Butterflies
Lessie's POV:
The wind whipped my face causing strands of auburn hair to dance out of its braid as I took a sharp turn towards the outer walls that led towards the Black Lake. The air was mostly calm at this altitude but had a slight chill. There was a tightness in my cheeks and nose, and I knew for a fact I would have a nice bout of wind rash. I mentally cursed myself for not switching out of my school robes into my woolen cloak. It was not unbearable due to the man gripping my waist with the ferocity of a Chinese chomping cabbage. At least he was safe from the wind. His head had finally moved from its position on my neck.
THANK THE GODS.
He had always had an effect on me, and with this close proximity it sent little heat waves through my blood. Luckily my heart rate could be attributed to the feat of maneuvering the air currents. I swiveled my head to look back briefly. He was being too quiet, probably still brooding.
“How goes it back there?”
Ominis had a look of contentment on his face. Not quite a smile but I could most certainly change that. His eyes shone causing the shadows to leave his face. He was perfectly beautiful, and I couldn’t understand how his hair was not damaged by the high speed of air movement. Blast him and his stupidly perfect hair. It was unfair.
Hmm… Let’s see if we can fix that.
“This is lovely, just what I needed,” He called out.
His mirth made me want to pull more emotions out of him. I angled the broom downward descending into a steep drop, my companion gave a startled yelp tightening his grip on my midsection. The sudden decrease in elevation caused the birds nest attached to my head to smack my face relentlessly, obscuring my vision. I swear one of these days I’m just going to cut the nuisance off, decent society be damned. I quickly brushed it away as we were riding just above the surface of the lake. Slowing down mildly and tilting to the right I called back over my shoulder.
“Stick your right hand downward.”
He did as instructed without question and I couldn’t help but smile when he gave a hoot, causing me once again to swivel my head in his direction. Good thing Madam Kagawa wasn’t here. I could just hear her chastisements about responsible flying. His eyes lit up as his fingers skimmed the cool surface causing little rivulets to jump and pop as we sped by. His lithe fingers were dancing in and out of the water. It was euphoric how much glee he was expressing. I wondered what the sensation must feel like to him. His other hand was gripping tighter around my waist in an attempt to counterbalance. My heart swelled. If only he could always be this carefree. He began to laugh as we sped up once more, moving the arm back to connect with its pair.
There we go, less grumpy.
“As you can probably tell, we are currently above the lake. We are going to continue on southward towards Lower Hogsfield. Shouldn’t be more than 5 minutes at the most.” My voice seemed to carry on the wind giving it an echo-like quality. There was a slight shift behind me. I felt the warmth back on my neck as Ominis pressed his lips close to my ear, head almost nuzzling into me. My grip tightened on the broom handle.
“Wonderful, I can’t wait to find out how this adventure unfolds.”
A chill overtook me as my heartbeat a bit louder following suit with the one pressed against my back. His voice had been barely a whisper, but it caused a fluttery pang in my chest. The hot breath in my ear and the press of my friend behind me felt almost indecent. I was enjoying this a little too much.
Concentrate on flying you baboon!
We crested over the last crops of trees, my eyes trained on the grown over stone circle about a kilometer ahead. As we began to make our descent, I took a quick peak back at my companion once more. His eyes were closed, head tilted back facing the sun. My heart warmed, knowing that I had helped bring a bit more solace to the sullen man. It was a shame to have to bring him back down to Earth... literally.
“Hey Ominis!”
“Mmmh?” His head tilted back forward, eyes opening.
“We are just about there. I am going to start bringing us down. Make sure you extend your legs for the drop.” I gave the instructions as he obeyed.
As we touched down and dismounted, I took my wand out once more casting Reducio, and put my now toothpick sized broom in my pocket. Hopefully, this time I won’t misplace it. The number of times I had to buy a new broom in the past year was too high. I could have funded a whole quidditch team with the amount of galleons I spent at Spintwitchs’.
“I was wondering how you were storing that thing.” The blonde stated as he came to stand beside me.
“Comes in quite handy, for a number of items if you don’t have a nab-sack.” I smiled before setting off at a brisk pace toward the stone circle. “Speaking of things that can come in handy, I need your help with something.”
Ominis trailed behind, wand pulsing as he went. “How can I offer my services, Ms. Aspen?”
I went on to explain about the different Merlin trials that had been left behind by one of Slytherin’s more notable members and how you had the privilege of being let in on the secret by none other than the Nora Treadwell. Ominis listened, enraptured by the tale, patiently waiting until the end to ask his queries.
“So, you are telling me that even with everything going on last year you somehow had time to gallivant all across Scotland to participate in these…... trials?” His eyebrows were raised in astonishment. He seemed genuinely surprised.
I shuffled from foot to foot. It felt like a rebuked, even though I could tell he was in awe.
