. Perseus returned it, burying his face in the blond’s hair. Without the product he normally used to style it, his hair was soft and Perseus felt as though he could run his fingers through it every second of everyday and never grow tired of it.
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I haven’t figured out where to go from here. THIS CHAPTER ISNT FINISHED YET :)