Venomous

November 1890

Laurel

She crept along the wooden bridge leading up to the double doors. The last thing Laurel had expected was to be roped into a plan to take down Theophilus Harlow, yet here they were, attempting to get their hands on a letter Natty had spotted the burly man reading in the shady pub on the docks of Hogsmeade. Her boots made a soft padding sound with each slow, calculated step. As she glanced around, she hoped with every fiber of her being that Natty was having some kind of success on her end.

The doors creaked open when she pushed her hands against them, leaning into the wood with her shoulder to put some force behind them. All of that training for the trials was starting to pay off, and the doors opened with little to no resistance. As soon as the doors were opened, her gaze fell on the familiar white feathers, a happy chirp coming from the creature as she stood.

"Highwing! It's alright, girl." Her robes fluttered around her as she rushed over to the hippogriff, glancing at the metal shackles attached to both her claws and the claws of the onyx-feathered hippogriff to her side. "Oh, you poor things. Don't worry, we'll get these off."

The sudden rush of footsteps thundering toward the door sent Laurel into a panic, and without thinking she hopped up onto Highwing's back, rousing her darker feathered counterpart. The pounding of her heart in her ribcage slowed just slightly when Natty came rushing through the door, one hand hastily stuffing a piece of parchment into her robes.

"There you are!" Natty gasped, her eyes going wide as the other hippogriff raised up on his back legs, wings fluttering about him and claws rearing up.

"Natty, come on. We have to go!" Laurel called out, her gaze flickering back and forth from the doors they had come through as the pounding of footsteps and shouting got closer.

Natty shot a quick glance at the doors as well before casting alohomora , freeing the two creatures from their bonds. She nervously gazed upon the darker hippogriff, gasping and running after him as he took off from the edge of the platform they were standing on. Laurel felt her heart drop into her stomach when Natty came to a skittering stop, her arms outstretched and flailing in an attempt to keep her from careening to the ground below.

"Hold on, Natty!" She spurred Highwing on, wings spread and just barely grasping onto Natty's arms with her claws as they flew overhead.

She ducked her head, heart racing once more as the spells flew over and around them. Laurel couldn't resist a glance back, catching the hate-filled eyes of Harlow himself as they flew further from the keep. Whirling back around, she steered Highwing into position over the black-feathered hippogriff, dropping Natty onto his back as they soared out of reach of the dark wizards.

The minute they were out of sight, Natty raised her hands up in the air, whooping and hollering in excitement. She couldn't contain the laughter that spilled from her at her friend's excitement, her smile faltering as she realized just how close to the school they had been. Natty glanced up at the school, her smile growing wider.

"I wonder if anyone can see us from the castle." Natty whipped her head back around, her warm, dark eyes crinkling at the edges with her smile. "This is amazing!"

"It's incredible, isn't it?" Laurel shouted back to her, steering the two hippogriffs toward a familiar area.

Highwing immediately took to the area, circling around one spot in particular as the darker-feathered male followed her cue. They landed, startling the tiny brunette who had been pacing the clearing. She had never seen Poppy so pale, but color flooded her features once more as she took in the two teenagers and their quarry.

"Oh, Highwing, my sweet girl. Laurel, Natty, you two are amazing . Thank you so, so much!" Her small hands came up to Highwing's face, resting her forehead against the white feathers before she looked at the other hippogriff. "Who's this, then?"

"Another hippogriff they had poached alongside Highwing. He helped us escape as well." Laurel patted Highwing once before sliding off her side, landing with an oof.

"He seems brave. And he's a very handsome creature." The male fluffed his feathers, puffing out his chest proudly at poppy's compliment. "I think I'll call you…. Caligo. "

"Pops, there's something we need to talk about." Laurel clasped her hands in front of her, pursing her lips as Poppy regarded her. "I don't think it's safe for Highwing out here anymore. The poachers had at least a dozen other animals with them. I have a space I can take both her and Caligo, and you'd be more than welcome to visit them any time."

"Laurel," Poppy's small hand landed on her shoulder, and her face lit up with a smile. "I trust you. If you think it's best, then I have faith you'll do what's right."

"What time is it?" Natty gasped as the sun started rising over the horizon.

Poppy cast a tempus charm, tilting her head at the display for a second. "Half-past seven. I got dressed and headed out here as early as I could."

