Consequences Pt. 2
𓆏𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Authors Note: I would like to apologize for the lack of quality for this chapter. I have had severe writer's block, coupled with a very intense field trip at school. I will do better in the future. Also, the next chapter is going to be very fluffy, because well... I think Ominis needs a break before he has a heart attack.... also opinions on our Ravenclaw friend Andrew?
𓆏𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
OMINIS POV:
The chill in the stairwell seemed to intensify as I stood rigidly under the gaze of my sire. The cold stone seeping up through the leather of my shoes into my very bones, causing my blood to halt its movements. While outwardly I remained calm, I was fighting against every fiber of my being as it screamed out to run.
“Father” My tone was devoid of emotion. A practiced sort of response, coated in a false sense of respect.
The footsteps continued their echoes until the presence made itself known in front of me. It took all my willpower to remain rooted in my current position. As trained, I pocketed my wand, placing my hands at my sides in obedience.
"It seems I might have an inkling of fatherly pride at the display you created." He tutted before placing his hand on my shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze.
"A true Gaunt understands the dynamics of tact. While you lack this still I believe there is hope you can be guided properly."
He leaned in closer, and I could feel the hot breath tickling my ear. His scent was prominent, much like his personality. The ever-present smell of iron and linen made for a confusing contradiction, and I wanted to pull away. I wanted to run, yet I stayed with our bodies inches apart. If anyone were to pass by this would seem like any embrace a father would give to his son. I made no moves, just waited for what I knew would come.
“How did it feel Ominis? To hear that boys screams of pain? Did he beg? Plead? Did he curse your name as he writhed in his own excrement?”
“I-” My voice betrayed me as the memories of earlier resurfaced. My sisters voice the one screaming out in fear. It was a torment, causing hazy recollections from my childhood in Gaunt Manor to bubble up, twisting and mixing with it.
The grip on my shoulder tightened. The fingertips pressing into the muscles, causing a small dose of pain that tempered my mind back to the present. Father’s grip became vice like and I let out a small yelp as the press of his rings dug into my collarbone even with the thick layers of uniform.
“Ahh, but it wouldn’t have been the boys’ voice now would it? It must have been comforting to hear your sister begging for help, a nice reminder of home.”
The pain of my father’s grip coupled with the remorse of what I had done caused the familiar knot in my stomach to exploded taking over my senses. Everything felt like too much, everything was all wrong. The quick pulse in my veins became a drumming echo blocking my ability to hear the taunts and insults spewed at me. I tried to focus on the pain to ground myself but to no avail.
“Stop, please.” The words sounded garbled as they passed my lips.
I had lost my battle of remaining unmoved, unbothered by his onslaught. This was the game he liked to play. Always seeing how far he could push me before I cracked, giving him cause enough for his barbaric tendencies. I had broke and he had won. As if incited by the lack of decorum I was showing in the empty hall inaudible words carousel around me. I couldn’t concentrate on them as the full weight of my hysteria had caught up to me.
“ I- I need to see the nurse.”
Another wave of nauseous took over and I attempted to extricate myself from Father's grasp. The pain receded momentarily giving me a small breath of lucidity. Reaching out blindly, all but forgetting my wand, I attempted to make my way off the landing. I didn’t make it too far before the footsteps were behind me once more.
CRACK
Fire light up the side on of my face as I feel backward, landing on the cold floor. The stones scraped the skin on my hands. Little pieces of gravel settled beneath my nails as I pulled my fingers inward into a fist. I sat, disoriented, shaking for air, as I fought the urge to bring one to the throbbing bruise that would develop.
The ruffle of clothing alerted me to the proximity of the older man. I swallowed back a mewling sound as the taste of metal slide down my constricted throat. There were twinkling spots in the black field of my ‘vision’. Emptiness creeping along the edges as the towering figure spoke bitterly.
"Look at you Ominis, so weak over the opinions of others having to rely on potions for your wits? And here I thought you were finally making progress. Asserting your dominance as the Heir of House Gaunt, as an heir of Slytherin himself. You're a discredit to your own lineage boy, decades of carefully selected couplings and genes and it's been reduced to someone as weak-willed and broken as you. You disgust me."
