Preperations
POV Sebastian
We decided to spend the evening at Felcroft in « our » house. We gave it a serious clean as it was so dusty. Once it was over, we poured ourselves a drink.
« To Anne » I said still mournful.
« To Anne » replied Ominis.
We drank up.
« Sebastian, we need to talk about her funeral. » I said very seriously.
« I know » I replied sadly.
There was a short moment of quietness.
« So I guess the question is where, when, who, what ? » asked Ominis.
« Where would be here, in he gardens as Anne wanted. When ? It’s Thursday so I guess Saturday would be a good time as I need to sign off some authorisations. And I want to dig the grave without using magic. So It will take me some time. Who ? Well You and me. She had no one else. Exept for Nathara of course. What ? Well, I was thinking that maybe you could give a speech, in her memory during the funeral » I explained.
« I would be honoured to give a speech, for Anne. And don’t worry, I will help you tomorrow, to dig the grave. There’s … there’s something else I wanted to ask you » he started hesitantly.
« Go on » I replied cusious.
« I … was hoping … only if you’re ok with it … to inivte … Valerian to the funeral » he continued tmidly.
I paused as I needed to think about it for a moment. I couldn’t be selfish. Ominis was suffering from Anne’s loss too. He was my support in these hard times, and I guess he needed his support. I know he’s in love with her but I thought I was his support. I was there way before her.
« Why do you want her to come ? » I asked to understand his motives better.
« I know how hard all this is on you. But it was also hard for me to say goodbye to Anne too. And … I’m not blaming you of course, you needed time to … recover. And Valerian has been there for me. She had been waiting for my return yesterday, so that I wouldn’t feel lonely. If she comes, I know she will be a huge suport to me. Besides, I know Anne would want her there. » he argued.
I remembered Anne’s last words about him and Valerian. She said she knew Ominis was in love with her. That she was happy to have met Valerian because she liked her very much. And she wanted Ominis to court her. It was her last wish.
I know Ominis was right, Anne would want her there. I just didn’t understand how she could be a better support than me.
Nonetheless I had to respect my sisters wishes.
« Ok. You can invite her » I replied a bit too gruffly.
« Than you Sebastian, she means a lot to me ... I mean, it means a lot to me. » he replied .
I laughed at how he always gets mixed up in his words, revealing what he truely had in mind.
« I know » I just answered thickly.
Ominis got up.
« I think we ought to go to bed. There’s a lot to be done tomorrow » he announced.
« You’re right. If you’re ok with that, I’d like to have Anne’s bedroom. You can have mine » I stated.
« I’m fine with that. But won’t it be … difficult ? It will always be reminded of her l ... » he asked worried.
« At first, yes. But then I’ll be thankful I did. And it will allow me to go through her things, in my own time.» I explained.
« Suit yourself. Goodnight then » he said.
« Goodnight » I replied.
As I entered Anne’s bedroom. I just looked around with my eyes for a moment feeling nostalgic. Childhood memories were flooding back. I remembered when we used to play hide and seek with our parents, it was her favourite game as a child.
There was this one time we played, we were about 8. She was the one counting and I hid under her bed. She found my mother first, then she came into her room. I could see her anckles and her shoes from where I was. She looked in her wardrobes, behind the curtains, but couldn’t find me. Shestepped towards the bed, looking under the sheets as I had placed her teddies so she would think it were me hiding there. When she was close enough, I grabbed her anckles to scare her. And she screamed so loud that my dad came out of hiding to see what had happened. Anne cried endlessly after this. I memember my dad pulling me aside explaining to me that girls were more fragile and sensitive and that it was our job, as men, to look after them, that it was my job, to look after her because they wouldn’t always be aound.
At that memory, tears streamed down my face, I was unable to move.
I then crashed onto the bed. I sighed heavily, letting my head drop onto the pillow. Unfortunately, her smell was gone. My thoughts driffted to her. I was dreading the next few days. I was comforted in the idea that Anne was no longer sufferring, and she was allowed to have her last words today. She had forgiven me despite everything I had done. She was always the better person. How I would miss her.
I curled myself inside her bed, sobbing all night.
POV Ominis
I woke up the next morning thinking about Anne abviously, but also Valerian. I had to find her today, and ask her if she would come to Anne’s funeral. I was wondering how I would ask her. I didn’t want to sound like an idiot again so I thought it was best to prepare myself. I was wondering when would be a good time to ask her. If I submited my question this evening, it would give her little warning. Maybe at lunchtime ? But I didn’t want everyone to know. So would the best time be this morning, before lessons started ? As I had no alarm clock in the bedroom, I had no clue what time it was.
I got up, grabbed my wand, put yesterday’s T-shirt on and went to the kitchen, hoping Sebastian would be up. And he was surprisingly.
« Sebastian, morning. How did you sleep ? » I asked knowing what the answer might be.
« Horribly. And you ? » he said in return.
« Not so great » I admitted.
I had a lot on my mind which didn’t help me sleep.
« Sebastian, what time is it please ? » I asked him.