" Oh, my mother is going to have my head. I must go." Natty dropped down from Caligo's back and began walking off, turning halfway back and waving at them. "Thank you again, Laurel. I could not have done this without you."

"I really should be going as well. I'm covered in grime." Laurel held her arms out to either side of her.

"And bruises. And scratches." Poppy picked up the edge of Laurel's robes, holding them out and inspecting the tears. "And what will your boyfriend think of this little adventure?"

"Boyfriend?" Her brows furrowed as she stared at the tiny brunette.

"Yes, Sebastian. Surely you at least told him you were going with Natty." Poppy tsked and cast a stitching charm on the garment.

"Poppy, first off, Sebastian and I are just friends. Second, I don't answer to him, and it's none of his business if I go off on adventures with another friend."

"Then perhaps Ominis? You have been spending a significant amount of time around the two of them. Especially him as of late." Her friend continued circling around her, stitching up every tear she could find. "It seems he seeks you out whenever he can."

Laurel felt her face warm, and the words refused to come to her. She opened and closed her mouth several times before giving up entirely. "I'm not exactly dating Ominis either, Pops."

"Do you want to be? I can help make that happen."

"Poppy!" Her cheeks suddenly felt hot, and she yanked her robes from her friend's grasp. "You are far too nosey, you know that?"

"Oh come on, Laurel. You spend more time with them than you do me, Natty, or Garreth. Surely one of the two of them has your fancy."

She used the nab sack to carry the two hippogriffs, storming off in the direction of the castle. It was lucky for Poppy that they were around the same height, making it easy for her to keep up as she continued badgering Laurel all the way to the great hall before shoving her off in the direction of her common room to change and wash up. It was only once she was finally alone that the injuries and exhaustion finally caught up with her.

She had barely made it to the stairs leading to the dungeons before the fall she had taken within the confines of the keep made the presence of a sprained ankle known. It was much too painful limping all that way, and she had no idea how she was going to make it down another flight of stairs. She hadn't realized just how long she'd been standing there before she felt the eyes on her, boring into her.

When she finally turned to look at whoever was watching her, she came face to face with none other than Professor Sharp, the rugged former auror having taken a particular interest in her with the lack of Professor Fig. She should have known he would notice her absence, and been watching for her reappearance within the school. His dark eyes were squinted as he took in the scrapes, bruises and cuts that littered her face, legs and arms. She swallowed thickly when he sighed, placing one large hand on her shoulder before leading her off in the direction of his classroom.

The two of them had come to an agreement in the short time she'd been there. He wouldn't take her to the hospital wing so long as she kept him in the loop of her goings on. He seemed particularly disappointed in Professor Fig for having taken her under his wing, only to leave her to her own devices for weeks on end. Upon entering his office, he sat her down on the chair in front of his desk while he leaned against it, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Wiggenwelds?" One of his thick eyebrows rose up into his hairline.

"Ran out. Wasn't quite expecting the battles or adventures last night, so I didn't prepare any." Laurel clasped her hands in her lap.

"Laurel." He sighed her name heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "We've been over this,  child. Whether you're planning an excursion or not, always have a supply of wiggenweld potions on you. Especially knowing what you're doing in your spare time."

"I'm sorry, da-... Professor. " She felt her face heat again. She had never almost slipped up and called him anything other than his title.

"You're in luck, then. That sprain looks particularly nasty. Give it here, then." He took her ankle in his hand. “So. What exactly were you up to this time?”

“Promise you won’t be mad?” She met his gaze, giving the older man the best puppy eyes she could muster, eliciting a sigh and a chuckle from him.

“I promise I won’t be mad.” The stern look took over his features once again. “At you. But if someone did this to you-”

“No one did this to me. I fell while I was out.” She winced, hissing between her teeth when he prodded the swelling. “I was out trying to get intel on Rookwood’s right hand.”

“And what was the intel, pray tell, child?” He turned her ankle this way and that before aiming his wand at the joint and muttering a quick episkey .

“A letter from Rookwood himself. Hoping it gives some insight into what I’m up against.” She flinched as the injury healed itself before he dropped her foot, limping over to the cabinet and rummaging around. He made his way back to her while she inspected the appendage, shoving two green potions into her hands.

"Drink. And then I want you to go and get some sleep. You're lucky this happened on the eve of the weekend, Laurel. No leaving school grounds this weekend. Are we clear, young lady?"