- Back in Ghoul Studies -
“Merlin’s beard are you quite done?” Violet huffed.
I lifted my head from the table a bit groggy and realized I was laying in a puddle of water…. Not water but drool. I quickly sat up wiping the moisture from my lips as my cheeks light up in embarrassment. I inwardly chastised myself for taking too much of the draught.
Taking my wand I did a quick cleaning charm and turned to the offended party. I had never been friends with this Slytherin but the Gaunts’ and McDowells’ did exist in the same circles and it wouldn’t due to have my behavior reported back to my parents.
“My apologies, It seems I was a bit too invested in the lecture.” I stated dryly.
To my surprise, the girl let out a low chuckle, scooting her chair a bit closer to mine. The floral perfume choking me a bit. It smelled as if she had fallen into a rose garden. One of my least favored of scents. Never once during this term had Violet attempted to make any sort of small talk with me. I flinched as I felt her hand slide over, passing over mine and pulling my book towards her.
“ Professor Bazzêr is almost as droll as Binn’s when she gets into talking about etymology instead of the actual folklore, aye?”
As she rambled on, I responded in monosyllables not wanting to converse and hoping that she would get the hint and move back into her own space. More than anything, I wanted this day to end so that I could go back to sleep and escape from reality. Maybe tuck into my stash of dreamless sleep.
“I’ve always wondered how you read your texts books. All these little bumps are fascinating, although you lack all the gruesome pictures that my copy has. Would you like me to describe them for you?”
Sucking in air through my teeth, my brows furrowed and I made to take back my tome. She pushed it further down the table away from my grasp, continuing her insistent giggles.
“Give it back, please.”
She paused weighting the options before sliding it back over. The professor continued on her lecture, seeming to not notice anything that was happening in our corner of the room and I flipped the pages attempting to find the correct spot to dog-ear for later. Violet, hadn’t given up yet though.
“I heard what happened over the weekend.” She whispered, fingers walking up my arm. I pulled away, turning to give her a scowl. The audacity of this girl putting her hands on me when this was the most we had conversed in the 6 years I had been at Hogwarts.
“If you heard, then you know that I am more than capable of forcing you to stop this strange little game you are trying to play.”
“Game? No, games. I was just hoping to see if we could strike up a bargain.”
“And, you think stealing my property and invading my personal space would make me more amiable to your request?”
Violet seemed taken aback, as if she was used to getting her way. If she way looking for someone to easily accept tasks she had come to the wrong person indeed.
“I, well, I just thought…”
Before she could finish the thought, Professor Bazzêr finished up her lecture and I extracted myself from the dense atmosphere of the roses. I didn’t care what she wanted, we weren’t friends and I didn’t intend on widening my circle.
The corridor leading toward the potions classroom was packed with students, making it nearly impossible to extend my arm fully. The radius of view was constricted which only served to make me more annoyed. This past four days had felt like a year. Too much happening too fast. I needed some peace and quiet. My hand instinctively reached for the vial in my pocket before I remembered that there wasn’t much left.
No, better keep that for an emergency.
The sound of laughter reached my ears as I entered the classroom. My wand guided me to my usual seat while I waited for Professor Sharpe to come assign our detention duties. Reaching into my bag I silently cursed at the realization that I had left my textbook in the Ghoul Studies room. I inwardly groaned.
This can’t get worse can it?
“Ah, look who the cat dragged in!” Sebastian chirped.
Yes, oh yes it can get much worse.
Ignoring the comment I crossed my arms and put my head down on the table. I was liable to hex the insufferable twat, should the need arise. I was already in detention, not much more they could do.
“Don’t waste your time Sallow, he’s all bite and no bark.” Larson quipped.
Sebastian’s laughter rang out again. “ It’s ‘All back and no bite’ Larson. You’re a bloody Ravenclaw, I though idioms were second nature for you lot.”
