Troubled Thoughts
The letter Professor Sharp gave Enoch was to be delivered to Professor Weasley, and luckily for him, Transfiguration was his first class of the day.
Yesterday was a disaster for Enoch. It was the first day back to classes and he didn't pay attention to a single one. He hoped today would be different, that he could finally find a way to clear his mind and focus on school work. But, it was all too hard for him now.
The wooden door to the Transfiguration classroom was jammed open as students piled in. Enoch entered the flow and walked in, spotting the person he needed to see sitting at her desk.
“Professor,” Enoch called as he approached her desk at the end of the room.
His professor looked up at him with a kind smile. “Yes?”
“Professor Sharp wanted me to give you this letter.” He extended his hands out with the unneatly folded parchment towards Professor Weasley. “He said he forgot to give it to you during breakfast.”
“Very well,” said the Professor as she took the paper. “Thank you.”
With a nod, Enoch headed over towards his seat, trying to mentally prepare himself for class. Maybe today will be different. Maybe today he can take his notes and listen like a good student.
And so he tried, listening as intently as he could to his teacher going on about conjuration charms. But as he took his notes, he could feel his mind wonder.
If he were to tell Ominis about everything, what would he say? Would bringing it up ruin the friendship they all had with each other? Well, it wasn't as tight of one as of recent, considering Sebastian avoiding the two of them, but this wasn't going to last forever, right? Just like always.
The ink gathered around the tip of Enoch's quill stained his parchment paper and formed a blob as he stopped writing due to his thoughts. He eventually pulled himself back and realised he stopped listening to the class, and that the sentence he had been writing got interrupted by a splotch of ink. And the rest of class was a seemingly endless battle of his tireless questions swimming in his head, up until the end of it.
“Mr. Edevane,” called Professor Weasley after class was dismissed. “May I see you for a moment?”
Enoch cradled his books in his arm before making his way to her desk. With a clear of her throat, she repositioned the glasses on her nose and looked up at her student.
“Perhaps we can go over a quick lesson about pressure amongst your peers.”
Enoch furrowed his brows. “I'm sorry, I don't really understand what you mean.”
The professor looked down at her desk and grabbed an unfolded piece of paper that was laid to the side. Then she began to read it aloud.
“With the unnecessary extracurriculars your nephew takes part of, I have reason to suspect he has dragged another student into his misdeeds.”
Professor Weasley looked up at Enoch with a raised brow, and Enoch felt his blood turn cold.
“What... what does that mean, Professor?” Enoch stuttered.
Professor Weasley looked back at the paper. “Well, I believe you should know, as it has your name in the next sentence.”
Professor Sharp did catch Enoch's lie after all. Enoch silently cursed to himself, not believing he was stupid enough to go along with this idiotic plan.
“If my nephew has, for some reason, coerced you into breaking the rules, I would like for you to come to me first,” Professor Weasley added. “Don't follow his blind path only for it to tarnish your excellence in your school work. You're a bright student. I'd hate to see you become a troublemaker like he is, my poor nephew.”
“Yes, Professor. I understand.”
Incredibly, irrevocably, stupid.
“Well, I guess it can't be helped.”
Garreth stood there with his hand covering his chin, looking as if Enoch's failed attempt at gathering ingredients didn't phase him at all. Enoch stared in disbelief. He had thought his Gryffindor friend would at least worry about his aunt being on his tail.
“Enoch, my friend, you did well.”
“Sharp saw straight through my lie.”
“No matter. Maybe later we can work on your acting.”
Enoch rolled his eyes. Garreth didn't seem to notice.
“Since our first plan failed, I'll have to find another way. I'll take this burden off your shoulders for now, dear friend, but if you somehow end up coming across Jobberknoll feathers or pearl dust, I wouldn't be averse for you to take them.”
Enoch let out a sigh, listening to Garreth ramble on. Truthfully, he wanted to stay out of his friend's “genius” invention plans, as his mind was already riddled with problems he'd rather focus on than this. He was glad that he could drop the worry of having to infiltrate anywhere to grab the ingredients. Maybe then he can try and force himself to worry about school work.