“Well, yes, and I only have three left to do before I complete them all. Two of which are in this area.”
A wide smirk turned the corners of his mouth up as excitement played up his features. He crossed his arms and took a defiant stance, slowly tapping his foot. “I suppose you would like me to help you solve these last puzzles?”
It was more of a statement than a question and I nodded. “Yes, if you wouldn’t mind. The first one is rather simple. However, the second is a bit more challenging, so if you aren’t up for it I completely understand.”
“Come now. When have I ever turned down a challenge.” He let out a haughty breath and then waved his hand commandingly. “Lead the way.”
We approached the circle, and I reached back into my pocket, this time taking the small burlap bag I kept herbs in and pulled the drawstring out of its knot, allowing me access into the pouch. I fished out a handful of pungent leaves, turning back to my companion.
“All right, for this trial we are acting as butterfly catchers. It’s rather simple as I said before. We just need to locate them, which I can do with Revelio however sometimes they are in awkward places.”
He lifted one of his eyebrows questioning, “Awkward places? Meaning places, you think would be difficult for me to get to?”
I let out an exasperated sigh, “Honestly, Ominis? No, awkward as in once I had to run away from two dunbogs at once while keeping Lumos cast so I didn’t have the find the bloody things again. We aren’t by a river, so I think we’re safe from that aspect. However, I would prefer not to put you in harms way.”
“Ahh, well then. Butterflies….” He tutted with satisfaction.
“Yes, butterflies. When I toss this mallowsweet into the stone circle there are three pillars around it with bright crystals inside them that glow. We need to locate the butterflies, cast Lumos to act as a beacon for them and then lead them to a pillar. Release your cast and they should go into the pillar. Once all three pillars have their bugs, we complete the trial and a large pagoda-like arch covered in vines appears on top of the stone circle and the mallowsweet leaves transforms into a hallow statue of Merlin. Its quite simple.”
I looked over at him, reading the amusement on his face. His stance had changed from a guarded one to an easy one. Legs shoulder width apart and hands at his sides waiting for further instructions.
“Ah, easy. Just catch a flock of butterflies and lead them home. Brilliant!” The familiar sarcasm was returning. Good.
“Are you ready?” I asked tentatively.
“Yes, let’s begin shall we.”
I brought my closed fist to the center of the circle and released the herbs, watching as the leaves began their lazy journey to the ground. They spiraled down as a tendril of magic began to emanate from the stones. There was a familiar tinge of ancient magic that thrummed in my veins. The ground began to shake slightly, and I looked at the concern on Ominis’ face. I mentally chastised myself for leaving that part out. This was a new sensation for him and one that he wouldn’t likely forget. It was nice to make memories with him like this. I had felt I had neglected him over the summer and was vying to make up the lost time. The vines around the stone pillars began to retract back into the ground. The shaking stopped and surrounding us were the eerie cerulean lights of the crystals snug inside their pillars.
“Revelio!” With my wand straight in the air I cast the spell and was soon greeted with the illumination of three kaleidoscopes relatively close. One on top of a ledge, another further down the path to the right and then one straight ahead in the open field. I turned to my silent companion.
“Are you able to locate them by casting Revelio as well, or should I describe the locations?” It was a genuine question. I genuinely had no idea how his wand worked and at this point felt it would be an unwelcome question. I often played over the idea that it was like a bat’s echolocation.
“Could you describe the locations for me?” He asked, expression unreadable.
I could detect a slight hint of amusement in his voice, and he twirled his wand between his two hands, heels rocking.
“Well, you have three options. The first one is about 10 meters straight in front of you. The terrain is mostly flat and it’s in an open field so you should be able to hear the flutter of their wings well. The second one is to just a stone throw down the path to my right. Slight incline, easy grab.”
“And the third one is…. awkward?” He tilted his head bearing a wicked smile. I rolled my eyes.
“You could say that. The real question is are you fine with potentially ruining your trousers?”
“E-excuse me? Ruin my trousers?” A vibrant blush began to spread across his cheeks reaching up to his ears.
“The third one is directly behind you, about 100 meters up on a ledge. So, unless you’re an Animagus as well as a Parselmouth. I can’t see you directly scaling it, which leads to the option of taking the goat path through a batch of brambles.”
There was a prolonged silence. I started second guessing my approach to this.
“Wait…. Are you also an Animagus?” I questioned.
Ominis let out a laugh, placing his hands on his knees as it took over his body. It was quite infectious and soon I was also laughing. “Don’t be daft! You’ve seen me in potions class, correct? I dear say Sharp would have some questions when I can barely get a wiggenweld to turn out correctly.”
The reality of the question was completely absurd. I wiped a tear from my eye. My sides were beginning to hurt. “I do recall J. Pippins’ suspiciously running out of a number of vials near the end of term. I assume that was your handy work?”