“Oh, I said it correctly. He’s the reason we’re in detention to start with.”
There was shuffling and then the stool next to be glided across the tiled floor. Sebastian, sat down with a heavy thud.
“Ominis, I didn’t know you had it in you!” He chuckled.
Leaning closer still he continued with a barrage of questions. Much to my own surprise, his presence, while still annoying, had a somewhat calming effect. He smelt familiar, like home and I wanted so very much to reach out, to go back to our usual banter. I couldn’t though, give him and inch and he’d take a mile. He wasn’t trustworthy, no matter what he did, the hurt would always be there, the tender betrayal. I couldn’t allow myself to be used like that again. No, it was safer to write him off altogether.
“What did you do? Sneak into the girls dormitory? Spike the pumpkin juice at the All Hallow’s Party? Last I knew the culprit was still at large. I had assumed it was those Gryffindors, but you could just as likely be the culprit.”
I turned my head to face away from his voice, non-verbally signaling my reluctance at the conversation. Yet, he kept up questions.
“Oh, come now Ominis, don’t be so sullen.”
“ I’ll tell you what he did….” Larson started only to be interrupted by the door to Sharps’ office opening and the man himself stepping into the classroom. His cane tapped against the tile sending vibrations outward into the empty classroom. It rang in my ears and I sat up properly, swiveling around in the direction it had come from. The other boys followed suit, all conversations put on hold.
“Enough chit-chat. I have 40 cauldrons that need to be scrubbed spotless for the 1st years practical assessment tomorrow. The herbs jars also need to be restocked and reshelved. Sallow, Larson, you two are on cauldron duty. Gaunt, you’ll see to the herbs.”
“Professor, with all due respect, those are hardly equitable tasks.” Larson stated. I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was still holding on to the injustice we had been dealt with in the Headmaster’s office.
“Mr.Larson, respect noted. Can you perhaps tell the difference between dittany that has gone past its expiry or perhaps detect the subtle hint of of mugwort being in its prime?”
Sharp waited for the boy to answer. Sebastian let out a low whistle, jostling my elbow and signaling that Larson must have been showing some sort of defiance. I pulled it away as if he was full of venom as the Ravenclaw acquiesced.
“No, Professor. You can’t tell those by sight.”
“Exactly, which is why Mr.Gaunt is needed for that task and you for yours….. Now, I have a meeting to attend but I will be back after the dinner service. The house elves will bring up a tray for each of you, though I expect you want to wait till after you complete your tasks to eat.”
Sharp departed the classroom and we set about our tasks. Sebastian and Andrew, although prohibited from using wands, used them on the most tarnished of cauldrons. They conversed about random topics that I blocked out. Too focused on sorting jars and lugging ingredients between the classroom and Sharps’ office.
I noticed the box containing the contraband Polyjuice was no longer there and it made me wonder what Sharp had done with it. My hands dipped into a jar that I could tell used to be feverfew, however it was long past its prime and would have destroyed a good number of potions if left unchanged.
Emptying the old ingredients into the compost bin I dumped the fresh herbs into the jar. My hand held the jar steady with a finger inserted inside the lip so I could gauge when to stop. After filling it I brought a loose handful up to my nose and took a deep sniff.
I smiled slightly at the scent. There had been a patch the stuff growing wild up on the ridge I had captured the butterflies at during my Merlin trial endeavor. A mental note had been jotted down to inform Aspen, but in the excitement that ensued I had never mentioned it to her. Now, I wasn’t sure I would get the opportunity to.
Why hasn’t she answered my letter?
The tone of the other boys conversation had shifted tone and Sebastian all but yelled out my name.
“OMINIS GAUNT! YOU TOURTURED THE KID WITH A PUFFSKIEN?!”
The laughter that followed tied my stomach in a knot. Leave it to Sallow to find something as dehumanizing as torture a topic for joviality. Granted, Hobhouse had it coming but still.
“Stop laughing Sallow. Or I swear you’ll be next!” Larson roared, I grit my teeth.
