Serpents and Butterflies

     The days counted down to the ball. Eleanor kept correspondence with her friends in the days preceding the ball. Ominis wrote to her two more times, updating her about the state of his family and reassuring her that he was looking forward to the excuse to be away from them therefore he did not find coming to her aid a burden. Sebastian sent her a letter about the spells he and Anne had mastered since the holiday started. He did not say much about the ball except for expressing surprise that he was invited and saying that Anne was working on a hex for her father. The latter sent her into a fit of laughter. Of course Anne had said that. Eleanor spent the other part of her day finalizing menus with the house elves and selecting music for the dances. The waltz being her particular favorite. 

July 1st 1894, the night of the ball. Eleanor had spent all day fretting over the arrival of her suitors. She was also excited to see her dear friends, Ominis and Sebastian again. Up in her room she watched from her window, seated on the plush cushion of the bench underneath. Her large ball gown cascaded around her in a puddle of soft pink and cream lace. She could not pretend that she did not feel beautiful in it. Her elf, Pinky, picked it for her out of the dresses that Lady Maxima sent over that morning. The scooped neck was trimmed with lace and little bows. The sleeves were fluttery, flowing pieces of fabric that danced on her shoulders and upper arms. Her favorite part was the silk ribbons tied around her waist in bows, the tails reached almost to the floor on either side of her. She felt like a princess. A damsel, like her family wanted her to be. 

Carriages started to fill up the drive outside and Eleanor knew she could wait no longer. She would have to make her debut. “Pinky thinks you look angelic Ms. Feldwing.” The little elf snapped her fingers to open the door for her. “Thank you, Pinky.” Eleanor smiled at her. Sucking in a breath, she walked down the hall to the grand staircase, leading to the foyer. The sound of her footsteps echoed in her hollow mind. Smile and bear it. She whispered. Her hand glided down the smooth railing of the stairs. She carried herself with the grace of a prima ballerina and the inner fire of a dragon. It was just one night, and then Ominis and Sebastian would find a way to get her out of it. They would do it together. She had so much faith in her friends that she had designed this night to enjoy it as a ball, and not as the cattle sale her father intended. It was so old fashioned, but that’s the way it was in centuries old wizarding families. 

Just as she made it to the middle of the steps, two, very welcome, men walked through the main doors. Ominis looked dashing in his black and green accented suit. His pale hair swept back in its usual immaculate style. Sebastian sauntered in on his right, his suit a dark gray. She could tell he tried to put his hair together like Ominis but failed. Ominis’ cloudy blue eyes were pointed at her, but she knew he could not see her. She quickend her pace, nearly tripping on her skirts. Sebastian finally noticed her when she was almost to them. He tapped the blonde man on his shoulder twice.

 “Eleanor, you are a vision to behold.” Seabstion spoke with his undeniable charm.

 “Sebastian, still trying to copy Ominis’ sense of style I see,” She jested.

 Ominis grinned, “Eleanor, Darling. Oh how I missed that voice.” She felt her cheeks redden.

 “Ominis, thank you for being here.” She took hold of his hand and squeezed it by way of a greeting. 

“Of course.” He held onto her hand for longer than was probably appropriate, yet she did not think to pull away until Sebastian cleared his throat. “Right. Shall we head to the ballroom?”

“Yes. Follow me,” She said to Sebastian, but as a habit she took Omini’s arm in her own to walk with him. She knew it was likely improper, but she didn’t care. 

She would need to be with her mother for the bulk of the evening, as she would be keeping an eye on her. And setting her up with young men to dance with.  

“Meet me in the drawing room after the first dance,” Eleanor whispered to the boys. She left them at the edge of the crowd to make her way to her mother. 

“You’re late.” The gilded woman hissed. “I was welcoming guests.” Eleanor smiled through the venom rising in her tone. “That’s not your job, dear.” Her mother sighed with a false smile on her lips. Cracks in her resolve. Eleanor had always been a weed in her garden of gardenias. She knew that she was eager to be rid of her. The feeling could not be more mutual at the moment. 

“I've secured your first and second dances. Henry Duncan and Leander Prewett.”

So Prewett was here, Eleanor scoffed in her mind. She was not familiar with Henry Duncan but if he was chosen for the first dance then her mother certainly thought highly of him. Eleanor let her eyes be taken by the beauty of the ballroom. It was truly spectacular with the large glittering chandeliers and marble columns that reflected the light. The ceiling came to a massive dome shape with painted woodland scenes and floral images. It was breathtakingly ethereal. A kind of sight that made her wish for more balls, even. Just not ones where she was served on a silver platter for all the guests to gawk at. Like now, there were hardly any women her age in attendance that she knew, and hardly any at all really. There were mothers and fathers and suitors. She assessed all of them with glances of equal interest. Ominis and Sebastian were where she left them, talking amongst themselves in a hushed manner. She could not wait until they were talking in the drawing room.

