Chapter 2
Chapter 2:
The time of the Yule came and went, as barmy as the gathering seemed so Sebastian said in his last letter to Ominis, though they both supposed that Sebastian had other things to worry about than that of a normal teenage experience. The year bled into eighteen hundred and ninety-three, and the once awkward new relationship that had blossomed between Genevieve and Ominis had turned into something more of comfort. Attending Quidditch matches together, walking each other to class while holding hands, little innocent moments where they would make each other laugh about things that no one else understood. They both deserved the comfort they sought in each other, they both deserved some semblance of normalcy.
Winter turned to spring, graduation would follow their exams, then the rest of their lives. The thought was daunting, though Genevieve already had a plan in place upon finishing school. A shop, a little one purchased in Hogsmeade long ago from a woman who was now serving in Azkaban for her selfish deed. A home as well, one offered to her by one of the many people she helped in her fifth year. She wondered what Ominis’ plan was, they hadn’t spoken much in regards to the future but rather stayed in the present when they were together. It was no rush after all, they grew up too much in their fifth year to want for more of adulthood. Her mother would agree with this, as she had married young and had Genevieve when she was barely eighteen.
Her mind wandered further, thinking of how Ominis had not yet met her mother, nor had she met Ominis’ family. The anxiety proved to be a bit much, she should’ve been focusing on her studies rather than the pressure of life after school. Genevieve sat beside Poppy in their shared common room, quill and parchment stacked atop her books. They agreed to meet and study after all, and the bustle of their common room garnered a familiarity that calmed Genevieve’s soul of all the troubles that worried it. They would meet with others later, including Natty who had just returned not long ago from Uganda with wondrous stories of grandeur.
“Licorice wand?” Poppy pulled Genevieve from her thoughts, which she seemed to get lost in all too often these days. Possibly more so than her fifth year, not that she had much time at that period to sit and think. A stiff licorice rope was dangled in front of her, her hand not far behind to grab the rope and put it in her mouth. She set the books upon the table before her, settling herself comfortably on the floor.
“Thank you, my friend.”
“Snacking while studying has proven a useful tool for me. My focus had never been more clear.” Poppy spoke jovially, pressing her quill to her to the paper and writing as if she weren’t dividing her attention. Poppy was quite brilliant, her passion lying in many different things these days.
“You don’t suppose we need more snacks, do you?” Genevieve asked, wishing to know before she bothered dipping her feather into the ink. Poppy set hers down, reaching to her right and pulling out a cloth sack filled almost to the brim with all sorts of delectable treats from Honeydukes. Genevieve grinned, reaching her quill and dipping it into ink. She should’ve known, Poppy may have haphazardly thrown caution in the wind when it came to poachers, but she was nothing if not prepared for nearly everything else.
They studied, tossing joking remarks back and forth at times while quizzing each other at others. They studied for a solid hour and a half before deciding to call it quits, it was nearly time to meet up with the others anyhow. Everyone would be waiting in the library, if not to study then to spend time together. Time was running out, they may not get many other chances to spend together like they would in these small hours. Graduation, again, was quickly approaching.
Poppy held down a hand, which Genevieve gladly took the assistance in standing. They gathered their things, then headed out the barrel door, walking in tandem as per usual for them.
“Are you planning on moving back with your Gran after graduation?”
“I am, we’ll be researching and rescuing beasts beyond my imagination. Ones I may have never heard of. Though that feels so far off at this point, I suppose I’m not ready for my time here to end. We’ve gone on so many adventures, I don’t think anything will compare to my time here at Hogwarts.” Poppy sighed dreamily, her head often in the clouds as well as Genevieve's own. Though the thought of leaving was a bittersweet feeling, Poppy had such a bright future ahead of her. Things were good, things were going to be better than just good. “I want to keep up with everyone after we graduate, I have a feeling that we all will. This kind of friendship, it’s the type to last a lifetime.”
Genevieve agreed, taking Poppy’s spare hand in her own and squeezing it lovingly. They walked like that for a while, close to each other and in good conversation, only parting when they reached the library and settled in on either side of the table. Genevieve sat beside Natty, moving close to her amidst her conversation with Garreth and Leander. The chair to her right left unbothered, as Ominis would join them shortly.
“My plans could change. I could decide to become a teacher, follow in my mothers footsteps.” Natty continued, turning her attention to Genevieve. “My current plan, however, is to exceed expectations in my N.E.W.T. exams and become an Auror. I know what I am capable of, I know who I want to become.”
“Safe that you do, I’ve not the slightest idea what I’ll do. Maybe I’ll get a job at Zonko’s, maybe I’ll do the Auror thing too. Aunt Matilda thinks I should look into teaching.” Garreth chimed in, his tone on the subject leisurely as per usual. “All I know is, I want to do something big. I want to make a famous brew.”
“I just want to be recognized when I walk into a room, I’m going to be a famous Quidditch player don’t you know?” Leander this time, banging his hand upon the table with the vigor of someone so certain that you’d believe he already was a famous Quidditch player. Madam Scribner shushed her, causing him to falter in his confidence. “Sorry Madam Scribner!” He whispered, grinning sheepishly. “Anyway…” He paused, raising his hands in glory to display his self importance. “You’ll see my name on the front of the daily profit no more than a year from graduation. Just you wait.” We all laughed, albeit hushed.
“What are we all talking about?” Ominis finally poked in, moving into the chair beside Genevieve and setting his wand upon the table with his hand staying its place overtop it.
“The future.” Poppy answered, her tone more casual with a tinge of excitement from everyone else’s unadulterated thill having spoken of their exciting plans involving the future.
“I see.” He responded; his face unmoved from the relaxed expression it was in.
“What are your plans, Ominis?” Garreth inquired, genuine curiosity in his tone. Everyone may have been wondering, wanting to know what the Gaunt who was known well for his distinct family lineage was planning to do after this.
“My future has been set out for me since long before my birth. I’ve never thought of any other possibility than what was so plainly laid out for me.” The answer was honest, which was surprising to Genevieve seeing as Ominis was not generally this candid around this many people. “I suppose if I had the option to choose though, I’d live a simple life doing simple things somewhere peaceful.”
“That sounds nice, I hope you achieve that peace wherever you go.” Poppy chimed in, noting that everyone was settled into a silence after the solemn realization that Ominis did not have the agency needed to go where he pleased in life.
The time spent after that was on other topics, skirting around anything sensitive furthermore. Slowly but surely, everyone decided they needed to get back to their studies and left back to their own respective spaces, knowing they wouldn’t be able to continue when they could all get so easily distracted with more entertaining subjects. All, that was, other than Ominis and Genevieve. They sat in silence, slipping their unoccupied hands into one another's grasp. Genevieve’s right, Ominis’ left.
“You know, we could plan for a future together.” Gen spoke after a moment, turning her gaze toward their intertwined hands. “It’s nothing to rush into, and we don’t have to plan heavily, but it is something to think on.”
“Darling, from the moment you told me you would be sticking around, I have planned you into my future.” Ominis said with a certainty that made her cheeks turn rosy.