“You find this funny? Was reason behind the crime funny Larson? Or where you just as repulsed as I. I assure you both that had the same been done to either for your sisters you would have reacted just the same, if not more.” The last sentence aimed in the direction of Sallow.
They stopped there chuckles and sobered up.
“I’m sorry Ominis. Does Astraea know?” The timber of Sebastian's voice implied genuine concern.
“That is none of your concern, Sallow.”
“I was just ---”
“I do not care. We are not friends, don’t act as such.” I cut him off, turning back towards my station, as the sound of aperating crackled near by.
The smell of fresh venison doused in a savory boysenberry sauce filled the room and my stomach growled. Neither of the other boys made moves to get up, continuing their work. Deciding that the herbs could wait as all that remained was sealing the jars and reshelving them I eagerly walked over and took a tray tucking into the meal.
“So, now that you know why were in detention its time for you to spill.” Larson spoke, the hollow clang of the cauldron amplifying his voice.
“Ah well, nothing big. Just you know fighting dragons.”
The roll that was in my hand, jumped landing on the table with a quite thud as I scoffed at the idea of Sallow fighting dragons. It’d be more likely that he was caught sneaking into the Restricted section again.
“I’m serious! Lessie and Poppy can confirm, although you’ll have to wait a bit since they're still in the hospital wing.”
The stool went flying as I stood up. It was as if someone had tossed me into the lake during winter. All the blood fled from my face and a sense of uneased washed over me.
“What did you just say?” I asked in disbelief.
“Oh, so now your talking to me?”
“What happened to the girls?”
“If I would have known all it would take was a little adventure talk I could have regaled you with my heroics before now.” Sebastian cheerfully stated.
On instinct, my wand took me towards Sallow, my free hand grabbing his collar and walking him back against the wall.
“Woah, now! No need for the theatrics.”
I felt him raise his hands up in surrender as the tip of my wand found its way under his chin.
“What happened?”
I was breathing heavily as if having already been in a duel and Sebastian sensed the anxiety welling in me. His hand pushed the wand away before grabbing my wrist and twisting himself out of its grasp.
“As I was saying we fought a dragon.”
“Ominis, its okay have a seat,” Larson offered making his way over, trying to sooth me with his voice.
“DON’T tell me what to do Andrew.” I turned back to Sebastian, the fear creeping into my voice.
“Are they okay?”
I could hear him shuffling his feet.
“Well Poppy’s got a few broken bones and a concussion. Should be out in a day or two.”
“And Lessie?”
“She, um… well she’ll be in there a bit longer. She’s got a nasty burn all down her back. Took direct fire from the vipertooth we were fighting.”
My heart sunk and it felt like the world was caving it. I had to leave, I had to make sure she was alright. I started hyperventilating and eagerly reached for the vial in my pocket. Sebastian, thinking I was readying for a duel shot towards my hand knocking the vial to the ground where it shattered.
I had no time to think as fight or flight kicked in. Without realizing it I was running, hand outstretched and trusty wand leading the way. The shouts of Sebastian and Andrew were fading into the distance, only encouraging me to pick up the pace.
This is why she didn’t answer your owls. She doesn’t hate me, she was injured.
My legs pumped up multiple sets of stairs, and I could feel the sting in my lungs and a coppery taste of overexertion. I didn’t care, I would either get to the hospital wing and make sure she was alive or die trying.
My wand sensed the door to the infirmary and I burst through wheezing for oxygen. Scanning the room in desperation I detected two forms down towards the end. I bolted and stopped before the entrance reaching out for the curtain. The sweat made my hands clammy and the texture of the curtain strange as I took a deep breath.
“OMINIS!”
There was a sharp inhale from both of the girls before Lessie stood up from her bed a few steps away. I stood there panting, eyes wide as the tip of my wand pulsed. I tried to speak but stumbled over the words.
“Ominis?” Lessie questioned, concern in her voice.
I stepped forward into their makeshift room, reaching out for anything to keep me upright. Lessie stepped forward as my knees gave out below me. One hand caught her bicep as the other found purchase on her chest….. A chest I soon realized was completely bare.