“Regardless,” Garreth continued. “I'll try out a couple more things to get this potion to life. Expect word from me soon. I wish to have the potion in my hand by the week’s end.”
“Good luck, Garreth.”
If Enoch was ever nervous about something, it was now.
He had entered the library after his last class of the day. He felt that, yet again, he couldn't focus well enough. If this continued he'd not be able to pass any of his classes, and all his hard work to catch up last year would be for nothing.
At least his suspicions were correct in thinking his stoic friend would be studying in the library today, as he spotted Ominis sitting alone at a table hard at work. With one deep breath Enoch made his way over to him.
“Ominis,” Enoch said as he reached the table. “Can I join you?” With any attempt to sound nonchalant, he hoped he succeeded.
“I suppose,” Ominis answered.
Enoch took a seat across from his friend and splayed his books open. He glanced up at Ominis, silently watching him read his book with his wand.
He had no idea how to bring it up. Could it really ruin their friendship if he got Ominis involved? How would Sebastian react if he found out Ominis knew? Was this really a bad idea?
Enoch let out a sigh and tried to read his textbook. Maybe he'd wait just a little bit to bring it up. Maybe he could work it into conversation later.
“Is everything alright?” Ominis asked in a quiet voice as he appeared to still be reading.
“Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine.” Enoch gulped, looking back at his book. The words seemed to jumble together to form piles of indescribable jarble. He blinked his eyes a few times to clear his head, yet not a single word looked legible to him.
“It sounds as if something's bothering you.”
This is it. It's the perfect opportunity, so why was Enoch having such difficulty forming sounds from his mouth?
“Perhaps… perhaps I've got a few things on my mind.”
“And would you like to talk about them?”
He didn't think it would be this hard to talk about it. Sure, it was an awkward conversation to have, but his throat was drying out too much to even speak. He could feel sweat begin to bead on his forehead and his leg bounce up and down.
“It's about Sebastian,” he finally managed to get out.
“I could guess that much. Things have seemed off between you two.”
Enoch let out a pitiful chuckle. “It was that obvious?”
“So what was it he said to you?”
“I didn't… I didn't say he was the one that caused it…”
Ominis let out a laugh this time, quietly. “Please, Enoch, I've known him for years. If there are any issues with his relationships with the people around him, it's always his fault.”
Enoch couldn't help but nod silently at Ominis's statement. He was right, in a way. Sure, Enoch could see Sebastian's sides on things sometimes, but his friend always liked to take things to the extremes.
“It isn't… what you think, though.” Enoch struggled to find the right words. He still felt too anxious to just say it out loud. “I mean, yes, he did cause the tense friendship between us, but he wasn't… he wasn't being his normal…”
“Hypocritical and arrogant self?” Ominis finished Enoch's sentence.
Enoch laughed. “Yes. But Ominis, how are you still his friend after all these years even though you see him that way?”
Ominis stayed quiet a moment before answering. “Because even though he is that type of person, he's loyal. He knew what I went through… with my family… and he didn't hesitate to take me in and give me a family I needed. He may be brash, he may jump to violence when it isn't needed, but he believes his heart's in the right place. I know he has good intentions at the end of the day.”
The words echoed through Enoch's head as he stared at the table in thought. It didn't fix the issue, it didn't make things clearer, but Enoch could feel his hair standing on end and a shiver down his spine. Sebastian was his friend, his best friend. He had never been closer to someone more. Enoch would be lying if he said he didn't feel strong feelings about him.
But… what were they?
“Thank you for the chat, I needed it,” Enoch said as he closed his books.
Ominis now raised his head as Enoch stood from the bench. “That's all?”
With a heavy exhale, Enoch held his books to his side and looked at his friend. “For now. I feel this is something I need to process by myself before anyone can give advice. Thank you, Ominis.”
The last person Enoch expected to see run up to him urgently in the middle of the day was Sebastian, yet that's exactly who he found staring deep in his eyes with intense determination as he exited the library.
“I need to talk to you,” said Sebastian.
The words sent chills down Enoch's spine, the suddenness of the encounter and the switch in his friend's demeanour as of late making him feel uneasy.
“Talk? About what?” Enoch stuttered to say in return, subconsciously taking a step back to gain some kind of distance between them.