« It’s 7.45 a.m» he replied.
Maybe if I hurried, I could ask her now. But she would already have left the doorms.
On Friday mornings, we had potion class. I’ll try and see her there before she enters the classroom. But I musn’t be seen by the professor. They knew we were sorting out the delicate matter of Anne’s funeral, but they might wonder why I was here.
« I’ll see you later, there’s something I need to do first » I informed Sebastian.
« Say hi to Valerian for me » he teased.
My face went red. Of course he would easily guess I was about to see her.
So I apparated into my bedroom at school. I quickly hurried into the living room. She might still be there. But there was no green shadow in sight. I then rushed down stairs, waiting discretely in a small corridor close to the potion room, where I knew students would walk by to head into the classroom. She was probably finishing her breakfast. She usually went straight to class after that. So I waited a few minutes.
Then I could hear sounds of pupils walking down. But I couldn’t hear her voice, nor see a green shadow. The advantage with my wand, is that I would see shadows even behind walls. So I would know when she’d be there. There are only very few people with the green colour. I had noticed green shadows were usually about people I cared about most. So not many people. Sebastian was green, Anne was green, and Valerian was green. I guess it was a sign.
I could now see a green shadow arriving, amongst other shadows. So I listened carefully to the voices. It was her. She was with Samuel and Cassandra. They were walking next to one another. Fortunately, she was on the right side. So when she passed by, I grabbed her arm and pulled her into the corridor quickly, landing her against the wall.
« What the ... » she started saying startled.
« Shttt, it’s me don’t worry » I told her to reasure her.
I was still holding her arm.
« Ominis » she said with a relieved voice.
She suddenly pulled her arms around my neck, giving me a huge hug.
I was a little startled, but I didn’t think twice about hugging her back.
She then pulled away gently, moving her hands to leave them resting on my chest, holiding her wand in one hand too.
I also moved my hands placing them behind her shoulders at first, sliding them down her arms on top of her elbows and left them there.
« Ominis, I was worried about you. You were in class all morning yesterday, then you just vanished ! » she said troubled.
I didn’t think that she would be worried about me. She was so kindhearted that it made me fall in love with her even more.
« I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you » I replied gently. I loved that her hands were on my chest and that I was holding her arms. It created an exhilarating proximity between us. She was only a few inches away, and I could feel my heart pound like a drum in my chest. It had trigged in me a primal and irrepressible desire to plant a kiss on her lips. So as a result I took in a deep breath to focus again on the real reason I came here for.
« Sebastian had vanished and I was worried about him. I found him in his house in Scotland, and I took Sebastian to the morgue to see his sister. Then a lot happened, I will tell you about it another time. Even so that’s not why I’m here » I explained sortly.
« Oh, why are you here then ? » she asked surprised.
If I were to be honnest with myself, I had also other motives to be there. It wasn’t only about my request, I needed to see her, I was yearning for her. And I realised at that moment how much I was reppelled by the idea of being seperated from her. And that thought only made my heart beat so fast that I was sure she could feel it through my chest where her devine hands were laying.
« I’m here for you ... I mean ... to ask somehing of you » I corrected myself as I blushed.
Honestly, I blushed so often I was glad she couldn’t see it.
I could hear her chuckle.
« And what is it that you wanted to ask me ? » she replied in a sensual voice knowing exactly how to provoke me.
She was merciless with me, knowing exactly how to make me crave for her. And I could feel myself swallowing hard.
« … I … I ...» I mummbled trying to focus on my words and not on her.
« I was … wondering … if … » I just couldn’t talk anymore. The adrenaline running through my body was torturous. My body was in a frenzy longing for her. I was now feeling emotionaly overwhelmed.
« Relax Ominis. Close our eyes and don’t forget to breathe. » she said calmly.
So I closed my eyes, took in deep breaths, trying to regulate the beats of my heart. My chest was moving up and down as I did so and my breathing was loud.
« You’re doing great. Just a bit more » she whispered.
I could feel my heart slowing down. I felt I was taking possession of my body again. After a minute, I took in one final deep breath.
« Feeling better ? » she asked lovingly.
« … Yes. I’m sorry I’m always so … tense » I said shamefully still breathing slighly heavily. How I despised my nervousness. It wasn’t appealing.
« Don’t appologize. It is what makes you so … you. And I think it’s just adorable » she said sweetly.
I couldn’t help but smile bashfully.
« So, what did you want to ask me ? » she said this time using a more conventional voice. She probably thought it would be wiser.
« I … was wondering if you would concider coming to Anne’s funeral » I said more confident this time.
« Would you like me to be there ? » she murmured teasing me.
« I … » I didn’t want to lose all control again. It was time I were braver and stop being so shy. So I took in a deep breath again.
« Yes » I said boldly surprised at myself. « I want you to be there »
I paused. I moved my hands down her arms to reach for the top of her hands that were still resting on my chest squeezing them firmly. « I need you there » I said genuinly.
« Then I’ll be there then » she said gently, now squeezing my fingers.