As if answering her prayer the orchestra started to play the first dance. Couples fled to the floor with giddy energy. Eleanor stood at the end of the two rows of men and women. A tall, tan skinned young man with black short hair stepped to her side. “Henry Duncan, pleasure to meet you.” He bent at the waist, holding his hand to her palm up, she placed hers on top. He set a chaste kiss upon it before rising to meet her eyes. He was handsome in an obvious way, and seemed to be aware of it. “Eleanor Feldwing,” She offered before being swept into a waltz. The obsidian haired man chuckled. “I know exactly who you are.” 

She usually wasn’t a fan of such brazenness from men she did not know, but at least he was not stepping on her toes. 

“Is that a Gaunt I see in attendance?” he asked, spinning her close to his chest. 

“Yes.”

“Your parents would have you marry a Gaunt?” 

She furrowed her brow, “I don’t see that as any of your concern.”

She was well aware of what people thought of Ominis because of his family. They were brutal blood purists. Known for cruel acts against muggles. And they had a firm grip on the wizarding government, a pawn in nearly every corner. And for every witch or wizard that disagreed with their philosophies there were dozens more that agreed. 

“Are you a blood purist?” Henry asked. Her eyes shot open wide. 

“No. How dare you even ask.”

“I’m-”

The song ended the moment she pushed away from him. She sprinted for the drawing room, eager to speak with her friends.

She opened the door quickly. Slinking into the room unseen. Sebastian was draped over a chair nonchalantly, swinging his leg back and forth. Ominis leaned against a table facing the door, legs crossed at the ankle, his hands bracing himself on the wood table top behind him. His face had been drawn towards the floor, it lifted at the sound of the door. “There she is,” Sebastian groaned dramatically. “Was that guy as much of a prick as he looked?” 

Eleanor’s laugh bubbled out of her throat like fresh champagne. “Excellent observation skills Seb.”

Ominis was smiling in her direction. “It is so nice to be back with the two of you,” Eleanor sighed. “It’s like we never left Hogwarts,” Ominis mused. It indeed was easy to fall into old habits with the two of them. Troublemakers, the lot of them. “So what are we blowing up first?” came Sebastian's mischievous voice. Eleanor crossed the room to stand near Ominis, in front of Sebastian. “We’re not blowing up anything,” she chastised.

 “We’re here to make the situation better for our Eleanor, not worse,” Ominis’ rough tone slid over Eleanor’s spine. Our Eleanor, he said. She tried not to let the heat rise to her cheeks. She liked being called his, but would never admit it. It was a thought she didn’t dwell on often. 

“So then what do we do? She can’t marry one of those moon minds out there now can she?” Sebastian directed his words to the blonde. Ominis rolled his eyes.

“Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” she quipped, amusement tugging at the corners of her mouth. “And no I won’t be marrying anyone.” Her arms crossed over her front. 

“Why don’t we just sabotage the ball? And all the other events. Make it impossible for any of these guys to court you till the end of the season?” The brunette offered.

Eleanor had that thought already, she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to try. 

“We’ll have to be strategic about it. We can’t have my father figuring out you two are in kahoots with me.”

“Does he not know of your involvement with us?” Ominis asked. 

“I don’t know for sure. But I don’t think he does. Or that he cares.”

She let out a heavy breath, letting her arms fall to her sides. “It’s all right darling. We’ll figure it out. We won’t let your future be decided for you.” Ominis reached for her. She sunk into his arms, holding on to the back of his jacket. He squeezed her to him, comforting her. She let go only to be engulfed in a shortened embrace from Sebastian. “Leave it to us.” He whispered into her hair. The weighty, heavenly scent of Ominis lingered in her senses long after she left the room. 

“Where were you?” Penelope popped up in front of Eleanor just as she was about to reenter the ballroom. “Powder room.” She shook off the lie. “The second dance is about to start.” Penelope grabbed her hand and drug her to the middle of the floor, leaving her there. 

“Eleanor, it’s been too long.” Not long enough she quipped to herself. Leander Prewett held his hand out to her. She took it begrudgingly. And only had to swallow her scream for a few moments. Hopefully the boys were working on their plans quickly. 

“I was surprised to receive an invitation.” The orchestra began to pluck and strum their instruments. Leander led their movements around the polished floor. “You said yourself that our families stand to gain if we marry.”

“And it’s true. What I meant was, I didn’t think you wanted to marry. Ever.”

That wasn’t the truth either. What she wanted desperately was to have the choice. 

“My family wants me to marry early.”

He clucked his tongue at her. She nearly physically recoiled. “Then I am pleased to be here, to fulfill their wish.” 

Her left eye twitched, muscles tensing in her arms. She chose not to speak to him for the rest of the song. Then bowed politely. He bowed back. Along the edge of the crowd she spotted her mother waving her over discreetly. 

In her mother’s hand was a glass of brandy Eleanor suspected was not her first. What was more surprising was Ominis standing next to her. “Eleanor, dear!” Her mother’s sing-songy voice made the young woman cringe. “Hello, mother” She greeted, once she was in front of them. 