He wiped his eyes and straightened his wand arm out. The tip pulsing, “I may be a Slytherin but, I do not kiss and tell Aspen.” He turned around facing the ledge after giving me one of his snarky smiles. “And as far as my trousers are concerned, how I chose to ruin them is my choice. Now, you go catch your butterflies and I shall catch mine.” With that he set off up the embankment.
Smart-ass. I hope you do ruin your trousers.
Turning on my heel, I set off to collect the first set of butterflies. Ominis was self-sufficient and for all his miserly behavior I knew he would most likely get done before I had even gotten back with one of my kaleidoscopes. I cast once more and saw the first set ahead. I jumped off the rock I was standing on and broke off at a leisurely pace. This area of lower Hogsfield was breathtaking in the early fall. The grass had died away under the shadow of the mountains causing the once verdant valley to become a smoky straw color. Standing in the open plain you could see clear down to the other side of the valley, smoke rising from the small villages on either side of the great expanse. It was like looking at the underpainting on an artist’s canvas, all sepia and burnt umber tones. Now was not the time to get distracted by scenery, however, we were on a time limit.
I hopped onto a rock right in front of my target and did a quick 360 breathing in the fresh air. Scanning for threats and seeing none I leapt down and landed within the fluttering mass. I felt the small kiss of wings fluttering against my exposed skin as I summoned the light to the tip of my wand. In a quick swoosh they flocked to the light, and I made quick work bringing them back to the pillar. Releasing the spell, in front of it, they converged into the crystalline center.
My eyes travelled up the path Ominis would have taken, scanning for him. He was nearly at the top now and looking wholly intact. The brambles must have set him back in pace. I smiled to myself and turned back to get the second target. The path to the right was quick and within the span of a minute or so I was walking back to the pillar. I release the second cluster of butterflies and turned just in time to see the blonde coming down the side of the path a triumphant smile gracing his features. He exuded an air of confidence as he walked up to the final pilar, not a hair out of place and clothing intact.
“Nox.” The confidence extended to his voice, and he beamed. The aura radiated true satisfaction and I couldn’t help being infected by it as the last of our charges found their home. A rumbling filled the area and within seconds the before mentioned pagoda appeared. Vines wrapped around the arbor creating a very aesthetic shelter. The mallowsweet version of Merlin stood in the middle and I quickly grabbed Ominis by the wrist, pulling him forward to touch the leaves before they disintegrated. He quickly righted his balance and caressed the barely-there visage. As if it had never been the leaves dropped to the ground as quickly as they came.
He turned and looked at me, eyes soft, hand still out, his voice coming out in a laugh.
“To be honest, it just felt like a pile of leaves.”
His hand was still hovering where Merlin once was. I took it in my hand and brought it down, interlacing mine with his and smiled widely.
“We make a great team.” His body shifted but he didn’t pull away.
“I would have to agree.” There was a brief moment of awkwardness and then he carried on, “Now you said that you had two more trails left until you were complete.” He raised his eyebrow inquiring.
“ Yes, the one close to here has a timed jumping mechanism that I can’t seem to get quite right. I would love to get your perspective on it.”
“And the final one?” He asked, running his thumb over the callous on my palm once more. This time the insecurity died down. I had always hated how rough my hands were, but somehow in his hands they felt like less of a burden. The movement stopped and I looked up at his body close to mine.
“Did you hear me?” He asked once more, tilting his head to the side.
“W-what?” I stuttered lost from the sensation of his ministrations.
“What is the final trial?” He repeated with manicured patience as if speaking with a child.
“Oh, yes, that!” I drew in a breath retracting my hand to avoid continued distraction. “Mhm, that one is more of a day trip. I would have to travel all the way to Cragcroftshire. I meant to get it done this summer, but as you know I was babysitting.” I stressed the emphasis on babysitting, earning a chuckle from my companion.
“ Well, when you do plan on going I would be more than happen to accompany you.” The slight blush was back and I couldn’t help but smile at the prospect of spending the whole day with the man in front of me. The sun was starting to wane, and we only had about an hour before the dinner bell would sound.
“I would love for you to come if it isn’t too much of a burden.”
“You are never a burden.” He stated without hesitation.
It was my turn to blush as my brain short-circuited trying to formulate coherent sentences. I managed to choke out the semblance of coherency.
“Perfect! Well, shall we scurry over to the next trial and plot our conquest?”
He nodded and I pulled the toothpick sized broom out of my pocket once more tossing it to the ground as I unholstered my wand to cast the enlargement spell.
“Engorgio!” With a static crack the broom grew back to its original size.
“Shall we?” I asked, extending my hand and within seconds his hand was once again in mine ready for another adventure.
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