I then raised her hands pulling them together to my lips and landed a sweet soft kiss onto them.
« Thank you » I replied softly. « It’s tomorrow morning. I’ll come get you ? » I asked still holding her hands beneath my chin.
I couldn’t really give her a time as un blind people didn’t have the same notion of it.
« Ok. You can knock on my door when you’re there. It’s on the first floor, third door to the right » she informed.
« I’ll meet you there then » I replied smoothly.
I put her hands down along with mine ever so gently, then I let go. I took a step back. She wasn’t moving, probably still looking at me. And I excited the corridor walking back upstairs, thinking about Valerian along the way, how she had the power to ignite my desires into a spiraling thirst for more. I desperately needed more now. The more she provoked me, the more I could feel the escalate urge to kiss her. And I wouldn’t hold on much longer. It was all too much to bare, between her gentle stokes in my hair, her sweet kiss on my cheeks, her hands on my chest. I knew I needed to calm down, now, or else I wouldn’t be able to help Sebastian this morning.
I had a shower and a change of clothes before I went back to Felcroft.
Then I apparated in the house, or should I say in our house now, meeting Sebastian outside. He had already begun digging. And I took a shovel and helped him.
Meanwhile none of us spoke, thinking about Anne.
It took us a while to finish.
We then cut some wood, and made a burial cross. Sebastian then encarved Anne’s name on it. I let him finish alone. I didn't know how to write so I was useless, but I knew he needed to do this part alone.
We then had a drink and another shower, and then headed via floo powder to the ministry of magic in London as we had to collect the certificate for a burial.
I didn’t really fancy going there. I didn’t want to bump into my father. But I guess as an auror I’ll be heading there quite often in the future. Besides, I couldn’t let Sebastian do this alone.
« Do you know where to go ? » asked Sebastian.
Actually, I did. Unfortunately, I knew the place pretty well, and by unfortunately, I mean that my father used to take me there a lot when I was a child as my mother also worked here before. And my brother refused to look after me. And because he was the darling son, the pride of he familly, they never refused him. So they had no choice but to take me with them. That’s where I learnt how to control my vision with my wand. As I had nothing better to do. And as I did, I explored almost every corner of the ministry. I might even know the place better than most, rooms that were unknown to most people working there.
« Follow me » I told him.
As we walked towards the registration office, I heard a familiar voice.
« Well look who it is ! If it isn’t my pathetic brother » the voice said sarcasticly.
« Marvolo » I said bitterly as I turned around.
« What brings you to my office ? » he asked showing off.
« Your office ? You do not mean to say that you work here !» I asked astonished.
« I do work here, in the department of Magical artefacts » he said.
« I didn’t know the ministry employed cockroaches. » I told him cynically.
« Watch your tone boy. And you would have known that if you had dared read mother’s letters. » he said with a cold voice.
« Well I’m glad I didn’t then » I replied.
« You won’t be able to avoid us for much longer, Ominis. She’s got a surprise for you. » he said in a machiavelic way.
A surprise from my family could only mean one thing, trouble.
« All the more reason to stay away from you all then» I said harshly.
He just laughed. But it was more like an evil laugh.
« Let’s go Ominis » said Sebastian, trying to get me out of there.
« Ah, Sebastian Sallow. I see Ominis is still following you around like a puppy » he declared. « By the way, how’s your sister ? » he taunted him
He didn’t reply. But I knew anger was rising in him.
« You should have accepted my offer. It’s a shame really. All pure blood’s death is a waste » he said arrogently.
« Yours wouldn’t be a waste. It would be a provided service to humanity » said Sebastian ironically.
I smiled, he couldn't have said things better.
« Well, I couldn’t agree more. » I said amused. I then walked slowly towards Marvolo. arms crossed. He always used to be taller than me, but not anymore. « I’m warning you, dear brother, stay away from my friends » I said with a threatening tone.
« Threats is it ? You don’t want to play that game with me boy, or you will lose » he threatened.
He was now just inches from my face.
« Before, perhaps. But I’m no longer a boy, Marvolo. And do tell mother she can keep her surprise » I told him calmly.
I then turned around and left along Sebastian's side.
« I’ll see you soon then. I don’t want to miss the look on your face when you get your surprise » he said nagging me.
We just walked away from him.
I hadn’t seen Marvolo in 3 years. And I was better off this way.
« Once an ass, always an ass » said Sebastian to me half joking, half serious.
I smiled and nodded.
We finaly managed to find the office. We recovered the autorisation, Sebastian signed a few papers and then we headed home. I enjoyed calling this house home, thanks to Anne.
It was now the evening. Sebastian and I sat down in the kitchen.
« Thanks for coming to the ministry with me. I know you were reluctant to come, and I totally get why » he said.
I just smiled at him.
« By the way, did you get to ask Valerian about… the funeral ? » he said painfully.
« Yes, and she will be coming. Thank you, for letting her . It means a lot to me, and I know it would mean a lot to Anne as well. » I informed him.
He just made a noise in agreement.