“Mr. Gaunt has just asked for your next dance.” The way her mother was grinning you’d think he proposed to her. “I would be happy to oblige, Mr. Gaunt.” The surname felt rotten on her tongue. She shouldn’t have said it. She watched Ominis flinch, and her stomach dropped at the mistake. The next song started up faster than the last. “Lead the way darling,” he said for only her ears. A hot prickle set upon the nape of her neck. She threaded her arm through the crook of his. When they were out of ear shot she whispered, “I am so sorry.”

His features were cool, collected. “Whatever for?”

And that was the way it always was with him. He did not make a big fuss about any wrong she did. He never yelled, or huffed, or stomped away from her. He always said exactly what he meant to. She was grateful for it sometimes, and other times she took it as apathy and wished he would say more. Open up to her more. “Nothing.” She smiled. Their palms pressed together, fingers wrapping over each other. His other hand trailed down her side, finding its place on the dip of her waist. “I think your hand is…supposed to be on my back” she shuddered, that hot prickle shooting to where his hand pressed gently. “Oh” he gasped. His hand slid up her back, settling halfway between fabric and skin on the small of her back. “Here?” he breathed. His forehead was only inches from her, icy eyes boring into her own. She wondered how he was able to do that, to make such direct eye contact when she knew he wasn’t really seeing much but shadows.

 “There.” 

Another classical waltz began. “I didn’t know you danced.” 

“I don’t very often. Though I know how.”

And he did. He moved them around quite expertly. “Don’t hesitate to take some lead if I am near careening into another couple” He laughed. She smiled a toothy grin and shook with laughter. 

“Does this have to do with some grand plan the two of you cooked up?”

He smirked, “It’s possible.”

“Thank you.”

He dipped her to the music, and spun her around. Her dress flew up around her like feathers in charms class. “Sebastian tells me you look very beautiful tonight.” she held her breath. “I don’t know why, but I feel that is an understatement.” And the breath wooshed out, shakier than she intended. He had that effect on her. When he flirted and smiled and smirked. And he didn’t even seem to notice. Notice that she was melting in his arms. 

“Pinky spent an absurd amount of time putting my look together. And the dress, well it is probably the most beautiful I own.”

Ominis smiled, “I have this other feeling that it’s you that makes the dress.”

She could only laugh at his coquettish words. They continued to spin about. 

“The candles will go out in a few seconds, and then a fog will fill the room.” Ominis’ warm breath caressed the shell of her ear. Before she could ask what was going on the candles snuffed out. Eleanor clung to Ominis’ hand but dropped her arm from his neck. She could just barely make out a steady plume of fog entering the room. It twisted and curled into the air. Covering all the guests. “What is he up to?” 

“He said he had a good idea. I should have asked more questions.”

A scream sounded far off somewhere in the room. Eleanor squeezed the hand holding hers tighter. Ominis tugged her closer to his side. “No need to panic.” She heard her father say, seeming to come out of nowhere. Then another scream. “Lumos.” Dozens of witches and wizards mumbled. The wand light lit the room enough to see the little blue devils crashing from the balcony into the crowd. Eleanor held in a shriek. “We should get out of here.”

“What is it?” Ominis asked hurriedly. 

“Pixies!” Penelope screamed before Eleanor could answer. They started to dive at people, taking swipes at their raised wands. Eleanor pulled on Ominis hand. “Let's go.”

She did her best to hold on to him as they passed through the commotion. They stumbled into the foyer. It seemed Sebastian took out all of the lights. “Lumos.” Ominis whispered to his wand. He held it out for her. “Thank you.” She pushed open the grand front doors. The cool night air pushed against her face. She guided Ominis down the stairs and out of the way. The guests were starting to flood out of the house. The little blue pixies shot after them.

 “He told me to meet him in the garden.” 

Tucked in the back garden under an arch was the ring master himself. 

“Pixies, Sallow?” Eleanor huffed, “Where did you even find them?” Ominis asked. 

Sebastian stayed leaning against the arch. “Anne helped me round them up in the forbidden forest near the school. “You- you brought them all the way here from Scotland?” Eleanor stared at her friend in amused disbelief. “You sneaky rat,” Ominis laughed heartily. 

“It worked didn’t it? Everyone left.”

She wasn’t even mad. Because yes, they had all left. She heard the carriages one after the other driving away from the manor. “Thank you. Both of you. Crazy bastard.”

Sebastian smirked. She was then keenly aware of the man next to her, and the hand she still held on to. Sebastian's eyes dove to their clasped hands. He opened his mouth to speak. Likely something Eleanor would turn red over. She let go quickly. The red glow of Ominis wand blinked to life as he held it in front of him. She stretched her fingers wide, missing the warmth of the contact. “I should get back inside.”

“We should be going Sebastian.” 

The brunette came to his blonde friend's side. “Send an owl letting us know if anything changes.” He said. 

“There better not be any pixies in my room.” She grumbled, walking the opposite way of the young men. She heard them chuckling as they left. Her heart felt warm in her chest. She was grateful for them beyond measure, beyond what words could express.