“Come with me.”
Enoch had no time to think before Sebastian was dragging him by the arm through the hall. They walked down the small stairs and into the smaller corridor, stopping in an empty corner.
Thoughts raced through Enoch's head the whole time. What does he want? Does he know about my conversation with Ominis just now? Was he listening in? What is he going to say to me? Why is his grip on my arm making my head spin?
“I need to ask a favour of you,” was all Sebastian said as he whispered in the empty corner.
Enoch’s eyes met his, and where Enoch knew he looked anxious and confused, Sebastian looked absolutely determined. It wasn't unusual of a look for him, but considering their relationship as of late, it was quite odd.
“A favour?”
“It's about Anne.”
Enoch's eyes widened at the name. Sebastian hadn't brought up his sister since the last tournament, in which he started a huge fight between the two of them and Ominis.
“What about her?”
Sebastian stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze going back and forth between Enoch's eyes. “That... ancient magic thing of yours. Can you do more with it now?”
“What...? Why is that being brought up now?”
“Can you do more with it?” Sebastian reiterated, sounding impatient.
Enoch subconsciously began to shake his head, trying to wrap his thoughts around the sudden topic. “I don't use it. Why are you bringing it up?”
Sebastian let out a quick sigh. “Remember the thing the last holder could do with it? Taking away people’s pain?”
“Wait... you don't mean...” Enoch was speechless now, understanding what his friend was talking about now. “You know the horrible repercussions that brings. You were there. You know why that was never an option for your sister.”
“But,” Sebastian quickly stopped Enoch from continuing. “You know what not to do, right? I was hoping you've done more by now. And that... maybe there is a way to use it for Anne.”
“Where is this coming from, Sebastian?”
“I haven't given up on her. The next tournament is soon, and I guarantee she'll be there. What if... What if we can use your magic to take the curse from her?”
Enoch lowered his tone now. “You know I can't do that.”
“You haven't tried.”
“Sebastian.” Enoch sighed, knowing he could never get through to his friend. “If the keepers never attempted to do something like this, how do you think I can do it? It's too risky. We already knew this.”
It was honestly baffling hearing this favour arise from Sebastian. Ever since last school year, with all that happened with Enoch and the keepers, he expected things like this to never be brought up again. He thought he knew his friend better. Instead he was more confused than ever.
Sebastian took another step toward Enoch, making him shiver and his heart beat loud.
“Just…” Sebastian’s voice was low as his eyes searched the floor beneath them. “Think over it. Just promise me that.”
The tone in his pleas were enough to make Enoch’s brain race for answers. It was unlike Sebastian, the whole scenario.
“I can’t promise anything.”
Sebastian’s eyes shot up to meet Enoch’s, and his pleading look slightly slipped into impatience as his brows scrunched together.
“Just promise you’ll think over it. That’s all I ask of you now.”
Enoch couldn’t help but feel a twinge in his gut at the sound of those words. It felt as if Sebastian was throwing his own feelings aside for the sake of his sister, no matter how selfish it truly sounded.
With a grit of his teeth, he answered with one word, “Fine.”
The impatient look on Sebastians's face melted away as he took a step back. “Thank you.” And with the final thanks, he began to walk away, leaving Enoch standing in the dark corner alone with his thoughts.
The whole interaction was… weird, to say the least. This whole time Enoch's head had been muddled with Sebastian’s feelings, yet Sebastian doesn't seem worried about them anymore. It confused Enoch even further. He definitely wasn't going to focus on his schoolwork now.
Ancient magic to take Anne's curse away? Enoch knew very well that that was a horrible idea. He spent months pushing everything he witnessed last year out of his head, seeing the last keeper, Isidora, use that magic in such horrible ways. Sebastian knew that. He even saw some of it. His current actions were no less than baffling.
The next tournament was only a month away. Anne was going to be at Hogwarts in just a month. But, more importantly, Ominis was going to be forced to compete in yet another life-threatening event. And Enoch felt more inclined to focus on him than anything else, even Sebastian's odd personality shifts as of late.
He hoped things would get easier from now on, but he knew no one would hear his pleas.