"But-"

"I don't want to hear it, Miss Blake. You've had me and Matilda worried sick. I didn't take you under my own wing just to watch you get yourself killed trying to play Merlin." She watched him push himself off the desk as she downed the potions, sticking her tongue out at the taste before standing. "Now off you go. I do believe Mister Gaunt was looking for you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ominis

The sound of his footsteps padding across the stone floor of the Undercroft echoed around him, but as loud as the reverberation was, it did little to drown his thoughts. His wand alerted him to every item that he’d sensed time and time again as he made the same short rounds across the floor. As far as he was aware, Laurel and Sebastian were still at odds, and while they were being civil with each other, the tension between them was so thick it might as well have been a wall. He had gone to see her the night before, having been under the impression that she would be studying in the common room, still avoiding being in Sebastian’s presence for longer than was necessary.

She hadn’t been there, leaving behind no note or message of her departure. He had immediately left to seek out Professor Sharp, hoping that she was simply off seeking some advice from her mentor. The older man had seemed exasperated upon the revelation that Laurel was not in their dorm space, telling Ominis not to worry too much and that he would handle her upon her return. That did little to quell his fears, sending his mind into overdrive at the thought that anything could have happened to her.

And so he had sought out Natsai Onai and Garreth Weasley in the Gryffindor common room. The potions enthusiast she was so fond of had come out to meet with him, divulging that he hadn’t seen the rebellious would-be-daughter of the potions professor, and that Natty had left hours prior. He had been turned toward Poppy Sweeting of the Hufflepuff house, and the small animal enthusiast had fidgeted and shifted. When she finally revealed that she was, in fact, aware of Laurel’s whereabouts, she had dodged his questioning further until he was practically shaking.

He should have known that she was off doing something dangerous. While he was painfully aware of the idea that it was for the greater good, he feared that each time she went out to fight off dark wizards would be the last time she would leave. He feared that he would never get the chance to share his feelings with her before she was gone, like a star that shone brighter just before it went out. His heart was currently sitting heavily in his stomach, hoping desperately that she was safe.

His head jerked to the side when he heard the creaking and groaning of the rusted metal gate opening, followed by the soft padding of her boots across the stones. The relief he felt flood his being was like a calming wave of cool, before the heat of his outrage burned through him the closer she got. His lip curled into a scowl and he moved to approach her, sensing the faltering of her steps and knowing she could see the fear plain on his face.

“Hello, Ominis. I heard you were looking for me?” She sounded nervous, and he could both sense and hear her fidgeting with her braid again.

“Have you lost the damned plot, Laurel? Where have you been ?” He hadn’t meant to shout so loudly in her face, and the step she took backward drove a stake into his heart. He furrowed his brow and calmed his breathing before speaking to her again. “You had me concerned. What if you didn’t come back this time?”

“But I did, Omi. I’m here, I’m alive.” The sudden warmth of her hand against his face sent him reeling, and he couldn’t help but close his eyes against the contact. “Come, I want to tell you all about my adventure with Natty.”

He was propelled off toward the area they had set up with a sitting area, her small hands pressing upon his shoulders until he was laying on the rug. A small pillow from the couch hit him in the abdomen, pulling a chuckle from his lips as he shoved it behind his head. The pressure of her shoulder against his as she laid next to him warmed him from the cold of the stone below, and he tilted his head toward her, resting one hand upon his stomach, his fingers idly playing with the buttons on his vest.

The melody that was her voice filled the space, her breath warm on his face as she began recounting her story. There had been so many points at which she could have lost, or been more severely hurt than she had. Ominis felt relieved that she got away with nothing more than a few scrapes, bruises and a sprained ankle. He was acutely aware of the sudden silence, the tension in the room growing between them. The sound of her breath hitching when he ran his fingers over her wrist made his stomach twist in a way he was quickly becoming familiar with, and he trailed them down to her hand before lacing them with her own.

“Laurel, I-”

“I’m really tired, Omi.” Her voice was low, and the warmth in his stomach pooled when she moved herself closer to him, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as her free hand intertwined with the one resting on his stomach.

Everything he thought he knew about his friendship with the girl was thrown into question, and he fought every urge he had at that exact moment. He opted instead to wrap the arm underneath her around her waist, pulling her tightly against him as she drifted off to sleep, and wishing desperately that he had the guts to act on his feelings for her.